Australia's First Saint Poem by Kaci Tami

Australia’s First Saint
In 1995, the Pope John Paul declared
Australia’ own female saint
Australia’s very first saint
A Roman Catholic Nun
Born in Melbourne in 1842
“St. Mary MacKillop”

She was the eldest child of migrants
Who hailed from the far off lands?
Of the dreaded Queen Mary of Scots
Mary founded the sisterhood
Of St. Josephs in old Sydney Town
And began her life mission
To help those who sought
Succor for their needs and the soul

Soon her kindness spread
Across this harsh land of ours
“Mother Mary of the Cross”
Became her affectionate alias
As she toiled among the sick and poor
Especially amongst the Aboriginals,
The orphans and the very poor,
In the city of Churches, Adelaide
And at Kings Cross, in Sydney

Mary fought the Church, the State
She fought the greedy and the wealthy
She rallied against the Government
To provide not only food for their bellies
But food for the mind
The Church disagreed and disowned her
But Mary appealed to the Pope
She was welcomed back
But alas Mary died too soon

A Kind, intelligent woman
With an infinite love for her brethren
Who had dedicated her life?
To helping her fellow men
She passed away in 1909
To eternal sleep in her bed
After a lifetime of always
Putting others before self!

Australia’s First Saint
In 1995, the Pope John Paul declared
Australia’ own female saint
Australia’s very first saint
A Roman Catholic Nun
Born in Melbourne in 1842
“St. Mary MacKillop”

She was the eldest child of migrants
Who hailed from the far off lands?
Of the dreaded Queen Mary of Scots
Mary founded the sisterhood
Of St. Josephs in old Sydney Town
And began her life mission
To help those who sought
Succor for their needs and the soul

Soon her kindness spread
Across this harsh land of ours
“Mother Mary of the Cross”
Became her affectionate alias
As she toiled among the sick and poor
Especially amongst the Aboriginals,
The orphans and the very poor,
In the city of Churches, Adelaide
And at Kings Cross, in Sydney

Mary fought the Church, the State
She fought the greedy and the wealthy
She rallied against the Government
To provide not only food for their bellies
But food for the mind
The Church disagreed and disowned her
But Mary appealed to the Pope
She was welcomed back
But alas Mary died too soon

A Kind, intelligent woman
With an infinite love for her brethren
Who had dedicated her life?
To helping her fellow men
She passed away in 1909
To eternal sleep in her bed
After a lifetime of always
Putting others before self!