| 1820s |
Fr
Therry visits Hunter on many occasions to minister to
scattered Catholics. 1828 census shows just over 1,000
Catholics in Hunter and Port Stephens area. |
| 1830 |
St
Joseph’s East Maitland built - first church north
of Sydney. |
| 1836 |
First
permanent resident priest takes up ministry at East Maitland. |
| 1847 |
Diocese of Maitland established as an Episcopal See as Suffragan to the Archbishop of Sydney, consisting initially of towns of East and West Maitland only. |
| 1848 |
The first bishop, Charles Henry Davis OSB consecrated and is granted special leave by the Holy See not to reside in his Diocese, acting as coadjutor-bishop in Sydney. |
| 1854 |
Bishop Davis died prematurely, without having taken possession of his See. |
| 1864 |
Foundation
of first Convent (Sisters of the Good Samaritan) in Maitland
Diocese (in Maitland). |
| 1865 |
Consecration
of Right Rev Dr James Murray as Bishop of Maitland. |
| 1866 |
Diocese
of Maitland established. Area bounded by Coonamble, Gunnedah
and Tamworth to west and Redhead to Camden Haven on the
Coast. |
| 1867 |
Foundation
of the Dominican Nuns in West Maitland and Australia.
Good Samaritan Sisters return to Sydney. |
| 1875 |
Foundation
of the Sisters of Mercy at Singleton. |
| 1882 |
Foundation
of Redemptorist Fathers at Singleton. |
| 1883 |
Foundation
of Brigidine Sisters at Coonamble (then in the diocese). |
| 1883 |
Government
aid to Catholic schools removed. Diocesan control and
inspection begins. |
| 1883 |
Foundation
of the Sisters of St Joseph at Lochinvar (Black Josephites). |
|
Foundation
of the Patrician Brothers at St John the Baptist Boys Primary School, Victoria St Maitland. Commenced at Sacred Heart College, Campbell’s
Hill in January 1884. Left the diocese December 1888. |
| 1887 |
Diocese
was reduced (losing area west of range) to area from Redhead
and Camden Haven on the coast west to Wallar, Cassilis
and Murrurundi to the west. |
| 1890 |
Diocese
comprised 15 districts, 47 churches, 29 secular priests,
7 religious priests, 7 religious brothers, 144 religious
sisters, 30 primary schools and 11 superior (high) schools
or colleges. 3,138 children were in Catholic schools and
the total Catholic population was about 22,000. |
| 1897 |
Bishop
Patrick Vincent Dwyer consecrated as Coadjutor Bishop
of Maitland. |
| 1898 |
Foundation
of the Marist Brothers at Sacred Heart College Campbell’s
Hill. |
| 1909 |
Death
of Bishop James Murray. |
| 1922 |
Diocese
comprised 26 districts, 87 churches, 55 secular priests,
7 religious priests, 440 religious sisters, 50 primary
schools, 6,289 children in Catholic schools with a total
Catholic population of about 38,000. |
| 1929 |
Consecration
of Bishop Edmund Gleeson as Coadjutor Bishop of Maitland. |
| 1931 |
Death
of Bishop Patrick Vincent Dwyer. |
| 1933 |
Diocese
loses its Cathedral with transfer to St John’s Pro-Cathedral
and conversion of St John’s Cathedral to parish hall. |
| 1933 |
Foundation
of Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Mayfield. |
| 1935 |
Mater
Hospital (Sisters of Mercy) blessed and opened. |
| 1947 |
Foundation
stone for St Joseph’s Home Sandgate. |
| 1948 |
Bishop
John Toohey consecrated as Coadjutor Bishop of Maitland. |
| 1948 |
Hospitaller
Brothers of St John of God establish first facility in
Australia at Morisset. |
| 1956 |
Death
of Bishop Edmund Gleeson. Diocese comprised 39 parishes,
80 priests, 45,000 Catholics. |
| 1959 |
Sisters
of Our Lady Help of Christians established in diocese. |
| 1962 |
Foundation
of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor, Merewether Beach. |
| 1962 |
Bishop
John Toohey visits Rome for Vatican II’s first session. |
| 1964 |
The
Church’s liturgy is celebrated in English for the
first time. |
| 1965 |
Introduction
of the Sisters of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer
(Redemptoristines) to Maitland Diocese and Australia. |
| 1965 |
New
science block at Marist Brothers High School Hamilton
- first capital assistance from government to Catholic
education in the Maitland Diocese for over 80 years. |
| 1966 |
Parishes
of Belmont, Swansea, Boolaroo, Toronto and Morisset were
transferred from Sydney Archdiocese to Maitland Diocese. |
| 1970 |
Diocese
comprised 57 Parishes, 170 churches, 115 diocesan priests,
19 religious priests, 52 brothers, 561 sisters, 12 high
schools, 62 primary schools, 15,728 students, 87,662 Catholics. |
| 1975 |
Death
of Bishop John Toohey. |
| 1976 |
Consecration
of Bishop Leo Clarke. |
| 1992 |
First
Diocese Synod to involve lay and religious determines
first Diocesan Pastoral Plan. |
| 1995 |
Consecration
of Bishop Michael Malone as Coadjutor Bishop of Maitland. |
| 1995 |
Renaming
of the diocese to Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and transfer
of seat of diocese to Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton. |
| 1995 |
Retirement
of Bishop Leo Clarke. Bishop Michael Malone becomes Bishop
of Maitland-Newcastle. |
| 1995 |
Diocesan
Assembly to discuss the Diocesan Policy on the Sacraments
of Initiation. |
| 1997 |
Diocesan
Assembly on the Review of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan,
and the Permanent Diaconate and Preparing Parishes
for Change Consultations. |
| 2000 |
Diocesan
Assembly to consider the New Wine into Fresh Wineskins
Pastoral Planning Report. |
| 2003-2004 |
 Regional Assemblies held in the ten pastoral regions of the diocese. |
| August 2004 |
Diocesan Assembly Towards the Dawn (Session One) |
| May 2005 |
Diocesan Assembly Towards the Dawn (Session Two) |
