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Birth
Born on the 15th of January at Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne -
Baptism
Baptised at St Francis, Melbourne -
First Holy Communion
Mary recieves her First Holy Communion on the 15th of August -
Starts work
Starts working at age 14 and soon after becomes the primary breadwinner for her family. -
Becomes governess
Becomes governess to the children of her uncle, Alexander Cameron, at Penola in South Australia, where she meets Father Julian Tenison Woods, who becomes her spiritual guide. -
Appointed to Portland
Appointed to Portland Catholic School for teaching. -
Leaves Portland
Relinquished Bay View House and left Portland. -
Starts School
Started the first free school in Penola on the 19th of March, St Joseph’s day. Mary wears a plain black dress to signify her dedication to do God’s work. -
Forms Sisters of St Joseph
Joins with Father Woods to form a new religious order of nuns, the Sisters of St Joseph, devoted to teaching the poor, with Mary as mother superior; opens a convent-cottage and a school in Adelaide. -
Religious Vows
Mary MacKillop takes her religious vows on August 15. -
Takes final vows
Takes her final vows on December 8; and leaves for Queensland to open schools there. -
Government refuses to fund Catholic education
Opposition to the Sisters grows over the issue of central government and refusal to accept government grants for education; the sisters face trouble in Adelaide over 'visionaries'. -
Excommunicated from Catholic Church
Mary MacKillop is excommunicated from the Catholic Church. -
Excommunication Order removed
Excommunication order is removed. -
Sister's Habits
Sisters restored to their habits -
Mary returns to Australia
Mary MacKillop returns to Australia with 15 Irish postulants, following travels in Europe to visit schools. -
Superior General
Mary is elected as the first superior general of the Sisters of St Joseph. -
Sisters leave Bathurst
Sisters obliged to leave Bathurst because of Bishop Matthew Quinn’s refusal to accept central government of the Institute. -
Sisters leave Queensland
The sisters are obliged to leave Queensland because of the bishop's refusal to accept central government of the institute. -
Eight Foundations
Eight foundations of the Order made in Sydney Archdiocese two in the Armidale Diocese. -
Re-elected Superior General
Mary MacKillop re-elected as superior general. -
Sisters expand to New Zealand
The sisters expand to New Zealand with the establishment of their first foundation at Temuka on the South Island. -
Alcoholic Mary
Bishop Reynolds dismisses Mary in Adelaide over accusations she was an alcoholic (Mary drank brandy to relieve very severe menstrual pain), and she moves to Sydney. -
Mother Bernard Walsh
Cardinal Moran informs Mary that Propaganda considers her reelection invalid so he appoints Mother Bernard Walsh as Superior General. -
Sydney Synod
Propaganda rejects the Sydney Synod decree asserting diocesan control over the Sisters of St Joseph. Sisters arrive in Northhampton, Western Australia. -
Rome
A decree from Rome declares the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart is an approved regular congregation, some alterations are made to habits and the sisters' rule. -
Sickness
Mary suffers the first of many bouts of serious illness, as the order she founded has 300 sisters working in nine dioceses in Australia and New Zealand. -
Superior General - Again
Mary elected Superior General after death of Mother Bernard. -
Stroke
Mary suffers a stroke and travels to Rotorua in New Zealand to visit her sister, Annie MacKillop. -
Mary MacKillop dies
Mary dies 8 August at Mount St, North Sydney and is buried in Gore Hill Cemetery -
Memorial Chapel
Construction of a memorial chapel in North Sydney. -
Candidate for beatification?
Newly elected superior general, Mother Laurence O'Brien, raises the question of whether Mary MacKillop could be a candidate for beatification. -
Process for Canonisation begins
Process for Canonisation begins. Postponed in 1931 and re-opened in 1951 -
Canonisation process begins
Canonisation process begins; it was postponed in 1931 over claims she was an alcoholic and re-opened in 1951. -
Canonisation not to continue
A study of Mary’s life and writings resulted in the issue of the Nihil Obstat declaring that no reason existed why the Cause for Mary’s canonisation should not continue. -
Mary's writings approved
Decree Super Scriptis was issued declaring Mary’s writings approved as being those of a person of holiness. -
Roman Phase
Beginning of Roman Phase - Formal inquiry on Mary’s virtues. Process opened in Sydney to gain evidence from those still alive who knew Mary MacKillop. Continued in Adelaide and Brisbane. Report sent to Rome. -
Declared "Servant of God"
Mary MacKillop officially declared ‘Servant of God’ by Pope Paul VI through the Papal Legate to Eucharistic Congress, Melbourne. Decree granting the introduction of the Cause was announced. -
Pope Pius IX
Mary travels to Rome for a personal audience with Pope Pius IX, obtains papal approval for the sisterhood but the 'Rule of Life' Father Woods set down is discarded and another is drawn up, causing a breach between Mary and Father Woods. -
Positio commenced
Positio commenced – intensely supervised historical and critical account of Mary MacKillop’s life and virtues. -
Positio completed
Positio, Mary MacKillops biography is completed and presented to the Holy See. -
Declared "Venerable"
Decree confirms Mary lived a life of heroic virtue. -
Declared "Blessed"
Decree confirms the miracle through her intercession. Now clear for the proclamation of Blessed Mary MacKillop. -
Beatification Ceremony
Beatification Ceremony in Sydney 19 January -
Canonised as Saint
Canonisation in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI