Sisters of St Joseph | Issue 1 | July 2011 | www.sosj.org.au

SOSJ news

‘Australia’s National Shrine’

Mary MacKillop Place is a centre of pilgrimage. The heart of this sacred site is the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel where the tomb of St Mary MacKillop is located. Each year thousands of pilgrims come to pray for their needs and the needs of the world through St Mary›s intercession.

They come to learn more about the life, spirituality and legacy of Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph through the Museum and facilities for education.

Mary MacKillop Place also caters for visitors through the gift shop and cafe, accommodation and venues for retreats and conferences.

www.marymackillopplace.org.au

SiSterS of St JoSeph

Mary MacKillop was born of Scottish parents in Fitzroy Victoria on January 15, 1842. By the

time she was sixteen, Mary was working to help sustain the family for whose welfare she felt responsible until she actually began the Sisters of Saint Joseph when she was twenty four years old.

Many young women joined Mary and numerous schools were opened in South Australia. The Sisters lived in poverty among the people they served, often in very isolated places with few amenities. Mary MacKillop not only established schools but also orphanages, refuges for the elderly and for unmarried mothers. The Sisters supported their people in whatever ways they could, visiting the homes of students after school so that they could establish rapport with the parents and offer assistance where poverty often prevented children from learning.

Generous benefactors from different faith traditions supported the work of Mary and her Sisters from the

beginning. One such person, Emanuel Solomon, a Jewish member of parliament provided accommodation for the Sisters during their time of need after Mary MacKillop’s excommunication. Joanna Barr Smith and her husband Robert were also early benefactors to the work. They supported the Orphanage and the Refuge in South Australia financially and gave donations towards chapel furnishings at the home for delinquent girls at Kapunda. They contributed quite significantly towards the new wing on the Sisters’ Convent at Kensington.

At the time of Mary MacKillop’s death there were 1000 Sisters in the Congregation bringing her vision to life in Australia and New Zealand. The Congregation continued to grow and spread. New places and new ministries emerged over the coming decades as the Sisters sought to be true to Mary’s vision.

The Sisters’ commitment to the most vulnerable of our society has continued to this day. In addition to the many projects across Australia and New Zealand, they also work among aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, WA and internationally in Peru, East Timor, Ireland, Scotland and Brazil. www.sosj.org.au OR www.marymackillop.org.au

Saint Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop E-NewsKeep up to date with the ongoing works of the Sisters of St Joseph.

Subscribe to the monthly E-news www.sosj.org.au

St Mary MacKillop Legacy

Mary MacKillopFoundationSupporting small life changing projects

In the same way that Australia’s first saint, St Mary MacKillop,

responded to the needs of her time, the Mary MacKillop Foundation responds to the needs of our time to relieve suffering and give hope by supporting “small life changing projects”.

Since 1995, the Foundation has funded over 300 projects, directly responding to the needs of rural and isolated communities, indigenous groups, people with disabilities and those forgotten by society. Additionally, the Foundation has funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarships for over a decade with 32 graduates to date and another 38 students currently enrolled.

In 2011 the Foundation launched the Travelling Sisters Roadshow, involving two Sisters from the Sisters of St Joseph, travelling throughout Australia in a van. They are visiting schools and town centres across Australia, providing education and awareness of the Foundation, while creating fundraising opportunities on each day of their Roadshow.

www.mackillopfoundation.org.au

In the spirit of St Mary MacKillop, the Spirituality Ministry of the Sisters of St Joseph serves groups and individuals seeking a place that nourishes “spirit”, offering spiritual refreshment, renewal, quiet, beauty, peace and relaxation.

This ministry is conducted on three separate sites: Kincumber and Baulkham Hills in NSW and at Safety Bay in WA.

St Joseph Spirituality and Education Centre Kincumber www.stjosephskincumber.org.au

St Josephs Baulkham Hills www.stjosephscentre.org.au

Penola by the Sea www.jobay.org.au

Spirituality

International Projectsethica accessories*“Helping women help themselves”

Ethica Accessories is the trading name of the Sisters of St Joseph Peruvian Project Ltd, a not for profit organisation specialising in quality fair trade products.

Ethica Accessories provides training, employment and income to hundreds of women in Peru by developing skills and practices leading to reliable income for people in marginalised communities.

This strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development maintains the dignity of women and teaches them skills for the future.

Please visit our website for products and events.

www.ethica.org.au

Mary MacKillop International Mission Inc oversees and manages the overseas aid and development work

of the Sisters of St Joseph in East Timor and Peru.

In Peru we are committed to providing educational opportunities for the poorest, income generating projects with training activities for women, support and assistance to those living with a disability and programs for those suffering poor health.

In East Timor we train our local staff to become literacy educators and to run workshops for teachers in Tetun (local language), classroom management and lesson delivery. We produce literacy and health education resources and when needed, deliver food and clothing to the poorest.

www.marymackillopinternational.org.au

Relieving Suffering; Bringing Hope

In schools and community organisations across Australia

and New Zealand children, young people and adults are encouraged to join with others in rebuilding a sense of hope through the sharing of their stories of change, loss and grief. Good Grief, a ministry of the Sisters of St Joseph, educates to build resilience and foster well being through its programs Seasons for Growth®, Stormbirds: Growing through Natural Disaster® and Literature for Life© programs.Through the generosity of our supporters Stormbirds has been offered to children in the flood and cyclone affected parts of Queensland and earthquake affected areas. All donations are tax deductible.

St Anthony’s Family Care has been providing services from their base in Sydney’s Inner West for over 70 years. From the site at Croydon, St Anthony’s currently operates an inclusive early learning centre, early intervention and respite services for children with disabilities. Support is also offered to refugee and migrant families across western Sydney helping them to successfully integrate into the Australian community.

St Anthony’s is committed to delivering innovative and flexible services that respond to the changing needs of the community.

www.safc.org.au

MacKillop Rural Community Services provides a variety of programs in isolated communities in

Western NSW to needy and socially disadvantaged children and families.

These services include Family Services in the communities of Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Lightning Ridge and Gulargambone.

A Mobile Children’s Service provides outreach from Brewarrina to Weilmoringle, Goodooga, Carinda, Hebel and outlying stations.

Reconnect Youth Services at Walgett, Coonamble, Lightning Ridge and Coonabarabran works with vulnerable young people. A Community Support Program exists for disabled adults at Balranald. We also provide flexible respite activities for young people with a disability.

Donations via direct deposit to:Account Name: Mary MacKillop Rural Community ServicesBank: Commonwealth Bank - Branch: BurwoodBSB: 062 128 Account No: 10036018

Continuing the legacy of one of its founders, St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop Family Services fosters hope and promotes justice for children, young people and their families experiencing distress, disadvantage or abuse.MacKillop Kitchen Rules, one of MacKillop’s innovative programs, was designed by young people in our care and equips them with life skills, while developing confidence, self esteem and an understanding that they are capable of great things.

www.mackillop.org.au

MacKillop Community Services QLD Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation formed to encompass many of the ministries owned and operated by the Sisters of St

Joseph in Queensland including: personal counselling for adults and children, spiritual and personal development, grief counselling, respite for carers, spiritual formation, hospitality, music education, and eco education.

Email: mackillopcsqld@bigpond.com

SiSterS of St JoSeph

Community Services

St Mary MacKillop Legacy

EducationMary MacKillop College at Kensington, SA has a very special and welcoming character. Mary MacKillop lived and worked at Kensington for many years. She opened the first school here in 1872.

We promote Catholic values in educating young women in the Mary MacKillop tradition (Live their faith).

www.marymackillop.sa.edu.au

Mount Saint Joseph Milperra is a Catholic independent girls' school located in Milperra, NSW.

Founded in 1960, the school is based on the values and spirit of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Our website aims to give you an insight into our school and the culture behind it, as well as sufficient information for any parents wishing to send their daughters here.

www.msj.nsw.edu.au

Mary MacKillop College is a Catholic Girls' Secondary College situated at Nundah in Queensland and is committed to excellence in education for young women. The College, founded and owned by the Sisters of St Joseph caters for the diversity of needs of young women by providing an education that realizes the dream of Mary MacKillop - true education resides in the hearts, minds and strengths of each person as they journey to wholeness.

www.mmc.qld.edu.au

Mount St Joseph Girls’ College at Altona West, VIC was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1964. Today, the College continues to provide high quality Catholic secondary education within the charism of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Our girls are invited to follow Mary MacKillop’s mantra of “seeing a need and acting” through our extensive social justice programme.

www.msj.vic.edu.au

Aged Care

Sisters of St Joseph Aged Care Services QLD have two facilities - Penola Nursing Home, Wavell Heights and St Joseph's Hostel, Nundah.

The Penola Nursing Home with its panoramic views and nestled in the tranquil, leafy setting of the North Brisbane suburb of Wavell Heights, provides holistic care for the frail elderly who so often experience disability, illness, loneliness and isolation. The hostel at Nundah also provides panoramic views out to the bay and holistic care for the ageing.

St Mary MacKillop Care (NSW) provides care to the frail-aged and needy in our society, via its nursing homes and hostels.

The service also offers community care packages tailored specifically for the homeless, culturally and linguistically diverse, and socially disadvantaged.

St Mary

MacKillop

Care NSW

Mary MacKillop Aged Care (VIC) provides a caring environment in the spirit of Mary MacKillop for those unable to care for themselves and continue living in their own homes. Residents and their families are supported with spiritual and pastoral care.

Mary MacKillop Aged Care aspires to Excellence in Aged Care through the provision of fully accredited residential High and Low Care.

Sisters of St Joseph Health Care Services (Vic) is responsible for MacKillop Aged Care.

www.marymackillopagedcare.org.au

Mary MacKillop Care SA Ltd manages South Australian aged care facilities.

Flora McDonald Lodge can trace its history to the House of Providence St Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods established in 1868. Flora McDonald Lodge provides Low and High Care accommodation and is situated in large, picturesque grounds near the city. Other facilities include: Tappeiner Court Nursing Home, Tenison Woods Aged Care Services and St Catherine's Berri.