After 8 years, rosary still missed
By Rose Panieri rpanieri@stmedianetwork.com April 9, 2012 3:50PM
An earring and ring were both found in Joliet. Photo by Rose Panieri
Updated: May 11, 2012 8:03AM
I believe in miracles. In fact, I was praying for one when the Mega Million jackpot was through the roof. Apparently, the “higher powers” don’t work that way.
On the subject of miracles, Denise Dome of Braidwood dropped me a line a couple of weeks ago about a lost rosary. That’s not so unusual; a lot of folks lose rosaries. But this particular rosary is special — it’s linked to a miracle in the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A celestial apparition
On June 24, 1981, six young people from the former Yugoslav province — Ivan, Jakov, Marija, Mirjana, Vicka and Ivanka — were reportedly chosen as emissaries of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin appeared to the children, stressing the importance of working toward world peace and urging them to spread the word that Jesus is the way and the light.
Since 1981, more than 31 million have trekked to Medjugorje to bask in the afterglow of a miracle. Among the believers was Dome’s mother, Gerry Michalczewski, who made the pilgrimage with fellow church members in 2004. While there, she bought keepsake rosaries for each member of her family.
“My mother had each of the rosaries blessed by the bishop of Medugorje, and since she was there for five days she would go to Mass every day and bring the rosaries to be blessed by that priest,” Dome said. “They ended their trip by going to Rome. My mother also had the rosaries blessed by Pope John Paul II at a semi-private viewing.”
Blessed green rosary
Energized and spiritually refreshed, Michalczewski returned to the states to bestow upon each member of her family a rosary from one of the holiest places on earth.
“Eight years ago my daughter Kelly was in second grade at St. Jude,” Dome said. “She bought Kelly a green one. Kelly brought it to school in a brown suede pouch and showed her teachers and students. She left it in her desk and the next day it was missing.”
The most likely scenario is one of the youngsters from an evening class picked up the rosary and inadvertently took it home.
“Perhaps a child came home with one and the parents wondered where it came from, or came across it while cleaning the child’s room,” Dome said. “Kelly still misses it as it was a special gift from her grandmother. If after eight years someone would like to turn it in that would be wonderful!”
Rings lost in New Lenox
David Rush of New Lenox contacted me on behalf of his wife, who lost her engagement ring and two wedding bands in November.
His wife is a teacher at Cherry Hill School in New Lenox. Last November, she had taken the rings off and put them in a plastic bag before washing her hands. Later, when she returned home, the plastic bag and its precious parcel had seemingly disappeared.
“She believes she lost them around her school,” Rush said. “I’m just hoping someone finds a bag with three rings in them and makes our spring!”
All three rings were white gold. The engagement ring has a quarter carat princess cut diamond with two wedding bands adorned with tiny princess cut diamonds. The rings are about a size four. Should you find them, give me a call.
iPod left at playground
John Sowa of Elwood called last Wednesday to report his 10-year-old daughter had lost her 8 GB iPod earlier in the week. She left it at Lloyd Erickson Park in Elwood. The iPod is in a pink defender case, and Sowa is offering a cash reward for the return of the iPod.
Earring and ring found
A woman who wished to remain anonymous brought in a gold or gold-tone earring she found in St. George’s Serbian Hall several months ago.
A customer apparently lost a ring at Mitchell’s store in Joliet last week. The ring has three purple stones and is about a size 7.
If you’ve lost — or found — something, call 815-773-7178 or e-mail rpanieri@stmedianetwork.com.
