Australian Catholic Church Early Years

By falzonk01

  • 1886

    1886
    1886 The Archbishop's Official Residence at Manly is completed

  • 1887

    1887
    1887 A decree from Rome constitutes the Mary MacKillop founded Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart as an approved Regular Congregation with the Mother House in Sydney.

  • 1889

    1889
    1889 St Patrick's Seminary College opens in Manly and initially is intended to provide priests not only for Australia but for all British colonies. The seminary is the initiative of Cardinal Moran and he contributes a library of several hundred books, a collection of medieval manuscripts, as well as items for a museum.

  • 1895

    1895 Catholic Press prints and distributes its first issue

  • 1900

    1900 Cardinal Moran convenes the first Australasian Catholic Congress at St Mary's Cathedral on September 10. The central tower of St Mary's Cathedral is finally finished and a dedication follows

  • 1901

    1901 Irish-born Michael Kelly, former rector of the Irish College, Rome, is proconized coadjutor archbishop with right of succession to Cardinal Moran

  • 1905

    1905 Australian Catechism inaugurated

  • 1909

    1909 Death of Mother Mary MacKillop

  • 1910

    1910 St Columba's College, seminary, opens at Springwood, NSW

  • 1911

    1911 Cardinal Moran dies and is succeeded by Archbishop Kelly. The Archdiocese now has 189 churches, eight hospitals and three seminaries. Of Sydney's 175,000 Catholics, more than 25,000 children are enrolled at Archdiocese schools.

  • 1912

    1912 The Australian Catholic Federation is established in Victoria. Set up to advocate the political interests of the Catholic Church in Australia, the Federation is part of a world-wide movement and is endorsed by Archbishop of Melbourne, Thomas Carr

  • 1913

    1913 Formation of the Australian Catholic Federation in NSW. The inaugural meeting is held at St Mary's Cathedral
    The NSW branch of the Catholic Women's Association is founded by Esther Cannon and endorsed by Archbishop Kelly. Later it will change its name to the Catholic Women's League

  • 1914

    1914 World War I declared. Catholics become influential in the Australian Labor Party with the rise of figures such as Ben Chiffley and James Scullin. St Patrick's College seminary at Manly celebrates its Silver Jubilee. An Act of Parliament permits the subdivision of 21 acres of land above Shelly Beach and Fairy Bower to help meet the cost of the college's upkeep