A quilt for Father George Fagan: Members of Seven Sisters Apostolate cover retired priest in prayer, warmth

By Linda Oppelt

COLORADO SPRINGS. Seven Sisters Apostolate is a group of women dedicated to praying for priests, so that a parish priest is covered by prayer each day of the week by a woman praying for him one hour each day. For a retired priest who has a group of women covering him in prayer, he might also be lucky enough to be literally covered in a lovingly crafted quilt. Such is the case for Father George Fagan, retired priest of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, the first retired priest in the diocese with Seven Sisters praying for him.

Patty O’Connell, who founded the diocesan Seven Sisters Apostolate, initiated a call for women to be a part of the group for Father Fagan early in the year. Father Fagan, while he is retired, fills in regularly for priests at Corpus Christi Parish, down the street from his home. 

By March a group had been formed, including a few women who knew Father Fagan from his years of involvement with Worldwide Marriage Encounter. 

At the same time, Irene Demers of Holy Apostles Parish was looking for a new quilting project. She had already made quilts for her family members, including eight children, 17 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, as well as some other special quilts for “important occasions of special people who have touched my life.” 

Demers is a member of Seven Sisters, praying for a different priest, but heard about a quilting project for retired priests from a Seven Sisters’ newsletter. 

Demers said in an email, “I made contact and learned that another woman from Colorado Springs was interested as well. I called and met with Kris Sprehe of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs to discuss how we would proceed.” Sprehe also happens to be on the Seven Sisters team for Father Fagan.

Demers added, “since I already had a fabric panel with two doves on it, Kris encouraged me to make Father Fagan’s quilt. I enjoyed choosing the fabric and design to frame around the panel, and happily found blocks of fabric with Biblical verses on them.”

According to the Seven Sisters quilt project, the back of a recipient’s quilt includes a label that represents the priest’s collar and his black shirt, and is embroidered with the priest’s name, and “Appreciated and Loved by Seven Sisters Apostolate”, along with the month and year of the presentation to the priest.

The presentation of the quilt was made on June 23, following the daytime Mass at Corpus Christi. Several of Father Fagan’s Seven Sisters were able to attend, and to meet him at that time. 
Asked about his quilt and about having a group of women praying for him, Father Fagan replied, “I am grateful to the seven sisters who are praying for me. I really appreciate it. It is very humbling to have them do that for me. The handmade quilt they made for me and gave me is a reminder that they are keeping me and the other priests in mind. It is also a good reminder to me to return the favor and pray for them and their families.”

Patty O’Connell, the diocesan coordinator for the Seven Sisters Apostolate in Colorado Springs, says there are now 47 groups of Seven Sisters in the diocese. 
She can be reached at sevensisterscolospgs@gmail.com. For more information about the apostolate, visit https://sevensistersapostolate.org/

For more information about Seven Sisters Apostolate within the diocese, see the following articles:

“Seven Sisters Apostolate aims to offer a holy hour for each priest every day” by Patty O’Connell, Nov. 3, 2023, https://www.diocs.org/Herald/seven-sisters-apostolate-aims-to-offer-a-holy-hour-for-each-priest-every-day 

“No Shepherd Left Behind: Seven Sisters Apostolate seeks to cover every priest in prayer” by Patty O’Connell, Nov. 1, 2024, https://www.diocs.org/Herald/no-shepherd-left-behind-seven-sisters-apostolate-seeks-to-cover-every-priest-in-prayer.