Mary MacKillop

A Woman Ahead of Her Time

Born of Scottish parents who emigrated to Australia, Saint Mary MacKillop left a great legacy. Australia owes its Catholic Education system to her and the work of the Congregation she founded in South Australia in 1866 at the age of 24. Mary founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart as a religious order of women dedicated to the service of the poor especially in isolated country districts. Mary and her Sisters invested their energies into social welfare activities, building orphanages for children and homes of refuge for immigrants and women. Mary was a woman ahead of her time – the Church in Australia had never seen a young nun outside of a semi-cloistered environment be so active in responding to the needs around her.

In Mary’s Footsteps

Right after World Youth Day in Sydney, two Salt + Light personalities – Mary Rose Bacani and Kris Dmytrenko – followed in the footsteps of Saint Mary MacKillop in South Australia, the birthplace of the Congregation. In Kensington, they visited the Mary MacKillop Centre and the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, as well as one of the schools named after Mary MacKillop, Mary MacKillop College. In Adelaide, they visited the Chapel at St. Mary’s College where Mary MacKillop was excommunicated. In 1871, Bishop Laurence Sheil excommunicated Mary MacKillop from the Church, a sentence which he removed after some months, when he realized his serious mistake.

Mary Rose and Kris spoke with the Archbishop of Adelaide, Archbishop Philip Wilson; the former Auxiliary Bishop of Adelaide, Bishop Gregory O’Kelly; a few Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart; and young people who have felt the impact of Saint Mary MacKillop on their lives.

Join Mary Rose Bacani and Kris Dmytrenko as they follow in the footsteps of Australia’s first saint-in-waiting – Saint Mary MacKillop. Tune in to Salt + Light for the premiere of the special half-hour program "Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint."