Mary MacKillop, a sister of the Josephite order, is set to become the first Australian saint. Her story is an inspiration to all Australians.
Campaigners for Mary MacKillop's canonisation will be urging the Pope next month (April 2008) to recognise Australia's first saint in the Universal Catholic Church. (CathNews.com)
Humble Beginnings
On the 15th of January, 1842 in Melbourne baby Mary MacKillop was born. Alexander and Flora MacKillop, Scottish immigrants were loving parents who provided a good and stable home for the child, even though times were hard financially. The eldest of seven children, Mary experienced more than her fare share of responsibility, nonetheless, she received a good education despite the financial difficulties.
Professional Career
From the age of sixteen, Mary was a wage earner contributing to the support of her family. She worked as a governess, as a clerk, and later as a teacher at the Portland school.
When Mary met Father Julian Tenison Woods, she became inspired by the dream to educate children. In 1866, encouraged by Father Woods, Mary opened a little school in an old stable in Penola.
The order of St Josephite Nuns she founded has subsequently had a profound influence on the forming of Catholic Education in Australia. She also opened orphanages, cared for the homeless and destitute of all ages, and created refuges for ex-prisoners and ex-prostitutes.
A Life of Tenacious Perseverance
Throughout her life, Mary met with opposition from people outside the Church and from some of those within it. Together with Fr Woods she endured many tribulations including a wrongful excommunication by the ill and badly-advised Bishop of Adelaide, Bishop Sheil.
No matter how bad things became, she simply did not attack those who wrongly accused her and undermined her work. Rather, she continued on with her work in the way she believed God wanted her to. She repeatedly forgave those who wronged her.
Throughout her life Mary suffered ill health. She died on August 8, 1909 in the convent in Mount Street, North Sydney.
The Saint Like Qualities of Mary MacKillop
The process to saint hood is a long and tricky one. While Mary has been beatified, she has still not been canonised.
This formality, however, is not as important to the Australian people as the impact that her life has had and will have on the population in the future.
Here are some of the characteristics that have made Mary MacKillop one of the most loved and followed women in the short course of Australian Modern History
- She reached out to the poor and rejected. Without judgement, shame or blame she reached out to prisoners and prostitutes.
- Her vision profoundly influenced the forming of Catholic Education throughout Australia.
- She was instrumental in the empowerment of people who had fallen on hard times, helping them as much as possible to have a fresh start in life.
- Mary MacKillop modeled forgiveness, meeting opposition from people outside the Church and from within with an open heart.
- Her legacy now reaches through the Order of St Josephite Nuns to the homeless, the new migrant, the Aboriginal, the lonely and the unwanted.
- She was a woman who could focus with clarity, and in so doing was able to articulate vision which would inspire dedication in others.
A Vision Left As A Legacy
"Little did either of us dream of what was to spring from so small a beginning" (Mary MacKillop, Letter to the Sisters)
One can only speculate about how Mary MacKillop became such an inspiration. Historical writers surmise that she believed in herself and her ability to achieve and that this strength of self belief seemed to be bolstered by her absolute faith in God. Because she possessed such strong faith, she was able to hear Gods plan for her and through this to understand and see a design in the way events shaped her life. She was a woman of courage who dreamed big dreams with a determination fierce enough to persevere. Canonised or not she will continue to influence the course of social justice in Australia.
More information the history of Mary MacKillop and the Order she founded can be found on the General Resources Page of the St Josephite Sisters Website.
