St Mary’s Catholic Church

Parishioner 25 July 2010

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian Catholics were celebrating on Saturday after Pope Benedict XVI confirmed that Melbourne-born nun Mary MacKillop will become a saint — ending an 85-year campaign to have her canonised.

MacKillop, who founded her own order of nuns and who devoted her life to building schools and helping the poor, has been a revered figure in Australia since shortly after her death in 1909.

“We are delighted that the goodness, the holiness of the life of our Australian Mary MacKillop has been recognised by the Catholic Church throughout the world,” said Anne Derwin, head of MacKillop’s Sisters of St Joseph.

The Vatican had earlier recognised two miracles by MacKillop — both involving women who had prayed to the late nun after being diagnosed with terminal illnesses and who subsequently inexplicably recovered from their illnesses.

But the canonisation was not confirmed until Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement at a meeting of cardinals at the Vatican on Friday that MacKillop would be among six people who would become saints on October 17.

Derwin said the sisters had been having a cup of tea and waiting for the news when a text message from one of their nuns in Rome came through confirming that the pope had decided to canonise MacKillop.

“We were sitting around having a cup of tea and thinking about, oh perhaps we should have been down in the chapel praying,” she told reporters.

“And it was late, I had my phone, I kept looking because I was waiting for Sister Maria Casey to text me as soon as she could, and she did.”

Derwin said MacKillop, who founded her first school in a disused stable in a remote South Australian town in 1866, was a bold and pioneering woman.

“To her all people were equal,” she said. “To her all people deserved a fair go. Her values and endeavours symbolise and reflect what it means to be Australian.”

Born Mary Helen MacKillop to Scottish parents in Melbourne in 1842, MacKillop was the eldest of eight children and as a teenager began to support the family through her work as a governess, clerk and teacher.

Once she founded her Sisters of St. Joseph order, young woman quickly came to join her work, helping her build schools, women’s refuges and an orphanage.

But she had a rebellious streak, and clashed with those within the church who objected to her egalitarian ethos and her refusal to allow local bishops to control her order.

Sydney Archbishop George Pell said MacKillop, who was briefly excommunicated by the church for insubordination, was a “normal Australian”.

“She wasn’t an exotic miracle worker. She wasn’t in any sense an eccentric. She stuck at her task, she had her goal, she knew difficulties, she persevered through them and was remarkably forgiving,” he said.

Asked whether there was an irony in the fact that the woman who was once expelled from the church was now being recognised as Saint Mary of the Cross, Pell said MacKillop showed her devotion by staying loyal to the church.

“Part of the reason why she is recognised is she hung on through all these difficulties and maintained her charity and her sanity,” he said. “She didn’t become embittered and useless.”

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said MacKillop’s sainthood would be “deeply significant” not just for the country’s five million Catholics, but for all Australians.

“Mary MacKillop is an extraordinary figure in Australian history; a pioneering woman who dedicated her life to the poor and to advancing the cause of social justice in Australia,” he said.

Plagued by ill health for much of her life, MacKillop died in 1909 aged 67 as the leader of 750 nuns who ran 117 schools, as well homes and refuges for the needy. She was beatified in 1995.

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Given the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus which is now occurring in the community, we ask that priests and parishes cease the following actions:

Distribution of Holy Communion from the chalice (this includes intinction);
Giving Holy Communion on the tongue;
Holding Anointing Masses for the Sick.

Click  LINK  for full text

Attached are the latest plans:

presbytery1    Hall/Office1    Hall/Office2   Hall/Office3   Hall/Office4   Hall/Office5

Message from our Bishops – May 2009

Updated Wednesday 21st May:

The bishops have consulted with Ministry of Health and Public Health officils and lifted the restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of influenza.

Ministry of Health retains the status of Code Yellow, but has advised the bishops that the restrictions are no longer strictly necessary.

This means the following actions can now be resumed: Holy Communion on the tongue; Holy Communion from the chalice; shaking hands at the Sign of Peace.

Ministry of Health and Public Health officials commended the bishops for the caution taken and suggested that while the precautionary protocols are no longer necessary, they should be ready to implement in case the influenza situation escalates.

The bishohps reinforce that priests and Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist should continue to practise good hygeine procuderes.

Archbishhop John Dew, Secreary of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, suggests that anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms should be aware of others and exercise judgement as to whether or not they receive Holy Communion on the tongue or from the chalice, or shake hands during the Sign of Peace.

Advice will be given by the bishops if any changes are required.

The New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ are currently meeting in Palmerston North. They have asked that the following message be communicated…

Updated Thursday 30th April:

With Influenza A and Swine Flu having been identified in New Zealand, the bishops reinforce the need for priests and other ministers working for the Church to practise good personal hygiene procedures and request that all ministers take the following precautionary measures to reduce the spread of influenza.

The following actions are to cease: Communion on the tongue; Communion from the chalice; shaking hands at the Sign of Peace.

The bishops emphasise that ceasing these actions is a precautionary measure only and hope that they will not have to take stronger action. An update will be issued by the bishops if stronger action is needed and advice will be given when these actions can be resumed.

Updated Wednesday 29th April

The bishops note that swine flu has now been identified in New Zealand. At this stage priests and eucharistic ministers should continue to practise good hygiene procedures regarding the washing and drying of the sacred vessels. If the Ministry of Health identifies the spread of swine flu beyond those who contracted it overseas the bishops will issue a further update.

Monday 27th April:

To Priests, and Lay Pastoral Leaders

The bishops are watching the situation in Auckland, where some students returning from Mexico have developed influenza, which may be “swine flu”.

Priests and those who handle sacred vessels should be very aware of hygiene procedures, including the washing and drying of purificators and finger towels.

The bishops will advise promptly if further actions are needed to help prevent any spread of influenza.

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