I am very sad to have received the news that our member, Marlène Inauen, representative of the Swiss Catholic Chaplains has died during a retreat in Grenoble, France on Saturday March 16th 2013. Marlène went for a walk in the mountains, fell and died. Her funeral will be after Easter.
Simple words are not enough to describe what Marlène meant to a lot of people. She was a very competent chaplain in the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. Marlène was also engaged in the association of the Swiss Catholic Chaplains. She showed a great interest in the development of professional chaplaincy, in ecumenical issues related to chaplaincy, in ethics and faith issues. She was an engaged member of the ENHCC who participated in many consultations, her last one was in Estonia in 2008. Due to some health challenges and work she was absent in London (2010) and Mennorode (2012). Marlène regularly kept in contact with those responsible of the ENHCC. She signaled interesting books and trainings for the website, she commented on texts of the consultations. She also encouraged her association to donate extra funding for the network so that more chaplains could participate in the consultations. Marlène wrote more about her work and perspectives on http://www.enhcc.eu/switzerland.htm. Many of us have experienced Marlène as an open, intelligent, humble, warm, authentic, goodhearted woman of faith. It was a blessing to have her in our network and as a friend. We will miss her greatly and will honor her in our next consultation in Salzburg, Austria in 2014.
Thank you Marlène for everything you gave us
May you rest in the love and peace of God
Dr. Anne Vandenhoeck
Coordinator of ENHCC
Reaction of Fred Coutts, honorary member of ENHCC and webmaster for many years:
Marlène made a great impression on me when I first met her at the consultation held in Turku in Finland in 2002. I recall her lively and enthusiastic contributions to the discussions. (See the picture) In particular I remember walking in pouring midsummer rain, sharing an umbrella as we made our way to the lovely Maaria Church for Evening Prayers led by Bishop Ilkka Kantola.I learned a great deal from her at the various consultations we attended together, and often quoted her wisdom to chaplaincy colleagues in the UK. She open a window in my understanding of how chaplaincy and particularly Roman Catholic chaplaincy was being practiced in Europe. I recall her stories, her examples of pastoral care and her enthusiasm.
Reaction of Father Adamantios Avgoustidis, committee member of ENHCC
Marlène has always been a good hearted woman and a good friend. I will always remember how brilliant, dedicated to her vocation and faith she was and how friendly and warm to everyone.
Reaction of Kirsti Aalto, Honorary Participant of the Network:
I remember Marlene as a very kind, friendly and warm person, always positive, always ready to find solutions to problems.
Now we bless her memory.
May she rest in peace, in the hands of our Heavenly Father.