Today we celebrate the life of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first canonised saint.Mary saw a need and did something about it. Poor children were not being educated so she set up schools for them. Children were not having opportunities to be formed in their faith so again, she did something about it.She reached out to the poor in her time.She was badly treated by the local bishop but would not let anyone speak ill about him.Mary worked tirelessly for the mission of the Church. She was able to inspire so many others to share in this mission.The Australian plenary council has not long finished its second session.Many of the decisions of the council are about church renewal.The real work of the plenary is about reflection and action. Evangelisation was high in Mary’s priorities. It is also high in the aims of the council.Mary is Mary of the Cross MacKillop.She certainly had many challenges in her lifetime. Some of these challenges came from where she should not have expected them.The Cross was part of her life. It is unavoidable if we are followers of Jesus.We are, like her, called to respond to Christ’s invitation for mission in our times. There will be no shortcuts. We are invited to commitment with love as a way of life.
Image credit: sosj.org.au