New senior Catholic Prison Chaplain appointed

Friday, April 5th, 2013

The appointment of Sister Veronica Casey PBVM to the role of Senior Catholic Prison Chaplain has been announced with the appointment effective 25 March.

“I’m pleased that Sr Veronica Casey PBVM has accepted this role and look forward to working with her in this capacity. I’d like also to take the opportunity to applaud the work of the Catholic prison chaplains who undertake this ministry in challenging circumstances, said Archbishop John Dew, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

“Sr Veronica has a wide range of professional experience at managerial, advocacy and policy level, the foundations of which are gained in a very sound Catholic education followed by nursing training, and ongoing education and formation experiences with the Presentation Sisters. This background will be of great value in her new role as Senior Chaplain”, said Archbishop John Dew.

Sr Veronica joined the Chaplaincy Service in 2007 and prior to that gained experience of the justice system through practicum visits to Mount Eden and Paremoremo Prisons as part of a Psychiatric Nursing Course, some pastoral experiences in prisons in Ireland as well as working in Victim Support and as a Restorative Justice facilitator.

“Having worked in prison chaplaincy roles as well as other work that is similar I’m looking forward to taking up this position and leading a team of chaplains who do valuable work in our prisons to make a real difference in the lives of inmates and their families in often trying circumstances”, said Sr Veronica Casey

“Often the work of our chaplains is unknown to the wider community, but my experience in working with them is that they offer connection and a sense of community to people who very often feel alone and isolated from the rest of society”, she said.

Educated by Dominicans and Mercy sisters, Sr Veronica nursed in New Zealand and overseas, and undertook senior administrative roles as a health professional before a Presentation Sisters’ retreat marked the turning point in her life.

She made her final profession on 18 September 2012.

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