Listening and Prayer Ministry Meet with New Chaplain

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The Diocese of East Anglia Listening and Prayer Ministry offers compassionate, faith-based support to adults in need, providing trained Helpers and ongoing support. Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, Dr Antonia Braithwaite reports.

The Diocese of East Anglia’s Listening and Prayer Ministry was launched in the summer of 2022 and has since been providing free of charge support to people in need across the Diocese. Bishop Peter Collins recently appointed Fr Leo Marianu, parish priest at Our Lady Immaculate & St Etheldreda in Newmarket, as the ministry’s chaplain. In January 2025, the team held a Retreat Day led by Fr Leo, focusing on team building and spiritual enrichment, which was attended by most members of the ministry.

The Listening and Prayer Ministry offers adults within the Diocese a confidential space to talk about their concerns with a trained Catholic Helper who shares their faith. The Helpers are highly skilled in listening and prayer, aiming to bring comfort, healing, and a deeper connection to Christ. Sessions also help individuals to clarify their difficulties and decide on any next steps they may wish to take. If appropriate, Helpers can signpost individuals to external services or resources within the Church.

Meetings are available either via Zoom or, where possible, in person, held in parish or religious house meeting rooms. Each session lasts up to an hour, and individuals may attend up to six sessions, either weekly or with breaks in between, as agreed with their Helpers. Sessions always involve two Helpers – one focusing on listening and the other on prayer. Individuals are welcome to return for further support in the future.

Over the past two and a half years, the team has assisted people facing a wide range of spiritual, physical, social, emotional, and psychological challenges.

As part of their ongoing formation, team members have also received specialist training in bereavement care, delivered by Mr Simon Mustoe-Arthur, an expert in supporting those who have lost loved ones. Knowing how to respond sensitively to grief, what to say (and what not to say), and how to offer compassionate presence can be difficult. These additional training sessions have provided valuable insights and opportunities for team members to ask questions, further enhancing their ability to serve in this vital ministry.

If you would like to book a session with the Listening and Prayer Ministry please fill in the Booking Form: https://www.rcdea.org.uk/listening-and-prayer/