# Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton

The Diocese of Rockhampton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Australia. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Brisbane. Erected in 1882, it covers Central Queensland.

## History

The Diocese of Rockhampton was excised from the Archdiocese of Brisbane on 29 December 1882. Prior to this, the Brisbane archdiocese had responsibility for the entire state of Queensland, but the creation of the Rockhampton diocese split the state with responsibilities for the southern part of Queensland to remain with the Brisbane archdiocese while the northern part of Queensland became the responsibility of the new Rockhampton diocese. The Diocese of Townsville was excised from the Diocese of Rockhampton in 1930, reducing Rockampton's coverage to Central Queensland, while Townsville took responsibility for the areas further to the north.

## Bishops
### Ordinaries

The following individuals have been elected as Roman Catholic Bishops of Rockhampton:
    OrderNameDate enthronedReign endedTerm of officeReason for term end 1John Cani †3 January 18823 March 189816 years, 59 daysDied in office 2Joseph Higgins †21 September 18993 March 19055 years, 163 daysAppointed Bishop of Ballarat 3James Duhig †16 September 190527 February 19126 years, 164 daysElevated as Coadjutor Archbishop of Brisbane 4Joseph Shiel †11 May 19137 April 193118 years, 231 daysDied in office 5Romuald Denis Hayes, SSC †12 January 193225 October 194513 years, 286 daysDied in office 6Andrew Gerard Tynan †31 March 19463 June 196014 years, 64 daysDied in office 7Francis Roberts Rush †7 November 19605 March 197312 years, 118 daysElevated as Archbishop of Brisbane 8Bernard Joseph Wallace †24 January 19748 May 199016 years, 104 daysResigned and appointed Bishop Emeritus of Rockhampton 9Brian Heenan20 November 19921 October 201332 years, 0 daysRetired and appointment Bishop Emeritus of Rockhampton 10Michael McCarthy29 May 2014present10 years, 175 daysCurrent

### Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

* Guilford Clyde Young †, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra (and Goulburn) in 1948
* Raymond Conway Benjamin †, appointed Bishop of Townsville in 1984

## Parishes

The diocese is divided into four separate deaneries that administer individual parishes:
* Central deanery covering Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast with regular liturgical services held in the Cathedral of St Joseph, Emu Park (Mary Immaculate), Gracemere (St Paul), Mount Morgan (Sacred Heart), Berserker (St Mary), Norman Gardens (Holy Family), Park Avenue (Our Lady Help of Christians), Westwood (Sacred Heart), Wowan (St Anne), and Yeppoon (Sacred Heart)
* Southern deanery covering Bundaberg, Gladstone and the Valleys Region with regular liturgical services held in Agnes Water (St Agnes), Baffle Creek (St Francis of Assis), Baralaba (St Patrick), Bargara (St James), Biloela (St Joseph), Bundaberg (Holy Rosary), Calliope (St Patrick), Gladstone (Our Lady, Star of the Sea), Miriam Vale (St Peter Chanel), Mount Larcom (Our Lady of Mt Carmel), Monto (St Therese), Moura (St Michael), Walkervale (St Mary), Tannum Sands (St Peter Chanel), Theodore (Sacred Heart), Ubobo (St Mary), Bundaberg West (St Patrick)
* Northern deanery with regular liturgical services held in Alligator Creek (St Therese), Bucasia (St Brendan), Calen (St Helen), Eton (Holy Cross), Farleigh (St Brigid), Finch Hatton (St Francis de Sales), Mackay (St Patrick), Marian (Holy Rosary), Midge Point (St Peter), Mirani (Immaculate Conception), North Mackay (St Joseph), Sarina (St Michael), Seaforth (Star of the Sea), South Mackay (St Mary), Walkerston (St John the Apostle), and West Mackay (St Francis Xavier)
* Western deanery covering two regions with regular liturgical services held in:
** Central Highlands region – Blackwater (Mary Immaculate), Capella (St Joseph), Clermont (St Mary), Dingo (St Joseph), Duaringa (St Kevin), Dysart (St Therese of Lisieux), Emerald (St Patrick), Middlemount (Holy Family), Moranbah (St Joseph the Worker), Springsure (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart), Tieri (St Thomas More), and Woorabinda (St Martin de Porres)
** Central West region – Alpha (St John the Evangelist), Aramac (St John), Barcaldine (Sacred Heart), Blackall (St Patrick), Ilfracombe (Sacred Heart), Isisford (St Joseph), Jericho (St Finnian), Jundah (St Peter), Longreach (St Brigid) and Tambo (Our Lady of Victories)

## Education

The diocese operates many Catholic schools via its Rockhampton Catholic Education Office.