THE Far Northern Catholic community is thrilled Australia's "Mother Teresa" is on her way to sainthood.

News that the Vatican decreed Mary MacKillop’s second miracle on Sunday, clearing the way for her canonisation next year, was particularly meaningful for two local Catholic schools.

The Sisters of St Joseph, an order of nuns founded by Mother Mary, were the first teachers at St Francis Xavier at Manunda and St Anthony’s at Dimbulah.

St Francis Xavier parish priest, Father Peter Vandeleur, said Mother Mary was worthy of becoming Australia’s first saint.

"She’s a wonderful example for people. She was most faithful to her vocation. She was a kind of Mother Teresa to Australia," he said.

"She was heroic in her selflessness."

Mother Mary, who died 100 years ago aged 67, started dozens of schools to educate less fortune children.

The Josephite sisters taught St Anthony’s principal Rita Petersen when she was a girl.

The nuns opened St Anthony’s in 1966, teaching there for about two decades, Ms Petersen said.

The push to canonise Mother Mary was particularly special for St Anthony’s, she said.

"The fact she’s becoming a saint makes it real for the kids. We can all relate to her," Ms Petersen said.

"Mary was a woman of justice. She believed everyone should be treated equally. She believed in the education of children in the bush."

Cairns Bishop James Foley said Mother Mary would be a worthy candidate for sainthood, calling her an "impressive woman".

He said her work spoke for itself and was ahead of its time.

Cairns parishioners praised the news, Bishop Folley said.

Mother Mary’s canonisation is expected to take place sometime early next year.

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