What is the Chaplaincy Centre?
The Chaplaincy Centre offers spiritual guidance from three Christian Orientations: Ecumenical, Christian Reformed, and Catholic. However, we are available to anyone whether part of a religious community or not. We all deserve and desire to be treated as whole human beings. Chaplaincy is about caring for one another in this way. We call it "spiritual care".
In partnership with the University, the Chaplains help students, staff, and faculty with the challenges they experience. Feel free to drop into the Centre (MUSC 231) or make an appointment to meet with one of the Chaplains.
What do we do?
The Chaplaincy Centre is a place where we aspire to care about you as a whole person. We are a drop-in office where anyone can come in to receive support for any concerns they have. We also collaborate with other services on campus to help students, faculty and staff with issues affected by academic, relational, spiritual and practical concerns. The personal support we seek to offer also can lead to a wide variety of programs ranging from prayer to social justice, community connections to self-care of mind, body and spirit.
Meet Our Team
Rev. Allison Barrett
Allison is our Ecumenical Chaplain at McMaster. Ecumenical is a branch of Christianity that seeks to promote unity and cooperation among all people. Ordained in the Unitarian Universalist faith, Allison draws a wide and embracing circle around what constitutes spiritual care and brings an attitude of radical hospitality to her role as Ecumenical Chaplain.
A member of the McMaster community for many years, with experience in parish, hospital and campus settings, Allison believes in the power of Love to heal, overcome, illuminate and inspire. She cares deeply about inclusion, equity, diversity and justice within our human family and for our fellow life on Mother Earth. Allison also works with her Therapy Dog Biscuit to bring affection and comfort to those in need (including stressed-out students!) and looks forward to welcoming all members of the McMaster community during her time as Ecumenical Chaplain.
Biscuit the Therapy Dog
Allison’s partner-in-crime, Biscuit is a fully trained Therapy Dog. She is available for any students who want to say hi! Studies have shown that patting a dog reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and has many other benefits! For her hours, check the Therapy Dog Poster just outside of the Chaplaincy Office. The dates hanging on the poster will be the dates she is in that week.
Dogs are tested for aggression by grabbing or pulling at the dog, creating a noisy or chaotic environment, presenting loud sounds like yelling or blaring horns, taking food away and just generally doing things that dogs don’t like and watching carefully for any signs of aggression. Then the dog is tested for basic obedience like sit, stay, down, off, settle, leave it etc. If the dog passes all these tests, it may be designated a therapy dog for a particular institution.
Dr. Michael D. Fallon
Michael is our Christian Reformed Chaplain. The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes God’s sovereignty who loves to discuss the challenges, pitfalls, and joys of life. One of the things he relishes the most - meeting students over a cup of coffee and listening to their stories.
A lover of learning, and the University, Michael believes that all of life is sacred and that the truths that arise out of the university have their origins in the person of Jesus Christ in whom all things cohere.
In addition to loving the Creator and His son, Michael is passionate about the creator’s beautiful but broken creation. A mountaineer, ORCA Expedition Leader and Wilderness guide, Michael has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys introducing students to some of the beautiful places that he has discovered in his wanderings.
Michael is the Director of “All Things” - the CRC Ministry at McMaster, and the mentor to “Fully Alive” - a McMaster Men’s group. Michael has a Ph. D from the University of Guelph and an M.A., from the University of Toronto.
Rev. Gregory Ogorzalek
Gregory (Grzegorz) Ogorzalek is our Roman Catholic Chaplain for McMaster University and lives across the street at the Canadian Martyrs Parish and Student Centre. He was born and raised in Poland and arrived in Canada in August 2021.
Gregory has worked with students in a variety of settings. In 2015 he completed his doctorate in the Theology of Spirituality at the Catholic University of Lublin. His area of research focused on the life and legacy of Henri Nouwen, the Dutch/Canadian spiritual writer and speaker.
Gregory is interested in the honest spiritual search for meaning and God in the modern world. He is also trained in psychodrama and has had the opportunity to experience pastoral life in parish settings in England, the USA and Canada.
His hobbies include photography, film production and editing, modern film and social media.
Contact Us
DROP IN OFFICE HOURS
Monday/Friday: 10am-3:30PM
Tuesday: 10am-3:45PM
Wednesday: 10am-4:00PM
Thursday: 12pm-4:30PM
We’d love to hear from you! If you have any questions about the Chaplaincy, an upcoming event, making a donation, or just want to get connected, please fill out the form below. If you’d like to contact our office administrator, or a particular chaplain, feel free to reach out to them with the information below!
Nathan Visser
Office Administrator
chaplain@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 24207
Allison Barrett
Ecumenical Chaplain
barretam@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 24127
Michael Fallon
Reformed Chaplain
fallonm@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 24123
Father Gregory
Catholic Chaplain
gogorzalek@hamiltondiocese.com
905-525-9140 ext. 241208
McMaster University Student Centre - RM 231
Hamilton, ON
1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4S4
