Pilgrimage Site: Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church, Eden

In a small coastal town tucked away in far southern NSW, pilgrims can walk in the very footsteps of Australia’s first Catholic saint – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

Historian John Liston said Eden was dear to the saint, whose mother, Flora, drowned in the region in 1886.

“It was one of the worst maritime disasters, and 72 people drowned just south of Eden,” he explained.

“Mary maintained that the first miracle was the way her mother’s body was preserved after being lost at sea for three days. She looked asleep, not a mark on her.”

When she heard how the community looked after Flora’s body – laying her in the best room of the hotel, dressing her, surrounding her with flowers and praying over her – Mary vowed to send nuns to the area to establish Catholic education.

“True to her word, in 1891, three Josephite nuns came. Through the week, they taught, then moved the desks around and turned it back into a church for the weekend,” John said.

“Over the years, nearly 200 nuns have served here. And the people of Eden came to love Mary and her nuns dearly.”

Fr George Ogah said the Our Lady Star of the Sea parish community was privileged to be chosen as one of the four designated churches during the Jubilee Year.

Parish Priest Fr George Ogah standing outside Our Lady Star of the Sea, Church

“Pilgrims come with a lot of graces,” he said.

“It is a time when the Holy Father has given us the opportunity to take advantage of God’s mercy and the graces that come from it. It is a time of repentance. It is a time of forgiveness. It is a time when, as Catholics, we are all called to engage in works of charity and works of mercy.”

Eden, already home to the annual St Mary MacKillop pilgrimage every August, draws people from far and wide to walk the path of the beloved saint.

“On horseback or in a little sulky and trap, she would go visiting,” John said.

“Mary walked down the hill here, and she and the nuns would tend to the graves, visit the sick, teach the kids, and catechise the state school students.”

Fr George said those who visited the church to attend Mass, took part in the sacrament of reconciliation, said a prayer for the intention of the Holy Father and engaged in works of charity would gain plenary indulgence.

“What that means is all temporal sins are forgiven us – you will become as clean as a child who has just been baptised,” he said.

“During this wonderful time, I encourage Catholics within the Archdiocese and Australia at large to come and join us as we celebrate this great year of hope. Take advantage of this opportunity that has been given to us. It truly is a time of hope, because God’s grace is made available to us.”