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Mary MacKillpp's lifespan
Mary MacKillop was born on the 15th of January and sadly passed away on the 8th of August 1909. -
Mary started working at an early age of 14 and from that younge age she was passionate about helping people less fortunate than her.
Marry MacKillop was the eldest of eight children and her needy family deeply relied on her to be the primary provider for them at the age of 14. Mary began work as a clerk for sands and Kenny stationer in Melbourne where she earned her income to support the whole family as her dad, Alexandra, was greatly consumed with his business. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
Mary took up a job as a governess
She became a governess at her Aunt and Uncle's place at Penola in South Australia. Her job was to look after their children and teach them. From a young age Mary was already set on helping the poor whenever possible, ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
- 1867. Mary set up a schoolhouse in Penola, South Australia
she was joined by other Catholic nuns who became known as the Sisters of St Joseph. Father Woods who had been a priest in South East opened his own school. He soon became oppointed director of education and became the founder with Mary of the Sister's of St Joseph who would teach in his schools.( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
The MacKillops opened their own school
In 1866 a school was opened in a stable and after renovations from Mary's brother, the MacKillop's started teaching more than 50 children. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
Mary became the first Sister, and Mother Superior, of the newly formed Order of the Sisters of St Joseph
The Sisters of St Joseph was dedicated to the education of the children of the poor. The main rules written by Father Woods and Mary for the Sisters to live by were that they werent allowed any possessions and an emphasis on poverty The rules were approved by Bishop Sheil. By the end of 1867 ten other Sisters had joined the Josephites. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
more than seventy Sisters were educating children at twenty-one schools
By the end of 1869 more than seventy Sisters were educating children at twenty-one schools in Adelaide and the country. -
Mary went to Brisbane
In December 1869 Mary and several other Sisters travelled to Brisbane to establish the Order in Queensland. -
Mary was excommunicated
While establishing another school in Burra, during this year Mary was also excommunicated by Bishop Sheil, who was against most of the things she had fought for. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
Mary was off to get the rules of the Sister's of St Josephs approved
Mary made preparations to leave for Rome to have the Rules of the Sisters of St Joseph officially approved.( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
Mary returned from Rome
After an absence of nearly two years, Mary had approval from Rome for her Sisters and the work they did, materials for her school, books for the convent library, several priests and most of all fifteen new Josephites from Ireland. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
40 schools were now opperated by Mary
By 1877 it operated more than forty schools in and around Adelaide, with many others in Queensland and New South Wales. -
Mary moved to New Zealand
In 1883 the Order was successfully established in New Zealand, where Mary stayed for three years. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
Mary was re-elected
Even after suffering the stroke the Sisters had enough confidence in her to re-elect her in 1905. ( South Australian History, 1996-2012, viewed 21/02/12) -
100 years after Mary death
Nearly a hundred years after the death of Mary MacKillop, the Sisters are still working in many towns in South Australia.