Ministries
Hospital
Chaplaincy
| The Patrician Brothers
were founded to minister to a contemporary pressing need: education of
the youth. And this is what most Patrician Brothers have been doing since
our foundation in 1808.
However, under the
influence of Vatican II and in the face of the "new" needs of our modern
world, religious congregations have been discerning how they may repsond.
Several of our Brothers
have volunteered to meet other needs within our society: as campus ministers,
a hospital chaplain, a parish worker, and as officers in the Catholic Education
Office.
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| Brother
Gerard Bulfin |
accepted into the
Australian College of Chaplains |
Westmead's chaplain, Brother Gerard Bulfin
was one of six chaplains from across Australia to be accepted into the
Australian College of Chaplains after receiving his membership badge in
a ceremony held recently in Perth. |
He is the third member or our Pastoral
Care Department to gain admission to the college. |
The Australian College of Chaplains was
founded 10 years ago to provide a recognisable standard of pastoral and
professional competence among chaplains. |
We congratulate Brother Gerard on his
admission as an Associate member and demonstrating an ongoing commitment
to excellence in the field of chaplaincy. |
Reverend Anthony Baker
Pastoral Care Department |
|
 Since
1994 Brother Gerard Bulfin has been one of the Catholic chaplains at the
Westmead Hospital, Sydney. He moved to this ministry after more than thirty-five
years in the classroom. Here he presents us with a few reflections on his
ministry to the sick.
A significant responsibility of my ministry
is to nurture hope and confront despair. Pastoral Care is, and has been,
concerned with healing, guiding, sustaining, reconciling and liberating.
When people are wounded and in need of healing; confused and in need of
guidance; alienated and in need of reconciliation; it should be obvious
that hope and despair are major psychological and theological dynamics.
As a hospital chaplain I do become involved
in death and dying issues, and this may not have a religious implication.
Loss and bereavement, the trauma of bodily/emotional deprivation can have
consequential effects on relationships. |
| One of the most
enriching parts of my work is that of working with the other mainline Churches.
Our resident chaplains include the Baptist Church, Ministers from the Anglican,
Presbyterian and Uniting Churches. We work together, share, assist and
pray together. In short we become counsellors, advocates, prophets, ministers
and friends to each other.
It becomes very much my privilege to
bring Holy Communions to the bedside and on occasions arrange the Sacrament
of the Sick. Sitting with the dying is a rare experience but beautiful.
I endeavour to look after family and friends in any circumstances.
As a Patrician Brother and chaplain,
I still have many things to learn - updating becomes a part of my vision
in the Hope that I become more proficient in caring for God's people based
upon Biblical concepts of God's "Shepherd" relationship with people. |
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Babies are always a
privilege.
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It's certainly not a
9 to 5 job.
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Health of body, spirit,
and soul.
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