Mary Mackillop Story

 Mary Mackillop Story 

Mary MacKillop was born on 15th January 1842 in Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, Alexander and Flora, came from Scotland and moved to Australia. Mary was the eldest of the eight children. When Mary was eighteen, she moved to Penola, South Australia. Then she became governess to her Aunt and Uncle’s children. Father Julian Tenison Woods opened schools in Adelaide for orphans and poor people. They opened schools for children in the outback. Mary's Religious name was Mary of the Cross. Bishop Sheil excommunicated Mary from the church. She was excommunicated for five months. Mary was ill and she had rheumatism arthritis. Later, she had a stroke in 1902 and her right side was paralysed. Mary died on 8th August 1909 in North Sydney, Australia. The St Joseph sisters ministered schools and parishes in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, following in the footsteps of Mary Mackillop.