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Archdiocese of Sydney

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Archdiocese of Sydney
Archidioecesis Sydneyensis
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Mary
Location
Country Australia
Territory South-western Sydney, Canterbury-Bankstown, Inner West, most of Sydney's northern suburbs, lower north shore, eastern suburbs, St George, Sutherland, and the northern part of the Macarthur region
Norfolk Island
Ecclesiastical province Sydney
Deaneries 9
Subdivisions 3
Statistics
Area 1,264 km2 (488 sq mi)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2020)
2,760,900
667,900 ( 24.2%)
Parishes 129
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established 1834: Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land;
5 April 1842: Diocese of Sydney;
22 April 1842: Archdiocese of Sydney
Cathedral Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians
Patron saint Our Lady Help of Christians
Secular priests 250
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Metropolitan Archbishop Anthony Fisher
OP
Auxiliary Bishops Richard Umbers
Anthony Percy
Vicar General Gerald Gleeson
Episcopal Vicars Richard Umbers
Paul Monkerud
Kelvin Lovegrove
Michael McLean
Roland Maurer
Judicial Vicar Julian Wellspring
Bishops emeritus Terence Brady
Map
Website
Official website of the Archdiocese

The Archdiocese of Sydney (Latin: Archidioecesis Sydneyensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church. Its episcopal see is Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Erected in 1842, the archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the suffragan dioceses of Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore, Maitland-Newcastle, Parramatta, Wagga Wagga, Wilcannia-Forbes and Wollongong. The Military Ordinariate of Australia, as well as the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of St Michael, Archangel and the Maronite Diocese of St Maroun—these latter two Eastern Catholic—are also associated with the archdiocese.

St Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. The current archbishop is Anthony Fisher.

The Archdiocese of Sydney is involved in many different agencies within Sydney to provide services, care and support to people in need, including aged care; education; health care; prayer, worship and liturgy; solidarity and justice; vocations and seminary; youth and young adults ministry.[1]

History

Fr James Dixon, a convict priest, ministered in Sydney from 1803 to 1809 with the title Prefect Apostolic of New Holland. In 1819, two priests were officially authorised by the British government to minister to the Catholics of the Australian colony. Until 1834, the territory of the entire Australian mainland (including what is now the Archdiocese of Sydney) and the island of Tasmania was a distant outpost of the Vicariate Apostolic of Mauritius.

On 12 May 1834, the Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land was created and Father John Bede Polding, an English Benedictine, was appointed vicar apostolic with jurisdiction over what is now the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Diocese of Sydney (Dioecesis Sydneyensis) was created on 28 February 1842 with Bishop Polding as its diocesan bishop. On 5 April 1842 the Apostolic Vicariate of Adelaide and the Vicariate Apostolic of Hobart were erected, on territory split from the Diocese of Sydney. On 22 April 1842, the Apostolic Vicariate of Adelaide was promoted as the Diocese of Adelaide and the Vicariate Apostolic of Hobart became the Diocese of Hobart. The Diocese of Sydney was elevated to an archdiocese and a metropolitan see, with Hobart and Adelaide as suffragans. At that time, the Archdiocese of Sydney included the whole of the eastern portion of the continent, comprising what are now known as the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

In 1848 the Diocese of Melbourne was created out of territory of the then Sydney archdiocese. In 1859, the Diocese of Brisbane was established, with responsibility for the entire state of Queensland.

At present, the Archbishop of Sydney is metropolitan of all the dioceses of New South Wales, with the exception of portions of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, which are geographically situated outside the Australian Capital Territory. The suffragan dioceses are: Maitland (1847), Armidale (1862), Bathurst (1865), Lismore (1887), Wilcannia-Forbes (1887), Wagga Wagga (1917), Wollongong (1951), Parramatta (1986) and Broken Bay (1986).[2]

The Archdiocese of Sydney is also responsible for Catholics on Norfolk Island. The island's sole parish, Sacred Heart, was established in 1959 and is based at St Philip Howard Church, Kingston. The island's last parish priest departed in 1987, although the Archbishop of Sydney and his representatives make regular visits.[3]

Cathedral

The "Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary" is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia.

St Mary's holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI in 1930.

St Mary's is the largest church in Australia, though not the highest. It is located on College Street in the heart of the City of Sydney where, despite the high rise development of the Sydney central business district, its imposing structure and twin spires make it a landmark from every direction. In 2008, St Mary's Cathedral became the focus of World Youth Day 2008 and was visited by Pope Benedict XVI.

A foundation stone for the cathedral was laid in 1821 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and completed in 1851. When this cathedral was destroyed by fire in June 1865, plans were put in place for the construction of the current cathedral. Constructed in the Geometric Decorated Gothic Revival style based on the designs of William Wardell, a foundation stone for the current cathedral was laid in 1868, with a dedication Mass held in 1882. Further construction of the nave commenced in 1913 and was dedicated in 1928. The richly decorated crypt was completed in 1961 and the most recent additions, two pinnacled spires, were commenced in 2000 and completed in advance of World Youth Day 2008.

St Mary's Cathedral College, located adjacent to the cathedral, was founded in 1824 and is a secondary day school that caters for approximately 850 boys and girls from Years 5 to 12. It was administered by the Congregation of Christian Brothers from 1910 until 2016.

St Mary's Cathedral Choir, the oldest musical institution in Australia, is formed of approximately 40 choristers and sings at High Mass every Sunday and on special holy days.[4]

Bishops

Ordinaries

The following individuals have been elected as Archbishop of Sydney, with a number elected as cardinals, as well as receiving civilian honours. Their highest title is shown here:[2]

Order Name Title Date installed Ministry ended Term of office Reason for term end
1 John Bede Polding, OSB Vicar Apostolic of New Holland and Van Diemen's Land 3 July 1832 5 April 1842 9 years, 276 days days Elevated to Bishop of Sydney
Bishop of Sydney 5 April 1842 22 April 1842 17 days Elevated to Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop of Sydney 22 April 1842 16 March 1877 34 years, 328 days Died in office
2 Roger Bede Vaughan, OSB Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney 28 February 1873 16 March 1877 4 years, 16 days Elevated to Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop of Sydney 16 March 1877 17 August 1883 6 years, 154 days Died in office
3 Patrick Cardinal Moran Archbishop of Sydney 14 March 1884 17 August 1911 27 years, 156 days Died in office
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Susanna 27 July 1885 26 years, 21 days
4 Michael Kelly Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney 16 July 1901 17 August 1911 10 years, 32 days Elevated to Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop of Sydney 17 August 1911 8 March 1940 28 years, 204 days Died in office
5 Sir Norman Cardinal Gilroy, KBE Coadjutor Archbishop of Sydney 1 July 1937 8 March 1940 2 years, 251 days Elevated to Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop of Sydney 8 March 1940 9 July 1971 31 years, 123 days Retired as Archbishop Emeritus of Sydney
Cardinal-Priest of Santi Quattro Coronati 18 February 1946 21 October 1977 31 years, 245 days Died in office
6 Sir James Cardinal Freeman, KBE Archbishop of Sydney 9 July 1971 12 February 1983 11 years, 218 days Retired as Archbishop Emeritus of Sydney
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Regina Pacis in Ostia mare 5 March 1973 16 March 1991 18 years, 11 days Died in office
7 Edward Cardinal Clancy, AC Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney 25 October 1973 24 Nov 1978 3 years, 30 days Elevated to Archbishop of Canberra (and Goulburn)
Archbishop of Sydney 12 February 1983 26 March 2001 18 years, 42 days Retired as Archbishop Emeritus of Sydney
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria in Vallicella 28 June 1988 3 August 2014 26 years, 36 days Died in office
8 George Cardinal Pell, AC Archbishop of Sydney 26 March 2001 24 February 2014 12 years, 335 days Named Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Domenica Mazzarello 21 October 2003 10 January 2023 19 years, 81 days Died in office
9 Anthony Fisher, OP Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney 3 September 2003 4 March 2010 6 years, 182 days Named Bishop of Parramatta
Bishop of Parramatta 4 March 2010 12 November 2014 4 years, 253 days Installed as Archbishop of Sydney
Archbishop of Sydney 12 November 2014 present 11 years, 296 days

Coadjutors are included in the table above. In addition:

  • Richard Placid Burchall, O.S.B. was appointed Coadjutor Bishop on 9 July 1847 but the appointment did not take effect.
  • Michael Sheehan was Coadjutor Archbishop, 22 February 1922 to 1 July 1937, and then resigned from such.

Auxiliary bishops

  • Samuel John Augustine Sheehy, O.S.B. (1866–1868), did not take effect
  • Joseph Hoare (1888), did not take effect
  • Joseph Higgins (1888–1899), appointed Bishop of Rockhampton
  • Eris Norman Michael O'Brien (1948–1953), appointed Archbishop of Canberra (and Goulburn)
  • Patrick Francis Lyons (1950–1956), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Sale
  • James Patrick Carroll (1954–1984)
  • James Darcy Freeman (1956–1968), appointed Bishop of Armidale (later returned here as Archbishop); future Cardinal
  • Thomas William Muldoon (1960–1982)
  • Edward Francis Kelly, M.S.C. (1969–1975), appointed Bishop of Toowoomba
  • Edward Bede Clancy (1973–1978), appointed Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, then appointed Archbishop of Sydney; future Cardinal
  • David Cremin (1973–2005)
  • Patrick Laurence Murphy (1976–1986), appointed Bishop of Broken Bay
  • Bede Vincent Heather (1979–1986), appointed Bishop of Parramatta
  • John Edward Heaps (1981–1992)
  • Geoffrey James Robinson (1984–2004)
  • Peter William Ingham (1993–2001), appointed Bishop of Wollongong, Retired
  • Anthony Colin Joseph Fisher, O.P. (2003–2010), appointed Bishop of Parramatta, now appointed Archbishop of Sydney
  • Julian Charles Porteous (2003–2013), appointed Archbishop of Hobart
  • Terence John Gerard Brady (2007–2022), appointed Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sydney
  • Peter Andrew Comensoli (2011–2014), appointed Bishop of Broken Bay, now appointed Archbishop of Melbourne
  • Richard James Umbers (2016–current)
  • Anthony Randazzo (2016–2019), appointed Bishop of Broken Bay
  • Daniel Meagher (2021–2026), appointed Bishop of Rockhampton
  • Anthony Percy (2025–current)

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

  • John Dunne (priest here, 1870–1871), appointed Bishop of Wilcannia in 1887
  • William Hayden, appointed Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes in 1918
  • William Barry, appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Hobart in 1919
  • James Whyte, appointed Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand in 1920
  • Justin Daniel Simonds, appointed Archbishop of Hobart in 1937
  • John Thomas Toohey, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Maitland in 1948
  • John Neil Cullinane, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra (and Goulburn) in 1959
  • Henry Joseph Kennedy, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane in 1967
  • William Edward Murray, appointed Bishop of Wollongong in 1975
  • Patrick Dougherty, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra (and Goulburn) in 1976
  • Geoffrey Francis Mayne, appointed Bishop of Australia, Military in 1985
  • Michael John Malone, appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Maitland in 1994
  • Barry Francis Collins, appointed Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes in 1994
  • David Louis Walker, appointed Bishop of Broken Bay in 1996
  • Christopher Henry Toohey, appointed Bishop of Wilcannia–Forbes in 2001
  • William Joseph Wright, appointed Bishop of Maitland–Newcastle in 2011
  • Robert Michael McGuckin, appointed Bishop of Toowoomba in 2012

Other information

There are around 577,000 Catholics in the archdiocese, with a total population of 2,085,000. The Catholic population is 27.7% of the total. There are 139 parishes, in the pastoral care of around 246 diocesan priests. There are some 480 priests in total, including religious priests, working within the archdiocese, including those on lesser duties and retired priests. There are 1,238 religious sisters and 275 religious brothers and five permanent deacons.

While Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Clancy established the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in the Sydney suburb of Homebush in 1996. It serves men who are in formation for diocesan priesthood for the Archdiocese of Sydney and a number of dioceses from the province of New South Wales and beyond. The Seminary of the Good Shepherd replaced St Patrick's College, Manly.[5]

Part of the Archdiocese of Sydney's initiatives for young adults is the social networking site Xt3. Standing for 'Christ in the Third Millennium', Xt3 is a content-driven social networking site launched at World Youth Day 2008, held in Sydney.[6][7]

Controversy

The Catholic sexual abuse scandal in Australia is part of the wider Catholic sexual abuse scandal which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders.[8]

Across the Archdiocese of Sydney, in 2007, Ross Murrin, 52, a former Sydney Catholic school teacher and Marist brother, accused of indecently assaulting eight male Year 5 students at a Daceyville school in south-east Sydney in 1974, pleaded guilty to some of the 21 charges.[9]

Pope Benedict's statement

On 19 July 2008, before a congregation of 3,400 assembled in St Mary's Cathedral, Pope Benedict XVI lamented that child sex abuse had taken place and the pain it caused. He also condemned those responsible for it and demanded punishment for them. However, he did not state or imply that the institutional church, or any of its leaders, accepted any responsibility for what had taken place. His statement reads:[10]

"Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured and I assure them that, as their pastor, I too share in their suffering.... Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. I ask all of you to support and assist your bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people."

On 21 July 2008, before flying out of Australia, Pope Benedict met at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, with two male and two female victims of sex abuse by priests. He listened to their stories and celebrated Mass with them.[11] The Premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, said that "Hopefully it will be a sign of righting the wrongs of the past and of a better future and better treatment by the church of the victims and their families."[12][13] Mark Fabbro, a victim of abuse and member of the Catholic Abuse Survivors Collective, said that while he was "happy to receive the apology, we still consider it indirect and insufficient". Chris MacIsaac of the victims' rights advocacy group Broken Rites said the Pope had taken his apology further than his previous comments on the issue as he has "never put it quite so strongly before", but expressed disappointment that the Pope had not made his apology directly to sexual abuse victims. One Australian victim of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest has stated in the media: Dealing with the church itself was a hell of a lot more traumatic than dealing with the abuse.[14]

See also

  • Roman Catholicism in Australia

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is a metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[15]

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Archdiocese of Sydney (Sydneyensis). The vast territories formerly known as New Holland and Van Dieman's Island and since 1900 as The Commonwealth of Australia were erected to the Vicariate Apostolic of New Holland in 1834. John Bede Polding (q. v.), a Benedictine, was vicar Apostolic. He was consecrated bishop in London on 29 June, 1834. Dr. Polding visited Rome in 1841-2, and at his suggestion new sees were erected in Hobart and Adelaide. A few years later Melbourne and Brisbane were also detached from the archdiocese. In New South Wales dioceses were erected at Maitland, Goulburn, Bathurst, Armidale, Lismore, and Wilcannia; these form at present the suffragan sees of Sydney, which was erected into an archdiocese on 15 February, 1842. The archdiocese stretches along the Pacific coast from the Red Head on the north to Cape Howe on the south, and inland to the Dividing Range. When Dr. Polding landed at Sydney there were only four priests in the district; Father Ullathorne, an English Benedictine, who had come to Australia in 1833, was vicar general, assisted by Fathers Therry, McEnroe, and Dowling, three Irish priests, the last-named a Dominican. The official census of 1833 gave the population of the colony as 60, 794, the Protestants of all denominations being 43,095, and the Catholics 17, 283. The government allowance in the same year for the maintenance of the Catholic Church was $4000, whereas the Church of England, exclusive of its rich land endowments, was assigned the sum of $95,355. There were ten Catholic schools receiving about $2000 from the Government, whilst the Protestant schools were allowed $28,680, in addition to a grant of $16,500 for the building of the Protestant King's School at Parramatta. In 1836, Dr. Ullathorne sailed for England and Ireland to secure priests and nuns for the increasing demands of the diocese. He availed himself of this opportunity to publish a pamphlet setting forth the sad condition of the convicts, and the maladministration of affairs in official quarters. Seventy-five thousand copies of this pamphlet were circulated in England and throughout the Continent, and its effect was seen in the altered conditions of administration soon after introduced. His mission was successful, and in 1841 Dr. Polding was enabled to report to Propaganda that the diocese had 24 priests, a community of nuns, 9 churches completed and 6 others in the course of erection, with several small chapels and 31 schools.

During a visit to Rome in 1846-47, Dr. Polding secured the appointment of Dr. Davis, O. S. B., titular bishop of Maitland, as his co-adjutor bishop. He, however, died in Sydney in 1854. In 1873, Archbishop Roger Bede Vaughan was appointed co-adjutor, and he succeeded Dr. Polding on 16 March, 1877. He was remarkable for his eloquence, and upheld with great vigour the Catholic cause in the matter of religious education. On 19 April, 1883, he sailed for England via San Francisco, but died two days after his arrival in Liverpool (18 August). Patrick Francis Moran (see below), Bishop of Ossory, Ireland, was appointed to the vacant see, his Brief dated 21 March, 1884. Dr. Higgins was appointed auxiliary bishop in 1888, and in 1899 was translated to the see of Rockhampton in Queensland. Most Rev. Michael Kelly, titular archbishop of Acrida, was appointed co-adjutor in 1901. The cathedral under the invocation of Our Lady Help of Christians, begun as far back as 1820 by Father Therry and completed by Archbishop Polding, was destroyed by fire on 29 June, 1865. It was rebuilt according to plans by Wardell, and consecrated by Archbishop Vaughan on 8 September, 1882. Archbishop Moran landed at Sydney on 8 September, 1884. The following year he was summoned to Rome to be promoted to the cardinalate. He convened at presided at three plenary synods (1885, 1895, 1905), and also presided at the Catholic congresses held in 1900, 1904, and 1909. Conferences of the clergy and diocesan synods have been held every year. St. Patrick's Ecclesiastical College, for the secular clergy, was erected at Manly on a government grant of eighty acres; the foundations were blessed during the plenary synod of 1885, and dedicated in 1888. It was built and fully equipped at the sole expense of Cardinal Moran, who wished it to be his gift to the Australian Church, as it was intended not for Sydney alone but for all the Australian dioceses. It has in the present year (1911), eighty students, all Australians, and has since its opening furnished one hundred and thirty priests to the Australian mission. A preparatory ecclesiastical college at Springwood, in the Blue mountains, was opened last year. It is erected on a site of six hundred acres, the purchase of the land and the erection of the building being a further gift of the cardinal to the diocese. There are two Catholic weekly papers, "The Catholic Press" and "The Freeman's Journal"; there is also a quarterly "Australasian Catholic Record", besides, some minor month;ly publications. The Catholic Club, organized in 1810, has a considerable enrollment.

When the Dr. Polding was appointed vicar Apostolic, several English Benedictines volunteered for the Australian Mission. Some years later, at Dr. Polding's petition, St. Mary's was declared a Benedictine cathedral, the adjoining rectory was raised to the dignity of a Benedictine priory, and it was hoped by the archbishop that the whole diocese would be efficiently served by an Anglo-Australian Benedictine community. This, however, was soon found to be impracticable. From the first many difficulties beset the Benedictine order in Sydney. The community was finally dissolved by Archbishop Vaughan, himself a Benedictine, and missions were assigned to the priests in the ranks of the secular clergy. The religious orders of men are at present represented by the Marist Fathers, who entered on their missionary work in 1837, the Jesuits, Franciscans, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Vincencians, Passionists, Missionaries of the Divine Word, and Capuchins. In 1883 the members of the religious orders numbered 41; at present they are 79. The Irish Congregation of the Sisters of Charity was the first of the orders of nuns to arrive (1 January, 1839) in Australia. For some years their special care was devoted to the female convicts. Later they engaged in the work of education, took charge of St. Vincent's Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in Australia, and visited the prisons. The congregation now numbers in Australia 320 nuns (in Sydney 235). The Benedictine Nuns arrived in Australia in 1849, and at their monastery of Subiaco devote themselves to the higher branches of education. The Good Samaritans, a purely Australia order instituted in Sydney in 1857, are spread through other diocese and number in Sydney 220. The Sisters of St. Joseph are also an Australian institute spread through several diocese, numbering in Sydney 255. Other religious orders of nuns are the Sisters of Mercy, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Poor Claires, Carmelites, Nursing Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, Little Sisters of the Poor, Sisters of St. Brigid, Dominican Nuns, Institute of the Blessed Virgin of Loretto, Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and Marists. At the close of Archbishop Vaughan's episcopate, the number of nuns in the diocese was 252; at present (1911) they number 1400. St. John's College is associated with the Sydney University. The Jesuits have the flourishing College of St. Ignatius at Riverview, and the High School of St. Aloysius at Milson's point. The Marist Brothers have a novitiate besides the College of St. Joseph, the High School at Darlinghurst, and several parochial schools. The Christian Brothers from Ireland were the first teaching religious order to come to Australia. Three brothers accompanied Dr. Polding to Sydney in 1843, and within a few months they had three schools; sufficient means for their support were lacking and they returned to Ireland in 1844. They returned to Sydney in 1877, and now have a novitiate, two flourishing high schools, and eight parochial schools. The Patrician Brothers have also a flourishing college and some parochial schools. The total number of teaching Brothers at the close of Dr. Vaughan's episcopate was 78; they now number 220.

In 1883 there were 10,936 children in the schools of the diocese; there are at present 25,000. Official returns published last year (1910) in connection with the cardinal's silver jubilee set forth that during those twenty-five years of his administration 160 churches had been erected or enlarged and about as many schools; 45 presbyteries had been provided, and 34 new parochial districts organized. In 1855 there was only one Catholic orphanage and that was maintained by the Government. In 1888 the Government aid was withdrawn and the orphanage suppressed. Since then 9 orphanages have been established and 2 Catholic industrial schools. In 1885, there was only one Catholic hospital, St. Vincent's; it has since been considerably enlarged, and five other hospitals have been built. A Home for the Aged Poor has also been established, and several other charitable institutions.

In 1911 the Archdiocese of Sydney contained: 175,000 Catholics; churches, 189; districts, 75; priests, secular, 120, regular, 79; religious men, 220, women, 1374; seminaries, 3; colleges, 7; boarding schools (girls) 25; superior days schools (boys), 4; (girls), 47; primary schools, 250; poor schools, (2); night schools (girls), 2; (boys), 1; orphanages, 7; industrial schools, 3; total number of pupils in Catholic schools, 25,000; hospitals, 8; Hospice for the Dying, 1; Foundling Hospital, 1; Home for the Aged Poor, 1; Home of the Blind, 1; Magdalen Retreats, 2; Servants' Home, 1; Home for Mental Invalids, 1; St. Charles' Villa for Aged and Infirm Priests, 1.

Francis Patrick Cardinal Moran

Third Archbishop of Sydney, b. at Leighlinbridge, Ireland, 16 Sept., 1830; d, at Manly, Sydney, 16 Aug., 1911. He was the only son of Patrick Moran and Alice Cullen, sister of Cardinal Cullen. Of his three sisters, two became nuns, one of them offered her life to God in care of cholera patients whom she nursed, and died the last victim of the plague in Ireland. Both his parents died before his eleventh year. He left Ireland in 1842 to pursue his studies in Rome. His "Acta Publica" in universal theology was so masterful as to gain for him the doctorate by acclamation. Among the principal objectors was Cardinal Joachim Pecci, afterwards Leo XIII, who was impressed by the genius of his Irish student. He was appointed vice-rector at the Irish College, and also filled the chair of Hebrew at Propaganda, and was some time vice-rector of the Scotts College. In 1886 he was appointed secretary to Cardinal Cullen, and professor of Scripture at Clonliffe College. He founded the "Irish Ecclesiastical Record". In 1869 he accompanied Cardinal Cullen to the Vatican Council, and was appointed procurator for one of the absent bishops.

Selected as co-adjutor Bishop of Ossory, he was consecrated Bishop of Olba. The diocese was distracted by dissension between the infirm bishop, Dr. Walsh, and some of his priests and people. Dr. Moran ruled with a firm yet benign hand, and his episcopate was fruitful of much spiritual and temporal advancement in the diocese. He established many religious institutions. At Callan was founded the Convent of St. Brigid's Apostolic school, which has blessed with the missionary spirit so many distant lands. He introduced the Sisters of Mercy also into the Irish workhouses, and transformed those dens of misery into homes for the indigent and poor. He established industrial schools for boys and girls under the guidance of the Sisters of Charity, and was the pioneer in that grand network of child industrial training which has since become the pride of Ireland. He completed the Chancel of and adorned the Killkenny Cathedral, added a new wing to St. Kiernan's College, and founded the public library and archæological society. He always defended the rights of people and championed Home Rule. He knew Ireland and loved her deeply. He was consulted by W. E. Gladstone prior to the introduction of his Home Rule Bills, and his knowledge of commercial, industrial, and economic conditions was a source of wonder to the prime minister, who ever afterwards cherished for him a profound respect and affection. His great diplomatic skill secured for him the confidence of the Irish hierarchy, and he represented then in many of their most delicate negotiations with the Holy See. Thought the Benjamin of the episcopate, he was selected as one of the secretaries to the first national synod of Maynooth. The Brief of Dr. Moran's translation to Sydney was issued 21 March, 1884. In the archbishop's farewell audience with Leo XIII, it was evident that the intrigues of parties, the interference of government agencies, and the influence of high ecclesiastics had made the matter almost impossible of decision by Propaganda. In the presence of others the Holy Father said clearly: "We took the selection into our own hands. You are Our personal appointment." In his first outward journey he drew up that spiritual program which gave such a colouring to his after life. "I must esteem nothing save the service of the Redeemer, everything else is besides my mission; Ich dien [I serve] in its highest meaning must be my motto.... To do the will of my Divine Master must be my life, my light, my love, my all."

In 1886 he travelled 2500 miles over land and sea, and visited all the dioceses of New Zealand. In the following year he traversed 6000 miles to consecrate Dr. Gibney at Perth. In subsequent years he went to Ballarat, Bathurst, Bendigo, Hobart, Goldburn, Lismore, Melbourne, and Rockhampton for the consecration of their respective cathedrals. In 1908 he revisited and dedicated the cathedral of Auckland, and in the last year of his life he again covered 6000 miles to consecrate Dr. Clune Bishop of Perth. He consecrated fourteen bishops, ordained nearly five hundred priests, dedicated more than five thousand churches, and professed more than five thousand nuns. The thirty-two charities which he founded in the city of Sydney remain as the crowning achievement of his life. As a statesman he forecasted the necessity of Australian federation, an Australian navy, and an Australian citizen soldiery. By sheer force of character he pressed these questions on the public mind, and lived long enough to see a Federal Labour Ministry remodelling the class legislation of past centuries and equitably evolving the rights of the working classes, the first unit of an Australian navy patrolling Australian waters, and the first 100,000 Australian youths called into disciplinary camps. Rt. Rev. Dr. Hoare, Bishop of Ardagh, was first named to assist Cardinal Moran in the administration of the Archdiocese. He was unable to leave Ireland, and Rt. Rev. Dr. Higgins was appointed auxiliary bishop, March, 1889. He was transferred to the see of Rockhampton on 4 May, 1899, and now occupies the see of Ballarat. On 20 July, 1901, Dr. Kelly, director of the Irish College, was appointed auxiliary, cum jure successionis, and succeeded the cardinal at his death. A quarter of a million people witnessed the funeral procession through the heart of the city of Sydney. By permission of the State Government and of the municipal authorities he was interred with the pioneer priests in his beloved St. Mary's Cathedral.

Among his works may be named: "Monasticon Hibernicon"; "Spicilegium Ossoriense"; "Memoir of Oliver Plunkett"; "Persecutions of Irish Catholics"; "Lives of the Archbishops of Dublin"; "Life of David Roth"; essays in "Dublin Review"; "Irish Saints in Great Britain"; "Birthplace of St. Patrick"; "St. Bartholomew's Massacre"; "Father Mathew"; "Our Primates"; "Civilisation of Ireland"; "Church and Social Progress"; "Acta Sancti Brendæ"; "History of the Catholic Church in Australasia"; "Reunion of Christendom"; "Capital and Labour"; "Mission Field in the Nineteenth Century"; "Patron Saints of Ireland: Patrick, Brigid, and Columbkille"; "Lives of Sts. Canice and Carthage"; "Mission of the Catholic Church"; "Divine Credentials of the Church"; "Discourses on Cardinals Newman and Manning"; "The Anglican Reformation"; "Rights and Duties of Labour"; "Blessed Thomas Moore"; "Catholics and Irishmen"; "Catholic Democracy"; "The Thirteenth Century"; "Infallible Authority of the Church"; "Perpetuity of the Church"; "The Apostolate of St. Patrick"; "Australian Federation"; "Heritage of Blessings in the Catholic Church"; "Christopher Columbus"; "Fruits of Redemption"; "Discovery of Australia" etc., "The Beginnings of the Catholic Church in the United States". from unpublished documents.

References

  1. Back to citation "Our Works and Ministries". Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 "Archdiocese of Sydney". The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  3. Back to citation "Changing times at Norfolk Island, Sydney's most distant parish". Catholic Weekly. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  4. Back to citation "TV talent shows have nothing on the St Mary's Cathedral Choir when it comes to uncovering our young singing stars". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
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33°52′16″S 151°12′47″E / 33.8711°S 151.2130°E

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