Media @JCU newsletter Notices 2019 Blessing of the Academic Year

2019 Blessing of the Academic Year

The Townsville campus 2019 Multifaith Blessing of the Academic Year was held on 6 March.

View from the back of the room, past all the audience, to the speaker at the lectern in the centre of the stage

Peter Hanley, Chairperson of the JCU Multifaith Chaplaincy Committee, leads the opening prayer.

Welcome to country from Sam Savage standing on stage, as William Mabo sits playing a didgeridoo

Sam Savage gives the Welcome to Country, while William Mabo plays reflective music on the didgeridoo.

Rev Canon Sharon Hayson stands at the lectern, holds the microphone

Rev Canon Sharon Hayston gives a prayer of blessing on behalf of the Anglican faith.

Noel Hopley and Alicia Walter stand at a lectern and share the microphone

A Baha'i prayer of blessing from Noel Hopley and Alicia Walter.

Phil Heang speaks into a microphone at a lectern

Phil Heang offers a Buddhist blessing.

Fr Joshy John stands at a lectern talking into a hand-held microphone

A Catholic prayer of blessing from Fr Joshy Josh.

Close up of the program, open, in someone's hand.

JCU Interfaith Commitment:

We commit ourselves as people of many faiths to work together for the common good, uniting to build a better society, grounded in values and ideals we share: community, personal integrity, a sense of right and wrong, learning, wisdom and love of truth, care and compassion, justice and peace, respect for one another, for the earth and its creatures.

We commit ourselves in a spirit of friendship and cooperation to work together alongside all who share our values and ideals, to bring about a better world now and for generations to come.

Two women, one in yellow holding a dish of flowers, one in red standing at a lectern

Meera Sivayoganathan (left) and Dr Smriti Krishna offer a Hindu blessing.

Imam Abdullah Salik wears prayer robes and holds a microphone while standing at a lectern

Imam Abdullah Salik offers a prayer of blessing on behalf of the Islamic community.

Alex Salvador sings into a microphone and plays guitar

Alex Salvador performed the Jewish hymn, Hinei Ma Tov.

Rev Bruce Cornish stands at a lectern holding a microphone, backs of audience heads in foreground

Rev Bruce Cornish gave the address on behalf of the Uniting Church of North Queensland.

Group shot of the people who spoke at the Blessing.

All photos: Bethany Keats, JCU Media