VOLUNTEERS from Brisbane archdiocese’s Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care (CPPC) were recently told by Federal Member for Brisbane Arch Bevis that “their blood was worth bottling”.
The occasion was the awarding of an Australian Government National Volunteer Recognition Certificate 2009.
However, as CPPC co-ordinator Janine De Maria explained to The Catholic Leader the volunteers nearly didn’t get to hear these words of encouragement as a group.
Mrs De Maria said the group had received the award after being nominated by Centacare Brisbane’s pastoral ministries director Fr John Chalmers.
“But when I received the invitation to the award event to be held on June 19, it was only for myself and two other people,” she said.
“It didn’t seem right though as the volunteers, about 100 in all, were making such a contribution and all had gone through quite strenuous training to equip them for work as pastoral carers in the psychiatric area.”
So Mrs De Maria contacted Arch Bevis’ office to express her concerns.
“They explained that only sixty were catered for (including award winners from other organisations) and there was no way all volunteers could come.
“I still wasn’t comfortable and explained why.
“Then, lo and behold, a few days later one of the people from the Member’s office phoned to say she had talked to Arch and he was going to come to us to present the certificate.”
Fr Jim Smith, who co-founded CPPC with Mrs De Maria in 1987 starting with prayer support groups and Mass at Fortitude Valley in the parish hall in the grounds of St Patrick’s Church, said it had been wonderful that as many as possible of the volunteers had been able to gather to witness the presentation of the certificate.
In all more than 40 of the 100 volunteers were able to attend the presentation held on July 13, Fr Smith said.
Two of the organisation’s earliest volunteers – Onorina Pelizzon and Christian Brother Len Kempster – received the award on behalf of all volunteers.
For information on Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care or on volunteering phone the CPPC office (07) 32525461.
