Dennis Emery
From Patient to Pastoral Carer: A Journey of Healing and Hope Dennis Emery’s introduction to pastoral care began in a hospital bed. After years of recurrent hospital admissions, he found…
For Brendan Egan, his first encounter with Clinical Pastoral Education came at age 25 during seminary training. Even then, he sensed that CPE was more than a program; it was a transformative space, one that invited deep self-understanding and shaped the heart of pastoral care.
Life carried Brendan through many seasons after that early experience: priestly ministry, years of work in community development, and leadership in local government. And yet, decades later, when he found himself returning to pastoral care, something in him recognised the need to return to CPE as well, this time with a lifetime of experience behind him.
He describes the decision simply: “I jumped at the opportunity.”
Undertaking CPE again in his own regional city became a gift – a demanding, stretching, and wonderfully human journey. The face-to-face group process created a circle of trust where honest reflection was encouraged and supported. The written work, the discipline of showing up, and the rhythm of supervision all combined to form what Brendan describes as “a very supportive process with good camaraderie in the group.” CPE invited him to step back from the emotional weight of pastoral ministry and look inward with clarity and kindness. It helped him see not just what he was doing, but who he was becoming in the midst of it.
Brendan speaks of the program’s impact with quiet depth:
Some of the most meaningful moments came from the group itself. The insights others offered into his pastoral encounters were, at times, deeply moving, reminding him that learning is not solitary, but shared.
He also found healing in the creativity of prayerful reflection, giving him permission to fully embrace and honour his own spiritual journey. Even the discipline of journalling, challenging as it was, became a source of grounding and growth.
When Brendan speaks to others considering Clinical Pastoral Education, his encouragement is simple and wholeheartedly “Make the most of the opportunity if it comes your way. Trust the process. Be open to learning about yourself and others. Persevere, even when it feels overwhelming.” Brendan expresses deep gratitude for his facilitators, Anne and Louise, whose wisdom, kindness, and gentle humour shaped a learning environment where vulnerability felt safe, and growth felt possible.
Today, in his role as a Pastoral Care Practitioner at Calvary Health Mirridong Bendigo, Brendan carries forward the gifts of both his 1987 and 2024 CPE experiences. The learning has deepened his pastoral presence, strengthened his faith, and continued the lifelong work of becoming fully human, fully attentive, and fully compassionate.
His story reminds us that formation is never finished, and that returning to the work of self-reflection can be one of the most healing journeys of all.
