Special Events
Mary MacKillop
Centenary Feast Day Celebrations
8 August 2009
The Sisters of St Joseph welcome everyone to celebrate Mary MacKillop's Centenary Feast Day at North Sydney. A Centenary Mass will be celebrated at 11am at St Mary's Church, 264 Miller St, North Sydney. Mary MacKillop's funeral Mass was held at this church in 1909.
Seating is limited and must be regulated for occupational health & safety reasons. Invited guests from the Josephite and wider communities will have entry tickets to St Mary Church. Guests without entry tickets, all are welcome to join in the celebrations at North Sydney Oval where Mass will be broadcast. Covered seating is available and unrestricted.
Coaches will be available to transfer less-able guests only from North Sydney Oval to Mary MacKillop Place in Mount Street.
Masses will also be celebrated in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel at 8am and 6.30pm. The Chapel is open for visits to Mary MacKillop's Tomb from 8am to 6.30pm.
The Museum will be open from 8.30am to 5pm and entry is free! Mary MacKillop memorabilia, Ethica Peruvian products and light refreshments will be on sale in the grounds of Mary MacKillop Place.
'Love Beyond Borders' Art Exhibition by Veronika Dimac will be exhibited in the Schoolhouse at Mary MacKillop Place from 2 to 17 August 2009.
Entry to Mary MacKillop Place grounds is from 8am to 6.30pm via the Mount Street Chapel gate only.
For further enquiries please call 02 8912 4878 or email mackilliop@sosj.org.au.
Mary MacKillop Place Museum
Open Weekend
15 & 16 August 2009
10am to 4pm
Take the journey and be inspired
Free admission!
- Discover a local secret in the heart of North Sydney and unravel the story of a Saint.
- Participate in and be part of the celebrations of this historical milestone in the history of Australia's first Saint - Mary MacKillop.
- Celebrate the Centenary Year at Mary MacKillop Place Museum. Explore the museum's story through the new interactive exhibition Mary Path to Sainthood on a guided tour.
- Enter historic Alma Cottage and relive the music of the early 20s and 30s on the resident gramophone, while 'taking Devonshire tea' in the grounds.
- Sausage sizzle in the courtyard.
- Visit The School House and view an exhibiton of contemporary artworks.
- Be entertained in the grounds with roaming musicians and purchase mementos in the Gift Shop.
- Learn more about the Sisters' community work and special projects worldwide.
- Families can take part in our community arts project.
- Take an historic walking tour of the area and view the Don Bank Museum and the exhibition Catholic Connections in North Sydney.
The museum complex is fully accessible and child friendly
For further enquiries please call 02 8912 4878 or email mackilliop@sosj.org.au
Mary MacKillop Place
7-11 Mount St, North Sydney
'Love Beyond Borders' Art Exhibition
2 to 16 August 2009
Blessed Mary MacKillop will come to life through contemporary art as part of the Centenary celebrations, marking her death on 8 August, 1909.
This is an Australian nun, who knew how to light up a room when she walked into it with her infectious joy, compassion and respect for the dignity of all people. This exuberant and positive disposition, which characterised Mary, is captured in a bold, creative and enigmatic way in a new series of paintings by Veronika Dimac.
The canvases will grace the walls of the Schoolhouse at Mary MacKillop Place from 2 to 16 August. The theme for the exhibition is 'Love Beyond Borders.'
As a Catholic artist, Veronika Dimac said she asked the Holy Spirit, as the 'Master Artist', to provide creative inspiration for the exhibition. She also prayed for the intercession of Mary MacKillop to guide her strokes with the paintbrush. Veronika portrays Mary as a woman of faith who lived by the power of the Cross. Mary's heart was open to all who were in trouble and in need. Her charisma, joy, warmth, perseverance, courage, hope and compassion leap from the paintings in a powerful and intimate way. Indeed, Veronika insightfully captures Blessed Mary MacKillop as a teacher and role model for all Australians, in the same way that Pope John Paul II affirmed her exceptional personal qualities and deep love of humanity:
'Think of Mother Mary MacKillop and learn from her to be a gift of love and compassion to one another, for all Australians, and for the world.'
Pope John Paul II, 19 January 1995
Veronika is an Australian artist, residing in Melbourne, who has been painting for more than 30 years. This prestigious artist has exhibited in Europe and Australia. She produces her artwork under the umbrella of InJoy International. InJoy is run by two friends and colleagues - Veronika Dimac (Artist) and Diana Tominac (Director).
For more information visit www.injoyinternational.org.