Page 14 - Southwell School_The Chronicle December 2021
P. 14

                    FROM THE CHAPLAIN’S PEN
 A YEAR OF JUBILEE
“A priest is the God-bearer or Christ-bearer, a living Eucharist of the divine presence, bringing a sympathetic ear and a compassionate heart in which people find God’s consolation, understanding and love.’ – Arthur Middleton”
My contribution this half-year began with one of my favourite definitions of what a priest of the Church is. This has been a definition I have tried to live up to throughout the 25 years of my priesthood, the anniversary of which fell in September this year. The bulk of my ministry has been as Chaplain to Southwell but I did also spend two years in parish ministry before responding to God’s calling to come to Hamilton and the rest is – as they say – history.
Silver anniversaries don’t seem that lengthy in terms of the passage of time. After all, 25 years passes in a flash and centenaries are much more exciting aren’t they? However, in the midst of a global health event, I was able to quietly reflect upon my experiences in Southwell and come up with a few thoughts that I’d like to share.
I was a late ordination, and one that followed my 13 years working as a primary and then secondary school teacher. Little wonder God’s call upon my life to minister in school chaplaincy was an easy one to answer, “Yes!” to. I had al- ways loved my teaching career and to amalgamate the two seemed like an answer to prayer.
Ministering to the Southwell family now for 24 years feels like an intergenerational experience. The role has encom- passed every aspect of the work of a priest, even though my “parishioners” have smaller shoe sizes than those in a
local parish church. They are as astute as many adults when it comes to matters of faith and their relationship with God.
I learnt early on never to underestimate that fact. I have been astounded, on occasions, by the depth of reasoning provided by students to the point where I have freely admit- ted that I have discovered something new about God. These has been both humbling and joyous moments for me.
I am thinking my Golden Jubilee might be spent in eternity; however, I ought to be more optimistic, I guess. Either way, I feel very blessed to be entering my 25th year at Southwell next year. That will suffice for now!
This is my prayer of thanksgiving for all of God’s gracious benefits to me throughout these years:
Dear Lord,
I want to thank you so much for the privilege you’ve given me to serve You and my brothers and sisters as a priest of your Church these past 25 years.
Please help me to always rely on your presence and power to sustain and renew me daily. And for as long as you desire to continue to give me the gift of life, may my joyous response ever be, “Here I am, Lord. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.” In Your matchless Name, I pray. Amen.
Yours in Christ
Reverend Canon Neale Troon Chaplain
 


















































































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