History of Australia's Catholic Churches By katelilly 1788 La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass within Australian territory 1802 First official public mass 1819 Father John Therry and Father Phillip Conolly arrive in Sydney as Australia's first priests 1825 Father Therry removed from his role of Colony Offical Chaplin 1826 Father Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace Father Thierry 1830 Father Power passes away 1832 Father John Mcecroe appointed Offical Chaplin of Australia 1833 St. Marys Chapel is completed 1844 Father John Brady was consecrated as Bishop of Perth. He moves from Windsor to Western Australia 1851 St. Mary Cathedral is renovated. The archdiocese now has 33 parishes, 30 churches and 35 priests. 1865 A fire occurs at St. Marys Cathedral, destroying the building 1866 Mary Mackillop and Father Julian Tension Woods found the sisters of St. Joseph 1871 Mary Mackillop was excommunicated by the Bishop of Adelaide because she was thought to incite her sisters to disobedience and defiance 1872 Mary Mackillop is recommunicated into the church and the sisters are permitted to continue their work 1877 Archbishop Polding passed away at the age of 85 1909 Mary Mackillop passed away 1914 World War 1 declared. Catholics became influential in Australia’s Labour Party. 1929 James Scullin becomes Australia’s first Catholic Prime Minister