CLERICAL ORDERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ESPECIALLY IN MISSIONARY AREAS SUCH AS AUSTRALIA WAS IN ITS VERY EARLY DAYS. MANY OF THESE ORDERS WERE INTRODUCED AS MISSIONARIES OR TO SERVE PARTICULAR APOSTOLATES. TO AID SELECTION THE ORDERS ARE LISTED BY THEIR SHORT OR COMMON NAMES. SELECTING ANY ORDER LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO AN INFORMATION PAGE ABOUT THE ORDER AND LINKS TO ALL THEIR FOUNDATIONS.