History of the catholic church

By sarah bobbermien

  • First Catholic School

    Lay couple Mary and Michael Burke established the first catholic school founded entirely by money collected form the local catholic settlers. The school was not far from where St Stephan's Cathedral stands today. There was less than 1,000 settlers and about a quarter of them were Roman catholic.

  • First Permanent Church

    The settlement had its first permanent church. About 10 years later St Stephan's was proclaimed the Cathedral of the diocese, after separating from New South Whales to become known as the colony of Queensland.

  • James Quin arrives in Brisbane

    James Quin, five priests and six Irish sisters of Mercy arrived in Brisbane aboard the Yarra era. Bishop Quin was surprized by the poverty of a large Irish population. Mother Vincent Witty and Sisters of Mercy established the first Catholic secondary school, " All Hallows".

  • First Boys School

    St James College was the first school for boys established. It was staffed entirely by lay teachers and had religious and lay student teachers. It would be almost 100 years before a dedicating teachers training college would be established, McCauley College at the All Hallows campus.

  • New Laws

    An urge came to keep state and church separate, new laws passed to provide free compulsory catholic education for children. Also to remove state funding for all religious schools. By the end of the decade there were 35 Catholic schools established and completely funded by their community. Around this time also Mary Mackillop and sister's of St Joseph arrived in Brisbane. A couple of months later they began teaching.

  • Bernard O'shae

    Bernard O'shea was appointed as diocesan inspector, but the role changed in 1948, it became the diocesan director of catholic education. He became involved in leading us through the changes of catholic education in Brisbane.
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    New Schools

    26 new schools were opened in the fifteen years leading up to 1960. Our lady of Dolour's school opened, as well as Lourdes hill college, St Anthony's school and many more catholic schools for children.

  • Goulburn School Strike

    Government health inspector demanded three additional toilets be installed at the lady of Mercy prep school. Goldman's Bishop, John Cullinane said that there was no money, so he called a meeting with the catholic parents who voted to strike resulting in 1,000 students growing on the local state schools for enrolment. Within 12 months Catholic schools were in agreement with the government. This was the first time in 100 years that catholic schools had received government founding.

  • Mcauley college

    Mcauley College opened their doors and allowed lay teachers to begin teaching their. Catholic education had become more reliant on lay leadership and staff.

  • Arch Bishop Appointed

    Francis Robert Rush was the first Australian and Queenslander born Arch Bishop who was appointed as Arch Bishop of Brisbane on the 5th of May 1973.