A Time of Hope

In January 1995 Pope John Paul II presided at a Mass at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney Australia to commemorate the beatification of Mary MacKillop—the nation's first Australian officially-recognized Catholic saint. Her attributes and spirit guided the choices of the group that prepared the liturgy. Those who served the assembly's ministry of word, song and gesture included a prominent number of women, families and young people, a rich variety of cultures, the sick, disabled and the materially deprived. The Australian Aboriginals spoke the ‘first and final word’ of the ceremony and a smoking ritual replaced incense. In response to the papal announcement of beatification, hundreds of young women danced while the assembly praised God with the singing of the Gloria. An early decision was made by the committee, and endorsed by the papal authorities, that only the bishops, as chief pastors of their dioceses would concelebrate at the Mass. They were joined on the podium by leaders of the congregations of women religious founded by Mary MacKillop.

At the time, senior Vatican officials declared that this liturgy had set a precedent for the world, and the public media gave favourable reports. Throughout the process Monsignor Piero Marini, the Papal Master of Ceremonies, urged us to prepare a celebration that was identifiably Australian and reflected the way we worship in this country.