Catholic Diocese of Cairns

Priests Description

James Foley was born 19 July 1948 in Brisbane.   At school at St Ignatius Parish School Toowong and Marist College Ashgrove, James developed a passion for social and local history.

Entering the seminary in 1967 he was ordained by Archbishop Rush on 7 August 1973.  He held brief parish appointments in Rosalie and Kenmore before he was appointed curate to Ashgrove parish from 1973-1976.

The Queensland bishops sent him to Louvain University in Belgium in 1976.  For the next five and half years he studied, receiving his Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy.  While at Louvain he also worked as chaplain on U.S. and British bases in West Germany working with soldiers and families and spent some months at the Cathedral parish of St John New Brunswick, Canada.

Returning home in 1982 he began teaching philosophy at Banyo Seminary.  He also lectured part-time in philosophy at the Brisbane College of Theology, the Australian Catholic University and University of Queensland.  He was Spiritual Director to students 1985-1992.

During this period he was also supply priest for Beaudesert parish (1982-1987) spending weekends and Christmas holidays in that country parish.  For several years (1985-1988) he served as chaplain to the State Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

An interest in the history of the Diocese and the life of the people in remote areas come together in the trips he makes to places far from Cairns, traveling where priests once rode their horses between settlements and far flung stations.

Bishop Foley has been a member of various international and national bodies.  These include International Catechetical Commission, Rome, International Committee for English in the Liturgy and The Company, Senate and Queensland Chapter of Australian Catholic Universities.

James Foley was ordained Bishop of Cairns on the 21st August 1992 at St Monica's Cathedral, Cairns.