Sheffield Children’s Chaplain celebrates ordination ceremony

Sheffield Children’s came celebrated Reverend Sister Kathy Green’s enormous impact on the lives of patients, families and staff members  in a ceremony which saw her officially ordained as a minister.

Kathy began her journey at Sheffield Children’s in September 2009 and was originally licensed at Sheffield Children’s in a lay capacity, meaning that she had not yet been bestowed with priesthood. The recent ceremony means that Kathy is now an ordained priest and will continue to offer her services to our entire Sheffield Children’s community.

Whilst many choose to have this ceremony take place in a larger venue, Kathy was adamant that her ceremony would take place right here, in the Chapel at Sheffield Children’s. Kathy said: “It was really important for me to have the ceremony at Sheffield Children’s. This is where I have the closest connection to my faith, and where I have the strongest connection to the community too. I’ve built up 15 years of history here, and wanted to cement my ministry in the same place where I started it.”

Like many, Kathy found her faith in adulthood. Following the tragic passing of a family member, her journey has taught her the value of a non-judgemental person in a time of crisis. Kathy said: “My journey into faith began when my brother passed away. I had so many questions and went into a deep rabbit hole looking for answers. I became a Christian when I was 27 and started training for lay ministry five years after that. I just felt the call to chaplaincy, working alongside people in times of grief and pain and loneliness was the Kathy shaped hole I had been looking for. I’ve never looked back.”

Now leading the Chaplaincy team at Sheffield Children’s, Kathy always finds time to support patients, families, and staff members across Sheffield Children’s. Kathy said: “When people think of a chaplain, they often think that we’re all about religion, but we are equally available to people who are of no faith. It is all about delivering person-centred care. I can remember once a family asked me to do a funeral but to have no mention of heaven or God. We talked a bit more and realised that the language that they liked was love and eternity. Sometimes it is about finding the right words that fit each family.”

As part of her role, Kathy feels privileged to sit with members of our community through some of their darkest times, regardless of faith, and offer invaluable personal support to all who seek it. Kathy said: “As chaplains, we find ourselves going towards people when others are running away, that’s where my faith comes in. I know that I’m meant to be there to help them. We often find ourselves sitting in the darkness with families, and sometimes there are no words that you can offer, but being there is enough. I always say that I meet the most incredible people, but I wish it were under different circumstances. It’s a privilege to be there next to them.”

The chaplaincy is not just open to patients and families, but to staff members too. Grieving or otherwise, Kathy is always there with a biscuit and a cuppa to have an important conversation. Kathy said: “We do it with staff too, offering bereavement support. We are led by them, taking us where they want to go and making sure they feel supported in doing so. There are so many wonderfully lovely people across the Trust. To be able to offer them a cuppa, have a laugh and a cry and overall to support them is the most important thing.”

“It’s really important that this type of care is offered at Sheffield Children’s. We have so much diversity within religions and backgrounds here, and across Sheffield. As a chaplaincy team, we focus on being a group of people with receiving all in need with open arms.”

Many members of our Sheffield Children’s community turned out to see Kathy’s ceremony, including Trust Chair Professor Laura Serrant CBE, who said: “It was fantastic to be a part of Kathy’s ceremony. To share in the unbridled joy with staff, families, and ministers from across Sheffield was so special, and everyone was so pleased to be there with Kathy on her special day. We love to hear about the achievements of our staff at Sheffield Children’s. Kathy deserves to be celebrated for the service that she provides patients, families, and staff across the Trust, and being a part of that celebration was a great honour.”

Kathy was touched to see such a wonderful turnout for the event. Kathy said: “It was amazing to see so many people in our chapel. From members of the executive board at Sheffield Children’s to chaplains from across Sheffield. People from within the trust and my own family too. Just to know that people wanted to come and celebrate the occasion with me was amazing. Part of the service feels like a marriage for me and Sheffield Children’s. I stand there and commit myself wholeheartedly to this place, our families and our staff with every fibre of my being. This is my place and I take this very seriously.”

Kathy was particularly moved to see Claire, mum of former patient Joe, who showed her support at the ceremony too. Kathy said: “It was really important that I had representation from our patients and families there too, so to see Claire, the mother of a former patient who sadly passed away, was so touching. I’ve sat and cried and laughed with hundreds of families and that is why this place is so important. To have a mum there to represent all of the families I’ve seen was wonderful.”

“That is what I love about this place. You see everybody and you get to know all of these people. Things don’t always go the way that you think, but to be there for everybody in that moment is a privilege.”

We’d like to thank Kathy for speaking to us and offer our most heartfelt congratulations on becoming an ordained minister.