Mary MacKillop

Mary MacKillop (born 15 January 1842, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, died 18 August 1909, Sydney, Australia) was the first saint and nun in Australian history. She was the founder of the Religious Sisters of Joseph. She is properly known in the Catholic Church as Saint Mary of the Cross Mary MacKillop.

Her parents were Flora MacDonald and Alexander Mackillop, Catholic immigrants from Scotland. Mary was the eldest of eight children.

With the help of Julian Tenison-Woods, Mary opened the first free Catholic school in a stable in Penola, South Australia. She joined the sisters of St. Joseph who lived in poverty and committed to equality and owned no property. The sisters provided clothes for the poor so that they could go to school. They also funded hospitals and orphanages. The sisters of St Joseph governed themselves.