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By Fiona Power MGL priests, sisters, brothers and seminarians joined Archbishop Hart and a crowd of over 200 people, including diocesan and Order priests, parishioners and supporters, for the service outside the recently completed seminary building on Warragal Road. Archbishop Denis Hart said he had fully supported the building of the seminary, and prayed it would serve as a place of worship, study, formation and energy for the apostolate.
Archbishop Hart said his support for the seminary and the MGL presence in Burwood was the result of the MGL witness and commitment to outreach in the parish, diocese and beyond. "The true missionary of God’s love is one touched by the love of God, filled with his Spirit and ready to see the humblest service as an expression of that love," he said. "Yet it must also be remembered that this service is missionary and dynamic. The particular genius which we find in the Missionaries of God’s Love is to try and capture that dynamism and make it alive in the world of today. That is why I wanted the Missionaries to come and be in Burwood parish and to have their seminary here. The ripples of what comes from that love are shown so powerfully in the Sunday evening Mass. They reach into our Catholic Theological College and they do so because here are young men touched by the love of Christ, open to his transforming power and generous and unreserved in the way they respond to it." Moderator of the MGL, Fr Ken Barker expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Hart for his enthusiastic support, and to the Archdiocese of Melbourne, St Benedict's parishioners and the wider community for the remarkable prayer and financial commitment. "We have been blown away by the generosity of the people of St Benedict's and beyond," he said. "This shows the generous heart of Catholic people who want to see priests in the future." Fr Ken said the opening of the seminary building was a far cry from their beginnings in Melbourne in 1990, and symbolised a new stage in stability and formation for the MGLs, as well as providing much needed accommodation for the expanding numbers of seminarians. "It is my hope that the seminary will be a place Fr Ken said he was greatly indebted to Frs Steve Fletcher and Chris Ryan MGL for their work and skill in developing and overseeing the seminary project, builders Sam Broccio and the Stockwood Building Group, architect Denis Wilkes and designer Rowan Adams. He also paid tribute to the late Fr Bill Durkin, who first invited the MGL to the St Benedict's parish when he was parish priest. Fr Ken expressed his gratitude to the young men who offer their lives as MGL - and to God for his provision. Archbishop Hart blessed the seminary, accompanied by Fr Chris, Fr Ken, Melanie Edwards MGL, parishioners John Henriks, Tom and Robyn Fahy and business manager of the Archdiocese of Melbourne Francis Moore. "My prayer as we open this new house of study is that those who enter its doors will never forget the transforming power of Christ," he said. "God’s love is always dynamic and is only restricted if we limit our response to his infinite, limitless, lasting love, which we receive with wonder and pass on with awe." Br Chris Eaton MGL concluded events, expressing thanks on behalf of the MGL, to God and all who have supported the building project. MGL Brothers Nihal D'Silva and David Lemewu led the music. Following the ceremony, MGL Brothers led tours of the building. Morning tea was provided in the St Benedict's parish hall. St Benedict's parish, Burwood is under the care of the MGL, a consecrated group of priests, brothers and sisters, founded by Fr Ken Barker in Canberra in 1986. As well as working with the poor and marginalised, the MGLs have a particular calling to youth ministry. MGL seminarians currently live in the existing seminary building and presbytery on Warrigal road and a rented house nearby. The MGL seminary will provide residential accommodation, office space, a chapel, library, seminar room, computer lab and gym. The young men who sense a call to priesthood with the MGL are searching for a place where there is true poverty, a genuine spirit of docility to the Magisterium, a love for Eucharistic adoration and strong commitment to evangelisation. Donations to the MGL Seminary Building Appeal can be sent to 6 Boake Place, Garran, ACT, 2605 or made online donation at http://www.givenow.com.au/mglseminary. (All donations over $2 are tax deductable). Photo 1 by Robyn Fahy Photos 3 and 4 by Matthew Price Photo 2,5 and gallery by John Casamento Read Archbishop Hart's homily at the opening http://www.cam.org.au/melbourne-news/official-opening-of-mgl-melbourne-seminary.html |
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