VISITORS to Marian Valley, in the Gold Coast hinterland, are relishing the opportunity to pray for the priests of Brisbane archdiocese at the foot of a crucifix dedicated especially for that intention.
Brisbane woman Heather Joseph has offered the 3.3m wooden crucifix to the care of the Marian Valley Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians, where the Pauline Fathers minister.
Mrs Joseph had to find a home for the precious crucifix when she moved residence last year.
“In the Year of the Priest (2009-2010) I had this beloved inspiration – it was from the Holy Spirit – to do something for the priests, and with that crucifix in mind,” she said.
“I had to move it on and I was thinking what I could do with it. And it was just such a wonderful thought – to put it in memoriam for the priests.”
Mrs Joseph wanted the crucifix to be dedicated in memoriam for the priests of Brisbane archdiocese – past, present and future.
She saw it as a special need – to pray for the priests.
“Ever since the Year of the Priest I’ve been saying every night a prayer for the priests, and unbeknownst to me, down in Marian Valley they were saying the same prayer every Thursday night,” she said.
Mrs Joseph approached Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, when he was still a priest and provincial vicar of the Pauline Fathers based at Marian Valley, with her idea for the crucifix and he was glad to accept.
It was erected in the main chapel at the shrine, and at Mrs Joseph’s request was dedicated on August 4 last year – the feast of St Jean-Marie Vianney, who is the patron saint of priests.
She had been keen that the crucifix be seen by as many people as possible, and Marian Valley has proved an ideal location.
Mrs Joseph said she was delighted that each time she has visited Marian Valley since the crucifix was erected that so many people were stopping to pray for priests.
“It moves them to prayer and that’s the beautiful thing – and for our priests especially,” she said.
Mrs Joseph said she intended the crucifix to be for one priest and for all priests.
“The story of the crucifix is towards the salvation of one priest and for all priests,” she said.
“This is a reminder of how precious our priests are and how we need to support them, especially those who are in need.”
Mrs Joseph arranged to have a special plaque made to stand beside the crucifix.
It was dedicated on September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The inscription reads: “Christ the Great High Priest – Happy are they, O Lord, whom You have chosen and the offering of whom You deign to accept. Keep sheltered in Your Sacred Heart all the priests of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, past, present and to come. And all your priests. Alter Christus. Amen.”
