Blonde woman holding baby adorned with antique christening robe

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For generations, one delicate, white-cotton batiste gown has bedecked descendants of Nora Rose Hector for their baptism. The gown is adorned with lace, delicate tucks, and entredeux, all sewn with care. Nora Rose was the first of 17 infants to wear the batiste gown for her baptism in 1884. The gown was sent by relatives in Belfast, Ireland. It would have been meticulously handcrafted, wrapped in tissue paper, placed in a box wrapped with kraft paper, carefully addressed and tied with string to ensure its safe passage on an ocean-going ship. It connected little Nora Rose and her family to their ancestral home and to relatives none would ever see in person again.

On November 17th, 2018, Jason and Nora (Lewis) Brady gathered their family at the Shrine of Santa Rita in the Desert for the Baptism of their sixth child, Vera Kate, a daughter, after five sons. Their sons were each baptized at the Shrine of Santa Rita, so there was no question that Vera Kate would be baptized there too. The Lewis family feels a strong connection to Vail, and to the Shrine. Nora’s parents, Scott and Kate Lewis own Montgomery’s Grill & Saloon at the Old Vail Station and have celebrated nine baptisms at the Shrine. The baptisms of Jason and Nora’s sons were each a celebration, but Vera Kate’s would be particularly special. Vera is the 5th generation and the 17th daughter to wear the lace trimmed, feather-stitched gown that link this family together across time, geography, and generations.

The gown is carefully stored between ceremonies by a family “keeper.” The gown is never mailed, and always hand delivered. This can involve significant travel. After each wearing the gown is carefully inspected for any loose buttons, stains, or tears, and then repaired. It is washed in cold water with a mild soap, dried flat, wrapped in blue issue paper and carefully stored in a box until the next baby girl is baptized.

After the ceremony, Nora changed Vera Kate out of the gown. Her fingers lingered over the task and she began to wonder when she would see the gown again? Would it be when Vera Kate, grown, and with a family of her own, was baptizing her own daughter?

These ephemeral moments build memories and bind families together. The gown maintains an unbroken connection to family in Ireland. To the faith the family shares, and generations to each other. The gown is the humble manifestation of these bonds. That is the true value of the gown – or any physical item or tradition – not its beauty, its rarity or monetary value, but the connections it draws between people across generations.

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J.J. Lamb