ABC Religion & Ethics
'SAINT MARY' A SPRINGBOARD FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
David Busch
Thursday 7 October 2010 4:06pm
There is consideration of the person herself: What is it about Mary MacKillop that suggests her as a candidate for such recognition? What kind of person was she, what did she do, what difference did her life make to those who knew her?
An appreciation of her context is also important: What were the important social, political and religious dynamics at play in her life through the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and how did this shape her religious faith and sense of vocation? What of her Scottish Highlander background, and the colonial Australian church of those times?
The apparent gulf between her times and ours leads to questions of relevance: How does Mary MacKillop - who she was and what she did in her place and time - connect with our lives today? How does her strong Catholic faith, family life, founding of a religious order, passion for education in poor rural communities, her life experiences, resonate with the worldview, aspirations and values of contemporary Australians?
Allied to this is her Australianness: How might Mary both embody and extend our collective sense of who are our Australian heroes? What distinctive element might this new St Mary bring to the pantheon of Australian legends whose number already include such figures as Ned Kelly, Breaker Morant, Don Bradman, Joan Sutherland, Weary Dunlop, Fred Hollows, Bert Hinkler, Mum Shirl, Eddie Mabo and Cathy Freeman?
On the other hand, does Mary, a saint of the universal Church, risk being coopted by an affectionate but confining nationalism which bestows upon her the mantles of Aussie battler, underdog and 'great Australian sheila'?
The religious dimension is obviously central. What does the process of canonisation mean in this day and age, and what kind of theology and devotional practice around 'the saints' speaks to contemporary Australian religious sensibilities? Might Mary's elevation as a religious figure inhibit her capacity to speak into modern Australia with its declining church attendance, broad secularism and religious pluralism?
Beyond all of these big-picture questions lie the myriad of personal responses - those for whom the Pope's declaration of Mary of the Cross MacKillop as a saint of the church will mean nothing, and those whose lives may be changed by it.
This special web site aims to create a unique public space for such a wide-ranging discussion - through commissioned essays, pilgrim's stories, links, and special reports by our correspondent Margaret Coffey at the canonisation in Rome. Included here are some voices from the past, including poet and author Max Harris, an eminent Australian literary figure who became Mary's most outspoken public advocate outside the Catholic Church.
May these articles and the discussions they precipitate help mark this significant moment in Australia's social, cultural and religious history.
The ABC does not wish to duplicate material readily available elsewhere. We recommend the following web sites as useful sources for the story of Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph, explaining the canonisation, and discussing her legacy today.
Blessed Mary MacKillop is the official Mary MacKillop site, covering the story of Mary's life as well as a wide range of news, blogs and articles about the process of canonisation, pilgrimages to Rome for the ceremony, celebrations across Australia, resources and photos.
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart is the web site of the order founded by Mary MacKillop and includes information about Mary and the ongoing work of her order throughout Australia and in other countries.
Australia's Catholic News Service has also created an excellent site for the canonisation called Australia's First Saint. This includes news items and blogs about Australian involvement in pilgrimages to Rome and events across Australia.
The Jesuit online magazine, Eureka Street, is also publishing a range of articles about the significance of Mary MacKillop's canonisation for Australia.
Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney is the spiritual heart of the Sisters of St Joseph, incorporating Mary's tomb and memorial chapel, a museum of her life and of the Order, and a spirituality and hospitality centre.
Penola in South Australia also has a Mary MacKillop centre which, like North Sydney, is a place of pilgrimage.
The State Library of South Australia has a useful online resource giving access to contemporary and historical material about Mary MacKillop.
PILGRIMAGE BLOGS
Over 2500 Australians are participating in pilgrimages to the canonisation ceremony arranged by the official tour contractor for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Many others will make their own way to St Peter's Square. Some Australian pilgrims are writing blogs of their pilgrimage experiences.
Several are contributing to the Canonisation Blog on the official Mary MacKillop web site and on the Catholic News Service site.
Sue Orchison from Canberra-Goulburn archdiocese is writing a blog on behalf of that archdiocese's pilgrimage tour, while the Parramatta diocese's Catholic Education Office is hosting its own pilgrims' blog space.
Does Mary risk being coopted by an affectionate but confining nationalism which bestows upon her the mantles of Aussie battler, underdog and 'great Australian sheila'?
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