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The first group of Irish Catholic convicts arrives in the colony.
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French chaplain Abbé Mones (with La Perouse’s expedition) celebrates the first Catholic Mass at Botany Bay.
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Catholic convicts begin to meet secretly for worship because priests are still not allowed in the colony.
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Fr James Dixon, an Irish convict priest, is permitted to say Mass publicly in Sydney — the first official Catholic service.
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After the rebellion, public Catholic Masses are banned again by the government.
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Fr John Joseph Therry and Fr Philip Conolly arrive as the first officially approved Catholic priests, marking the formal beginning of the Catholic Church in Australia.
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The foundation stone of the first Catholic Church in Sydney is laid — it later becomes St Mary’s Cathedral.
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Sydney becomes an Archdiocese, and Polding becomes the first Archbishop.
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The Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Charity, and other orders begin building Catholic schools, hospitals, and orphanages across the colonies.
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The government introduces free, compulsory, and secular education, pushing Catholics to create their own school system.
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Catholic schools and parishes expand as more Irish and European immigrants arrive in Australia.
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Major reforms in the Catholic Church bring modern changes to worship and encourage greater involvement of lay people.
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Pope Benedict XVI visits Australia; World Youth Day inspires thousands of young Catholics from around the world.
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The Church continues its mission through education, healthcare, and social justice, with organisations like Caritas Australia and St Vincent de Paul supporting communities in need.