Chaplains
Susan and Mara, our Lay Chaplains, are flexible and resourceful officiants. From your first contact, you will find us easy to communicate with, professional and conscientious. We will offer you a great variety of suggestions and choice for the different parts of the ceremony and are happy to help you craft the service that you have always dreamed of. The ceremony you have in mind may be anything from elegant and traditional to lighthearted and casual. We will make sure that it suits your personal style, values, family traditions and spirituality.
Our Lay Chaplains are licensed by the Province of Ontario to perform marriage ceremonies. We also offer ceremonies of other kinds, such as renewal of vows, handfasting, memorials, funerals, child dedications or blessings, house blessings, or pet memorials. Each service can be custom designed in collaboration with those who are directly involved.
Please note that .61 cents per kilometre will be charged by lay chaplains as a travel expense.
Meet our Chaplains
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Mara Shaw
Mara Shaw comes to Kingston from St. Louis, Missouri and brings the open warmth of the Midwest to all of her work. She loves creating ceremonies that are about those being honoured, from babies to couples to loved ones who have passed away. When not serving as a Lay Chaplain, Mara is the Executive Director of the National Farmers Union, advocating for agroecology and sustainable food sovereignty.
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Susan Young
I appreciate ceremonies of all kinds and enjoy finding the balance of readings, music, and elements of ritual for your significant life ceremony, whether it’s marriage, a memorial or a baby blessing. I enjoy helping you create your vision and expression of your spiritual values and beliefs as we create a unique and meaningful experience for you.
I am proud to represent the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship as a lay chaplain, and as a mindful life coach, I am passionate about practicing awareness and presence. I am grateful to have ways to bring this focus into my life, such as hiking, yoga and wilderness kayaking. I am committed to diversity and inclusion for all folks, and use English as well as American Sign Language to communicate (my son is profoundly Deaf). Contact me to set up a time to explore what you are looking for in your special ceremony.