Chaplain

Who is a Chaplain? What is Chaplaincy? These are the questions that some parents and students have asked me recently. Obviously, there are a few versions on how the answer goes.

Fra Oscar Aguilera osm. Chaplain

Firstly, we had better check what Google says…“A chaplain is a person, generally a member of the clergy, who serves a group of people who are not formally organized as a mission, a parish, or a church, and who perform their duties by various attachments to military units, hospitals, prisons, schools, or other diverse organizations”. “Chaplaincy is a role that the chaplain holds by supporting those under his care as they walk the journey of life, a beacon of light.”

Well I hope that helps a little. The main roles that I have at Trinity College are Liturgies, Retreats and being a sort of all round good guy! There are the Big Liturgies, such as the whole school celebrations, which involve a team of people trying to coordinate many different parts. The Year 12 Graduation Eucharist is one of my favourites, and one that every year is filled with mixed emotions, as new generations of students leave Trinity to enter the world as young men.

The Small Liturgies, such as the different Year level Eucharists have a flavour of their own, as I slowly but surely get to know the students of different Years, Heads of Year, teachers, and the parents who grace us with their presence. It’s so nice to see that they feel part of what we do at Trinity College. The best part of Small Liturgies is when I celebrate for the Junior School; to hear them singing to their heart’s content is elating.

Another part of my role as Chaplain is to participate in the different retreats run by Trinity College. I do enjoy them as I get to meet the students outside of the classroom and even the school setting. It is fantastic to see them in their individuality and wearing what they feel comfortable in. I do delight in taking part in the Kairos Retreat. Apart from being a very full-on and intense retreat, it is one that allows the young men to find themselves!

Above: Commissioning of Special Ministers

However, most of my days are much like anyone else’s… unexpected visitors, a retreat to prepare, debrief to take, pastoral wander around Trinity to visit people who may need me, take a phone call, respond to messages, emails sent and received, comfort a crying student, make coffee and chat with staff, set-up/pack-down for Eucharist, prepare another Liturgy, talk about a policy, a person, an idea, stop, breathe, eat, pray, laugh around the table, avoid coffee, but stay focused.

Then there’s the hospital visit, the home visit, read an interesting article, planning for 2013, making priest bookings, checking websites. Then another student, staff member, parent, friend drops in for advice, counselling, tissues, coffee. Sit with them and be present.

Then all of a sudden the final bell rings out the end of the school day. I’m feeling happy that I walked with my brothers and sisters today, shared their lives, ideas, faith and coffee – in that order.

Fra Oscar Aguilera osm. Chaplain