Cobar Catholic Church priest, Fr Paul Finucane was welcomed as a NSW Police Chaplain at an investiture service at the Cobar Police Station last Wednesday.
Central North Police District Superintendent Timothy Chinn said he was pleased to be able to welcome Fr Paul to the NSW Police “Blue Family” in the role of Cobar Police Station’s new Police Chaplain.
“Fr Paul will provide a key role in supporting our Police and their families in this area,” Superintendent Chinn said.
“Police Chaplains are here to minister to the spiritual welfare of members of the Police Force, retired Police, Police widows, widowers and their immediate families.”
Superintendent Chinn said Chaplains have had a long history with the military and Police forces.
He said NSW Police Chaplains have been present at most major disasters and critical incidents including the Newcastle earthquake and Kempsey bus crash (both in 1989) and at numerous bushfires.
“As well as the fulltime Chaplains, there are approximately 100 Regional Chaplains, representative of all major denominations,” Superintendent Chinn said.
“Police Chaplains provide a number of key services to the NSW Police, including: respond to critical and trauma events; counselling regarding personal and moral problems relating to work, marriage, relationships and family; involvement when required in the preparation and celebration of marriages, baptisms and other religious services; hospital and house calls in cases of illness; perform or attend Police funerals and assist families in time of bereavement, if appropriate; involvement in all levels of police training; assignment to various police functions to offer prayers, invocations, benedictions and dedications’ and support Police officers at emergency situations and at the scenes of disasters,” he said.
NSW Police Senior Chaplain Ian Schoonwater, Senior Chaplain Paul O’Donoghue, local Police officers, members of the St Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church congregation and students and staff of St John’s School were also present for Fr Paul’s investiture last week.
Senior Chaplain Schoonwater said Fr Paul was one of three new far west Police Chaplains they have recently welcomed to the NSW Police Force.
He explained that a chaplain is firstly selected on their suitability to the role and, with Fr Paul’s 41 years experience as a Catholic Priest, his prior experience as an Army Chaplain and a Chaplain with the State Emergency Service, he was well suited to the position.
Fr Paul has begun building relationships with the local Police staff and will receive ongoing professional development to help him carry out his role.
