We are a community of elderly retired RSCJ who live in a large, purpose built house and share some of our living areas with Shalom Community. We try to make our house a home where all feel welcome and valued.
We are fortunate in having support provided by a manager, her part-time assistant and a cleaner from Monday to Friday, a daily midday cook, and regular visits from a nurse, a chiropodist, gardener and a hairdresser. These people are real friends to the community as are the many parishioners who share our daily Eucharist, celebrated with us by the Claretian Missionary priests of the parish, from Monday to Saturday.
The Eucharist, prayer and reflection are the backbone of our community life. We meet 4 days a week to listen to a spiritual book or CD which we often discuss afterwards; then we share the gospel for the next day and spend time reflecting and praying over it. At fairly regular intervals we have an hours reflection on a particular theme or topic and through it often share our faith stories. The calls of the Chapter have been much to the fore and we have been challenged and encouraged by the development of and the sessions provided by JPIC. We try to keep ourselves informed about the needs of the world and have been moved to prayer and action by recent disasters.
On Fridays we share a video or DVD which is either beautiful or thought provoking or both and often challenging. On Sundays there is exposition for those who wish and at Christmas, New Year, Easter and special feast days we prepare and share some special time of prayer together.
To make sure that we can see the lighter side of life those who wish watch a film on Saturday afternoon and for feasts, birthdays and bank holidays we have collected a supply of amusing, sometimes hilarious, videos/DVDs!
We frequently welcome various members of the province to share their talents and interests with us:
Margaret Wilson led a day of reflection in Advent and in June a Capacitar taster Pat Murphy gave a Reflection day in June Barbara Sweeney shared news of some of her vocation activities and hopes
Joan Scott gave us a most interesting and entertaining account of her time as a member of the Land Army during war, leading on to her training as a teacher and the discovery of vocation. Carol Condon, as our link from the Provincial team has visited us twice.
We have also had various inputs regarding JPIC. On 15th March 2010 we celebrated Joan Scotts Diamond Jubilee of Vows by a Mass at which Father Angel, a Spanish Claretian Missionary, who is our most regular celebrant, gave an appreciative homily. On 25th March 2010 we had a joint celebration of the Golden Jubilees of Norah Lester (Shalom community) and Freda Parkinson (Emmaus community).
Visitors are always welcome at Hayes, for visits and for meals. At Christmas and on major feasts Shalom join us for meals.
One of our main areas of hospitality and a real community ministry is in welcoming parishioners to coffee after Mass every week-day. On average 20 people come to Mass daily, rising to 30 + on some days. In all we probably meet 70 -80 parishioners during the year and many say that they come here because they know that they are welcome and that we pray for them, their families and their concerns. Indeed, we have shared so many of their sorrows and joys in this past year. The coffee/tea and biscuits session is an opportunity for them to share their family interests with us, with each other and sometimes with the priests; some live alone and coming here is a highlight in the day. Sometimes, it feels like filling the 12 baskets after they have gone but it is worth it!
