Archdiocesan Patron – Archdiocese of Brisbane

Patron of the Archdiocese – St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s commitment to serving those in need inspires God’s work in the Archdiocese of Brisbane today with its legacy of hope, justice and compassion.

On 6 May 2009, Pope Benedict XVI approved Archbishop John Bathersby’s petition to appoint St Mary of the Cross MacKillop as Patron of the Brisbane Archdiocese. The honor recognizes the Archdiocese’s historic ties to St Mary’s, including the establishment of the order’s first four schools in Queensland.

Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842 and was driven by a deep desire to serve God and alleviate the suffering of the poor. In December 1869, Mary MacKillop and the five Sisters of St Joseph arrived in Brisbane and the following year opened four schools for disadvantaged children in Brisbane and Maryborough. Mary and her companions regularly attended mass and prayed at St Stephen’s Church on Elizabeth Street.

When St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop was appointed patron of the Archdiocese in 2009, Sir Moya Campbell, provincial leader of the Sisters of St. Joseph, expressed the order’s joy at being recognized during the 150th anniversary of the Archdiocese and the 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s death. Sir Campbell highlighted Mary’s enduring contribution to young Australian lives and her ability to inspire hope – a quality sorely needed in today’s world.

St Mary’s close connection with Brisbane, when she lived here and founded local schools, is the basis of her role as patron of the archdiocese. Her commitment to ensuring poor and marginalized children have access to Catholic education resonates with the Archdiocese’s ongoing mission to serve people living on the margins of our community.

The feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is officially celebrated with a Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral every year on 8 August.