One Door Closes Another Opens: Mary MacKillop in New South Wales 1880 1909

The idea of exploring the life of Mary MacKillop in New South Walescame from the members of the Mary MacKillop Committee. Severalsisters were active in researching and recording the years 1880–1909and I was asked to bring this to fruition. Research for these years hadbeen undertaken by Lynette Raftery rsj, Barbara White rsj and ClareBurgess rsj and I have added my own research. Bridie O’Connell’sreflection on the final years of Mary MacKillop’s life provides a fittingconclusion to the story. This book, One Door Closes Another Opens, aims to tell of theendeavours of Mary MacKillop in spreading the Gospel, sending outher sisters to care for and educate the neglected children in the poorestareas of the city of Sydney, particularly the slum areas around thepart known as The Rocks on the shores of Sydney Harbour. These pioneersisters were sent, too, to far flung towns and villages throughoutNew South Wales in the Dioceses of Sydney and Armidale, both ofwhich encompassed huge areas. Mary visited the sisters, supported,encouraged, and assisted them in their work for God and his people.She journeyed by every known conveyance then available, in everykind of weather, often enduring snow, torrents of rain, blazing sunand heat and very often suffering poor health. All this was for theglory of her good God and for his children and to bring the messageof his love and mercy to people in these isolated places. The withdrawal of Mary MacKillop’s sisters from Bathurst in 1876closed their work there but it also saw the birth of a diocesan congregationof the Sisters of St Joseph under Bishop Quinn. The Bathurststoryhas been well told by Dr Marie Crowley in her notable workWomen of the Vale which is highly recommended to readers.When Mary MacKillop and her sisters withdrew from Queenslandat the end of 1879, they were welcomed into New South Wales byArchbishop Vaughan of Sydney and Bishop Torreggiani of Armidale.Hence the title, One Door Closes Another Opens. This work is a story of heroism, not only on the part of Mary, butalso on the part of those pioneer sisters and the generous people whosupported them. All of them laboured to teach and strengthen thecatholic faith wherever they lived and worked. We thank God forthem and dedicate this work to their memory. I wish to acknowledge the assistance given by Mr Gary Hayes whoread the original draft of this work and gave many helpful suggestions.Sister Marie Therese Foale rsj gave of her time and considerabletalents as an author to help to bring the work to a conclusion. Tothem, my grateful thanks.

Pagina's: 216, Paperback, ATF Press