A retired nurse has pledged to support those who face loneliness within her Suffolk community.
Cathie Fraser has been ordained a deacon for Melton and Ufford, near Woodbridge, by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the Rt Revd Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell.
As a deacon she will be acting as a bridge between the church and the community, balancing spiritual support with practical, logistical and charitable leadership.
Cathie describes a pivotal moment in her life when she was with a dying woman as being the catalyst for her desire to grow in the Church of England ministry. Now she is keen to ensure that the churches she serves can make a difference to their communities – ‘Church can be a place of welcome, of celebration, of consolation and support. It can be a place of safety and acceptance, comfort and fellowship.
‘It can be a place of exploration and discovery, learning and growth. A place where world views can be examined and sometimes conflict resolved. It can be an answer to loneliness for all age groups. It can be a place of warmth in cold weather, and food for the hungry, a place of generosity, and of love,’ said the 71-year-old single parent with two adopted children.
Initially, she helped at St Andrew’s Church, Melton, with cleaning and coffee rotas, running the toddler group and Messy Church.
Then Cathie became a member of the pastoral care team and says the Covid lockdown was a time of great spiritual growth for her as she studied and prayed.
Her career spans 23 years in the NHS and nearly 20 years in education, including roles such as a ward sister, children’s hospice nurse, foster carer, and learning support assistant before retirement at 70.
‘I am just an ordinary person. A mum, a sister, a nurse, a teaching assistant, a pensioner, a neighbour, a child of Christ,’ she said.
Cathie added: ‘I’m looking forward to learning, working and serving in both churches in the benefice.I like the idea of a deacon being an additional bridge between church and community. I hope I can bring the news of God’s love to those who may never have experienced it or seen it as relevant to themselves.’