Shared faith, shared care – honouring Madeleine Le Surf’s lifetime of service

November 22, 2025

When staff from CatholicCare’s Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Program gathered at St Mary’s Church in Manly for the funeral of Madeleine Le Surf, OAM, they weren’t just honouring a long-time volunteer. They were acknowledging a deep relationship – one that connects CatholicCare, parish life, and the wider community through shared care, faith, and responsibility.

Madeleine gave over 30 years of service to Pastoral Care at Manly Hospital and was woven into both parish and hospital life. Her presence was never loud or self-promoting; it was steady, consistent, and deeply personal.

At her funeral, her son Allan shared insights into her life shaped by early experiences of uncertainty and loss. Raised by her grandparents on a farm near Kells, Ireland, Madeleine never knew her mother until adulthood and likely never met her father. When her grandfather died, she lost her voice at age 10 and underwent speech therapy. These challenges built in her a quiet resilience and a strong sensitivity to those who might otherwise go unnoticed.

In her youth, Madeleine cared for five cousins when their mother contracted tuberculosis. She worked as a secretary at Headfort House, a boarding school for English boys, studied at the Augustinian Convent School in Kells, and briefly considered religious life before training as a nurse in England. It was while working at Lingfield Children’s Hospital that she met her future husband, Leslie William Le Surf. They married in 1960 and soon moved to Manly, Australia, where Madeleine became deeply involved in St Mary’s Parish.

Madeleine’s keen awareness extended beyond parish walls. She noticed the invisible struggles even in Manly – a picturesque Sydney suburb – where there were people who lacked homes, food, or help. Her compassion led her to support efforts that would grow into vital community services such as the Manly Soup Kitchen and the Manly District Relief Fund.

Her most enduring legacy began in the late 1970s after two brain surgeries, when she founded what became the Manly Parish Caring Program. Allan recalled that the program initially helped aged and infirm parishioners attend church but quickly expanded to assist with shopping, medical appointments, home repairs, and simply providing companionship over a cuppa.

This grassroots initiative evolved further. Madeleine became a Minister of the Eucharist, bringing communion to the sick at home and in hospital, often visiting several people on Sundays before attending to Manly Hospital. Hospital staff came to depend on her calm presence, inviting her into difficult conversations for her gentle listening and non-judgmental support.

Today, CatholicCare’s pastoral care training teaches this approach as “deep listening,” but Madeleine practiced it naturally. Parish Pastoral Care Volunteers speak of their privilege in preparing for and becoming Extraordinary Minsters of Holy Communion at their parish and in local hospitals, training with and working alongside our CatholicCare Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care team members.

Her story highlights how parish life and CatholicCare collaborate to fulfill a shared mission, creating programs and networks that support the community. Madeleine worked with quiet determination, persistence, and purpose – embodying the heart of CatholicCare and the Church’s mission. Her life was not marked by grand gestures but by faithful, steady companionship with others on their journeys.