Feast of Mary MacKillop - Auckland 2008

On Sunday 10th August many Sisters, Associates, friends and parishioners gathered at Good Shepherd Church to celebrate Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day. It was a joy filled occasion enhanced by the presence of the school children, teachers and parents from Good Shepherd School – the children’s singing was almost “angelic” – a credit to their teachers.
The theme for the gathering was around Mary’s love for children and especially the poor. Mary experienced poverty in her life but gained a love of learning from her father who had studied for a time to be a priest. Mary wanted to make sure that in the time when education was only for those who could pay that the children from poor families would also have an opportunity to learn, and so better themselves.
The afternoon began with a liturgy in which the children from the school took an active part through singing, prayer and the telling of the story of the Sisters of St Joseph and how they came to be in Balmoral.
The scripture reading was taken from Matthew 18: 1-5. The message we focused on was Jesus’ love for and understanding of young people as portrayed by Mary MacKillop:

• Mary MacKillop all her life had an abiding love for children
• When she wrote about her desire, as a young girl, to enter a religious congregation, she spoke of wanting to “serve God and his poor neglected little ones . . . to devote myself to poor children”.
• There are many stories about the ways in which Mary showed her regard for children. On a very basic level, whenever she visited one of the Josephite schools – usually to see the children give a concert or demonstrate what they had learnt – she always had with her a tin of sweets and would hand these out to the children at the end of her visit.
• However treats like this went hand in hand with her concern that all children should be treated equally ‘“there must be no distinctions among us” – and their dignity be respected.

At the completion of the liturgy all enjoyed refreshments, conversation, renewing old acquaintances and meeting new friends.
As is usual at this annual celebration there was a raffle for the support of the House of Bethany and the Beautiful Daughters project.
The House of Bethany is a place for rest and relaxation at Mission Bay especially for families who may never experience a holiday. We rely on grants and donations so proceeds from the raffle will assist with this home run by the Sisters.
Some of the money will also go towards the Beautiful Daughters project which the Sisters are also involved in, in West Auckland. Through this project, young girls aged 14-16 who have been working on the streets are given an opportunity to study and develop their self esteem so that they well be great women who will be great citizens of the future.