JourneyOnline
Late last month, history was made in Caloundra with over 800 people celebrating the official Opening and Blessing of an ecumenical school, Unity College.
Unity College is owned and operated by Brisbane Catholic Education in partnership with the Uniting Church of Caloundra.
In keeping with the ecumenical spirit of the College, the Official Blessing was conducted by Archbishop John Bathersby, Archbishop of Brisbane and Reverend Doctor David Pitman, Moderator of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church is Australia.
The leaders of the two churches prayed for the community of Unity College to seek truth through respect for self, respect for others and respect for God’s creation and to be inspired and enthused by the ecumenical spirit of the Uniting and Catholic churches.
The official Blessing began with a procession of 20 students and four members of the clergy – Father John Dobson, Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Rosary, Caloundra; Reverend Brian Gilbert, Pastor of the Uniting Church, Caloundra; Archbishop John Bathersby, Archbishop of Brisbane and Reverend Dr David Pitman, Moderator of the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia.
In all there were over 100 students who participated in some way, either in reading, singing, playing a musical instrument, preparing, serving a light lunch for excess of 800 people or presenting symbols, such as the Celtic crosses during the ceremony was certainly the highlight of the ceremony.
In its first year of operation the College has grown from 130 enrolments on day one to over 160 today. Principal Rudy Goosem said the school will cater for 1200 students by 2010 on the 11 hectare site.
Photo : The Moderator Rev Dr David Pitman at the Unity College opening
