Who are these amazing people?

In England, Benedict XVI presided over the beatification ceremony of Blessed John Henry Newman on Sunday. He is about to canonise our first Australian saint Mother Mary of the Cross. Canada is celebrating the life of Brother Andre and his story of charity, holiness and hope. Another three people are also to be canonised on 17 October. Who are these people? What makes them holy?
Here I am sorting out what clothes and how many pairs of shoes to take on my trip thinking about how these men and women clothed the poor... How different our lives are.

What Mary means to us

I've just added a link under my "Important links" list to a new five minute video on the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese website about what Mary MacKillop and her canonisation means to us.
Or you can check it out right here:

Mary's gentle mercy

I must tell you about a beautiful little book I have been reading as preparation for my trip to the Canonisation. It is titled - ‘Memories of Mary, by those who knew her. Sisters of St Joseph 1925 – 1926’. It recalls moments and memories of the Sisters who knew Mary of the Cross. I loved this particular little story, set in Kincumber where my great, great grandmother lived and knew Mary.

 ......Mother Mary was devotedly attached to the orphans. In years gone by her visits to Kincumber were always looked forward to by the boys who met her at Woy Woy. In a small open boat they rowed her for three miles across the Brisbane Water – one little chap being employed the whole way bailing out the water. This happened frequently on dark nights too, when only the splash of the oar could indicate their arrival at the orphanage. Mother went there on imperative administrative business, but was always accompanied by bags of bread and meat. On one occasion a little orphan came to her crying: ‘Please, Mother, Sr A sent me to tell you that I stole a loaf of bread!’  ‘Were you hungry, my child? If so, go back and steal another.’.....

It shows such gentle mercy as she imitated Christ’s love for the poor and orphaned. I suppose that is what a saint is made of!

So Close

It is only 17 days till we leave on our pilgrimage to honour our first Australian Saint - Mary of the Cross. It has been a special time of reading about this amazing, gentle, merciful woman of God. And then of course there is the panic of making sure I don't get lost in the middle of Rome, or left on the station at Foggia after seeing Padre Pio - san Giovanni Rotondo or trying to make our way successfully to Subiaco to visit the Monastery of St Benedict. The good Lord will have to send His angels to guide us - and not let them leave our sides.
Blessings Sue

Coming soon...

Just to let you know this blog will be officially underway in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, please check out the "My connection to Mary MacKillop" page which will give you a bit more information about me.
We'll find out our final itinerary at the end of the month and then the archdiocese pilgrims fly out on 9 October.
I'll keep you posted every step of the way so watch this space!