OUT OF THE BUSH

Romans 1:12: ..that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. If you went back ten years or so, you would have found Sr. Bernadette as the Parish worker in Tom Price. The Priest, at that time, divided his work between Newman from the 1st -15th of each month, and then came over to Tom Price for the remainder of the month. August 8 , Mary MacKillop’s Feast day, was approaching. What to do, what to do? No priest. And she a Josephite! Just how was she to mark and celebrate the day? She thought about it; and prayed on it. Round and round in circles, her mind went. What to do, what to do? The day dawned, and as nothing had eventuated, she decided she would read the ‘Office’ and that would have to be enough. Disappointing, but what else? Maybe God answered her prayers, maybe Mary MacKillop herself intervened, all we know is later that morning, who should drive up out of the bush, but Fr Geoff Aldous. “I can’t have a Josephite going without a Mass today,” he said. And so, they celebrated Mass together. A prayer heard; a prayer answered. And from then to now, not a single St Mary MacKillop of the Cross Feast day passes, that she doesn’t give thanks for the sending of Fr Geoff. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Miracles happen when you believe in God. Last week on Mary MacKillop’s Feast Day, Sr Bernadette felt truly blessed yet again. Once more, she was the only Josephite there. This time however, she was surrounded by well over 1,000 young people and staff from our College. The Mass was celebrated outside, and with our Australian sun shining down and beautiful beaming smiles surrounding her, she said it was an experience to be treasured and an absolutely wonderful day.