In terms of the developmental journey of the spiritual life in the seminary, one moves from discovering one’s spiritual childhood in encountering God as “My Father” ( Jn 20:17) to the experience of being a “beloved Son” ( Mt 3:17) to developing the power of the “new man” (Eph 4:24) in the Holy Spirit. “Spiritual formation… should be conducted in such a way that the students may learn to live in unceasing union with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit.” (PDV, 45). Spiritual formation is both the core of priestly formation which unifies the whole of life, and the goal of priestly formation, its completion. Without the spiritual life all other priestly formation is fruitless.
The School aims to "equip and form leaders" in Catholic evangelisation.Without the trunk, the tree can bear no branches, no fruit. In 2017 five new seminarians joined the Seminary.Įach year the Seminary conducts the Xavier School of Mission for members of all Queensland dioceses. Among these students there were fourteen from the Archdiocese of Brisbane, two from Diocese of Toowoomba and the Diocese of Townsville respectively, and one from Rockhampton although none from the Diocese of Cairns. In February 2016, four new men joined the seminary, bringing the total number of students to 18. He had left the seminary as a young priest at the end of 1970.
Monsignor John Grace, formerly Vicar General in the Diocese of Rockhampton, was appointed to the position of Rector in 2016. Currently the spiritual formation director is Fr. Monsignor Tony Randazzo, a former official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, was appointed Rector of the seminary at the beginning of 2009. In 2015 twenty students were studying there. In February 2012, six students entered the Seminary and in June 2012, eight more commenced: four for Brisbane, two for Townsville and two for Umuahia, Nigeria. Originally designed for 16 seminarians, it was extended in 2010 to accommodate the 31 men in training at that time. "The church cannot operate without priests and the seminaries in Nigeria are extraordinarily dynamic, packed with 600 and 700 students," Father McCarthy said. At that time the dioceses of Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Toowoomba had no seminary students. McCarthy said a "desperate shortage" of priests across Queensland had prompted the church to look further afield. In 2006 there were seven students for the whole of Queensland studying in the Seminary, including one man in his 60s. The seminary Rector, Father Michael McCarthy and the Vice-rector Fr Ken Howell were present. There were eight resident students including five Africans and a further three students in pastoral placements. Preaching at the dedication of the chapel, Cardinal Levada said "convestitum Spiritu Sancto" (clothed with the Holy Spirit) was more than a motto for the seminary. The seminary serves the Catholic province of Queensland, covering the Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville and Toowoomba dioceses as well as the Brisbane archdiocese.Ĭardinal William Levada opened the new seminary campus following the completion of construction in May 2008 at a cost of $4.5 million. In 2008 the Seminary returned to the grounds of the former seminary at Banyo, and is co-located with the Australian Catholic University's McAuley campus. In 2002, the seminary relocated to St Paschal's parish in Wavell Heights, and the building became the Brisbane campus of the Australian Catholic University.īy 2007 vocations were increasing, and Holy Spirit Seminary was re-founded by the Queensland bishops.
The number of students peaked at 134 in 1967, but later gradually declined.
Originally known as the Pius XII Provincial Seminary, it was founded in 1941 on top of Beehive Hill in the Brisbane suburb of Banyo, in a large Romanesque style building designed by Hennessy & Hennessy. Holy Spirit Seminary is a Catholic provincial seminary for Queensland located in Brisbane, Australia.
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