New Hospital Chaplain Commissioned

On 5 October Deacon Anthony Curran was commissioned as the Catholic chaplain at Lister Hospital, Stevenage, by Bishop Paul McAleenan for the diocese and Carolyn Fowler, Deputy Director of Nursing, for the Trust. The lead chaplain, Rev Rachel Allan, welcomed all present which included the chaplaincy team, chaplains, volunteers, priests and deacons from the diocese, and his family including his wife, Tracy Curran, who is an NHS midwife. John O'Neil, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, presented him with a Bible and a pyx, Colette Lennon a chaplain, from West Herts Trust presented him with a stole, and pupils from John Henry Newman School presented a candle. In his homily Bishop Paul emphasised that the deacon's ministry of service is well to the fore in the work of the hospital chaplain.