Brendan Egan
A Journey of Returning, Deepening, and Healing. For Brendan Egan, his first encounter with Clinical Pastoral Education came at age 25 during seminary training. Even then, he sensed that CPE…
Dennis Emery’s introduction to pastoral care began in a hospital bed. After years of recurrent hospital admissions, he found himself deeply aware of the quiet need for compassion and presence in moments of suffering. “Perhaps at some level, I was aware of my own emotional and spiritual vulnerability,” he recalls. “The nurses and family community were very supportive, yet there was something uniquely comforting about someone who listened without any personal connection to my life.”
That awareness became a turning point. During one hospital stay, Dennis was unexpectedly asked by the Nurse in Charge to visit another patient who had become withdrawn and was struggling emotionally. “I remember thinking, I’m a patient, why are you asking me? But I couldn’t ignore the invitation to help.” With his IV pole in tow, Dennis sat with the patient and listened. The conversation that followed brought comfort and connection. Later, the patient’s wife approached Dennis with tears in her eyes and whispered, “I don’t know what you said, but thank you for bringing my husband back.”
“That moment was profoundly moving,” Dennis reflects. “It ignited a new sense of purpose and became a light in my own recovery.”
As a Māori man, Dennis’s spirituality is deeply grounded in culture and community – values that resonated strongly with the heart of pastoral care. Encouraged by his experiences, he applied for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), discerning through prayer and self-reflection that this was a calling worth pursuing.
“Initially, CPE was overwhelming,” Dennis admits. “Most of the other students came from academic or theological backgrounds, while I had left school early and gone straight into work and family life.” He remembers looking up unfamiliar words in the dictionary and sketching icons to remember computer commands. Yet with persistence and the support of his educator, Allison Whitby, Dennis found his confidence.
“Allison created a safe and culturally sensitive learning space that shaped who I am today as a senior practitioner,” he says. “Her guidance and professionalism honoured personal story and confidentiality, which I believe are vital for anyone’s growth.”
Through supervision and group reflection, Dennis developed the capacity to integrate empathy, cultural identity, and professional care. “CPE helped me grow beyond my anxieties. It fostered confidence, broadened my perspectives, and gave me lifelong friendships.”
CPE opened doors Dennis never imagined. From a volunteer role at Casey Hospital, he went on to serve at Bethlehem Hospital and St John of God Rehabilitation Hospital, before joining Austin Health’s Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, where he ministered for over eleven years.
His formation also led to ordination under the Anglican Diocese and continued ministry within the Māori community, offering bilingual services at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Frankston.
Encouraged by his supervisor, Dennis pursued formal theological study, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Divinity in 2022. “As a former school dropout, becoming a university graduate was deeply significant for me, my family, and my community,” he says. “Where I stand today is a reflection of faith, love, and shared dreams.”
“CPE is a life-changing experience for those willing to listen,” Dennis says. “It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence. You’ll learn to meet people where they are, not where you wish they were.”
He describes CPE as a sacred space where cultural identity, self-awareness, and compassion intersect. “It provides ethical guidance and embraces your gifts. You discover more about yourself, your faith, and your calling than you ever imagined.”
For Dennis, CPE was more than training; it was a transformation. “It’s been a deeply personal journey of growth, awareness, and authenticity. True ministry begins with presence. CPE taught me to listen more deeply, reflect more honestly, and respond more compassionately.”
