THOUSANDS of Catholics from throughout south-east Queensland flocked to St Stephen’s Cathedral last Sunday to join in celebrations marking the canonisation of St Mary MacKillop.
It was an event that was both festive and reflective, as the crowd entered into the spirit of the celebration of the life of Australia’s first saint.
Some were even moved to tears by the occasion, especially when praying before the statue of St Mary MacKillop in St Stephen’s Chapel.
The event drew people of all ages and included a broadcast from Rome of the canonisation ceremony.
Displays, a prayer pilgrimage and live entertainment were presented around the cathedral precinct.
Dean of the cathedral Fr Ken Howell welcomed Premier Anna Bligh as a guest.
Anni Jessop, of Emu Park, near Rockhamp-ton, was among the crowd and was moved by the occasion.
“I’ve been crying on and off just being here in this gathering in (Mary MacKillop’s) honour … just from the joy of it all,” Ms Jessop said.
“We Australians desperately needed our own saint – a real person born in our country.
“She also had a lot to do with our country towns and understood the issues we all still struggle with.”
Josephite Sister Anne Cannon, who was professed 38 years ago and has ministered in every Queensland diocese except Cairns, said it was “just a great family occasion”.
“Today I have met people I went to school with at what was once Mt St Joseph’s at Nundah, then became Corpus Christi (College) and is now Mary MacKillop College,” she said.
“It is also a family occasion in the sense that all here in the grounds of St Stephen’s, and everywhere else, have gathered to pay tribute to the matriarch of the family Mary MacKillop.”
Maureen Duffy, of Carina parish in Brisbane, and her sister Elaine McLure, of Tingalpa’s Holy Family Church community in Cannon Hill parish, said they “couldn’t go to Rome so they caught the bus and came here – it’s closer and less expensive”.
Mrs McLure’s children were taught by the Sisters of St Joseph, and she and Mrs Duffy both did midwifery at St Margaret’s Hospital in Sydney when it was run by the Josephites.
“We looked after a lot of unmarried mothers, and the children would go to an orphanage to be adopted,” Mrs McLure said.
Mrs Duffy said “it’s just a wonderful day”.
“She’s a wonderful lady.”
It was a special day for Bryce Ives, 9, of Loganlea, who was at the celebrations with his mother Melissa Hawkey, his brother Daniel, 7, neighbour Danielle Anderson, and his friend Jayden Anderson, 10.
Bryce attends St Paul’s Primary School, Woodridge, which was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph.
He decided he wanted to become a Catholic so he made his first Holy Communion and was confirmed this year.
