Visit Mary MacKillop at WYD08

Get Your Tickets NowAmong the key patron saints of the Sydney World Youth Day, Blessed Mary MacKillop stands out as being the only native Australian.During her beatification in 1995, Pope John Paul II said Mary MacKillop embodies the best of this nation and its people. He supported this point with the examples of "genuine openness to others, hospitality to strangers, generosity to the needy, justice to those unfairly treated, perseverance in the face of adversity, kindness and support to the suffering."In the spirit of the blessed, the sisters of the order she founded -- the Josephites -- are opening up their residence and shrine in North Sydney to World Youth Day pilgrims in a special way.Spokeswoman for the order, Sister Monica Cavanagh, told me that young visitors will be able to choose from a number of different spiritual experiences upon visiting Mary MacKillop's Place, http://www.wyd-marymackillop.com/ the final resting place of Sister Mary and the home of the order she founded in 1866, the Sisters of St. Joseph.
"There will be the opportunity to just walk through the chapel and pause at Mary MacKillop's tomb," she said. "Or for those seeking a deeper experience," the sister added, "there will be programs which additionally include a Mass in the Mary MacKillop Chapel, a special exhibition of relics and objects selected from the Sisters of St. Joseph archives and Mary MacKillop Museum, and they can even pick up some memorabilia to recall this moment of prayer in their journey."With up to 10,000 pilgrims a day expected to converge on Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, and with so much additional national and international interest in Blessed Mary and her pending canonization, Sister Monica suggests registering for a place in line to avoid disappointment."Pilgrims will have traveled from far and wide in order to spend some spiritual time at Mary MacKillop's tomb," said Sister Monica. "And to ensure everyone gets their chance, we have had to initiate a registration process for purely logistical reasons."Pilgrims can register to visit Mary MacKillop Place by logging onto the Ticketek Web site (http://premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=MMP08) and selecting their preferred day and time. If any difficulties are experienced, the shrine can be contacted by calling Yvette Nehme at +61 2 8912 4841, or sending her an e-mail -- yvette.nehme@sosj.org.au.But due to the large numbers anticipated, registered pilgrims will have priority access and will be guaranteed entry at selected times.Meanwhile, Sister Maria Casey, the vice postulator for Sister MacKillop's cause for canonization, returned May 23 from Rome after having presented a cure attributed to Blessed Mary. Two doctors will examine the case to determine whether it is evidence of a miracle according to the strict criteria set down by the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes.It is the hope of those devoted to the blessed that this cure could be the miracle required to have Mary MacKillop declared saint for the universal Church.Evidence of universal devotion is another requirement for sainthood.In her presentation to the dicastery, Sister Casey included a dossier of letters of support from devotees, as well as evidence that devotion to Blessed Mary exists in 46 countries spread across all the continents."We are looking forward to her canonization, though no date has yet been determined," said Sister Casey. Mary MacKillop Place will be open to pilgrims from Saturday, July 12, to Tuesday, July 22, to accommodate as many pilgrims as possible.