Catholicism in Australia

By Derrick Demafelis
  • Period: to

    Events

  • First Mass

    First Mass
    La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass within Australian territory

  • First Public Mass

    First Public Mass
    First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon

  • First Catholic School

    First Catholic School
    Fr Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta

  • St. Mary's Chapel

    St. Mary's Chapel
    St Mary's Chapel finally completed. Fr Therry celebrates the first Mass there. Fr William Ullalthorne arrives in Sydney to take over as the colony's first Vicar General

  • First Catholic Mission

    First Catholic Mission
    Polding launches the first Catholic Mission to Aborigines on Stradbroke Island. Queensland. Queensland is part of the Archdiocese which encompasses an area now covered by NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

  • Sister of Saint Joseph

    Sister of Saint Joseph
    Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods found the Sisters of St. Joseph. Daniel Murphy appointed second Archbishop of Hobart A temporary St Mary's Cathedral begins construction until a brandnew cathedral can be built

  • First Sister of St. Joseph

    First Sister of St. Joseph
    Mary MacKillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph

  • Mary MacKillop excommunicated

    Mary MacKillop excommunicated
    Mother Mary MacKillop excommunicated by Laurence Sheil, Bishop of Adelaide who alleges she incites her sisters to disobedience and defiance.

  • St. Vincent de Paul Society

    St. Vincent de Paul Society
    First St Vincent de Paul Society established in Sydney. Marist Brothers found St Joseph's College, a boarding school for boys, at Hunter's Hill

  • The first-ever Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church is held in Sydney. The foundation stone for St Patrick's Seminary is also laid. Archbishop Moran is created Cardinal Priest.

    The first-ever Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church is held in Sydney. The foundation stone for St Patrick's Seminary is also laid. Archbishop Moran is created Cardinal Priest.
    The first-ever Plenary Council of the Australian Catholic Church is held in Sydney. The foundation stone for St Patrick's Seminary is also laid. Archbishop Moran is created Cardinal Priest.

  • Founder of Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart

    Founder of Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
    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.

  • Death of Mother Mary MacKillop

    Death of Mother Mary MacKillop

  • Catholic Teachers' Federation

    Catholic Teachers' Federation
    Formation of the Catholic Teachers' Federation

  • First Catholic Prime Minister

    First Catholic Prime Minister
    James Scullin becomes Australia's first Catholic prime minister

  • Death of Pope John XXIII

    Death of Pope John XXIII
    Death of Pope John XXIII who is succeeded by Pope Paul VI. The Second Vatican Council commences and appoints Cardinal Gilroy to the Council of Presidency. The Mass changes from Latin to English