Our Story
JMJ
Dedicated to Our Blessed Mother
Saint Raphael, an unabashedly Catholic brand of liturgical textiles,
was born more of necessity than of vision. It materialized when I dedicated
my adult sewing projects to the care of my confirmation patron, St. Raphael the
Archangel. The Archangel has apparently been guiding me since youth in a
marvelous apostolate.
I began sewing in my youth because I couldn't afford prom dresses. My garments
looked like a hot mess on the underside, but they held together enough for the event.
Fast forward. I honed my garment and home decorating sewing skills when I became a mom and homemaker.
Fast forward again. I further refined my skills through bridesmaids alterations and expansion into sanctuary accoutrements (tabernacle veils, altar cloths, frontals -- textiles associated with Catholic churches) all due to the needs of parishes. That's where my passion developed: church adornment and priests' vestments. Heavily involved in a particular church's makeover, it was also a time in which I felt the desire to personally veil at Mass, so I bought a chapel veil. One day, however, I saw a beautiful veil and thought, "I could make that! If sacred things are veiled, and chapel veils are an extension of that tradition, then why not veil beautifully." Lace is a very Catholic material, and I love everything traditionally Catholic. So I made a beautiful veil. But that's not where the idea to offer veils for purchase took root. I have an insistent friend to thank for that.
That insistent friend insisted I make her a veil even though she had three or
four already. She wanted one made by me. She picked out
a lace that was a bit... loud, neon loud. I made it and gifted it to her for her
birthday. For several weeks after, and to my surprise, she exclaimed how
different people kept coming up to her after Mass, requesting the source of
her veil.
St. Raphael was unwittingly born.
Here I am, succumbing to the well-intentioned pressures to create a website.
Apparently the scant church picnic booth doesn't suffice, ha!
Actually, I enjoy offering ladies and little girls choices of veils to fit
their personalities and their devotions, because that personalized devotion
is what makes the veils "beautiful". Some ladies like their staple neutral
-maybe a reflection of their aspiring to simplicity. Others like one for a
particular Solemnity. Still others like to don a different veil for each liturgical
season, feast, and devotion!
It is my hope that Saint Raphael gives glory to God in the contribution
towards Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, reflected in its chapel veils, liturgical
textiles and priests' vestments. Just as important is the goal to remain affordable. It is a challenge,
but a commensurate satisfaction, to revive Catholic and traditional beauty within the
Universal Church by offering items made with researched and hand-collected materials,
providing options outside the mass-production market.
Saint Raphael is operated out my home, just outside of Kansas City, Missouri.
We have a great diocese here. Thank you for supporting small business, and regardless of where you purchase your veils, God bless you and your fidelity to The Church.
