The liturgical feast of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, on Friday 8 August, confirms and proclaims worldwide that Mary MacKillop enjoys eternal peace, ‘nestled in the very heart’ of the God whom she loved and served so faithfully throughout her earthly life.
We can confidently pray for guidance through her intercession for our needs, both individually and collectively. This is something that the Sisters of Saint Joseph and those who seek to embrace the charism of Mary MacKillop in their daily lives, have always believed, well before her official canonisation.
On 8 August 1909, Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran administered the Last Rites to Mary in Alma Cottage, located within Mary MacKillop Place (North Sydney) and his words at the time have echoed across eleven decades.
Josephite Companions draw significant inspiration from the life and legacy of Mary MacKillop as they “seek to support one another by Friendship, Prayer and Service, to make a difference in their local area and so further the reign of God”. (The Josephite Companion Movement Charter)
Mary was a prolific letter writer. We learn much from her written correspondence to her parents, siblings, relatives, friends, her spiritual director and co-founder of the Sisters of Saint Joseph – Father Julian Tenison Woods – her dear Sisters and members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy at the time.
Mary’s letters highlight her deep faith, abiding trust in God’s providence, respect for the human dignity of all and ongoing sense of hope in the enduring power of God’s love. For Sister/Mother ‘Mary of the Cross’, the reality of Jesus’ resurrection seemed to get her through the tough times to recognise and accept God’s will in her life.
It is so fitting to be celebrating the feast of St Mary MacKillop in 2025 in this Jubilee Year of Hope, which was desginated to restoring a climate of hope and trust and emphasises the need for all to contribute to making a more just and equitable world. (Pope Francis 11.2.2022)
The inspiring sayings of Mary MacKillop, often reproduced on fridge magnets, posters, banners, digitally or printed material, somehow always seem to invite us back to a place of relationship and proactivity through ‘Prayer, Friendship and Service’.
Throughout her life, Mary modelled the importance of making a difference by consistently ‘showing up’ or ‘being there’ for those in need, generously providing practical help and compassionate consolation. She teaches us about the liberating value of living simply in order to be approachable and available to God and others.
Mary Mackillop has become a companion in hope, trust and courage for so many throughout the world, especially during these unpredictable and challenging times for those experiencing displacement and suffering as victims of war, families trying to make ends meet, and global warming impacting our beautiful planet.
Today, Mary’s final words, written to her Sisters, may also be relevant and prophetic, offering hope and encouragement to all from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
As we celebrate the feast of St Mary MacKillop this year, let us recall her inspirational words, and be open to contemplative reflection in prayer, as she connects with us via her ‘celestial’ signature.
Bernadette Roche
Josephite Companion