President of Ireland meets European Chaplains
[Press release issued 5 September 2004]
President Mary McAlesse formally opened the meeting (Full
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Chaplaincy representatives from all over Europe gathered together in Dublin
from 1-5 September 2004 for the 8th Consultation of the European Network of
Health Care Chaplaincy.
The President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese formally opened the meeting.
Welcoming the visitors to Dublin, she said, “The existential and spiritual
dimension of suffering, illness and death is as real as the physical pain.
It creates a very testing and challenging set of needs and you are the
people who have responded to that challenge. Your skills offer the chance
for peace of mind, for healing of a different sort, for empathy and company
on the lonely journey that illness can be.” She applauded “the ecumenical
spirit” in which the representatives gathered together. [Text
of address by President McAlesse]
Also honouring the Network with their presence was the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, and the Anglican
Archbishop of the Church of Ireland, The Most Reverend John Robert Winder
Neill, together with other religious leaders of Dublin.
The Network is an ecumenical body which is composed of faiths, denominations
and organizations, which provide pastoral care in hospitals and various
health care facilities. Bringing together the various chaplaincy experiences
of all the health care systems in Europe, it aims to bring mutual sharing
and understanding both on a religious, cultural and organizational level.
Thirty-six participants came to Dublin from 23 countries, from as far away
as Finland in the north to Greece in the south, from Ireland in the west to
Bulgaria in the east.
Participants shared their diverse experiences of their countries and
explored ways to build bridges to those who work in and manage healthcare
systems, to church leaders and to the European Union at large. Although
coming from so many different places and situations the participants
discovered how much they had in common.
The Network elected Fr. Stavros Kofinas, representative of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, as Coordinator for the next two years.
Fr. Kofinas has been a leading light in enabling the Network to grow over
the past few years, working tirelessly to make contacts with leaders all
over Europe. As would be expected from such a European wide organisation,
the Network Committee consists of representatives from Belgium, Finland,
Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Participants left Dublin energized not only by their discussions but by the
wonderful Irish hospitality received at All Hallows College. The next
consultation will take place in Lisbon, Portugal in 2006.
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
Meeting at Dublin, Ireland
5 September 2004
www.eurochaplains.org
Email: webmaster@eurochaplains.org
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Kathleen O'Connor escorts the President into the meeting room.
Bishop Raymond Field welcomed the President. He is the Episcopal representative for Healthcare and chair person of the Catholic Health Care Commission.
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Kathleen O'Connor organister of the 8th Consultation welcomes the President
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President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese
President Mary McAleese chats to representatives from Sweden and Norway.
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President Mary McAleese is photographed with the representatives at All Hallows College.
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