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The Start of Catholics in Australia
The Europeans arrived in Australia in 1788 and that is where our story about the Catholic Church in Australia. -
The First Priest
The first priest to have permission to become a priest in Australia was Father James Dixon. He had permission from the governor to do mass and become a priest. But that didn't last long, it only lasted for 10 months. -
Father Jeremiah O'Flynn
Father Jeremiah O'Flynn came to Australia to minister to Catholics in Australia. He celebrated Mass in homes of Catholic families. Fr O'Flynn did this without permission from the Government. He was deported after eighteen months but left the Blessed Sacrament in home of a Sydney Catholic Family. -
The Next Legal Priests
After Fr James Dixon left there was no legal Mass until Father John Joseph Therry and Phillip Connolly came. They were appointed by the Government of London but they did not arrive till 1820. -
The First Bishop
The first Catholic Bishop in Australia was John Bede Polding. Polding's dream was to establish a Church founded on monastic ideals. -
Community's Help
As the colony grew, some Catholics recognised the many needs in the colony and worked to continue the mission of Jesus. They worked in hospitals, visited the prisoners, cared for orphans, cared for the poor and started Catholic schools. One of these people were Charline Chisholm. -
Mary MacKillop
Another person that helped people a lot was Mary MacKillop who brought Catholic education to poor children in the country areas by starting local Catholic Schools.
