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St. Patrick’s (south aust)
St. Patrick was a 5th-century missionary to Ireland and later served as bishop there. He is credited with bringing Christianity to parts of Ireland and was probably partly responsible for the Christianization of the Picts and Anglo-Saxons. He is one of the patron saints of Ireland. -
St Francis’ Church (Victoria)
First Catholic Church in Victoria. -
Mary Reibey
Mary Reibey is one of the most famous early convict women in the colony of New South Wales. A convicted horsethief, Mary went on to run an extensive importing and mercantile business and there are numerous references to her business dealings, liquor licences, land grants and purchases throughout the State archives. -
Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm worked on improving conditions on the ships and arranged for the families of convicts to be transported free to Australia so they could be reunited with their loved ones. -
The Sisters of Charity
The Sisters of Charity cared for the sick and poor and welcomed all creeds. Many of the subsequent hospitals opened by the Sisters were named in honour of this saint who dedicated himself to serving the poor. -
Period: to
Formative Years
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St Johns (tas)
First church in Tasmania -
Mary Mackillop
The first Australian candidate for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church, Mary MacKillop, known in the convent as Mother Mary of the Cross, was the foundress of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart. -
Christian Brothers
The Brothers conduct orphanages and schools for the poor, primary and secondary level schools, university colleges and colleges of education, schools for the deaf and for the blind, technical schools and agricultural colleges. -
St John’s Pro Cathedral (West Aust)
This was to be the site of the first Catholic cathedral, the Church of St John the Apostle and Evangelist (St John's Pro-Cathedral). Construction commenced on 27 December 1843, with the foundation stone laid on 16 January 1844. -
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy went on to found convents, schools and hospitals across the globe. The Australian congregation established schools and convents around the country and opened their first hospitals in Brisbane and Sydney. -
Old St Stephen's Church (Queensland)
Oldest Catholic Church in Queensland -
Gold Rushes
The California gold rush led directly to the settlement of California by Americans and the rapid entry of that state into the union in 1850. The gold rush in 1849 stimulated worldwide interest in prospecting for gold, and led to new rushes in Australia, South Africa, Wales and Scotland. -
Society of St Vincent de Paul
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy. -
Fr Julian Tenison Woods
Julian was a gifted missionary priest, scientist, writer, musician and popular lecturer. He was ordained just two years later and appointed parish priest of Penola in rural South Australia. -
The Good Samaritan Sisters
The Sisters of the Good Samaritan hold a unique place in history being the first women's religious congregation to be founded in Australia. The Good Samaritan Sisters began to care for the poor and destitute of the early colony. -
The Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters' focused their energies on creating and staffing schools that would educate young people, especially young ladies. Most of these schools are still in operation and can be found across the globe. -
Establishment of the Sisters of St Joseph
It was a shelter for neglected and destitute children, old women and vulnerable young girls and also was a Novitiate, for training nuns and the Provincialate office.
