The Mary MacKillop Interpretive centre - Penola

In 1860, when Mary was 18, she left her Melbourne home to become governess to her Aunt & Uncle Alexander Cameron's children in Penola. 

She soon met Father Julian Tenison Woods, Penola's parish priest & a noted scientist.  They shared a dream of providing free Catholic education for the district's poor & isolated children

This outstanding building was completed in 1998 & contains displays with photographs & artifacts explaining the story of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop & Father Julian Tenison Woods & particularly their time in Penola in 1860's

However, for family reasons Mary moved to Portland in 1862, working there as governess & school teacher.  In 1866 she returned to Penola, where she &Father Woods co-founded the Australian order of the Sisters of Joseph of the Sacred Heart, whose work was to be conducted in a spirit of poverty & prayer.

They opened the first St Joseph's school in a convertred stable, its site now a Memorial park.  This is where Mary's journey began.  In 1867 Mary moved into the Schoolhouse on corner of Petticoat Lane

Mary was born in Melbourne on 15 January 1842.  Mary dedicated her life to God through service to the poor and the marginalised, mainly through education.  She had a deep sense of social justice, respected the dignity of the individual, & showed charity to all regardless of religion, race or culture

 

 Beatification - Sydney, Pope John II - 19th January 1995
Canonisation - Rome, Pope Benedict XVI - 17th October 2010
Photographs of the Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross in Rome

Celebrations at the same time in Penola

Stain glass window of St Mary  in St Joseph church

Inside St Joseph church

Today over 1000 Sisters of St Joseph continue ministering to those in need throughout Australia & NZ, as well as Ireland, Peru, east Timor, Scotland & Brazil.  They are a living tribute to the life,work & faith of Mary MacKillop, a Saint for All Australians

Inside the schoolhouse

Father Julian Woods commissioned the Schoolhouse, Mary MacKillop taught & lived there in 1867.  It is displayed as a school room of the 1860's with living quarters in the back rooms

Mary was a strong & inspirational pioneer & leader of her Sisters of St Joseph who, regardless of colonial boundaries, moved wherever they were needed, opening schools & ministering to the poor in Australia & New Zealand

Of those founding days in Penola with Father Woods, Mary later commented

'Little did either of us then dream of what was to spring from so small a beginning'

Mary died on 8 August 1909 & is buried in the Memorial Chapel at mary MacKillop Place, Mount St, North Sydney

Schoolhouse

Original well