The History of the Catholic Church in Australia

By kat1e_2002
  • 1520

    For over 40,000 years Aborigines lived in Australia

    Portuguese sailors explore some of the northern and eastern coast.

  • Spaniard

    A Spaniard, de Quiros, calls Vanuatu 'La Australia del spiritu santo' (Australia of the Holy Spirit)

  • French Sailors

    French sailors reach and describe the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Captain Cook

    Captain Cook arrives at Botany Bay.

  • First Fleet

    The First Fleet arrives at Sydney Cove. The first Anglican service is held on 3rd February, 1788. The French Catholic chaplain, pere receveur, possibly said Mass about the same time. He died there is buried at La Perouse.

  • Smallpox

    Smallpox killed half the Aborigines in the Sydney area.

  • Fathers Harold

    Fathers Harold, O'Neil and Dixon, the first convict priests arrive. Convicts include Italian, Portuguese, Austrians and Poles.

  • First Public Mass

    The First public Mass is offered by Father Dixon. The First European settlement in Tasmania. Meehan begins survey work in N.S.W.

  • Fathers Harold

    Fathers Harold, O'Neil and Dixon sent back to England. Accused of encouraging the Catholics in the Castle Hill Rebellion.

  • Fathers Jeremiah

    Fathers Jeremiah O'Flynn arrived from England, without permission. Governor Macquarie gave permission to stay as long as he did no work among the Catholics.

  • Fathers Therry

    Fathers Therry and Connolly, the first official priest, arrive. The begins the First Catholic at Parramatta.

  • Fathers Connolly

    Fathers Connolly goes to Tasmania and builds the first Catholic Church in Australia.

  • European Settlement

    European Settlement in Western Australia, the Swan River Colony

  • Father John McEncroe

    Father John McEncroe arrives. End of the English penal law against Catholic.

  • JH Plunkett

    JH Plunkett becomes solicitor general, and Roger Therry a Judge.

  • Father Ullathorne

    Father Ullathorne arrives in Sydney.

  • The Henry Brothers

    The Henry Brother begin a settlement in Victoria.

  • John Bede Polding

    John Bede Polding became Australia's first Catholic bishop.

  • Ullathorne' Book

    Ullathorne' book attacks the convict system. He celebrates the first Mass in south Australia, where settlers began arriving this year.

  • Caroline Chisholm

    Caroline Chisholm arrives in Australia. Sisters of Charity come to play Sydney and begins Australia's first non-military hospital.

  • James Scullin

    James Scullin is elected Prime Minister and choose the first Australian-born Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs.

  • The Great Depression

    The Great Depression. The beginning of Catholic Action. Catholics Stan McCabe, Bill O'Reily and Jack Finleton are in the Australian cricket team.

  • Father PJ Moloney

    Father PJ Moloney begins the palm island and Fantome island mission.

  • Eucharistic Congress

    Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne.

  • Fathers PJ Moloney

    Father PJ Moloney and Frank McGarry bein a school for Aborigines at Alice Springs.

  • Grail

    The Grail begin in Australia.

  • Second World War

    Second World War

  • The Movement

    The beginning of "The Movement"

  • Dr Woodbury

    Dr Woodbury begins the Aquinasm Academy in Sydney.

  • Post War

    Post War migration from Europe begins.

  • Bishops

    The Bishops "letter" makes all migrants feel at home.

  • Father Peyton

    Father Peyton: 'The Family that prays together stays together.

  • Christian Unity

    The week of Prayer for Christian Uity begins.

  • Labor

    The Labor Party split.

  • New Catholic schools

    Many new Catholic schools.

  • Ukrainian bishop

    Ukrainian bishop in Australia.

  • The Living Parish Hymn Book

    Publication of 'The Living Parish Hymn book'.

  • Vatican Council

    The Second Vatican Council commences.

  • School Strike

    Goulburn school strike.

  • Pope John XXII dies

    Pope John XXII dies.

  • Money given to Catholic school

    Government money is given for Australian Catholic Schools.

  • Project Compassion

    Project Compassion started. 27 per cents of teachers in Catholic Schoolmare lay people.

  • Pope Paul VI

    Pope Paul VI writes populorum progressio.

  • Humanae Vitae

    The Pope writes Humanae Vitae. A time of much change - books and plays are written about being a Catholic in Australia, by Peter Kenna.

  • First Pope visit Australia

    Paul VI becomes the first Pope to visit Australia.

  • First Aboriginal member of Parliament

    Neville Bonner becomes the first Aboriginal member of parliament.

  • World Development

    Action of World Development commences. Comtinuing immigration, especially from Lebanon and South America.

  • First Maronite bishop in Australia

    First Maronite bishop in Australia.

  • Marriage Encounter

    Marriage Encounter spread to Australia.

  • International Women's Year

    International Women's Year. First National women's conference.

  • Ron Blair's play

    Ron Blair play "The Christian Brothers". First Aboriginal priest ordained.

  • Social Justice

    Social Justice statement on women. Rome declares the Australian is no longer a mission country.

  • Outlook Magazine

    Outlook magazine commences.

  • The Fist Catholic lay

    The First Catholic lay people graduate in theology.

  • Women's movement in the Catholic Church

    Women's movement in the Catholic Church. WATAC - Women and the Australian church.

  • Pope John Paul II

    Pope John Paul II visits Australia.

  • First Melkite bishop arrives

    First Melkite bishop arrives. Women's- Church magazine begins. First 'Women's and the Church' conference.

  • Mary MacKillop

    Pope John Paul II visits Australia. Announces the beatification of Mary MacKillop.

  • Jubilee Year

    The Jubilee Year.

  • World Youth Day

    World Youth Day held in Sydney. Pop Benedict XVI visits Australia.

  • Canonisation in Rome

    Mary MacKillop canonisation in Rome.