Michael McCarthy (born 13 September 1950) is the
bishop of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. He was previously a priest of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. He was consecrated by
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
Mark Coleridge at
St Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton on 29 May 2014.
Early life
Michael McCarthy was born in
Toowoomba on 13 September 1950 and was the son of dairy farmers Fabian McCarthy and Rita (nee White). He spent his early years on the family's dairy farm in
Greenmount. He received his primary education at Greenmount State School and secondary education at Downlands Sacred Heart College in Toowoomba. He graduated from the Queensland Institute of Technology, Darling Downs, in 1970 with a Bachelor of Applied Science and worked as an industrial chemist for
BHP in
Newcastle from 1971 until 1975.
Priesthood
After leaving BHP, McCarthy entered St Paul's National Seminary, Kensington and graduated with a Diploma in Theology in 1978. He was ordained a deacon at St Michael's Church,
Daceyville in 1977 and ordained to the priesthood at
St Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane
The Cathedral of St Stephen is the heritage-listed cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane and seat of its archbishop in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. St Stephen's was only meant to serve as a temporary seat for the arc ...
on 19 August 1978. He achieved a Certificate in Tribunal Practices in 1986 and graduated from University of Queensland in 1998, with a Master of Arts (Studies in Theology).
In 1979, following his ordination, he was appointed to be assistant priest in the parish of
Gympie. He then served as assistant priest in the parish of
Surfers Paradise
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
between 1983 and 1985. In 1986, he was appointed as Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Director of the Catholic Immigration Office for Migrants and Refugees, where he served until 1990.
In 1990, he was appointed parish priest of
Laidley, serving there until 1992 when he was appointed parish priest of
Surfers Paradise
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
. He became administrator of
St Paschal's Parish between 1998 and 1999. Between 1995 and 2000, he served as Director of the Formation of Clergy. From 2001 to 2008, he was rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, Banyo. He served as parish priest of
Redcliffe between 2009 and 2012. He was appointed parish priest of
Hendra in 2013 and also served as episcopal vicar for clergy.
Episcopacy
On 10 March 2014, Pope Francis announced McCarthy would become the 10th Bishop of Rockhampton, following the retirement of
Bishop Brian Heenan on 1 October 2013. He was consecrated and installed on 29 Mary 2014 at
St Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhampton by Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge, during a Mass concelebrated by eight Queensland bishops and priests from across Queensland.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Michael (bishop)
1950 births
Living people
Roman Catholic bishops of Rockhampton