Part of a continuing series
Support - Scapulars help boost morale of soldiers
By Scott Alessi
Staff Writer
BAPTISTOWN — For the men and women in the military enduring the uncertainty and danger of an ongoing war, sometimes a little encouragement goes a long way.
Soldiers stationed at military bases both in the United States and abroad have been receiving brown scapulars from Pat Covalesky, a parishioner at Our Lady of Victories. The scapulars are packaged with medals of St. Benedict and the Holy Face of Jesus as well as a rosary and a description of each article’s significance.
Covalesky, whose brother served as a marine in the Vietnam War, recalled the tough times her family went through while her brother was overseas and felt compelled to do something for the soldiers serving in the current war. She started making early withdrawals from her retirement fund and decided to use the money to send scapulars to the soldiers.
“When the war broke out, I thought about these kids in the military and I wanted to do something for them,” said Covalesky, a resident of Frenchtown. Even though she did not have a personal connection to any of the soldiers in this war, Covalesky still felt a strong sense of concern for their safety.
“I remember during the Vietnam War how my mother was,” Covalesky said. “You would see on television that someone was killed, and she cried. It wasn’t her son, but it was somebody’s son. It touches you.”
Covalesky felt that the scapular conveyed her message to the troops that the prayers of those at home were with them and that she wanted them to return safely. She contacted The St. Michael Shop, a Catholic gift store in Flemington, for assistance with her project. Store owner Charlie Gordon agreed to supply her with scapulars at a discounted price to support her efforts.
“Our Lady’s scapular is a very important sacramental, particularly for people who are in harm’s way,” Gordon said. “If the soldiers have never been exposed to it, this is when they really need it.”
The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the most popular type of scapular, was selected by Covalesky for its promise of safety. The brown scapular dates back to 1251, when a vision of Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock and presented the scapular to him as “a sign of salvation” for the Carmelites.
While the articles carry with them a strong religious significance, they also convey to those in the military a sense of solidarity with those back home regardless of religious affiliation.
“You don’t have to be Catholic to wear a scapular,” said Covalesky. “These guys might not say it, but they’re really afraid. They’re looking for anything that might help, and they’re really grateful when you give them something.”
The soldiers and military chaplains who have received the scapulars have shown their appreciation by sending letters to Covalesky thanking her for her support. “The response has been incredible,” she said. “Every one of them has been so grateful.”
Since the war began, Covalesky has distributed more than 15,000 scapulars, but in doing so has exhausted her retirement fund. “I did it until financially I couldn’t do it anymore,” Covalesky said. “I would like to see that they could continue to go out, but I used my savings on it and now I’m not in a position to do it anymore.”
Covalesky hopes that others will be inspired to help her continue with the project. She encourages parishes and schools in the diocese to become involved by purchasing scapulars to send themselves or by donating money to the St. Michael Shop, which will provide Covalesky with a scapular for every $3 they receive.
Donations can be sent to St. Michael Shop, 20 Commerce Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law