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HISTORY OF OUR ARCHDIOCESE The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney exists to serve the People of God in the city of Sydney, including the Eastern, Southern, inner-Western and South-Western and the lower-North Shore.

SIGNIFICANT PIONEERS

THE ARCHIVES

PREVIOUS BISHOPS

James Darcy Cardinal Freeman KBE was made a Knight
Commander of the British Empire in 1977.

1st Archbishop of Sydney (1842-1877) John Bede Polding Born on 18 Nov 1794, Liverpool in England in the parish of Liverpool. (Liverpool Diocese) He was educated at Benedictine Convent Woolton, and Much (now Stanbrook, near Liverpool); Downside, and attended Seminary at Downside Abbey. He was ordained on 04 Mar 1819, Old Hall College by Bishop Poynter and incardinated in the Benedictines. He was elected as Bishop on 12 May 1834 as Titular Bishop of Hiero-Caesarea. FIND OUT MORE 2nd Archbishop of Sydney (1877-1883) Roger Bede Vaughan Born on 9 Jan 1834, Courtfield in Herefordshire England in the parish of Courtfield. (Newport & Menevia Diocese) His father was John Francis Vaughan and his mother was Elizabeth Louise Rolls. He was educated at Private Boarding School, Monmouth; Tuition at home because of ill-health; Benedictine School of St Gregory Downside, and attended Seminary at Downside Abbey; Rome. He was ordained on 9 Apr 1859, St John Lateran Rome by Cardinal Patrizi VG and incardinated in the Order of St Benedict. FIND OUT MORE 3rd Archbishop of Sydney (1884-1911) Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran Patrick Francis Moran was born at Leiglinbridge, Ireland on 17 September 1830 to Patrick Moran and Alicia Cullen. After attending the Irish College, Rome from age 12, he was ordained on 19 March 1853 in Rome by Archbishop Antonio Luigi-Bussi. He served on the Staff of the Irish College, Rome as Vice-Rector from 1856. FIND OUT MORE 4th Archbishop of Sydney (1911-40) Archbishop Michael Kelly Michael Kelly was born at Waterford, Ireland, on 13 February 1850 to James Kelly and Mary Grant. He was educated at Christian Brothers’, Enniscorthy and the Classical Academy, New Ross. He received his seminary formation at St Peter’s College, Wexford and the Irish College, Rome. He was ordained on 1 November 1872 by Bishop Thomas Furlong at Enniscorthy. FIND OUT MORE 5th Archbishop of Sydney (1940-71) Sir Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy KBE Norman Thomas Gilroy was born in Sydney on 22 January 1896 to William James Gilroy and Catherine Slattery. He was educated at St Benedict's School Broadway, and Marist Brothers' College, Kogarah. Created Cardinal on 18 February 1946, the first Australian-born member of the Sacred College. Cardinal Gilroy died on 21 October 1977. FIND OUT MORE 6th Archbishop of Sydney (1971-83) James Darcy Cardinal Freeman KBE Michael Kelly was born at Waterford, Ireland, on 13 February 1850 to James Kelly and Mary Grant. He was educated at Christian Brothers’, Enniscorthy and the Classical Academy, New Ross. He received his seminary formation at St Peter’s College, Wexford and the Irish College, Rome. He was ordained on 1 November 1872 by Bishop Thomas Furlong at Enniscorthy. FIND OUT MORE 7th Archbishop of Sydney (1983-2001) Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC Edward Bede Clancy was born in Lithgow on 13 December 1923, the son of John Bede Clancy and Ellen Lucy Edwards. He was educated at Holy Camp Public School (Grenfell), St Monica's Primary School and Good Samaritan School, Richmond and Marist Brothers' College, Parramatta. FIND OUT MORE 8th Archbishop of Sydney (2001-2014) Cardinal George Pell Cardinal George Pell was born in Ballarat, on June 8th 1941, and was educated in that city at Loreto Convent and St Patrick’s College. He studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Werribee, and Propaganda Fide College, Rome, and was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Ballarat by Cardinal Agagianian in Rome, on December 16th 1966. FIND OUT MORE
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