What Is Mary Mackillop Legacy

Mary MacKillop was canonised as Australia's first saint on the 17th October 2010. During her lifetime she worked relentlessly to follow her true vocation no matter how hard it may have been. Through doing this Mary founded the Sisters of St Joseph and became an influential figure in the are of education for children and the poor. Her short 67 years, Mary faced many hardships and obstacles, however she continued on her chosen path. Mary MacKillop left a legacy that will continue to live on in the Australian society and shaped it to be what it is today.

On the 15th January 1842, Mary MacKillop was the first born into her family. A Family of 8 children, Mary's parents had immigrated from Scotland and tried to make the best of their new lives however under the
Whilst Mary grew up poor she was well taught, her Father had attended prestigious schools in Scotland and Rome and made an effort to make sure his children were well educated - particularly in the Catholic faith. At the age of 16, Mary begun work as a store clerk, this was the beginning of her 'life' as the breadwinner of the family. As Mary was required to be a hard worker from an early age, she had a hardworking attitude instilled in her, this was to reflect in all of Mary's future works. Now aged 18, Mary was sent to be a governess for her aunt and uncle Cameron's children in Penola, South Australia. This was to mark the beginning of Mary's journey to her true vocation. In Penola, she grew a love of helping the poor, teaching and aiding them and was the place she met Father Julian Tenison Woods - the parish priest at Penola. The next few years, Mary was relocated to Portland, Victoria where she eventually opened up a girls school. Back in Penola,