The Friendship of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods
Each year we recall Julian Tenison Woods on the 7 October anniversary of his death and laud his talents and deep spirituality. While Mary and the early sisters didn’t readily express their attachment to Julian’s eco-spirituality in writing, I am certain that his vision brushed off on them and that they shared his wonder at […]
Let’s Take A Stand For the Church Today – It’s What Mary MacKillop Would Do
Surging wonder and gratitude were unexpected feelings for me when I saw the picture of Mary MacKillop hanging on the walls of St Peter’s Basilica on the day of the canonisation, 17 October 2010. World recognition of the workings of God through this woman was an awe-inspiring thing indeed. In her Ministerial Statement made to […]
Mary MacKillop’s Humanity and Humour
Flesh and blood MacKillop is a woman of strength and humour who had her share of personal heartbreak. The real, very human MacKillop lies somewhere between feminist icon and humble saint. No one is the loser if you recognise her sanctity and holiness, but you don’t lift her out of the realm of human beings, […]
Supporting One Another
We are all in the gift of much older work. We are looking often by others’ eyes and we are only preparing ourselves to do something larger. [1] Visiting the beautiful country of Scotland gave me a marvellous insight into the character and background of Mary MacKillop’s parents, Alexander and Flora MacKillop. It also provided […]
Saint Mary MacKillop Feast Day 2021
Greetings on this feast of Mary MacKillop as parts of Australia and our world are in lockdown which means that celebrations for this feast need to be held in homes. Mary’s mother Flora and her siblings had to enter a period of quarantine when they arrived in Australia in 1839. I imagine that Flora shared […]
Mary MacKillop, an Example of Compassion
More than ever the poor of this world, as well as the rich and famous, suffer from a hunger of some kind. The words and actions of Jesus, often accompanied by miraculous results, are signposts for our Christian lives. The recent biblical reading of the story of the raising of the daughter of Jairus opens up a deeply human Jesus who tells the family to give her something to eat. (Luke 8: 55)
To Love Like Mary MacKillop, Love the Poor
Mary MacKillop, a strong woman of deep compassion, had a real love for the poor. Her love of God led her to reach out to the most deprived and despised in the colony in her time. Joan Healy rsj wonderfully describes this phenomenon: God’s Spirit wove the threads of her circumstances into a spiritual fabric […]
Faithful Mother Gives Her All
Flora MacKillop gave birth to eight children. Three she gave to God in the priesthood and religious life. She mourned five who were lost before they turned thirty, one while still a baby. No stranger to sorrows, Flora’s life ended suddenly in the notorious wreck of the Ly-ee-moon off the coast of Eden, on the […]
Mary and Flora MacKillop
A mother’s love is epitomized by sacrifice, self-giving, nurturing, shaping and supporting. Mothers rejoice in the creation of a child and enjoy the happiness of family life. Flora MacKillop was an exceptional mother to her children, despite shouldering many of the burdens of the family alone.
Flora – A Woman of Faith
Flora MacKillop (née MacDonald) was born in The Ben Nevis (Hotel) in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands in 1816. At the time her father Donald was the proprietor. She was the only girl with two brothers, Alexander and Donald. The family migrated to Melbourne in 1840 with their mother Catherine, while their father came […]
Reflection on Mary MacKillop
Strong women are rising up and making their voices heard in the workplace, in society and in the home. The Australian of the Year, Grace Tame at a recent march for justice, implored women to be united in stamping out patriarchy. She boldly reminded us that allowing to let fear stop us from doing anything […]