Ash Wednesday at Warlawurru Catholic School, Red Hill, near Halls Creek, East Kimberley, was a prayerful community celebration for the seventy or so adults and children gathered in the undercroft.
In this photo, Elder Philomena Minga, gave out blessed ashes to Shania Willett.
Photo: CAS

Lord,
bless the sinner who asks for your forgiveness
and bless all those who receive these ashes.
May they keep this Lenten season
in preparation for the joy of Easter.
[From the Mass of Ash Wednesday]

Issue 1, April 2010, Highlights:

Easter Message

Many Happy Returns: 90

New look entrance

Takeaway Turkey Treat

Year for Priests

Blessing the Caring Centre

Mary Mackillop - Australia's First Saint

Kimberley Kitchen

Remembering the sick

Lent

Sicily Wedding

KCP Magazine

Mary MacKillop - Australia's First Saint

By: Sr Anne Porter RSJ and Sr Alma Cabassi RSJ

Pope Benedict has announced that on the 17th of October Mary MacKillop will be canonised St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She is the first Australian to be honoured in this way.

Mary MacKillop was born in Melbourne in 1842, the eldest of eight children to Flora MacDonald and Alexander MacKillop. The early years of Mary’s life were troubled. Her father was unable to keep a job which meant the family was poor and often had to move to new places. Her mother believed that ‘God will provide’ and she taught her children to trust in God. Mary’s personality showed aspects of both her parents. From her father she received her love for education, her understanding of God and a passion for justice. From her mother she learned how to depend on God in the most difficult things. Her mother’s faithfulness, warm and sensitive heart as well as strength of will are evident in Mary’s story. From an early age Mary had to work to provide for the family. She worked as a governess, a clerk in a stationery firm and a teacher in Portland.

Mary, while teaching at Penola, felt God calling her to dedicate her life to God and the service of God’s people. With the support of Father Julian Tennison Woods she began the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

Mary MacKillop began this new group of sisters to teach children who were not able to go to school and to care for the ‘poor and neglected’ of her time. She encouraged her sisters to “never see a need without trying to do something about it” and so she set up schools, orphanages, women’s refuges and other works that would help the poor and homeless.

Mary MacKillop stands out as one of our Australian heroes. There is something in her character and spirit that captures what it is to be Australian. She stood on the side of the vulnerable, she gave a ‘fair go’ to everyone and she had the courage to go to isolated places. She was full of goodness and very practical in her approach to life. She had an ability to bring hope where there was suffering. Her life has touched the heart and soul of all Australians.

As we celebrate this great woman and what God had done in her and through her, we will also celebrate our own goodness, what God has done and is doing in us in this land of the Southern Cross, the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.

Photo: “Mary 1882” Mary MacKillop Place Archive, North Sydney. Used with permission of the Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph. Must not be reproduced without permission of the Trustees.