Theotheronewastosmall

Mary Mackillop

By THEMAN1277

  • Birth

    Birth
    Mary MacKillop was born in 1842 in Melbourne in a suburb called, Fitzroy. She was the eldest of eight children.

  • Started Work

    Started Work
    She went out for work at a small town called Penola. She didn’t find work until a year later.

  • Moved to Penola

    Moved to Penola
    She got a job as a governess on her uncle's farm. She now met the man that would change her life forever, Fr Julian Tennison Woods.

  • First School

    First School
    Together, Mary and Father Woods opened the first free Catholic school in Penola, at first in a converted stable and then later in a sustainable stone building.

  • The Sisters of St Josephs

    The Sisters of St Josephs
    They both formed a new religious order of nuns - the Sisters of St Joseph - devoted to teaching the poor. Mary took her vows, becoming the order's first sister and its leader. She was just 25 years old.

  • Excommunicated from the Church

    Excommunicated from the Church
    Other religious orders were controlled by their local bishops but the Sisters of St Joseph insisted on governing themselves, something that caused considerable friction with the powers that be in the church. This conflict, along with allegations of sexual abuse the sisters raised against a priest at Kapunda, north of Adelaide. Led Adelaide Bishop Laurence Sheil to excommunicate Mary MacKillop for alleged insubordination in 1871.

  • Rome

    Rome
    Mary MacKillop sailed over to Rome to ask approval from the Pope. The Pope welcomed her kindly and gave her blessing.

  • Stroke

    Stroke
    Mary MacKillop suffered a severe stroke. She was invalid for the remaining of her life.

  • Death

    Death
    Mary MacKillop died on August 8, 1909. She is buried at Gore Hill Cemetry in St Leanords.

  • Becoming a Saint

    Becoming a Saint
    She was beatified in 1995. Then she became Saint on 2010 and is now known as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.