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A FRUIT OF COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY Jenny Linker, a member of the Emmaus Family of Prayer in Southport, shares how the community ministry has evolved, and the new ministry that has developed, over the last few years running a retreat centre at Blundellslands, south of Liverpool
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SANDYMOUNT|
I've been a member of the Emmaus Family of Prayer for about fourteen years and during that time have watched that Community change and grow. It's a Community based in Southport made up of lay people, priests and religious who live around the Southport area but come together each Sunday at St Marie's Parish Centre for prayer, support and friendship. For twenty-five years, the core of the Community was centred at York Road, Birkdale where Archie and Cathy Cameron, Maureen and Dave Grimley and their families lived in community. From there, different ministries evolved, and for a time there was a homeless project catering for the spiritual and physical needs of a large number of homeless people in Southport. Conferences were organised and a group from the Community still goes to various conferences in England and Ireland to record and produce audiotapes to spread the Word of the Gospel. PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DE MONTFORT FATHERS In early 1996, a group from the Community went for a weekend to Sandymount, a retreat house in Blundellsands, which is south of Liverpool, run at that time by the Montfort Fathers. Two of the group, Cathy Cameron and Lilian Crossey went for a walk around the grounds and prayed, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if God gave our Community a place like this?' And God answered their prayer. Unknown to them, the Montfort Fathers were struggling to find the resources to run the house and so, after much prayer and intercession, a partnership was formed between the Emmaus Family of Prayer and the Montfort Fathers which meant that the Emmaus Family of Prayer took over the running of the house. Two people, a religious sister and a lay person live at Sandymount, but most of the people who help run the house are volunteers. Those volunteers together with a group who come each week to pray for the work of the house and people who come each Monday to celebrate the Eucharist all form part of a 'family', a small, but growing, new community. Many are members of the Emmaus Family of Prayer but others are from neighbouring parishes. Through the work at Sandymount, people are encouraged to discover their own giftedness and work in cooperation. No one leaves Sandymount without being touched in some way. One person was so overwhelmed by the whole experience that she has started fund-raising for a project to improve facilities for the disabled at Sandymount and has involved many of her friends and family. COLLABORATIVE, NOT FOR PROFIT MINISTRY Sandymount is a good example of collaborative, 'not for profit' ministry providing a focus for the Emmaus Family of Prayer, parishes and the wider ecumenical community. It is a place where people can discover their own giftedness, a place where priests, religious and lay people all work together to present a scriptural vision of Vatican II. There are many groups who visit the house, Prayer Groups, groups from schools, parishes, Justice and Peace groups, Rosary groups, to name but a few. The atmosphere of homeliness, peace and friendship in the house is blessing all these people. As you walk through the door, a sense of warmth and tranquillity fills you with peace of mind and the knowledge that here, God is at work. It's a home, a lived in home and for the time that the visitors are there, their home. For many, carrying their burdens, Sandymount is a place where people understand, do not question, a place where everyone can 'be themselves'. It's a place where people can discover their own giftedness and be encouraged to use these gifts in the wider community and where priests and religious and lay people can find support. One of the people who really loved Sandymount was Agnes, a member of our parish prayer group. For five years she struggled with her battle against cancer but during that time was an inspiration to all those who met her. She always was so cheerful, so full of hope, so full of the Holy Spirit. She always loved the good, homecooked food at Sandymount, the laughter and companionship and the sense of the Holy Spirit in the place. She loved the walks in the grounds and along the beach and just talking and laughing late at night with her room mate, 95 year old, Celia. For both of them, for me and, I would say, for everyone who comes, Sandymount is a place where people simply feel at home with others, with themselves and with God.
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