Diocesan Day is a key event occurring every two years in the Catholic school calendar. It provides professional development and an opportunity for all staff to celebrate their common commitment to the provision of quality Catholic Education.

On February 19, 2007, over 1000 staff involved in Catholic Education in the Cairns Diocese converged at the Cairns Convention Centre.

The gathering together of Catholic Education Services staff and over 1000 teachers and school officers from 26 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cairns provided an opportunity to build community among them.

With a focus on bringing faith alive through service of others, principles of Catholic social teaching such as human dignity, solidarity, subsidiarity and the common good were the focus of input and discussion.

Building on the message contained in Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “God is Love”, Diocesan Day stressed the connection between Christian faith and a commitment to service of one’s neighbour, near or far.

Highlights of the day included input from Sandie Cornish, a leading social teaching practitioner from the Loyola Institute, as well as from Michelle Hillman, Business Development Officer for Rosies youth mission and Jenifer Byrne, Global Education Advisor for Caritas Australia.

Rosies is a not-for-profit organisation that provides outreach services, friendship and hope to marginalised, homeless, houseless and abandoned people living within the community.

Caritas Australia is the Catholic agency for overseas aid and development. Jenifer invited all people to put their faith into action, pursue justice and stand in solidarity with those suffering from poverty and injustice.

Catholic schools provided displays on the day of their initiatives to serve their local and the global community.
Also on Diocesan Day, the loyalty and commitment of almost 40 teachers and school officers who have worked for Catholic Education for over 20 years were publicly acknowledged with the presentation of awards.

Cairns Catholic Education Director Carmel Ross, Keynote speaker Sandi Cornish (Latoya Institute), visiting quest Director of QCEC Mike Byrne and speakers Michelle Hillman (Rosies) and Jenifer Byrne (Caritas).

Cairns Catholic Education Director Carmel Ross, visiting guests Director of QCEC Mike Byrne and Townsville Catholic Education Director Dr Cathy Day and emcee for the day, Principal of St Augustine's College, Cairns, Br Michael Green.