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New Dean for St Paul's Cathedral, Sale

June 6th, 2016


The Rev’d Canon Susanna Pain

New Dean For St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale

The new Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale, will be the Reverend Canon Susanna Pain. Canon Pain is currently based in Canberra with The Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University, as Associate Director, Liturgy, The Arts and Spiritual Care. Previously she was rector of Holy Covenant parish, Jamison, and Archdeacon North Canberra. Susanna is excited about moving to Sale and becoming part of the Cathedral Parish and the Gippsland Diocese. She has a connection with the Diocese in that her great grandfather, Bishop Arthur Pain, was the first Bishop of Gippsland, from 1902-17. Susanna describes herself as "a passionate creative woman of spirit". She says she enjoys creating space for others to play and to grow through her work as priest, spiritual director, professional supervisor, retreat leader, interplay facilitator, and leader of Christian Meditation and contemplative quiet days. Her first degrees were in Science and Social Work. She studied Theology in Canberra and was ordained Deacon in Canberra in1989, and priest in Adelaide in 1992.

Canon Pain, who is 58, has spent 24 years as a parish priest in rural and suburban Australia, as well as time as industrial chaplain and University chaplain. At Jamison she was active in community development, employing a Holistic Care Nurse, Youth Worker, and Children’s Worker, and setting up a Day Hospice.

In her current role she has been responsible for creating public ecumenical and interfaith ritual for significant occasions, as well as organising Arts events, and running creative workshops, meditation and prayer. This, alongside her work in spiritual direction, supervision and leading retreats, helped make her an excellent candidate for the role of Dean. Susanna says she is passionate about Jesus as the one who said: ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’, and that all her work is undergirded by prayer. “I invite inclusiveness, grace, beauty and fun, as well as silence,” she says.

She is married to Nikolai Blaskow, who is also an ordained Anglican Priest, working as Chaplain and Head of Religious and Values Education at Radford College in Canberra where he leads a Philosophy Club and Christian Group, as well as a Film and Theology Discussion. Nikolai, who is the father of two daughters including singer Sarah Blaskow, has recently embarked on PhD studies through the University of Bangor, and is also enthusiastic about coming to Sale.

In her spare time Susanna enjoys playing with cat Jacque and grandchildren Izzy, Reuben, Isaac and Jerry.