Australia to get first saint 'soon'

Australia's long wait for its first saint is likely to end within hours, with a
decision on the canonisation of Mary MacKillop expected from the Vatican.
Pope Benedict XVI will meet with cardinals and bishops in Rome on Friday, with an
announcement expected at about 2.30pm local time (0030 AEDT on Saturday).

The names of those to be canonised will be announced shortly afterwards along with
dates they will take place, the Sisters of St Joseph in Sydney say.
"The Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Archdiocese of Sydney and the Australian Catholics
Bishops Conference are eagerly awaiting news about the decision on the canonisation
of Blessed Mary MacKillop," the order of nuns Mary MacKillop founded said in
statement earlier this week.
Sister Maria Casey, who headed the push for Mother Mary to be declared a saint, will
be present at Friday's meeting.
Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See, former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer,
will also be at the announcement in St Peter's Square.
Born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, in 1842, Mary MacKillop dedicated her life to helping
the poor and needy.
In 1866 she founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph having previously opened a school in
a disused stable in Penola, South Australia.
Her life thereafter was spent opening orphanages and refuges.
She maintained her faith despite a backlash from Catholic church leaders and
suffering ill health for many years.
In 1871 she was excommunicated for alleged insubordination before she was reinstated
four months later.
In 1909, Mary MacKillop died in a convent in North Sydney, aged 67.
She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Sydney on January 19, 1995 after the
Vatican accepted she was responsible for the cure of a woman with terminal leukaemia
in 1961.
A second miracle, the curing of NSW woman Kathleen Evans, who in 1993 developed
inoperable lung cancer, was also recognised by the Vatican as attributed to Mary
MacKillop.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the canonisation of Mary MacKillop will be a tribute
to the Catholic Church and an honour for Australia.
Mr Rudd said Mother Mary's hard work in education and the Catholic church had now
finally been rewarded.
"This is a great, great tribute to the Catholic church and a great, great tribute to
her hard work in education," he said on Friday.
"This is a great honour for Australia.
"I offer a heartfelt expression of appreciation to the wider Catholic community."