THE Vatican is gearing up to give Australia a joyous Christmas celebration, with Blessed Mary MacKillop almost certain to be our first saint within days.The decision will end decades of lobbying for the canonisation of the woman revered for her tireless work helping children and the needy.
Australia's five million Catholics will rejoice at the news, with the sainthood predicted to spark a surge in interest in the Church and faith, particularly in South Australia where Mary co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph.
The Sunday Mail understands Mary MacKillop's second miracle has been cleared by a team of cardinals and bishops, and the final assent from Pope Benedict XVI is just days away.
Yesterday, Sisters of St Joseph spokeswoman Sister Judy Sippel said an announcement was imminent.
"The Sisters are very excited and anticipate there could be some good news before Christmas," she said.
"It is wonderful that Mary MacKillop's spirit and good work will be recognised for the Church and for Australia."
This week, the Sunday Mail and other Sunday newspapers around Australia were contacted by a spokesperson on behalf of the Sisters of Joseph to prepare for the announcement on Saturday that Mary's sainthood was confirmed.
But late in the week, the representative said the matter had been removed from the agenda of a meeting with the Pope scheduled for yesterday.
Pope Benedict XVI was due to make the announcement after receiving a recommendation from a panel of cardinals and bishops, following an exhaustive inquiry into a second miracle attributed to Mary, overseen by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
A Christmas announcement would come a century after Mary died.
Australia's Ambassador to the Holy See, Tim Fischer, said he was hopeful of an announcement before the end of the year.
He told the Catholic Church's newspaper Southern Cross he expected a Christmas announcement from the Vatican.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference - with Archbishop of Adelaide Philip Wilson as president - has formed a special group to oversee preparations for the expected canonisation.
The bishops have pledged to work with the Sisters of St Joseph to ensure the canonisation of Australia's first saint will be a time of grace for the Church in Australia.
Archbishop Wilson said Mary was an inspiration to all Australians through her dedication to others and her great trust in God's love.
Mary was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 19 January 1995 after being credited with one miracle, and a second confirmed miracle would lead to her canonisation, making her a saint.
The second event being assessed relates to the 1995 recovery of a woman suffering from an invasive, inoperable cancer.
The first miracle attributed to Mary's intercession was a woman cured of leukemia. It was reported in 1961, approved by the Vatican in 1971 and officially documented in 1993.
One of Australia's most inspirational women, Mary co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in Penola in 1866 and was devoted to helping disadvantaged children gain an education.
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