{"id":113,"date":"2013-05-28T20:48:02","date_gmt":"2013-05-28T19:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nairn.dioceseofaberdeen.org\/?page_id=113"},"modified":"2018-06-03T21:44:51","modified_gmt":"2018-06-03T20:44:51","slug":"josephite-sisters-st-mary-mackillop","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nairn.rcda.scot\/?page_id=113","title":{"rendered":"Sisters of St. Joseph"},"content":{"rendered":"

Page Contents:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary MacKillop \u2013 1842-1909<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Nairn Connection<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary MacKillop in Scotland<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary MacKillop Prayer<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Mary MacKillop \u2013 1842-1909<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, Melbourne Australia on 15th<\/sup> January 1842, the eldest of 8 children born to Scottish Catholic immigrants Flora (nee MacDonald) and Alexander MacKillop.<\/span><\/p>\n

About her early years she writes \u201cMy life as a child was one of sorrow, my home when I had it, was a most unhappy one\u201d.\u00a0 Much of this sorrow was due to dwindling family fortunes.\u00a0 Her father\u2019s reckless business deals caused the family to lose their home and to become dependent on relatives.\u00a0 Although destitution was traumatic, through her mother\u2019s influence, Mary learned to depend on the providence of God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At 16, Mary became the main provider, working as a governess, then a shop assistant and finally a school teacher in Portland, Victoria.\u00a0 In 1866 she met the man who would change her life, Father Julian Tenison Woods.\u00a0 He invited her to teach in a new school in Penola, a small town in south east South Australia.\u00a0 This was to be a new type of school, a Church school where the education was free to all children.\u00a0 The success of the new school was immediate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Soon Mary was joined by other dedicated young women and the Sisters of St Joseph was formed, the first Religious Order founded by an Australian.\u00a0 Dedicated to supplying a free education to all who needed it, small groups of the Sisters spread rapidly through the Australian landscape.\u00a0 They lived amongst the people who needed them, in tents, in shanties and sheds.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more conservative Catholics were unsure of the vigorous new Order.\u00a0 Some of the Bishops found it impossible.\u00a0 The freshness of the vision and its practical interpretation were so unsettling to the rigid Church Hierarchy, that a terrible step was taken … Bishop Sheil of Adelaide declared that Mary was excommunicated and that the Order was disbanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was at this point that friends from all parts of society banded together to support her in her days of crisis.\u00a0 And her friends came from all religions.\u00a0 Emanuel Soloman, a member of the Jewish faith gave the Sisters a place to live, Joanna Barr Smith a prominent Protestant, supported and encouraged them.\u00a0 Defying Church ruling, the Jesuit Fathers offered spiritual succour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Justice prevailed and the excommunication was ruled invalid.\u00a0 The shattered Order regrouped and the work started again.\u00a0 This experience taught Mary that official Church approval of the Sisters was vital.\u00a0 She begged her passage to Rome and travelled dressed as a widow, as at that time the clergy and religious sisters were not well received in some countries.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Mary arrived in Rome on 11th May 1873, and presented the Constitutions for examination. She intended waiting in Rome for the investigation results but as the Italian Summer was seriously affecting her, she was advised to wait in a cooler country.<\/span><\/p>\n

She left Rome on 1st August and travelled by train through Europe, staying where possible at convents, visiting schools and observing their teaching methods. She arrived in England on 13th August, staying in London in mainly rented rooms. She left London on 15th October, her journey taking her to Liverpool where she spent a week with the Notre Dame Sisters, visiting numerous schools as well as a Teachers\u2019 Training College. She left Liverpool for Preston on 22nd October and from there took a train to Glasgow.<\/span><\/p>\n

She toured around Scotland for almost three months, leaving her parents homeland on 21st January 1874. She arrived in Preston later the same day, leaving for Liverpool on the 22nd. She stayed a few days before catching the train to London on the 26th January. On 14th March Mary departed for Rome and arrived there on 17th March, immediately commencing her routine of visits to the authorities who were examining the Constitutions, even though she was frequently incapacitated by poor health.<\/span><\/p>\n

After five weeks, Mary received the long awaited documents regarding the Congregation. At the Vatican, Pope Pius IX approved and blessed the Constitution of the Order. He also granted the group the right to determine its own direction. Mary left Rome on 24 April. She travelled back to London via Florence, Turin, Lyon, Paray-le Monial, Bordeaux and Paris, staying in each of these places visiting schools and interviewing young women with a view to their joining the order, whilst continuing her quest for priests willing to transfer to Adelaide.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 1st June Mary arrived back in London. She went to Ireland on two separate occasions and spent a total of three months attempting to recruit priests for the Diocese of Adelaide and also seeking out prospective Sisters. Finally on 31st October 1874 Mary sailed from Plymouth, accompanied by fifteen young women who had left their Irish homeland and volunteered for a mission in an unknown, distant country, but sadly, no Priests.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Christmas Day, after seventy one days at sea, Mary and her party arrived in Port Melbourne. They rested for several days and then set off for Adelaide, arriving 4th January 1875. She had been away from her beloved Sisters of St. Joseph and her family for twenty one months. Whilst she had not yet received the formal Decree of approval for the Order, she carried with her the affirmation from the authorities as well as he revised Constitution \/ Rule for the Sisters of St. Joseph.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in Australia, shelters for the elderly, the homeless and the neglected were opened.\u00a0 The new Josephite schools spread through the bush, the small farming communities, the railway camps and mining fields.\u00a0 Soon the Sisters travelled across the Tasman to open schools and missions in New Zealand.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1902, while visiting new Zealand, Mary had a stroke.\u00a0 Years of hardship, travel and anxiety had taken their toll on this remarkable woman.\u00a0 She died in Alma Cottage in Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney on 8th August 1909.\u00a0 Her tomb is in the Memorial Chapel at Mary MacKillop Place.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Mary MacKillop’s life had been totally dedicated to showing God\u2019s love and care for those in need.\u00a0 She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Sydney in 1995 and canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on 17th October 2010.<\/span><\/p>\n

Return to Top <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>The Nairn Connection<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary arrived in Inverness on the Caledonian Canal steamer on 13th<\/sup> December, and was welcomed by the parish priest Fr. William Dawson.\u00a0 Shortly after her arrival the Reverend Mother of the Franciscan Sisters came to take her to their Convent where she spent 2 days.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Father Dawson had purchased Mary a first class train ticket for Nairn and instructed a friend to see to her comfort.\u00a0 She arrived in Nairn 15th December, staying a day and\u00a0a night.<\/span><\/p>\n

During her earlier journey along the Caledonian Canal, on the 8th<\/sup> December, Fr. Alexander Forbes boarded the steamer, and invited Mary to visit his parish in Nairn, and tell him about her mission in Australia.\u00a0 He was the Highland priest whom she mentioned as befriending her during the Great Pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial in France in September 1873.<\/span><\/p>\n

She wrote to the Sisters in Australia<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At one of the places en route a priest came on board, one whom I had met at the Pilgrimage.\u00a0\u00a0He recognised me at once and we had a long happy conversation upon the wonderful ways\u00a0of Providence.\u00a0 He saw to all my needs, paid my expenses and …..<\/i>on learning of her planned itinerary <\/i>insisted very much that I should visit his church at Nairn, and tell him more about our mission.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mary continued her letter…..<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At Nairn, good Father Forbes was waiting to take me to his house, where I spent a happy day\u00a0and night.\u00a0 He, like Father Bissett (of Stratherrick) had his church so sweetly clean and all so perfect about it; whilst in their houses and manner of living, they were so poor and simple but\u00a0so clean<\/span>.\u00a0 Father Forbes then saw me off to Aberdeen, first-class, and paid for it, for which I was so sorry, as he was so poor and could ill afford it.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From Nairn Mary travelled to Keith.\u00a0 It was an accidental stopover for Mary.\u00a0 The first class ticket purchased by Fr. Forbes in Nairn should have seen her travel through to Aberdeen, but due to some unrecorded reason, she found herself stranded overnight at the Keith railway station.\u00a0 Having spent that night in the waiting room at the Railway Station she left the next morning on the 6.00am train bound for her intended destination of Aberdeen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Return to Top <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Mary MacKillop in Scotland<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

1873<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

23 Oct\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Arrived Glasgow, Stayed at Franciscan Convent<\/span><\/p>\n

24 Oct\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Glasgow.\u00a0 Spent the night in Oban<\/span><\/p>\n

25 Oct\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Oban by steamer for Drimnin on Morvern Peninsula.\u00a0 Visited the Isle of Mull<\/span><\/p>\n

8 Nov\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Drimnin for Fort William.\u00a0 Stayed at Invernevis House<\/span><\/p>\n

19 Nov\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Left Invernevis House to visit the Braes.\u00a0 Spent a night at the Bunroy Chapel House<\/span><\/p>\n

Ca 20\u201330 Nov\u00a0\u00a0Stayed at Keppoch House<\/span><\/p>\n

23 Nov\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visited relatives at Cranachan<\/span><\/p>\n

Ca 30 Nov\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Returned to Fort William<\/span><\/p>\n

Ca 8 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left by steamer along the Caledonian Canal<\/span><\/p>\n

Ca 8-12 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Spent three days at Fort Augustus<\/span><\/p>\n

12-13 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visited Stratherrick<\/span><\/p>\n

13-15 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Caught steamer for Inverness.\u00a0 Stayed at Franciscan Convent<\/span><\/p>\n

15-16 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Inverness.\u00a0 Spent a day and night at Nairn<\/span><\/p>\n

16-17 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Nairn for Keith.\u00a0 Overnight delay at railway station<\/span><\/p>\n

17-18 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Keith for Aberdeen.\u00a0 Stayed with Franciscan Sisters<\/span><\/p>\n

18 Dec\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Aberdeen for Edinburgh.\u00a0 Stayed one month<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1874<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

6-10 Jan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Visited Uncle Archie MacKillop in Alloa<\/span><\/p>\n

10 Jan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Alloa and returned to Edinburgh<\/span><\/p>\n

17 Jan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Edinburgh for Glasgow.\u00a0 Stayed at Franciscan Convent<\/span><\/p>\n

21 Jan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Left Glasgow for Preston<\/span><\/p>\n

Return to Top <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a>Mary MacKillop Prayer<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever generous God,<\/span><\/p>\n

You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop<\/span><\/p>\n

To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ<\/span><\/p>\n

And constant in bringing hope and encouragement <\/span><\/p>\n

To those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.<\/span><\/p>\n

With confidence in your generous providence<\/span><\/p>\n

And joining with Saint Mary MacKillop <\/span><\/p>\n

We ask that you grant our request\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit <\/span><\/p>\n

So that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever generous God hear our prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n

We ask this through Jesus Christ. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reproduced by kind permission of The Sisters of St. Joseph<\/span><\/p>\n

For further information please visit the Mary MacKillop Website: http:\/\/www.marymackillop.org.au\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Return to Top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Page Contents: Mary MacKillop \u2013 1842-1909 The Nairn Connection Mary MacKillop in Scotland Mary MacKillop Prayer   Mary MacKillop \u2013 1842-1909 Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, Melbourne Australia on 15th January 1842, the eldest of 8 children born to Scottish Catholic immigrants Flora (nee MacDonald) and Alexander MacKillop. About her early years … <\/p>\n

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