The Catholic Church in Australia

First fleet

Jan 1, 1788

The First Catholics arrived in Australia during the first fleet. 10% were from Ireland.

First Catholic priests arrived in the colony as convicts.

Jan 1, 1800

First Catholic priests arrived in the colony as convicts.

Father John Joseph Therry & Phillip Connolly- chaplains appointed priests by Government

Jan 1, 1820

Aroundt ten Catholic schools in Asutralia

Jan 1, 1833

Catholic schools in Australia had some government assistance.

Feb 4, 1833

1833-1860's Catholic schools in Australia had some government assistance.

All states passed Educational Acts removing state aid.

Jan 1, 1872

1872-1893 All states passed Educational Acts removing state aid. With no money to pay staff, the bishops appealed the religious orders in Ireland and other European countries/Nuns/Sisters and brothers.

Australian borne priests outnumbered Irish clergy

Jan 1, 1930

John Bede Polding was the first bishop. Polding's priests were mainly Irish. There was a conflict between Polding's vision and their ideas. Irish clergy dominated Australia Catholic life until very recently.Untill finaly the 1930's Australian borne priests outnumbered them.

1950's Catholic's increased (Baby boomers)

Feb 4, 1950

1950's the number of Catholics, brothers, nuns and priests increased dramaticly. Catholics improved their socio-economic status. There was a sugnificantly high level of attendance at Mass.
Many Catholics belonged to Catholic groups and the devotion to the rosary was common throughout this time.

1960 and 1970's: Influx of non-English speaking immigrants

Feb 4, 1960

1960 and 1970's: Influx of non-English speaking immigrants including one million plus Catholics from Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Germany, Croatia, Hungary and numerous other places. Ideas and practices came into conflicts with irish background.