IT would be hard to miss the cross dedicated to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop that faces visitors, staff and students as they enter Seton College, Mt Gravatt East.
The “Seton Cross” was blessed by Brisbane South dean Fr John Scarrott during a recent ceremony.
Seton promotions manager Julie Whitehouse said the cross was a team effort between staff and students.
“When the machinery arrived to dig the hole for the foundations for the new cross at Seton College we knew it was going to be huge,” she said.
“The digger took up half the car park.”
Ms Whitehouse said the giant cross was constructed from timber donated by Michael Kennedy, of Kennedy’s Recycled Timbers.
“The timber beams are massive rustic sleepers, deeply textured with age and the effects of the environment.
“What you see is what you get, no false veneer, no pretence, honest and simple.
“This reflects our ethos at Seton College of valuing the person you are and accepting each other in all our beauty and imperfections.”
She said a 750kg reinforced steel shoe designed and created by staff and embedded in a cubic metre of concrete supported the cross.
“There’s no doubt about it, we build everything on strong foundations here at Seton from raising a cross to providing our students with an education solidly founded on Gospel values, numeracy, literacy, care and respect for others,” Ms Whitehouse said.
She said a cairn of sturdy rocks completed the base of the cross that was surrounded by a circular garden bed planted with Mary MacKillop roses.
“Students and staff planted the roses as they celebrated the virtues of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in a prayer liturgy and singing,” she said.
“Hopefully, when our students return to Seton College and see the great cross they will remember the strong, simple, clear lessons they learned during their years here.”
