Blessed Mary MacKillop
“Never see a need without trying to do something about it”
Early Life
Mary Helen MacKillop was born on the 15th of January 1842 and was born at Brunswick Street Fitzroy in Melbourne. She was the eldest of 8 children and her parents names were Alexander and Flora MacKillop. Mary was Scottish and grew up to be a Shopgirl to help her family, because they were very poor. Mary went to a small private school and also got home schooled by her Father.
Mary’s Accomplishments
Some of Mary’s accomplishments were being a Governess, which is a home school teacher, at the age of 18 and lived at her Aunt and Uncle’s place in Penola. She also taught in the Catholic Denominational School in Portland when she was 14. She was involved in being a principal of a small boarding school. Father Woods (a priest from Penola) invited Mary and her two sisters Lexie and Annie to Penola in SA to open a Catholic School in 1866.They opened the school in stables and had renovations done by Mary’s brother. The MacKillop’s taught more than 50 children.
Sisterhood
In 1867, Mary MacKillop became the first sister, Mother Superior (Head of Nuns) of the newly formed order of ‘The Sisters of Saint Joseph’ in the convent in Grote Street in Adelaide. The Sisters of Saint Joseph was the first religious group started in Australia. Father Woods and Mary wrote up special rules for the sisters to live by and follow. By the end of 1867 ten other sisters had joined the Josephites.
Death
Mary spent much of her time travelling with her sisters. While visiting New Zealand in 1902 she suffered a severe stroke. Since then she had been in a wheelchair and her movements were restricted. On the 8th of August 1909 Mary Helen MacKillop passed away. She was laid to rest at Gore Hill Cemetery. Her body has been moved to the Memorial Chapel in Mount St, Sydney in a tomb. After her death, The Sisters of Saint Joseph continued with the education program and in 1911 they opened a new school at Terowie. Now the 8th day of every month has become a special day for pilgrams, where they go to Mary MacKillop Place, and pray beside her tomb.
How Mary MacKillop Lived the Gospel Values
Mary lived the gospel values by listening and responding to the call of the Holy Spirit in her life and by also praying her special prayer: ‘Most loving Lord, help me to never see a need with out trying to do something about it’.
Early Life
Mary Helen MacKillop was born on the 15th of January 1842 and was born at Brunswick Street Fitzroy in Melbourne. She was the eldest of 8 children and her parents names were Alexander and Flora MacKillop. Mary was Scottish and grew up to be a Shopgirl to help her family, because they were very poor. Mary went to a small private school and also got home schooled by her Father.
Mary’s Accomplishments
Some of Mary’s accomplishments were being a Governess, which is a home school teacher, at the age of 18 and lived at her Aunt and Uncle’s place in Penola. She also taught in the Catholic Denominational School in Portland when she was 14. She was involved in being a principal of a small boarding school. Father Woods (a priest from Penola) invited Mary and her two sisters Lexie and Annie to Penola in SA to open a Catholic School in 1866.They opened the school in stables and had renovations done by Mary’s brother. The MacKillop’s taught more than 50 children.
Sisterhood
In 1867, Mary MacKillop became the first sister, Mother Superior (Head of Nuns) of the newly formed order of ‘The Sisters of Saint Joseph’ in the convent in Grote Street in Adelaide. The Sisters of Saint Joseph was the first religious group started in Australia. Father Woods and Mary wrote up special rules for the sisters to live by and follow. By the end of 1867 ten other sisters had joined the Josephites.
Death
Mary spent much of her time travelling with her sisters. While visiting New Zealand in 1902 she suffered a severe stroke. Since then she had been in a wheelchair and her movements were restricted. On the 8th of August 1909 Mary Helen MacKillop passed away. She was laid to rest at Gore Hill Cemetery. Her body has been moved to the Memorial Chapel in Mount St, Sydney in a tomb. After her death, The Sisters of Saint Joseph continued with the education program and in 1911 they opened a new school at Terowie. Now the 8th day of every month has become a special day for pilgrams, where they go to Mary MacKillop Place, and pray beside her tomb.
How Mary MacKillop Lived the Gospel Values
Mary lived the gospel values by listening and responding to the call of the Holy Spirit in her life and by also praying her special prayer: ‘Most loving Lord, help me to never see a need with out trying to do something about it’.
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