Cathy's first association with Saint Paul's began not as a secretary but as a worshipper. She attended here in the early 1980's before relocating in Ontario. Although she had no formal training in secretarial work, Cathy applied for and received a job at St. Matthew's United Church in Peterborough, Ontario. She worked hard at upgrading her skills, and when she arrived back in Fredericton in 1993 she was an ideal choice to fill in at St. Paul's while the regular secretary was on a leave of absence. After her six-month tenure was finished, she decided to do some upgrading on her skills and take some computer courses at the Academy Of Learning where she began to familiarize herself with accounting.

By 1994 the job description for the secretarial position had been reworked to an 'Office Administrator' position which included maintaining financial records and bookkeeping. She applied for the job and has been here ever since.

Many of the skills Cathy brings to her job are self-taught. Her flexibility and her ability to adapt has proven to be a great asset as she has had to work with six different ministers since 1994 and each one of them "has slightly different expectations."

Our current ministers, the Rev. Paul Ross and the Rev. David Fisher, are very grateful for the skills Cathy brings to St. Paul's and recognize that what she does is a ministry in its own right. 1 Corinthians 12:28 speaks about the "gift of administration" a gift which is no less essential to the health of a large church than that of exhortation. "She keeps us organized," says Paul Ross. She is the first person most people will see when coming through the doors of St. Paul's and is as such on "the front line." Cathy recognizes her ministry and takes it seriously. She is often the first person people talk to when they phone St. Paul's to let the church know that a loved one is sick or has just passed away. She is the first person most people see when they come off the street. As such she has to determine what kind of help they need, and that may be anything from receiving a voucher for food, to obtaining information about St. Paul's, or even to find a time when the church might be available to perform a marriage ceremony.

"One of the best things I like about this job is the interactions with so many different people," says Cathy. "Everyday is different, it's busy and I like the pace." Her days are full, not only with people but also with facts and figures. She keeps track of the church's historic and financial records, pays the bills, issues tax receipts, prepares the annual report, prepares the weekly Worship Service bulletin, looks after correspondence for the ministers, orders office supplies, does bookings for the various programs held at St. Paul's and generally keeps the office running. She even attends the trustees meetings to keep abreast of how she will be able to perform her office duties well.

Most months Cathy also attends a luncheon with a group of other church secretaries here in the city of Fredericton. She was instrumental in establishing the group when she returned from Ontario. They exchange ideas and hints about their jobs. Once a year she attends a seminar especially designed for church office staff. It features pertinent topics such as how to deal with grief, having a sense of humour in the workplace, keeping the office as a "safe zone."

She finds working with the staff very agreeable, and is excited about "the new growth" and "the uplifting atmosphere" around St. Paul's.

Maybe Cathy's outlook runs in her family. Her sister is a church secretary at King's Valley Wesleyan church in Quispamsis. Whether it runs in the family or not, we are very excited that Cathy is a part of our St. Paul's family.

E-Mail cathysimpson@nb.aibn.com