LAST Tuesday was no doubt one of the toughest days ever for Queensland Police Service (QPS) chaplain Pauline Father Columba Macbeth-Green.
As chaplain to the QPS’ South Eastern Region, Fr Columba (as he is known within the service) was called to officiate at the funeral service for slain Gold Coast policeman Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding.
When Fr Columba, who is also prior of Canungra’s Marian Valley monastic community, spoke to The Catholic Leader last Monday, he was preparing mentally and spiritually for the police officer’s funeral at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach.
At the time, the priest was speaking from the South Eastern QPS headquarters at Surfers Paradise.
He was also preparing a homily that was delivered to countless thousands – both present at the convention centre and watching a live telecast shown on two television channels – across Queensland and beyond.
The funeral, which drew about 5000 mourners from the Queensland Police Service and the general community, started at 11am the following morning.
In his homily Fr Columba spoke on the theme of love, and recalled the countless acts of love he had witnessed in his ministry as police chaplain since the shooting.
Detective Senior Constable Leeding, a 35-year-old married father of two, died on June 1 after succumbing to injuries sustained from a shotgun blast to the face.
He was shot when he and another officer responded to a call about an armed robbery at the Pacific Pines Tavern on May 29.
Fr Columba, who was a chaplain to the NSW Police for 10 years before starting his role with Queensland Police about four years ago, said support in the days after the shooting had been very much two-way.
“It’s been my role to go daily to the hospital to support Damian’s family and friends in their grief and to visit his colleagues at Coomera and other stations, to ‘be there’ for them, to pray, to listen, to laugh and to grieve with them,” he said.
“Basically, we’re all supporting each other through this.
“Some of the police took me into Surfers to have a coffee and help me through as well.
“It’s been extremely tough all round.”
A lolly jar adorned with a blue-and-white checked band is among counselling tools Fr Columba uses in his work as police chaplain.
Often police officers are out in the field when he visits them so the priest leaves a lolly on their desks to let them know he’s called.
He calls the treats an “icebreaker”.
The lolly jar served a similar purpose at the Gold Coast Hospital where the critically injured policeman was being treated.
“I put lollies around the ICU and also raised money through raffles,” Fr Columba said.
“This was a way of connecting with all the people coming to visit Senior Constable Leeding.”
Fr Columba also led a memorial service on the main stage at Pacific Pines Shopping Centre at noon last Sunday.
Thousands of mourners attended the service held near the scene of the crime.
In a show of support for the Leeding family, many gave donations.
Fr Columba called for prayers for those affected by the shooting.
“I can only do what I do because of the prayer support of my community of Brothers at Marian Valley, the wider Marian Valley family and the many people who pray for my ministry all over south-east Queensland,” he said.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said: “Fr Columba’s care, concern and compassion for all police on the Gold Coast during this very difficult, traumatic period has been warmly appreciated.
“The work that Fr Columba performs in his ministry as a Queensland Police Service chaplain touches the lives of almost all police.
“On a daily basis we, as police, see the worst humanity has to offer.
“We have to constantly deal with murders, horrific traffic crashes and heinous sexual offences.
“Just knowing that Fr Columba will always be there to listen, have a cuppa or beer with us – and help us come to terms with the emotional extremes of police work – can quite literally mean that we can continue to turn up to work to protect the community.
“Fr Columba and fellow police chaplain Graeme Ramsden (who supported in the celebration of Senior Constable Leeding’s funeral) are the great unsung heroes of the Queensland Police Service.”
