Day 282, Tuesday, 5 January, 2010

Penola

Yesterday we decided to take an extra day in Penola so we can have a look around the town.

Our morning was spent walking around Petticoat Lane the oldest part of the town and the Mary MacKillop Centre, schoolhouse and catholic church. We both felt we could not be in Penola and not visit these buildings.

It was interesting that we both came away from the Mary MacKillop Centre feeling that something was missing from her story. In particular - Why is Mary considered so blessed that people pray to her? Why is Mary being considered for sainthood and not Julian Tennison Woods the joint founder of the Josephites? What happened to Mary in the years  between setting up the schools and being excommunicated? And Why was Rome’s instruction for the Josephites not to live in poverty so upsetting for Tennison Woods?

It will be interesting to see what happens to the town of Penola when Mary is made a saint later this year. One of the locals told us jokingly that there is a feeling that “the pilgrims are coming!”

As we began to update our website today we noticed that our marker for our home in Canberra is now on the same page as our present location. Our circle of Australia is coming to a close far too quickly.

Zoom into the map and use the 'Satellite' layer to see our new location.

Petticoat Lane, with red gum curbs, Penola

Vegetable garden in Petticoat Lane, Penola

Petticoat Lane, Penola

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