Pope Benedict XVI canonises Australia’s first saint in Vatican October 18, 2010| AFP | Faithful holding a banner of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, of Australia, during a Canonisation Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter’s square at the Vatican, yesterday. Photo: Gregorio Borgia/AP Pope Benedict XVI canonised Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop, at a Mass in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican yesterday in front of tens of thousands of cheering pilgrims. Pope Benedict praised Melbourne-born Sister MacKillop’s record as a teacher in the “difficult and demanding terrain” of the Australian Outback and said the teachers she inspired had educated “countless young people”. “Through her intercession, may her followers today continue to serve God and the Church with faith and humility,” he said at the ceremony, attended by Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Pronouncing a solemn prayer in Latin, the Pope also canonised Canadian monk Andre and four people from Italy, Poland and Spain and declared that “throughout the Church they be honoured devoutly among all the saints”. Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski were among the worshippers and six giant images of the new saints hung from the façade of Saint Peter’s basilica during the Mass. There were some 6,000 Australians and 5,000 Canadians, Vatican authorities said. Many wore Australian bush hats and waved Australian and Canadian flags. As many as 80,000 people crowded into the square for the Mass. Pope Benedict XVI canonises Australia’s first saint in Vatican (timesofmalta.com) She helped create the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart also called Josephite Sisters or even the "Brown Joeys": Mary MacKillop - Wikipedia
