Diocesan Post - March 2013 - The Anglican Diocese of British ...

4 THE DIOCESAN POST MARCH 2013
Conversation with…….
Lt. (N) the Rev. Jeannine Friesen
As we continue with our conversations,
this month we are
speaking with Lt. (N) the Rev.
Jeannine Friesen who is a Fleet
Chaplain stationed at Canadian
Forces Base – Esquimalt.
DP: I understand you
are a relatively new Naval
Chaplain. Tell us about your
background and what you
did before becoming an ordained
minister.
JF: I was ordained in 1985
and was Curate at a church in
Brockville, ON, before marrying
Doug Friesen in 1988.
Doug was a Chaplain in the
Canadian Forces. I grew up in
a military family and always
vowed I would never marry
anyone in the military or join
myself. God has a terrific sense
of humour! Over the course
of the time that I’ve been a
Chaplain’s wife, I’ve worked
in a number of civilian parishes
in BC, Alberta and Ontario.
I’ve been very blessed to have
found fruitful, meaningful
ministry everywhere we’ve
been posted. My time as a
military spouse has certainly
given me a unique perspective
on military life. I know both its
stresses and its great rewards.
I bring all this experience
with me in my position as a
Chaplain when I meet with the
sailors and their families.
DP: How long have you
been in the Chaplaincy?
JF: I joined the Chaplaincy
in 2009. I’d often been asked
why I wasn’t a Chaplain. For
a long time I felt that one military
member in the house was
enough. But a few years ago
someone asked again and I realized
that this was something I
really needed to think and pray
about. The time was right.
DP: Where have you
served?
JF: My current position as a
Fleet Chaplain in Esquimalt is
my first posting. We are being
posted to Ottawa this summer
and, although I will miss
sailing with the Pacific Fleet, I
look forward to seeing a different
part of the Chaplaincy.
DP: What is your role as a
Fleet Chaplain?
JF: As a Fleet Chaplain,
my primary role is to go to sea
with the ships. Chaplains are
in the very privileged position
of being deployed with the
sailors, soldiers and air men
and women wherever they are
sent around the world and in
whatever circumstances. I am
expected to get to know the
men and women on the ship
and assist them with spiritual
or social issues that may arise.
Chaplains also are involved in
compassionate situations that
develop. For example, once
on a sail it was my sad duty to
inform a sailor that one of his
parents had died. This type of
notification is difficult but it
certainly is at a time like that
when the work and ministry of
a Chaplain is particularly appreciated.
DP: You have recently
been on a tour of duty
aboard HMCS OTTAWA.
Where did it take you, and
how long were you at sea,
etc?
1525 Begbie Street, Victoria
(Corner of Begbie & Belmont)
250-595-4324 www.stbarnabaschurch.ca
Sundays:
Low Mass 8:00 am
Sung Mass 10:30 am
with Godly Play Sunday School and Nursery program for infants
Weekdays:
Low Mass 9:00 am, except Wednesday at 7:00 pm
Candlelight Compline:
8:00 pm every 4th Sunday
A quiet, contemplative service
with beautiful choral singing and monastic chant.
Theology on Tap:
meets at the Fernwood Inn the 2nd Monday of the month
and after Candlelight Compline on the 4th Sunday.
A discussion group on faith and philosophy for inquiring minds of all ages.
Upcoming Sunday Concerts Series:
3:00 pm Tickets $10
Come and enjoy our final concert in this years’ series!
On March 17, we present the Vox Humana Choir as they perform David
Lang’s reflective setting of The Little Match Girl. Based on the short story by
Hans Christian Andersen, it combines the original story with influences from
various sources, including Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.
JF: During the past seven
months I was at sea for the
better part of four months with
HMCS OTTAWA. I sailed with
the ship during RIMPAC, an
international exercise involving
militaries of many nations.
This RIMPAC was the largest
ever and involved Canadian
air, land and sea assets. Later
in the year I deployed with
OTTAWA for Op Caribbe,
an operation focused on drug
interdiction.
DP: What would be a
day’s routine while at sea?
JF: One of the wonderful
things about being a Chaplain
on a ship is that I get to go
pretty much wherever I want
to go. The Padre gets around
and chats with the crew in
order to build up a pastoral
presence and become familiar
with what is happening.
Sometimes Chaplains refer to
this as “Loitering With Intent”.
The goal is to let the crew get
to know you so that when they
have something they need to
discuss they will feel comfortable
coming to see you. I
made it part of my routine to
take part in PT every morning
and to help serve meals in the
galley. I set aside some time to
pray and read each day. I held
a Church service every Sunday
and would spend time during
the week planning my homily
and arranging for music. I also
would work my way around
the ship chatting with folks in
their work spaces and asking
them about their jobs.
DP: Can you tell us an
exciting story or two from
your trips?
JF: During RIMPAC all of
the ships involved met in Pearl
Harbour for a number of days.
I participated in an Interna-
Photo: Submitted
Lt. (N) the Rev. Jeannine Friesen
en route to HMCS Ottawa via
Sea King helicopter
tional Chaplains Conference
and was part of a panel of
Chaplains discussing how this
ministry differs from nation
to nation. It was an interesting
discussion. While much of our
work is similar there are some
important differences. For example,
Canadian and American
Chaplains are not permitted
to carry weapons. Australian
Chaplains can decide whether
or not they will carry a weapon
with the understanding that
their choice may dictate where
they are permitted to go.
American Chaplains travel
with a Religious Programming
Specialist (a non-officer
member of the US Navy) who
carries a weapon and provides
protection for the Chaplain and
him/herself.
While alongside in Pearl
Harbour a number of folks
from the ship decided to go
skydiving over the north coast
of Oahu. They said, “The Padre
needs a jump!” So I went with
them and did a tandem dive
from 12,000 ft. It was exhilarating
and I am very happy I
decided to pay for pictures and
video! What a great souvenir.
During Op Caribbe the OT-
TAWA intercepted a fishing
boat near Costa Rica carrying
over 1000 kg of cocaine. It was
very interesting and unique to
see that process unfold.
DP: When you are here
at home base, what are your
daily duties? - Do they vary
from those at sea?
Padre Friesen onboard HMCS Ottawa during the recent RIMPAC exercise.
JF: My primary role when
alongside is to meet with and
counsel and support military
members and their families
in need. I also get around and
visit on the ships when they
are in port. The Chaplains all
take turns doing Duty when we
are in port as well as officiating
and preaching at St Peter’s
Naval Chapel in Belmont Park.
DP: What are the challenges
facing a Naval Chaplain
today?
JF: One challenge is the
increasingly diverse religious
face of the Canadian Forces.
The CF reflects what is happening
throughout the whole
of Canadian society. There are
more Muslims, Jews, Hindus
and an array of other faith
groups evident in the military
now in a way there certainly
was not when I was growing
up. The Chaplain needs to
have an understanding of faiths
other than her/his own. Also,
more and more members of the
CF report that they belong to
that group known as “No Religious
Expression”. A question
Chaplains routinely ask these
days is how we can be relevant
and minister to this part of
our military. These challenges
provide many opportunities
for new insights and learning
for the Chaplains. We really do
have a great job.
DP: How do you find personnel
react to working with
a female chaplain?
JF: I’ve never really encountered
any issues because
I am a female Chaplain. The
only question I get asked as
a result of being a woman is
if I should be called Padre.
I’m happy to be called Padre.
Although it is a male term, the
sailors use it because it describes
my role.
DP: We wish you God’s
Blessing as you continue your
work and as you get ready to
move to Ottawa.
Photo: Submitted