Penola - Opening of Redeveloped Woods MacKillop Stable Park

 The local community of Penola and especially the children of the Mary MacKillop Memorial School made sure the opening and blessing of the redevelopment of the Woods MacKillop Stable Park and new convent was done very well!

After the Sunday morning Mass in Penola people were invited to walk to the park site responding to call of the school bell. Adults and children in period costume led the pilgrim walk. At the stable site the prayers, blessings and speeches were said and delivered by Emeritus Archbishop Leonard Faulkner, Sister Marion Gambin, South Australian Provincial, Sister Anne Derwin Congregational Leader, the forty Sisters of Saint Joseph gathered, the National Pilgrims, the children and members of the community. It was truly an inclusive ritual.

The ritual used for the opening of  the first stage of the redevelopment reflected  the inclusive processes used to design and develop the park - the partnership between the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the local community, the local Mary MacKillop Penola Centre, the Wattle Range Council, the designer Peter Templeton and woodworker Andy Clifford - to name a some!

The link below to the ABC media coverage enables you to hear some of the story and gives an explanation of the park.