Australian Catholics step closer to first saint

Sydney: Australian Catholics celebrated on Sunday a Papal decision that will give the country its first saint - the feisty Mary MacKillop, who founded a network of schools for poor children and was briefly excommunicated before being set on the path to canonization.

The Vatican on Saturday said that Pope Benedict XVI approved a decree that MacKillop was responsible for a second miracle, one of the final steps in a complex and often yearslong process before sainthood can be bestowed.

MacKillop founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, an order that built dozens of schools for impoverished children across the Australian Outback in the 1800s, as well as orphanages and clinics for the needy.

With vows of abstinence from owning personal belongings and dedication to helping the poor, MacKillop is credited with spreading Roman Catholicism in Australia and New Zealand.

But she is also remembered as a strong-willed advocate who sometimes got into trouble for challenging orthodox thinking within the male-dominated church. In 1869 she was excommunicated for inciting her followers to disobedience, though the bishop who punished her recanted three years later and she was exonerated by a church commission.

On Sunday Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell welcomed the announcement. He said MacKillop was celebrated for her charity but also for keeping her composure during many battles she fought within the church.

"At times she was treated badly and what was remarkable about her was she was still able to forgive and to remain normal and balanced and kind," Cardinal Pell told reporters.

MacKillop died in 1909 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995. The Vatican has not given details of MacKillop's miracles, but information provided to the Vatican by Australian supporters involved two separate cases of women who recovered from cancer.

The final step is for the Pope to canonize MacKillop at an official ceremony. No date has been set for the ceremony. About 5 million among Australia's population of 21 million identify themselves as Catholics.

The Vatican's decision became known late Saturday Australian time, and many Catholics learned of it first at Mass on Sunday.

"It's definitely great news for Australia - a great day," said Ian MacKenzie as he and his wife left Sydney's Saint Mary's Cathedral after Mass.

MacKillop's order released a statement by a woman it said was the cancer patient who is connected to MacKillop's second miracle, saying she wants to remain anonymous.

"I hope this news today provides others, especially younger Australians, with inspiration and encouragement to live as generously and as compassionately as Mary did," the woman said in the statement.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the ceremony to formally make MacKillop a saint was likely in early 2010.

"This is a deeply significant announcement for the 5 million Australians of Catholic faith and for all Australians, whether of Catholic faith or not," Gillard said in a statement Sunday.

Sister Judy Sippel, one of the order who is overseeing preparations in Australia for MacKillop's canonization, said its members were overjoyed that the long process was nearly complete.

"It's just so exciting one of our own has made it to the ranks of saints. It's not easy getting to the top in Rome," she said.