-
Arrival of First Fleet
11 ships departed from Portsmouth, England in 1787. Over 1480 men, women and children, most being British, African, American and French, were on-board the First Fleet. One tenth of these people were Catholic. The convicts, marines and seamen landed at Botany Bay in Sydney, NSW. This was the beginning of the colonization of white man and also Catholics on Australian soil. -
Period: to
First Mass
In conjunction with the arrival of the first fleet in Australia, the first mass also took place in 1788. La Perouse and his chaplain, Abbe Mones celebrate the first mass within Australian territory. -
Priests Arrested and Transported to NSW
Fr James Dixon and two other priests had been convicted of crimes and were sent aboard the 'friendship'. This ship was to land in New South Wales in 1800. -
First Public Mass
Prisoner priest, Fr. Dixon was the leader of the first official public mass, which was held under strict government supervision. Several hundred Irish Catholics attended the mass, which was held outdoors due to lack of suitable location. -
Australia's first official priests
The arrival of Australia's first official, non-criminal priests occurred in 1819. The two priests were Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly. Upon arrival, Fr John Therry opened the first Catholic school in Parramatta -
Period: to
First Catholic School
Parramatta Marist High was founded in 1820 by Father John Therry and is the oldest Catholic school in Australia. The school was adjacent to St. Patrick's cathedral. In 1875, the Marist Brothers became in charge of the school and ran it themselves. In 1918, the original building, which was built from stone, was demolished and replaced with an upgraded building. -
Australia's First Census
In 1828, Australia's first official census was conducted to survey the white population of the country. At the time, the population was 36,598. Both the free population and the convicts of Australia were eligible to complete the census. The survey determined that among those who completed it, 25,248 were protestant and 11,236 people were Catholic. -
Benedictine priest consecrated
In 1834, John Bede Polding was ordained as BIshop in London. Following this, he soon appointed Vicar Apostolic with jurisdiction over what is currently known as the commonwealth of Australia. -
Period: to
Sisters of St. Joseph Form
The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart were an association formed by Father Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop in 1837. This act was in response to Bishop Geoghegan of Adelaide, who sought to provide for the Catholic education of young children in the population of Australia. Today, the Josephites are based all over Australia and continue to teach and care for those in need and educate those on the legacy of Mary Mackillop. -
Five Sisters of Charity Arrive
Sister Mary Aikenhead was the founder of the Sisters of Charity in Ireland. In 1838, five Sisters traveled to Sydney, Australia, to carry out a mission that they ad been appointed. The manner of this mission was to assist the poor and the disadvantaged. This was a request made by Archbishop Polding. Their first ministry was to convict women in the Female Factory in Parramatta. -
Mary MacKillop's Birth
On the 15th of January 1842, Mary MacKillop was born in Fitzroy Melbourne to her parents Alexander MacKillop and Flora MacKillop. In the future, Mary was to have seven other siblings. -
Arrival of the Jesuits
In 1848, the first two Jesuits landed in Australia. The pair were Austrian and set foot in Adelaide. -
Mary Mackillop is Excommunicated
Early in the year of 1870, Mary and other Josephites had heard allegations of Father Keating sexually abusing children. Father Smyth sent Keating back to Ireland on account of alcohol abuse, but he later returned with colleague Father Charles Horan. The two sought vengeance against the Josephites. Mary refused when they demanded a change in the Josephites. After the death of Father Keating, Horan met with Bishop Sheil, who excommunicated Mary Mackillop on account of insubordination. -
Mary's Excommunication is Lifted
As Bishop Sheil, who excommunicated Mary MacKillop for defiance of authority, was dying, he ordered Father Hughes to lift the excommunication of Mary. She was completely exonerated by the Episcopal Commission after Father Hughes absolved her in the Morphett Vale Church. -
Period: to
Australian Catechism Inaugurated
The Catechism of the Catholic Church of Australia was inaugurated in 1905, marking the beginning of its religious teaching to the population. -
Australia's First Saint
In St. Peter's Basilica, 101 years following her death, Mary MacKillop was canonised as Australia's first Saint. This event occurred on the 17th of October 2010. Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed Mary's sainthood. 8,000 pilgrims from Australia and New Zealand traveled to Rome to witness the event of her canonization. Pope Benedict XVI: "Australia [has] been blessed with teachers who were inspired by the courageous and saintly
example of zeal, perseverance and prayer of Mother Mary MacKillop."
