A SACRED relic of St Elizabeth Seton, founder of the first free Catholic school in America, now has a home in Brisbane.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane led a special liturgy on March 26 at Seton College, Mt Gravatt, to bless the small relic which was a gift to the school from the Sisters of Mercy in Gunnedah, NSW.
The Sisters had the small bone relic in their archives and, after they read about Seton College in The Catholic Leader, decided to send it to the school.
Gunnedah archivist Sr Judith Carney said they had no idea there was any link to St Elizabeth Seton left in Australia.
“After reading the story I approached our congregation leader who agreed we should pass on the relic,” she said.
Archbishop Bathersby told the gathering of students, staff and parents he was delighted to be back at the college, especially on such a unique occasion.
After a short liturgy he blessed the relic and thanked the senior students for their help in the ceremony which was held in the college chapel.
Senior student leader Robert Wockner said he was honoured to have worked “side by side” with Archbishop Bathersby for the liturgy and the blessing of the relic.
Assistant principal for religious education Helen McNamara said the ceremony was a great opportunity to officially recognise the relic and its connection to the college and its mission.
She said it would give the whole school community a sense of “who we are and where we’ve come from and why we are here”.
Seton College, named after St Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821), was initially administered by the Daughters of Charity (1964-1994) for Brisbane Catholic Education and appointed its first lay principal in 1995.
St Elizabeth established the first free Catholic school in America, from which began the present Catholic school system there, as well as the first Catholic orphanage and the first Catholic hospital. She was canonised in 1975.
The Brisbane school of 230 students has a special focus on providing opportunities for students who have experienced difficulties with their schoolwork in earlier years.
