By Leesa Jeffcoat
ON behalf of our Catholic Education family, I would like to warmly welcome Bishop Michael McCarthy to the Diocese of Rockhampton.
The episcopal ordination of Bishop Michael on Thursday, May 29, is a very historic and significant event in the life of our diocese.
Like everyone else, I am looking forward with a great deal of excitement to the episcopal ordination and to Bishop Michael taking up his role as our chief teacher and pastor.
I know everyone in Catholic Education is eagerly looking forward to meeting Bishop Michael and to showing him the many wonderful faith-based, values-based and educational initiatives happening day in and day out in our Catholic school communities.
Our diocese is geographically vast and culturally diverse, and I am sure Bishop Michael will enjoy getting to know the various school communities and seeing for himself the dedication and commitment of all involved in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the children entrusted by parents to the care of our schools.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Bishop Michael on a couple of occasions in the time leading up to his episcopal ordination and I have been struck by his humility and his enthusiasm for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
I look forward to hearing more of his overall vision for the diocese and in particular to learning of his hopes and aspirations for the ministry of Catholic Education.
Bishop Michael can certainly be assured of my total support in implementing his vision for Catholic Education and I know that support will be shared by all who I have the privilege of working with in this important evangelising ministry of the Church.
Bishop Michael, I hope you enjoyed the celebration of your episcopal ordination, the warmth of welcome you will experience in every corner of our diocese, the generous hospitality of the various communities and above all else I hope you will be sustained, encouraged and supported in your role as bishop by the prayerful and practical support of your people.
Leesa Jeffcoat is Catholic Education director in the Diocese of Rockhampton.
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