As I begin to journey to my second World Youth Day, we remember the only saint of Australia, where I attended my first WYD in 2008. Traveling "Down Under" was an amazing journey and I hold all the memories in my heart, and I am looking forward to the next two weeks traveling to Portugal and Spain.
Saint Mary MacKillop was the oldest child to poor Scottish emigrants to Australia. She was born on January 15, 1842 in Melbourne as Maria Ellen MacKillop. Mary was educated in private schools and by her father. She helped support her family by working as a nursery governess and store clerk. She became a teacher and established a "Seminary for Young Ladies” in her home. She was known for her work in their parish, and always turning to prayer before making a decision.
She felt the call to religious life, but felt obligated to teach and support her family. But there was a scandal in the school caused by jealously and it gave her reason to leave without guilt. She and her sister moved and opened a Catholic school for the poor. She co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. It was Australia's first religious order with a mission of educating poor children in remote areas. Soon Mother Mary had 17 schools under her care.
Her independence and social ideas concerned the Church authorities and she was ordered to surrender the control of the school and her Order and she refused and was excommunicated in 1871. She was crushed, but never blamed the Church and prayed that some good would come from it. In 1872 her bishop apologized and returned her to full communion with the Church.
She visited Pope Blessed IX the following year and traveled to England, Ireland, and Scotland to seek funds for the schools. She worked for the rest of her life improving the education for the poor. Her order continues to do its good work in Austrailia, New Zealand, and Peru (I'd like to find out how they go there!) She died following a stroke on August 8, 1909 in Sydney. Her relics are in the Mother of God Chapel in Sydney. She was canonized in 2010.
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