Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

New leader for seminary

byStaff writers
27 August 2014 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA

Humbled: Fr John Grace.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Humbled: Fr John Grace.
Humbled: Fr John Grace.

By Paul Dobbyn

FR John Grace has responded with surprise, humility and enthusiasm to the news of his appointment as Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary’s rector from 2016.

“My appointment as the thirteenth rector of Holy Spirit Seminary from 2016 came to me as a surprise,” the 71-year-old priest said.

“I had never imagined nor contemplated being invited to become rector of the provincial seminary.”

Seminary rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo described the appointment as “an inspired choice”, saying Fr Grace “was a great priest with enormous experience not only in the Rockhampton diocese but across the whole of the province”.

Fr Grace, Rockhampton diocese’s vicar general and former administrator, said he had “been very humbled that the bishops of Queensland were able to discern gifts within me of which that I was unaware”.

“I am aware that the position is important as it oversees the formation of priests for the Church in Queensland,” he said.

“As the numbers are fewer and the climate of priesthood is under closer scrutiny in society, the role of rector is critical for the future.”

Fr Grace said expressions of support from far and wide since the announcement had been “overwhelming”.

“I have been overcome and heartened by the stream of support and encouragement expressed by priests and people since the announcement,” he said. “I hope that I can respect all in the exercise of the office entrusted when the time comes and I look forward to adequate preparation for the task.”

Related Stories

No Content Available

Msgr Randazzo said Fr Grace was well known and respected across the province of Queensland.

“He was chair of the provincial finance council for years and so understands the needs of the local churches throughout Queensland,” the monsignor said.

“Father Grace, as a man of mature age, wisdom and priestly experience, will bring a whole set of unique new gifts to the seminary.

“He will teach men to be priests by the example of his own priestly life.”

Msgr Randazzo said with the changing of his role still 16 months away, he was focused on his ministry and on maintaining the seminary’s momentum.

“I’ve been building on former rector now Bishop Michael McCarthy’s work since taking over nearly six years ago,” he said. “Now Father Grace will be building on our work of the past 14 years.”

Fr Grace said he would approach his new ministry “as a servant of the Gospel and never its master, who is Jesus himself”.

“I hope that I can work in a collaborative manner with the staff as a model for the students in their future priestly ministry,” he said.

“I am sure that the good will of the students can be fruitfully and faithfully harvested.”

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Peace prayers

Next Post

Proof of Gospel’s worldwide reach

Staff writers

Related Posts

No Content Available
Next Post

Proof of Gospel’s worldwide reach

Extraordinary women

Refugee woman and child

Christian refugees want to know ‘can we ever return?’

Popular News

  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Church canonises 10 new saints who shared God’s love

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Bishops call out racism, gun violence after U.S. shooting
World

Bishops call out racism, gun violence after U.S. shooting

by CNS
17 May 2022
0

SEVERAL U.S. Catholic bishops spoken out against racism and gun violence after a mass shooting in Buffalo,...

Parishes unite for Logan deanery family festival this Sunday

Parishes unite for Logan deanery family festival this Sunday

17 May 2022
Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

Lives of the saints – St Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks

17 May 2022
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI turned 95 on a ‘very happy’ day

17 May 2022
Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

Cleanup begins after floodwaters swamp South East Queensland again

16 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping