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Fr Philip Conolly and Fr John Therry arrive as official chaplains
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The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley.
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John Bede Polding is appointed the first Catholic bishop of Australia. He arrives in Sydney in 1835 and begins organising the Catholic Church in Australia.
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Caroline Chisholm, a prominent Catholic laywoman, arrives in Australia and begins her work supporting immigrant women and families, contributing significantly to the social welfare initiatives of the Church.
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The Diocese of Sydney is elevated to an archdiocese, and John Bede Polding becomes the first Archbishop of Sydney.
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The foundation stone of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney is laid. This becomes the central place of worship for Catholics in Australia.
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The Sisters of Charity, the first group of religious women, arrive in Sydney. They begin their work in education and healthcare.
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The first Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Australia is held in Sydney, attended by bishops and clergy to discuss issues facing the Church.
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The St. Vincent de Paul Society, a lay Catholic organisation dedicated to serving the poor, is established in Australia.
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Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods establish the Sisters of St. Joseph in Penola, South Australia, focusing on education and charitable works.
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Mary MacKillop is excommunicated by Bishop Sheil of Adelaide due to disagreements over the governance of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The excommunication is lifted in 1872.
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Following the 1872 Education Act in Victoria, which makes education free, secular, and compulsory, the Catholic Church begins to establish its own network of schools to provide religious education.