The Catholic Weekly 18 October 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 3 18, October, 2020 Enquiries: [email protected] www.michaelgalovic.com The Holy Trinity, an icon 100x70cm by Michael Galovic The Miracle of Canonisation 1925 September 27 - Opening of the Processus Ordinar- ius in Sydney. 1952 July 19 - Nihil Obstat from the Holy See. 1973 February 1 - Decree on the Introduction of the Cause. 1989 December 1 - Decree on the Validity of Process on the Virtues 1992 June 13 - Decree on Heroicity of the Virtues promulgated at Papal Audience. 1993 July 6 - Promulgation of the Decree of the Miracle. A JOSEPHITE sister inspired to join the order due to the tireless work of its founder Saint Mary of the Cross MacK- illop, still finds it difficult to believe she was responsible for overseeing the final stages of Mary’s canonisation as Aus- tralia’s first recognised Saint. Sr Maria Casey rsj, the final postulator for the Cause, said during this weekend’s 10th anniversary of her canonisa- tion that it was the “greatest privilege” to see Saint Mary MacKillop receive the official recognition by the Church. Launched in 1925, five postulators and 85 years lat- er, Sr Maria was in Rome with more than 8000 Australians to witness Pope Benedict XVI declare Mary a saint on 17 October, 2010 at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The former president of the Canon Law Society of Austral- ia and New Zealand said it was Saint Mary’s tireless dedica- tion and devotion to those in need that had inspired her to follow in her footsteps for over 60 years. “I could never, ever have believed that I would be re- sponsible for seeing the com- pletion of the Cause for the woman who was my inspira- tion,” she said. “I remember when I was in primary school in Ireland, two sisters came and spoke to us about the work of Mary MacK- illop and I instantly had this extraordinary feeling that this is where I belonged. “Despite knowing very little about Australia, at the age of 16 I boarded a ship which took 5-and-a-half weeks to reach Sydney and joined the Order. “Mary was a woman for all seasons and for all people, she never discriminated against the rich or the poor, Catholic or non-Catholic or migrants or Aboriginal people. “Never, ever, ever did I think it would be my greatest privi- lege to see the canonisation process to its completion but of course I didn’t achieve it on my own, we had an army of people working on it. “Even though her death occurred more than a century ago, she is still very busy ob- taining favours for people and we still get word of miracles and cures thanks to her.” Born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, in 1842, Mary MacKillop ded- icated her life to helping the poor and needy. In 1866, she founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph having Sister Maria Casey rsj still pinches herself when she thinks of the privilege she received as a postulator of the Cause for canonisation of Mary MacKillop. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI previously opened a school in a disused stable in Penola, South Australia and today pri- mary and secondary schools operate in every State and Ter- ritory of the country. She maintained her faith and dedication to helping people throughout her life, de- spite a backlash from church leaders and suffering ill health for many years, up until her death in 1909 aged 67. Four years later in 1913, the Mary MacKillop Memori- al Chapel was built and now houses her tomb. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Sydney on Jan- uary 19, 1995 after the Vatican, in 1961, accepted her interces- sion which was responsible for the cure of a woman with terminal leukaemia. A second miracle, the curing of NSW woman Kathleen Evans, who in 1993 developed inoperable lung cancer, was also recog- nised by the Vatican. Today, the co-founder of the Josephites - the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart - continues to inspire men, women and children around the world due to her remarka- ble life, her sense of social jus- tice and her enormous contri- bution to education. Sister Monica Cavanagh, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, said the 10th anniversary is a chance for us to reflect on Mary’s legacy and the valuable les- sons her life experiences have taught us. ¾ ¾ Debbie Cramsie 10 years on, Sister grateful Saint MacKillop postulator pays tribute to those who went before 1995 January 19 - Solemn Beatification of Mary MacKillop by Pope John Paul 11 at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. 2008 April 30 - Decree of Opening the Diocesan inquiry on a presumed miracle. July 21 - Nomination of Sr Maria Casey rsj, Pos- tulator of the Cause. 2009 December 19 - Promul- gation of the Decree on the Miracle. 2010 February 19 - Solemn Consistory – announce- ment of canonisation. October 17 - Solemn Canonisation in Rome, Italy. Pope Benedict XVI greets Sister Maria Casey at the Vatican in October 2010. PHOTO: CNS NEWS