Timeline for the Catholic Church in Australia By heyrome May 1, 1820 Fathers Therry and Conolly, the first offical priests arrived Jun 29, 1865 St Mary's Cathedral was burnt down Dec 8, 1868 St Mary's Catheral was re-built Jul 27, 1885 Archbishop Moran created Cardinal by Pope Leo XIII Aug 8, 1909 Death of Mary MacKillop Jul 9, 1971 James Darcy Freeman appointed Archbishop of Sydney Jan 19, 1995 John Paul II visits Australia for Beatification of Mary MacKillop Jun 25, 2000 Completion of St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney Mar 26, 2001 Cardinal George Pell appointed Archbishop of Sydney Aug 18, 2005 Pope Benedict XVI announces WYD, Sydney, '08
