Penola's Saint Mary MacKillop inspires new generation 15 years after canonisation
Saint Mary's original schoolhouse is again a focus on the 15th anniversary of her canonisation. (ABC South East SA: Liz Rymill)
In short:
Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop, overcame church politics and rural hardship to pursue her vision to educate the rural poor.
Fifteen years after her canonisation, her life is inspiring a new generation of pilgrims and visitors to Penola, according to a local nun.
What's next?
The Penola community expects interest locally and abroad in Saint Mary will continue throughout the rest of the year.
One hundred and sixty-five years ago, an 18-year-old girl arrived at a sheep station in south-eastern South Australia to be a governess for her aunt and uncle's children.
Penola, with its bush huts and giant red gums, was a world away from Melbourne, which Mary MacKillop and her sisters Lexie and Annie had left to earn an income for their family.
But by 1866, in the space of just six years and with the support of local parish priest Father Julian Tenison Woods, Saint Mary had opened a school for local children.
The stable where Mary MacKillop is believed to have established her school at Penola in 1866. (Supplied: Flinders University)
"She had a vision that all rural children — no matter what their background — could receive an equal, comprehensive, Catholic and free education," Penola historian and author Margaret Muller explained.
From humble beginnings in a repurposed stable, Saint Mary's and Father Julian's education system expanded, and they co-founded the first order of nuns in Australia in 1866, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
"She was just so capable. She was a great horsewoman, had a wonderful way with people and a great sense of humour, and her determination was unmatched,"Mrs Muller said.
Sister Loreto O'Connor looks at photos from the canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop. (ABC South East SA: Liz Rymill)
Anniversary commemorated
This year the remarkable life of Australia's first saint is being remembered, 15 years after she was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI to a crowd that included 8,000 Australians in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Back in Penola the atmosphere was just as eventful.
"Right before the celebrations a tornado had ripped through Penola's main street and even [took] the roof off the old schoolhouse," Mrs Muller said.
Margaret Muller with the late Father Paul Gardiner at the Mary MacKillop Memorial Centre. (Supplied: Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre)
"But the whole community and even visitors just came together and helped get everything on track for the big day.
"It was wonderful."
Current parish priest Father Peter Zwaans was among those in Rome during the canonisation.
"I'd been sent to Rome to complete my studies for the priesthood, so I just happened to be there and got swept up in all of the celebrations," he said.
Father Peter Zwaans was in Rome during the canonisation of Saint Mary MacKillop 15 years ago. (Supplied: Mount Gambier Catholic Parish)
Father Peter said the anniversary of Saint Mary's canonisation was an important opportunity to "reflect on the lessons of her life but also to look ahead".
"Her legacy continues in the institutions that she founded — the Sisters of Saint Joseph, all of the schools that have emerged from her mission and in a lot of charitable causes that she inspired," he said.
"But to be honest, I don't think the greatest part of her legacy is in her work. It's in her spirit and in what she inspires in others.
"She really went through her life with trust, knowing that God would help her carry the cross and it would become fruitful."
Pilgrims journey to Penola
Combined with a jubilee year in the church calendar, 2025 has already seen crowds of Catholic pilgrims from across the country and abroad journey to Penola.
Pilgrims and tourists travel to Penola to visit the site where Saint Mary MacKillop started her first school and religious order. (Supplied: Penola Catholic Parish)
An interpretive centre, which sits just beyond the church and schoolhouse, was built in 1998 to commemorate the 1995 beatification of Saint Mary.
Interpretive centre chair and Josephite nun Sister Loreto O'Connor said Saint Mary was inspiring a new generation, including those from different faith backgrounds and cultures.
"The people who come through the centre share their stories of having their prayer petitions answered … not always immediately, sometimes it took years," Sister Loreto said.
She said the centre received upward of 7,000 visitors a year, including non-Catholics.
Sister Loreto O'Connor with the bust of Saint Mary MacKillop at the Penola Interpretive Centre. (ABC South East SA: Liz Rymill)
"They will say, 'But I'm not a Catholic' and we say 'that doesn't matter.' Mary and Julian reached out to everyone and in fact, some of their strongest supporters weren't Catholic," Sister Loreto said.
She said while the present-day Josephite sisters were "an aging group", they had seen a revival from young people choosing religious vocations in recent years.
"Some amazing things are happening," she said.
"I think young people are inspired by Mary. She stood for justice, she stood for oppressed people, she stood for the downtrodden. She never saw a need without doing something about it.
"One of the things I ask myself when I'm faced with a difficult situation is, 'What would Mary MacKillop do?'"