Millions and millions of Catholics throughout the world faithfully pray the rosary, but some special individuals take their devotion to another level without any earthly compensation in return. 

They are the rosary makers.

Perhaps you’ve made rosaries yourself to give as gifts at Christmas or when someone receives a sacrament. Maybe you belong to a group that makes them for the missions or parishes.

Some people, motivated by love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, take rosary making to the next level.

Most of them are unsung heroes whose work goes unnoticed. They’re not assembling the beads and centerpieces and crucifixes, which they purchase out of their own pockets, for any recognition. They simply want to put the rosary in the hands of as many souls as possible to help them come to know Jesus through Mary.

There are too many of these passionate rosary makers to mention, but Our Lord knows them and must be extremely grateful for their dedication to His Mother, Our Lady of the Rosary.    

Every so often you hear or know about someone with a next-level commitment to making sure others, especially the impoverished, can own a rosary. Some rosary makers have a special story.

One of those is Janine Kozlowski.

An 84-year-old Polish immigrant and resident of the Granville-Newark area, Kozlowski survived the Nazi occupation of her native country during World War II and then the post-war Communist takeover by the former Soviet Union.

In less than a decade, she has made more than 39,000 rosaries that she gives to missions and local parishes and anyone who requests them. And she has made wooden stands for diocesan parishes to display the rosaries, usually in the back of the church, that anyone can take free.

Her goal is to finish 40,000 rosaries – 1,000 for each of the 40 days that Christ suffered in the desert. Based on her current pace, she’ll reach that mark within the next few months. (An expanded story can be found starting on Page 12 of this week’s Catholic Times.)

Why does she do it when she could be taking life easy? First and foremost, she wants to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Son. She also wants to encourage other seniors to stay active physically and mentally.

The man who taught her and many others how to transform the plastic beads, crucifix and cord into a rosary is another one of the humble people who sought no recognition or remuneration for his efforts.  

Ed Schmeltzer, a parishioner at Newark Blessed Sacrament Church, taught people to make rosaries for years and made them himself right up until his death at age 95 in October 2018.

He not only made rosaries using nylon cord but also the chain rosaries that require links to be made while placing every bead.

“I know he had made thousands and thousands of rosaries,” said Kathy Wilson, Blessed Sacrament’s parish secretary. “Ed made sure our office had plenty of rosaries to give every infant, child and adult, especially when they received their sacraments. 

“He emphasized to not keep the rosary in a drawer for safe keeping but to say the rosary often. Every baptism at Blessed Sacrament has received a handmade rosary from Ed.”

Irene Cassady, a longtime member of Columbus St. Patrick Church with a strong Marian devotion, made countless rosaries over the years and instructed hundreds of others, including children, who shipped their finished products all over the world. 

She passed away in late September at age 88, one day after her beloved husband Al, 91, an equally devoted Catholic. A Requiem High Mass for the couple, together in death, was celebrated at Columbus St. Leo the Great Oratory. They were buried side by side at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Now that Christmas is approaching, there’s no better way to reflect on the Savior’s birth than to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary, particularly the Nativity of the Lord in the third mystery.

And if you’re still looking for a gift for someone on your list, consider giving a rosary, which has been called one of the greatest spiritual weapons at the world’s disposal. 

Maybe even consider learning to make rosaries. Or, if that’s not possible, commit to praying the rosary more often. Graces are bound to follow.  

Pope St. John Paul II said the rosary was his favorite prayer, and who can argue with a saint?