8/7/2019 Gibraltarian Chaplain on Royal Navy Operations

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GIBRALTARIAN CHAPLAIN ON ROYAL NAVY OPERATIONS

Royal Navy Chaplain, Father Charles Bruzon, who comes from Gibraltar, has deployed to theArabian Gulf on board HMS Iron Duke.

Father Charles, who completed his Royal Navy Chaplaincy training last December, serves asChaplain to Her Majesty’s Ships IRON DUKE, LIVERPOOL, EDINBURGH and DARING, spending

a few weeks at a time in each.

Recently he began his first operational deployment, serving with HMS IRON DUKE in the ArabianGulf. Whilst on board Father Charles has the responsibility of providing pastoral and spiritualsupport to the Ship’s Company. Every Sunday he conducts an interdenominational church servicewhich can take place in different locations, depending on the weather, such as the Junior Rates’Dining Hall or on one of the Bridge Wings. These are well received as they afford sailors theopportunity to step aside from their busy roles in order to reflect on matters such as families andtheir relationship with God. The Eucharist is also celebrated on a regular basis. Naval Chaplainsare ‘the friend and advisor of all on board’ and therein perhaps lies Father Charles’ most importantrole as he seeks to help members of the Ship’s Company who wish to discuss personal or workrelated issues in absolute confidentiality. During this deployment Father Charles has also provided

pastoral support on board American destroyer, the USS Paul Hamilton.

In his free time Father Charles likes to help out in the various departments on board, such aspeeling potatoes in the Galley and doing the washing up in the scullery. As his Lenten Penance heis also participating in upper deck daily circuits organised by the ship’s Physical Training Instructor!To date Father Charles has also ventured ashore in Kuwait and Qatar to enjoy short but necessaryperiods of rest and recuperation with fellow members of the Ship’s Company.

IRON DUKE has had a varied deployment, operating mostly inside the Arabian Gulf sinceassuming responsibility as the UK’s Frigate in the region in early February. The ship is providingmaritime security to the Iraqi Al Basra Oil Terminal and supporting the Coalition’s efforts in trainingIraqi maritime forces to take charge of this vital operation independently later this year. Additionally

IRON DUKE is conducting maritime security patrols throughout the Gulf, providing reassurance tothe thousands of mariners in the region whose living depends on these waters and ensuring thesafety of shipping lanes, which are essential to the security of trade and energy routes.

Father Charles will depart HMS IRON DUKE soon to rejoin HMS LIVERPOOL as shedeploys, before returning to IRON DUKE a little later in her deployment.

ENDS