Pope Francis appointed Melbourne Archdiocese Vicar General Fr. Joe Caddy as the eighth Bishop of Cairns last night, upon official Vatican approval.
Bishop-elect Caddy, 64, was born and raised in Melbourne and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1990.
From 2002 to 2013, he served as a part-time chaplain in the prison ministry team, offering Sunday worship services and pastoral care to prisoners and their families in Melbourne’s men’s maximum-security prisons.
He was the CEO of CatholicCare (Greater Melbourne, Geelong, and Gippsland) from 2004 to 2017, during which he advised the Victorian and federal governments, the Australian Council of Social Service, and other bodies on issues such as homelessness, juvenile justice, and local government.
“The news of Fr. Joe Caddy’s appointment as the next Bishop of Cairns will bring great joy, a sense of expectation, and renewed hope to the Catholic community in Cairns,” said Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.
“Fr. Joe brings a wealth of experience and many gifts to this new mission and ministry, which he will now dedicate to the people of his new diocese.
“In recent years, he has served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and has been deeply involved in parish ministry and the social outreach mission of the archdiocese. His many pastoral gifts will be deeply appreciated in Cairns.”
Bishop Elect Caddy expressed gratitude to Cairns Diocesan Administrator Fr. Kerry Crowley, the clergy, lay staff, and the people of Cairns for their care since Bishop James Foley's retirement two years ago.
“The request from Pope Francis came unexpectedly, out of the blue—but the prospect fills me with joy because I know the country and waterways of Far North Queensland are some of the most beautiful in Australia,” he said.
“For now, my prayer is that the Good Lord will continue to guide, protect, and bless us all.”
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