Lazarus Centre Chaplaincy Newsletter - St Francis’ Day 2023
‘An effort to forge a recovery of the sense of the human and
the value of each person in relationship with others.’
An excerpt from the address given by Bishop David Farrar at the St Peters Eastern Hill
Charitable Foundation Dinner at the Melbourne Club, 25th August 2023
When I became Vicar of St Peter’s, the parish attitude to social responsibility and care for the disadvantaged was so well known that the Salvation Army sent the people from their ‘too difficult’ basket to the Vicarage door with a carefully drawn and printed map. They used the map at any time of day and night.
While I was Vicar two special, but very different women, Jean Henderson (an amazing missionary in PNG) and Joyce Newton (a very forthright former director of nursing), started a breakfast programme. Until then all the care of the people off the street was at the Vicarage door day and night.
With the help of some members of the Order of St Lazarus and some committed parishioners we attempted to establish a place where the homeless could be given meals, provided with facilities for showers and clothes washing and be a house of welcome. We made efforts to obtain the use of the Old Mission House CHN in Spring Street.
I took our case to the Premier Joan Kirner who offered $100,000 towards our work but went to an election the next day. No money! I pursued the matter with the new Kennett Government and was told that there were no homeless people at this end of the city despite the carefully prepared statistics we took to them.
When I became Vicar of St Peter’s, the parish attitude to social responsibility and care for the disadvantaged was so well known that the Salvation Army sent the people from their ‘too difficult’ basket to the Vicarage door with a carefully drawn and printed map. They used the map at any time of day and night.
While I was Vicar two special, but very different women, Jean Henderson (an amazing missionary in PNG) and Joyce Newton (a very forthright former director of nursing), started a breakfast programme. Until then all the care of the people off the street was at the Vicarage door day and night.
With the help of some members of the Order of St Lazarus and some committed parishioners we attempted to establish a place where the homeless could be given meals, provided with facilities for showers and clothes washing and be a house of welcome. We made efforts to obtain the use of the Old Mission House CHN in Spring Street.
I took our case to the Premier Joan Kirner who offered $100,000 towards our work but went to an election the next day. No money! I pursued the matter with the new Kennett Government and was told that there were no homeless people at this end of the city despite the carefully prepared statistics we took to them.
The penniless wanderings of St Francis
The life of St Francis is especially remembered on the 4th October each year. He lived in 13th century Italy and is best known for starting the order that bears his name. He was a famous preacher, but he always sought to live simply and in harmony with all creation. Once when he was seeking what it was God would have him do, Francis became a penniless wanderer tending to the poor, sick and outcast. Rather than do all he could to escape poverty as most people would do, St Francis embraced it. No matter how poorly he was dressed himself he would readily give his clothes to someone in greater need.
It is important to understand that St Francis was not making an idol of poverty but rather striving to live his life totally dependent upon the grace of God. He became a master of letting go. He let go of his family, his wealth, his security, his reputation anything that he thought got between him and God. St Francis challenges us today to consider all creation and to rest on the sure foundation of God’s gracious providence.
I experienced what is possible when we are able to rest in the fundamental generosity of God allowing us to let go in a way that benefits others. At the close of the Breakfast program one day there were several toasted sandwiches left over. One last participant turned up and asked for breakfast. Staff asked him if he wanted the leftovers. He replied with a grateful ‘Yes’. After everything was closed and put away another person came and asked if there was any breakfast left. The person who received the last sandwiches gladly shared them with them. Just then another person came and asked for breakfast. Again, the generous person gave what he could have hoarded and saved for later. No matter what the rest of the day held for him he knew that breakfast would be available at St Peters tomorrow.
Fr Philip Gill
Understanding the influence of trauma in the caring relationship
Prison chaplains have been studying Karen McClintock’s book Trauma-Informed Pastoral Care: How to Respond When Things Fall Apart. The author brings together the latest theories about trauma awareness with some of the major challenges of modern times including, traumatic grief, natural disaster, and transgenerational racial trauma. She openly engages with her own trauma history and encourages readers to do likewise. Here are a few of her key insights from chapter 2, ‘Trauma-Informed Pastoral Care: An Adapted Model’:
The more we learn about trauma’s aftereffects, the better prepared we are to recognise and respond to trauma victims appropriately by avoiding reinjury and facilitating healing. (p.13)
How you respond in these circumstances can influence a trauma survivor’s long-term recovery. (p.15)
The four R’s of trauma-informed Care:
Realise trauma’s impact on individuals and groups.
Recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma.
Respond to trauma with supportive services.
Resist traumatisation by creating safe, supportive, and collaborative partnerships with victims/survivors. (p.16)
Affirm the wisdom of James Baldwin’s observation: ‘People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them.’ (p.16)
Everyone we work with, worship with and reach out to has a trauma history, and some are currently symptomatic. (p.16)
Fr Philip Gill