Artwork by Leila Carcarello
St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop is a special figure in the Australian Catholic Church. The country’s first and only canonised Saint, this year her Solemnity is celebrated on Thursday, 8 August.
Born in 1842, in Melbourne, Australia, St. Mary MacKillop always expressed a deep love for God and compassion for those in need. Co-founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866, she dedicated her life to educating the poor, particularly in remote areas. Mary lived an exemplary life of virtue – notable for her perseverance amidst suffering, trust in divine providence, and forgiveness towards those who misunderstood her.
St. Mary MacKillop’s legacy is a hopeful reminder of the profound impact one person can have on the world. If you are looking for ways to celebrate the life of this extraordinary Australian Saint on her Solemnity, here are a few ideas!
Make a walking pilgrimage
You may be blessed enough to live near an area that St. Mary MacKillop herself resided, worked, or visited. If so, this is a great opportunity to do a walking tour of historic sites related to her life.
Here is a detailed walking tour brochure for the city of Melbourne, created by the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre.
Likewise, here you will find a list of guides, walking maps, and historical information to areas of special significance in other parts of Australia.
Prepare an Aussie feast
Preparing an Aussie meal can be as easy or as elaborate as you want it to be! Some meal ideas include:
- roast lamb and vegetables
- BBQ snags and tomato sauce
- meat pies and tomato sauce
- fish and chips and dim sims (apparently deep fried dim sims are Australian!)
- Vegemite sandwiches
Aussie sweets include:
- pavlova
- lamingtons
- ANZAC biscuits
- Tim Tams
- vanilla slice
Read about her life
Since St. Mary MacKillop was only canonised in 2010, the details of her life are often not well known. Consider adding a book or two about her to your library.
The Virtues of Saint Mary of the Cross, Mary MacKillop: 1842-1909 was written by Paul Gardiner, Postulator for the Cause for Mary MacKillop. The book is an inspiring exploration of the many virtues St. Mary MacKillop exemplified throughout her difficult and tumultuous life.
Saint Mary MacKillop: Friend of Jesus by Judith Steer is a delightful picture book suitable for children of primary school age. It provides a simple biographical overview of her life, in a way that may also be appreciated by adults who are unfamiliar with her story.
Other notable titles include:
FOR ADULTS
Mary MacKillop: An Extraordinary Australian by Paul Gardiner SJ
Mary MacKillop in Challenging Times 1883-1899: A Collection of Letters arranged and Edited by Sheila McCreanor
FOR CHILDREN
Meet…Mary MacKillop by Sally Murphy and Sonia Martinez
The Black Dress: Mary MacKillop, A Novel by Pamela Freeman
“Never see a need and do nothing about it.”
St. Mary MacKillop
Learn her motto
St. Mary MacKillop is renowned for the beautiful quote, “Never see a need and do nothing about it.”
As a family consider memorising the quote. Then, discuss scenarios where it may be put into practice. Allow family members to individually share what they can do to help should the situation arise.
Thereafter, the quote may be used as a learning opportunity ‘in the moment’ to encourage family members to be of service to someone else. In this way, the quote can become a memorable family motto for years to come.
