ARCHBISHOP John Bathersby of Brisbane has hailed the site blessing and laying of the foundation stone of Banyo’s Holy Spirit Seminary as a reconnection with the past and a sign of faith in the future.
The March 19 ceremony also marked the official start of work on the $4.5 million project, due to be completed in time for the start of the 2008 academic year.
The project will co-locate the new seminary with the Australian Catholic University (ACU) campus.
Accommodation will be provided for 16 seminarians, a rector and a spiritual director.
Attending the ceremony were the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli, all seven bishops from Queensland’s dioceses, two retired Queensland bishops, past rectors of Pius XII Provincial Seminary and priests from throughout the state.
In his speech, the archbishop said that “seven short years” after its departure from Banyo, the Church was once again returning to “its place of memories”.
