LITTLE COMPANY OF MARY
(LCM) 1885
Mary Potter founded the Little Company of Mary in 1877 at
Mary Potter saw her ministry as one of prayer and service to all, but her
prime concern was for the souls who die daily without anyone to pray for them.
There is no proclaimed motto but words of Mother’s, "One in the Heart of
Mary our Mother", have been printed in all our Houses throughout the
world, stemming from the devotion of St. Louis Marie de Montfort
"All for Jesus through Mary".
Mary Potter knew that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was in touch with
suffering, she knew what it was like to stand with her son when He was dying.
Mary Potter sought to be that mothering presence to the world that suffers
poverty and injustice and injury.
Her sisters, those who were to follow her, were called to the same ministry.
They were to instruct, assist, and be to all the people of God, a caring
presence in a world that lacked caring. When Mary Potter dedicated herself and
her Congregation to spreading the Gospel, she wrote to her Sisters: "We
were not founded in God’s kingdom simply to nurse, that is an addition, we were
founded to extend God’s kingdom on earth, by making Mary reign over the hearts
and souls of all, and by striving in every way within our power to help them in
their last dread agony".
Mary Potter was a prolific writer. Over the course of her life, she
published 20 books and pamphlets, all of which were concerned with enabling
people to understand more clearly their role in the Church and in the world.
As if writing was not enough, Mary Potter also developed the idea of lay
associations for those who sought to live their lives in the spirit of Mary,
according to the spirituality of De Montfort. She
founded a group called "The Affiliated".
This group consisted of men and women who had entered upon the path of Mary,
and who sought to consecrate their lives to God in their own particular state
in life.
The affiliated were seen as part of the wider "Company of Mary"
and were as much "Mary’s Own" as were their Sisters of the LCM. Today
the Congregation has the "Affiliates". Women and
men who support the Little Company of Mary in praying for the dying throughout
the world, who are part of the "Greater Company of Mary".
The Little Company of Mary came to
In the beginning of their involvement in this country, the Sisters undertook
a variety of ministries: running a district nursing service, a night refuge for
homeless women and children, a soup kitchen for the poor and a school for blind
children. However, as the demands for more personnel in the hospitals of the
Congregation became urgent, these activities gradually declined, and hospital
service began to be seen as the primary work of the Congregation, with such
facilities being opened in all States, except
As well as hospital ministries in Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne,
Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Cairns; Nursing Homes and
Hostels in Tasmania, South Australia, Ryde (NSW) and in Wagga which is jointly
run with the Anglican diocese, the Sisters’ other apostolates
include working with AIDS patients, family crisis counselling, Prison ministry,
counselling, Spiritual Direction, Retreat Work and University Chaplaincy. Mary
Potter wanted the Sisters to be where the need was in the world.
While the works vary, the fundamental ministry of prayer for the dying of
the world remains the central focus of the Little Company of Mary.
References:
Goodman, Aubrey John Who are the Sisters of the
Little Company of Mary?
Kensington,
NSW. Annals 1951.
Wordley, Dick No
one dies alone. LCM 1976
Dougherty, P. Mother
Mary Potter: Founders of the Little Company of Mary 1847-1913.
MacMahon, E.G. The Pioneers of
If further information is required about individual Sisters the following
address is given:
The Archivist
Little Company of Mary
KOGARAH NSW 2217
In writing to the Archivist, it would be appropriate that a financial
contribution be made for the Archivist’s time and expertise.
Religious Orders or Congregations have released the details on their
members. It is understood that the copyright of any material (including the
listing of the names of the Sisters) relevant to a particular Order or
Congregation in this publication remains with the relevant Order or
Congregation.