13 / 28
13
The Catholic Leader, November 10, 2019
www.catholicleader.com.auNews
‘It’s not just another bit of dirt, it’s holy ground because
it’s where Jesus lives and moves and teaches’
St Joseph at work in school
Looking to the Cross:
Archbishop Mark Coleridge blesses a plaque and crosses that will hang in
classrooms at St Joseph’s College.
BRISBANE Archbishop Mark
Coleridge has blessed and offi-
cially opened St Joseph’s College,
Coomera.
Archbishop Coleridge told the foundation
students, teachers and parents it was important to
bless their college.
“Not everyone blesses a new school,” he said.
“But it’s one of those Catholic things we do to
say this land on which the school stands is holy
ground.
“It’s not just another bit of dirt, it’s holy
ground because it’s where Jesus lives and moves
and teaches.”
Archbishop Coleridge said it was Jesus and
St Joseph, whom the college was named after,
who would guide staff to teach, challenge and
transform the lives of students now and into the
future.
The Prep-Year 12 college welcomed its first
students – about 300 – for Prep to Year 3, and
Year 7 students at the start of the year.
Eventually catering to more than 1800
students, the first Year 7 students will graduate
from Year 12 in 2024 and the foundation Prep
students in 2031.
Brisbane Catholic Education executive direc-
tor Pam Betts told those gathered it would be
interesting to see what the college looked like in
2031 – when the current Prep students gradu-
ated.
“We are living in changing times and I am
sure the world these young adults will be gradu-
ating into will be vastly different to the one we
live in today,” she said.
“The smart learning spaces we use will be
even smarter and there will be new technologies
that we have not even thought of.
“While we may see many changes by 2031,
the desire to foster a love of learning in a nurtur-
ing, faith-centred community will remain the
same; it is our constant.”
Miss Betts encouraged the foundation students
and future students to “take every opportunity
presented, celebrate your successes and face any
challenge with courage”.
“May your learning journey continue to be
nurtured by excellent educators and guided by
the Holy Spirit so that you have every chance to
become the person that God created you to be,”
she said.
Miss Betts said it took a lot of resourcing to
build a school and thanked the State Government
for the contribution of more than $15.4 million
and the Federal Government for $1.8 million.
BCE made a final contribution of $2 million to
build the college.
“I guess you can say with state and federal
governments and BCE involved, the process
of getting here has been a great example of team-
work,” she said.
Foundation principal Paul Begg said the bless-
ing and official opening was another milestone in
the college’s story.
“To have so many people support what we
are trying to achieve here is very important,” he
said.
“Schools are places that shape society, they
are transformational.
Blessing for all:
(From left) Coomera parish priest Fr John Echewodo, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Cr Donna Gates, Federal Member for Fadden Stuart Robert, Queensland Catholic Education Com-
mission director of education Yvonne Ries, Brisbane Catholic Education executive director Pam Betts, St Joseph’s principal Paul Begg, Cr Cameron Caldwell, Coomera assistant priest Pauline Father
Jeremy Santoso and foundation students at the blessing and official opening of St Joseph’s College.
“This is not about the buildings; this is about
something that will transform young people’s
lives.”
Mr Begg said the commitment in the first year
from staff, students and parents in the commu-
nity had been energising.
“I trust that, in this first year and in years to
come, we will continue to grow and develop as
people through the vision of this great school,”
he said.