EMPIRE SELF-RAISING FLOUR
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The West AUSTRALIAN
Rises Above all Others.
RECORD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1912
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Great Australian
toiic Leal and foresight this was Father Tennison Woods, destined by (Sod to be the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Late Mother Mary of the Heart. He was an experienced "bush In 1840 Mr. McKillop married Mies missionary," indefatigable in attendFoundress of the Sisters of Si. Joseph of the Sacred Heart Flora McDonald, and two years la- ing to his scattered flock, who inhater, when their eldest daughter was bited the small towns and villages born, her father, who had a special dotted over the district, as well as LIFE SKETCH, SPE"IALLY WRITTEN FOR THE "W.A. love for Our Lady, insisted that his the remote portions of the bush. His RECORD." child should bear no other name hut long experience of the conditions of Three years ago, on Sunday, Aug- the old spirit of zeal for the salvalife in these places showed him how ust 8th, 1909, there passed away at tion of souls is no less sincere and Mary. She was baptised at St. Francis' Church, Melbourne, and urgently necessary it was that the Sydney a prominent figure in the his- burning under Australian skies than there, too, at an early age, she la- religious education of the children tory of the Catholic Church in Aus- it has been for centuries in the his- ter should he thoroughly attended to, received her First Communion, tral:a, in the person of Mother Mary tory of the Old World. to prepare for which she was sent to and for a long time be pondered as of the cross, Foundress and first SuMother Mary of the Cross was a private boarding -school in Mel- to the best means of overcoming the perioress of the Sisters of St. Jo- born at Fitzroy, Victoria, on .Janu- bourne. Shortly afterwards her par- obstacles that prevented the spread seph of the Sacred Heart. Her long ary 15th, 1842. Her father Alexan- ents made of religious their home in Portland, knowledge so important and .1 -:fill illness, extending over der McKillop, member of a well- Victoria. Here, and so necessary. It was about this even in her early sight was borne with fortitude known Highland family, had come years, Mary time that Mary McKillop came to McKillon showed that Penola from Victoria. arid she and Father Woods became acquainted. He was much impressed by her exemplary Catholic life, and it was not long before he had confided to her his hopes and proposals for bringing religious knowledge to the rising generation of his districts. From this humble beginning, this meeting which might truly be considered Providential in the light of the events of following years, rose the Order of the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1866 the work began. In a small stable in Penola, Mother Mary of the Cross, as she was afterwards to be called, started, with two or three companions, a small school. Surely nothing more humble, and at the same time more courageous, could be imagined than this. Does it not remind us forcibly of the lowly birth at Bethlehem and the humble life at Nazareth ? Without resources of any kind, without even a suitable building for the carrying on of their work, the first members of this Order, which was afterwards to extend its branches throughout Australia, commenced their arduous labours with full confidence and hope in the mercy and assistance of God alone. and their confidence and hope were not in vain for not only their first school, but also many of their succeeding ones, founded in similar humble and impoverished circumstances, were eminently successful. Many instances might he given of the trials of the community in its early stages. They had to combat not only poverty and want, but even indifference and aversion. Nevertheless, they spread with amazing rapidity. In 1867 the novitiate of the sisters was established in Adelaide, and in that year Mother Mary made her religious profession. Less than five years later. the institute could already boast of 120 members. In 1869, the Administrator of the Diocese of Brisbane requested the Sisters to establish a community in that diocese ; but great though the need of them was, no funds for the journey could he supplied. But the Sisters were nothing daunted. They actually set out, having decided to beg their fares from one State to another-a most courageous resolution, which they successfully carried MQTHER MARY OF THE CROSS out. In Adelaide they collected enough to take them to Melbourne, Youndress of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. where, with the kind assistance of a few friends, they were enabled to sic :-__Knation, and was ended by a to Australia in the early days, and firmness and strength of readicam aLd peaceful death. settled, at first in Sydney and after- ness to help others, and kindness and proceed to Sydney. In Sydney they again had recourse to collecting, and The r....story of Mother Mary and wards in Melbourne. He was a most sympathy of heart, which were such thus succeeded in reaching he on:inanity forms a most impor- exemplary Catholic, descended as he prominent Brisbane. characteristics of her work Finding that to accept aid from the taw crtion of Australian Church was from generations of Scotsmen in religion in later years. Her friends State and place their schools bastory. It is a record of humble be- who had remained staunch to the seemed to under turn instinctively to her s- ri:17s bitter trials, and glorious Faith during the long dark days of in all their troubles. When misfor- the Government Board would mean the giving up of their is a story that should be purely Catho111:CCe6R. persecution. He was always promin- tunes overtook her parents, s'a. work- lic method of education, they had to sea'. w:tio the deepest interest by all ently connected with anything touch- ed courageously to lighten burendure many trials and privations in Catholics. ilen:n. we tlve ing Catholic interests in the early dens of the and to her youn- carrying out their work thougt: A good to write the follow- pioneer days of Victoria ; and in ger brothers family, unaided. and sisters she was alThey could not ask for fees ; they ing tirlef sketch of the life and those days of hardship and 1an4er ways known as the "little soother." could not beg. Yet their work went achrevements of Mother Mary and he worked with untiring energy to Meanwhile, in Penola, a little town on and progressed ; and her de-,-cted followers in the mission assist the priests in the their firm performance in South Australia, a comparatively determination to reject State aid unCelt s.ustralia. as showing that of their arduous duties. He and unknown priest laboured with spoil, - der the conditions asked by the Go-
The
se
Dr. Geoghegan, one of the pioneer priests of Victoria, were warm friends, and he often accompanied Father Geoghegan on sick calls as an emergency guard in case of accident.
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