Lay Camillian Family
Hexham
Order of St.Camillus
Camillus de Lellis was born in Italy in 1550. His early life was spent as a mercenary soldier until illness brought him into contact with the sick and the way they were treated in the hospitals in Rome.
It was here that he learned to serve Christ by serving the least of his brothers and sisters, following the example and command of Jesus. To do this he gathered around himself other like - minded men and eventually offering to the Church a new Order - The Servants of the Sick also know today as Ministers of the Infirm – M.I. This Order still exists, working in over 40 countries, witnessing to Christ’s compassion to the sick, under the Patronage of St. Camillus who is patron of the Sick and of Health Care Workers
In 1948 a group of Priests and Brothers came to work in England from the Irish province. They set up a Monastery in the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese. They opened St. Camillus Hospital for elderly men with post operation needs. This eventually closed and a new project opened as “Inisfree”, a care centre for mentally handicapped adults. Due to no support from the NHS, this project was closed down and made way for a private project - Cancer Bridge. This sadly has also closed and the hospital building is now vacant. In 2001 the Order, due to lack of vocations in this part of the world, moved out of Hexham and returned to Ireland. They left behind a group of lay men and women know as the Lay Camillian Family....
The Lay Camillian Family are a group of men and women from the Hexham and Corbridge area of our Parish, who are touched by the Charism (Spirituality) of St. Camillus and the work he is patron of – Caring for the Sick and the Dying.
We are involved with visitations to those people in their private homes, Residential and Nursing Homes and Hospitals in the area.
We meet on a monthly basis and celebrate a service of prayer together. We discuss happenings within the Order and the group, we also discuss the world wide LCF and the work they do in the missions. The aim of the Camillians is: “to take care of the sick as a mother takes care of her only sick son”
The LCF work in over 30 countries in all Continents, the number of members is steadily growing especially in Africa and northern Europe - Russian old states
Recent statistics estimate about 3,100 members of the LCF.
There are presently 18 persons in the Hexham Group
We meet every last Thursday of the month at 7.00pm in
Carntyne Residential Home,
Hencotes,
Hexham.
If you wish to know more about LCF, contact me......
Philip McElroy. LCF Hexham
On 0044 1434 604054
Or email - philipmcelroy@sky.com
Requests from other parishes are most welcome.
If we can help you as laity to assist your Priest to care for your sick and dying in your Parish