When Patricia first learned about Saint Mary MacKillop – as a child attending a Josephite school – she was immediately drawn in. Mary’s story resonated deeply – her courage, her compassion, her commitment to helping those most in need, no matter the cost.
This vision for a just world followed Patricia into adult life, cemented by her strong Catholic faith.
One day, Patricia heard about a young Australian man who had been unjustly imprisoned overseas. With no clear hope of release, and his family beside themselves, Patricia felt a deep call to act.
“Here was a young person full of love, like I was, and like so many—being persecuted for no reason,” she recalls. So, she prayed. Every single day, without fail, to Mary.
Months passed. And then – against all odds – Patricia turned on the TV to see a story announcing the young man’s release.
“I fell to my knees and cried,” she says. “No one expected it. But I knew in my heart that Saint Mary had heard me. I felt pure joy.”
It was in that moment Patricia truly committed to Mary – not just in prayer, but in action.
“She is the Saint of ‘Can Do’,” Patricia says simply. “And I want to help carry that spirit forward.”
Today, Patricia is proud to share that she has left a gift in her Will to Mary MacKillop Today to help continue the legacy of Saint Mary. Through her bequest, Patricia is honouring the Sisters who shaped her life, the Saint who answered her prayers, and the power of doing good.
If you’d like to include a gift to Mary MacKillop Today in your Will, just like Patricia, please contact April on (02) 8912 2720 or visit our Leave a Legacy page.
