QUEENSLAND Governor Penelope Wensley has marvelled at the “remarkable embrace” of Blessed Mary MacKillop’s impending canonisation by a large cross-section of Australia’s “notably secular society”.
Governor Wensley made the comment at the launch of Josephite Sister Margaret McKenna’s book With Grateful Hearts! Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph in Queensland 1870-1970 at the Marymac Centre in Annerley, Brisbane, on March 19.
Launch host Queensland Sisters of St Joseph provincial Sr Moya Campbell described the book as the “first of its kind about the history of Mary MacKillop and the Josephite Sisters in Queensland”.
The governor, in her well-considered and heartfelt speech, remarked on Mary MacKillop’s deep love of “dear old Queensland” as the co-founder of the Josephites called the state in correspondence documented in the book.
Sr McKenna, in her response, referred to an 1879 newspaper report which spoke of Mary MacKillop breaking down and weeping at a farewell organised on the occasion of her leaving Brisbane for Sydney.
She also said the Josephites “had much to be grateful for” and that the order would probably not have continued without the support of many ordinary people of other faiths or no faith.
Among highlights on the night was the presentation of a Mary MacKillop shrub to the governor with the suggestion that an appropriate home might be in the grounds of Government House.
Australian congregational leader of the Josephites Sr Anne Derwin and more than 70 Josephite Sisters were among those present at the launch.
Brisbane archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops Joseph Oudeman and Brian Finnigan, along with priests and many family and supporters of the Josephites, also attended.
Sr Campbell described Sr McKenna’s book, on which the author had been working part-time for almost nine years, as “a labour of love”.
Governor Wensley opened her speech with the observation that the choice of St Joseph’s feast day on which to launch the book was “wonderfully appropriate”.
“St Joseph was an ordinary man chosen by God to do great things,” Ms Wensley said.
“His quiet devotion and practical kindness find daily expression in the work of the sisters.
“We also learn that St Joseph was the saint to whom Mary MacKillop prayed most often and fervently.”
The governor also said she had been “somewhat surprised by the extent to which her (Mary MacKillop’s) story has been embraced by Christians and other religions and even those with no faith”.
“The warm welcome (of the news of her impending canonisation) has gone well beyond good tidings for the Sisters of St Joseph and Catholics.
“There is a much wider, discernible interest in and ownership of Mary MacKillop’s story and recognition that her life was something beyond the ordinary.
“In fact there is a remarkable embrace of this religious figure in what is a notably secular society”.
This was possibly because “Australians as a people have a soft spot for underdogs and those who champion underdogs,” she said.
Governor Wensley went on to talk about Blessed Mary’s “steely determination and practical efforts to bring education to children of struggling families”.
“St Joseph’s Sisters today continue this tradition,” she said.
“They are always at home in humanity.
“Therefore it is perhaps not surprising that many Queenslanders hold deep affection for the women known as ‘Joeys'”.
Governor Wensley said Sr McKenna, in producing a book on the little-known history of Mary MacKillop in Queensland, had lived up to the founder’s frequent saying to “Never see a need without trying to do something about it”.
Sr McKenna’s opening response that “I couldn’t tell you how happy I am to see it (the story) between two covers” drew laughter from the audience.
The author said she had been led to write the book by a belief that many were unaware that Mary MacKillop and the order’s co-founder Fr Julian Tenison-Woods had travelled widely throughout Queensland, “walked our streets and prayed in our cathedral”.
Sr McKenna said she believed that documents on this period had been left to “gather dust in archives” because the story of Blessed Mary’s time in Queensland was such a painful one for the early sisters.
Sr McKenna said she had always believed Mary MacKillop had led “a heroic Christian life but I wanted to know her as a person”.
“I was struck by Mary’s ability to forgive,” she said.
“I believe this ability came from her belief in the dignity of every person.
“She was also very proud to be an Australian.
“She made it clear to Rome as well that she was very interested in political, social and educational issues in Australia.”
The Josephites have much to be grateful for to the people of Australia, Sr McKenna said.
“I came to believe they wouldn’t have survived without the support of all the people – for example in Townsville a Jewish man provided water from his well when the sisters were in trouble.”
With Grateful Hearts! Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph in Queensland 1870-1970 can be obtained from all good book stores or by contacting the Josephites’ administration centre on (07) 3266 1300 or at sosjadminqld@bigpond.com
