Every year we are pleased to welcome younger RSCJ from other provinces, here for English language study and/or for their international experience prior to "probation" - group preparation for perpetual profession. From February - September 2014 we have had five pre-probanists here: Sang Min and Sushma in Newcastle, Iris in Oxford and Albina and Rita in Forest Gate. In addition, Yukiko from Japan has been pursuing her studies whilst part of the Oxford community.

In August these six PVTs from five countries spent some weeks together in Hayes, as guests of Emmaus community, where they wrote this appreciation of their time in this Province, and especially the time they were together.

Sushma from India...

It has been a great opportunity to have an International Experience in this province which provides a rich culture and life giving experiences to PTV's, and I have been fortunate to have it. There have been an invitations to be rooted in the Lord and in the Society's spirit, living with many sisters in this province. I have experienced the overflowing love, care, generosity, friendship and understanding of our sisters, which itself is an inspiration.

Meeting with all my co-probanists and Yukiko is a wonderful experience. Staying with each one of them fills my heart with the sense of belonging to the international Society. There is richness as well as the challenge to be a true sister to each one. In spite of our differences, different languages, cultures, personalities, food habits make us more vulnerable and  understanding. Sometimes we have struggled to communicate but we have discovered new ways to communicate and to understand our deeper thoughts and feelings. I feel we have found the joy of friendship with one another.

During this time when we shared life in the community of Emmaus we have experienced the joy of belonging to the Society of the Sacred Heart, through the witness of our sisters, who have made us feel how valuable it is to create a space where we are invited to live a life, based on love, an open space to share with other men and women the paths of respect, intimacy, justice, hope and a life that is kind to all.

Yukiko from Japan...

It has been over a year since I came to England. I live in Oxford with 3 RSCJs and more than 20 students from all over the world. Also I have been blessed to have opportunities to visit other communities in the province and to meet with fellow PTVs from different countries.

At the beginning, I was drawn by the differences among us; languages, cultures, food, a way of communication& They are sometimes challenging, but it opens my eyes to see a broader world and liberate myself. More significantly however, a sort of oneness rather than differences has become more and more important to me. Friendships, interactions, and sharing our thoughts, feelings, joys, dreams, struggles and concerns often bring me back to the simple truth that we are all human beings and children of God. I hope our life-experience will lead us to build communion in this divided world in a very small way.

Albina from India...

It was a wonderful and rich experience for all us PTVs to be together in Hayes. We came to know each other more closely, as we shared and spent time with each other. It was not so easy, with our ideas of each other, but it needed us to respect and learn from each other. We went for a London tour for two days. It was a very amazing experience to see magnificent buildings and beautiful architecture from the past. The visits to the National Gallery, History and Science Museums were astonishing, they reminded me about human beings' great ability and behind all this work is the ultimately powerful God. We had also some fun time such as going to the park or plucking blackberries in the nearby fields.

It was surprising to see the people here, who are from different countries but respecting and giving space to each other. Community here in Hayes is very welcoming and caring. I felt their support, love and concern for each one of us.

Sang Min from Korea...

I had a wonderful experience and a special time in London. We went on a city tour in London and visited the Heathrow Airport Chapel where Margaret works. We participated in community prayer and meals and shared our joys with each other.

The sisters in the community are very generous; I learnt many things from them. Also as we PTV's came from five countries, different nationalities, languages and personalities this made the community multi-cultural. Although each of us had very limited English, we shared with our hearts, with our smiles, with our body languages and we did not have much problem in communicating with each other.

I experienced a deep union which is One Heart and One Mind.

Iris from Brazil...

For me, our experience in Hayes is expressed paragraph number 156 of our Constitutions, where we are invited to accept differences of our culture and who we are together for a common goal, which is the world and his righteousness from the Beatitudes. It was a very meaningful experience for me.