Cherishing a legacy: how Rev. Jan Donohoo cares for retired ministry women
Before 1989, Anglican women ministering in the Sydney diocese were “set apart” as deaconesses— the lay order from which ADM’s name is derived. In 1989, that changed as trained women began to be ordained as deacons. There are no more deaconesses working in paid employment, though some still serve as they can and pray faithfully. And now, we are seeing the first female deacons start to retire.
Rev. Jan Donohoo was in that historic first cohort of female deacons, and since then, she’s served in different areas of the Diocese, including Seaforth, Lalor Park, Marrickville and Lidcombe /Berala parishes, and currently as a member at West Pennant Hills. She also spent 17 years as Chaplain at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, ministering to a wide range of people including patients and their often distraught parents, grandparents, siblings, health professionals, support staff, including security and cleaners, and first responders. Additionally, as honorary chaplain to the Mothers Union for 14 years, Jan met and worked with many women across vastly differing parishes. All the diversity of her experiences have prepared her well for her current role: ADM Chaplain to the deaconesses and retired female clergy.
How it started
Before taking up the role, Jan had served on the ADM Board for five years as a Director, gaining an insight into the functioning of the organisation. When the previous chaplain, Rev. Jacinth Myles retired, Jan was delighted to be approached by the Chair to consider the role, which she accepted and commenced in November 2020.
After almost two years into the role, Jan resigned, regrettably due to illness, feeling that it wasn’t fair to continue when not able to be readily available, even on a part time basis. After almost six months the position hadn’t been able to be filled and, at an ADM prayer meeting, Jan met a Board member, who expressed disappointment thinking that Jan had resigned because she wasn’t enjoying the role.
So Jan put the record straight: “I said, ‘No, that’s not what it was. That’s not the story at all. I loved it and regarded it as a terrific privilege’.”
Consequently, Jan was asked to reconsider the role—which she was able to do as her health had improved. She’s been a gift to the deaconesses and retired female clergy ever since.
Unique support for unique women
So what does working as the ADM Chaplain look like? Jan is tasked to care for a specific group of women, ordained either as deaconess, deacon and for some, priest (in other dioceses). There are two main aspects to what she does.
The first is to visit women, trying to prioritise those who have higher needs because of their isolation, or health issues, which escalate with advancing years.
The second aspect is of on-call responsiveness, attending to the immediate needs of the women in times of hardship. Jan explains, “Wisdom and care are needed, particularly when there are the hard realities of decline, bereavement, mental and physical limitations, all compounding sad situations of isolation and loss of friends, peers and familiar connections. Pastoral care is not offered as on a menu, but is integral to supporting the women.”
Jan’s long history within the Anglican church in Sydney stands her in great stead for this chaplaincy role. She is able to engage with these women with some shared experiences, and familiarity with others in ministry, both women and men, means that often there are easier connections to be made. Jan’s innate curiosity often opens up reminiscences, when she listens well and asks the right questions, without interrogating the women.
“But I certainly can’t presume to know all that has happened to this unique individual and its significance for her,” Jan notes. “I readily admit my own ineptness, failure and different experiences. Each woman is an individual and I am not the sustaining person in their life. The Lord Jesus is the saviour, not me. But my role is to offer support as best I can, to provide some ‘spiritual succour’ especially if a woman feels limited, because she can’t ‘do’ anymore.”
So, because no two women are the same, Jan’s approach to caring for them is completely unique to each individual. No two visits are the same.
“I like cooking and sometime I take homemade goodies; I sometimes read the Scriptures. Not always. I always offer to pray. Recently I read Morning Prayer for a lady who dearly missed the Book of Common Prayer service. I might accompany them to the Chapel service in their residential aged care facility and I try to make connections with residential chaplains. I shop for Christian books and often take fresh flowers and sometimes we go out for lunch—a real treat.”
Jan also serves as an advocate—a much-needed bridge between the women’s expressed needs and ADM’s financial resources. Because many of the deaconesses and even some deacons served before the days of compulsory superannuation contributions, many had little or no savings by the time they retired. This was exacerbated by the fact, that most had non-secure jobs in parish life. Jan explains, “It was ‘last taken on and first off,’ for many.”
But ADM has set aside money and has been able to help support some women. “Most don’t ask for anything,” Jan says. “It’s a sensitive issue, not about pride as such, more about being content and the Lord supplying. But we have been able to assist, for example with medical and dental bills, purchasing a recliner chair, providing taxi vouchers and other helps.”
Whilst many of the stories of these woman and their Christian service have been documented, there are some not yet recorded and so, slowly, Jan and a Christian historian are interviewing as many women as possible, if they are willing.
Unity in experience, and Jesus
Jan (back, third from right) with retired deaconesses and female deacons.
Beyond the individual support Jan provides, there is a collective story as well, a shared background and experience, which motivates Jan to organise gatherings to bring retired female clergy together.
“At one point in their life, all these women committed themselves to serve the Lord Jesus through the Anglican church. ADM recognises that belonging is part of true fellowship,” Jan says.
In mid-2024 10 women gathered in the ADM offices and heard from the CEO, Mary Un. The group listened to a presentation on the importance of a history of women in ministry, ate a wonderful meal and had a valuable time of sharing aspects of life before praying for each other.
Jan says, “It was quite a special time and hopefully others will be able to attend the next gathering. There’s something delightfully affirming about gathering together, where there is trust and goodwill. It strengthens and confirms links with what was, and still is, significant: Deaconess House, the Anglican church, Christian sisters serving in ministry—all part of their life.”
A beautiful legacy
Jan sees her chaplaincy role as an incredible privilege and she has a deep affection for the women she serves. She knows that at the end of the day, they are just ordinary women, like she is. But they do have something special in common— they recognised their need for a saviour and their consequent willingness to sit under the Lordship of Christ and use what gifts He gave to serve Him.
A beautiful picture of her chaplaincy as being an act of worship spurs Jan on, and it’s her prayer that the legacy of these women will continue in some form, for generations to come.
“I do hope that there will be more Christian women who will feel compelled to serve the Lord Jesus within the Anglican Church, knowing that the Lord is both sovereign and good,” Jan says.
“I hope they will take the opportunities to be equipped, to do the theological study, harness professional development, and take up responsibilities in leadership roles. And in God’s good time, there will be a crown as the Lord Jesus is honoured by the women who love and trust Him, to their life’s end.
Jan concludes gratefully, “ADM seeks to honour these women, who gave ADM such a solid framework of sacrificial service. It’s quite wonderful to be part of the story.”