By Paul Dobbyn
FOUNDATIONS for a new golden era at Banyo’s Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary continue to be laid with confirmation of the calling of tenders for a $5.5 million multi-purpose building.
The seminary’s stage 3, described as “high technology-based”, includes a meeting area able to accommodate up to 150 people, a spirituality interaction area, a doubling of administration space, a school of evangelisation, a dining area and space for the seminary’s archives. It is expected to be operational by 2015.
Seminary rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo and archdiocesan vocations director Fr Morgan Batt have attributed the seminary’s remarkable ongoing success in part to a proactive outreach to young Catholic men in high school and youth groups.
“We’ve also been listening more to the voice of the Spirit who has always been calling and moving hearts; it’s just now we’re listening with fresh ears,” Msgr Randazzo said.
Msgr Randazzo praised Fr Batt as “an exemplary leader” and the “architect of a pipeline for vocations which is yielding much fruit”.
He also credited “the 100 per cent support of Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge for making the task of mission so much more fulfilling and fruitful”.
“Twelve men have been ordained in the past 18 months and already numbers of seminarians are back up to 26,” he said.
“We are also seeing many more local vocations with only a few students from the Nigerian project in the seminary at the moment.
“The news from other dioceses is also looking positive.
“Bishops (Michael) McCarthy (Rockhampton) and (Robert) McGuckin (Toowoomba) each speak of having three young men ‘asking questions’ about the priesthood.”
Fr Batt has also spoken of new Vocations Office resources, which would soon be available in Catholic primary schools.
Msgr Randazzo said the latest extensions, arriving three years earlier than expected, posed funding and other challenges but that this was “a delightful problem”.
“When I became seminary rector in 2009 work had started much earlier than expected on Stage 2 – an increase of residential space as the number of seminarians doubled from 16 to 32.
“This sudden increase put all sorts of demands on staffing and available space.”
He support staff had increased from two to eight. Among these staff are propaedeutic (first year) director Fr Josekutty Vadakkel, director of pastoral formation Fr Morgan Batt, academic dean Fr Anthony Mellor, mission and faith formator Shayne Bennett and music and liturgical studies director Good Samaritan Sister Ursula O’Rourke.
Msgr Randazzo said the reactions to the latest seminary expansion had been extremely positive.
“All the province’s bishops have been very enthusiastic,” he said.
“Also the Apostolic Nuncio (Archbishop Paul Gallagher) contacted me after reading an article in The Paraclete (the seminary magazine) to say how delighted he was with the latest developments.”
Fr Batt said the new building offered a unique opportunity to lay the foundations for even greater expansion at the seminary.
He recalled that seven years earlier the seminary had only four students.
“We’ve already seen remarkable expansion and I’m sure this will continue,” he said.
“This year there have already been seven ordinations including to the diaconate and we have another two ordinations to the priesthood (Deacons Leonard Uzuegbu and Marty Larsen) this week.
Fr Batt attributed the V9 Vocation Novena prayer program, “a dynamic, creative and hardworking Vocations Office”, activities at the Canali House of discernment and the environment of the Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary for this.
“I believe we have one of the premier seminaries in the world for what we do,” he said.
“For example, to my knowledge, we were the first complete seminary to meet with Pope Francis.
“Also the seminary has innovative ideas such as a fully decked-out gym with a climbing wall.
“All of this leads to a more fulfilling formation time for the seminarians.”
Prayer has likewise played a vital part in the success.
“When the archdiocese prays the V9 program the Vocations Office’s work increases – that’s a fact,” he said.
“Also Canali House is in many ways the jewel in the crown.
“It’s not just a house of discernment but a place where up to 30 young men from within and outside the diocese can gather for consilium – Mass, conversation and a meal.”
Msgr Randazzo and Fr Batt thanked the generosity of donors for funding expansion at the seminary and supporting the vocations program and said further support would help continue the Church’s mission both in the archdiocese and in the province.
For information on donations to support the Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary contact Mark Bennett at the Archdiocesan Resource Development Office on (07) 3324 3208 or 0400 529 206 or at giving@bne.catholic.net.au.
Those wishing to donate to Canali House can phone 1300 133 544 or email vocation@bne.catholic.net.au.
