Jesus Caritas

Fun in the park!

Life here changed so much after 1989, the year of the 'Rose Revolution'!

We could put behind us our 'hidden' life. Up to that time we did not exist officially and always had to hide our identity. So that year we began a new Community in Decin. Our neighbours were mostly very poor Czech and Polish families and also Romany Gypsies. We felt so much at home there and we also kept our little house in Prague.

Bresno in Slovakia

Then in 2004 we decided to close Decin to open a new Community in Bresno where there was a strong majority of  Gypsy families.

Czerny Most

Just one year later we found a new flat in Prague on a Housing Estate at Czerny Most. Here we meet families from so many different countries:  Ukraine, Mongolia, Armenia, Vietnam, China. There is no Catholic church in the area and our tabernacle is the only presence of Jesus in the Eucharist among 20.000 inhabitants.

Czerny Most,our block

It is an area where nobody chooses to live. The kindergarten and secondary schools seem to be the only social structures in existence. Very little is done for adolescents and still less for the elderly.

The community hall, used mainly for exhibitions, is also used by the different Christian traditions for their services and gatherings. The Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday evening and many parishioners come.

We try and take a part in various local initiatives especially an ecumenical meeting every month which brings us closer to the ‘Church of the Czech brotherhood’ and other Protestant traditions. It is not a big gathering but friendly and alive.

Once a month too, a group pray the rosary for the intentions of the area.

Recently a group has started bringing together those who want to do something for the elderly and it has been a way of meeting people who are ready to give their time and energy to build up a sense of community. Many of the elderly are very lonely and look forward to a visit.

Pavla accompanies the children on outings to the forest

We share the working conditions of our neighbours which often means long journeys to the other side of town.

Making biscuits with the children

After a lot of searching Pavla found work as a Career among children who have both mental and physical disabilities.

Magda with a neighbour

Magda works at the local state hospital as an assistant in the service for water-therapy.

Pascale at the Centre for the elderly

Pascale is at home available for visits in the neighbourhood  and she often goes to the Centre for Pensioners and gives a hand.

Especially around Christmas time she makes clay statues to share the hope the Nativity of Jesus brings to our world and which is the secret behind all our daily choices at work or at home.