By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

With the help of students at St. Nicholas School in Kinsley, a few talented friends, and the prayers of dozens of faithful, Denise Wheaton recently completed a large quilt that represented Kansas prayers for life at the 2005 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jan. 24.

Wheaton, a resident of Lewis, and her son, Adam, recently participated in the march, and hung the quilt in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A story on the march will be included in the next issue of the SKR.

"In 2001, my mother, Bonnie Jacobs Miller and I attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C.," Wheaton said. "That evening we visited the Prayers for Life – Quilt of Prayer booth. … I remember that it involved Our Blessed Mother and praying the Rosary for the unborn. I was so excited to sign up to help for the State of Kansas, as I have always had a special love for Our Blessed Mother, her Rosary, and the unborn."

What she didn’t realize at the time, is that agreeing to help would eventually translate to her actually designing and overseeing the creation of a quilt to represent Kansas at the 2005 march. The mother of six had never quilted before, and, with the help of a few talented friends and St. Nicholas School students, who created the "beads" of the Rosary, finished the project two days before leaving for the march, Jan. 18.

"Our ...Quilt of Prayer has grown beautifully over these past four years, and I know our Blessed Mother is so very thankful to, and proud of everyone who has prayed their rosaries or has given of themselves to make our Kansas Quilt of Prayer what it has become," Wheaton said.

The quilt, which Bishop Ronald Gilmore blessed Jan. 19 in a special ceremony at the chancery in Dodge City, is blanketed in symbolism.

The green background, she said, honors St. Joseph and all fathers. The color also represents life and hope.

The gold color along the sides is symbolic of "God’s glory," which "will always overcome evil, even the evil of abortion." The two strips, separated by a green strip, include names of all those who prayed 50 Rosaries for Life. Those who prayed an additional 50 Rosaries have a small, gold rose placed next to their name.

At the center is a rosary shaped like a heart, representing "St. Joseph and God’s love for every person." Each bead of the rosary was created by a St. Nicholas student.

"The St. Nicholas School children honored our Blessed Mother on Oct. 3, 2003 by praying a Living Rosary with the New Mysteries of Light," Wheaton said. "Their Rosary was offered for their families and all families of the world.

"Each child brought a fabric sample from home representing their family, and it is with the unity of these unique colors, patterns, and textures of both fabric, individuals and families that made up this beautiful St. Nicholas School Rosary."

The centerpiece of the Rosary are two hearts, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Most Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary.

"By uniting the hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph we present to you the united hearts of the holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph," Wheaton said. "I believe it is through the uniting of the hearts of fathers, mothers and children that we too will be holy families."

The red and white flowing from the cross represents the Blood of Christ he shed "for love of each of us," and the water through which "we are cleansed."

"The ray of God’s love and divine mercy flow over the entire state of Kansas, which is printed in the sunflower pattern, as the sunflower is our state flower," Wheaton explained. "We pray for God’s divine mercy to be poured out upon all the people of our state and for abortions within our state of Kansas to end."

The quilt will hang in the basilica with quilts from other states. Eventually, Wheaton will make the quilt available to hang in any church in the state to encourage people to pray for an end to abortion.

Wheaton wished to offer special thanks to: her husband, Aaron, and her children Adam, Benjamin, Charles, Abraham, Joshua and Anne; her mother, Bonnie Jacobs Miller; Deanna Benish (who embroidered the crucifix and the "united hearts of Jesus and Mary"); Lenora Hutton and Cheri Hanschu (for their help with design and layout); Barbara Watson (who did the quilting); Andrew Wood and Jean Huntly (for reverse imaging the names on the quilt); St. Nicholas School teachers and students (for the rosary); Father Nicanor Ferangco; and Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore.