Photo: Alan Edgecomb
THREE young men from Brisbane started their first year in Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary “wide eyed with hopes and aspirations” last Sunday, February 9.
Former lawyer Sebastian Condon, 24, international business manager Jack Ho, 29, and passionate youth worker Michael Tanuvasa Kelemete, 23, entered their first year as seminarians for the Brisbane archdiocese this year.
They followed in the footsteps of “several hundred priests” who had walked through the chapel doors at the seminary.
The diverse background of the three young men continued to astound the seminary’s rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo, who said in any normal circumstance, you would not find a group so diverse.
“It makes you wonder, what is it God sees in all of us? What is our common ground?” Monsignor Randazzo said.
“The common thread is Jesus Christ, and it is only Jesus Christ who can call this group of men with amazingly different backgrounds together for the service of his Church.”
In his homily at the Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary Commencement Mass on February 9, Msgr Randazzo reflected on the notion image of being salt and light in the world.
“Salt and light are used to develop and illuminate what already exists,” he said.
“Salt enhances flavour and light makes clear obscure paths while revealing hidden riches.”
In regards to the priestly mission for Mr Condon, Mr Ho and Mr Kelemete, Msgr Randazzo said life would “demand everything of you – your joy and hope, your grief and anxiety, in sum your entire life”.
“Jack, Michael and Sebastian, in the seminary you will learn many things, but ultimately what you learn will only be of use if, like St Paul, you give witness to Jesus as the crucified Christ.
“The quest for Christ’s priesthood will consume you, but fear not because in losing yourself, you will find Christ the light of the world. “And if you follow him, you will have the light of life.”
The addition of these three young men into the seminary brings the total number in the Queensland province to 26.
Last year, the Queensland seminary went to full capacity at 32, with 10 seminarians being ordained as priests.
