By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

COVINGTON - Dee Rosing has been quilting since she was 15. But three years ago, a tragedy in her family turned her hobby and art into an outlet for her grief.

Now she's hoping that art, which is on display at the Covington Cathedral Art Gallery, can help others heal from tragedies.

"Everyone experiences some grief, I just hope they can get some relief from (the quilts), that they can see that with God's help it is possible to laugh again," said Rosing, a Covington resident.

Rosing's oldest grandson, Michael Mealey, was brutally killed in Oak Ridge, Tenn., three years ago. He was 19. It was then she began using her quilting as a way of expressing her grief. When the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 occurred, she kept quilting to express those feelings.

"I just made one quilt after another. Each one was a healing step. I started to work out my feelings," she said.

Now 13 of her quilts are on display along with a piece her daughter, Stephanie Mealey, made in honor of her slain son.

The piece, "The Bag of Tears," is a beaded bag full of notes his friends left at a memorial for him. It reads, "He wanted so much to be a man," on the top.

The exhibit, "Healing Quilts," is on display through July 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays at the Covington Cathedral Art Gallery.

The gallery, 1140 Madison Ave., is located inside the rectory at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

The art gallery is a division of the Cathedral Foundation geared at fostering a positive relationship among art, religion and spirituality, said Jennifer Weber, with the foundation.

Although the gallery has never hosted an exhibit of quilts before, the foundation members and curator pride themselves on looking for unique art, Weber said.

"A lot of people come in expecting to see pictures from churches, but the art we have is spiritual to the artist, not necessarily religious symbols," she said.

For Rosing, crafting the quilts was a way to have a spiritual connection in the darkest of times.

"It was just a way of letting out those feelings. (The quilts) are spiritual, it was a way of touching God. It was a way of praying when I couldn't pray."

Christian singles gather

The Ohio Valley Christian Singles' Network is hosting its annual picnic today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mount Airy Forest, Area 22 picnic shelter.

The event, which includes food, games and music, is multidenominational, multiracial and free and open to the public.

For more information, call 589-3400, ext. 313.

New sanctuary opens

Crestview Presbyterian Church in West Chester is celebrating the opening of its new, 800-seat sanctuary and building with a contemporary worship service Sunday.

The service, which will include music and speaker Marshal Pursley, will be at 7 p.m. at the church, 9463 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, with a pizza party following.

To submit religion news, e-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.