Mailing Rosaries to the Missions

If you wish, you may send your finished rosaries to OLRM for forwarding to the missions. However, as you gain experience, it is always better to send them yourself.

Paper copies of these instructions are available through our online store

Preparation

Assemble your finished rosaries on a circle of wire to keep them form tangling, so they can easily be hung up on a hook. Put 10 rosaries to a

circle for easy counting. Send your rosaries to a mission of your choice, or from our list of missions currently requesting rosaries. Send as many or as few as you like, although 100 per mailing seems to be preferred by the missionaries. Be generous, but do not over-supply because of customs' duties. This is discussed below.

Packing

Roll lengthwise about 30 rosaries in a sheet of newspaper or tissue. Pack the rolls in a sturdy corrugated box, laying them flat and lengthwise. If the box is of thin material pack one small box inside a little larger one (double corrugation). Then seal tightly with tape, make sure to seal all corners as well as openings. Inside with the rosaries include a letter to the missionary. A sample letter is available here.

Labeling

Write on the face of your prepared parcel the following:

Gift, No Commercial Value, Religious Goods, For Church and Educational Purposes

Get proper labels for foreign mail for free from you local post office. They will also give you helpful instructions about filling in the labels with the proper information. Also write on your letter to the missionary, or on a separate piece of paper enclosed in the box:

English
These contents are a gift from Catholics of the United states to fellow Catholics in _______________.
They have no commercial value. Religious articles for Church and educational use.

Spanish
El contenido de estes paquete no tiene ningun valor de venta. Es un don gratuito del pueblo Catolico de lose ee. USA Catolico de ______________. Ne se pueden vender, sino deben distriburse gratuito las gentes necesitados.

Valuation

Value your mission rosaries for the purpose of foreign Customs officials at $.01 each. This is sufficient. Most work on the rosaries is non-professional and, more important, they are a gift and will not be sold. They are donations; a religious article. They should not be over valued, otherwise the missionary pays a high Customs duty, or even is forced to refuse the gift because he cannot pay the duty.

A word about gifts to the missions

Your rosaries are intended to be used by those unable to pay for them. They will be treasured perhaps for years, and will be used with faith in times of need and will bring a great spiritual comfort. It has been devoutly said of Our Blessed Mother that "Her Hands shower graces on the earth below,and salvation and hope bud forth where Her glances go." You are making Her known to those who have never known Her, or who may have, somewhere along their way, forgotten Her. This is your privileged apostolate!

If you have any questions please visit our Service Center and check our FAQ. Also, feel free to Contact Us with your questions, concerns or comments.