Chaplaincy

Hospital and prison chaplains have gracefully learned to continue to be flexible in their ministry during the COVID restrictions imposed by each of the hospital networks, forensic mental health and the Department of Correctional Services.

The chaplains are allocated to the hospitals in the diocese under a memorandum of understanding with the hospital network. The restrictions on visitors made the need for chaplaincy even more important to help bridge the gap between patient and relatives. Thankfully the hospitals worked collaboratively to ensure that patients with COVID were not denied the sacraments, but offered in a safe way. We are grateful to the on-call priests who offered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to many patients.

The prisons have their own way of managing COVID and the impact on the prisoners is significant. We welcomed Jennifer Sherlock to chaplaincy at Lyell McEwin and Modbury Hospitals and Pauline Connell began at the Women’s Prison as well as the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Helena Sweeney returned home to the UK after many years in Australia.

The chaplains met with the Ministry Formation students on Zoom to share their experiences of being with patients and families nearing death. They shared how they spoke with patients and families, and about the importance of the ministry of presence at those times.

There are ongoing challenges for chaplaincy in hospitals and prisons, particularly as Australia becomes a more secular society. However, it is interesting to know that Catholics reach out for the sacraments when sick or dying even though they may have not have had much connection with the Church for many years.