THE Penola community will unite today to celebrate a commemoration of Saint Mary MacKillop’s life.
An open-invite event – held at the Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre – will celebrate the life of the Penola Saint, marking 110 years since her death.
With commemorations held across the international Catholic community, the centre will host a feast day for the region’s residents.
Sister Loretto O’Connor emphasised the important date within the community, following the historical mark Saint Mary left on the Penola community.
“The event is held each year and is run to celebrate her life,” Sister O’Connor said.
“Throughout Australia and overseas countries, where there is devotion to Mary, this date is celebrated.”
Saint Mary was a historical figure in the Penola district because of her endless devotion to the community.
She is now known across the globe as the first Sister of Saint Josephs.
“This date is particularly important to Penola because of her history,” Sister O’Connor said.
“As more and more people got interested in Mary more people have become invested in our rich history.”
Sister O’Connor said it was Mary’s “empathy” that made her stand out of the crowd as she “reached out to anyone” who was struggling.
“She was a woman of great hope and deep faith and in our troubled world we need hope and we need faith,” Sister O’Connor said.
“Penola is significant in her history as she started the first school here in a little stable before the school house that she lived and taught in.”
As the centre tells the story of Australia’s first saint, the feast day is often well attended.
“We also quite often have visitors come along also,” Sister O’Connor said.
“Sometimes we have bus loads of people coming through.”
Children from Victoria are also expected to travel to the centre specifically for this event.
“We have an open house at the centre and it is free entry,” she said.
“People are able to come through and have a look and they are generally very moved.”
