A Mass to commemorate 100 years since the death of Blessed Mary MacKillop will be held at the Cathedral of St Stephen on Saturday August 8.

The Mass is being organised in conjunction with the religious order Mary founded, the Sisters of St Joseph, and will start at 10.00am.

The weekend will be a special time of reflection and thanksgiving for the life of this great Australian woman and Catholic educator.

With her case for canonisation progressing in Sydney and Rome, she has also been recently announced as patron of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

In early July the Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Rev John Bathersby, asked that the Feast of Blessed Mary MacKillop be celebrated at all masses in the Archdiocese on Sunday August 9, 2009.

“This will be a fitting way to not only recall the centenary of her death, but also to highlight her significance to the people of Australia, and especially this Archdiocese as our newly proclaimed Patron,” Archbishop Bathersby said.

Brisbane Archdiocese has a significant connection to Blessed Mary MacKillop, with schools for the poorer children of Brisbane and Maryborough being established by her in 1870 (St Joseph’s Primary School at Kangaroo Point still operates).

An archdiocesan shrine in honour of ‘Mother Mary of the Cross’ was unveiled in 1999. Sculpted by John Elliott, it is one of the most popularly visited sites within the Cathedral precinct and is found in St Stephen’s Chapel, located alongside the Cathedral.

Released by The Catholic Communications Office

August 4, 2009