Page 5 - St Margarets Magazine

A note from the College Chaplain
Kia ora tatou,
This year, 2018 has been my 19th year as Chaplain to St Margaret’s
College, and my eighth year as a College Fellow. At the beginning
of this year it was wonderful to meet with the new Welfare Staff
and Executive members and to take them to visit the Maori Centre,
Pacific Islands Centre, the University prayer and meditation room
upstairs in the University Union building, and our Chaplaincy
offices. At the welcoming afternoon tea, it was my privilege once
again to pray a blessing upon the College community for the year
ahead. For me, St Margaret’s College is a very special community.
My official welcome and induction service was held at St
Margaret’s “way back” in March 2000, around the time that many
of you were born ! It was wonderful this year, that St Margaret’s
also hosted the official welcome and induction of Rev Olivia Dawson, our new half-time University Ecumenical Chaplain, on August 2nd.
Faith continues to be very important to many students. A healthy spirituality undergirds academic success. My role as Chaplain of the College is to offer pastoral care and spiritual support, through the year.
I would like to extend thanks to Melania Napa’a for helping organise the annual St Margaret’s interfaith information night, which I facilitated once again. The purpose of this evening is to ensure that students have the opportunity to obtain information about local faith communities, and to meet representatives from these communities. Twelve religions were represented. Thanks also to Ellen Walters and the St Margaret’s College Choir for singing so beautifully at our Chaplaincy Graduation Service of Thanksgiving held in the Hunter centre during May.
Thank you to Dr Charles Tustin and to all the Students and staff of the College who make me feel so welcome whenever I visit. It has been a joy to share meals, and a special Fellow’s dinner together once again this year.
In my travels I often meet up with former St Margaret’s College students. I enjoy hearing how much students retrospectively appreciate their time in the College, and speak with such affection and gratitude about the year or years they spent as members of the College community.
May God be with and bless everyone who is moving on from St Margaret’s College, and with all who will be returning next year. All the very best for Christmas and for the year ahead. May 2019 it be a year filled with hope and optimism for us all. Please keep in touch, or make contact J
Nga mihi mahana, Arohanui,
Rev Greg Hughson
Chaplain, St Margaret’s College and University Chaplain greg.hughson@otago.ac.nz
P.S. You can become a friend of Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy via chaplaincy.nz/friends-of-th e-chaplaincy
https://www.otago-tertiary-