Salt + Light Media Menu
Salt + Light Media Home
Magnifying Glass
coverPhoto
Premium content

Asset title

Asset description

Remembering Mary MacKillop, Australia's First Saint

Mary Rose Bacani Valenti

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

As you know, I’ve been working the past few months on the documentary on Brother André, God’s Doorkeeper.  We’ve also been looking forward here at Salt + Light to Br. André’s canonization on October 17th.
SAINT-AUSTRALIA/MACKILLOPTo do some justice to at least one other saint to be canonized by the Church that same day (after all, there are six in total), I must bring up Mary MacKillop of Australia.
I “met” Mary MacKillop right after World Youth Day 2008 in Australia, when Kris Dmytrenko, Richard Valenti and I retraced her footsteps in Adelaide.  From that great experience in Australia and getting to know Australia’s first saint, we produced a documentary last year.
In preparing for the canonization coverage on October 17th, I was looking back at my script for the documentary on Mary MacKillop.  I’d like to bring up one important thing I realized.  Both Brother André and Mary MacKillop had a great devotion to Saint Joseph!  In fact, the congregation Mary founded is the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
It was on March 19th, 1866, on the feast of St. Joseph, that Mary established her first Josephite school.  St. Joseph was Mary’s model of the humble and hidden life (even note the St. Joseph statue in the photo!).  Just like Br. André, she suffered from physical illness that she had to bear despite all the demands of her travels, letter writing and many other responsibilities.
And like Br. André, Mary had a great devotion to the cross.  Br. André did build Saint Joseph’s Oratory, but at the heart of his spirituality is the love of the Crucified Christ.  When Mary made her vows, she took on the name ‘Mary of the Cross’.  She took comfort in the Cross, and there she found her peace.
One of the sisters described what she remembered most from Mother Mary of the Cross:
It was her peace… a deep, endless kind of peace that came from far inside.  Oh, she was often in pain, often tired; she knew disappointments and worries in plenty… but the peace was always there.
Australia, and the rest of the Church, has much to be proud of in Mary MacKillop!
Watch for a segment about Blessed Mary MacKillop on the Thursday, October 7th edition of daily Perspectives.


Related Articles:

Category: Apostolic Journeys

Tag: Apostolic Trip 2019, Pope Francis, Pope in Mozambique

Papal Visit to Corsica highlights Mediterranean Catholicism’s diverse spirituality

Friday, December 13, 2024

Matthew Neugebauer

On Sunday, December 15, Pope Francis is making a short trip to Ajaccio on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Pope’s General Audience – September 18, 2024

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Pope Francis

In his weekly catechesis, Pope Francis reflected on his recent Apostolic Journey to Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Meeting with Authorities, Civil Society, and the Diplomatic Corps of Singapore: Address of His Holiness

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Pope Francis

Pope Francis addressed the authorities, civil society, and diplomatic corps of Singapore on the second day of his visit to the country.

Pope Francis’ Homily at Holy Mass in the Esplanade of Taci Tolu

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Pope Francis

Pope Francis gave the homily at Holy Mass in the Esplanade of Taci Tolu in Dili, reflecting that "God shines his saving light through the gift of a son."

Interreligious Meeting: Address of His Holiness

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Pope Francis

Pope Francis addressed an interreligious meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, on the second day of his Apostolic Visit to Indonesia.

SUPPORT LABEL

Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Receive our newsletters
Stay Connected
Copyright © 2025 Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation
Registered Charity # 88523 6000 RR0001
FR | CH