Be Fierce for Fair on the Feast Day of Australia’s most loved Saint
Celebrate Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day as a faithful community who believe in being fierce in the face of adversity and fair where there is injustice.
When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set up a school to teach children herself — regardless of their situation. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. And despite facing enormous challenges, they continued to walk with people every step of the way.
“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.”
– St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
This August, let’s walk in Mary’s footsteps. Like Mary, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day. Together, let’s be Fierce for Fair!
Donate now to help continue Mary’s inspiring legacy so people around the world can reach their full potential and flourish in the face of poverty.
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Special Feast Day message from Jane
Jane Woolford, CEO of Mary MacKillop Today, invites you to celebrate Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day and join this August a faithful community of supporters who believe in being fierce in the face of adversity and fair where there is injustice.
I’ll never forget the time I visited a remote school in Timor-Leste where the classroom was absolutely filled with the voices of happy children singing their hearts out to songs about literacy and numeracy. Or the time I met with women in remote villages of Fiji who were learning new skills to build their own livelihoods. Just listening to the excitement and determination of these vibrant women and children made me think of Saint Mary MacKillop herself.
In my role at Mary MacKillop Today, I have witnessed countless examples like these that reflect what Mary’s legacy looks like in today’s world. Mary knew the power of education to lift communities out of poverty.
It was more than 150 years ago that Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph travelled through the heat of the outback to some of Australia’s most remote communities. They were willing to do whatever it took to set up schools, so overlooked children could pursue an education, reach their full potential, and flourish.
“Never see a need without doing something about it.”
– St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set out right away to open a school in an old stable and teach children herself — regardless of their gender, race, faith, or wealth.
Mary’s faith and determination inspired the hearts of those around her with many other young women joining her ministry as Sisters of St Joseph. She and her Sisters went wherever the need was greatest. They gave up everything to live amongst the people they served and teach with love and compassion.
“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.”
– St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Although Mary and her Sisters found themselves up against enormous challenges, they continued to walk with people every step of the way — from dire need to becoming a flourishing community. They saw injustice and were fierce to act, so children wouldn’t miss out on fair access to education. They were Fierce for Fair.
This Feast Day, let’s be Fierce for Fair!
This August, let’s walk in the footsteps of Australia’s most loved Saint. Just like Mary MacKillop, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day. Together, let’s be Fierce for Fair.
Mary MacKillop Today is carrying on the work of Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph. Through the generosity of our faithful supporters, we work with communities to create change by teaching practical skills to women, men and children in Australia and in neighbouring countries.
Our vital projects across Australia, Timor-Leste, Peru, and Fiji:
- Enable women to learn skills to earn a fair income and lead their communities
- Give children education opportunities in some of the most remote and disadvantaged areas
- Improve the skills of dedicated teachers in rural and remote communities
- Mentor parents so they can play an active role in their children’s learning at home
- Fight preventable diseases in schools
- Enable aspiring students to pursue higher education through a First Nations Tertiary Scholarship
- Give people in economic hardship the opportunity to become financially stable.
“So great is the strength we possess in our unity.”
– St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
August is a special month to come together in solidarity and reflect on the impact Mary made and the place she still has in the lives of so many today. As people of faith, I believe we are called to walk alongside those experiencing vulnerability. In celebration of Saint Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day on 8th August, I encourage you to be Fierce for Fair.
If you’re in a position to donate in honour of Mary’s Feast Day, you can know that your support will help people around the world to reach their full potential and flourish in the face of injustice and adversity.
Help continue Mary’s inspiring legacy this August. Donate today or find out more about the work of Mary MacKillop Today.
