Praying with Mary MacKillop in November
In this month of November, we traditionally remember the dead and depending upon our theology, we pray for the dead, to the dead or with the dead. A friend of mine has a strong belief and practice of praying to someone who has just died for a special situation. In current theology on the Communion […]
My Experience of Mary MacKillop’s Canonisation
For me the privilege of being in Rome for Mary MacKillop’s canonisation (17 October 2010) was the culmination of my Josephite journey to that point. I was educated in primary and secondary school, and then teacher’s college with the Josephites. This gave me the opportunity to come to know the values and spirit of the […]
Tri-diocesan Young Adults Pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place
A group of young adults from the Dioceses of Broken Bay, Sydney and Parramatta recently embarked on a meaningful pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. This journey was a chance to learn about the life of Australia’s first canonised saint, and an opportunity for participants to reflect on their own paths and how […]
Love of God, love of neighbour, love of common home
Joy and Suffering One of the greatest joys I have experienced through the Josephite charism is the beauty of relationship between Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods. Jan Williamson captured it wonderfully in her painting The Vision. But joy and suffering often go together. I remember suffering when I first learned of Mary and […]
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
You may have noticed recent media references to “childless cat-ladies”. By and large, these have been politically spiked, positive neither to women or cats. For a start, the woman of whom I write today was definitely not ‘childless’, for she, Saint Helena as the Church honours her, was the mother of Constantine the Great, the […]
Young Adults and Professionals Pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place
Remember we are but travellers here. Mary MacKillop 1867 The above quote by Mary MacKillop is a reminder that this life is temporary and a journey. As we journey through life, we encounter ups and downs which can shape our lives and contribute to who we are. On Sunday 18 August (and in the month […]
Celebrating St Mary MacKillop’s Feast at Mary MacKillop Place
St Mary MacKillop’s feast day is a momentous occasion, and to those of us blessed to call Mary MacKillop Place our workplace, we prepare to ensure everything runs smoothly for the large number of pilgrims who celebrate the feast each year. Every team at Mary MacKillop Place has a crucial role, from organising liturgies to […]
Companions Supporting Companions Webinar
Every year, the Josephite Companions celebrate ‘Josephite Companions Day’. To commemorate this day, there was a webinar titled ‘Companions Supporting Companions’ on 31 August which featured the life of Mary MacKillop’s sister, Annie. Who is the story-teller in your family? Every family has one; someone who keeps the memories alive, never lets the exact truth […]
Glorious Lives: Mary MacKillop – A docu-film by Shalom World
Premiering on Mary MacKillop’s feast day (8 August), Shalom World shared a docu-film on the life and legacy of Mary MacKillop as part of their Glorious Lives series. Shalom World shares the remarkable story of Sisters of Saint Joseph co-founder and Australia’s first and only canonised saint, Mary MacKillop.
A Glimpse into the Past
Senior students at St Joseph’s Primary School Numurkah recently visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, particularly the statue of St Mary of the Cross. The statue was commissioned to celebrate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first and only canonised saint in 2010. Mary MacKillop opened St Joseph’s Primary School in 1890 which was […]
Mary MacKillop: A Model for Josephite Companions
Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised saint, serves as a profound inspiration for Josephite Companions. Born in Melbourne of Scottish parents in 1842, Mary dedicated her life to education, social justice, and faith. She co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, known as the Josephites, whose mission is to live and work in […]
Mary MacKillop: An Inspiration for Faith in Action
As we celebrate the feast of Saint Mary MacKillop, we reflect upon her extraordinary life and enduring legacy, her beacon of faith, resilience, and compassion. Mary’s story is not just a chapter for the archives of Australian history, but a living testament to the transformative power of the Gospel and a source of inspiration for […]