Education in Faith

Sacrament Dates 2023

Confirmation Year 6: Wednesday 6th September

6T 5.00pm Mass

6B 7.00pm Mass

Confirmation Parent/Child Workshop Evening: Tuesday 22nd August 6.45 to 8.00pm

Confirmation Reflection Day: Thursday 31st August

Confirmation Commitment Mass: 

Saturday 19th August 6.00pm 

or

Sunday 20th August 8.30am

or

Sunday 20th August 10.30am

or

Sunday 20th August 5.00pm

Confirmation Medal Mass: 

Saturday 2nd September 6.00pm 

or

Sunday 3rd September 8.30am

or

Sunday 3rd September 10.30am

or

Sunday 3rd September 5.00pm

Saint Mary MacKillop - Feast Day 8th August (cont’d)

When Mary was 14 years old she commenced her first job. Working as a clerk for four years enabled Mary to provide money for her poor family. When she was 18 years old she moved to the South Australian town of Penola and worked as a governess looking after her cousins and teaching both them and other children in the area.  Whilst Mary was living in this small town, she became friends with a priest who would later become her spiritual guide -Father Julian Tenison Woods.  Like Mary, Father Tenison Woods loved children and wanted to help poor children attend school.  In 1866 Mary MacKillop and Father Tenison Woods's inspirational work began when they started the first St Joseph's School in a small stable.  All of the children had lessons in reading, writing, maths and singing.

Mary and her sisters also taught the children about God and taught them to trust in Jesus as he would be a friend to them throughout their lives. In 1866 Mary MacKillop and Father Tenison Woods founded the religious order of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites) and in 1867 at the age of 24, Mary MacKillop became a nun - Sister Mary of the Cross.  

As more young women joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph, more schools were opened. After a short period of time, the Josephite schools, educating thousands of children, were open in most states of Australia.  

Mary MacKillop and her Josephite nuns were selfless people who not only gave poor children a free Catholic education, but provided many orphaned children with shelter, clothing and food.  They also set up houses for elderly women, young girls and women without jobs. They gave their life to people in need, often providing comfort to the sick and dying and even visiting people in jail to give them whatever help they could.   

Since childhood, Mary MacKillop felt that God was calling her to make a difference in the world. Today the Sisters of St. Joseph are still continuing the work that Mary MacKillop started all those years ago. The congregation now totals about 1200 sisters working mainly in Australia and New Zealand, and smaller numbers working in countries such as Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland and Brazil. 

Mary MacKillop died on the 8th August, 1909 in North Sydney where her tomb can be visited today. She was a wonderful woman who brought the message of God’s love to everyone she met and spent her life caring for and educating people in need. She was made Australia’s first Saint on the 17th October 2010. 

Altar Service 2023