History of Catholicism in Australia

By bylerings

  • Catholics arrive on First Fleet

    The first Catholics arrive on the First Fleet.

  • Most Irish convicts were Catholic

    The 2086 Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay, were all mainly Catholic.

  • First Australia mass

    Fr James Dixon presented the first Australia mass.

  • The first catholic school is founded.

    The first catholic school is founded by Irish priest Fr John Therry.

  • Catholic schools

    10 catholic schools were around the colony.

  • First Australian Catholic bishop

    John Bede Polding was the first Catholic Australia bishop.

  • First women

    The Sisters of the Good Samaritan, first women’s religious congregation to be founded in Australia.

  • First women's religious congregation

    The Sisters of the Good Samaritan, first women’s religious congregation to be founded in Australia.

  • St Mary's Cathedral destroyed

    St Mary’s Cathedral church was destroyed in a fire, 1865, June 29

  • Sisters of St Joseph founded

    The sisters of St Joseph was founded by Fr Julian Tension Woods and Mary Mackillop.

  • St Mary's Cathedral rebuilt

    St Mary’s Cathedral church began being rebuilt.

  • St Vincent de Paul society

    The first St Vincent de Paul society was established.

  • Catholic women's league founded

    Catholic Women’s league first founded by Miss Margret Fletcher.

  • Appointed Bishop

    Norman Thomas Gilroy was appointed Bishop in South Australia.

  • Appointed Archbishop, again

    Norman Thomas Gilroy was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop in Sydney.

  • International Eucharist Congress in Melbourne

    The international Eucharist Congress is first held in Melbourne.

  • Sorry day to the stolen generations.

    The first National Sorry day. A prayer said towards Indigeneous Australians for their actions, children to be removed from their families and homes.