CELEBRATIONS for the opening of Queensland’s Holy Spirit Seminary started on Wednesday (April 23) with a gathering of priests from throughout the province who attended an open afternoon at the new seminary followed by dinner.
On the Friday night, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal William Levada was to celebrate the rite of dedication of the seminary chapel.
Others to attend this significant Mass of dedication were the new apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, the Queensland bishops and Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong.
Cardinal Levada is visiting bless and open the new seminary on Saturday (April 26). This as to be witnessed by a large group of bishops, priests and civic dignitaries.
Archbishop Bathersby, speaking at last year’s site blessing and laying of the foundation stone for the seminary, said the project was “a reconnection with the past and a sign of faith in the future”.
The archbishop in his speech that day referred to “the seven short years” that had elapsed since the seminary’s departure from Banyo.
The ceremony on March 19, 2007, was attended by Church officials including then apostolic nuncio the late Archbishop Ambrose de Paoli and many civic dignitaries, and marked the official start of work on the $4.5 million project.
Just over a year later the dream is a reality and already eight seminarians have arrived to continue their journey towards the priesthood.
