In 1970, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre established the Society of St. Pius X with the full approval of Rome and according to the dictates of Canon Law.  The purpose of the Society  is the formation of priests in a manner untainted by any trace of modern errors in doctrine, morals or worship.

In keeping with the two-thousand-year old traditions of the Catholic Church, the priests of the Society of St. Pius X celebrate the immemorial Mass of St. Pius V (also known as the Tridentine Mass).  They pray daily for our Roman Pontiff, Benedict XVI.

Currently, 454 Society priests offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in 55 countries across the globe. Of this number, 18 are located in the District of Australia. Five priories have been established in this country, with the Headquarters in Sydney, under the direction of the Superior, Fr. Edward Black. From these centres, the priests travel to approximately 35 locations to celebrate Mass.

Holy Cross Seminary, located in Goulburn, NSW, is one of six Society seminaries. Here, young men from the District and from around the world pursue their studies for the preparation to the priesthood. The International Seminary of St. Pius X is located in Econe, Switzerland.

The Society of St. Pius X also has over 150 Religious (Brothers, Nuns, and Oblates) worldwide, with several established novitiates in different parts of the globe for young ladies and gentlemen to answer religious vocations. In Sydney, the Society has a convent of Sisters for the purpose of assisting the priests and for the education of  youth. The Sisters are responsible for the administration of St. Dominic Savio School in Rockdale.

There are other schools in the District, located in Victoria and Queensland. St. Thomas Aquinas College, a fully-registered primary and secondary school, was established in 1997 in Tynong, Victoria, outside of Melbourne. STAC operates under Catholic standards with full government approval, having over 300 students. St. Philomena School located at Park Ridge near Brisbane is a flourishing primary school set in pleasant rural surroundings.