HIGH POINT — A marble statue of Mary under her title as Mother of God now graces a new grotto on the campus of the Pennybyrn retirement community.
Dozens turned out for the June 21 blessing of the new feature located at the Penny Road entrance to the community. Father Steve Hoyt, Pennybyrn’s chaplain, presided over the blessing.
Situated atop a grassy knoll, the statue is made of the same Italian marble Michelangelo used to sculpt his Pietà and other famous works. Its carving took place in the town of Carrara in the Tuscany region of Italy with Mazzolini Art Craft Co. Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio.
Made possible by a generous donor, the natural stone grotto is intended to remind passersby of Our Lady’s constant presence.
“Even non-Catholics think it is magnificent. Indeed, the details are remarkable,” said Sister Lucy Hennessy, mission leader and chairperson of Pennybyrn’s board of directors. “Our order’s name is the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, and we wanted the people to know the place Mary has in the life of all of us.”
The grotto leaves a visible reminder of Pennybyrn’s founding religious order – the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God – before the sisters depart for retirement next year to their motherhouse in England.
“We are most grateful to our donor who covered the cost of sculpting the statue and all the many pieces that go into making it all come together,” Sister Lucy said. “For the many good and great things that have happened down through the decades and into our time at Pennybyrn, we give God thanks and truly say with the Psalmist: ‘Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever!’” (Ps 107:1)
— Annie Ferguson
