Written in honour of Flora MacKillop, mother of St Mary of The Cross MacKillop. 2016 is the 200th Anniversary of Flora's birth.

Those who knew Mrs. Flora MacKillop well speak of her as a sweet, amiable, good-natured creature, charitable in thought, word, and deed, intensely devoted to her religion, and withal a truly lovable woman, who ruled her life by the strictest principles of virtue, self sacrifice, and integrity. Flora MacKillop was killed in a ship wreck south of Eden NSW in 1886.

Mary MacKillop wrote hundreds of letters all of which give great insight into the life of this extraordinary Australian woman.

Among these letters, now kept at the archives of the Sisters of St Joseph in North Sydney, are many written between mother and daughter. Born in Melbourne on 15 January 1842, Mary was the first-born child of Flora MacDonald and Alexander MacKillop, both recent arrivals from Scotland.

On many occasions Mary pointed out to her mother the formative influence she had been in her life. Mary had learnt from her grandparents and parents that “God will take care of us all”. This deep trust in God’s loving care was foundational in the faith life of the whole family.