Hymn for Mary MacKillop by Greg Schiemer

It was lovely to hear from Greg again, who has once again sent a song he has written and invited its general use.

He said:

In 1994 the Mary Mackillop Secretariat commissioned me to write a hymn in the lead up to the beatification Mary Mackillop. Since it was first published in an anthology entitled If I Could Tell The Love of God it has been revised. Prior to the pandemic we have used it at Holy Trinity Church Minto as a thanksgiving hymn for weekend masses closest to her feast on August 8. While congregational singing is out of the question in 2020 it may be possible, albeit at fairly short notice, for a cantor to learn this and sing it for the refection hymn… feel free to use it unencumbered by copyright compliance obligations or any form of royalty payment. Liturgy is a gift, not an industry and I’d be delighted if the hymn simply became public property for anyone who wants to celebrate. 

Mary Mackillop died 111 years ago on August 8th, which is her feast day.

This is Greg’s text:

1 Living gift she gave to us and showed a wisdom you give.

Dwelling in a land where she she was born your Spirit had always lived.

Her search was to know where your heart yearned to go.

A place no princes could build she trusted in the words of life.

Refrain 1 Your promises would be fulfilled x4

2 She braved the heat, the drought, the flood a lonely distance to know.

Burdens of a people long forgotten calling her to go.

Communing with those your kindred have made.

Outsiders in your place, her action spoke of love she shared.

Refrain 2 Your mem’ry alive in the common bread x4

3 Teaching us in words we know she helped your people to bring

to our darker side your shining light that gives us heart to sing.

Let strangers and poor cry out at your door.

Let children see your face, we praise the gift she did not hide.

Refrain 3 To live your love and never divide x4

He provided these resources:

MP3

SATB

Of course, I had a go with BIAB as well.