Saint Mary MacKillop
Get to Know Mary
Saint Mary MacKillop was a trailblazer in her lifetime, leaving a culture of exemplary living for her followers to emulate. Mary paved the way for the education of children living in poverty, as well as a variety of ministries that addressed the needs of nineteenth century Australia.
Mary's Story
“We must teach more by example than by word.”
Mary Helen MacKillop was born on 15 January 1842 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, the eldest of eight children. At the age of 24, she dedicated her life to God as a religious sister, taking on the name Mary of the Cross. She died in North Sydney on 8 August 1909 and was canonised as a Saint on 17 October 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Mary’s Legacy
Mary’s legacy continues today in countless ways. New ways of living the Josephite charism have emerged through chaplaincy, pastoral work and other forms of healing and hope through spirituality, counselling, supervision and mentoring.
Mary MacKillop’s legacy encourages us to be people of justice, inspires us to be courageous and hopeful, and encourages us to encounter the sacred in the everyday. Her legacy teaches us how to forgive and how to be compassionate.
Pray With Mary
Pause and share the longings of your heart with Mary. Ask her to pray with you for your needs and the needs of our world, and your prayers will be included with the prayer intentions placed into Saint Mary’s care each day.
The Josephite Charism
The Sisters of Saint Joseph continue God’s mission by immersing themselves in the midst of life to empower others and bring hope. Ways to think about the charism include a story to enter, a language to speak, a group to belong to, a service to do or a way of proceeding.
Living and working within a Josephite context, we see the weaving of threads in the Josephite tapestry.
- To seek first the poorest, most neglected parts of God’s vineyard.
- To see education as the door to opportunity.
- To give priority to those in isolated and rural situations.
- To be the face of God’s compassionate love by reverencing the dignity of all with justice, equity and respect.
- To live among the people in our common home, Earth, reverencing the whole of creation.
- To be with people in the spiritual and human moments of life.