New hospital chaplains (l-r): Kathryn van Woerkom, Elizabeth Wootton, and Marie Paurini with Dave Olivier, CSS Director. Photo: WelCom
WelCom June 2018:
David Olivier
Catholic Social Services has appointed three new lay Catholic chaplains to hospitals in the Wellington region to provide ministry.
Elizabeth Wootton has been appointed to Wellington Hospital. She brings experience in pastoral care for people in many contexts within the Archdiocese. Elizabeth has taken on significant training and study for this role and has, ‘a great passion and calling to this ministry’. She says, ‘Through him, with him, and in him resonates with me. Synod ‘17 invites us to the peripheries and at hospital we meet all sorts of people. Chaplaincy is a privilege.’
Kathryn van Woerkom has been appointed to Hutt Hospital as a part-time chaplain. Kathryn is well-known in the Hutt Valley and brings a knowledge of the community from her parish work. She has a background in teaching young children and has studied in pastoral ministry and chaplaincy training. Kathryn says, ‘It’s privilege to work in the role as chaplain and to be with a patient and their family at a time the patient is unwell or towards the end of their life.’
Marie Paurini has been appointed a part-time chaplain at Kenepuru Hospital. She has been involved as a voluntary chaplain assistant for nine years there and so brings a history of experience as well as an array of training, study and expertise in preparation for becoming a chaplain. She says ‘I find it such and honour and a privilege to be in this ministry. It’s a vocation and a journey that I’m drawn into.’
We wish the three chaplains all the best in their new roles as they grow in experience and provide the pastoral and spiritual care to the patients we know will benefit from their care. Our prayers and blessings go with them.
David Olivier is Director, Catholic Social Services, Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre, Wellington.