Catholic Development in Australia

By Fairsyc

  • First Irish Convicts arrive in Botany Bay.

    Irish settlers petition for a catholic priest.

  • Irish Rebellion of 1798

    In Ireland, a rebellion broke out after years of mistreatment, which resulted in hundreds of Irish being sent to Australia.

  • Arrival of first priests

    Fr Dixon and two other Irish priests were wrongly arrested and sent as convicts to Australia.

  • First Public Mass

    Fr Dixon is permitted to say mass publicly, under strict restrictions. He was not to preach anything that could lead to a rebellion.

  • Castle Hill Rebellion

    Rebellion in Castle Hill, which led to many more Irish taking the blame and Fr Dixon was not allowed to preach anymore. He left for Britain.

  • Arrival of Fr Jeremiah Flynn

    Fr Jeremiah Flynn arrives in Australia to minister to convict catholics and is ordered to leave and get the proper paperwork. He goes into hiding.

  • Fr Jeremiah Flynn is caught and sent to England.

  • First official Catholic Priests

    Fr Therry and Fr Conolly come to Australia as its first official priests.
    Fr Therry opens the first catholic school in Australia.

  • Arrival of first Australian Bishop

    Benedictine Bishop John Bede Polding arrives in Australia and concentrates St Mary’s Chapel into St Mary’s Cathedral.

  • Arrival of the sisters of charity

    Five Sisters of charity arrive in Sydney to help the poor and disadvantaged, at the request of Archbishop Polding. One of these women was Caroline Chisholm.

  • Founding of the Sisters of St Joseph

    Mary Mackillop and Fr Julian Tension Woods found the sisters of St Joseph.

  • Excommunication of Mary Mackillop

    Mary Mackillop was excommunicated by the Bishop of Adelaide.

  • Mary Mackillop is allowed to continue her work

    A decree from Rome reconstitutes the Mary Mackillop founded sisters of St Joseph.

  • Catholic weekly prints it's first issue

  • Foundation of Australian Catholic University and Notre Dame University