James Foley

James Foley (born 19 July 1948) is an Australian prelate of the Catholic Church who was the Bishop of Cairns in Queensland from 1992 to 2022. Biography James Foley was born in Brisbane on 19 July 1948. He was educated at the St Ignatius Parish School at Toowong and at Marist College at Ashgrove. He was ordained a priest on 7 August 1973. From 1976 to 1982 he studied at the University of Louvain, earning a licentiate and a doctorate in philosophy. During those years he also served as a chaplain on British and American military bases in West Germany. Returning to Australia, he began teaching at Banyo Seminary in 1982. He also taught occasionally at Brisbane College of Theology, the Australian Catholic University, and the University of Queensland. He served as spiritual director for students at the University of Queensland from 1985 to 1992. From 1982 to 1987 he also assisted at the country parish in Beaudesert. He was also a member the International Catechetical Commission and the International Committee for English in the Liturgy. Pope John Paul II appointed him bishop of Cairns on 16 July 1992. He received his episcopal consecration on 21 August 1992 in St. Monica's Cathedral in Cairns from Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane.