‘A wonderful experience’- this was Sally Rees and Debbie Ducille’s conclusion at the close of the first ever four-day training residential course on ‘Older People’s Ministry and the Anna Chaplaincy model’ at St Padarn’s Theological College, Cardiff, held last month from October 27-30.
A significant cohort of 20 women and men involved in different forms of public ministry gathered for a weekend of training and discussion, representing every diocese in the Church in Wales.
The course was over-subscribed, and will run again next summer.
Sally, our Anna Chaplaincy Lead in Wales and an experienced Anna Chaplain herself, as well as a priest, and trainer led the weekend supported by input from Debbie and from visiting Anna Chaplains Mavis Martin and Vicky Claridge.
Mavis soon revealed her gift as a raconteur; you could have heard a pin drop during her storytelling! Mavis and Vicky’s input was invaluable. The whole course was about rooting theory in practice, with Anna Chaplains from both lay and ordained backgrounds.
‘It was particularly encouraging for Sally to be in a room full of people who were all committed to pastoral ministry, and who seek to serve and honour older people in their communities,’ said Debbie.
‘We are especially thankful to the Revd Chris Burr and staff at St Padarn’s Institute who enabled the residential course to take place, and to the participants for their enthusiasm and grace as we trialed this format of training with them. The course will reviewed, and we all look forward to seeing how things develop in the coming year.’
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