Cath News report: With visitor numbers expected to rise after the recent canonisation, Mary MacKillop's original resting site at Sydney's Gore Hill is set for a huge makeover, according to the North Shore Times.
Saint Mary was buried in the Sisters of St Joseph burial site in 1909. Her remains were later relocated to the Sisters' chapel in North Sydney in 1914.
Cemetery trustee John May said the heritage-listed 5.7ha cemetery had become so overgrown that many memorials were obscured, although the site was kept in relatively good condition by the Friends of the Gore Hill Cemetery.
"The Catholic Cemeteries Board is in the process of investing significant funds to re-lay the brick paths in the area, fence and re-turf the burial site, provide seating and erect a statute of the saint," Mr May said.
At least $250,000 is being spent restoring the 14,000-grave cemetery.
All the work is being carried out under the supervision of the Heritage Branch of the NSW Department of Planning.
A tour of the cemetery, including a visit to the burial site of Saint Mary ,as well as a number of other interesting clergy, will take place on Sunday, November 7. Bookings can be made at the Sydney phone no. 9906 5106.
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