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Period: Jan 1, 1517 to
History Catholic Church, and Catholic Church in Australia
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Mar 2, 1517
Reformation
Occurred from 1517-1648. During this time, people started challenging the normal, and the hierarchy started to fall, monks debated a strict form of worship. This time period highlighted a difference in religion and science. It involved people like Martin Luther and Thomas More, the Catholic Church, Protestants, and the clergy. It took place in Germany, and the main outcomes allowed for science to progress, and the right to an individual conscience, and Protestant denominations multiplied. -
The Enlightenment
The enlightenment was a period of intellectual, philosophical, cultural and social movements. It was a time of the realisation and self-awareness to religion and religious beliefs. It involved people like Johann Sebastian Bach, Francis Bacon, Cesare Beccaria and John Comenius. It took place in Europe, in countries like England, France and Germany. The main outcomes was the French Revolution, expansion of science, and people coming together to overthrow the government. -
First Fleet
In 1788, the first Catholics to reside in Australia arrived with the First Fleet. Of all the convicts transported to Australia, one-tenth of them were Catholic. Most of them were of Irish descent, together with a few Royal Marines. Most of the rest were English or Scottish. -
Colonisation
A penal colony was established to relieve overcrowding in British prisons. 1500 people arrived at Sydney Cove. Colonisation resulted in 90% of the indigenous population to be killed between 1788-1900. This event involved British settlers, the native people of Australia, and Captain Arthur Phillip. This effected the indigenous people as they lost their land and their way of life was tampered. This occurred in Australia, and resulted in a dramatic decline in aboriginal population. -
First Priests
The first priests arrived in Australia in the early 1800’s. However they arrived as convicts. James Dixon was one of these, who was given special permission to present Mss for Catholics, at a couple of locations, such as Liverpool, Parramatta, and Sydney. This setup went on for a number of years, but ended around March 1804, when the Castle Hill rebellion alarmed Governor King. -
Convicts
By the year 1803, a total of 2086 Irish convicts had been transported to Botany Bay, nearly all of which were of the Catholic faith. Not all the convicts attained were regarded as serious offenders, in fact estimates are that about four-fifths of these were ordinary criminals and most of the remainder 'social rebels', those convicted of crimes of violence against property and landlords. Only a very small number could be regarded as genuine political rebels. -
Formal Establishment of the Catholic Church in Australia
After Dixon's privileges were withdrawn he soon after returned to Ireland, and Mass was not legally celebrated again in the colony until Fathers John Joseph Therry and Philip Connolly, chaplains appointed by the Government in London, arrived in 1820. Their arrival can be regarded as the formal establishment of the Catholic Church in Australia. -
Catholic Population Census
According to the 1828 Census, out of a total Catholic population of about 10 000, there were 374 adults who had been born in Australia, the Catholic faith passed on to them despite the absence of priests. Until fairly recently Irish clergy dominated Australian Catholic life, and Australian-born priests outnumbered them only since the 1930s. -
Catholic Schools
By 1833, there were about ten Catholic schools in the country. From this time until the end of the 1860s, Catholic schools received some government assistance under a variety of schemes. In the 1850s it became increasingly clear that Catholic schools would not be able to rely on government aid for much longer. -
First Catholic Bishop in Australia
The first Catholic bishop in Australia was John Bede Polding. Polding's dream was to establish a Church founded on monastic ideals, in which scholarship and sublime liturgy would civilise and convert the new country. -
The First Religious Order
The Jesuits were the first religious order of priests to enter and establish houses in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory, establishing themselves first at Sevenhill, in the year 1848, in the newly established colony of South Australia. -
The Growth of Religious Orders
1857-1866
There were numerous religious orders in Australia, some founded by Bishop Polding, such as the Good Samaritan Sisters in 1857, the Sisters of St Joseph, founded in 1866 by Fr Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop, and among others, the Sisters of Charity. -
First Vatican Council
Discussed contemporary problems of rising influence of rationalism, liberalism, materialism, and inspiration of the scripture. It involved Pope Pius IX, the Cardinals, and Bishops. It affected the amount of power the Pope would wield and it discussed the lineage of St Peter. It took place in the Vatican, Rome. Some of the main outcomes of this event, included the Pope gaining supreme power over the Church, the concept of papal infallibility was created, and Pope jurisdiction of the Church. -
Continuing Growth of Religious Orders
1871-Early 1900s:
The sisters of Josephine, by the year 1871, were running around 35 schools just in the Adelaide diocese. From all orders, there was approximately 800 sisters by the end of 1880, and this number could only grow in the coming years, exceeding 5000 by 1910. The sisters not only set up schools in the cities but also established little parish schools all over Australia, providing a Catholic education for the children of the bush. Catholic schools not only survived but thrived. -
Education Act
Between 1872 and 1893, every State passed an Education Act removing state aid to Church schools. This was a turning point for Catholic schools and, indeed, for the Catholic community in Australia. Bishops and people decided to persevere with the Catholic system. With no money to pay teachers, the bishops appealed to religious orders in Ireland and other European countries, and soon religious sisters and brothers were responding to the crisis. -
St. Vincent de Paul society
In 1881, the first permanent St Vincent de Paul Society mission in Australia took place in Sydney and was led by Charles Gordon O’Neill. O’Neill worked hard to be able to re-established the Society in Australia, permanently. -
Catholic Press
1895 was the first year where the Catholic Press print and distribute their first issue. Catholic press was heeded by the urgings of Pope Leo. Catholic Press would then soon become a powerful tool in spreading the Catholic ideals such as opposing the conscription that would later occur. -
Catechism
By 1905, the Catholic church in Australia inaugurated its catechism. This marked the beginning of Catholic catechism in Australia. -
Referendum
In 1916, a referendum split Australia. The referendum was about conscription for the first world war. The pro conscription was mainly the anglican church and the government led by the prime minister, William Hughes. While the anti conscription was mainly the Catholic church, led by the archbishop, Daniel Mannix -
Catholic Teachers
In 1922, a Catholic teachers federation was formed. It was organised effort by the Catholic church in Australia to promote its interests in the wider community, particularly on the education issue. It was to defend, improve and raise funds for Catholic teachers. -
Great Depression
The great depression occurred began 1930 and Anglicans appeared to support the status quo, particularly when there was a conservative government in power. Catholics had a problem they were at the bottom end of the economic issue. Churches overall seemed to ignore the need of the unemployed during the depression. -
Post War Era
1950s were a boom time for Australian Catholics. Numbers grew rapidly, increasing the proportion of Catholics in the Australian population . Many parishes were established in the new suburbs of the major cities and the number of priests, sisters and brothers continued to expand. -
Second Vatican Council
In 1962 Vatican II, occurred and was held in Rome. The Council changed the church and catholicism especially in Austrlia. Its aim, was to 'open the windows of the Church’., allowed freedom and unity with the modern society. These helped increase the numbers of Catholics in Australia by dealing with matters such as the promotion of Christian unity, the recognition that non-Christian religions contain much that is true and holy, and the right of all people to religious freedom. -
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council was opened by Pope John XXIII in 1962, and was closed by Pope Paul VI in 1965. The council discussed ways in which the Church could suit the style of the people. It involved and affected everyone in the Catholic faith. The main outcomes was the change in celebration of Mass and the way in which the Church viewed itself. This religious event was important in bringing the Church up to date with the rest of the world and the movement of the people. -
Pope Francis
Pope Francis is the 266th and current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he holds ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. He was born on December 17, 1936, and currently aged 79. Pope Francis became the Pope on 13 March 2013. The five previous since the Second Vatican council include Popes include Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul VI, and Pope John XXIII.
