The Lay Pastoral Associates Program

Pastoral Associates are lay members of All Souls who serve as pastoral caregivers alongside our ministers. They offer spiritual and emotional support to members of the congregation going through life transitions and losses. They receive training in listening skills, grief, and the theology of pastoral care in a Unitarian Universalist context. The four Pastoral Associates serve for a term of one to two years each.

These people help strengthen our community through their warmth, wisdom, and life experience. We hope you will feel free to approach any of them, in addition to our ministers, if you are going through a hard time or just need someone to talk to.

To reach a Lay Pastoral Associate, call the church at (212) 535-5530 or email pastoralassociates@allsoulsnyc.org.

Hanan Watson

A member of All Souls since 2002, Hanan has experienced many difficulties in her life, including displacement as a result of war, serious illness in her immediate family, and the sudden loss of her husband John in 2006 after a marriage of 40 years. She has a son, Nessim, and granddaughter Maya, with whom she has a special relationship. After a rewarding career in human resources, Hanan currently dedicates much of her time to helping improve the lives of people on a personal and collective level. She holds a Masters degree from the American University of Beirut and has done post-graduate work at the Washington Square Institute for Mental Health. Contact Hanan at hswatson@nyc.rr.com.

Don Shea

Don joined All Souls in 2007. He participates regularly in adult education on Sunday mornings, which he finds a never ending source of insight and inspiration. Don served as a facilitator for listening sessions during the All Souls Aspires planning initiative. He is married to Diana Freedman, who is an artist. Retired from a corporate career, Don is a consultant who helps people learn to use their computers. He is also a tenor in an adult chorus. Don's life history includes a number of life-transitions that have helped to inform him. Don welcomes the opportunity to speak with those who are seeking support and understanding. Contact pastoralassociates@allsoulsnyc.org.

Phoebe Hoss

The central experience of Phoebe’s life has been as the mother of two children: one mentally ill, one relatively normal. Psychotherapy and its insights were crucial in helping her cope with both and emerge with compassion and understanding. Phoebe is a poet and was by profession an editor of scholarly books. She came to All Souls after the death of her son and joined in 1990. She has worked for the Booker T. Washington Learning Center, reports on events for the Peace Task Force, and is co-leader of the Circle of Elders. She is the author of the recently published All Eyes: A Mother's Struggle to Save Her Schizophrenic Son. Contact Phoebe at phhoss@gmail.com.

Christopher Galas

Chris was invited to All Souls to hear the music in January 2006 and joined nine months later. He and Dennis DeForge have organized Christmas dinner on Christmas day at All Souls for members, family, and friends. He says, "With an amazing group of volunteers, we have celebrated our Christmas dinner here in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The world is so big, so varied, so beautiful, it is now the time of my life to give back, and I am so grateful to do so as a Pastoral Associate." Contact pastoralassociates@allsoulsnyc.org.