On June 28, 2023, Pope Francis directed his discussion on “The Passion for Evangelization” to the region of Oceania and the first Australian saint, Mary MacKillop.
Mary’s parents were immigrants from Scotland, and she was the oldest of eight children.
Pope Francis said of Mary, “As a young girl, she felt called by God to serve him and bear witness to him not only with words, but above all with a life transformed by God’s presence.”
The essential characteristics of Mary’s work and apostolic zeal revolved around care for the poor and marginalized, education and formation of young people, and other charitable works.
She was driven by the conviction that every human person is beloved by God and made for the fullness of life in Him.
Putting others before herself
Mary MacKillop dedicated herself to both the intellectual and religious formation of the poor in rural Australia. Her deep care for the poor and marginalized of society drove her to go where others were unable or unwilling to go.
Pope Francis discussed how it is the poor who draw attention to the injustices of society. He said, “On the path to holiness, which is the Christian path, the poor and marginalized are the protagonists, and a person cannot advance in holiness if he or she is not dedicated to them too.”
Meanwhile, Mary understood that Catholic education is a form of evangelization. She witnessed the great need for schooling in the impoverished communities of rural Australia and realized that the best way to evangelize in her time and situation was through the education of the young.
Making a creative response to the needs of the Church, she opened the first school in a small suburb of South Australia on March 19, 1866.
In the same year, she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph, becoming the order’s first mother superior at the age of 24.
Mary and her Sisters went on to establish many other schools in rural communities throughout Australia as well as New Zealand.
In the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exultate, paragraph 19 states “Each saint is a mission, planned by the Father to reflect and embody, at a specific moment in history, a certain aspect of the Gospel.”
Her commitment to the integral formation of young people convinced her that the purpose of education is something beyond simply transmitting ideas, but also “accompanying and encouraging students on the path of human and spiritual growth, showing them how friendship with the Risen Jesus expands the heart and makes life more humane”.
Mary’s other charitable works included starting the House of Providence, which was opened in Adelaide to take in abandoned children and the elderly. She and her Sisters served homeless and vulnerable women and also ministered to the sick and dying in hospitals, prisoners in jail, and patients in destitute asylums.
What precisely sustained Mary to pursue all these works? First, she had a continuous relationship with God. Her conviction and actions flowed from her own personal encounter with the love of Christ, and her devotion to Christ’s Sacred Heart infused all aspects of her life. Mary explained, “It was the tender and loving heart of my Jesus who spoke to me.”
Second, Mary never gave up, despite trials, difficulties, and times of darkness.
Pope Francis explained that Mary’s vocation did not spare her from anxieties. Paying bills, facing opposition, negotiating with the local bishop and priests, personal health problems, and looking after the formation of her Sisters were all among the trials she faced while seeking to serve others and fulfill her mission. “Yet, through it all, she remained calm, patiently carrying the cross that is an integral part of the mission,” noted Pope Francis.
Live like Mary
We all face inevitable trials in our own lives and vocations, yet we cannot lose ourselves to despair and allow them to overcome us.
Mary MacKillop said, “Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can.”
Finally, Mary placed great trust in God’s providence and the power of the Cross. She said, “When I could not see my way God kept my heart full of trust to make all come right.”
Let us use her life as a reminder to not turn away from our faith, but rather place hope in God’s divine mercy, providence, and love for us.
St. Mary beautifully said, “May God bless and strengthen you. Confide all to God. See how God carries us through the storms.”
Pope Francis concluded his audience by asking us to pray that her example of dedication and commitment to the education of youth would inspire all parents, teachers, and educators today.
As we look to the future of our diocese and the future of the Church, everyone should strive to introduce young people to the beauty of friendship with Jesus.