Major events within the Australian church

By Nic G

  • First official public mass

    The first official public Mass is under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priests
  • First priests arrive into Australia

    First priests arrive into Australia

    Father John Therry and Father Philip Conolly, who were Australia's first official priests, arrive in Sydney, NSW. Father Therry opens the first Catholic school in Parramatta and lobbies Governor Macquarie for land on which to build the settlement's first Catholic church
  • First catholic school built

    First catholic school built

    The first Catholic school is founded by Father Therry on Hunter Street, Parramatta

  • Penel laws end

    The penal laws that prevented Catholics holding Government positions end
  • First catholic mission to Aborigines on Stradbroke Island

    First catholic mission to Aborigines on Stradbroke Island

    Polding launches the first Catholic Mission to the Aboriginal community on Stradbroke Island, Queensland. Queensland is part of the Archdiocese which encompasses an area now covered by NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

  • First episcopal consecration

    Archbishop Polding consecrates Father Francis Murphy as Bishop of Adelaide in the first episcopal consecration to take place within Australia.

  • Second episocal consecration

    Archbishop Polding consecrates Father James Goold as the first bishop of Melbourne in the second episcopal consecration to take place at Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral.
  • State aid to religion is abolished

    State aid to religion is abolished

    The NSW Government passes a bill to get rid of State aid to religion.
  • Jesuits arrive in Sydney

    Jesuits arrive in Sydney

    Jesuits arrive in Sydney
  • Catholics must send their children to a catholic school

    Catholics must send their children to a catholic school

    NSW Catholic Bishops issue a Joint Pastoral Letter stating that Catholics need to send their children to a Catholic school unless given special dispensation by their parish priest
  • Catholic press prints first issue

    Catholic press prints first issue

    The "Catholic Press" prints and distributes its first issue of newspaper

  • Catechism inaugurated

    The Australian Catechism inaugurated
  • Mary MacKillop dies

    Mary MacKillop dies

    Mother Mary MacKillop dies

  • Formation of Australian Catholic Federation

    Formation of the Australian Catholic Federation in NSW. The inaugural meeting is held at St Mary's Cathedral
    The NSW branch of the Catholic Women's Association is founded by Esther Cannon and endorsed by Archbishop Kelly. Later it will change its name to the Catholic Women's League
  • Formation of the Catholic Teachers Federation

    Formation of the Catholic Teachers Federation

    The catholic teachers federation was formed
  • Australia's first Catholic prime minister

    Australia's first Catholic prime minister

    James Scullin becomes the first Australian Catholic prime minister

  • Death of Pope John XXIII who is later succeeded by Pope Paul VI.

    Death of Pope John XXIII. Pope Paul VI becomes the new pope
  • Pope Paul VI makes the first-ever Papal visit to Australia

    Pope Paul VI makes the first-ever Papal visit to Australia

    Pope Paul VI is the first pope to visit Australia
  • Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country

    Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country

    Australia is no longer a mission country
  • Death of Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected Pope Benedict XVI

    Death of Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected Pope Benedict XVI

    Death of Pope John Paul II. Therefore Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected to be Pope Benedict XVI