Australian Catholic Timeline with 10 people who are instrumental in creating the Australian catholic church

By Illucas.OF

  • The first fleet arrival

    1788 First Fleet arrives in Australia
    10-15% of these were Catholics. Half of these Catholics were Irish. 1792 Catholic settlers petition Governor Phillip for a priest Even though this petition was made early in the colony, it was many years before a priest arrived.

  • First Public mass

    Fr. Dixon presented the first public mass on Australian soil on May 15th 1803 at Port Jackson followed by Mass at Parramatta on May 22nd and at Hawkesbury on May 29th. This helped the catholics that had newly arrived to Australia celebrate their religion and feel at peace.

  • Fr James Dixon was given permission to celebrate religious sacraments

    James Dixon, who arrived in Sydney in January 1800. Keen not to stir up anti-British feelings within the Irish population, Governor King agreed to Dixon’s conditional emancipation and permitted him to conduct Mass and to minister to Catholics in the colony. By this time there were a total of 2086 Irish convicts, nearly all Catholics, living in New South Wales.

  • First Priest Arrives in Australia

    Reaction to the affair in Britain led to two further priests being allowed to travel to the colony in 1820 – John Joseph Therry and Philip Conolly. The foundation stone for the first St Mary's Church, was laid on 29 October 1821 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

  • Father Connolly leaves for Hobart

    Father Connolly leaves for Hobart leaving Fr John Therry the only priest on mainland Australia

  • Construction of first Catholic church

    The foundation stone for the first St Mary's Church, was laid on 29 October 1821 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

  • First Catholic Australian Bishop

    John Bede Polding became the first Australian catholic bishop

  • First Catholic Australian Bishop

    John Bede Polding became the first Australian catholic bishop

  • Priests Recognise Catholics Issues

    As the colony grows, some catholics recognised the things the colony needed help with and worked to continue the rules of Jesus.

  • Catholic Church in Australia divided

    In 1848 the Catholic Church in Australia was divided into provinces and dioceses.

  • Mary Mackillop starts local catholic schools

    Another Pioneer of the of the catholic church in Australia was Mary Mackillop who brought Catholic education to poor children in country areas by starting Catholic schools

  • Mary Mackillop becomes saint

    First Australian Saint

  • Present

    The Catholic church has continue to grow. We see the holy spirit at work through the many catholic agencies which are active in all parts of Australian life.