Cardinal to bless new seminary

Published: 20 April 2008

QUEENSLAND'S Holy Spirit Seminary at Banyo in Brisbane will pass another major milestone with its solemn blessing and opening by Cardinal William Levada next Saturday, April 26.

Cardinal Levada, who is Prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will also celebrate the rite of dedication of the seminary chapel on the previous day.

The new apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane, the Queensland bishops and Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong will join in this significant Mass of dedication.

The $4.5 million seminary is now co-located with the Australian Catholic University campus.

Accommodation has been provided for 16 seminarians, a rector and a spiritual director.

Its construction marks a return to the original site of the Pius XII Provincial Seminary at Banyo.

The seminary's official opening is the climax of a journey which started with a decision by the Queensland bishops to return the formation of priests to the site.

The site blessing and laying of the seminary's foundation stone by then apzzzzzzostolic nuncio, the late Archbishop Ambrose De Paoli in March last year was among highlights of this journey.

The event was attended by Archbishop Bathersby, Queensland's bishops and other dignitaries.

At the time Archbishop Bathersby said that "seven short years after the seminary's departure from Banyo, the Church was once again returning to its place of memories".

Following the closing of the Pius XII Seminary, the formation program for students to the priesthood had continued at Wavell Heights in buildings belonging to St Paschal's Parish.

Under the direction of rector Fr Michael McCarthy, the relocated seminary at Wavell Heights was renamed Holy Spirit Seminary in December, 2001.

Eight seminarians have already commenced studies at the new seminary.