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September 6, 2009 McTaggart... Mary’s Grotto in this village of barely 100 people was the site of the Weyburn Deanery’s September 6 celebration of the Archdiocesan Centennial. Each of the 9 archdiocesan deaneries is holding special celebrations throughout the year-long centennial observance. The population more than doubled as parishioners from the Deanery’s 21 parishes brought their own lawn chairs and sat outside under a huge tent that protected from the 33c sun and 40 km wind, a day more like July rather than early September. Archbishop Daniel Bohan, priests from the various deanery parishes and the altar were protected in their own little tent that opened to face the congregation. The Grotto was visible to the left and behind the altar tent. Archbishop Bohan’s homily spoke of the challenges the early pioneers faced when they arrived on the open prairie. St. Joan of Arc Parish was built in McTaggart in 1919 and priests of the Order of Our Lady of La Salette served the area. “All of this speaks of the dedication and determination of these people; their faith was of great importance to them as was their church and their Catholic community. They are witnesses to us of faithfulness and commitment and we thank God for them today.” He noted that over the years life has changed; no longer is there a church in McTaggart, “but there is a legacy and an inheritance of faith that has spread out from here.” Mary’s Grotto is of fieldstone gathered from the surrounding prairie. “Father Zdzislaw Wawryszuk and I gathered the stones but he placed them and cemented them in place,” said Mary Jarvis who owns the property and describes herself as one who has had a long lasting devotion to Mary. Jarvis is originally from Calgary and moved to this 6 acre site just west of the village about 17 years ago. Wawryszuk was an assistant at Weyburn’s St. Vincent de Paul Parish about 11 kilometres south east of McTaggart. The project was completed 2 years later in 1994. Jarvis keeps a guest book that contains signatures of people from all over North America who stopped to admire and some to meditate. The site also contains 2 fieldstone pools of water connected by a short stream that flows between them. The pools contain several fountains and the entire area is lit at night. Archbishop Bohan at the end of the service bestowed a special blessing on the site. The grotto is unique in several ways; it is privately owned, doesn’t hold a regular pilgrimage, and unlike most grottos that are dedicated to Mary in her many incarnations, this one is simply called Mary’s Grotto. The Grotto’s centrepiece statue is a replica of Michelangelo’s Pieta, the Mother of God holding her crucified son. The grotto is on a slight rise and can be easily seen from Highway 39 which passes just south of the village. Frank Flegel 
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