One Door Closes Another Opens

    The idea of exploring the life of Mary MacKillop in New South Wales

came from the members of the Mary MacKillop Committee. Several

sisters were active in researching and recording the years 1880–1909

and I was asked to bring this to fruition. Research for these years had

been undertaken by Lynette Raftery rsj, Barbara White rsj and Clare

Burgess rsj and I have added my own research. Bridie O’Connell’s

reflection on the final years of Mary MacKillop’s life provides a fitting

conclusion to the story.

    This book, One Door Closes Another Opens, aims to tell of the

endeavours of Mary MacKillop in spreading the Gospel, sending out

her sisters to care for and educate the neglected children in the poorest

areas of the city of Sydney, particularly the slum areas around the

part known as The Rocks on the shores of Sydney Harbour. These pioneer

sisters were sent, too, to far flung towns and villages throughout

New South Wales in the Dioceses of Sydney and Armidale, both of

which encompassed huge areas. Mary visited the sisters, supported,

encouraged, and assisted them in their work for God and his people.

She journeyed by every known conveyance then available, in every

kind of weather, often enduring snow, torrents of rain, blazing sun

and heat and very often suffering poor health. All this was for the

glory of her good God and for his children and to bring the message

of his love and mercy to people in these isolated places.

    The withdrawal of Mary MacKillop’s sisters from Bathurst in 1876

closed their work there but it also saw the birth of a diocesan congregation

of the Sisters of St Joseph under Bishop Quinn. The Bathurststory

has been well told by Dr Marie Crowley in her notable work

Women of the Vale which is highly recommended to readers.

When Mary MacKillop and her sisters withdrew from Queensland

at the end of 1879, they were welcomed into New South Wales by

Archbishop Vaughan of Sydney and Bishop Torreggiani of Armidale.

Hence the title, One Door Closes Another Opens.

    This work is a story of heroism, not only on the part of Mary, but

also on the part of those pioneer sisters and the generous people who

supported them. All of them laboured to teach and strengthen the

catholic faith wherever they lived and worked. We thank God for

them and dedicate this work to their memory.

    I wish to acknowledge the assistance given by Mr Gary Hayes who

read the original draft of this work and gave many helpful suggestions.

Sister Marie Therese Foale rsj gave of her time and considerable

talents as an author to help to bring the work to a conclusion. To

them, my grateful thanks.