ADM Chaplain Jacinth Myles retires after 11 years of service

by Sophia Russell

After 11 years of faithful ministry, Rev. Jacinth Myles is retiring from her role at ADM as Chaplain to the Deaconesses and Retired Deacons. She will be replaced by Rev. Jan Donohoo, who will take on the role of ADM Chaplain.

Stephanie Dunk, ADM’s Chief of Operations, said Jacinth’s service has been invaluable to the people she has cared for over the years. “The Deaconesses, retired Deacons and others under Jacinth’s care have been blessed by her work. It has been ADM’s great joy to fund this faithful ministry,” she said.

“The Deaconesses, retired Deacons and others under Jacinth’s care have been blessed by her work. ”

— Stephanie Dunk, ADM Chief of Operations

Rev. Jacinth Myles, who has served at ADM as Chaplain to the Deaconess and Retired Deacons for 11 years.

Jan added, “In caring for the deaconesses and others who came within her remit, Jacinth is a true servant of the Lord Jesus. Her sense of responsibility toward these women – who themselves have served sacrificially – caused her natural diligence and organisational skills to have a fine Christian outworking, and to benefit the women.”

Throughout her 65 years as a Christian, Jacinth has always been passionate about serving others. Initially a primary school teacher at Fairfield West Public School, she began her ministry training at Deaconess House 50 years ago, after deciding to become an overseas missionary.

God, though, had other plans. While serving as a student minister at Lane Cove parish, Jacinth discovered how much she loved helping people in Sydney have a personal relationship with Jesus. When she was unable to pursue missionary service due to medical reasons, she began a life of ministry that spanned across nine parishes, including Sadleir parish in Sydney’s south-west where she currently serves.

But Jacinth never stopped looking beyond her local context to see how she could be of help to others. In 2008, she became aware of a growing need amongst retired deaconesses in the Sydney diocese. Their regular meetings were at risk of being discontinued, which would make it difficult for them to continue in fellowship with each other.

“I contacted the Archdeacon for Women at the time and asked for the meetings for the older women to continue running. She was swamped with lots of different tasks, so she asked me to come on board and help to pastor the older women as a volunteer, which I did for six months,” says Jacinth.

“The CEO of ADM at that time heard about it, and offered to pay me to continue this role. I nearly fell off my chair at the opportunity to be paid to do something I really loved!  Since then, it has been a privilege and a pleasure to be Chaplain to the deaconesses, some retired female deacons and a few lay women.”

Since then, Jacinth has been ministering to 49 deaconesses and deacons in a myriad of ways.

First and foremost, she encourages them in their faith. Deaconesses have spent most of their lives holding out the love of Jesus to their communities – in hospitals, children’s homes, poverty-stricken areas, rural Australia and overseas. Knowing that women in vocational ministry are not often the recipients of care, Jacinth sought to “encourage them spiritually, and to give them undivided time and attention.”

“When I visited them or spoke on the telephone, I made sure that I never had a deadline – that I was there for them, for as long as they needed,” she said.

“I also used the traditional hymns they know and love so well to encourage them, and shared related Scripture selections and the stories of the authors of those hymns. Because these ladies had ministered God’s word to others for many years, this was a way I could bring God’s word to them in a fresh way. They always found stories of the authors so inspiring.”

Jacinth with a group of retired deaconesses and deacons at ADM.

Offering practical support was also a significant part of Jacinth’s role as Chaplain. She organised significant anniversaries, took funeral services, provided hospital communion and, when she could, drove people to appointments.

Jacinth was also a conduit between a deaconess’ needs and ADM’s financial assistance. This involved organising much-needed mobility aids like recliner chairs and motorised wheelchairs; arranging financial help for medical related expenses; liaising with the Public Trustee for wills; assisting with moving to Anglican Retirement Village accommodation, and helping to organise household repairs.

“It was a joy to be there for them. I will always be grateful to the Lord for calling me to this ministry.”

— Rev. Jacinth Myles

“Many of our deaconesses ministered before the days of compulsory superannuation contributions. They were paid very low stipends and when they retired, they had no superannuation and very little, if any, savings,” said Jacinth. “The fact that ADM was willing to support them financially, in so many ways, made a huge difference to many of them. They were always so very grateful.”

Jacinth never saw providing care as ticking tasks off her to-do list. In her view, putting faith into action by serving those who spent their lives ministering to others was an opportunity to be relished. “For many years I would say to people that I have the most wonderful ministry: I get paid to chat, eat meals and have coffee with my friends!” she said. “It was a joy to be there for them. I will always be grateful to the Lord for calling me to this ministry.”

Jacinth, with just a few of the women she has ministered to over the years in her role as chaplain. Back row: Rev. Janine Steel, Deaconess Joan Egan and Rev. Jacinth Myles. Front row: Wanda Sams, Deaconess Shirley Harris, and Deaconess Ena Adams.

Now that she is retired, Jacinth is looking forward to spending more time caring for her 98-year-old mother. Rev. Jan Donohoo has taken on Jacinth’s responsibilities, though not without some trepidation.

“I’m a little nervous about following Jacinth in this role! She has served ‘as unto the Lord’ – just as she has done in many other situations – and He is honoured in that. I will no doubt make mistakes, so I’ll be dependent on your prayers,” said Jan.

“The cohort of deaconesses is changing, so there will need to be careful thought and seeking of wise council, especially as COVID-19 and its restrictions have really changed the way the chaplaincy can operate. But whatever eventuates, like Jacinth before me, I want to bring honour to the Lord Jesus by serving Him.”

To learn more about our deaconesses and the ministry they did in our parishes, visit the Deaconess Stories section of the ADM website.

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