THE Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has approved a request from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) that the liturgical observance of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop be raised from a “feast” to a “solemnity.”
Each year on August 8 the “feast day” of Mary MacKillop has traditionally been marked in parishes and a special Mass is often said, particularly in places where the religious order she founded, the Sisters of St Joseph, has a presence.
A solemnity will mean that the Mass of the day will include a first reading as well as the second reading. It will also include the Gospel, the Gloria and the recitation of the Creed.
This honour is a recognition that the story of and devotion to St Mary MacKillop has a prominent place in the Catholic community in Australia.
ACBC president Archbishop Philip Wilson said this honour was a recognition that the story of and devotion to St Mary MacKillop has a prominent place in the Catholic community in Australia.
“As Australia’s first saint it is fitting that the liturgy of the Church in Australia on her feast day should reflect that by having the highest liturgical rank,” Archbishop Wilson said.
“Many of the bishops of Australia and 8000 of the faithful went to Rome last year, and many more celebrated in locations around Australia the canonisation of our first saint.”
“For All Australians, whether Catholic or not, Mary MacKillop is seen as a woman of heroic virtue, and this (announcement) goes a little further toward honouring her great example.”
It is expected that on August 8 this year, parishes around Australia will celebrate with special Masses to mark the occasion.
