Prayers
We pray for success of the Servants of God and guidance during the promotion of the cause for the canonisation as a couple, of Danny & Domitilla Hyams, the founders of Little Eden Society.
This Months Prayer
Oh Lord, renew the love that we have in our hearts for you. Strengthen the love that we share among ourselves and bring us the unity that we need. We pray for peace and prosperity over Little Eden.
Please protect our residents, staff and all who serve you, Lord.
We pray for success of the Servants of God and guidance during the promotion of the cause for the canonisation as a couple, of Danny & Domitilla Hyams, the founders of Little Eden Society.
Cause Prayer
Lord God and Father,
inspired by the example of the power of prayer
in the lives of Domitilla and Danny,
in which they lived the Christian virtues of
Faith, Hope and Charity,
and through the example of their lives of Christian service
to our neighbours with intellectual disabilitities,
confidently and humbly we beg through their intercession
(state the request)
if this be your sovereign will, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.
AMEN
Use this prayer for private devotions to request special intentions, favours, healings, requests or miracles through the intercession of Servants of God Domitilla and Danny, whom we believe are in the presence of Our Lord in heaven.
We believe, they are able to act as our intercessors, placing our requests before the Lord. Since we knew them when they were alive, we have a direct connection in requesting them to act as our intermediaries with Our Lord.
Those who obtain favours through the intercession of Domitilla and Danny Hyams are asked to notify the Postulator of their Cause at postulator@domitilladannycause.org.za or Postulator, PO Box 121 Edenvale 1610 South Africa.
Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
(the Little Eden prayer)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is discord, let me sow harmony.
O Divine Master
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console,
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Harvesters of Jesus
Who are the beneficiaries of Little Eden Society?
This is a question that has been asked many times by persons interested in, or who are considering in donating to, Little Eden. It is also a question that requires an answer in applications Little Eden makes to corporate donors. Many people answer it in terms of the 300 residents who call the Edenvale and Bapsfontein facilities Home. Recently we became aware of the wish made by the elderly father of one of the residents. The man was in his eighties and not too robust. He was wishing to see his son before he died. However, the issue was that he had little to no resources for this to happen; he was not able to visit his son at either of the facilities It was decided that Little Eden would honor its values and make the effort to get the resident to visit his father. A nurse, the resident and another staff member were tasked to drive to the home of the father, so that the father could see his son; probably for the last time. I understand that the visit was successful in that the resident met up with not only the father, but other members of the family. Domitilla Hyams, the founder, acknowledged that those of us with “normal and able” children do not necessarily have the insight into the difficulties of caring for a person with disabilities within the family. We also do not fully feel the emotions of the families’ having to place their child in a residential Home; which requires faith, confidence, trust…. Generally, the South African environment does not have the resources of first world countries that can make proper use of home care for the disabled; especially the profoundly disabled.
“How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity.” Statement by Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the UK Mission to the UN
Many years ago, Little Eden Society summarised the values of “Respect”, “Sanctity of Life”, and “Love & Care” following a workshop, where all staff were invited to provide input. I suggest the answer to the leading question is thus: “The beneficiaries are the residents, and their families, and the donors and the community at large” P Mannix
Daily Prayer
Jesus, Great Harvester, who desires the salvation of all mankind, accept the offering of my life and
work in assisting You to help garner the fields for the harvest. Teach me compassion, understanding
and love for those most in need. Bless our Association; strengthen the bonds of love and charity
amongst us, so that with hearts united we may say “Thy kingdom come”. Mary, comfort of the
afflicted, pray for us.
Past Harvesters of Jesus
Click below to download the PDF file.
2024
2023
Beatitudes for friends of handicapped people
Blessed are those who take time to listen to our difficult speech,
For you help us to know that if we persevere, we can be understood.
Blessed are those who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,
For in your companionship we find a haven of relaxation.
Blessed are those who encourage us to take up new challenges,
For our failures are outweighed by the times we surprise ourselves and you.
Blessed are those who think of us as people who love, and hurt, and feel joy and pain just like you do,
For in that respect we are normal.
Heaven’s Special Child
A meeting was held quite far from Earth
It’s time again for another birth,
Said the Angels to the Lord above –
This special child will need much love.
His progress may seem very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show,
And he’ll require much extra care
From all the the folk he meets down there.
He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away.
In many ways he won’t adapt
And he’ll be known as handicapped.
So let’s be careful where he’s sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please Lord, find people whoWill do a special job for you.
They will not realise right away
The leading role they’re asked to play.
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they’ll know the privilege given
In caring for a gift from heaven.
[Anon]