The final countdown has begun

THE 85 year campaign will soon be over and Australian’s throughout the world, whether here South Australia, or in Rome itself will be celebrating.

The ordinary woman who did the extraordinary, at last will be acknowledged as Australia’s first Saint.

On October 17, 22 students from Tenison Woods College, Mount Gambier will be among the millions of Catholics who will rejoice and acknowledge the life of Blessed Mary MacKillop during a special Sunday Mass scheduled outdoors in St Peters Square.

In a little over 40 days, students and staff will depart for Italy on the adventure of a lifetime as part of the biennial Cultural exchange.

Tenison Woods College teacher Micki Greenham said the tour aimed to give students a greater understanding of the Italian culture and the unique opportunity to experience first hand the language, art, history, architecture and lifestyle that makes Italy famous.  

“The best way to learn about the world is to venture out and experience it” Mrs Greenham said.

“The trip is an opportunity of a lifetime, and one where students will make life-long friendships and pick up invaluable skills including confidence, communication and negotiation skills and cultural awareness.”

Students will fly to Rome in September and onto Turin for 10 days where they will stay with host families from Tenison’s sister school, Nicolo Copernico Scientific High School.

Year 11 student Eliza Short has been studying Italian since primary school and said she is looking forward to the experience and the opportunity to visit the country she has been learning about for over 10 years.

“It’s all a bit overwhelming at the moment, its my first trip overseas but is going to be an amazing experience and one I am sure I will always remember ”

As part of the homestay experience the students will attend school and take in the sights of Italy, gaining a realistic understanding of Italian culture, food, traditions, language and daily activities allowing students the opportunity to be part of an Italian community.

“Being completely immersed in the language will, I am sure, help me in my Italian classes when I arrive home” Eliza said.  

The trip will then take students onto Venice and Florence where students will experience the romantic essence of the canals together with the historical buildings, churches and art galleries.

The final leg of the Italian Tour will be five days in Rome via Pisa where students will  be attending the Canonisation mass standing alongside more than 150 Sisters of St Joseph, the Order she founded, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests – and the thousands of Australian pilgrims – all there to give thanks to a truly inspiring Australian.

Year 10 students Melanie Clayfield decided to go on the trip for the cultural experience and was delighted when the announcement came through that the school would extend the tour to include the canonisation.

“To be in Rome to witness Mary MacKillop become Australia’s first saint will be a wonderful occasion.”

Educated in her primary years at Mary MacKillop Memorial School in Penola, Melanie is all too familiar with Mary’s story and her work in education and when she leaves school hopes to become a teacher herself, one day sharing with her own class her experience of being in Rome to watch Australian history being made. 

“Mary MacKillop made a great contribution to the education of children living in rural areas and to those children that couldn’t afford to be educated.”

“She had an extraordinary vision and faith that saw her dedicate her life to those in need and lived her life by her saying of Never see a need without trying to do something about it” Melanie said.

“Mary’s story is truly inspirational”

During the ceremony, Mary’s life history will be read aloud before the Pope chants in Latin a prayer which will effectively enrol her in the Catalogue of Saints. Whilst long regarded as ‘the People’s Saint’, Mary will receive the title of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.