St. Mary MacKillop

By JordanRizk

  • Birth

    Born on the 15th of January at Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne

  • Baptism

    Baptised at St Francis, Melbourne

  • First Holy Communion

    Mary recieves her First Holy Communion on the 15th of August

  • Starts work

    Starts working at age 14 and soon after becomes the primary breadwinner for her family.

  • Becomes governess

    Becomes governess to the children of her uncle, Alexander Cameron, at Penola in South Australia, where she meets Father Julian Tenison Woods, who becomes her spiritual guide.

  • Appointed to Portland

    Appointed to Portland Catholic School for teaching.

  • Leaves Portland

    Relinquished Bay View House and left Portland.

  • Starts School

    Started the first free school in Penola on the 19th of March, St  Joseph’s day. Mary wears a plain black dress to signify her dedication to do God’s work.

  • Forms Sisters of St Joseph

    Joins with Father Woods to form a new religious order of nuns, the Sisters of St Joseph, devoted to teaching the poor, with Mary as mother superior; opens a convent-cottage and a school in Adelaide.

  • Religious Vows

    Mary MacKillop takes her religious vows on August 15.

  • Takes final vows

    Takes her final vows on December 8; and leaves for Queensland to open schools there.

  • Government refuses to fund Catholic education

    Opposition to the Sisters grows over the issue of central government and refusal to accept government grants for education; the sisters face trouble in Adelaide over 'visionaries'.

  • Excommunicated from Catholic Church

    Mary MacKillop is excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

  • Excommunication Order removed

    Excommunication order is removed.

  • Sister's Habits

    Sisters restored to their habits

  • Mary returns to Australia

    Mary MacKillop returns to Australia with 15 Irish postulants, following travels in Europe to visit schools.

  • Superior General

    Mary is elected as the first superior general of the Sisters of St Joseph.

  • Sisters leave Bathurst

    Sisters obliged to leave Bathurst because  of Bishop Matthew Quinn’s refusal to  accept central government of the  Institute.

  • Sisters leave Queensland

    The sisters are obliged to leave Queensland because of the bishop's refusal to accept central government of the institute.

  • Eight Foundations

    Eight foundations of the Order made in  Sydney Archdiocese two in the Armidale  Diocese.

  • Re-elected Superior General

    Mary MacKillop re-elected as superior general.

  • Sisters expand to New Zealand

    The sisters expand to New Zealand with the establishment of their first foundation at Temuka on the South Island.

  • Alcoholic Mary

    Bishop Reynolds dismisses Mary in Adelaide over accusations she was an alcoholic (Mary drank brandy to relieve very severe menstrual pain), and she moves to Sydney.

  • Mother Bernard Walsh

    Cardinal Moran informs Mary that  Propaganda considers her re­election invalid so he appoints Mother  Bernard Walsh as Superior General.

  • Sydney Synod

    Propaganda rejects the Sydney Synod  decree asserting diocesan control over the  Sisters of St Joseph. Sisters arrive in Northhampton, Western Australia.

  • Rome

    A decree from Rome declares the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart is an approved regular congregation, some alterations are made to habits and the sisters' rule.

  • Sickness

    Mary suffers the first of many bouts of serious illness, as the order she founded has 300 sisters working in nine dioceses in Australia and New Zealand.

  • Superior General - Again

    Mary elected Superior General after death of Mother Bernard.

  • Stroke

    Mary suffers a stroke and travels to Rotorua in New Zealand to visit her sister, Annie MacKillop.

  • Mary MacKillop dies

    Mary dies 8 August at Mount St, North Sydney and is buried in Gore Hill Cemetery

  • Memorial Chapel

    Construction of a memorial chapel in North Sydney.

  • Candidate for beatification?

    Newly elected superior general, Mother Laurence O'Brien, raises the question of whether Mary MacKillop could be a candidate for beatification.

  • Process for Canonisation begins

    Process for Canonisation begins. Postponed in 1931 and re-opened in 1951

  • Canonisation process begins

    Canonisation process begins; it was postponed in 1931 over claims she was an alcoholic and re-opened in 1951.

  • Canonisation not to continue

    A study of Mary’s life and writings resulted in the issue of the Nihil Obstat declaring that no reason existed why the Cause for Mary’s canonisation should not continue.

  • Mary's writings approved

    Decree Super Scriptis was issued declaring Mary’s writings approved as being those of a person of holiness.

  • Roman Phase

    Beginning of Roman Phase - Formal inquiry on Mary’s virtues. Process opened in Sydney to gain evidence from those still alive who knew Mary MacKillop. Continued in Adelaide and Brisbane. Report sent to Rome.

  • Declared "Servant of God"

    Mary MacKillop officially declared ‘Servant  of God’ by Pope Paul VI through the Papal  Legate to Eucharistic Congress, Melbourne. Decree granting the introduction of the Cause was announced.

  • Pope Pius IX

    Mary travels to Rome for a personal audience with Pope Pius IX, obtains papal approval for the sisterhood but the 'Rule of Life' Father Woods set down is discarded and another is drawn up, causing a breach between Mary and Father Woods.

  • Positio commenced

    Positio commenced – intensely supervised  historical and critical account of Mary  MacKillop’s life and virtues.

  • Positio completed 

    Positio, Mary MacKillops biography is completed and presented to the  Holy See.

  • Declared "Venerable"

    Decree confirms Mary lived a life of heroic virtue.

  • Declared "Blessed"

    Decree confirms the miracle through her intercession. Now clear for the proclamation of Blessed Mary MacKillop.

  • Beatification Ceremony

    Beatification Ceremony in Sydney 19 January

  • Canonised as Saint

    Canonisation in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI