January began in the Heritage Centre with us planning to move our living accommodation to another location and set ourselves a date to complete this before Easter. Our Diary was looking healthy with parish groups and a number of schools had bookings in place including the younger age group which are always a delight. We were awaiting confirmation dates from LCM Health Care Australia of their proposed Pilgrimage.
Suddenly the threat of pandemic Covid 19 began to break through and became a reality reaching the shores of the United Kingdom creating chaos and fear in its wake.
“My words will live after me.”
On 21st March we bade farewell to the ministry at the Mary Potter Heritage Centre, before we closed the door as lockdown was approaching; we paused for some time in the hall facing the statue of Venerable Mary Potter. This bronze statue with welcoming outstretched hands and searching, soft eyes has touched the hearts of many local and International groups who visited the Centre over the past 10 years. The schoolchildren loved to hold her hands, put their little hands up her sleeve, questioning about her dress, the rosary and the cincture she wore. After hearing and being moved by the Mary Potter story it fascinated us that adults and children needed to feel and touch something tangible to say “thank you”. The statue was hardly noticed on the way into the centre it was only when the story was heard that it came alive. The Mary Potter story has given courage to those with health issues and sick loved ones, comforted the bereaved, given a sense of hope to one parent families, a determination to pursue difficult issues, for others a sense of joy in wishing to persevere in faith and personal circumstances and some felt heartened by Mary Potter’s words “Each and every one of us has a Mission from God”.
We thanked God and Mary Potter for all the graces and blessings received but more so for all the blessings the pilgrims and visitors had received and in turn blessed us with their presence. The staff and volunteers join us in gratitude for this opportunity of sowing seeds over the past 10 years which will grow and emerge in God’s time.
One of the last groups to visit the Heritage Centre were 14 Adult Parishioners accompanied by Deacon Brogan from SS Peter& Paul Church Lincolnshire. They later wrote an article on their experience for the Nottingham Diocesan Catholic News, printed in the April edition.
“ To Jesus Through Mary. With a blessing from Fr Jarosz, our parish priest, we set off. En-route our hearts were moved by the scale of flooding in Nottinghamshire. Our first stop was the Mary Potter Heritage Centre, where we received wonderful hospitality from Sr Anita, Derek, Theresa and Sandra. We learnt about the life of the Venerable Mary Potter, a remarkable woman, who overcame many obstacles, to found the Little Company of Mary, a religious order of nuns with a charism to pray for and care for the dying.
Following refreshments we headed over to St Barnabas Cathedral to visit the tomb of Mary Potter. After Mass, Margaret, a Cathedral volunteer, led us on a tour. For many the stained glass windows (especially those of the transepts’) and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, with its Pugin Decorated Gothic style, were highlights. We left the city with merriment and stopped for a meal at a local eatery, which provided a time to relax and chat. Home beckoned and we completed the pilgrimage by praying the rosary. After a couple of detours because of flooded roads we safely returned to Lincoln.
Through the inspiration of Mary Potter, who gave herself to Our Lady and developed a Marian spirituality centred around the Maternal Heart of Mary at Calvary (which still shapes the Congregation today) the pilgrimage provided a joyful means of preparation for the rededication of England as the dowry of Mary, which will occur on 29th March, when we are each invited to give ourselves to Mary.
With grateful thanks to all who helped make the day possible. Tours of the Heritage Centre and Cathedral can be arranged and are very much worthwhile.
“Mary Mother of God, pray for us. Venerable Mary Potter, pray for us.”
For many of us our ministries as we knew them have been greatly curtailed this year, yet creativity provides new opportunities. Continuous Government guidelines have many restrictions which also impede on our Churches and Eucharistic Celebrations, our hope being these would finally be relaxed, this is not to be, a second wave of Covid-19 is now spreading in parts of the United Kingdom.
Our “certainties” once taken for granted are gradually being stripped away. We stand with Mary at the Foot of the Cross with the increasing desire to live more fully the Path of Mary.
Sr. Anita MacDonald LCM and Sr. Margaret Service LCM