New chaplains for St George and Sutherland

Sashi Grayndler is the new full-time Anglicare chaplain to St George Hospital in Kogarah. Experienced in a range of chaplaincy areas – including community chaplaincy, bushfire recovery and aged care –she began at the hospital in December. She replaces the Rev David Lakos , who retired on December 16 after 34 years of ordained chaplaincy, both at the hospital and in the parishes of Fairfield, Riverstone, Forestville and Beacon Hill.

Says Mrs Grayndler: “As a chaplain in the hospital setting, it is my honour to provide pastoral care and spiritual support to patients, hospital staff and to the family and friends of those in hospital... We offer a listening ear, a compassionate presence, and – to those of the Christian faith – an offer to pray, read the Bible and take Communion together.

“What a privilege to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this setting, to demonstrate his love and compassion for those who are going through challenging times.”

In other moves, Lisa Russell became the new chaplain to Sutherland Hospital at the end of last month, moving from Westmead Hospital. She is a trained physiotherapist, former children’s minister and also has experience as a chaplain to aged care and social housing residents. She replaces Zack Hankin, who has had to resign due to chronic illness.

The Rev Ian Morrison moved last month from an assistant minister’s role in the parish of Engadine and Heathcote, becoming rector of Lawson on January 23.

After five years as assistant minister to the parish of Sans Souci, the Rev Andrew Kyrios became rector of Cherrybrook on February 1.

An assistant minister in the parish of Carlingford and North Rocks, the Rev Danny Au Yeung , will be inducted as the new rector of Lidcombe on February 21.

The Rev Terry Bowers became the senior assistant minister at Turramurra on February 5, following 20 years as rector of Freshwater. His focus will be on retirees and empty nesters.

Vacant Parishes

List of parishes and provisional parishes, vacant or becoming vacant, as at January 23, 2023:

• Concord and Burwood

• Eagle Vale**

Freshwater

• GreystanesMerrylands

West

Guildford*

• Lavender Bay

• Leppington*

Liverpool

South**

Mona Vale**

• Northbridge

• PeakhurstMortdale**

• Regents Park*

Robertson

• Rosemeadow*

• St James King Street, Sydney

• South Hurstville

• Wentworth Falls

• West Wollongong

* denotes provisional parishes or Archbishop’s appointments

** right of nomination suspended/on hold

The Rev Ian Fauchon died on November 8, 2022.

Born Ian Edward Fauchon on February 19, 1937, he grew up in the Newcastle area. He attended and enjoyed church, CEBS and youth fellowship, but the abiding passion of his early life was cricket, and he stayed on at school solely to make the First 11 cricket team.

In 1953 he made his firstgrade debut for local club Stockton at the age of 15, and, notes his son David, “This event, and the notoriety it gave Ian, was to consume his life for 15 years to come – until the day he would meet Jesus and join his team”.

Mr Fauchon continued to pursue cricket and baseball, but missed out on selection for touring teams, to his great disappointment. However, in 1957 he started to go out with Kathlyn Rush, and two years later they were married at St Paul’s, Stockton, where her father was the minister.

He began studying and working as an accountant, and they moved to Sydney. It was here, in 1968, that he attended a Billy Graham Crusade with his family and gave his life to Jesus.

“He could now understand why those sporting disappointments occurred, and why the transfer to Sydney,” David Fauchon says. “Success at sport could easily have become Ian’s god, and he may never have been at Sydney Showground for that great day in 1968.”

Amid growing ministry involvement, after much prayer and with encouragement from

Christian friends, Mr Fauchon studied at Moore College in the mid-1970s.

He began ordained ministry in his 40th year in the parish of Riverstone, which included work at Kellyville, and he moved there officially as curate-in-charge in 1980 – growing it to full parish status within four years while simultaneously running CEBS and starting a church cricket team.

Position Vacant

Mr Fauchon also became secretary in the planning stages of William Clarke College. The school opened in 1987, and he remained on the board for another 13 years.

In 1988 the family moved to the parish of Cabramatta, and in 1997 Mr Fauchon took on his last official ministry role prior to retirement as assistant minister of St John’s Park with Canley Heights.