Emmaus College shows the way as ecumenical stewards

MODERATOR Rev Kaye Ronalds joined an ecumenical line-up of church leaders in an opening and blessing of new facilities at Emmaus College in Jimboomba on Friday 19 October.

Emmaus is an ecumenical college, in which the Uniting, Lutheran, Anglican and Catholic traditions work together to provide a rich faith-based education for students from prep to Year 12.

The opening and blessing celebrations were part of the college's tenth anniversary celebrations.

Ms Ronalds was joined in the ritual by Rev Noel Noack, President of the Lutheran Church Queensland District, Bishop Geoffrey Smith, Auxiliary Bishop of the Southern Region of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, and Bishop Joseph Oudeman, Assistant Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Local pastors brought forward water from their local communities, which was mingled together and blessed by the heads of the four traditions.

In an aspersion ritual, this water was then sprinkled on the crosses that will adorn the new classrooms to bless them.

The college community of nearly 1100 people sang and prayed together in a vibrant liturgy, during which Ms Ronalds gave the sermon.

She spoke about people building community in the places they gather in, and the challenge of being good stewards of the facilities that the college has been blessed with.

Photo : Left to right: Rt Rev Geoff Smith, Rev Noel Noack, Rev Kaye Ronalds and the Most Rev Joseph Oudeman after the blessing of the crosses. Photo by Lani Pickard