Circle of Friends: Honorary Chaplains

The Pastoral Care staff meet many of the spiritual needs of the hospital, but others working at HUP or in the community have pastoral spirit as well. “These special people have faithfully supported Pastoral Care over the years,” said Denise Statham, administrative chaplain, adding, “they are giving and supportive in their dealings with others.”

Each year, Pastoral Care invites some of these people – “honorary chaplains” – into its Circle of Friends. Statham and James Browning, director of Pastoral Care, introduced the newest “friends” at Gospelrama:

• Janet Hospedale, catering manager, is a “bright sparkle for all of us here at HUP. She does incredible jobs that sometimes goes unnoticed.” For example, she took the time to make a wedding cake for a terminally ill patient and a birthday cake for an elderly patient who was hospitalized through several holidays. “Many marvel at her compassion and conscientiousness.”
• Cheryl Jones, who works at University Copy, “makes sure our things are printed. Even at the last minute, she’ll get it done and hand deliver it,” Jones said “It feels good to fulfill an order and see satisfaction on a customer’s face… I feel like I am part of making their project a success.”
• Luciano Russo, a mechanic in Materials Management, “works hard and we thank him continually for all his help. He’s a good listener and a good talker, and has attended clinical pastoral education classes to develop his own pastoral skills because people come to him for encouraging words.”
• Jesper Krosgaard-Jensen, a security officer in the Emergency Department, “has helped rehabilitate addicts and alcoholics and spent several years caring for cancer and AIDS patients. He is constantly encouraging people in their journeys. He did five units of clinical pastoral education and carries the spirit of pastoral care in his work in the Emergency Department.”