R.E News

St Mary MacKillop (Feast day 8th August)

Mary MacKillop was born in 1842 in (Fitzroy) Melbourne (Australia). On 8 August 1909 she died, having suffered a disabling stroke in 1902. 

Inspired by a meeting with Fr. Julian Tenison-Woods, Mary MacKillop at the age of 25 took her vows and the religious name, “Mary of the Cross”. 

In doing so, she founded the congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph. Soon after taking her religious vows, Mary MacKillop began schools. Within 5 years of taking her vows and founding the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary had established over 30 schools, in South Australia and over 100 women had joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph. 

Mary MacKillop was very conscious of the plight of the poor and needy. She worked with families that lived in isolated areas of Australia. As a result, Mary MacKillop pioneered a new form of religious life in Australia and commenced a “system” of “Josephite" schools that would provide education, especially for the children of the poor. 

In 1873, Pope Pius IX gave Papal approval for the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Even today, many Australians can say that they too have felt the impact of the enormous work started by St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), having been educated or cared for, by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. She was noted for her trust in the providence of God and miracles of healing have been attributed to her. She was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI on the 17th October 2010.

The following is a prayer for the Feast of St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop).

O God, source of all goodness,

who have shown us in Saint Mary

a woman of faith living by the power of the Cross, 

teach us, we pray, by her example 

to live the gospel in changing times 

and to respect and defend 

the human dignity of all in our land.

Through our Lord.

Amen