Mary: A Woman Before Her Time.

Mary MacKillop was born in Melbourne on 15 January, 1842. Her parents Alexander and Flora were Scottish immigrants. Due to the struggling economic circumstances of her parents Mary needed to go out to work, when she was 14 years old.

Mary felt a deep sense of God calling her to live her life as a Religious Sister. She had no idea how this desire would come to fruition for her but she longed to follow this call.

It was at Penola in South Australia that Mary MacKillop met Fr Julian Tenison Woods while she was working as a governess for her relatives. She shared with him her desire to become a Religious Sister. He in turn helped to see the needs of this new emerging colony and encouraged her in her response to give herself totally to God in Religious life.

Under Julian