St. Martha's Guild

The Saint Martha’s Guild is a group of Liturgical needle crafters from St. John Cantius Church, the home of Biretta Books and the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius


The mission of the guild is to revive the Ecclesiastical needle arts of the past. Members work on both the restoration of existing pieces and the production of new items made prayerfully and with great care out of a deep respect for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Much of the work is done by hand using traditional techniques and antique equipment. At the same time the guild allows newer technologies to contribute to the process if the integrity of the work is not compromised.

From altar linens, to lace making, to gold work, to silk shading embroidery and many projects in between, the guild endeavors to build a broad range of skills in its members as well as providing resources and encouragement to sewing enthusiasts from other parishes who are also on a mission to bring about this particular Restoration of the Sacred.

In the guild’s exuberance, there may be items in excess of what is needed at St. John Cantius which will be offered for sale through Biretta Books as they become available. These items can be found under the St. Martha’s Guild category.

To learn more about the St. Martha’s Guild visit their website at StMarthasGuild.com.

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