Saint Mary MacKillop began working at the age of 14. As the oldest of 8 children her parents needed her financial help. When she was 19, she moved to South Australia to be a governess on a wealthy estate. As governess, she determined that she also needed to teach the poorer farm children. From there she became a school teacher.
Saint Mary MacKillop began wearing all black to signify her decision to dedicate her life to God. Her confessor helped her co-founded Australia's first order of nuns, the the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, or the Josephites, in 1866. These sisters wore brown, and took vows of poverty. The "Brown Joeys" began work in a converted stable, providing free education to all children, and opened many other ministries. When Saint Mary MacKillop took her final vows, she became Sister Mary of the Cross.
At one point in her life, a bishop accused her of insubordination and excommunicated her because they disagreed about the ownership of the schools. Before the bishop died, he lifted the excommunication and an official church investigation proved that she was innocent of the accusations.
The Josephites spread all over Australia and even to New South Wales and New Zealand, establishing religious communities and schools. Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop was known for her intelligence, leadership, passion, and autonomous spirit, but her legacy was her holiness. In 1909, Cardinal Moran stated, "Today, I believe that I have assisted at the death bed of a saint."
Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop is the patron saint of Australia, the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and the Knights of the Southern Cross. She is the first Australian saint to be canonized. We can ask Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop to intercede for us when we are falsely accused. If we are called to leadership roles, she will help to lead with faith and courage.