Courageous Trailblazer
International Women’s Day invites us to reflect not only on the progress women have made, but on the women whose courage made that progress possible.
For Catholics in Australia and beyond, Saint Mary MacKillop stands as one of the most powerful examples of what it means to be a woman of faith, conviction and action.
At a time when women were expected to remain silent, obedient and confined to narrow roles, Mary chose a different path, not in defiance of her faith, but because of it. Her belief in the inherent dignity of every person compelled her to act, to lead, and to challenge injustice wherever she encountered it.
Mary did not seek power or prominence. Yet she became a leader because she refused to look away from suffering, particularly the suffering of women and children denied education, opportunity and dignity. She understood something profoundly modern: education is not merely instruction, but liberation.
Her work transformed the lives of girls who would otherwise have remained invisible. Girls whose futures were shaped not by privilege, but by possibility.
Mary’s leadership was radical not because it was loud, but because it was relentless. She persisted through poverty, opposition, misunderstanding and even excommunication, holding fast to her conviction that God’s work must always serve the most vulnerable.
In doing so, she quietly redefined what leadership looks like, especially for women of faith.
Today, in the lead up to International Women’s Day, Mary MacKillop’s legacy feels more relevant than ever.
Gender equity today
Around the world, women continue to carry disproportionate responsibility for families, communities and care, often without recognition, protection or opportunity. Women are still more likely to experience poverty, exclusion and limited access to education. And yet, time and again, it is women who stand at the centre of change.
Mary MacKillop Today continues this legacy by walking alongside women and girls across some of the world’s most marginalised communities, supporting education, livelihoods, leadership and dignity. This is not charity alone, but partnership rooted in respect, courage and shared humanity.
Mary once said, “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
As we approach International Women’s Day, her words challenge us. They invite us to honour women not only with admiration, but with action. To recognise leadership not only in positions of authority, but in quiet perseverance, compassion and courage. And to remember that faith, when lived fully, always moves us beyond comfort and into responsibility.
Mary MacKillop did not set out to change the world, but by walking faithfully with others, she did.
May her example continue to inspire women, and all of us, to lead with courage, humility and hope.
