600

What better way to celebrate the six hundredth post than with the canonisation of (now) Saint Brother Andre, the second Canadian saint, and Saint Mary MacKillop, the first Australian saint. Also canonised were Saints Stanislaus Soltys, Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriol,  Giulia Salzano and Battista Camilla da Varano.

Small in stature but big in heart (which someone actually stole but returned- true story)

Born Alfred Bessette on August 9th, 1845, Saint Brother Andre was responsible for building Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal. I've been there. It's massive. This humble doorkeeper built a lasting tribute to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of Canada and the universal Church, and a shrine where faithful from all over the world can pray together.


Saint Mary MacKillop was the daughter of poor Scottish immigrants. She was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia in 1842. Already a teacher, she co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866. She opened several schools and was instrumental in helping the Aborigines.