Mary of the Cross, MacKillop Feast Day 8th August

Last Friday, 8th August was Mary of the Cross, MacKillop’s Feast Day. Good Samaritan began the morning with a whole school prayer in Pastoral Care in honour of Mary as Australia’s first Catholic Saint. She was a woman from humble beginnings who valued education and saw its transformational power for all young people. Mary MacKillop was devoted to giving people the basic tools to overcome poverty, illiteracy and social isolation when in 1866 Mary MacKillop established her first school, St.Joseph’s School in Penola, South Australia. Mary made an extraordinary impact during her 67 years, establishing more than 40 schools for the poor as well as orphanages and homes for the destitute, with the order she cofounded, the Sisters of St Joseph. 

In honouring Mary MacKillop’s educational legacy, Good Samaritan’s MacKillop House held a fundraiser on Friday 8th August selling Donut King and Krispy Kreme donuts raising over $400.00 for The Catholic Education Foundation. Thank you to the students of Yr 11 MacKillop House who stepped up to assist with the fundraiser. 

Mary of the Cross, MacKillop’s enduring legacy in education is inspirational for us all. May we continue to journey with compassion and in the words of Mary MacKillop, “Never see a need without doing something about it”. 

Written by, 

Mrs Alison Marsden

MacKillop Teacher House Leader