Religious Education
Religious Education Professional Development
On Friday 21st August Holy Family teachers and LSOs met at the Cardinal Knox Centre (behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne) to expand their knowledge of Mary MacKillop and the history of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This PD was led by David Schütz, a local historian, archivist and theological educator. The day was split into 3 sessions.
Session One focused on the history of the building of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in relation to the historical context of the establishment of the Catholic community in the colony of Victoria prior to Federation. We learnt about the significance of the neo-Gothic style as “Catholic” architecture and the adaption of the Cathedral and precinct following administrative and liturgical changes after Vatican II.
Session Two staff learnt about the history and social context of Saint Mary MacKillop’s birth at 7a Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (now the Memorial Garden at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital). David’s presentation focused on the arrival of her parents in Melbourne, the relationship of the site to the neighbouring home of Melbourne’s first Lord Mayor, and how the unexpected financial and housing insecurity that affected Alexander and Flora McKillop’s family changed the direction of Mary’s future vocation.
Session Three saw the staff go on a walking tour of the exterior and interior spaces of the Cathedral, where they made connections to what they had learnt in the morning. The tour also showed staff particular features of the Cathedral, such as the artistic and liturgical symbols in the layout and design of the Cathedral (including windows, furniture, mosaics, and art work). We also visited St. Mary MacKillop’s birthplace in Brunswick Street and St. Mary’s Chapel inside ACU.
Staff takeaways:
- How the decisions that Mary’s dad made in order to keep up with the more wealthy families living around him cost his family their home and in turn inspired Mary’s outlook on life and her choice of vocation. I wonder if her family hadn’t ended up in poverty and if she hadn’t had her eyes opened to the destitute and vulnerable sections of society if she would have become a nun and dedicated her life to the poor, vulnerable and uneducated.
- Learning about the history of the Cathedral and how the Cathedral site and ACU site is where Mary MacKillop grew up, and how it looked at the time (see pictures below).
- I really enjoyed learning about the history of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, particularly about its architecture with reference to previous Archbishops and their contributions towards its construction.
