DEFIANCE—George Newton, deacon at Defiance St. Mary Parish, is looking for someone to make white baptismal garments for the children of the parish.

Lettie Hale has been cutting out, stitching and putting lace on approximately 45 garments a year for the last seven years. Brad Stover adds embroidery touches.  

Lettie Hale, parishioner of Defiance St. Mary, shows one of the many baptismal garments she has made for parish infants. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens)

“Lettie performs one of those important unseen ministries, but she is ready to hand it on to someone else,” says Deacon Newton.

Ruth May of the parish originally started making the baptismal gowns shaped like a bib.  She handed the job over to Mary Kahout who did it until her vision weakened.  When asked to take over, Mrs. Hale said, “yes” because she enjoyed sewing.    

“I did enjoy it but there is a point in life when you feel you have to turn it over to somebody else,” says Mrs. Hale, who also serves as a greeter before Mass and helps make noodles with the Noodle Club four days a month.

Sewing has been her livelihood since Mrs. Hale was 14 years old. She learned to sew from her sister who was 10 years older. She did alterations at home until her children were older and then worked at Anderson Draperies. After the company went out of business, two of her friends started a decorating business. She was their consultant and helped construct draperies, retiring after 12 years.  

Mrs. Hale says it has been very emotionally satisfying over the years to see the garments she makes used at baptisms, especially the baptisms of her two grandsons.  

“All I did was use the talent God gave me to serve Him. I pray for the child who receives the white garment and think about what it will mean in his or her life. That is what kept me going for as long as I did,” she says.

The following little prayer goes with the garment. It is signed by the officiating priest who adds the date of the child’s baptism and any other sacraments the child receives.

"My Little Baptismal Garment"  
This garment is a token.
My parents will keep it for me.
On it, they’ll write my name and theirs
And the priest’s who baptized me.  
Then as I grow older,
I’ll add dates such as these:  
First holy Communion, confirmation
And graduation — if you please.
Perhaps marriage or religious vows,
Truly all important events
Until the space is all but filled
On my cloth of innocence.  
Then if God sustains my life
And I gradually grow old,
I can look back on this garment
With its memories of gold.