Sydney celebrates Australia’s first saint

After years of waiting, Australians finally received their first saint on Sunday night with the canonisation of Sister Mary MacKillop.

An estimated 10,000 people jammed into and around Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral to hear Pope Benedict XVI make the announcement.

Members of the public queued to kneel and pray around Saint Mary’s tomb throughout the day.

Sydney resident Caroline Keirnan said the excitement and anticipation showed MacKillop’s story applied to all Sydneysiders.

“Her story isn’t one solely for Catholics,” she said.

“This is a celebration of an extraordinary life that benefitted the community and others around her.”

By Simon Black