This is a wonderful opportunity for us to publicly witness to our faith and to celebrate the first Australian to become a canonised saint of the Church. It is an occasion too, to celebrate Blessed Mary MacKillop’s contribution, personally and through her Sisters, to the development of the faith and of Catholic education. Many young women of the Diocese have been called to follow Mother Mary of the Cross and to serve the Church and society as Sisters of St Joseph. The celebration on 31 October at 2.30pm will take the form of a dramatic musical interpretation of the spirituality of Blessed Mary of the Cross, performed by young people of the Diocese. This will be followed by Solemn Mass of St Mary of the Cross. After Mass, refreshments will be served. This diocesan celebration will be the principal opportunity for the Church of the Diocese - the laity, religious and clergy - to claim St Mary of the Cross as our own.