St. Mary MacKillop (Feast Day August 8)

January 15, 1842-August 8, 1909

Mary Helen was born in Melbourne, Australia, the oldest of eight children. Mary's parents were immigrants to Australia who raised their children in the Catholic faith. Because the MacKillop family farm was struggling financially, Mary went to work as a clerk in Melbourne when she was 14 years old. Later, she took a job as a governess for her aunt and uncle in Penola, South Australia. Mary worked taking care of the children and teaching them, but she also invited the poor farm children in the area to come and be taught as well.

Two years later, Mary opened her own boarding school, which is now known as Bayview College. Then a local priest asked Mary and her sisters to open a Catholic school in Penola. She and her sisters opened the school inside a stable. In 1867, Mary founded the first native Australian religious order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She took vows as Sister Mary of the Cross. The Josephites, or the "Brown Joeys" (because of their plain brown habits) grew in number, and by the end of 1869, more than 70 sisters were educating children in 21 different schools in Australia. The Josephites also worked with orphans, the poor, the incurably ill, and those in prison.

Sadly, Mother MacKillop was later wrongly accused of stealing money from her religious order and excommunicated in 1871. Years later, the truth came out and her excommunication was lifted, and Mother MacKillop continued to teach and serve the poor until her death in 1909. She was canonized on October 17, 2010.

• In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us not to be greedy. Why is greed a bad thing?

• In what way was the rich man in the story greedy?

• What is Jesus trying to teach us in this story?

• How does the story of St. Mary MacKillop inspire you?

Australian Family Games

Celebrate the day with some Australian Family Games in honor of St. Mary MacKillop.

Australians celebrate their national day - Australia Day - on January 26th, which is mid-summer in Australia. Much like our Fourth of July, Australians celebrate with beach parties, parades, and family gatherings. On this mid-summer day, go to a local beach or your backyard and try the following games and family activities Aussie style:

• Toss the Thong (aka Flip Flop) - Have a contest to see who can toss their flip flop the farthest.
• Toss a frisbee or football.
• Nibble on a shortbread biscuit to make it resemble the shape of Australia. The closest one wins!
• Create an obstacle course and do an egg and spoon race.

Impossible Pie

Enjoy this Aussie recipe that has a creamy vanilla and coconut flavor.

4 eggs
½ cup butter, melted
½ cup plain flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut
2 cups milk
2 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients together and pour mixture into a greased pie tin. Bake at 340 F for one hour. When it bakes it forms its own crust with filling.

https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/vanilla-impossible-pie-recipe/vsf53lp5?r=recipes/c82b5dr0&h=galleries

Gratitude Prayer

In today's Gospel, Jesus warns us about greed. Spend time today thanking God for His gifts and for one another.

Take turns praying spontaneously, thanking God for all the things he has provided for you. Be sure to show gratitude for one another, good friends, jobs, and all the spiritual and material blessings you have.
Close your prayer with a Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Our greatest treasure on earth as Catholics is the Eucharist. When we are not at Mass, the Eucharist is stored in a special place called a tabernacle. 

Find the Tabernacle at your parish before or after Mass today. Stop to say a prayer to Jesus.

Count the number of times you hear the word "thanks" or "thanksgiving" at Mass today.

Australia is the driest of any continent on earth other than Antarctica.