A Favourite Christian Feast – The Assumption of Mary, Mother of God
Do you have a favourite Christian feast? St Mary MacKillop claimed the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (or Mother of God) as hers.[1] This feast has its origins in Jerusalem before the end of the fourth century. The early Christians held Mary, the loving and courageous Jewish Mother of Jesus, as one of their […]
Saint Mary MacKillop Feast Day 2023
A Message from Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Saint Joseph. Let us rejoice in the gift of Mary MacKillop to our Church and our world as we celebrate her feast day.
The Other Mary
In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that “towards dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” (28:1) Earlier we had been told that, after Joseph of Arimathea had placed the body of Jesus in a new tomb and sealed it, “Mary Magdalene […]
Mary MacKillop, An Example and Inspiration
I consider I have this day assisted at the deathbed of a Saint. [1] Cardinal Moran 1909 We know that a saint is someone whose life is lived in intimate union with God, and for God, accepting God’s will in all events of life. (One’s life is examined to be considered worthy by the Church […]
Mary MacKillop’s Virtues, Values and Time in Arrowtown, Aotearoa New Zealand
How do Mary MacKillop’s virtues and values inspire the happenings of everyday life? Sr Margaret Mary Sexton wrote: When the time came for Mother Mary MacKillop to begin her visitation of the other houses, she feared her little Arrow community would be very lonely so far away from all the other convents.Sr Margaret Mary Sexton, […]
Mary MacKillop’s Example of Charitable Speech
I did think she [Mary MacKillop] was very patient and showed us all the love and welcome a mother could when we joined the Sydney sisterhood. One thing that struck me particularly was her charity in speaking to others. Sr Isidore Dunning 1925 In our world of instant news and information, we are constantly confronted […]
Mary MacKillop goes to London and Paray-le-Monial
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. When we celebrated Easter week earlier this year, we were powerfully reminded of […]
Be Fierce for Fair on the Feast Day of Australia’s most loved Saint
Jane Woolford, CEO of Mary MacKillop Today, invites the Josephite family to celebrate Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on 8 August as a united community who believe in being fierce in the face of adversity and fair where there is injustice.
Mary MacKillop Feast Day Celebrations 2023
Mary MacKillop Place and the Sisters of Saint Joseph extend a warm invitation to all to celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Tuesday, 8 August 2023. “Mary MacKillop Place is a sacred site unlike any other because Mary lived, died and is buried here,” says Sr Monica Cavanagh, Congregational […]
Mary MacKillop: A Legacy that Shines a Light Upon the Unseen
All people who know of Mary MacKillop are familiar with her loving and compassionate personality, a woman with a strong desire to live out the teachings of the Gospel. Throughout her life, Mary accompanied many people during moments of hardship as well as moments of great happiness. She offered friendship to all, truly leading a […]
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 […]