SHARING A DREAM - the story of Mary MacKillop in The Wollongong Diocese

Father Julian Woods and Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph in Penola, South Australia, to provide Catholic education to poor children and those who lived in isolated areas. In a country beginning to expand rapidly, the work of the Sisters spread and little schools were being established in isolated areas, far from the comforts provided by the cities.

In 1880 Archbishop Roger Vaughan invited the Sisters to establish schools in the Diocese of Sydney, incorporating vast country areas. In that year eight schools were set up, two in our area at Picton and Dapto. During Mary’s lifetime, fifteen schools were established in this Diocese which was part of Sydney until the Diocese of Wollongong was established in 1952.

Dapto and Picton were the first and then followed Bulli (1881), Albion Park (1882), Camden and Jamberoo (1883), Moss Vale (1884), Berry and Menangle (1885), Kiama (1888), Mittagong (1891), Helensburgh (1900), The Oaks (1902), Burragorang (1903), and Corrimal (1905).

Mary never lived in the area but she was a frequent visitor to the convents and schools. She recorded in her diary the places she visited and incidents that occurred there. In Sydney she had many mouths to feed, the children and elderly homeless women in The Rocks area, the Novices in training and the Sisters teaching around the city. When visiting Moss Vale and the surrounding convents, it was suggested to her that she might collect some animals to take back to Sydney for Christmas dinner. Mary records the generosity of the local farmers in giving fowls, ducks, geese and a suckling pig. Beside this entry she has written, “The suckling pig I begged for the fun of taking it home with me and shocking dear Sr Patrick, also a lame rosella for Uncle Peter. Great fun getting back to the convent.” The next day Mary records “Committee men saw the livestock booked on the train to Sydney. Arrived safely, great amusement over poor piggy.”

Another diary entry was “Lollies 4/- or lollies 6/-”. She would save whatever money she could to buy a treat for the children. These she carried in her pocket and children were rewarded

with a colourful, long-lasting boiled lolly.

Mary was concerned about the welfare of her Sisters to see that their accommodation was adequate and they had enough to eat and sufficient clothing. She would examine the school, encouraging the Sisters to keep up high standards. She was very conscious of children struggling with their learning, suggesting ways the teachers could help those who had difficulties getting to school. For those who lived a distance from the school she would arrange accommodation with the Sisters so the children wouldn’t be deprived of an education. Dapto in its early days had boarders. School fees were what the parents could afford and no child was deprived of an education because they couldn’t pay. A special time of the school year was prize-giving and she delighted in presenting awards and seeing the achievements of the children. She loved to hear them recite and sing and her face would light up with joy as shewatched them perform. She recorded in her diary, “Attended the Christmas Concert at Bulli. Children performed well and were delightful.” An entry in the diary for Moss Vale reads, “Everything ready for the display. Prizes awaiting to be written in and I am to present them. Children surprised me how much they had improved.”

The only school Mary didn’t visit was Corrimal because at the time of its foundation she was confined to a wheel chair, the result of a stroke. She did all the arranging for the Sisters and sent them off with her blessing. After Mary’s death on 8 August 1909, the following schools were opened: Clifton (1911), Milton (1913), Port Kembla (1923), Thirroul (1940), Bellambi (1966), Unanderra (1975). The Sisters took over Unanderra School from the Good Samaritan Sisters.

The Josephites went on to open convents at Warilla, Woonona and Claymore and carry out ministries for the people of the parishes. The Sisters have tried to live out her motto, “Never see a need without doing something about it.” Her legacy was the foundation of Catholic Education in many places. Her last encouraging words were, “Go on.”

- Sr Joan Goodwin rsj

KIAMA

u

BULLI

ALBION PARK

CORRIMAL

b BERRY

ARALUEN

BURRAGORANG CONVENT