New digs for Catholic Health Australia

James Kemp, David Smith MP, Archbishop Prowse, Pat Garcia, the Hon John Watkins MP, Stephanie Panchision, Anthony Gooley, Deb Reynolds, Siobhan Tanzer

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) marked a new chapter this week by moving to new offices in Canberra with an official blessing by Archbishop Prowse of the Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese.

CHA’s board chair John Watkins welcomed Archbishop Prowse to the new premises at 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra.

Among the special guests attending were Mr David Smith MP, Member for Bean, CHA Board members and Secretariat staff. A number of Board members from around the country also joined in via Zoom due to COVID-19.

For his blessing, Archbishop Prowse used an adaptation from the Book of Blessing for a ritual for a new hospital or health facility. He said: “In this way we unite the work of this office with the healing ministry of Jesus in health and aged care.

“Today is the Feast of the Archangels, one of whom is Raphael, the patron of those involved in healing ministries. It seemed a particularly fitting day for this event.”

Mr Watkins thanked the CHA Secretariat staff for their great work in 2020 and said: “The response of CHA in opening our services to the public sector was a game changer for the COVID 19 response.” He added how significant this work had been as a service to all Australians.