Multi-Faith Centre now in the heart of campus
Published on 20 February, 2013
Uni staff, students, community members and representatives of religious faiths including Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Bahá'í attended the launch of a new Multi-Faith Centre which will literally bring spirituality closer to the heart of CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus.
Located near the campus flagpoles, the Chancellery building and the bus-stop, the new Centre replaces a 'sacred garden building', which was not only tucked away in a remote part of campus, but was also in need of major repairs.
Visiting Multi-Faith Chaplain Shaji Joseph welcomed others to the launch which included an Indigenous smoking ceremony carried out by Wade Mann, a representative of the local Darumbal people.
This was followed by a lamp-lighting ceremony performed by representatives from several religions, who also provided prayers, readings and reflections on the theme of 'love and compassion'.
Key participants included Anglican Bishop Godrey Fryar, Fr John Grace (Catholic), Graham Duckworth (Bahá'í), Professor Masud Khan (Islam), Associate Professor Nanjappa Ashwath and Priya Ravi (Hinduism) and Rhonda Shuker (Buddhism).
The new Multi-Faith Centre will provide a location where students and staff can gather for prayer and meditation, appointments with the Chaplain, and other faith-based and spiritual events.
Various speakers spoke about the benefits for people seeking comfort, consolation, prayer and spiritual sustenance.
Representing the Buddhist faith, Rhonda Shuker lights an oil lamp
Key project supporters thanked included Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman, Geoff Clarke from Chameleon Modular Concrete Buildings and members of the Division of Facilities Management and the Multi-Faith Reference Committee.
The building will be open from 7am-9pm each day and will be available for people of all faiths and even people of no faith seeking deeper meaning, reflection, understanding, tolerance and respect.
Witnessing the official opening were L-R Dorothy Rosenberg, Beryl Broughton, Judy Shepherd, Dorothy Moller and Jan Nightingdale 
An external view of the new facility 
Councillor Stephen Schwarten with Priya Ravi (left) and Sheera Abdulla 
LINK for a larger image