After nine years of ministry as rector of St Mark’s, Yagoona, the Rev Peter Ellem has become the new Anglican chaplain to Westmead Hospital.

Yesterday was Mr Ellem’s first day in his new post.

After 18 years of parish ministry including curacies in England in the parishes of St Mary’s, Islington and St George’s, Leeds, Mr Ellem says he will miss this type of ministry.

“I will miss the sense of being part of God’s family in a particular location and trying to serve the local community by finding ways of sharing God’s good news there. I will miss seeing people grow in the discovery and use of their own gifts in their local church,” he says.

“At Yagoona, I will really miss working with a highly committed and godly group of lay people who are passionate about God and keen to serve.”

Mr Ellem says he has been interested in pursuing a more specific ministry in pastoral care for some time.

“I think at times of pain and uncertainty people are faced with the big questions of life. At those times they are open to God in ways that they are often not in their normal daily lives. Chaplaincy gives people who may never come to church the chance to encounter Jesus.”

Mr Ellem sees chaplaincy as a new way of using of his gifts.

“Over the years, I have seen many people go through painful issues and walked that path with them. I think God has enabled me to develop some ability to listen and to be able to help people explore God when they are in pain.”

Mr Ellem will be part of a multi-denominational team of about seven chaplains, with particular ward responsibilities and on call duties.

“I’m looking forward to meeting and working alongside the lay pastoral care volunteers, learning the ropes from them and my new colleagues and being part of the Anglicare team,” he says.