New Taranaki DHB Chaplain Celebrates Hospital Chaplaincy Week

New Taranaki DHB Chaplain Murray Elliot is happy to be back in his home town working with staff and patients across Taranaki. “It feels good to be here, everyone has been helpful and welcoming,” he said.

Murray, a born and bred Taranaki man, was brought up in a house only a stones throw away from Taranaki Base hospital.

He returns home from Palmerston North where he had been chaplain at the MidCentral DHB for the past four years.

As a motor mechanic by trade he decided he wanted to stop fixing things and start helping people.

“My wife says I have the gift of the gab” said Murray. “But as a chaplain you have to learn to not be afraid of silence”.

Murray says in chaplaincy you do a lot of listening and sometimes just sitting with someone until they are ready to talk.

This week is hospital chaplaincy week - Comfort in Crisis – which raises awareness for the service that offers support, encouragement and comfort to many patients, families and staff in hospital every day.

Regardless of faith or cultural beliefs, Hospital Chaplains are there to listen and offer encouragement to everyone when needed.

At Taranaki Base Hospital a celebration service is being held on Thursday 22 September in the chapel at 2.00pm. Staff are welcome to come along and learn more about our chaplaincy services.

Media are invited to meet Murray Elliot at 1.30 on Thursday before the service. Please let me know if you intend to come.

For more information please call

Sue Carrington
Media Advisor
Ph 021 367 789

Last updated: Wednesday, October 30, 2013