Term Three, Week Four 5 July 2011 - St Mary's College

From the APRE
Next Monday, (8 th August) is the Feast of St Mary MacKillop. There are many lessons we can draw from Mary’s life and
the virtues she brought to living, but at this time of the year, it is Mary’s endurance which impresses me. Mary faced
many obstacles and worries as she struggled to do what she believed was God’s will. Her spirit of endurance shines out
of the many letters she wrote during her life. The following is an extract from a letter Mary wrote in 1873 to Monsignor
Kirby one of her clerical supporters. It can serve as a good meditation for us on her feast day:
I must tell you that from early childhood, as far back as I can remember, God gave me such a sense of His watchful
presence that I would feel myself reproved for my smallest faults. He gave me good Catholic parents, a mother that in
patience, resignation and suffering seemed to me, and to many more, a second Monica*. My father had been educated
for the Church and had studied deeply. From him I learnt so much of the teachings of our holy Faith …..
My life as a child was one of sorrows, my home, when I had it, a most unhappy one….
When I was little more than sixteen years of age, the principal care of a very large family fell upon me, and from then until
I was twenty five I felt its burden yearly more and more. All this time too, I desired to be a Religious but was frequently in
my impatience and pride in great danger of losing my holy vocation …
At last God have me a Director to whom for the first time I told all my desires and discouragements, explaining also my
position towards my family. He told me that for a time longer my duty was to them, but reassured me as to my vocation,
and gave me certain rules for my spiritual guiding. This was Fr Woods; he was from that time—a period of some years—
my Director until; in a most marked manner our dear Lord freed me from the ties which bound me so strongly to my family
and left me free to follow my vocation …
I thought to have escaped care and responsibility on entering religion, but instead of that had the charge of others thrust
upon me. It was indeed a painful cross, made still more so by trying circumstances …
For some time before the storm burst in Adelaide, I had much mental suffering, and with the will of God before my eyes,
had to differ with Fr Woods about the treatment of some things. This caused me pain because I saw that it perplexed and
grieved him, but God’s will was more to me than all, and as far as I understood it, I had to persevere. When the storm
burst, my mental troubles in so far as the Institute or myself were concerned ceased. I felt peace and the warmest
confidence that out of these terrible troubles, and scandals even, good would come.
(* St Monica was the mother of St Augustine. Through her prayers and example her son gave up a life of sin and
became one of the greatest saints of the Church)
Let’s pray for some of Mary’s endurance and faith as we move forward in this very busy term.
Michael Blanchfield
Assistant Principal - Religious Education
We have been asked to assist with a Doorknock Appeal on Sunday 21 st August. It is in aid of the Ipswich Hospice Care
which provides palliative care for the terminally ill and support services to assist families cope with loss and grief. For this
event to take place, we are in need of parents to drive students to their assigned area and keep them within sight whilst
they doorknock. We intend to begin at 10.00am, and finish by 12.00pm. It is necessary that you complete and return to
the College a “Transport of Students by Parents /Volunteers” form before the day. These are available at the College.
You will need to be at St Mary’s College by 9.30am that morning in order to finalise any other paperwork. If you are able
to help could you complete the form below and return it to the College no later than Thursday 11 th August. Many thanks.
Jayne Johanson. (Campus minister)
...........................................................................................................................................................
I am able to drive students during the Doorknock Appeal on 21 st August.
In addition to my own daughter(s) I can take ____ students.
Signed: _______________________ Date: ______________________
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