Friday, December 11, 2009

Saint in waiting "a great Australian"

THE fax machine at the Josephite HQ in Mount St, North Sydney, has been working a lot of overtime of late, pouring out requests from all over the country for information.

Such is the response by Australians to the expected canonisation of an extraordinary woman.

Mary MacKillop, the foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, is soon to be proclaimed a saint of the universal Church.

And people – Catholic and non-Catholic alike – are hungry for information about Mary and the intricate process of canonisation itself.

Even those who may not embrace the concept of sainthood recognise Mary as “a great Australian”.

Another indicator of the increased interest is the growing number of people visiting Bl Mary’s tomb in her chapel at North Sydney.

Seldom is the site without a visitor paying tribute to her or asking her to intercede for them in heaven.

The imminence of the proclamation was signified last week when the Australian bishops set up a special group to make the necessary plans as the congregation and the community await an announcement from the Vatican.

The bishops have pledged to work with the Sisters to ensure the canonisation of Australia’s first saint will be a time of grace for the Church in Australia.

Bl Mary has already blessed this country with the charism that her Sisters perpetuate in their work.

Today their mission addresses need in areas such as refugee and family support, aged care and rural community support, as well as extensive pastoral assistance in parishes in support of priests.

Their contribution to Catholic education in Australia is immeasurable, an achievement that was driven by Mary MacKillop’s endeavours to ensure poor children and women were offered the chance of schooling to improve their lot in life.

In fact, Mary was driven by the precept “never see a need without trying to do something about it”.

It is an adage we all may well adopt and act upon. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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