Mary MacKillop Penola Centre

The Mary MacKillop Penola centre is an interpretative centre with numerous exhibitions and exhibits about Mary MacKillop. In Rome, she was canonised on 17th October 2010. Later, she became Saint Mary of MacKillop Cross and the first saint of Australia’s Catholic Church.

Mary MacKillop’s life depicts a simple yet inspiring story that leads her in the spiritual path to help the mankind. During 1860, she met a priest called Julian Tenison Woods in the city of Penola, SA, and then her life changed with a dream to find a new spiritual order for the disabled and disadvantaged children and their educational needs.

Later, she started teaching such children in a Schoolhouse, which is now a heritage building of the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre.

At the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre, guests can view the exhibitions illustrating the life history of Saint Mary and Julian Tenison Woods, the priest and scientist who helped her to follow her dreams.

The school house also has an exhibition explaining the early education methods followed by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in the city of Penola. The Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church is also at the site of the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre.

The popular MacKillop Exhibition at the Mary MacKillop Penola Centre depicts the fascinating story of St Mary, her strong character and deep spiritual faith; the exhibition also includes her story starting from her birth in Melbourne till her death in Sydney, Australia.

The Woods Exhibition is also quite popular, which depicts the stories of Julian Woods and his distinguished life and achievements.