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John Bede Polding Was Born
Archbishop of Sydney, born at Liverpool, 18 Oct., 1794 -
Sent to school
In 1805 he was sent to school at the Benedictine Monastery of St. Gregory at Acton Burnell near Shrewsbury -
He recieved the Benedictine habit
In 1810 he received the Benedictine habit and made his vows the year following. -
Consecration Took Place
The consecration took place in London, 29 June, 1834. -
Bishop Polding Reached Sydney
Bishop Polding reached Sydney in September, 1835, and at once set to work to organize his vast diocese. He found only three priests in New South Wales and one in Tasmania; these with the three or four Benedictine monks whom he had brought with him constituted the entire force at his disposal -
He got permission to give retreats in the prison establishments
He obtained permission to give retreats in the prison establishments, and between 1836 and 1841 no less than 7000 convicts made at least ten days' retreat under his guidance. The authorities soon realized the good effect his influence was having, and arranged that, on the arrival of every ship-load of convicts, all the Catholics should be placed at his disposal for some days, during which the bishop and his assistants saw each prisoner personally and did all they could for them before they were -
Bishop Polding revisited England
In 1841 Bishop Polding revisited England and thence went on to Rome to report on his vicariate and petition for the establishment of a hierarchy, which was granted in 1842, the vicar Apostolic becoming first Archbishop of Sydney and Primate of all Australia. -
Returned to Sydney as an Archbishop
In 1843 he returned to Sydney, taking with him a band of Christian Brothers, four Passionists, and some Benedictines. His return as archbishop aroused a violent storm among the Church of England party in the colony, but his gentleness and tact disarmed all opponents. -
Two provincal synods were held in Sydney
Two provincial synods were held, at Sydney in 1844 -
He founded the University College of St. John and the college of St. Mary
In Melbourne in 1859; he founded the University College of St. John at Sydney and the College of St. Mary, Lyndhurst. -
He started for Rome to take part in the Vatican Council
In 1870 he started for Rome to take part in the Vatican Council, but his health failed on the journey and he returned to Sydney. -
The Holy See appointed Dom Rodger Bede Vaughan
In 1873 the Holy See appointed Dom Roger Bede Vaughan, another Downside monk, as his coadjutor with right of succession, and from this time he gradually withdrew from active work. -
John Bede Polding Died
died at Sydney, 16 March, 1877.