Mary MacKillop 4

Tuesday 29th March 2022

Mass:  Al Saints Catholic Church Portland.

Portland Exploration.

Sun on the water, Portland.

In 1862, Mary, aged 20, made her way to Portland to be governess to the daughters of her aunt.  The next year, she rented Bay View House and was able to gather her scattered family and eventually establish a school there.

Bay View House, Portland.

A photograph of Bay View House (right) which has now been incorporated into Bay View College.  All Saints Catholic Church next door is still there - in fact we celebrated Mass there.  Mary used to attend that church, and was a sacristan there.

A photograph of Mary in Bay View College.

Bay View College is a non-denominational school built on the site of the house Mary rented in Portland, and incorporates part of it.  We were shown around the school and grounds by the current principal.

The Skylight.

This room and skylight is part of Mary's original house in Portland.  According to legend, Mary received her vocational call while gazing at this skylight.

Bay View Stables, Portland.

Angela walking past the stables, behind Bay View Cottage, where Mary lived while in Portland.  Fr Julian Tenison Wood used to sleep in the loft above these stables when he visited Portland.

All Saints Catholic Church, Portland.

We celebrated Mass here, the same church where Mary was a sacristan after she moved to Portland in 1862.

All Saints Catholic Church, Portland.

The stained glass window in All Saints, Portland, which celebrates where Mary established her first school in Bay View House next door.

Cape Nelson Lighthouse, which we climbed to view the sunset.

Sunset from Cape Nelson Lighthouse.

"Family life is a series of pilgrimages, both small and big......In the Holy Family, families can find strength and wisdom for the journey of every day."  (Pope Francis, 27.12.2015).