With the recent announcement by Pope Francis that Fr Joe Caddy AM has been appointed as Bishop of Far North Queensland, Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Fr Joe for his years of faithful service and guidance. Over the years, Fr Joe has contributed to the life and mission of CSSV as a staff member, as a member and Chair of the Policy, Advocacy and Research Committee (2009-2016), as a CSSV Council member (since 2006), and as the Episcopal Vicar for Social Services (since 2016).
From 2002-2013 he served as a part-time Chaplain in the Catholic Prison Ministry team of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, providing the Sunday worship service and pastoral care to prisoners and families of inmates in Melbourne’s men’s maximum-security prisons. And from 2004 to 2017, he served as CEO of CatholicCare (Greater Melbourne, Geelong and Gippsland). There, he oversaw the successful integration of diocesan pastoral services including healthcare chaplaincy, prison ministry and youth justice into the daily operations of CatholicCare.
Reflecting on Fr Joe’s passion and commitment to Catholic social services locally, and more broadly, Executive Director of CSSV, Joshua Lourensz, says Fr Joe has ‘been a living example of someone who understands that justice is core to the liberating message of the Gospel.’
‘Fr Joe has been of great support to me, personally, in my role at CSSV over the past 5 years as well as to the organisation and many of our members in our shared mission of building a more just and compassionate society.’
‘I’ve been privileged to see first-hand Fr Joe’s capacity to work and partner with a broad and diverse range of people and organisations, in service of the Church’s social mission. His dedication, care and wisdom will continue to encourage and inspire those he leads and serves, and I have no doubt he’ll continue to be a champion for bringing people together to not only serve, but also be challenged by, the most vulnerable among us.’
Josh says, ‘his expertise and dedication will be very much missed, we wish Fr Joe every blessing as he takes up this new appointment.’
Born and raised in Melbourne, Fr Joe was ordained to the priesthood for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1990. He completed a Bachelor of Theology from Melbourne College of Divinity and holds degrees in Social Sciences from the Gregorian University Rome, where he focused his studies on Catholic social teaching and social ethics and economics. He has served in several Melbourne parishes, including as Parish Priest to Fitzroy and St Kilda East, and most recently, St Carthage’s in Parkville.
He has contributed in a wide range of committees and boards within the social services sector over many years. These include as a Chairperson and Board Member at Catholic Social Services Australia (2003-2017); Council to Homeless Persons Vic (1999-2004); Board of Governors, Australian Council of Social Services (1999-2004): Ministerial Advisory Committee for Victorian Communities (2005-2007); Department of Human Services Ministerial Roundtable for Juvenile Justice (2001-2008); Chair of the Quality of Life and Social Justice Centre at Australian Catholic University (2005-2012); and as a Member of the Commonwealth Government’s Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government (2011). He is currently serving on the Victorian Government’s Independent Review Panel to advise on the design and implementation of an Alternative Service Model to support young Victorians to stay out of the justice system as part of reforms to Victoria’s minimum age of criminal responsibility.
Fr Joe was recognised in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours list and awarded an Order of Australia Medal (AM) in the General Division for his ‘significant service to the community through a range of social welfare initiatives and policy reforms, and to the Catholic Church in Australia.’
Having heard the news of his appointment as bishop of Far North Queensland, Fr Joe stated:
‘I am deeply humbled by this appointment and wish to express my deepest thanks to all the Clergy and faithful of Melbourne, with whom I have shared all of my priestly ministry. It has been an absolute privilege for me to minister with you.
‘I also offer my personal thanks for the support and encouragement of Archbishop Peter Comensoli over these past five years as his Vicar General and Episcopal Vicar for Social Services. I know that I will have a lot to learn as I visit the parishes and communities of the Cairns Diocese. I am very much looking forward to meeting with, listening closely, and learning as together we will seek to uncover the presence of the liberating Christ in the lives of the people and communities of Far North Queensland.’
Again, CSSV would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Joe for his many years of service, dedication and passion for creating a more just and fairer Victoria, and we look forward to hearing of his progress once up North!
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with latest news, information and upcoming events.
We respect your privacy, as outlined in our privacy policy.