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The first fleet landed
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First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay
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Catholic settlers in Parramatta petition Governor Phillip for a chaplin
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Fr James Dixon and two other priests arrested as part of the 1798 Irish Rebellion are transported to New South Wales as convicts
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First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon
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First official public Mass is held under strict Government supervision and is celebrated by prisoner priest, Fr Dixon
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Fr Jeremiah Flynn arrives to minister to convict Catholics but he does not have the official sanction of the church or state. The following year after ignoring Governor Macquarie's instructions not to carry out any of the functions of a priest, he is arrested and deported despite protests from the colony's Catholics and several Protestant leaders
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Father Conolly leaves for Hobart leaving Fr John Therry the only priest on mainland Australia
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The foundation stone of St Mary's Chapel is laid by Governor Macquarie and blessed by Fr Therry. The site is near a barren brickfield and Sydney's convict barracks on land considered undesirable and without value. Father Connolly builds the first Catholic church in Tasmania
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Fr Therry founds the first Catholic school on Hunter Street, Parramatta
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Fr Therry is misquoted in the Sydney Gazette triggering a furore among the Anglican Establishment. An outraged Governor Macquarie, now Earl of Bathurst removes Therry from his role as the colony's official chaplain.
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Penal laws preventing Catholics holding Government positions ends
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Fr Power dies
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St Mary's Chapel finally completed. Fr Therry celebrates the first Mass there. Fr William Ullalthorne arrives in Sydney to take over as the colony's first Vicar General
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Benedictine priest, John Bede Polding is consecrated (ordained as Bishop) in London and appointed Vicar Apostolic with jurisdiction over what is now the Commonwealth of Australia.
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Bishop Polding arrives in Hobart and a short time later sails for Sydney. His Vicariate covers the whole of Australia including Tasmania. The newly-completed St Mary's Chapel is consecrated as St Mary's Cathedral.