Ministry team

Our Rector – Revd Susanna Pain

Susanna commenced her ministry here in February 2006. She was ordained as a deacon in this diocese in 1989 and was one of the first women priests in the Diocese of Adelaide in 1992. Susanna came to Holy Covenant with experience in the Wayville parish in Adelaide, St James' King Street in Sydney, and St John's Cowra.

Susanna leads retreats, quiet days and retreats in daily life and enjoys facilitating InterPlay body/movement Workshops. She is also a qualified remedial massage therapist.

Susanna is passionate about The One who says “I came that you may have life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).

Susanna can be contacted by:

Senior Associate Priest – Revd Dr Sarah Macneil

After a career in the Departments of Foreign Affairs and of Trade, she studied theology and served here as Assistant curate in 1994, having also been Parish Administrator in 1987.

She has served as a parish priest in rural and urban parishes, as a school chaplain, as Diocesan Archdeacon in Canberra and, most recently, as Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral and Vicar-General in the Diocese of Adelaide. She is a member of the Anglican Consultative Council of the Anglican Communion and also of the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia.

While at Holy Covenant, she is working part time with the Education Institute of the University of Canberra. She and Ian have been worshipping at Holy Covenant since their return to Canberra from Adelaide in 2011. They have three adult children.

Sarah can be contacted by:

Assistant Priest – Revd Mark Beresford

Mark is the Assistant Priest responsible for the care of young adults throughout Holy Covenant. This includes lots of coffee, conversation, meals and studies. Mark is also responsible for facilitating the exploration of a Theology of the Arts throughout the community.

His interests include Benedictine spirituality, the Gospels, reading, music, nature, cycling and running. He is married to Katie and they have three beautiful children.

Mark can be contacted by:

Youth and Children's Worker – Katherine Rainger

Katherine is the youth and children's worker at Holy Covenant. She is currently studying at St Mark's National Theological Centre. Katherine has worked as a primary school teacher in schools in the ACT and NT and continues to teach on a casual basis. Katherine enjoys film, friends and reading. She is delighted to be working with such a wonderful group of young people as they explore life and faith.

Katherine can be contacted by:

Honorary Associate Priest – Revd Nikolai Blaskow

Nikolai is part of the leadership team of Holy Covenant, assisting with worship, preaching, teaching and pastoral care. He is Head of Religious and Values Education at Radford College, assists with ministry to the young people at Holy Covenant and continues his ministry of Intercessory Prayer.

Nikolai can be contacted by:

Holistic Care Nurse – Ven Anne Ranse

Anne was ordained into the permanent diaconate in the Diocese on Ascension day, 24 May 1998. Prior to ordination and raising a family Anne worked as a Missionary nurse in the outback serving four years with Bush Church Aid Society at Coober Pedy in South Australia and four years with the Presbyterian Board of Missions in the remote and isolated Pitjantjantjara Aboriginal Community of Ernabella in the Musgrave Ranges of South Australia. Anne is a hospital trained nurse, qualifying in General Nursing at Goulburn Base Hospital and Midwifery at Royal North Shore, Sydney.

Anne has a joint licence as a deacon with St James Anglican Church at Holt where she has a ministry to the elderly and house bound and pastoral care, and with Holy Covenant as the Holistic Care Nurse. As part of her ministry as the Holistic Care Nurse at Holy Covenant she is available on Mondays for consultation and referral.

She also cares for the elderly, isolated and housebound in the community by providing Holistic Care and advice on social activities and community events that they might be interested in attending and also providing information and assistance on staying in their own home for as long as possible. Through this ministry there is also an education program for the congregation on significant health issues. The Holistic Care Nurse has a vehicle, with a wheel chair lift, that can transport people to activities on site at Holy Covenant.

Anne can be contacted by:

Honorary Deacon – Revd Susan Joy Nevile

Susan Joy was ordained into the permanent diaconate in the Diocese on 28 November 2009. As well as a Masters of Ministry from St Mark’s, Susan Joy has a background in education and has previously worked as a school chaplain. When not at Holy Covenant she can be found at Clare Holland House as part of the Pastoral Care Team, or at Radford College enjoying Godly Play with those at the Early Learning Centre. And sometimes she can be found at home, surrounded by family, food, music, books, and if she is lucky, beautiful fabrics.

Susan Joy can be contacted by: