St Mary of the Cross MacKillop (1842–1909), Australia’s first saint, was born in Melbourne and baptised at St Francis’ Church in the city. A woman of deep faith, courage and compassion, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and dedicated her life to educating children and serving people experiencing poverty. Despite facing many challenges, Mary remained faithful to God’s call and continued to respond wherever there was need. Her well-known words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it,’ continue to inspire Australians today.
Like Mother Ursula Frayne RSM (1816–1885), Mary responded courageously to the needs of the young Australian community, trusting in God and making education available to those who might otherwise have been excluded.
God of hospitality,
open our hearts to the abundance of your love.
May we, like Mary MacKillop,
trust in your loving care for us in all the situations of our lives.
May we share this love in our wounded world.
St Mary of the Cross, open to God’s presence, pray for us.
To learn more visit Mary MacKillop Today