History of the Catholic Church By jecel Dec 9, 1778 First Mass Arrival of First Fleet at Sydney Cove The first Mass was said by Fr. Receveur Dec 24, 1803 First Public Mass The First Public Mass said by Fr. Dixon Dec 24, 1821 Construction of the first Catholic Church at Richmond, Tasmania Dec 24, 1842 Robert Wilson becomes first Archbishop of Hobart Period: Dec 24, 1845 to Dec 25, 1870 John Brady becomes Bishop of Perth. Archbishop Polding complains of injustice to Aborigines at NSW Dec 24, 1847 James Alepius Goold becomes the first Catholic bishop of Melbourne Dec 24, 1848 The Catholc Church in Australia is divided into provinces and dioceses Dec 24, 1859 James Quinn becomes Bishop of Brisbane Dec 24, 1861 Mercy Sisters arrive in Queensland Dec 24, 1866 Maey McKillop and Fr. Julian Tenison Woods found the St. Joseph Sisters Mary McKillop Dec 24, 1866 Daniel Murphy becomes the second Archbishop of Hobart Dec 24, 1868 Re-bulding of St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney Dec 24, 1868 Christian Brothers arrive in Melbourne Dec 24, 1869 Bishops' Pastoral Statement complains of injustice to Aborigines Dec 24, 1871 St. Patrick's Cathedral in Ballarat completed Dec 24, 1874 Diocese of Sandhurst and Diocese of Ballarat established Dec 24, 1906 Beginning of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart missions in the Northern Territory
