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In 1788, the Europeans colonised Australia. The first catholics were aboard the first fleet. There were no priests nor religious brothers and sisters. They were not allowed to gather mass and they were struggling to keep their faith alive. -
In 1803, a convict priest named Fr James Dixon was given permission celebrate mass and the sacraments, however, this only lasted ten months. After this, the catholics once again, returned to praying within small groups and family. -
In 1817, after Fr James Dixon's 10 months of leading the masses and sacraments ended, a new priest came along. This new priest was named Fr Jeremiah O’Flynn and came to Australia to minister the catholics of Australia. He celebrated masses in the homes of catholics themselves. He was performing the masses and sacraments without government permission. 18 months passed and Fr Jeremiah O’Flynn was soon deported from Australia. -
After Fr Jeremiah O’Flynn was deported from Australia, Fr John Therry and Fr Phillip Connolly were officially appointed priests to minister the colony. They arrived in 1820. Fr John Therry blessed a foundation stone laid by Governor Macquarie. This foundation was soon to be St Mary's Cathedral. -
Bishop Bede Polding was the first Catholic Bishop in Australia. He arrived in 1835. He organized the continuously growing community into Religions. He called these groups Diseases. He created these groups so it would be easier for priests to tend to their local catholic community.
Thanks to his leadership, he was appointed Archbishop of Sydney. -
Mary MacKillop was another pioneer of the Catholic Church in early Australia who brought Catholic education to poor children in country areas by starting local Catholic schools. Mary MacKillop founded a religious order for women called the Sisters of St Joseph.