Catholic Chaplains and Pastoral Care Practitioners from across New South Wales came together in Mulgoa for their first-ever spirituality day, reflecting on the theme; The Jubilee Year of Hope.
Organised by the new Interdiocesan Chaplaincy Community of Practice, the event included prayer, formation and dialogue, while strengthening the Community of Practice across dioceses. It also affirmed the deep value of chaplaincy as a ministry of accompaniment and presence.
A day in the life of a chaplain
Bernard Ellis, Chaplaincy Manager at Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, gave an engaging and inspiring talk on the gifts and challenges of chaplaincy. He said chaplaincy is at the heart of providing pastoral care when people need it most.
Participants during the Interdiocesan Chaplaincy Community of Practice spirituality day. Image: Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains/Supplied
“Chaplaincy has the privilege and responsibility of working on the ‘margins’,” Bernard said.
“Chaplains go where most people would prefer not to go. Our natural reaction is to shy away from such places as prison, hospital and aged care places for they can be confronting.
“But chaplains, through their ministry, wish to live out the challenge of Jesus, ‘I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me’.” (Matthew 25:36)
After taking questions from the audience, Bernard presented a video exploring the lives of chaplains Richard Korkor and Joseph Wehbe. The video captured both the joys and challenges of ministering in Western Sydney’s hospitals and correctional centres.
In the video, Joseph described his ministry as a hospital chaplain as “being a presence when there is no presence.”
Richard reflected on his role as a prison chaplain: “I’ve learnt so much about my faith – about the human experience – by sitting with others… not in a pleasant environment, but on the fringes.
“It’s helping shape my faith… and my understanding of what it means to be Christ to others and what it means for others to be Christ to me.”
Parramatta chaplains lead Q&A panel
Together with Sr Mary Anh Vu and Catholic Healthcare’s Anne Ellis, Richard and Joseph also led a Q&A session that highlighted the everyday realities of supporting people in times of struggle.
(L-R) Catholic Care chaplains Joseph Wehbe and Richard Korkor, Sr Mary Anh Vu and Catholic Healthcare’s Anne Ellis. Image: Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains/Supplied
A collective mission to serve in times of brokenness
For chaplains serving in hospitals, prisons and youth detention centres, the gathering was a reminder of their shared mission to walk with people at their most vulnerable.
“We hope that it will be the first of many points of contact to help build support and professional development among those working in this special area of Catholic ministry,” said Peter Brown, Practice Manager Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, Diocese of Broken Bay – one of many dioceses represented at the gathering.
Peter explained that the Community of Practice grew from an initiative taken by the Executive Directors of CatholicCare Sydney, Parramatta and Broken Bay in 2019.
“Their goal was to encourage dialogue and sharing of ideas among managerial staff,” he said.
From these early meetings, the Interdiocesan Chaplaincy ‘Community of Practice’ was established, with a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2022 by the Executive Directors of CatholicCare in the three dioceses, plus Wollongong Diocese and Catholic Social Services NSW/ACT.
Chaplaincy is at the heart of the Diocese of Parramatta’s Pastoral Plan priorities of Mission, and reflects our commitment to reaching to the margins.
Visit Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains to learn more.
