WHEN former Holy Spirit seminarian Chris Ledwich fell ill with chronic fatigue syndrome for a third time, a new vocation was in order – handcrafted Paschal candles. “I’ve always had a passion for beauty and design,” Mr Ledwich said. “There was a big intellectual part to my faith journey at (Holy Spirit Seminary, Brisbane), but having that taken away from ... Read More »
WHAT he described as “text messages from God” was part of Mick Greathead’s discernment to officially enter Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary, Banyo, last month. The 20-year-old, raised a stone’s throw from his new surroundings among 22 other seminarians, said God often prompted a priestly vocation from his mid-teens, but it wasn’t always a shared mindset. “As a teenager, I’d go ... Read More »
“Life’s all about learning from new experiences,” says Gerard Lai, third-year seminarian at Holy Spirit Seminary, Banyo, who grew up in Logan, and was among those pilgrims making the trek to WYD Panama 2019. He spoke to Mark Bowling. Was this your first experience with WYD? My first WYD was Poland 2016 and I went with the St Vincent de ... Read More »
SISTER Ursula O’Rourke has a job that takes her to the depths of the mystery of Christ. She’s one of two women on the formation team at Queensland’s Holy Spirit Seminary at Banyo, and she specialises in liturgy. That means she has a hand in preparing future priests for a key role in their ministry – the celebration of the ... Read More »
YOUNG Townsville man William Brennan has entered the priesthood at a time when the Catholic Church and priests are under more scrutiny than ever. Mr Brennan entered Holy Spirit Seminary at Banyo recently to begin his formation to become a priest for Townsville diocese. The young seminarian, who spent most of his childhood in Charters Towers, said he was almost ... Read More »
YOUNGER faces will be a common sight at Queensland’s Holy Spirit seminary this year as seven men under 30 began their studies for the priesthood this week. Brisbane archdiocese welcomed seven young men to the seminary on February 11, making it the largest local intake in years. The cohort includes two Vietnamese men who were invited to study at the ... Read More »
IT’S Friday night. Burger patties and onion rings are sizzling on the barbecue hotplate in the grounds of Maroochydore’s new Stella Maris Church. Seminarian Josh Whitehead is strumming his guitar and singing, as some of the regular patrons start to arrive – men, women and children – in need of a free meal and some good company. Maroochydoore’s barbecue ministry ... Read More »
SEMINARIANS Thomas Zaranski and Damien Everitt have made it to the final step before the priesthood after being ordained deacons today. Archbishop Mark Coleridge ordained Deacon Zaranski, 31, and Deacon Everitt, 43, to the transitional diaconate in a Mass at Holy Spirit Chapel, at Banyo’s Australian Catholic University. The ordination marks the final step before the two can be ordained ... Read More »
RECORD numbers of young men are discerning the priesthood in the Brisbane archdiocese with “extraordinary” hopes for next year’s seminary intake. Vocation Brisbane director Fr Morgan Batt said nineteen young men attended their recent annual Quo Vadis discernment weekend, the largest number in 22 years. Discernment weekends allow young men to spend a weekend at Holy Spirit seminary in Brisbane, ... Read More »
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