Religious Store owners Gary Sword and Rosemond B. Santos-Sword.
MEMBERS of the community, especially Catholics, are likely to find the religious items they’re looking for at the Religious Store at 2579 Wischiira Way in Oleai.
Available now are copies of the Holy Bible, other inspirational books, images of Jesus, Mary Mother of Jesus, the Fatima, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Divine Mercy and Baby Jesus.
The Religious Store also offers devotional candles with images of various saints such as St. Jude, the patron saint for healing; St. Peregrine, the patron saint for cancer; and many more. Also on the store shelves are rosaries, scapulars, necklaces, miraculous medals, ribbons and many other religious items.
All are sold at affordable prices.
Religious Store co-owner Rosemond B. Santos-Sword said having these items available to community members is a way of sharing the word of God outside the church.
She said in the CNMI, “we are a very religious people — we are devout Catholics who pray novenas and the rosary, and there’s always a religious celebration every month like the San Roque fiesta in August for example, and the Fatima in October.”
She said when local people go off island, a lot of times they go to a religious store. “We’re always looking for statues and things to give away on weddings and birthdays and whatever occasions,” she added.
“And so I thought about it several years ago. At the time, I couldn’t do anything just yet because we were taking care of mom. Unfortunately, she passed away,” Santos-Sword said.
“I saw a need in the community. There were people always asking why we didn’t have a religious store here when almost all of us were Catholics,” she said.
And so she and her husband Gary Sword opened the Religious Store.
Pointing at all the inspirational books on the store’s shelves, Santos-Sword said, “One of the best ways to learn about faith is through the stories of saints — we have those here.”
For more information, call (670) 286-5567.
Two Catholic Bibles: the black one is for personal use while the white one is for weddings.
The images of Baby Jesus, Mary Mother of Jesus, Divine Mercy and the Mother of Perpetual Help.
Devotional candles with images of patron saints.
Inspirational books are also available at Religious Store.
