Next Generation

Young people, both youth and school age, are part of Mary MacKillop's Legacy.   They help make our world a far better place by: Never seeing a need without doing something about it!

Young Adult Participation 

Josephite Community Aid - NSW

Following in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop, Josephite Community Aid reaches out to the most vulnerable and needy in our society. Overwhelmed by God’s love we invite others, especially the young, to find Christ in the poor.

JCA (Josephite Community Aid) are a group of young volunteers who work part or full time with Sisters of St Joseph in the area of Justice. JCA welcomes new members with open arms!

MacKillop Young Adult Community is a network of young adults and Josephite Sisters centered at the MacYAC gathering place in Melbourne Avenue, Glenroy.

It provides an opportunity for young adults to share life, prayer, reflection, vision and outreach to those in need. It is intended as a way of following in the spirit of Mary MacKillop in ordinary daily life.  As a young woman in western Victoria, Mary MacKillop wrote “Believe the whisperings of God to your own heart.”

We hope that the house in Melbourne Avenue will provide this opportunity for many young adults as it becomes a place for friendship and prayer, and for the opportunity to be committed to a more just and compassionate world.This year, we are offering two ‘Retreat Weekends’ for young adults focussing on Mary MacKillop to be held in July & August at Jan Juc and Rye respectively.

Contact us to find our more information about our Community or the ‘live-in’ community.

MacKillop Young Adult Community Information

School Students Participation

A new movement is developing in different schools of Junior Associates. In general the schools have a Josephite tradition and teachers are working with their students to maintain and develop their links.

The Junior Josephite Associates of St Patrick’s Lithgow

The Junior Josephite Associates of St Patrick’s Lithgow began in 2005. The children were invited to be a part of a group to be known as the Junior Josephite Associates. Gatherings take place approximately once a month for about 20 minutes in the children’s lunchtime. There is an opportunity to learn more about Mary MacKillop, to pray together and to perform some form of charity work. A number of children chose to attend and after several meetings a dedication ceremony at a School Assembly was celebrated with the children. They were presented with a badge, with an image of Mary MacKillop, that they wear proudly as a part of their school uniform.

When the children were asked why they joined the Junior Associates, they replied: “To learn more about Mary and to be good Catholics who care.” As part of the school mission statement we have Mary MacKillop’s saying, “Never see a need without trying to do something about it.” In endeavouring to live by this example we hope to achieve and fulfil our school motto of Charity and Truth.

The Junior Josephite Associates are a special part of the school community. It is changing as the children move through the school, but hopefully it will be a part of the school for many years to come.

The Junior Josephite Associates of St Philomena’s, Moree NSW

The Junior Josephite Associates of St Philomena’s, Moree NSW. This movement began in 2007 with 49 Years 3 and 4 students joining the group. The purpose of this group is to:

• LEARN about and emulate the virtues of Blessed Mary MacKillop
• PRAY for the works of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart for the poor in our world, e.g. East Timor, Peru; pray for their own intentions and the intentions of the families and school community; pray for an increase of faith for the Youth of Australia.
• PRACTISE some form of Catholic Action. We have chosen to collect used stamps for the East Timor and Peruvian Missions of the Sisters of St Joseph.

JJAMM – Joseph Julian and Mary MacKillop

This structure provides leadership training for the student leaders in the AJASS schools to help develop the MacKillop spirit in these young people. They hold a JJAMM week in their own schools where the agreed focus is shared with the whole school.  

Education

Mount St Joseph, Altona West, Mary MacKillop College, Kensington, Mount St Joseph, Milperra and Mary MacKillop College Nundah are Secondary Colleges owned and operated by the Sisters of St Joseph. There are many other secondary, primary and tertiary institutions, however, that have Josephite origins, and these also identify closely with the Josephite charism.

The Principals of over 21 Josephite affiliated secondary schools from across Australia and New Zealand have formed an association (AJASS) to embrace, extend, strengthen and perpetuate the charism of Blessed Mary MacKillop and, by sharing, to develop and grow in her spirit. A structure Joseph Julian and Mary MacKillop (JJAMM) provides leadership training for the student leaders in the AJASS schools to help develop the MacKillop spirit in these young people. In their own schools they hold a JJAMM week where they share the agreed focus with the whole school.

To find out more about the Josephite schools follow the links below:

• Mount Saint Joseph Girls' College, Melbourne
• Mount Saint Joseph, Sydney
• Mary MacKillop College, Adelaide
• Mary MacKillop College, Brisbane