Religious Education 

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This Thursday 8th day of August is a special day for all Australians as we celebrate the Feast Day of Australia’s first and only Saint Mary MacKillop. 

Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Fitzroy January 15th 1842 and died in Sydney 8th August 1909. She was canonised 17th October 2010. 

Saint Mary MacKillop was the eldest of eight children, her parents Flora and Alexander MacKillop, were Catholic immigrants from Scotland.

Mary worked as a teacher in a little country town in South Australia called Penola. There she met Father Julian Tenison Woods who also wanted to do something for the poor children who could not afford to pay the money needed to go to school. 

Together, in 1866, they began the first St Joseph’s School in an old stable.The Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart are often called  ‘Josephites’ or ‘Brown Joey’s’ because they wear brown gowns.

One of Saint Mary MacKillop's most generous quotes 

"Never see a need without 

doing something about it"

Julie Leonard - Religious Education Leader & Wellbeing Leader