Canberra MP Gai Brodtmann reckons Bishop Pat Power has ''rock star status'', so loved and admired is the retired Catholic bishop for his social justice advocacy.
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She made the comment while opening the $2 million Bishop Pat Power Performing Arts Centre at St Edmund's College on Friday.
A humble Bishop Power was quick to point out that while he was honoured to have the centre named after him, he actually couldn't sing a note.
''When God was giving out his gifts, I'm not sure that I got any from the performing arts area,'' he said.
That didn't stop the 71-year-old Eddies old boy from having a bit of a go on the drums in the new centre, which principal Peter Fullagar said would now be affectionately known as ''The Powerhouse''.
Bishop Power has a long association with St Edmund's. He was just 12 when he became a foundation student in 1954. He was a chaplain from 1967 to 1971. He also had four nephews come through as students over a 19-year period.
Bishop Power said the performing arts centre was a good reflection of the philosophy of Catholic educationalist Edmund Rice, which was about educating the whole person.
He said St Edmund's might be known as a rugby school but the performing arts centre showed there was much more to the institution.
''I pray that this performing arts centre will enhance St Edmund's already outstanding reputation as it contributes to the aesthetic, the spiritual, the moral and the intellectual development of its students,'' he said.
The executive director of Edmund Rice Education Australia, Wayne Tinsey, said it was very appropriate that the performing arts centre be named after Bishop Power.
''No leader in our church in Australia has done more to advance the values of justice, inclusion and the community good,'' he said.
Dr Tinsey told the students during the opening ceremony that the school community, including parents, had worked hard to see the centre come to fruition.
''You can repay them by striving to use your gifts and talents as best you can for the making of a better world,'' he said.
Mr Fullagar said the performing arts centre was part of a $4 million stage one redevelopment at St Edmund's that also included a revamped entrance to the college and refurbishment of the brothers' quarters.
The federal government had contributed $600,000 and the rest had been raised through the school community, including donations from parents.
The centre was designed by Cox Architecture and built by Capezio and Co, Mr Fullagar noting that many of the tradesmen were older brothers or fathers of the students or old boys themselves.
It had been transformed from a dark space known as The Basement to a light and airy space including rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, theatre space and facilities for wardrobe design and storage.