A Despicable Mission (Olympia Brown Mysteries)
Page 21
“You must be Olympia Brown and Luther Stuart. Come in and get settled. We’re only just started.” The nun paused to look around the table at the two men and four women who would be the pastoral care cohort group for the next four months. She was a solid woman, neither fat nor thin, wearing a grey, street-length jumper, a white blouse and, clipped to a headband, a shoulder-length grey veil. Olympia noted the gold wedding band on her left hand.
“Before we begin let me congratulate you one more time on your acceptance to this program. You are an elite group. As I said in your individual letters, I had over fifty applicants for this session. That means slightly fewer than one in eight were accepted.” She smiled and gave them all a quick nod of approval.
“Starting today, and, in fact, beginning right now, it will be up to you to see that our longstanding tradition of excellence in faith and practice at Mercy Hospital is carried forward.” Sister Patrick adjusted her glasses and sat straighter in her chair. She was a powerful and direct woman in both speech and manner, but Olympia sensed from looking into her eyes that she was also a woman of wisdom and compassion.
“You must never forget that you are dealing with human beings at their most vulnerable. You will be ministering to people who are gravely ill and, in many cases, actually dying. You will be caring for family members who are trying to come to grips with what is happening to themselves and their loved one. Sometimes even members of the medical staff will seek you out for comfort and spiritual guidance. It goes without saying, but I’ll remind you anyway, that pastoral confidence is a sacred privilege. There may be times when it will feel like more than you can bear, but that particular act of trust is both the gift and the burden of our religious calling.”
Sister Patrick paused for a second time and glanced across the table at Luther, who was tracing the letters on the cover of the Bible on the table in front of him and nodding in agreement.
“Always remember,” she said, spacing her words for maximum impact, “as a hospital chaplain, you are here to serve God. You must never, ever be tempted to play God.”
Coming October 2012 from Mainly Murder Press
Meet Author Judith Campbell
Rev. Dr. Judith Campbell is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and the author of several books and articles. She has published children’s stories and poetry, as well as numerous essays on the arts, religion, and spirituality.
She holds a PhD in The Arts and Religious Studies and a Master of Arts in Fine Arts, and she offers writing workshops and spirituality retreats nationally and internationally.
When she isn’t traveling and teaching, she divides her time between the island of Martha’s Vineyard and Plymouth, Massachusetts. She lives with her husband, best friend and editor par excellence, Chris Stokes, and their two totally indulged felines, Katie and Simon.
To learn more about “The Sinister Minister” or to invite her to lead a writing workshop, preach at your church, or speak at your library or book group, please visit her website at www.judithcampbell-holymysteries.com for pictures of her marvelous cats and for some easy and yummy recipes. “Rev Judy” loves to cook, and she loves to know and talk with her readers.
For more great paperback and ebook mysteries, visit
www.MainlyMurderPress.com