I have never been to Trinity Theological College for a retreat. They had been doing retreats for a few years before COVID-19 halted them. Now the college has resumed them, and they plan to do four retreats a year, God willing. Rev. Dr. Jimmy Tan and Rev. Dr. Niam were the retreat leaders, and Kim Lee Sue and I were supporting spiritual directors of this retreat from the 7th to the 8th of March 2025.
I was not ready for what was ahead. I studied in the old grounds at Mount Sophia. Even then, I stayed out since I was married. TTC has since moved to its new premises at Upper Bukit Timah, next to the Hillview MRT station. Its sprawling grounds hold a few entities: TTC, the St Francis School, Bukit Panjang Methodist Church (English), and Methodist School of Music. Furthermore, the campus was built on slopes so moving around demands patience.
In the past, I went to TTC mainly to do research in the Library. Besides the beautiful library, I know the carpark, the office, toilets, the sanctuary and the school café. During the orientation, I was shown the hostel rooms, the students’ cafeteria, the serene St Peter’s Hall chapel and guided to my room, I felt disoriented. However, after a while I adjusted to the surroundings and found my bearings.
I loved the times in the chapel. There is a sacred ambience that invites you to be silent and to pray. There were many other places where you could pray. Dairy Farm Park is a minute’s walk away, and within the premises, nature reminds us that it is near too: we can hear beautiful bird songs.
The team designed the retreat with the new retreatants in mind so they could ease into solitude, silence and prayer. There was a good balance of periods when we meditated and prayed together, with times for solitude and prayer. Meditations were on the theme of “Through the Wilderness, Towards the Cross” and were based on Isaiah 55. Each retreatant saw a spiritual director once a day during this two-day retreat, which began at 8.30am on Friday and ended at 5pm on Saturday.
We were blessed with superb meals during this retreat. We were expecting meals in plastic bento sets, but we were surprisingly given fine food plated stylishly. We were so thankful that Maple Catering went beyond what was agreed.
I had a meaningful time sitting with retreatants in all the sessions. The guided meditations inspired me to reflect deeply and pray honestly. The spiritual direction went well even though the rooms were not completely suitable.
On reflection, I was inspired and blessed as a participant in the guided meditations and prayer. I look forward to the next Retreats@TTC. If you wish to be informed of future retreats, the email contact is info@ttc.edu.sg