Cathedral parishioner helps 'Wrap Ukraine with Quilts'

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A woman in Ukraine examines a quilt sent to the wartorn country through the 'Wrap Ukraine with Quilts' project.

SALT LAKE CITY — When Nadia Molina joined the pro-life rosary prayed at the Cathedral of the Madeleine every first Thursday of the month, she never imagined that would soon progress into supporting people on the other side of the world.

“We pray for life, but we also pray for all the people. … We ask around if someone has a special need that they have so we can pray for it,” Molina said.

Now she is not only praying, she has been putting her talents into action: cutting, sewing and piecing fabric into quilts to help Ukrainian children affected by the war.  

One day Catherine Stokes, chairperson of the cathedral’s Respect for Life ministry, invited Molina to participate in a special project related to sewing, and Molina immediately accepted, she said. The project was to join the Wrap Ukraine with Quilts effort, organized by a couple in Lehi to provide new, handmade quilts to children who are refugees from the war in Ukraine.  

The project started in March when Gina Holladay and her husband Hal, in partnership with Beth Hawkins, joined forces to figure out how to send quilts to Ukraine.

“At the beginning we were not sure how we were going to make those quilts go all the way to Ukraine … but we knew we could figure it out,” Gina Holladay said.

Wrap Ukraine with Quilts seeks new handmade quilts, preferably no larger than twin-sized. Quilters are encouraged to include a label with the quilt that contains their name, their city and state, and a message of encouragement. They also may send a picture of themselves, if they wish.

“There is always a story behind every quilt,” Gina Holladay said. “As a quilt maker you are thinking about the person that you are making it for as you are stitching it.”

So far the project has collected almost 15,000 quilts.

When Molina first heard about the project, she felt frustrated because she wishes she could do more for the people in Ukraine.

“I wish we could just say ‘Stop! The war is over,’ but that is not in our hands, so I said to myself, ‘Why not put in my two cents and contribute to helping that person that I may never get to meet, but that will have something that reminds him or her that someone thought about them?’” Molina said.

Despite the difficulties faced by the people in Ukraine, it is very important to share the message that God is always with people no matter the distance or the situation, Molina said.

“For me it is very important the people in Ukraine, through these quilts, know that God is present, that people care for them,” she said.

Being able to share the talents that God has given her for the good of others is a great blessing, Molina said.

“I love to be able to contribute. … I would like to have more time so I could do more, and I hope that many more will participate,” she said.

Wrapping Ukraine with Quilts, “gives people the opportunity to help others that might need a hand, that might feel that they are alone. … It also sends them the message that God never abandons us despite our circumstances,” Molina said.

Molina invited all the people to participate with the Cathedral’s Respect for Life Ministry, noting the many ways that a person can change a life.

“Wrap Ukraine with Quilts is just one of the many projects that we are and can get involved with,” she said.

The cathedral’s Respect for Life Ministry focuses on pastoral care for women, prayer and worship, education and public policy. They support mothers in need through the Walking with Moms in Need project, and also in partnership with the Pregnancy Resource Center. Every first Thursday of the month they pray a bilingual Rosary for Life immediately after the 5:15 p.m. Mass. For information, contact Catherine Stokes, stokescp6@msm.com.