Queen's University. Office of the University Chaplain

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Queen's University. Office of the University Chaplain

[1947-]

The position of University Chaplain dates from the end of the Second World War. University officials, concerned about the special needs and difficulties of veterans returning to classes, hired a special "Advisor to Ex-Service Personnel," the Reverend Jack Leng, to provide support and counsel for students. The position was given a broader mandate and retitled "University Chaplain" in 1947, when Leng was replaced by the Reverend Dr. A. Marshall Laverty. At that time, the position was unique among Canadian universities; today it is becoming rare again, as other universities dispense with the office. Padre Laverty, or just "the Padre" as he was more commonly known, filled the post until 1983, when he turned 70, after having served as the University Chaplain for 36.5 years. The second University Chaplain also came from the United Church: Brian Yealland, who was appointed to the position of University Chaplain following Laverty's retirement. Yealland would go on to serve as the University Chaplain for 30 years before retiring in June 2013. Kate Johnson was appointed as Inter-faith Chaplain at Queen's in 2013.
The Chaplain now has several main duties: he or she officiates at ceremonial University occasions such as Convocation; assists students and staff on behalf of the University when there is a death or other serious occurrence in the family, or on campus; and provides a source of counselling or support on a drop-in basis for all members of the Queen's community. The Chaplain also coordinates the chaplaincy team and the Interfaith Council. The position of Chaplain is officially a non-sectarian one.

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