Clergy of the Old Catholic Church in Europe are engaged in a wide variety of chaplainry work employing various skills acquired either professionally, in industry or from proven experience. All our clergy carry ID cards with contact details for verification.

OCCE Chaplainry range from hospitals and academic institutions through to industrial or pastoral ministries...

HOSPITAL: some of our clergy are trained healthcare professionals, trained counsellors and experienced pastoral ministers and regularly employ their skills in visiting not just members of our own congregations but others in local hospitals. 

OCCE clergy do not discriminate between believers and non-believers and will gladly visit anyone who is in hospital either for spiritual conversation or to be prayed with.  The following ministrations are, however, only available to Confirmed Catholics who would appreciate the particular ministrations of a priest; to hear a Confession, for anointing with the oil of the sick (Oleum Infirmorum) or to receive the Eucharist.

An OCCE clergyman will only visit at the express wish of the patient concerned we ask that to avoid any embarrassment people ensure that the patient is expecting to see a cleric and that they and relevant hospital staff are notified.

In extremis (in an emergency) OCCE clergy will Baptise (infant/adult), Confirm (anointing with holy oil signifying conscious acceptance of the Catholic Faith), or administer Viaticum (last Confession and Absolution, anointing with holy oil, reception of the Blessed Sacrament). If any of the above are administered to Catholic Christians, the parish priest of the person's tradition will be notified accordingly*.  

EDUCATIONAL: the OCCE unlike some other mainstream churches does not have any church schools or academic institutions of its own yet some of our clergy are engaged as Chaplains to educational establishments.

OCCE clergy are particularly happy to offer their services to further and higher education establishments in order to assist young adults in their spiritual development acting as either spiritual counsellors or members of a student social and welfare delivery team.

Young people are especially vulnerable to new ideas and concepts as they develop their own sense of self and place in society.  OCCE clergy, sensitive to the background or culture of a student, seek to assist young people as they discern what belief and spirituality is about and seek to give advice on the ethical and moral dilemmas that many young people face.

The regular presence of a Christian minister in a school can be a positive and mutually reciprocal experience for all involved providing an opportunity not just for the students but for staff members too to talk to someone objectively or indeed spiritually about problems or issues affecting them.    

INDUSTRIAL: industrial chaplaincy can be a wide and varied ministry in its application from manufacturing establishments through to retail stores! In whatever environment he ministers, an OCCE chaplain is there for the spiritual welfare of the employees; independently and objectively from any internal hierarchical structure. A Chaplain cannot be called to take part in any industrial disciplinary matter or advocacy role whatsoever, he is neutral.

The benefits to a business of having a Chaplain are numerous and most are unquantifiable! Just the presence of an objective listener will help to relieve staff stress levels and therefore perhaps attendance issues. The opportunity for some employees to unburden themselves of petty work quarrels means that their energies are not wasted and their concentration is focused on work. Social concerns i.e. the interaction between personalities at work has a big impact on the atmosphere of a working environment. Whether in an office or on a factory floor, people's foibles can be exaggerated disproportionately? Like any other social interaction, workplaces have to deal with the "personality" dynamic and this is not something to be ignored. A Chaplain can help to diffuse those situations.

A Chaplain can also help with personal problems that might be affecting the productivity of an employee, just a few minutes being able to talk about a problem at home away from the home environment confidentially can also help an employee's potential to put aside their problems at work. OCCE chaplains are trained to deal and refer people especially in areas not within their expertise. Just one or two words of reference or advice might make all the difference to an employee's concentration at work.

SPIRITUAL: there are of course many occasions and groups of people who require a "chaplain" to support their group spiritually or provide a spiritual or welfare component to their group activities. Youth groups and youth organisations for example might require a Chaplain, "another" adult to help facilitate their group meetings e.g. leading prayers or even as a neutral listener to the internal dynamics and personalities within a group.

Pilgrims may require a Chaplain to facilitate spiritually their visit to a shrine, a prayer group for a priest to offer Mass or facilitate theological discussion or lead them in worship. Devotional or social groups particularly those working for a cause "outside" the mission of the mainstream may require the ministrations of a priest e.g. a group for divorcees or single parent families etc. There are many kinds of groups existing "without" the Church who may require or desire the spiritual counsel or ministrations of a priest.

PASTORAL: OCCE clergy also minister to nursing homes and residential institutions for the elderly or those disenfranchised by society e.g. night shelters, hospices, women's refuge's etc with the simple purpose in mind of being able to manifest the love of Christ to these people too.

OCCE clergy are open to receive invitations from groups whose members are brought together for some cause or other commonality that ordinarily might prevent them from receiving pastoral care from other mainstream churches. The OCCE is non-judgemental with regard to it's clergy ministering to such groups and has an Equal Opportunities policy which encapsulates all manner of people in all walks of life; as long as the group does not condone or promote illegal activity or holds/advocates ideaology at odds with the principles of the Gospel. The participation of an OCCE cleric in this way by no means implies that the OCCE advocates the particular cause or purpose of the group. But the OCCE also believes that such ministries may enable group members to realise and feel the love of Christ and His Church for them.

OTHER MINISTRIES: OCCE clergy are also engaged in ministries that are sometimes forgotten or overlooked by other churches.

House blessings are no longer common place, but OCCE clergy will accept requests to bless the new home of a family or individual - not just at Epiphany but also throughout the year including if required a "consecration to the Sacred Heart" of the home and family. Not just homes but other objects, particularly for devotional purposes may also be blessed. The OCCE encourages those practices and customs that are not idolatrous, sacreligious or blasphemous but which contribute to and aid the sanctification of a Christian's everyday life.

The OCCE does not believe in Christian burial rites for pets, however we do recognise that the loss of a pet can be comparable to that of a loved one for some people, especially those for whom the pet was their only companion. OCCE clergy will, for the comfort of bereaved owners, conduct burial services for pets or animals, or bless animals in thanksgiving for the companionship and comfort they bring to their owners. An appropriate service of thanksgiving for the life of such a pet can be a source of great comfort to some people.