Vatican City, Oct 18, 2010. Four religious sisters, a religious brother and a priest were canonized in the morning ceremony at St. Peter’s Square with Pope Benedict XVI himself presiding. Pilgrims have been filling Rome for days. Many stood out in their coloured caps or scarves that showed whom they have come to see “raised to the altars.”
An estimated 8,000 people have travelled from the ‘Land Down Under’ to witness the official recognition of Australia’s first saint, Blessed Mary MacKillop. At the age of 24 she co-founded the Congregation of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, which still continues to carry out her motto “never see a need without doing something about it.” She is now known as St. Mary of the Cross.
Cardinal Archbishop George Pell of Sydney, Australia said that she deserved to be the nation’s first saint. He described her as a “great Australian and an extraordinary Catholic.”
Many alumni of Manresa School in BF Homes, Parañaque City, Philippines were delighted to learn that the school’s founder, Candida Maria de Jesus was among those who were canonized.
A delegation of Filipino nuns, students and alumni of Manresa School went to Rome to witness the canonization of the Spanish nun who has now been officially designated as the school’s patron saint. When she turned 24, she received a message from the Blessed Virgin to establish a congregation dedicated to the salvation of souls through the education of women and the youth. – ?