Catholic Church in Australia History

By LLC Rulez.
  • 1520

    Portuguese sailors explore some of the north and eastern coast.

  • A Spaniard, de Quiros, calls Vanuatu 'La Australia del Spiritu Santo' (Australia of the Holy Spirit)

  • French sailors reach and describe Great Barrier Reef

  • Captain Cook arrives at Botany Bay

  • First fleet arrives at Sydney Cove, First Anglican service. The French Captain Pere Receveur possibly said mass at the same time. He died their and was buried at La Perouse

  • Small Pox half of Aborigines in Sydney area

  • Fathers Harold, O'Neil and Dixon, the first convict priests arrive. Convicts include Italians, Portuguese, Austrian and Poles

  • First mass by Father Dixon. First European settlement. First Europeans in Tasmania. James Meehan begins survey work in NSW

  • Fathers sent back to England, accused of encouraging Castle Hill Rebellion

  • Father Jeremiah O'Flynn arrives without permission. Does mass and is deported. Catholics gather at his house.

  • Fathers Therry and Connolly, first offical priests arrive. Therry begins first Catholic School in Parramatta

  • Father Connelly goes Tasmania and build first Catholic Church in Australia

  • European settlement in WA

  • Father John McEncroe arrives. End of English penal laws against Catholics

  • JH Plunkett becomes solicitor general and Roger Therry Judge

  • Father Ullathorne arrives in Sydney

  • Henty brothers begin settlement in Victoria

  • John Bede Polding becomes Australia's first Catholic bishop

  • Ullathorne's book attaches the convict system.

  • Sisters of Charity come to Sydney.

  • James Scullin elected PM, chooses first Australian born Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs

  • Period: to

    The Great Depression. Beginning of Catholic Action. Catholic is in cricket team. More migrants from Yugoslavia and other European countries.

  • Father PJ Moloney begins Palm Island and Fantome Island Mission. Pope Benedict XV writes Quadragesimo Anno

  • Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne

  • Fathers PJ Moloney and Frank McGarry begin a school for Aborigines at Alice Springs.

  • The Grail begins in Australia

  • Period: to

    World War II

  • The Begining of "The Movement"

  • Dr Woodbury begins the Aquinas Academy in Sydney

  • Post war migration from Europe

  • The bishop 'letter' makes all immagrabts feel at home.

  • Father Peyton: 'The family that prays to get her stays together.'

  • The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins

  • Labour Party split

  • Period: to

    Many new Catholic schools

  • Ukrainian bishop in Aus. Prospect + Manna magazines begin. Pope Pius dies, John XXIII

  • Publication of 'The Living Parish Hymn Book'

  • Second Vatican Council commences

  • Goulburn School Strike

  • Pope John XXIII dies. Paul VI is elected. Publication of 'The New Catholic Catechism'

  • Government money given to Catholic schools. Mass changes from Latin to English.

  • Project Compassion begins. 27 percent of teachers in Catholic teachers are lay people.

  • Pope Paul VI writes Populorum Progressio

  • The Pope writes Humanae Vitae. Books and plays about being Catholic in Australia are written.

  • Paul VI becomes first Pope to visit Australia

  • Neville Bonner becomes first Aboriginal member of parliament.

  • Action for World Development begins. Immigration continues mainly from Lebanon and South America. 52 percent of teachers in Catholic schools are lay people. National Pastoral Institute begins.

  • First Maronite bishop in Australia

  • Marriage incojnter spreads to Australia

  • International Women's Year. First National women's conference.

  • Ron Blair's play 'The Christian Brother'. First Aboriginal priest ordained.

  • Social Justice statement on women. Rome de clears Australia is no longer a mission country

  • Outlook magazine begins

  • First Catholic lay people graduate in theology

  • WATAC- Women and the Australian Church

  • Pope John Paul II visits Australia

  • First Melkite bishop arrives. Women-Church magazine begins. First WATAC meeting Ninety percent of teachers in Catholic schools are lay people

  • Pope John Paul II visits Australia. Announces the beatification of Mary MacKillop.

  • The Jubilee Year

  • World Youth Day held in Sydney. Pope Benedict XVI visits Australia

  • Mary MacKillop canonisation in Rome