My journey to learn about Mary MacKillop

Entering into the Heritage Centre I had a strange sense of familiarity. The building itself had a familiar design seeing it years ago when I was younger in a building back at school. I sure the iron balcony design along with the archway, left a feeling of surreal and illusion of where I was. 

Entering into the front room, a voice start to speak "This is a holy place, made sacred by Mary MacKillop's presence over a hundred years ago. Mary's spirit is here - vibrant, alive, urging us to action." 

Mary MacKillop is one caring and encouraging individual of her time, this is without question. 

Mary adjusted to changing times, her followers continue in that spirit, upholding her ideals, unafraid to take risks.  

I was touched by the realness Mary attitude was, very practical despite opposition, persecution at times and even excommunication (and dismissal from Adelaide) During these times she lost important supportive relationships, yet remained attentive to peoples needs and constant in faith. 

I got to one point in the museum when I could not help think if Mary MacKillop has been commercialized too much and got a sense that Mary herself would cringe at it all. It appears on one level a disservice to everything she stood for; but on another level how could anyone keep quiet about her life, work and spirituality. Possibly Mary would have the thought that if goodness came out of it touching peoples spiritual life then she would be content. 

As I sat in the beautiful chapel to take a moment to think what I have learnt and discovered. I think its right to rejoice in the life of holiness and service of Mary and embrace Australia's first entry into the "Roman catalogue"; after all we are all too aware that the sisters are not as young or numerous as they once were and yet the needs of the world (and Australia) are still great. 

Mary's injunction still sounds to all Australians of good will; "Never see a need without doing something about it" This presents a challenge to all who work for catholic social service and even within the church. Inspiration can be drawn from Mary, especially in those earlier years of her ministry before even taking on the religious habit. There is a very real 'temptation' of us all today to presume that the primary responsibility for meeting difficult needs like education for the poor or disadvantaged in the bush, is an issue for the State to address rather than for us who are people of God. Where in the past, we created a Church apostolate we tend now to expect a State intervention. 

I think that Mary MacKillop would want catholic social services to contribute theologically to shaping the mind of the Church while at the same time projecting the perspective of the Church into the great national debates about indigenous well being and welfare reform, the appropriate "treatment" of aslyum seekers, the equity of proposed arrangements for aged care, for individuals suffering disabilities, need for new initiatives to asset the homeless and those suffering mental illness - to name just a few contemporary social policy challenges confronting the nation at present. 

Mary is very much like Elizabeth Prout as I can envision both of them wanting to advocate from experience with poor and in the light of catholic social teaching. They would demand all of us to be the hands and voice of the Church, respectful of authority, tradition and dogma, but always with truth for self, God and our neighbor. 

I recall Pope Benedict question the people at one stage - "Could hunger and poverty so devastate parts of the world if love for God and godly love of neighbor - of his creatures, of men and worsen - were more alive in us?"

Mary and Elizabeth would only permit one answer!!

For me personally, I feel a deep connection to Elizabeth, even though I knew of Mary from school, had the first hand experience of been educated in one of her schools developed from her spirit and ran by the sisters. Elizabeth still has something uniquely and overwhelming at times stronger and radiating that I am drawn too. 

It does not feel right to compare Mary and Elizabeth, it leaves me with a feeling of injustice for both of them. They both have taught me a few things they hold in common, among which are stay hungry for justice; be happy to be invited to the Lord's banquet; greet your neighbor as if it was Christ himself; give thanks for the wisdom and insight of our tradition offered through the Church; to name a few.

I headed to the doors to exit and looked back behind me to the journey I had just taken around Mary's house and said to the Lord - 

Lord of all blessings, Elizabeth and Mary have lead by example, 

they are very different women yet similar in beauty, love, grace and how they saw your people. 

They were sensitive to the rights and dignity of every person, 

regardless of gender, race or creed. 

Please O Lord help us all, including me, to value every person, 

help us to respect different cultures, 

faiths and people; 

may we learn from Elizabeth and Mary to overcome prejudice and fear.