Mary MacKillop (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909) was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Since her death she has attracted much veneration within Australia as a symbol of the strength of the early Catholic Church. On December 19, 2009 she was beatified when the Vatican announced the recognition of a second miracle attributed to her intercession. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17, 2010 during a public ceremony at St. Peter's Square, becoming the first Australian to be recognized as as saint by the Roman Catholic Church.