MacKillop Feast Day 

On Tuesday 8 August, we celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop by getting together for lunch and joining in a variety of activities. Mary was born 15 January 1942 in Melbourne and died in Sydney 8 August 1909. She was driven by her desire to show God’s love to others especially those who were most in need. Mary yearned to ensure that poor children and women were offered the opportunity to gain an education and thus the ability to create a better life. In 1866, inspired by Fr Julian Tenison Woods, Mary opened the first St Joseph’s school in a refurbished stable in Penola, South Australia. Then, drawn by the good work Mary was doing, her own sisters came to her assistance at the school.  

Mary MacKillop longed to help “the poorest of the poor” and to “never see a need without trying to do something about it”. She was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1871 due to her alleged non-compliance with the church at the time but was later reinstated. Mary fought hard for her beliefs and even visited Rome to continue fighting for what was right. Mary’s inspirational work in education, with refugees, indigenous communities and all those who struggle in our world continues. 

Mary MacKillop was a woman truly ahead of her time, always pragmatic and down to earth. She wasn’t afraid to question authority when justice and charity required it. Throughout all her trials and tribulations, she never stopped giving and helping those in need, regardless of their circumstances or their religion. Every day we work hard to follow in her footsteps and to improve conditions for those who need it most. 

‘We must teach more by example than by word.’ Mary MacKillop