|
MacKillop Family Services welcomes the announcement that the Blessed Mary MacKillop will become Australia's first saint at a ceremony at the Vatican on 17 October 2010.
"This is a momentous decision for our organisation, formed and named in 1997 in honour of Mary MacKillop. It is especially joyous for the Sisters of St Joseph whose order was cofounded by then Sister Mary MacKillop and who today continue her legacy of service," said Micaela Cronin, CEO MacKillop Family Services.
When MacKillop Family Services formed in 1997 as a result of the merging of the child and family services of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers, the three Orders decided to name the new organisation in honour of Mary MacKillop. That decision was based on the nature of the work Mary MacKillop undertook with children and families, and the likelihood that she would be recognised as Australia's first saint.
"The example of Mary MacKillop is just as inspiring today as she was when she was working with children and families over 100 years ago. She was an Aussie battler, the eldest of 8 children who helped raise her younger siblings and who then worked throughout regional Victoria, South Australia and then NSW educating and caring for disadvantaged people.”
"We hope that this announcement will encourage people to find out more about Mary MacKillop, her life and work and her legacy. Whether or not you are of Catholic faith, her story and example is a true Australian story that is worth being told,” said Micaela Cronin.
"Just like Mary MacKillop, our organisation supports children and families regardless of their religion or ethnicity and we seek to advocate for the rights of the disadvantaged to be treated justly and fairly. We provide high quality services delivered with compassion and respect," Micaela Cronin said.
“While she will recognised as a Saint and be revered by Catholics across the world she will continue to be the strong and decent Australian whose universal values and legacy mean that we are all proud that our organisation is named after her. Mary MacKillop is the sort of person we’d be so keen to have in our organisation today, to learn from and to work with.”
“We share with the Sisters of St Joseph and Catholics across Australia this exciting news and will be ensuring that we celebrate this event in October with our clients, staff and supporters.”
MacKillop Family Services is one of the largest providers of specialist
support services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people
and their families in South-Eastern Australia.
Services are clustered in thirteen Programs which are in turn grouped
into four Divisions across Melbourne, Geelong, Western Sydney and
Wollongong.
MacKillop Family Services was established in 1997 to continue the
services to children,young people and families previously undertaken by
agencies established by the Sisters of Mercy, the Christian Brothers, and the Sisters of St Joseph.
|