Friday October 02, 2020

Aquinas academic centre opened

Local

Faith and reason came together at Aquinas College, North Adelaide, on September 11 when Archbishop O’Regan blessed and opened a new academic centre and dedicated the refurbished Chapel of St Thomas.

Friday October 02, 2020

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Joining Archbishop O’Regan for the opening were Brother Peter Carroll FMS, the Australian Provincial of the Marist Brothers and Dr Neil McGoran, director of Catholic Education SA.

Rector of the college, Brother Michael Green FMS said the new centre for learning and study was named for distinguished alumnus Dr Shane Lucey, who retired last year from the College Council after 34 years of continuous service.

“Shane has long championed the scholastic life of the college, chairing its Academic Committee for many years,” said Brother Michael.

Also honoured in the new centre are several tutorial rooms named after alumni – Rob Kerin, former Premier of South Australia; Kevin Duggan AM, former Justice of the Supreme Court; and Professor Elizabeth Leane, former Rhodes Scholar. Another room is named for Sister Margaret Kenny RSJ, who was a tutor at the college for 25 years.

Brother Michael said that it was a wonderful opportunity for the current students to be able to welcome these people and members of their families to Aquinas.

Two tutorial rooms – the Loyola and Lavalla Rooms – honour the Ignatian and Marist heritage of the College. Members of the Jesuit, Marist and Dominican communities were all able to be present at the event.

Brother Michael spoke of the increasingly important role that the Lucey Centre is playing in the academic life of the students.

“A facility such as this underlies what a university college is all about,” he said.

“Especially in these COVID times when so much of their learning is delivered remotely, mutual accompaniment and tutorial support is proving to be greatly advantageous for our students. They want to be together.”

Brother Michael said that the effectiveness of the collegiate experience was evident in the latest set of results.

The Chapel of St Thomas was also attracting many positive comments.

“The Marist founder, St Marcellin, always thought that the chapel should be the most beautiful space in any college,” said Brother Michael.

“It is most fitting that a college named after Thomas Aquinas, who wanted to bring faith and reason into dialogue, dedicated a chapel and a learning centre on the same day.”