ECU Multifaith Chaplaincy
Team profiles
Reverend Dr David Wood
Anglican Visiting Chaplain
I took up the work of Anglican Chaplain at ECU in 2000, soon after taking up the position of Parish Priest of Grace Church Joondalup. For twenty five years I have served in parishes in Melbourne and Perth , and have also been engaged in teaching at Trinity College within the University of Melbourne and Wollaston College at Mt Claremont.
My background is in art history, English literature, and philosophy, but recently I enjoyed being one of only two men in a post-graduate inter-disciplinary course in women's studies. My particular expertise, however, is in theology, especially systematics (how it all hangs together) and missiology (the relationship between Christianity and other faiths).
I have published two books, Is God A Boy's Name? Inclusive Language for the Liturgy ( Melbourne 1991), and Poet, Priest & Prophet: Bishop John V. Taylor (London 2001). Recent articles in The International Review of Mission indicate that reading and writing is clearly something of an addiction.
My interests include movies, music, travel, icon painting and cooking.
Mr Zor Hane
Buddhist Visiting Chaplain
Originally from Burma , I had sailed the oceans on merchant ships as a radio officer for about 2 years before settling in Australia around 30 years ago. During that time I had been through a typhoon when our ship sailed straight into the eye of the storm. Our captain had decided to sail towards the tail of the typhoon hoping that by the time we got there, it would have passed. That was the time I really thought I was going to die. Strangely somehow, I was calm and accepting. All the Buddha's teachings which I had heard as a young boy came back to me. Life, like everything else has a start and an end. All things that are subject to origination are subject to cessation. All formations are, indeed, impermanent. It is only natural to be born and to die. That was the time that I reviewed my life and regretted that I had not done much in helping other people while I was able to. That was also the moment that I made a determination to help others as much as I can, if I survived the storm. Luckily the ship did not sink because there was no cargo onboard and we ended up drifting in the high seas for about two days, before grounding on a shore in China .
When I settled in Australia , I worked and studied electronics for a while before changing my career to accounting. I am able to volunteer freely, due to my flexible way of life with my own accounting practice.
I am very grateful to the Multifaith Chaplaincy Service, for inviting a Buddhist Chaplain onto the campuses. It reflects the spiritual needs of the ECU community and the variety of it.
I am currently working with young people in a drug rehab group, to assist them in calming their mind with meditation, and to show them the wholesome life-skills that they can develop to improve their lives. Over the two and a half year period, I have had positive feedbacks regarding these young people who are now free from drugs and have established well in the community. As a senior member of the Buddhist Society of WA, I teach meditation and give talks to the Armadale Meditation group, while the monks are away on a 3 months Rains Retreat every year. I also give talks at schools and universities on invitations. It was also a joy to teach meditation to a group of teachers, who were so enthusiastic. At one time, I was also visiting the Perth Detention Centre for meditation sessions and gave talks to detainees.
In life, problems are coming and going due to their causes and conditions. One moment we are happy, and the next moment we are not. Our minds are constantly bombarded with irritations and emotions. Sorrow, pain, grief, despair, anger, hatred, and jealously are the inevitable things in life, where things are fluctuating constantly. As a visiting Buddhist Chaplain, I would like to offer meditation sessions and talks, to free the mind from pain and suffering, to be at ease and be peaceful, together with my brothers and sisters of all other faiths (May they be well and happy).
Everyone is welcome to attend the sessions that I will be holding and also to come and have a chat with me, no matter who you are. You do not have to be a Buddhist, as Buddhism offers a happy and peaceful way of life rather than a religion.
May everyone be at ease (no dis-ease) and peaceful. With loving-kindness & best wishes
Rev. Fr. Kenneth Aluvale Asaba
Catholic Visiting Chaplain
The process of getting into ECU as a Visiting Catholic Chaplain started soon after my appointment as assistant Parish Priest at St. Anthony’s Parish – Wanneroo early this year 2006. And I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Joanne Baynes – Of Multifaith Chaplaincy Service – for her tireless efforts in assisting me through the process. My presence at ECU means being able to work in the context of the Multifaith Chaplaincy Service. It also means an opportunity to share my friendship and life experiences with students, staff and the university community. Coming from a Catholic tradition, I look forward to meeting students and other university members who might be in need of a Catholic Priest for spiritual guidance, confessions, prayer/mass services or just for a chat. Please feel free to contact me at any time.
My academic background includes: Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies – conferred at St. Joseph’s Meru Seminary in Nairobi (Kenya), BA in Theology – conferred at Pontifical Urban University in Rome (Italy), MA in Theology with Specialization in the Social Teaching of the Church – conferred at Pontifical University of Lateran in Rome (Italy), Diploma in International Politics, Cooperation and Development – conferred at The School of Politics, Cooperation and Development in Rome (Italy), PhD (still in course) in Theology with Specialization in the Social Teaching of the Church – Pontifical University of Lateran in Rome (Italy).
My interests are in meeting people and sharing their stories, listening to music, reading and playing soccer. I also enjoy spending time with friends and sharing little things like coffee, jokes and laughter.
Dr Sahba Habibi
Visiting Baha’i Chaplain
In late 2005 I was privileged to join the Multifaith Chaplaincy Service at Edith Cowan University, as the Visiting Baha’i Chaplain. It is quite unique to be able to work with such a diverse group, united in common attraction to the things of the spirit and in the understanding of the fundamental oneness of all religions and their expounding of the same spiritual truths.
Over the last 10 years I have been able to be part of various Baha’i and community service opportunities including being a member of the directing committee for Society for Baha’i Studies at UWA, holding devotional meetings, working with children and youth under various programmes / curriculum, being a faculty member for the “Education for Peace” programme, workshop co-ordinator and performer for the Bahá’í inspired Artworks Visual Arts Theatre Company, and participating in, as well as tutoring for, a series of books studying the Baha’i sacred writings.
Of particular personal interest is the exploring of spirituality and religion in its significance to personal and social growth, and the benefits of spiritual education for children.
My tertiary degree is in Bachelor of Dentistry, completed in 2004 at the University of Western Australia. I work 4 days a week as a dentist.
Some of my other interests are music, dance, meditation, nature, and people!
Look out for fortnightly ‘devotional gatherings’, where sacred writings from different spiritualities, religions and traditions are meditated on. The gatherings may vary in style from week to week, will utilise various art forms, give time for personal reflection, and are open to all.