‘Be Fierce for Fair’
Yesterday we celebrated the feast day of Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross (Mackillop). Her gift to the Australian church is profound, as is the loving service of all people who follow in her footsteps, especially her sisters—the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
St Mary of the Cross, also known as Mary MacKillop, was born in Melbourne in 1842. She dedicated her life to education and helping the poor, co-founding the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. Her religious order established schools and institutions across Australia, focusing on the education of impoverished children.
One of the order's distinguishing features was its commitment to going where the need was greatest. The sisters often travelled to isolated communities, enduring harsh conditions to fulfil their mission. Their work was guided by a strong sense of social justice, aiming to uplift the disadvantaged and advocate for those without a voice.
May we, as people of Mercy and of the Gospel, live as Jesus did, loving God and all humanity.
God of the Pilgrim,
Mary MacKillop trusted your guidance in her journey of life
and deepened her confidence in your will.
May we renew our trust in your Providence
to lead us to hope as we bring our prayer before you.
May we grow in the fullness of your love
and the depth of your mystery.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Way,
our Truth and our Life.
Amen.
Prayer from: https://www.marymackillopplace.org.au/chapel/feast-day-resources/
Image from: https://www.mmhc.org.au/chapel/pilgrimages/st-patricks-cathedral/