A message from the Bishop Emeritus of Cairns, James Foley
At the very heart of the Gospel is the dynamic of learning. The Christian learns by constantly reflecting upon one’s life experiences lived with the gift of faith. Through such experiences we grow in our lives as Christ’s body the Church. Lives which witness to the presence and action of Jesus Christ our risen Lord who reveals the life of God: a life of love. As Pope Benedict XVI has recently written: ‘Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction’ [Deus Caritas Est #1]
In this place of natural beauty, the local Church (the Diocese of Cairns) seeks to live the life of Christ, through each one of its public ministries. Fundamental to each of its ministries and outreaches is a Catholic Christian education. This has been the tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church through the centuries.
In the Diocese of Cairns, Catholic education provides evangelisation and outreach in this community in which we live, work, and have leisure. Catholic education, whether it be in primary education, secondary education or adult faith education, seeks to support and sustain members of the Christian community in their faith, as well as introduce all to the person and message of Jesus Christ.
As the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian Education states: ‘Education is, in a very special way, the concern of the Church, not only because the Church must be recognised as a human society capable of imparting education, but especially it has the duty of proclaiming the way of salvation to all men, revealing the life of Christ to those who believe, and of assisting them with unremitting care so that they may be able to attain to the fullness of that life.’ [Gravissimum Educationis #3]
Therefore, as Bishop and chief teacher of the faith in this Diocese I welcome you to our Catholic Education website and pray it will be an aid to all so that we may continue learning with faith and vision.
Yours in Christ
+James Foley DD DPh (Lovain)
Bishop Emeritus of Cairns
Bishop Foley retired as Bishop of Cairns in August 2022.