Significant periods in the Church’s history in Australia

By fairsb01

  • La Perouse enters Botany Bay and his chaplain, Abbe Mones, celebrates the first Mass within Australian territory

  • First Irish convicts transported to Botany Bay

  • The first official public mass

  • Father John Terry and Father Phillip Conolly arrive in Sydney as Australia's first priests

  • Foundation stone laid St Mary's Chapel

  • Mary Mackillop excommunicated by Bishop of Adelade because she was thought to incite her sisters to disobedience and defiance

  • Father Terry removed from his role as the colonies official chaplin

  • Father Daniel Power lands in Sydney to replace father Terry

  • St Mary's Chapel Completed

  • Archdiocese has 33 Parishes, 30 churches and 35 priests

  • NSW government passes bill to abolish state aid to religion

  • Mary Mackillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods founded the sisters of St Joseph

  • Mary Mackillop is recommunicated into the church and the sisters permitted to continue their work

  • Archbishop Polding dies age 85

  • Archdiocese now has 189 churches, of sudneys 170 000 catholics more than 25 000 are enrolled at archdiocese schools

  • Catholics become influential in Australia's labor party

  • James Scullin first Australian Catholic prime minister

  • Catholic schools are overwhelmed by the demand

  • Mass changes from latin to English

  • Pope John Paul visits Australia for the first time