Mary MacKillop, who will soon become Australia's first saint, is going pre-paid. Australia Post has released a commemorative pre-paid envelope bearing an image of Mother Mary in honour of her impending canonisation.
In February, Pope Benedict XVI announced that Mary MacKillop, who founded the Sisters of St Joseph, will be canonised in Rome on October 17.
Australia Post Philatelic Group Manager Noel Leahy said the pre-paid envelope would feature a painting of Mary MacKillop by Raffaele Gagliardi of Rome.
"This is a major milestone in Australian history as the selfless acts of this courageous woman have now been recognised by the Pope and celebrated by the rest of the world," Mr Leahy said in a statement.
"Pre-paid envelopes are just one way of acknowledging our support of this, as well as providing people with an opportunity to collect a bit of history."
Born in Melbourne in 1842, Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph in South Australia and the first Josephite school in 1866.
She died in 1909, aged 67, in a convent in North Sydney.
Last month the Sisters of St Joseph launched a new official interactive website that charts the life of Mary MacKillop and shows virtual tours of her tomb at their centre in North Sydney.
A book featuring a collection of her letters was recently published, and there has been a flood of inquiries from Australian Catholics for tickets to the canonisation in St Peter's Square in Rome October.
The Mary MacKillop pre-paid envelope is available for purchase from April 6 at participating Australia Post retail outlets or online while stocks last.
For more information, visit auspost.com.au/stamps
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