The Church in Australia

By Evansa02

  • 1788

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

  • 1791

    First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • 1826

    Fr Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Fr Therry as official chaplain to the growing colony. Hardworking Fr Therry moves to Parramatta and remains a chief influence among Sydney’s Catholics

  • 1836

    Bishop Polding took control of schools and by1836 had 13 primary schools in operation. Seven are for boys, six for girls and all have government support. He lays the foundation stone for a church at Parramatta

  • 1857

    The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent’s Hospital in the centre of Sydney and offer its services free to all people, but especially to the poor

  • 1878

    Arrival of the Jesuits in Sydney

  • 1900

    Cardinal Moran convenes the first Australasian Catholic Congress at St Mary’s Cathedral on September 10. The central tower of St Mary’s Cathedral is finally finished and a dedication follows

  • 1919

    Founding of the Knights of the Southern Cross. Committed to promoting a Christian way of life, the Late Mother Mary MacKillop is appointed patron of the order which is open to Catholic men over the age of 18

  • 1946

    Archbishop Gilroy is created Cardinal and becomes the first Australian-born member of the Sacred College

  • 1969

    Cardinal Gilroy is receives a KBE, a knighthood of the British Empire for his services to Sydney and the community Bishop Freeman becomes Bishop of Armidale

  • 1976

    Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country

  • 1983

    Cardinal Freeman dies. Thousands of Catholics and non Catholics mourn his passing. Archbishop Edward Bede Clancy, formerly Archbishop of Goulburn and Canberra becomes Archbishop of Sydney

  • 1991

    Foundation of Notre Dame University and the Australian Catholic University

  • 1996

    Catholic Institute of Sydney for Theology and Ministry opens at Strathfield. The Seminary of the Good Shepherd is also official opened

  • 1998

    Work on the spires following William Wardell’s original designs is started.

  • 2003

    Archdiocesan offices move to an impressive new building, the Polding Centre on Liverpool St in the CBD. Archbishop George Pell is created Cardinal by Pope

  • 2008

    Pope Benedict XVI makes his first visit to Australia when the Archdiocese of Sydney hosts World Youth Day 2008. WYD08 is a huge success and as a result the social networking website, Xt3 is created for young people not only in Sydney but worldwide. It quickly became the fastest growing Catholic website worldwide.

  • 2014

    The Holy Father Pope Francis appoints George Cardinal Pell as Prefect of the new Secretariat for the Economy. The Most Rev Anthony Fisher is appointed as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney.