Progression of the Catholic Church in Australia By VictoriaX23 1606 Spanish naval captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros calls Vanuatu “La Australia del Spiritu Santo” – Southland of the Holy Spirit 1611 Publication of the King James Version of the Bible 1803 First public Mass said by Fr. Dixon 1821 Construction of first Catholic church at Richmond, Tasmania 1848 The Catholic Church in Australia is divided into provinces and dioceses 1861 Mercy Sisters arrive in Queensland 1865 St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney was destroyed by a fire 1866 Mary McKillop and Fr. Julian Tenison Woods found Sisters of St. Joseph 1868 Christian Brothers arrive in Melbourne 1869 Bishops’ Pastoral Statement complains of injustice to Aborigines 1871 Completion of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ballarat 1878 Arrival of the Jesuits in Sydney 1879 Marist Brothers found St. Joseph’s, Hunters Hill 1909 Death of Mary McKillop 1942 Japanese invasion of New Guinea, over 100 Catholics martyred during Japanese occupation for continuing to catechise. 1958 Arrival of Ivan Prasko, first Bishop for Ukrainian Catholics 1963 Death of Archbishop Mannix 1986 John Paul II visits Australia 2000 Opening of Corpus Christi seminary, Carlton
