Praying with Mary MacKillop in November
November 8, 2024
In this month of November, we traditionally remember the dead and depending upon our theology, we pray for the dead, to the dead or with the dead. A friend of mine has a strong belief and practice of praying to someone who has just died for a special situation. In current theology on the Communion of Saints, we are more likely to pray with the dead and our revised Litany of Mary MacKillop invites us to do just that.
Given all that, Mary MacKillop was more likely to pray for the dead, and she had plenty of opportunities to do so since seven members of her family died during Mary’s lifetime.
My Experience of Mary MacKillop’s Canonisation
October 8, 2024
For me the privilege of being in Rome for Mary MacKillop’s canonisation (17 October 2010) was the culmination of my Josephite journey to that point.
I was educated in primary and secondary school, and then teacher’s college with the Josephites. This gave me the opportunity to come to know the values and spirit of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. It helped me to be open, questioning and searching, the fertile ground to hear God’s call to me. My journey with the Josephites took me to many parts of New South Wales seeing ordinary people who, like my family, were the beneficiary of the commitment of so many of the Sisters.
Tri-diocesan Young Adults Pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place
A group of young adults from the Dioceses of Broken Bay, Sydney and Parramatta recently embarked on a meaningful pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. This journey was a chance to learn about the life of Australia’s first canonised saint, and an opportunity for participants to reflect on their own paths and how they might embody her values in their lives.
Young Adults and Professionals Pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place
September 6, 2024
The above quote by Mary MacKillop is a reminder that this life is temporary and a journey. As we journey through life, we encounter ups and downs which can shape our lives and contribute to who we are.
On Sunday 18 August (and in the month of Mary MacKillop’s feast), The Forest and Set Alight communities of young adults and professionals from Ryde-Gladesville Parish in Sydney, joined together to embark on a pilgrimage to learn more about the life and legacy of Mary MacKillop, a woman who understood the journey of life.
Celebrating St Mary MacKillop’s Feast at Mary MacKillop Place
St Mary MacKillop’s feast day is a momentous occasion, and to those of us blessed to call Mary MacKillop Place our workplace, we prepare to ensure everything runs smoothly for the large number of pilgrims who celebrate the feast each year.
Every team at Mary MacKillop Place has a crucial role, from organising liturgies to managing the facilities on site, conference services, catering, the café, and the many hours of behind-the-scenes administration, cooking, cleaning and stocking up etc.
Glorious Lives: Mary MacKillop – A docu-film by Shalom World
August 14, 2024
Premiering on Mary MacKillop’s feast day (8 August), Shalom World shared a docu-film on the life and legacy of Mary MacKillop as part of their Glorious Lives series. Shalom World shares the remarkable story of Sisters of Saint Joseph co-founder and Australia’s first and only canonised saint, Mary MacKillop.
A Glimpse into the Past
August 8, 2024
Senior students at St Joseph’s Primary School Numurkah recently visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, particularly the statue of St Mary of the Cross. The statue was commissioned to celebrate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first and only canonised saint in 2010.
Mary MacKillop opened St Joseph’s Primary School in 1890 which was the first Josephite School in Victoria. The Sisters of Saint Joseph, otherwise known as the Josephites, are the Sisters co-founded by Mary MacKillop.
Mary MacKillop: A Model for Josephite Companions
August 7, 2024
Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised saint, serves as a profound inspiration for Josephite Companions. Born in Melbourne of Scottish parents in 1842, Mary dedicated her life to education, social justice, and faith. She co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, known as the Josephites, whose mission is to live and work in partnership with those who share the charism of friendship, prayer, and service. Her life’s work continues to inspire many people today. Josephite Companions, lay people connected to the Josephite Sisters, see Mary’s life and efforts as a guiding light for living out these principles.
Mary’s deep bond with her sister, Annie, is a beautiful example of friendship and support. Their relationship highlights the importance of friendship in the Josephite charism. Annie’s unwavering support and dedication to Mary’s vision show how powerful companionship can be in achieving great things. Josephite Companions today can look to this sisterly bond as a model for fostering strong, supportive relationships in their own lives and communities.