Early Catholic Church
In what year did the first official Catholic priests arrive in Australia?
1820
Who was Australia’s first Catholic saint?
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Name one European migrant group that contributed to the growth and diversity of the Catholic Church after World War II.
Possible answers include Italian, Polish, Maltese or Croatian Catholics.
What is secularisation?
What does the Gospel passage of "One Body with Many Members" mean?
The passage teaches that although Catholics come from many different cultures, backgrounds and traditions, they are all united as one Body of Christ
The passage teaches that we are all one Catholic Church with many smaller churches within it including the Maronite Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Syriac Catholic Church etc.
Which two priests arrived in Australia in 1820?
Fr John Therry and Fr Philip Conolly
Who was the first Catholic Archbishop of Sydney?
John Bede Polding.
The composition of the Catholic Church in Australia changed dramatically because of European immigration during which period?
1950s and 1960s
According to recent Census trends, which religious group has been increasing the most in Australia? What was the groups percentage in the 2021 Census?
No Religion. 38.9%
Which religious order did Mary MacKillop found?
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart
The arrival of Fathers Therry and Conolly marked the beginning of regular Catholic worship and Catholic __________ in Australia.
education
Which priest helped establish Catholic parishes and regular Catholic worship in the early colony?
Fr John Therry.
Many churches in the Sydney Archdiocese offer Mass in different languages. What does this show?
It shows that Australian Catholics come from many different cultural backgrounds.
What are TWO trends shown by Census data about religion in Australia?
What are Catholics called to do in this passage
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Go and bring people to get to know Jesus and his teachings.
Spread the Word of God.
Welcome new Catholics into the faith.
Why was the arrival of official Catholic priests important for Catholics in Australia?
It allowed Catholics to attend regular Mass, receive the sacraments, practise their faith publicly and begin developing Catholic schools and parish communities.
What was one important contribution made by John Bede Polding?
Explain one way immigration has changed the Catholic Church in Australia.
Immigration introduced new languages, devotional practices, music, religious traditions and feast celebrations. It also contributed to the growth of Eastern Catholic communities.
The Australian Census shows that the number of people identifying as "No Religion" has increased over time.
One reason is increasing secularisation, where religion has become less central to many people's lives. Other acceptable responses include changing social values, greater religious diversity, or people choosing not to identify with a religion.
Why is it important for Catholics to learn about the history of the Catholic Church in Australia?
Learning about the Church's history helps Catholics understand how the Church developed, appreciate the sacrifices and contributions of key individuals and organisations, and recognise how past events continue to shape the Catholic Church in Australia today.
Explain why early Australian Catholics experienced difficulty practising their faith.
Early Catholics had limited access to priests, Mass and the sacraments. They also experienced discrimination by the British establishment who were mostly from the Church of England (Anglican).
Evaluate why Fr John Therry was important to the development of the Catholic Church in Australia.
Fr John Therry made a highly significant contribution by establishing regular Catholic worship, supporting the development of parishes and helping Catholic communities access the sacraments. His work strengthened the Church during its early years and created foundations for its future growth.
Evaluate the impact of immigration on the Catholic Church in Australia.
Immigration has had a highly significant impact because it transformed the Church from a mainly Irish Catholic community into a culturally diverse community. Migrants brought different languages, traditions and forms of worship, enriching the way Catholic faith is expressed in Australia.
What is one issues the Catholic Church is facing in Modern Day Australia and explain how the church is responding to this issue?
How has the Catholic Church in Australia remained faithful to the mission of Jesus while adapting to a changing society? Give TWO examples.
The Catholic Church has remained faithful to Jesus' mission by continuing to serve others through education, charities and social justice initiatives while adapting to changing Australian society. Examples include:
These examples demonstrate that while the Church adapts to modern challenges, it continues to live out the Gospel through service, community and evangelisation.