Easter cross

The Catholic Church in Australia

By tully.palmer
  • First Christians

    First Christians

    The first christians arrived in Australia on the first fleet

  • First public Mass

    First public mass celebrated by Fr Dixon in Sydney

  • First Official Priests Arrive

    The first offical priests, Frs Therry and Conolly, arrive

  • Construction of the First Catholic Church

    Construction of the first Catholic Church as a permenant building at Richmond, Tasmania

  • Australia's First Bishop

    Pope Gregory XVI appoints Fr Brfr Polding OSB as Australia's first Catholic bishop

  • Beginning of Representative Government

    Beginning of Representative Government in Australia Robert Wilson appointed first Bishop of Hobart

  • BIshop of Perth

    John Brady was appointed the first Bishop of Perth

  • Bishop of Melbourne

    James Alipius Goold appointed first Bishop of Melbourne

  • Catholic Church in Australia is divided

    The Catholic Church in Australia is divided into provinces and dioceses

  • First Bishop of Brisbane

    James Quinn appointed first Bishop of Brisbane

  • St Mary's Cathederal Church Destroyed

    St Mary's Cathederal Church was destroyed by fire

  • Founding of Sisters of St Joesph

    Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tension Woods founded the Sisters of St Joesph

  • Rebuilding of St Mary's Cathederal

    Rebuilding of St Mary's Cathederal, begins in Sydney

  • St Vincent de Paul

    First permanent St Vincent de Paul society established in Australia

  • Archbishop Moran

    Archbishop Moran created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII

  • St Vincent's Hospital

    St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne opened by the Sisters of Charity

  • St Patrick's Cathedral

    Consecration of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne

  • Catholic Women's League

    Establishment of the Catholic Women's League

  • International Eucharistic Congress

    The international eucharistic congress in Sydney. In the Roman Catholic church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine. Congresses bring together people from a wide area, and typically involve large open-air Masses, adoration of the Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament), and other devotional ceremonies held over several days.

  • National Eucharistic Congress

    The national eucharistic congress is held in Melbourne

  • St Patrick's Cathedral

    St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne was completed

  • Archbishop of Sydney

    Norman Thomas Gilroy appointed Archbishop of Sydney

  • Archbishop Gilroy

    Archbishop Gilroy created first Australian-born Cardinal by Pope Pixus XII

  • Arrival of Ivan Prasko

    Arrival of Ivan Prasko, the first Bishop of for Ukrainian Catholics

  • Archbishop Mannix

    Archbishop Mannix dies

  • Archbishop of Melbourne

    James Robert Knox appointed Archbishop of Melbourne

  • Pope VI visits Australia

    Paul VI visits Australia, ordains first Papuan-born Bishop

  • Archbishop of Sydney

    James Darcy Freeman appointed Archbishop of Sydney

  • Maronite Diocese

    Paul VI establishes Maronite diocese in Australia

  • Eucharistic Congress

    The International Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne

  • Archbishop of Melbourne

    Thomas Francis Little appointed Archbishop of Melbourne

  • Archbishop Freeman and Knox

    Archbishops Freeman and Knox created cardinals by Pope Paul VI

  • Archbishop of Sydney

    Edward Bede Clancy appointed Archbishop of Sydney

  • Pope John Paul II

    Pope John Paul II visits Australia

  • Melkite Diocese

    Pope John Paul II establishes Melkite Diocese in Australia

  • Archbishop Clancy

    Archbishop Clancy created Cardinal by Pope John Paul II

  • Australian Catholic University

    Foundation of the Australian Catholic University

  • Pope John Paul II

    John Paul II visits Australia for Beatification of Mary MacKillop

  • Archbishop of Melbourne

    George Pell appointed Archbishop of Melbourne

  • Adelaide Cathedral

    St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide Completed

  • St Mary's Cathedral

    Completion of St Mary's Catherdral, Sydney