Our Chaplains

The Reverend Caroline Leys 

I was ordained as an Anglican Priest and have contributed as a non-stipendiary priest in several parishes and at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland. Since ordination in 1990 I have worked in private practice as a therapist, facilitator, trainer and more recently in ministry and business development. I have recently become a certified Sageing Leader for Sage-ing International.

 As director of Spiritual Care, I am responsible for the development and refinement of Selwyn’s operational expression of Faith and Tikanga, which is written into our Constitution and is the basis for all that we do and exist for as an organisation. I also lead our strategic development of the spiritual wellbeing dimension of The Selwyn Way — which is our approach to the care and wellbeing of all who connect with us — so that spirituality is made accessible across everything we do as a charity, in our villages, through our community services, and through education and knowledge exchange for staff, older people and their families.

The Reverend Nicky Frater

Before coming to Selwyn Village in 2019 I was Vicar of St James Anglican Church in Orakei. I also joined the Pastoral Care team at Waiatarua Mercy Parkland Hospital in Ellerslie where I found deep joy working with people who live with Dementia. I was also appointed “Mission Champion” responsible for helping residents and staff to connect our care practice to the Story, Mission and Values of the Sisters of Mercy. I bring to Selwyn a passion for connecting story, values and mission to care practice.

I was born into a Pentecostal Pastor’s family. As a child I discovered the Science of the very large (Astronomy) the very small (Quantum Physics) and how the very large began very small (Cosmology). These are still among my bedtime reading. I also love walking, singing, drawing, fashion and Science-Fiction. After leaving school I studied Design, worked for a few years as a Graphic Artist and then began training for Pentecostal Ministry. Gayanne and I married in 1983 and our children, Richard, Alison and Nathan soon followed. For six years I supported our ministry and young family with a range of jobs in Copying, Printing, Sales, Advertising and Joinery. In 1999 we moved to Auckland for four years further study at the Bible College of NZ. The next three years found us as Lay Ministers in the Anglican Parish of Kaiataia. Three years study for Anglican Priesthood followed. We also studied Practical Theology which is about connecting our beliefs with our care practice. Gayanne is now a Priest, Counsellor, Supervisor and Educator in Counselling and Spirituality. Richard, an artist, now lives in Berlin. Alison and Nathan, who help small business people with accounts, production and marketing, live in Auckland. They all create fantastic food provided Mum and Dad clean up.

The Reverend Diane Hopping

I became chaplain here in Hamilton in January 2016. I'd just completed two years as a mature student at St John’s Theological College in Auckland. I was ordained as a deacon in November 2015 and Priested in April 2016. I spent many years teaching in primary schools in the Otorohanga area, while also holding a lay license as a preacher, liturgist and educator at St Bride’s church there. I'm still an assistant priest at St Bride’s in Otorohanga. I am married to Laurie, a vocational deacon in Otorohanga and we live in a converted woolshed in KioKio, just north of the town. I have three children and six grandchildren. Over the years I've gained many life skills to assist me in my position as chaplain. I'm finding similarities between my teaching years, journeying with young people as they learn new skills and now, journeying with an older generation who are losing those same skills. 

I find this passage from Jeremiah pulls me back from the edge when needed. This passage fell out of a book when I was packing to move to Auckland, needless to say, it provided just what I needed to hear from God at that time. He is there when you need him.

"I will show my concern for you and keep my promise to bring you home. I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will seek me with all your heart. Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land."

Jeremiah 29:10b

The Reverend Marianne Hornburg

I’ve worked for the Selwyn Foundation since 2000 as a chaplain and spiritual care coordinator. This has involved me in strategic planning, having oversight of the chaplaincy team, and providing spiritual and pastoral care for residents at Selwyn Village and Selwyn Heights.

I was ordained in 1978 and I worked as an Anglican parish priest in Auckland and a hospital chaplain in Auckland and Waikato.

I have a B.A. (psychology) from Chapman University in California, a LTh. from St. John’s College, Auckland and I completed the gerontological pastoral care institute training at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.

I have a passion for ministry amongst older adults because of the richness of their life experience.

“We meet no ordinary people in our lives”

C.S.Lewis

The Reverend Lucy Nguyen 

I was ordained as an Anglican priest in the Auckland Diocese in 2003 after completing my theological training through the College of St Johns the Evangelist and Auckland University.

I was born on the east coast of America and went to the University of Connecticut where I earned a degree in sociology. Later I moved to Singapore and worked for the American Refugee Programme, helping people in refugee camps in Singapore and Indonesia. I got married and moved to NZ with my husband Hung to live with his family in Auckland. We have two adult children.

Before priesting I worked in several parishes as parish secretary and in the admin field of mental health. I’ve been assistant priest at St Aidan’s Remuera, vicar at St Peter’s Pakuranga and chaplain at Middlemore Hospital.

As a chaplain, I really appreciate the community life offered in the Selwyn villages. I value the fact that my role weaves together times of being with people in the midst of daily life, worship and spiritual journeying. I am currently based full time at Selwyn Heights (Sundays through to Thursdays). I also provide Chaplaincy Support for residents at Selwyn House and Hansen Close North Shore. When I’m not working, I’m puttering around the house or out walking.

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."

“This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

The Reverend Susanne Green

I am the Locum Chaplain in the Villages. I support the Chaplains when they need holiday or sick leave, so Chaplaincy to the Villages residents, staff and families is continuous. I have worked as Chaplain for the Selwyn Foundation for 9 years, firstly at Selwyn Park Whangarei. Before that, I’d been a Health Care Chaplain in Taumaranui, for Green Lane/ National Women’s and Auckland City Hospitals in Auckland and for the Northland District Health Board Hospitals based in Whangarei. I have been involved in supporting prisoners and their families at Ohura and with PARS in Auckland, and Work Place Chaplaincy in Waikato and Silver Fern Farms Dargaville. I managed community houses in Glendowie and Ranui and was Vicar of Waiuku and Northern Wairoa.

I live as an Independent Resident in a unit with 17 year old gold and white corgi Max and 11 year old black cavoodle Badger and grey cat called Lucky, who often is boarding at Cats Pjamas. We all like the garden particularly carpet roses and are planting some fruit trees each season despite sometimes being dug up and replanted. We do like walking the spacious grounds of the Villages and meeting people.

"May our Selwyn Way of Caring, Kindness and Compassion, be experienced in Love, Hope and Respect  that the Deaf hear, Blind see, Confused understand and the Lonely feel."