Mary Mackillop

Mary MacKillop was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne on January the 15th 1842. She was the first child to Alexander MacKillop and Flora MacDonald. Mary was one child out of 8 and spent most of her childhood years looking after and acting like a second mother to her siblings. The MacKillop family were quite poor so at the young age of 14, Mary got herself a job as a governess and as teacher at a Portland school. All the money Mary earned went towards her families everyday living. While working as a governess, Mary met Father Julian Tension Woods. By the time Mary had reached the age of 15 she had decided that she wanted to be a nun. She also wanted to devote her life to the poor and less fortunate. So upon meeting Father Julian Tension Woods she told him her hopes and dreams, and together they decided to set up a school. In 1861, they worked together and opened Australia's first free Catholic school. At the time only the rich could afford schooling. But at the school Mary opened anyone was welcome. Mary was a great teacher and became very popular within the community. Although Mary was very pleased with her work she still felt a religious calling. So Mary and Father Woods started their own order, 'The Sisters of St. Joseph.' In 1867 Mary then moved to Adelaide where she opened another school. Before long there were 17 schools open across Australia. Mary's followers grew and by 1909 she had followers all over Australia. Mary later died on the 8th of August 1909.

From quite a young age, when many people do not know what they are doing with their lives, Mary had already decided that she wanted to be a nun and help people as much as she could, she wanted to help the poor and less fortunate than her. Mary worked with people and children and ...

... middle of paper ...

...reat catholic and public schools. Mary MacKillop has done so much for this country and for the education of young children that there are now many catholic schools named after her all over Australia. Her continuous faith in God gave a great example to people everywhere and many people have learned

great life lessons from her. Her group of nuns are still known and talked about today. Mary now has her tomb placed in a memorial chapel at Mount Street, North Sydney. Many people and school groups come to look and reflect on the life of Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop.

Bibliography:

Mary MacKillop Makers and Shakers, Rose Inserra, Cardigan Street Publisher, Carlton Australia, 1995

Mary MacKillop A tribute, Honeysett Press, N.S.W Leichhardt Australia, 1995

Mary MacKillop Faithful in the dark, Sealy, Pat, Evelyn Pickering Teresita, Cormack N.S.W Sydney, 1983