Significant periods in the Church’s history in Australia

By MarnieMoon

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

  • First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • First official public mass

  • Father John Therry and Father Philip Conolly arrive in Sydney as Australia’s first ever priests

  • Father Therry removed from his role of colony’s official chaplin

  • Father Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Father Therry

  • Father Power dies

  • Father John McEcroe appointed official chaplin of Australia

  • St Mary’s Chapel completed

  • Father John Brady consecrated as Bishop of Perth - moves from Windsor to Western Australia

  • St Mary’s Cathedral renovated - Archdiocese now has 33 parishes, 30 churches and 35 priests

  • Father James Quinn becomes first Bishop of Brisbane

  • The NSW Government passes bill to abolish state aid to religion

  • Fire destroys St Mary’s Cathedral

  • Mary Mackillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods found the Sisters of St Joseph

  • Mary Mackillop excommunicated by Bishop of Adelaide because she was thought to incite her sisters to disobedience and defiance

  • Mary Mackillop is re-communicated into the Church and the sisters permitted to continue their work

  • Archbishop Polding dies age 85