Chaplains’ work crucial for Church

“Your work as chaplains is one of the most important missions in the Church”. That was the message from Dr Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, to  thirty members of the Chaplains Network at Third Level, in the St Stephen’s Chaplaincy, Friday 13 Nov 09. UCD chaplain Leon Ó Giolláin SJ organised the day of reflection on (i) the psychosocial benefits of religious practice and young adults and (ii) a vision for chaplaincy in contemporary society. Dr Martin said the chaplains were educationalists in the broadest and best sense because they imparted not just knowledge but wisdom. Dr. Patricia Casey, Professor of Psychiatry at UCD  spoke about her recently published research on religious practice. ‘Religion is good for you’  sums up the message emanating from a very broad range of rigorous research.