The first official public Mass is held under strict supervision from the government.
Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly, Australia’s first official priests, arrive in Sydney where Therry opens the first Catholic School in Parramatta.
Penal laws preventing Catholics holding Government positions are ended.
Bishop Polding takes control of schools and has 13 primary schools in operation.
Transportation of convicts to NSW is suspended.
Archbishop Polding consecrates Fr Francis Murphy as Bishop of Adelaide.
The Sisters of Charity establish St Vincent’s Hospital in the centre of Sydney offering their services to all for free.
The NSW Government passes a bill to abolish State aid to religion.
Mary Mackillop becomes the first Sister and Mother Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph.
Archbishop Polding died at age 85 in Sacred Heart Presbytery, Sydney.
First St Vincent de Paul Society established in Sydney.
St Mary’s Cathedral is dedicated at a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Vaughan.
St Patrick’s Seminary College opens in Manly.
Mary Mackillop died at the age of 67.
WWI was declared and Catholics became influential in the Australian Labor Party.
James Scullin becomes the first Catholic Australian Prime Minister.
Sydney Catholic owned commercial radio station 2SM begins operating.
Catholic Weekly prints its first issue.
Foundation of the Catholic Immigration Office to welcome and assist new immigrants.
Caritas is established to respond to poverty, hunger and disasters and sponsoring long term education, development and self reliance among people in need.
Pope Paul VI makes the first-ever Papal visit to Australia.
Rome declares that Australia is no longer a mission country.
First Catholic lay people graduate in theology.
Foundation of Notre Dame University and the Australian Catholic University
Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84. Joseph Ratzinger is elected as Pope in his place.
The Archdiocese of Sydney hosts World Youth Day 2008 (WYD08)