Today a large part of the work exists of pastoral & support work amongst young refugees and homeless people in London. Mostly refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea.
A listening ear In a city like London homelessness, housing issues, loneliness and finding once place in the city seem to be the hardest challenges for young or new refugees. Many questions and conversations will be about this. Signposting & Referrals Pointing people in the right direction or signposting them to the right organisations or agencies is a large part of the work. Support Helping people fill in their documents online or on paper, registering for English Classes. Explaining what is in a document, what kind of housing exists and how to apply for them. Or simply finding a free fridge or washing machine. It is one of the many small things you can help with. Accompaniment Going to the hospital, the homeless drop-in, a housing advisor with someone can be good first steps in a larger accompaniment of people. Befriending Sometimes people ask for help, but they actually just need a good talk, or are looking for a good friend. It is important to hear what the real need is. Community Part of the mission is to build community with people and to offer hospitality. VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME
If you live in London and would like to volunteer please contact bro Johannes by email: [email protected] |
Prayerfully Present "The monastic feels called by GOD to go into the desert, but sometimes the monastic finds his or her desert in the city." The monastic vocation can be a calling to a simple life of prayer and work; a life of service and love for once immediate neighbour, or even a hidden life in the anonymity of the city. A seeking of God in the small things of daily life, and or an encounter with Christ in the other. Being prayerfully present amongst people - is not about showing off prayer, or imposing prayer. You can be prayerfully present without uttering one word, and even without "praying". The verb here is "being"; and how? "Being present"; for someone, with someone, available, to listen or simply sit in silence with that person. Being present fully, is actually a intensive ‘labor’. Prayerfully or "full of prayer"... to let the Spirit pray in you (most often without words). Your presence, maybe, points towards prayer or connection with God. But being present demands that you are not judgmental towards the person in front of you. You do not really know this person, yet. Your "pop-up" judgments, you need to cast them aside and this can be a struggle. You need to keep your heart and mind open. How else will you encounter the other? And how else will you see the Divine in the other? In London daily life is hurried, busy, can be confusing or distracting. And so judgments come easily, you easily walk by people. The rhythms of the city can be overwhelming and sweep you away, make you alienate from yourself, even from your family, or from your vocation. Time for work, time for leisure, time for friends, for family, for school, for shopping. Is there any time for God? Also for religious people, it is constantly finding balance. Do not get swept away, because you cannot do everything nor solve all the problems. Stay humble, stay small. When you run from one meeting to another, from task to task and person to person, then do you still have time for people and for God? Some people are good at multitasking, some not. For me as a monk, keeping my times of prayer, time of solitude and silence are essential if I want to ‘be present’. Again, balance is important, but not for the sake of balance but so that we are able to follow Christ. |