Little Eden Celebrates their Saintly Founders
The daughter of sainthood candidates Danny and Domitilla Hyams recalled her parents’ heroic virtues in an annual lecture in Johannesburg.
The 4th Annual Danny and Domitilla Hyams Memorial Lecture was delivered by Lucy Slaviero in Bishop Shanahan Hall at Holy Rosary School in Edenvale, where supporters of Little Eden Society gathered to celebrate the legacy of the founders of the organisation.
Guests included Italy’s consul-general Emanuela Curnis, representatives of the Hyams Cause committee, Alderman Heather Hart, donors, and representatives of the Society, including residents who entertained the audience with a musical interlude.
Slaviero spoke about the saintly lives of her parents who founded Little Eden Society 56 years ago to help children and adults with profound intellectual disability. She spoke of the sacrifices they made and their dedication to improving the lives of those who were taken care of by Little Eden.
She also recalled her parents’ dedication to the Catholic Church. When her parents took the family on holiday, she said, they would always ensure that they were near a church so that they could continue their daily devotions.
“My parents lived their lives according to the Ten Commandments and not according to the norms and rules of the day. Their consciences always guided them to do the right thing according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and consequently their behaviour reflected in their Catholic morals” she said.
Fr Phuti Makgabo, communications officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, shared some insight into the Hyams’ beatification process. He emphasised the importance of proper documentation and attestation of miracles reported by the faithful. He also explained the process of submitting miracle petitions to the Vatican for further review.
Fr Makgabo asked for continued prayers for Hyams’ canonisation cause as it is an arduous process that requires intense scrutiny from the Church.
The next Annual Danny and Domitilla Hyams Memorial Lecture will take place next year in Italy, the birthplace of Domitilla Hyams.
Little Eden Society is home to 300, mostly previously abandoned, children and adults with profound intellectual disability. For more information about Little Eden and how you can contribute towards the missionary work, contact public relations and communications coordinator Gaahele Mokgoro on 011 609 7246 or or visit www.littleeden.org.za
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