Australia's First Saint Today!

Today is the Canonisation ceremony of  Blessed Mary MacKillop (1842-1909) who founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Mary Mackillop's Feast Day is August 8th.

There are so many celebrations around the country as we as a nation celebrate the momentous occasion.
Mary MacKillop was featured on Compass last week:
"100 years after her death Compass examines the life and times of Mary MacKillop: her road to sainthood (a process begun in 1925), her two ‘miracles’ and for the first time, the true story behind her excommunication."
To watch the Canonisation we will be viewing  from this link about 5pm this afternoon.

For those who do not know much about Mary Mackillop, this is, I think the link for the most information about her and the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart - Mary MacKillop Place.
Catholic Australia also has some very detailed accounts of her life. A very easy and enjoyable read.
For a brief overview this is a good one too.

As this is our very first Australian Saint we will be dedicating today in celebration of her canonisation.

Today, as it is Sunday we will be having our weekly Sunday BBQ which is a bit of an Aussie style celebration anyway.
Tomorrow we will attend a Thanksgiving Mass in our parish with a shared lunch afterwards.
Some of the activities we may enjoy tomorrow will be:
Make a Pavlova with cream and chocolate and strawberries (very Aussie indeed)
Make cookies with the Sisters of St Joseph symbol on top

I also think we could embroider this without too much trouble into a small banner.
Colouring pages ~ I haven't found any online so we will have to draw some ourselves unless Charlotte happens to do one.
Print out holy cards for feast day box to keep.
Perhaps we can try a sculpy or clay statue as depicted below.
We sang this song at Mass Today in Celebration of Mary MacKillop's life. These are two others I found as well for any who love to play/sing music as part of your celebrations Mary MacKillop and this one too.
I love this statue of Mary with the children. I think it captures the love she had for children so well.

Mary Mackillop Prayer ~

Most loving God,

We thank you for the example

of Blessed Mary MacKillop,

who in her living of the Gospel

witnessed to the human dignity

of each person.

She faced life's challenges with

faith and courage.

We pray through her intercession

for our needs........

May her holiness soon be

acknowledged by the

universal Church.

We make this prayer through

Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

This is Mary Mackillop's tomb is Sydney at Mary MacKillop Place. For more beautiful images just click the link.

Mary MacKillop Pray for Us!

Blessings

Blessings to you and your homes,