Saint Mary MacKillop was born in Victoria to Scottish immigrant parents. The eldest of eight children, she spent her early years working to support her family – learning early that dignity and determination are inseparable.

At the age of 24, she dedicated her life to God and took the name Mary of the Cross. Alongside Fr Julian Tenison Woods, she opened a school in a disused stable in Penola, South Australia – a deliberate, courageous act to ensure children denied access to education could learn. Other women joined her, and together Mary and Fr Julian founded Australia’s first religious order: the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

The Sisters committed themselves to walking with people living in poverty, going wherever the need was greatest, in towns and rural communities across Australia. They didn’t wait to be asked, they just went.

Mary faced fierce opposition throughout her life. At one point, she was temporarily excommunicated. In the face of injustice, she modelled extraordinary grace – refusing to speak ill of those who wronged her, while remaining absolutely resolute in her convictions. She led as one of the boldest women of 19th-century Australia, and her determination built the foundations of Catholic education in this country.

Her legacy lives on. And every August, we carry it forward.

When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she didn’t look away. She opened a school. She and the Sisters of Saint Joseph went wherever the need was greatest and despite facing enormous challenges, they kept going.

That same spirit drives Mary MacKillop Today. We work with communities in Timor-Leste, Fiji, Peru, and Australia to ensure that education, dignity, and opportunity are not determined by postcode or circumstance.

This August, let’s walk in Mary’s footsteps. Let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s choose fairness when we see injustice. Together, let’s be Fierce for Fair.

Free Resources

Take a piece of Mary’s spirit into your day. Download our free resources, share them with someone who needs inspiration, and carry the Fierce for Fair mission with you.

Message from Our CEO — Jane Woolford

Continuing Mary’s Legacy

Mary MacKillop didn’t wait for the world to be ready. She saw what wasn’t fair, and she was fierce about changing it.

Today, Mary MacKillop Today carries that same conviction. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we partner with communities to build skills, create opportunity, and walk alongside people who are working hard to shape their own futures. Our programs across Australia, Timor-Leste, Peru, and Fiji:

• Support women to build skills, earn fair incomes, and lead their communities
• Give children in remote and under-resourced areas access to quality education
• Strengthen the skills of dedicated teachers in rural communities
• Mentor parents to play an active role in their children’s learning at home
• Fight preventable diseases in schools
• Enable aspiring First Nations students to pursue higher education through our First Nations Tertiary Scholarship
• Give people experiencing economic hardship the tools to build financial stability

August is a special month to come together — to reflect on the impact Mary made, and the place she still holds in the lives of so many people today. As a community of people who believe in courage and fairness, I believe we are called to walk alongside those experiencing vulnerability, just as Mary did.

In celebration of Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on 8 August, I encourage you to be Fierce for Fair. If you are in a position to donate, your support can help people around the world to reach their full potential and thrive in the face of injustice and adversity.