-
Period: to
Life and Times of Mary MacKillop
-
Birth of Mary
Mary Helen MacKillop was born to parents Flora and Alexander MacKillop. She was the eldest of 8 children they went on to have. -
First Job
Mary started work at aged 14. She worked as a clerk at Sands and Kenny Stationers. -
Governess job
At the age of 18, Mary moved to Penola in SA to be a governess to her Aunt's children (the Cameron family). It was here that she began to teach other children and also met Father Julian Tenison Woods for the first time. -
First paid teaching job
Mary was appointed to a salaried teaching position at Portland Catholic Denominational School (Portland). -
Stable School opened
Mary left Portland in 1865 and in 1866, she and Fr Julian Woods opened the Stable School in Penola on the Feast day of St Joseph. The Stable School was for poor children of the region to have free education. Mary wore a plain black dress to signify her dedication and intention to do God's work. -
Takes first religious vows
Mary MacKillop took her religious vows on this day and became Sister Mary MacKillop - her new religious order was called Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart -
Final religious vows - Sister Mary!
Mary takes her final vows and is now known as Sister Mary MacKillop. -
Excommunication
Because Bishop Sheil did not like the influence Sr. Mary and Fr. Julian had over their religious order, he tried to have them demoted. Mary strongly objected, resulting in her excommunication. She was excommunicated from the Church and ordered to leave the Sisters of St Joseph. Mary famously said that at this time of her life (her most difficult trial), she felt closer to God than she had at any other time in her life. -
Excommunication lifted
The excommunication order was lifted and the Sisters were restored to their habits (religious dress). Although they were not officially disbanded because of Mary's excommunication, many of the schools they ran were closed down. Mary wanted to ensure that her and Fr. Julian's authority would not be threatened again, so she sought the highest authority of the Catholic Church - the Pope. -
Visit to the Vatican
Mary travelled to Rome to seek an audience with the Pope - Pope Pius iX. He had heard of her and her religious order and gave her his special blessing (dispensation) to have control over the Sisters of St Joseph. This meant no priest or Bishop could question her Sisters, or make them move somewhere else without Mary's approval. -
First school in New Zealand
Sisters of St Joseph opened their first school in New Zealand - at Temuka on the South Island. -
Stroke
When visiting the New Zealand schools, Mary suffered a stroke and was paralyzed on the right side of her body. Despite being in a wheelchair, she was still elected as Superior General of the order in 1905 and still held the position until the time of her death. -
Death
Mary died in Sydney. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Moran (who gave her the Last Rite) said that: "I consider this day to have assisted at the deathbed of a Saint." She was buried at Gore Hill cemetary. A memorial Chapel was built in 1914 and her remains were re-laid there. -
Cause for Beatification raised
The Superior General Mother of the order Laurence O'Brien raised the idea of Mary being Beatified with the Delegate. -
First Miracle
A 24 year old woman in Sydney was diagnosed with leukaemia and only given months to live. Family and friends prayed to Mary MacKillop and she recovered much to the amazement of her doctors. -
Venerable Mary MacKillop
Vatican studies miracle by Mary MacKillop for her beatification
Mary was awarded the title Venerable Mary MacKillop by the Roman Catholic Church after examining her life. -
Second Miracle
Kathleen Evans was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer and sent home with doctors saying nothing could be done. Family, friends and Sisters of St Joseph prayed to Mary for her. Less than a year later, an x-ray found no trace of cancer in her body. -
Ceremony of Beatification
Ceremony of Beatification by Pope Paul II in Sydney. -
Penola Catholic College opens
Penola Catholic College first opened it's doors in 1995, on the site of the St Joseph's Babies Home in Broadmeadows. It was a 7-12 Secondary Catholic School. -
Canonisation
Australian report on Canonisation Mass in Rome
Report on St Mary's Canonisation
Pope Benedict XVI canonised Mary MacKillop and 4 other people in a ceremony at St Peter's Basilica. She has finally been recognised as a Saint and is now referred to as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
