Book Review: You Raise Me Up! Sister Mary Scholastica Sunderland’s Angel of Mercy
Joyce and Kevin Lillie, You Raise Me Up! Sister Mary Scholastica Sunderland’s Angel of Mercy. An inspirational story of dedication and devotion to community missionary work. 2025.
Review by Jason Zuidema (NAMMA/ICMA)
In You Raise Me Up!, Joyce and Kevin Lillie present a warm, deeply personal portrait of Sister Mary Scholastica—born Mary Nolan on 18 May 1940 in the rural town of Gort, County Galway, Ireland—and her life of devotion to the poor, the sick, and especially to seafarers in the industrial port city of Sunderland, England. Drawing on a rich tapestry of firsthand reports, media archives, personal letters, and the subject’s own reflections, the book tells the story of a woman who quietly transformed her community through decades of unwavering service.
The early chapters trace Sister Mary’s upbringing on a small Irish farm steeped in faith and family prayer, setting the tone for her eventual religious vocation. At 17, she entered the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Sunderland, moving far from home to embrace a life that was, as she put it, “lonely… away from family and friends.” Despite the austerity of convent life—marked by little heating and frugal conditions—Sister Mary found her strength in obedience, humility, and her calling to serve.
The book comes alive as it recounts Sister Mary’s decision in 2004 to take over the mission to seafarers in Sunderland, after Peter Barragan, then the port chaplain, found himself without support. With determination and prayer, Sister Mary stepped into leadership. The local council made a building, ‘Westhouse’, available as a seafarers’ centre, though it needed significant work. With help from friends, she cleaned and restored the space, eventually transforming it into a hub of welcome, free internet, refreshments, donated clothing, and pastoral care. Her ethos was shaped by the Sisters of Mercy foundress Catherine McAuley: “The poor need help today, not next week.”
The middle chapters draw heavily on Sister Mary’s annual reports and media profiles, including her appearance on BBC Two’s Sea Cities – Sunderland in 2018. These sections vividly illustrate her tireless daily rhythm—ship visits, long hours at the centre, coordination with national welfare networks, and fundraising events—all done with grace and energy. She recognized services like internet access for modern seafarers and adjusted her mission accordingly, helping mariners reconnect with their families and feel at home, if only for a moment. Like other seafarers’ missions, work during the COVID-19 pandemic was especially meaningful and intense.
Notably, the book resists presenting Sister Mary as a solitary hero. Though her name is central, her own reflections and the authors’ framing repeatedly stress the collective nature of the work. The final chapters contain tributes from fellow Sisters, priests, seafarers, and volunteers, underlining that such ministry is built not only on compassion but also collaboration. The proceeds from the book go to The “Friends of Sunderland Seamen’s Mission,” further reinforcing that this is not just a retrospective but an ongoing story of care.
You Raise Me Up! does not pretend to be scholarly history, but its documentary quality—gathering clippings, reports, and correspondence—makes it a valuable resource in its own right. The narrative offers insight into the rhythms and realities of contemporary port chaplaincy, highlighting both the mundane and miraculous aspects of the work. While Sister Mary’s path may be unique, the book offers inspiration for anyone committed to seafarers’ welfare, showing how a life of ordinary faithfulness can quietly echo with extraordinary impact.
See the BBC Two interview with Sister Mary Scholastica here.