Led by Sr Anne Bond rsj, Assistant Director of Mary MacKillop Place, and Mr Garry McLean, inaugural Director of the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre, this pilgrimage is an invitation for prayer and reflection.
Today, the Sisters of St Joseph recognise that each of us is on a daily journey of faith but there is a time in life when we feel called to join with others; seeking, listening, reflecting and seeing the hand of God at work in our own lives. Mary MacKillop offers such an opportunity to journey to significant places in Australia made holy by Saint Mary MacKillop. While on pilgrimage, we are invited to reflect on Saint Mary MacKillop’s life and to recognise her relevance in our own lives. Such reflection can encourage us to emulate her courage, perseverance, joy and deep faith.
Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, is recognised as a national place of pilgrimage in Australia and is made sacred by Australia’s first canonised saint being entombed in the Memorial Chapel.
The Journey
- Starting in Melbourne, experience the early life of Mary and the MacKillop Family,
- Continue the story by coach to Hamilton, Portland and Port McDonnell,
- Spend two nights in Penola connecting with the Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods’ stories,
- Coach into South Australia and visit Our Lady Star of the Sea - a church built by Fr Julian Tenison Woods at Robe,
- Continue on to Adelaide where Mary professed her vows as a Sister of Saint Joseph and immerse ourselves in the unfolding story of the Congregation,
- Fly to Sydney and spend three nights at Mary MacKillop Place where Mary lived and died. Visit her burial site in the Memorial Chapel.
For further information, contact the Australian Pilgrimage Co-Ordinator at national.pilgrimage@mmp.org.au or call (02) 8912 4818.