Feast of St. Mary MacKillop – 8^th August

The Feast Day of St. Mary MacKillop is held every August on the 8th. St. Mary MacKillop, also known as St. Mary of the Cross, was an Australian nun declared a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in Melbourne, on January 15, 1842, as the eldest of eight children.

When Mary was 14, she started working as a clerk in Melbourne. To provide for her needy family, she took a job as governess at her aunt and uncle, Alexander and Margaret Cameron's property at Penola, South Australia in 1860. While there, Mary MacKillop was tasked with looking after their children and teaching them. Mary, determined to help the poor, included the other farm children on the Cameron estate in her care. Her work as a governess and with the children brought her into contact with Father Woods, the parish priest in the southeast.

This was the beginning of her dedication and devotion to her future vocation.

Mary MacKillop is recognised for her commitment to the poor, helping those who needed it the most in any way she could. Her influence in Australia has spread far and wide. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4958

St. Mary MacKillop Prayer
Ever-generous God,
You inspired St Mary MacKillop
to live her life faithful
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and constant in bringing hope
and encouragement
to those who were disheartened, lonely, or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence
and joining with St Mary MacKillop,

We ask that you grant our request….(name your request).
We ask that our faith and hope
be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too,
like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage,
trust, and openness.
Ever-generous God, hear our prayer.
We ask this through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Weekend Altar Server Roster

Daily Reading for Sunday

https://www.catholicgallery.org/mass-reading/080821/

Thought of the Week