A New Reflection Area at Villanova
Published: 5 August 2018
Villanova College, which is administered in Coorparoo (Brisbane), Australia by the Order of St Augustine, has just completed a Baptism Reflection Area for its staff and students to spend quiet moments.
The baptism of Christ is recalled by a Scripture excerpt about his baptism, followed by another passage about his Great Commission to his disciples to “go and baptise throughout whole world.”
Looking at the Baptism Reflection Area in both directions
On the wall opposite are four quotes of St Augustine of Hippo (356 – 430 AD) from his book, Confessions, which has been called his spiritual autobiography. These quotes reveal Augustine’s intent upon living out his baptism for the rest of his life. The display features graphic art etched on metal panels and art reproductions which tell of the baptism of St Augustine. The dimensions of the Baptism Reflection Area are six metres by three metres.
The idea of providing this reflection area first arose over three years ago during the term in office of the previous Principal, Mr Dennis Harvey, but was not fully implemented until August 2018 partly because of building renovations in the vicinity. The present Principal, Mr Mark Stower, was pleased to complete the project.
Quote plaque on Augustinian logo; 2. Medieval fresco of the baptism of Saint Augustine; 3. The Baptism Reflection Area is on the far left at the entrance to the Staff Centre.
Fr Peter Wieneke OSA, College Chaplain, has been part of this initiative right from its concept phase. He explained in August 2018, “While the original idea was to tell the story of Augustine’s baptism, and alert the rest of us baptised to reflect on the ‘way of life’ that it requires, Mark Stower added the desire that it be a place where staff and students can step aside and thus have the reflection space and its concept support one of the gateway values of the College: ‘interiority’.“
The Baptism Reflection Area was blessed by Fr Alejandro Moral OSA, the Augustinian Prior General (international leader) when he visited from Rome in 2016, soon after the first few reflection panels were placed in the area.
