For a world that needs love: Mary MacKillop and the Sacred Heart
In a world where relationships so often fail, Mary MacKillop’s understanding that her consecration in Religious Life bound her to Christ as closely as marriage does can inspire. She used to call herself ‘Christ’s spouse’, and so wrote that, as such, she should “be equally interested in all that is dear to his Heart”. [1]
In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop – Bookings for Pilgrimage Now Open
Bookings are now open for pilgrims to participate in the popular Australian National Pilgrimage: In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop run by Mary MacKillop Place and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. The next pilgrimage will be running from 17 – 28 October 2023 and will visit many places associated with Mary […]
Mary MacKillop With Us
We invite you to view a poem on Mary MacKillop by Covenant Josephite, Rosa Davila.
Mary MacKillop goes to Rome
To celebrate 150 years since Mary MacKillop embarked on her first overseas journey (March 1873 – December 1874), the Sisters of Saint Joseph share reflections and details from Mary’s travels to and from Europe – sourced from Mary’s letters and Congregational Archives as she visits Italy, Germany, Scotland and Ireland. “I am going to Rome… […]
JJAMM (Joseph, Julian and Mary MacKillop) 2023
And that’s a wrap on JJAMM 2023! What a fun, empowering, and faith-filled ride it was. Our Josephite student leaders journeyed across Australia and New Zealand to join forces in their collective pursuit for justice in the name of the Josephite tradition. It was a privilege to watch these gifted and insightful young leaders reinvigorate […]
MacKa Moments for Lent
MacKa Moments (MacKa short for Mary MacKillop) are short, candid videos about moments in Mary MacKillop’s life by Sr Rita Malavisi. For the season of Lent, Sr Rita will create and share MacKa Moments and release them weekly.
Reporting on the Vagaries of Life
Report cards have always been a source of consternation for teachers, parents, and students of all ages. People familiar with Mary MacKillop’s Portland story would remember the furore that arose from the efforts of Mr Cusack to impress the school inspector with some clever behind the scenes prompting and a quick switch of the more […]
Continual Good Light
Recently, my brain has lit up like a lightbulb through counselling study, and the latest New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) and National Centre for Religious Studies (NCRS) documents. It has been fascinating to define sexuality, and it’s led me to reflect… How does it link with Christianity and Saint Mary MacKillop? Why is understanding […]
Alexander MacKillop – Father of Mary MacKillop
Mary MacKillop’s father Alexander MacKillop was born in the Lochaber district of Scotland in 1812. He died in Hamilton, Victoria (VIC) on 19 December 1868 and is buried there. Alexander had studied for the priesthood in Rome and for a short time in his homeland in Scotland. However, as he said, “it was not God’s […]
Remembering the Beatification of Mary MacKillop
Beatification Ceremony at Randwick Racecourse. The Beatification of Mary MacKillop was a historical time for Australians. The naming of a saint born and raised in Australia brought great joy, not only to Catholics, but to many others who had come to know and admire her. Weatherwise, 19 January 1995 was grey, threatening to rain. In […]
Mary MacKillop’s Cross from the Beginning
We celebrate the birth of Australia’s first canonised saint and co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary MacKillop, who was born on 15 January 1842. Mary MacKillop’s whole life, almost from the time of her conception to her death, was overshadowed by the Cross. Father Geoghegan, priest at St. Francis’ Catholic Church, Melbourne, gave […]
Death of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
The Sisters of Saint Joseph join the church universal in acknowledging the death of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. The Sisters remember with fondness his visit to the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel (Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney) during his visit to Australia for World Youth Day 2008 when he prayed at Mary’s tomb and gifted us […]