Australia's Church History

By gelr

  • First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon

  • First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon

  • Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon's permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn

  • Castle Hill Rebellion results in Fr Dixon's permit to conduct Mass being withdrawn

  • Fr Jeremiah Flynn arrives to minister to convict Catholics

  • Fr Jeremiah Flynn arrives to minister to convict Catholics

  • Australia's first official priest Fr John Therry, arrives in Sydney, opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta and lobbies to build the settlement's first Catholic church

  • Australia's first official priest Fr John Therry, arrives in Sydney, opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta and lobbies to build the settlement's first Catholic church

  • Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta schools and lays the foundation stone for a church at Parramatta

  • Fr Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta schools and lays the foundation stone for a church at Parramatta

  • Bishop Polding is appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Commonwealth of Australia, takes control of Catholic

  • Bishop Polding is appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Commonwealth of Australia, takes control of Catholic

  • Five Sisters of Charity arrive in Sydney with a mission to help the poor and disadvantaged

  • Sisters of mercy arrived in australia

  • The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent's Hospital University and the Australian Catholic University

  • Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods found the Sisters of St. Joseph.

  • First St Vincent de Paul Society established in Sydney.

  • St Mary's Cathedral built and commissioned

  • World War I declared.

  • Sydney Catholic owned commercial radio station 2SM begins operating.

  • Catholic Weekly prints its first issue

  • Death of Pope John XXIII who is succeeded by Pope Paul VI. The Second Vatican Council commences and appoints Cardinal Gilroy to the Council of Presidency. The Mass changes from Latin to English

  • Pope Paul VI makes the first-ever Papal visit to Australia

  • Pope John Paul II visits Australia

  • Foundation of Notre Dame

  • Pope John Paul II makes his second visit to Australia. Mother Mary MacKillop beatified.

  • Restoration of the St Mary's Cathedral begins.

  • Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to Australia when the Archdiocese of Sydney hosts World Youth Day 2008.