Guidelines 2015 - Faith and Light
Transcription
Guidelines 2015 - Faith and Light
Missionaries of Joy! Guidelines 2014-2015 Faith and Light international Summary Introduction, Ghislain du Chéné To you, members of the coordinating team, Corinne Chatain 3 6 September Come, follow me (Alexander Men) October Come, you that are blessed by my Father (Sister Emmanuelle) November Announce the reign of God (Jerzy Popiełuszko) December A Saviour is born for you! (Takashi Nagai) January That they may be one (Charles Lwanga) February The spirit sent me out to bear the Good News (Pier Giorgio Frassati) March Take up your cross and follow me (Marthe Robin) April He is risen indeed! (Baudoin de Belgique) May You will be my witnesses (Lúcie dos Santos) June It is me, do not be afraid anymore (Cicely Saunders) July Happy are the meek (Óscar Romero) August Love one another (Martin Luther King) 8 16 Box of treasures Bringing the Word of God to life The prayer of a poor person Priorities 2013-2018 Evaluate the year to progress Artists'workshop Marko Ivan Rupnik The little bookshop of Faith and Light The Faith and Light prayer Cover: "The pilgrims of Emmaus", Father Marko Ivan Rupnik 2 24 31 38 44 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 95 96 99 101 108 109 112 Introduction L ast year’s guidelines helped us relive the first steps of the Faith and Light adventure and we were invited to start writing the second volume of these adventures and to ignite the second stage of the Faith and Light rocket! This "big bang", which resulted in the creation of communities all over the world, must not be allowed to fizzle out! Also, as we embark on our “mission” this year, we will be accompanied by some great witnesses of this joy that we want to continue announcing, this treasure that we don’t want to keep just for ourselves… The main tool at our disposal will be a net, the net that Peter and Andrew, James and John left on the shore so that they could follow Jesus, using a different type of net, a net to help them become fishermen of people! Over the course of the three years when they were following Jesus on his travels through Galilee, Samaria and Judea, the nets filled up well. However, after Easter, after Jesus' death and resurrection, the same apostles recast their nets, but they caught nothing and were discouraged to find their nets empty! It was then that a man on the shore told them: “Cast the net to the right of the boat and there you’ll find some”. And the nets filled up with 153 large fish! Are we continuing to cast out our nets? Or are we saying to ourselves: “It’s not worth it! It won’t work?!” It’s very discouraging to make an effort and then to see that the fruits just aren’t there… However, there are still many families that are waiting for Faith and Light! The apostles have caught 153 big fish, so why not imagine 153 Faith and Light countries? Nowadays there are only 80… 3 With the help of our twelve great witnesses, it’s time to cast out our nets again; these people have never been discouraged, so with them our mission will be fruitful! In September, together with Father Alexander Men, we will find the right words to speak about Faith and Light to everyone, young and old, to call upon them to follow Jesus. In October, together with Sister Emmanuelle, we will see that there is no right age to start being a missionary and for doing good around you. In November, together with Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, we will not be afraid of announcing God’s reign, of proclaiming the Gospel and tending to wounded hearts. In December, together with Takashi Nagai, we can transform lives with very little things, changing the world, one heart at a time. In January, together with Charles Lwanga, we will be unified by offering our hands to the littlest ones amongst us to give them courage. In February, together with Pier Giorgio Frassati, we’ll know that young people’s enthusiasm and subtle imaginativeness can radiate in an extraordinary way, bringing the Good News to others. In March, together with Marthe Robin, we will understand that the world can be changed without leaving your little village; we just need to take up your cross and follow Jesus. In April, together with King Baudouin, we will build a better society by welcoming the most fragile amongst us. In May, together with Sister Lucia, we will be witnesses of the wonders of God for those whom God has chosen, the simple and the weak. In June, together with Cicely Saunders, we will take care of the weakest and won’t be afraid of all sharing our joy in the Lord. 4 In July, together with Archbishop Oscar Romero, we will listen to the real law of God, the Beatitudes. In August, together with Martin Luther King, we will joyfully share the feast of the freshly grilled fish with everybody, on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. These twelve characters will become increasingly familiar to us over the course of this year. They are all very different: Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican or Baptist. Their lives have varied in length (from 21 to 99), there is a king and a shepherd, five were married, six were priests/monks… But they all had in common a love for Jesus, which made them achieve extraordinary things! Let’s follow behind them into the deep waters and cast out our nets! Let’s not be afraid! GHISLAIN DU CHÉNÉ International Coordinator 5 To you, members of the coordinating team W ell, here we are at the start of another year! It’s a year that looks like it will be full of adventures… First of all, however, I wanted to offer heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Slovenian team who have created these guidelines with us: Rozi Ternik (former national leader), Father Franc Kejžar (former provincial Chaplain), Vesna Knuplez (former viceprovincial coordinator), Helena Furar (Mum), Edo Dolinar (friend) and Ghislain du Chéné for the monthly meditations. For a few days in January, we formed a real little community of sharing, prayer and celebration in snowy Slovenia! It’s a good thing that the coordinating team meets at the beginning of the year for a weekend, if possible, so that they have the time to experience the three times of every meeting….and to plan the year of course! They can start by evaluating the previous year and setting priorities for the year to come. They can plan the schedule for meetings and external events: the Announcing and Sharing Day, the Feast of Light, a weekend away with the community or a pilgrimage to the religious community we are twinned with, a holiday camp, retreat… This year, each month, we will propose an extract from the Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation published in 2013. Francis himself invites us to be missionaries of joy: "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation, marked by this joy". It would be a good idea to have a sharing time in teams, focused on the text that has been proposed to you. We are called to cast out our nets, following on from the great witnesses whom you read about in the introduction! That’s why the fisherman’s net will be there accompanying each of our meetings. We could ask one of the Mums to crochet one (see 6 page 101), or buy one cheaply1. Each month, we will attach the symbol of the meeting to the net, and it can decorate our prayer corner at the meetings. This year, we suggest a new prayer approach similar to that of the Poor Person’s prayer. Our Slovenian friends are very fond of it. However, as with everything in these guidelines, this is of course just a suggestion. Becoming a missionary of joy is about announcing the good news of Faith and Light! We need to open our hearts and our communities to new members. Never stop inviting people… For example, one good way of “casting out our nets” is to concentrate on organising the Feast of Light together with the parish in order to make ourselves visible; asking each member of the community to come along with a friend; and organising the Announcing and Sharing Day at the beginning of the year in the parish so that the parishioners can get to know us and we can invite them on a regular basis… It’s a good idea for everyone to return home with a small object or a card… made during the meeting or prepared in advance by the coordinating team. This is a way of remaining connected and deepening what was experienced during the day. Finally, you can find all the illustrations and download them in high definition from our website, via this link : http:// www.faithandlight.org/rubriques/haut/album_photo Have a wonderful year of mission and joy in each of your communities. Let’s set out into the deep! CORINNE CHATAIN General secretary 1 Less than 10 € on site: www.decor-evasion.fr/divers-marins-23/filet-de-peche-avecflotteurs-337.html 7 Peter's boat, chapel of the Nonciature, Paris September Come, follow me 8 The word of the month Our great witness Alexander Men A lexander Vladimirovich Men was born on 22 January 1935 in Moscow to nonbelieving Jewish parents. His mother, Helen, converted to Christianity and was secretly baptised in the Orthodox Church at the same time as her son, who was only seven months old at the time. From a young age, Alexander demonstrated a deeply religious spirit, and felt the call to the priesthood very early on. After finishing his studies, he was ordained on 1st September 1960. He served in several parishes in the outskirts of Moscow, and the last one was in the small town of Semkhoz. With his unique combination of a formidable intellect, his openness to modern culture, to science, to other Christian traditions and other religions, he swiftly became one of the most renowned Christian preachers. He was extremely popular and could address intellectuals or theologians just as well as his most humble parishioners; he would speak of Jesus tirelessly and used all possible means to ensure that Christ’s message could reach the greatest possible number of people. He wrote many books, whose manuscripts were sent to Belgium to be printed; he taught catechism by walking around the church and using the external paintings to illustrate his words; he wrote plays… He organised meetings of families, young people and children’s parties; thus creating a real Christian community and, within a society that was atheist and hostile to religion, he was able to show through his life what the Church represents. Whilst remaining faithful to the Orthodox Church, Father Alexander Men was at the same time open to dialogue with all the other Christian churches, and demonstrated this by establishing deep friendships with the Taizé brothers, the little sisters of Charles de Foucauld, and of course a certain Jean Vanier! 9 On the eve of the perestroika, he was the first Orthodox priest to be admitted to a state secondary school to give religious studies lessons. However, he also upset many with the strength of his message that reached many people, and at dawn on 9th September 1990, he was hacked to death by an axe. His memory remains very much alive for those who knew him and those who had access to his books, including “Jesus, the Master of Nazareth”. In Semkhoz, his office-library is still open to those who ring the doorbell of the wooden house where his wife still lives. Ten years after his death, a church has been built in his honour, surrounded by trees and several metres away from the place where he was murdered, which is marked with a simple cross surrounded by flowers. At Faith and Light, we want Jesus’ message to reach as many people as possible, and in our communities we are all messengers of joy! Our own wonderful way of bringing the Good News to life consists in performing Gospel mimes where every participant is both an actor and a spectator: an actor in bringing a particular Gospel character to life; a spectator when this community action brings us all nearer to Jesus and helps bring us closer and to enter the secret of God’s love. “Persons with an intellectual disability, by the very radiance of their poverty, lead Christians of different denominations into the beatitude of poverty of heart and thus allow them to rediscover the spirit of God." (Charter I. 5) Father Alexander Men would certainly have been an excellent mimes producer in our communities; but we can also say that our mimes pay a very special homage to him, spasiba dear Father Alexander! Focus on the theme of the month Jesus calls upon us to leave everything behind, to go and announce the good news throughout the year. We are called to be missionaries of joy. 10 The Joy of the Gospel Realities are greater than ideas (N°233) This principle impels us to put the word into practice, to perform works of justice and charity which make that word fruitful. Not to put the word into practice, not to make it reality, is to build on sand, to remain in the realm of pure ideas and to end up in a lifeless and unfruitful selfcentredness and gnosticism. Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person receives a replica of the mosaic of the month, inscribed with the words: "I will make you fishers of men". We can take this back home for our prayer corners. Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts Alexander Men’s life in this/her own words. Jesus called on Alexander to leave everything behind in order to follow him. Up until his martyrdom, he announced Jesus to everyone and by all means. Jesus is calling on us today, as he called upon Alexander and as he called his first disciples. To hear better, to internalise Jesus' call to follow him and announce him, we are reliving the scene where Jesus calls Peter and Andrew. Bringing the Word of God to life Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men (Mt 4, 18-25) Characters: Simon, Andrew, James, John, Zebedee, Jesus 11 Materials: a blue cloth, a net, the boat (an upturned table will do the job) First scene While the narrator starts the story, Jesus is walking beside the lake. Narrator: As Jesus was walking beside the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and his brother, Andrew, who were casting their nets into the sea for they were fishermen. Jesus: Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Simon turns towards Andrew and says: Let’s leave this net and go with Jesus. Andrew: Yes, let’s go with Jesus. Straightaway, Simon and Andrew get up and leave with Jesus. Second scene Narrator: A bit further on, he sees James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were in the boat with their father, repairing their nets. Jesus calls them: Come and follow me as well ! Narrator: James and John look at each other and turn to their father. James and John: Father, we’re going with Jesus. Zebedee : Go my children, and may God bless you ! As all five gradually move away, waving goodbye … Narrator: Jesus travelled around the whole of Galilee; he taught in synagogues, proclaimed the Kingdom’s Gospel, cured every sickness and infirmity the people had. His fame spread throughout Syria. All those who were suffering were brought to him, people suffering from illnesses and all kinds of torments: the possessed, the epileptic or the paralysed. And he cured them. Huge crowds followed him around, who had come from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the other side of Jordan. In small groups His fame spread throughout Syria… The disciples needed to speak about Jesus with conviction in order for people to flock to Jesus from all around. All those who were suffering, the poorest ones and the sick flocked towards him and he cured them. In turn, they too became missionaries and testified to this Good News. Alexander, like the disciples, would announce Jesus up until his 12 own martyrdom. The disciple is the one who models himself or herself on Jesus and wants to be like him. Jesus has called upon me to follow him in the community. What do I like in the community? Jesus calls me to be his witness. When you experience great joy, you feel like telling everyone about it. How do I testify about what I experience in the community? And to whom? Can I tell the story of one time when I have invited someone to come and “see”? Do I have doubts or fears that prevent me from talking about Jesus? Who can help me? What do I need so that I can be more like him: patience, gentleness, strength, ability to listen?... On a little piece of card, we write: Jesus, make patience or gentleness grow in me, or… Put them all in the prayer corner. Praying Celebration of commitment We place the net in the prayer corner. There is a cross and an icon there and a large candle is lit. Besides this we spread the community banner. After an introduction, the community coordinator or chaplain will ask the following questions inspired by the prayer of Faith and Light (of course, you can also choose others): Do you want to follow Jesus in our community and to become his witness ? All those who want to respond: Yes Do you want to commit to faithfully participate in meetings with all your heart? All those who want to respond: Yes. 13 Do you want to be the friend of everyone in the community? All those who want to respond: Yes Then, with a song, one after the other we approach the prayer corner and we light the little tea-light that the chaplain gives us, as we say: Jesus, to be your disciple, give me more patience, or gentleness, or… We can end with this prayer, all together: You have called me to be part of a Faith and Light community. With a heart that is poor, but full of confidence, I commit to keeping each of its members in my prayers and in my heart. I commit to do all that is in my power to ensure that in Faith and Light, They meet a real community of friends With whom they can welcome the light of faith, Grow in confidence and hope, radiate peace and joy. God, our Father, help me to remain faithful to your love In the mission that you give me within my community. May Mary, your mother, strengthen me through her example of love and of service. Amen! Song: "Come and go with me"1 Prayer of a poor person I remain in the net of your love. Celebrating Game: the fisherman’s net This game is played in two groups. The first group will be the net; the second group the fish. The net group secretly choose a number (or a word of a song), which will be the signal. 1 http://foietlumiere.ca/Chap101/Chants/Chants-2a-10.htm 14 When the “net” is ready, the net players get into a circle and raise their arms so that the fish players can pass underneath into the middle of the circle. The fish players keep going back and forth through the mesh of the net while the net players count (or sing). When they hear the signal (the chosen number or word), the fish players lower their arms and the fish that are within the circle at that moment are prisoners. This means that they have to join the net group which, once again, chooses the signal word. The game continues until there is only one free fish left. We can play again and swap over the roles. Artists’ workshop Make a large envelope to hold our prayers and written requests during the sharing time. The fisherman’s net You can make it yourself by knitting or crocheting (net point, see page 101) or get hold of a cheap, decorative fishing net (see page 7). Each month, we will attach a symbol of the meeting to the net. Today, during the sharing time, we will put our written requests for prayer in it, all together in the big envelope on which we write: Jesus, we want to be missionaries of joy. 15 "I was thirsty and you gave me drink" ,Church of All Saints, Ljubljana October Come, you that are blessed by my Father 16 The word of the month Our great witness Sister Emmanuelle M adeleine Cinquin was born in 1908 in Brussels, Belgium, to a well-off family. Her father was French and her mother Belgian, but after living for nearly a hundred years, she died with three nationalities: Belgian, French and Egyptian! At the age of 6, she witnessed her father’s accidental drowning. She was deeply shocked by this and later said that, subconsciously, her religious vocation dated from that sad day. In 1931 she gave her vows in the congregation of Notre-Dame de Sion and chose the name of Sister Emmanuelle. For a long time, Sister Emmanuelle taught philosophy in Turkey, in Tunisia and in Egypt. She would have preferred to care for the poor people she met in these countries, but every time she asked, her requests were refused and she had to continue her teaching work for young girls from well-to-do backgrounds. She found them very superficial and it was only in Egypt that she was able to start looking after poor girls from the Bacos district in Alexandria. It was at this point that she fell in love with the large and beautiful country that is Egypt. After reaching retirement age, she went to settle in one of the poorest shanty towns in Cairo, at Ezbet-Al-Nakhl, amongst a predominantly Coptic Zabbaleen community nicknamed “the ragmen of Cairo”. The alleys were narrow and strewn with piles of filth, there were wooden carts pulled by donkeys, trucks were overflowing with rubbish and ragmen of all ages were carrying heavy bags on their backs. It was here that she went on to achieve everything she had dreamt of for so long: setting up a community, launching projects in health (free clinics), education (schools, children’s gardens) and social protection in order to improve living conditions for the poorest of the poor. Tirelessly, she continued her 17 work in other districts and designed shelters so that families could have housing away from the places where the rubbish is sorted. Thanks to her own charisma, she collected donations and mobilized political intervention for the families she had come to aid. At the age of 85 she had to leave Egypt, at the request of her congregation. However, she continued to fight from France for more solidarity in the world. Up until the last of her strength, she put all her energy into writing books, giving talks and taking part in radio and television programs to raise public awareness of this commitment. Her cry of “Yalla” has become famous. “We have a duty to seek amidst the most terrible of events, through the darkest of skies, a little corner of blueness. In stormy skies there is always a tiny sunny spell. Make sure that you always see the light side in everything”. These words from Sister Emmanuelle are echoed in Marie-Hélène Mathieu’s book called “Mieux vaut allumer une lampe que maudire l’obscurité”1. In our communities, whatever our economic situation, we always share the same joy, this joy for which we want to be messengers! Sister Emmanuelle’s heart was always overflowing with joy and she would have appreciated everything that is written in our Charter, and especially: “Faith and Light communities across the world form the branches of one big international family. Within each province, each country, we carry one another’s burdens, sufferings and joys. Solidarity is expressed by sharing financial support for the life of Faith and Light but also by sharing the benefits of their particular gifts, their friendship, the wisdom of their experience, and their faithfulness in prayer. As members of a single family, communities seek to live in love and unity.” (Charter III. 4). Focus on the theme of the month We are called to announce the Good News to everyone, starting with the smallest ones, with patience, perseverance and enthusiasm. “It is better to light a lamp than to curse the darkness”. The book exists only in French. 1 18 The Joy of the Gospel The whole is greater than the part (N°237) The good news is the joy of the Father who desires that none of his little ones be lost, the joy of the Good Shepherd who finds the lost sheep and brings it back to the flock. The Gospel is the leaven which causes the dough to rise and the city on the hill whose light illumines all peoples. The Gospel has an intrinsic principle of totality: it will always remain good news until it has been proclaimed to all people, until it has healed and strengthened every aspect of humanity, until it has brought all men and women together at table in God’s kingdom. The whole is greater than the part. To deepen our reflection "The culture of waste", General audience with Pope Francis, 5 June 20131. Welcome and reunion On arrival, everyone is welcomed with tea or a soft drink… or… Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin”, the leader or organiser reads or recounts Sister Emmanuelle’s story in his/her own words. Jesus calls us, like Sister Emmanuelle, to become missionaries of joy amongst the littlest ones. 1 http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2013/documents/papafrancesco_20130605_udienza-generale.html 19 She liked the Arabic word "Yalla", which means a joyful "let’s go"! Following Sister Emmanuelle, we are called to communicate this joy to everyone, to soothe their sufferings, starting with the littlest ones. Jesus tells us in the Gospel: What you have done to one of the youngest of my brothers, you did to me. We will relive that passage from the Gospel so that we can absorb the word of Jesus. Bringing the Word of God to life Come, you that are blessed by my Father (Mt 25, 34-40) Characters: Jesus, 5 righteous ones, the foreigner, the thirsty person, the person on the blanket. Materials: two loaves of bread, one glass, a pilgrim’s staff, a cape (or a piece of fabric). First scene Jesus is in the centre of the room, with the five righteous ones on his right. Jesus calls the righteous ones: Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. The righteous ones come nearer and Jesus hugs them. Jesus speaks to the first righteous one: I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. Then, he hugs him/her. The righteous one: When did I give you something to eat? The foreigner approaches. Jesus speaks, as if in a flashback. Jesus: A foreigner was a long way from home, he had travelled a long way on foot and had nothing to eat. He knocked on your door. The foreigner: I’m hungry, please could you give me a loaf of bread? The righteous one: Here you are, my friend, here are two. Second scene Jesus addresses the second righteous one: I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. Then, he hugs him/her. The righteous one : When did I give you something to drink? The thirsty person approaches. Jesus: After a long walk under a burning sun, a thirsty man knocked on your door. 20 The man: I’m thirsty, can you give me something to drink? The righteous one: Come in my friend, I have a good pitcher of fresh water for you. Third scene Jesus addresses the third righteous one: I was naked and you clothed me. Then he hugs him/her. The righteous one: When did I clothe you? The person wrapped in a blanket approaches. Jesus: A man had been attacked on the road by bandits who had taken everything from him, even his clothes, and he knocked on your door. The righteous one: Come in my friend, I have some clothes for you. The same scene can be repeated for the sick person, the person in prison… Fourth scene Jesus addresses everyone: every time you did this to one of the littlest of my brothers, you did it to me. Song: "Oh let all who thirst, let them come to the water"1 In small groups In the face of suffering, poverty, war… It’s tempting to shrug our shoulders, to believe that our little gestures will not do any good, and to resign ourselves to sadness. The prayer of Sister Emmanuelle was: "Lord, give myself as a rule to see the bright side of everything ". When I see someone suffer, what do I feel? What do I do? When my life is too hard, how do I re-find strength? Can I tell you about when a righteous person came to me? What did he/she do? When have I also been a "righteous one", a little light? 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJJVrZKqKNE 21 Celebrating Game: tenderness Against some background music, everyone walks around the room calmly, we cross each other’s paths without really looking at one another. At the game leader’s signal (cymbal clash, music stopping…), we turn to the person closest to us and exchange a gesture of tenderness, we hug each other and say something kind to each other, or we make the sign of the cross on their forehead as we say: May you be blessed. At the game leader’s signal, we start walking again and we find another “brother” to whom we can demonstrate our friendship… The artists’ workshop We can make candles to decorate or light our prayer corner: a candle to colour, or made using a mandarin (see page 101) that you can take home with you. Praying We slowly and peacefully re-read the text from Matthew 25, 34-40. We close our eyes and in the silence of our hearts, we listen to Jesus as he says to us: Come, you that are blessed by my Father... The prayer leader repeats: Lord, when did we see you...? So you were hungry, and we fed you? You were thirsty and we gave you something to drink?... Lord, when did I see you in another person, when did I come to help them? Lord, when and how have I met you in a person or in our Faith and Light community? 22 Amen, I say to you: each time that you did this to one of the smallest of my brothers, it is to me that you did this. In the silence of their hearts, each person thinks about the people that they have met, one after the other; and the events, one after the other, that have been a light… Allowing Jesus to take over our soul. Prayer of a poor person I remain in the light of your love. The fisherman’s net We attach a picture of a candle to it, on which we write Sister Emmanuelle’s words: Lord, let me see the bright side of everything. 23 "The Good Shepherd" church Madonna della Via, Caltagirone November Announce the reign of God 24 The word of the month Our great witness Jerzy Popiełuszko J erzy Popiełuszko was born on 14 September 1947 in a small village in North-East Poland, where his parents managed a farm. At 18 he joined the Warsaw High Seminary. Then he spent two years of military service in a special seminarian unit which aimed to remove individuals from their environment in order to persuade them to abandon their vocation. Throughout this period, Jerzy demonstrated great courage in defending his convictions, but this meant that he suffered punishments, humiliation and bullying, which only reinforced his desire to become a priest. On 28 May 1972, he was ordained by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. On the images distributed for his first mass, you could read the words: “God has sent me to preach the Gospel and dress the wounds of broken hearts.” In May 1980 he was appointed to the parish of Saint Stanisław Kostka, in the suburbs of Warsaw and, the following summer, Cardinal Wyszynski asked him to become the Chaplain for the city’s steelworks. Every Sunday, he held mass for the members of the Solidarnosc trade union, which was born during this period at the time of the Gdansk Accords. He had also organised a kind of “laboratory” for workers, in which he led the catechesis, but also helped them to acquire knowledge in various fields through a series of lectures: on history, literature, the social doctrine of the church, law, economics and even negotiation techniques. After the coup d’état at the end of 1981, Father Jerzy Popiełuszko came to the defence of the Solidarnosc trade union, which had been brutally outlawed. Every month, starting from that 25 fateful day, he held a Mass “for the homeland” in his parish. He gave lively homilies arguing for social justice and respect for individual freedoms. The words of his courageous addresses were recorded and shared on cassettes throughout Poland. Suffice it to say that the regime considered the young priest a dangerous agitator. On many occasions, the young priest was summoned by the militia and held in custody. Then, at 10pm on Friday 19 October 1984, three police officers stopped Father Jerzy Popiełuszko’s car in the middle of nowhere, on the pretext of a drink-driving test. His body was found a few days later in an artificial lake about one hundred kilometers North of Warsaw. The news had a profound impact, but the Polish people responded to it without surrendering to anger or violence, remembering those words that Father Jerzy liked to repeat: “Zło dobrem zwyciężaj”, “Defeat evil through good”. I still remember with emotion the time when I was in his parish in July 1994. Almost ten years after his martyrdom, a crowd was gathered to watch videos in which you could see Father Jerzy Popiełuszko preaching or images of his funeral mass attended by hundreds of thousands of Poles, in which many were crying! In June 1987, his tomb outside the parish church was visited by Saint Jean-Paul II. Since then, almost nothing has changed save for some even more brilliant letters that were added in 2010 above his name: “błogosławiony”, “blessed”! For Faith and Light, the Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, who was in the tradition of the great witnesses of Truth, is a role model to encourage us to reveal the beauty and vocation of people with an intellectual disability, at a time when attempts are made to eliminate them, hide or silence them… “Faith and Light was born of a desire to help people with an intellectual disability and their families find their place within the Church and society.” (Beginning of the Charter) “He/she [the person with the intellectual disability] is called to be a source of grace and peace for the whole community and also for the Churches and for all humanity” (Charter II. 1). Following the intercession of the blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko, we will no longer be afraid of testifying to the truth and dressing the wounds of broken hearts! 26 Focus on the theme of the month We are celebrating All Saints Day. We are called to announce the Gospel in spite of difficulties or persecution. We are called to defeat evil through good so that we too can become saints. The Joy of the Gospel The spiritual savour of being a people (N°271) in our dealings with the world, we are told to give reasons for our hope, but not as an enemy who critiques and condemns. We are told quite clearly: “do so with gentleness and reverence” and “if possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all”. We are also told to overcome “evil with good” and to “work for the good of all”. Far from trying to appear better than others, we should “in humility count others better” than ourselves. The Lord’s apostles themselves enjoyed “favour with all the people”. Clearly Jesus does not want us to be grandees who look down upon others, but men and women of the people. By so doing we will know the missionary joy of sharing life with God’s faithful people as we strive to light a fire in the heart of the world. Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person receives a small lamb which they will wear around their necks throughout the meeting (see page 102). Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin”, the leader or organiser will read or summarise the life of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko in his/her own words. We can pass a photo round the whole group. 27 Bringing the Word of God to life I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves (Lc 10, 1-11) First the leader will read the Gospel, and then we will all relive it together. Characters: Jesus, two disciples, the blind person, a mum, the son. Materials: a blanket to symbolise a bed. First scene Narrator: Jesus calls the disciples. Jesus : Go on your way! See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Go two by two before me and travel to all the towns that I will be visiting. Cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ The disciples leave. Second scene Narrator: two disciples are walking, and on the road they meet a blind person. Blind person: Have pity, I’m hungry and I don’t have any money. He opens his hands to receive alms. The two disciples: We don’t have any money, but what we do have we give to you: Lord, make him see. They place their hands on the blind man’s head, close their eyes and pray. Blind man (very happy): I can see… I can see… thank you! The two disciples: It’s the Lord Jesus who has cured you and not us. The blind man jumps up in joy and proclaims: Glory to God, hallelujah!!! Third scene Narrator: On the road, the two disciples meet a small group of people. A mum approaches from amongst them. The mum: My son cannot walk, come and cure him. The two disciples: Where is he? Take us to him. Narrator: The disciples go into the house. A young man is lying on a bed. They come closer and place their hands on his legs. The disciples: In the name of Jesus, get up and walk! 28 Narrator: The young man gets up slowly, then he starts running and praising God. The two disciples : Today it is God’s realm that has approached you. Do you believe in Jesus, the son of God? All in unison: Yes, we believe in Jesus and we want to follow him. Song: "Our God reigns"1 In small groups Like these characters in the Gospel, Father Jerzy followed Jesus. He was sent out like a lamb into the midst of wolves and devoted his life to announcing the reign of God and to fighting injustice. What is most important to me? God, love, justice or happiness? What is it that gives me the strength to follow Jesus and to announce him without being frightened? A prayer? A song? A person? Can I talk about someone who has left to join the Lord and who was important in my life? Everyone receives a star on which we write the name of that person. We put these in our prayer corner. Praying We can pray as a litany for the deceased whose names are written on the stars: Saint Peter, pray for us… Saint Kathryn, pray for us… Jesus you tell us: "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few". There are many Faith and Light communities, but a few friends are missing here and there. People with an intellectual disability in this world are like lambs in the midst of wolves without a purse, or a bag for their journey, or sandals. Peace in this house, this is the message that we will bring to the parish and to the parishioners…. And even if people are sometimes 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lQRmFXNA2Q 29 distrustful when they receive us, we are the witness that the reign of God has approached you. Dear Jesus, that is our prayer. This is how we want to follow you in our Faith and Light community. We love You and You love us. Prayer of a poor person I remain in the peace of your love. Celebrating Game: Who’s scared of the wolf? We draw two lines on the ground in chalk, quite far apart so we can run. Behind one line is the wolf, and behind the other the rest of the community. When the wolf shouts: "Who’s scared of the wolf?” we start running from one line to the other. When the wolf catches someone, they have to hold hands and run together and catch a third person, and so it goes on, running in a three, four… Until everyone is caught! Artists’ workshop Paper mosaic (see page 102). Fisherman’s net We can join all the stars from the sharing time into a paper chain and hang this in the net. 30 "Nativity", chapel Casa Incontri Cristiani, Capagio December A Saviour is born for you! 31 The word of the month Our great witness Takashi Nagai T akashi Nagai was born on 3rd February 1908 in Matsue (Japan), to a family of doctors who raised him according to the teachings of Confucius and of the Shinto religion. In 1928 he went up to the University of Nagasaki to study medicine, but changed to radiology due to an ear disorder that left him partially deaf. Throughout this period, he had started on a spiritual path which would lead him to Christianity. Before witnessing his mother’s death from a brain haemorrhage, he was overwhelmed by her intense expression, which made him believe in the existence of the soul. Spending time as a lodger with the Moriyama family also influenced him: this family had, for seven generations, been amongst the main descendants of a group of secret Christians, who were heirs to the evangelization of Saint François-Xavier. In 1934, he married their daughter, Midori, who had accompanied him on his development: inviting him to a Christmas mass on the evening of 24th December one year, or sending a parcel containing gloves and a catechism when he was on military service in Manchuria! He was baptised two months before his marriage, choosing the Christian first name of Paul. He then became a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul society. Takashi met Maximilien Kolbe several times in the district of Nagasaki where he had founded a monastery. In 1937, war was declared between Japan and China and Takashi was mobilized as a surgeon up until 1940. Thereafter he resumed his research and teaching at the university. On 26th April 1945, an air raid on Nagasaki left many casualties. The hospital was overwhelmed and Takashi spent his days and nights looking after the wounded in his radiology service. At the time, safety procedures were poorly understood and in June 1945, he learnt that he was suffering from leukaemia: he was only expected to survive a few years. 32 On 9th August 1945, an atomic bomb struck Nagasaki. At the moment of the bombing, Takashi was working at the hospital. He joined up with the surviving members of the medical personnel to care for the victims. On 11th August, Takashi found the site of his home and, amongst a heap of ash, the charred bones of Midori with her rosary close beside her. He returned to live in the Urakami district where the bomb had fallen. He built a small hut which he called Nyokodo (after Jesus' words: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”) and stayed there with the other members of his family. The hut only covered about 10 square metres. Later, he made himself a second hut that looked like a hermitage, where he spent the remainder of his life in prayer and contemplation. On 3rd December 1949, he was made an honorary citizen of the city of Nagasaki, and received a visit there from Emperor Hirohito and Cardinal Gilroy, the Pope’s emissary. He died in 1951 at the age of 43. 20,000 people attended his funeral in front of the cathedral. The city of Nagasaki observed a minute of silence which began the moment when all the city’s church bells rang out. I am very touched by the life of this man and the radiance of his influence! His life was profoundly changed by so many little things which allowed him to have extraordinary radiance! Are we thinking of calling, inviting or going out to meet other people? We can have no idea what the consequences of all these small gestures will be! “Friendship deepens through time and presence. Between the monthly gatherings the members of the community choose to spend time together in smaller groups or just meeting one-to-one. They share stories, fears, dreams, hope, prayer, fun, service with others, a meal, and other activities which nurture friendship: it is 'the time of fidelity', also called the 'fourth time'.” (Charter 1.4) These times when we experience friendship are the times when we can introduce our communities to the people we meet! The Announcing and Sharing Days are perfect opportunities for this: we can bump into a Dad while singing Carols, or introduce a Polish lady to Faith and Light during a Christmas sale in Portugal! 33 Focus on the theme of the month At the crib, we discover that it is really Jesus who has offered himself as a gift and who allows us to change the world one heart at a time. The Joy of the Gospel Unity prevails over conflict (N°229) Peace is possible because the Lord has overcome the world and its constant conflict “by making peace through the blood of his cross” (Col 1:20). But if we look more closely at these biblical texts, we find that the locus of this reconciliation of differences is within ourselves, in our own lives, ever threatened as they are by fragmentation and breakdown. If hearts are shattered in thousands of pieces, it is not easy to create authentic peace in society. Welcome and reunion When everyone has arrived, we can start the meeting with a lovely Christmas carol, or learn the angels’ song that comes from Slovenia1. Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Takashi Nagai in his/her own words. We can pass a photo round the whole group. 1 Sea video on: www.faithandlight.org/rubriques/haut/video 34 Bringing the Word of God to life The birth of Jesus (Luke 2, 1-20) Characters: Joseph, Mary, two shepherds, an angel. Materials: a Jesus doll, a bundle, a pilgrim’s staff. First scene Narrator: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there… Mary: Joseph, the child is going to be born. Where shall we go? Joseph: There’s no place for us at the inn, let’s move in to this stable. Narrator: Mary brings her child into the world; she wraps him up and lays him in a manger. Second scene Narrator: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Angel: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. Narrator: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: "“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!” Shepherds: Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. Narrator: So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. Third scene Mary: Come in, do not be afraid! 35 Shepherds: The angels appeared to tell us that Jesus is Christ, the saviour of the world…. And we have come to adore him. Narrator: Mary, meanwhile, retained all these events and meditated on them in her heart. The shepherds left: they praised and glorified God for all that they had heard and seen. In small groups Changing the world, one heart at a time. Yes, with Jesus, it’s possible. We can read Mirna’s letter, former viceinternational coordinator from Syria, or Fathers Hans’s letter, former Sudanese chaplain, who tell us about peace and forgiveness. Can each of us tell the story of the event, the word or the little thing that happened to us and that changed something in our heart? How can I too change the world, one heart at a time? Praying Do not be afraid - I am bringing you good news of great joy…You will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. Joy, joy, joy of the tiny little child lying in the manger, Joy at a God so small, little human baby. Joy of the Saviour, joy of the child, joy of the family, joy of childhood, joy of life, joy of the soul. Let’s rejoice together, let’s welcome this joy and celebrate it in the community. Let’s share the joy, the great joy of the crib. Song: "O Holy night"1 Prayer of a poor person I remain in the protection of your love. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjkvbTfjNpg 36 Celebrating Game: the angel and the child We get into pairs (or threes if someone has trouble walking). One is the angel and the other a child. The child is walking on a dangerous path and the angel is there to protect him or her. The child needs to tread on the card leaves that the angel places in front of him or her, and not tread directly on the ground. In front, the angel lays the first leaf and then the child takes one step, and then another….. Until they have crossed the whole room…. For those in a wheelchair we will use two large leaves. We will savour the tender concern of the angel…. Song or gift socks Materials: as many coloured children’s socks as there are people in the community, a length of string and some washing pegs. Stretch the string across the room. In each sock place a piece of paper with a word linked to Christmas written on it: crib, tree, star, night… and we hang them on the string. One by one, go and pull out a word and you have to strike up a song that includes this word…. And we all join in, in chorus. We can also use little gifts instead of songs…. Artists’ workshop We can make angels with scraps of wool (see page 102). We’ll create one large one for the fisherman’s net. The fisherman’s net We will attach the big angel to it. 37 "Washing of the Feet" Redemptoris Mater Chapel, Vatican January That they may be one 38 The word of the month C Our great witness Charles Lwanga harles Lwanga was responsible for the pages at the court of King Mwanga II in the Kingdom of Buganda (in the South of what is now Uganda). On 3 June 1886 he was 21 years old when he was martyred for his faith at Namuyongo, along with twelve of his companions. He had been baptised at the Mission of the White Fathers several months earlier (November 1885) and had secretly taught catechism to his pages, baptising five of them himself. After refusing to offer sacrifices to the traditional Gods and protecting the pages from the dangerous influences at the King’s court, he was condemned to be burned alive along with twenty-five other Christians, including ten Anglicans. Whilst walking to the place of execution, Kizito, the youngest of the group (13), asked Charles Lwanga: “Give me your hand; I will be less frightened”. Both were proclaimed patron saints of African young people. This was not an isolated event as massacres continued from 1885 to 1887. Forty-five Christians were killed, twenty-two Catholics and twenty-three Anglicans. The missionaries had arrived in 1877, sent by the “Church Missionary Society” in London (Anglicans and Protestants). They were followed two years later by the White Fathers. The missionaries did not just aim to spread the Good News of the Gospel to the far ends of the earth: there was definitely also some political manoeuvring, the fruit of Franco-British rivalry, in order to garner influence in the local community. The Holy Spirit put things right, because the converted young people were model examples of faith and unity: all of them, irrespective of whether they were Catholic or Anglican, confessed the same faith in Jesus Christ and went to their martyrdom with the same determination and hope. 39 During the week of prayer for Christian unity, let us remember that in times of trial and suffering, we must be united and gathered together. The Charter of Faith and Light is very clear on this subject: “Faith and Light believes that the person who is weak and disabled can become a source of unity in society and in each Church and also between Churches and nations.” (Charter I.5) It is the smallest and the weakest, those whom God has chosen to confuse the wise and the strong, who as rallying persons, will guide us on this path of unity. All our communities must be signs of the unity of our human family: “In a society based on usefulness and power, people with disabilities may not be efficient but they are nonetheless in the area of the heart and of tenderness, and in what is essential in the human person. And so those who are poor evangelize the rest of us.” (Charter II. 2) In his homily at the canonisation mass for the martyrs of Uganda, Pope Paul VI said these words (which were quoted almost in extenso in Pope Francis’s message for the Leeds meeting!) “And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Co 3, 18) I hope that Faith and Light can restart in this beautiful country of Uganda; until 2002 there were some wonderful communities there… Focus on the theme of the month We find ourselves in times of persecution and suffering… Even though we come from different Christian traditions, by moving forward hand in hand, united, we will not be afraid, we will be stronger. 40 The Joy of the Gospel Unity prevails over conflict (N°230) The message of peace is not about a negotiated settlement but rather the conviction that the unity brought by the Spirit can harmonize every diversity. It overcomes every conflict by creating a new and promising synthesis. Diversity is a beautiful thing when it can constantly enter into a process of reconciliation and seal a sort of cultural covenant resulting in a “reconciled diversity”. As the bishops of the Congo have put it: “Our ethnic diversity is our wealth… It is only in unity, through conversion of hearts and reconciliation, that we will be able to help our country to develop on all levels”. Welcome and reunion The members of the coordinating team welcome everyone and take each person by the hand to lead them to their place. Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Charles Lwanga in his/her own words. We can pass a picture of him around the group. Bringing the Word of God to life So that they may be one, as we are one (Jn 17, 20-26) Characters: Jesus and Peter Narrator: Jesus is seated with his disciples, and he is speaking to them… Jesus: My Father, I pray to you so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me. 41 Peter: What does that mean to be one? Jesus: That you love one another. Peter: Of course we love one another. Peter gets up and goes to hug each of the disciples. Jesus: My Father, I pray to you also for all those who will believe in me because of their word. Peter: Who are you speaking of? Jesus: Of all those who you will tell that God sent me and that he has loved them like he has loved me. Peter addresses the other disciples: Let us pray with all our hearts, that we may always be one, just as Jesus and his Father are one, and that we announce it to the world. In small groups We are one when we love one another. We are one when we proclaim our faith in Jesus, even if we are of different religious traditions, such as Charles and his friends. What do I do when I’m frightened? Who should I ask to hold my hand? Why? Sometimes am I afraid or ashamed to proclaim my faith? Why? In a family or a community, we are all different. What makes us unified? How can we deepen this unity? Praying Jesus is praying. Jesus is praying to his Father for me, for us, so that we may be one. In the silence of the heart, I hear Jesus’ prayer, his conversation with his Father. His great desire that we may be one also becomes my great desire. Together with Jesus, I hope and pray to the Father that we may be one. I’m remembering many people, friends from Faith and Light and elsewhere… And I pray with Jesus that we may all be one so that we remain friends and that we love each other. I’m thinking of people who belong to different denominations and I pray with Jesus that all may be one in God. 42 We end with the common prayer for all Christians, the Our Father, as we join hands. Song: "Companion on the journey"1 The Prayer of a poor person I remain with my brothers, united in your love. Celebrating Game: We are all one We get into pairs. So that we are all one, we join our right hand to the left hand of our friend and attach our right leg to their left leg. In our linked hands, we hold a glass of water. We need to carry this as quickly and carefully as possible to the other end of the room, without spilling it. Artists’ workshop Hands-hearts on which everybody can write their first name or and that we can link together (see page 103). Friendship bracelet A little Brazilian bracelet that is very easy to make and that you can swap and wear until the next meeting, as a sign of our desire for unity (see page 103). The fisherman’s net We’ll attach a "hand-heart" to it. 1 http://foietlumiere.ca/Chap101/Chants/Chants-2a-9.htm 43 "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple," infirmary chapel of Conpagnie Jesus, Rome February The Spirit sent me out to bear the Good News 44 The word of the month Our great witness Pier Giorgio Frassati P ier Giorgio Frassati was born to a welloff family in Turin, right at the beginning of the 20th century. His father had founded the prestigious newspaper “La Stampa” and his mother was a painter. His imagination tended to triumph over his studies, which meant that he often failed in his exams, and his father was very disappointed not to find in his son the worthy successor he had hoped for his newspaper! As a result, at the age of twelve he was sent to a private school run by Jesuits. This was a fortuitous decision, because it marked the start of a life of intense spirituality and many charitable activities: the Apostleship of prayer in 1914, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul after the war to soldiers left destitute following the end of hostilities and then the Dominican Third Order. For seven years, he helped many poor people, on whom he lavished much of his fearless generosity and shared his joie de vivre! He shared this joy and imagination with many restless and boisterous friends, with whom he founded "The Company of shady characters"! They often went on excursions in the mountains together. "To the top" was one of their slogans. In 1925, when he was just twenty-four years old, he felt a sharp pain in the muscles of his back. Then came the fatal diagnosis of acute infectious polio. A few days later, as he died he said: “Let me die in peace, in your saintly company”. His funeral was an exceptional experience, with the streets of Turin full of crowds of people with no links to his family: his many friends, but also all the poor of Turin who he had helped during the final years of his life and who were there to pay him a fitting homage, which had a profound impact on the entire city… 45 Pier Giorgio was beatified by Jean-Paul II in 1990. In his radiance and joy, he is a role model for the whole of the world’s youth (he was one of the patrons of the World Youth Days in Sydney in 2008) – a true messenger of joy! At that time, Faith and Light did not exist, but he would certainly have performed wonders in the Turin communities: his joy that he communicated so well, his boundless enthusiasm and the solidness of his faith rooted in prayer, the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary would have made him an excellent coordinator! Everyone with an intellectual disability would have been proud to be his friend! It is stated in our Charter that Faith and Light communities are places of parties and celebration: “Meetings are characterized by moments of joy when we sing or dance or share a meal. From time to time a day of celebration enables us to invite guests who are moved by the discovery of the capacity of someone with an intellectual disability to create this joyful atmosphere.” There is also an important clarification: “But in the community we must not forget those who are not able to enter into the celebration and shut in with their sadness and their fears. They also have their place at the heart of Faith and Light. They need to receive special attention so that gradually they may know the joy and peace that Jesus came to bring us, even when the difficulties and pains remain”. (Charter I. 2) In this extract I see a close link with the apostolate of Pier Giorgio Frassati. In fact, he himself said: “Sadness must be banished from hearts, which are moved by faith. Pain is not sadness, which is the worst of afflictions. While faith gives me strength, I will always be happy.” I would like the young people of our communities to be unafraid of taking this missionary of joy, Pier Giorgio Frassati, as a role model. Let us not be afraid of tirelessly calling for young people, I am sure that amongst them there will be some for whom Faith and Light can reveal their vocation as missionaries of joy! Focus on the theme of the month It’s the Feast of Light. Let’s invite some young people to come and have a party with us, let them communicate their joy and let’s invite them to stay. 46 The Joy of the Gospel Other ecclesiastical challenges (N°106) Even if it is not always easy to approach young people, progress has been made in two areas: the awareness that the entire community is called to evangelize and educate the young, and the urgent need for the young to exercise greater leadership. We should recognize that despite the present crisis of commitment and communal relationships, many young people are making common cause before the problems of our world and are taking up various forms of activism and volunteer work. Some take part in the life of the Church as members of service groups and various missionary initiatives in their own dioceses and in other places. How beautiful it is to see that young people are “street preachers”, joyfully bringing Jesus to every street, every town square and every corner of the earth! The Feast of Light We will ask each member of the community to come with a young friend. The Feast of Light is the time to make ourselves known to the outside world. We will choose to participate in the parish mass and to lead a part of it so that others can find out more about us. Welcome and reunion The chaplain blesses everyone on arrival by tracing the sign of the cross on their forehead in a little splash of oil and saying: I anoint you. Sharing Together After the “weather bulletin” the leader or organiser reads or summarises the life of Pier Giorgio Frassati in his/her own words. We can pass his photo around the group. 47 Bringing the Word of God to life Jesus teaching in the temple (Luke 4, 16-21) Characters: Jesus, the servant, the man, the people. Materials: Book. Narrator: When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read. Jesus opened the book and read: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free. Narrator: Jesus closed the book again, returned it to the servant and sat down. A man asks Jesus: Can you explain these words to us? Jesus: Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. Narrator: Jesus means that he is the son of God. The one who was sent to bring the good news to the poor… Announce the joy of Love to everybody. In small groups Jesus has come to announce the joy of Love to everybody. That is what Pier Giorgio wanted to do, who said: As long as faith gives me the strength for it, I will always be happy. What brings me joy and makes me happy in my community? What do I love at Faith and Light? Can I tell you about a moment when I really felt happy? What can I do when I see people who remain on the sidelines of the party, who are sad? Praying Jesus brought a piece of Good News to the poor – the joy of love – as announced by the Prophet Isaiah. It happened a bit like that in Lourdes, when Faith and Light was born. May our prayer be of sincere joy, love and hope. 48 May our prayer radiate with the joy of people with a disability. May it radiate with the presence of parents at our meetings. May it serve as a testimony amongst new, young friends. May it give thanks for our chaplains. May it bring each of us the joy of Love! Song: "Messengers of all joys"1 Prayer of a poor person I remain in the warmth of your love. Celebrating Game: with the balloons We blow up little coloured balloons. Each person has a balloon attached to their ankle. We dance to some rousing music. The aim of the game is to dance as long as possible without bursting our balloon. Or We get into small groups, each group has a balloon. We throw the balloon into the air and try to ensure that it never touches the ground….. With such light balloons it’s not such an easy task! Once we are used to it, we can make things trickier by using two or even three balloons. Artists’ workshop We write the names of people who have come for the first time today on a sun (see page 104). Each person can leave with the name of a new person so that they can pray for them until the next meeting, and also pray that they return… The fisherman’s net We attach the sun of names to it. 1 http://foietlumiere.ca/Chap101/Chants/Chants-2a-991.htm 49 "Crucifixion", Chapel Casa Incontri Cristiani, Rome March Take up your cross and follow me 50 Word of the month Our great witness Marthe Robin M arthe Robin was born on 13th March 1902 in Châteauneuf-deGalaure (France), the youngest in a family of six children. She attended classes at school until she was thirteen. She was often unwell, and could not take the exams for her end of primary school certificate. She spent her time helping on the family farm and participating in village life. She was described as a young girl with a joyful, open and helpful personality. At the age of sixteen, Marthe fell ill with a fulminating disease. For ten years, hopes of recovery were interspersed with relapses. Then, from 1927 onwards, she became unable to move, with no hope of an improvement to her condition. The following year, when she was twenty-six, her life suddenly changed. Suddenly she understood that her suffering, experienced openly with God, could be fruitful. From that moment, her spiritual life flowed not just alongside her illness, but through it. The mysticism of Marthe’s life was such that she was linked to Christ’s suffering in his Passion and she relived this each week in her own flesh. Through prayer, Eucharist communion and an intense union with God she drew an inexplicable strength and a radiance which struck all who approached her. She was profoundly human and welcoming to everybody. On 10th February 1936, there was a decisive meeting between Marthe and Father Finet. At Marthe’s request, it was he who founded the first Foyer de Charité. Now present in more than forty countries, these communities offer the experience of a spiritual retreat and an internal renaissance. Up until her death on 6th February 1981, Marthe Robin welcomed more than 100,000 people to her small bedroom in the family farm, plunged into darkness to protect her eyes from the 51 slightest chink of light. Marthe supported everyone through her faith, her welcome, her offering and her compassion. With her feet on the ground, blessed with good sense, humour and worldly intelligence, Marthe knew how to ask the right questions. For many years, she worked tirelessly for the renewal of the Church by encouraging new vocations and communities to spring forth. Marthe Robin’s house has not changed. Her bedroom remains a place of contemplation and of peace, where you can go to pray. Thank you Marthe for supporting the beginnings of Faith and Light, as described by Marie-Hélène Mathieu in her book : "On March 21st [1968], I had the joy of having a conversation with her about the project of Faith and Light. Her agreement was total: 'It must go on. I will pray for you...' She knew the weight that parents of children with disabilities carry. She was the godmother of a little Canadian boy, Georges-Michel, born with Down syndrome and called by God when he was three years old. She saw that he, and other children like him, were rejected, and therefore close to the heart of Jesus. I met with Marthe each year. How can we, today, not think about how much we owe her for the profusion of graces that we received in Lourdes in 1971, as well as for the spreading of the movement throughout the world, well beyond what we could ever have imagined.” Thank you, Marthe, for ensuring that Jean Vanier could preach at the retreats in the Foyers de Charité, thereby touching many hearts ! The international dimension of the Foyers de Charité is very significant and the Faith and Light communities are never very far away from one of these places of rejuvenation and prayer. Marthe’s prayer continues to lavish grace upon us and I am convinced that there is potential for work with the Foyers for mutual encouragement, accompaniment and support.. “A soul can be ignorant in many things yet capable of loving God magnificently”. 52 Focus on the theme of the month With Marthe we discover that even if the horizon is dark, we can still bear fruit. Marthe calls us to a spiritual renewal, to conversion and to fertility. The Joy of the Gospel Personal accompaniment of processes of growth (N°171) Today more than ever we need men and women who, on the basis of their experience of accompanying others, are familiar with processes which call for prudence, understanding, patience and docility to the Spirit, so that they can protect the sheep from wolves who would scatter the flock. We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Only through such respectful and compassionate listening can we enter on the paths of true growth and awaken a yearning for the Christian ideal: the desire to respond fully to God’s love and to bring to fruition what he has sown in our lives. For those that wish to, we could suggest that we gather together before the Easter meeting for a time of shared prayer, a Way of the Cross or a veneration of the Cross. Or we could go and pray with a religious community that we are twinned with… Welcome and reunion On arriving, each person receives a simple wooden cross that they wear around their neck throughout the meeting. 53 Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Marthe Robin in his/her own words. We can pass a photo of her around the group. Bringing the Word of God to life Jesus dies on the cross (Luc 23, 35-46) Characters: Jesus, the two criminals, the chiefs, the soldiers. First scene Narrator: Jesus is crucified between the two criminals. The people stood by, watching. The leaders mock Jesus: “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Narrator: the crowd insults Jesus… Jesus looks to the sky: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Second scene The criminal on the left turns to Jesus: Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” The criminal on the right: Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. He turns to Jesus:“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Narrator: It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed. Narrator: Jesus, cried out with a loud voice: Jesus: Father, into your hands I commend my spirit Narrator: Having said this, he breathed his last. We can end with a meditative song, such as: "Jesus, remember me"1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpsZNrdO7Xk 54 In small groups Marthe knew that her suffering, offered and experienced along with God, could be fruitful. Without leaving her small bedroom, she restored life to so many people through the creation of homes, through her ability to listen and her precious advice. - What is it that makes me suffer? - What is it that restores my zest for life? - The good criminal is able to recognise his faults and Jesus forgives him straightaway. As for me, how can I recognise my faults and ask for forgiveness? - What would I like to say to Jesus today? Celebrating The fire of love If possible, we could light a small fire outside and everyone sits around it. We could ask a community member or someone from outside to come and give a testimony on their meeting with Jesus or with Faith and Light….. Then we sing softly around the fire. A bowl of rice We can transform our meal into a bowl of rice and, by doing so, contribute to international solidarity. Artists’ workshop God’s fire of love Create mini campfires like the Scouts or Indians do (see page 104). They can decorate our prayer corner. 55 Praying In our prayer corner, we put up a big cross. Next to it, we put a big board and two rubbish bins. In the left one, we put big black circles; in the right big yellow circles. We light a candle and sit down in a semi-circle. The chaplain or the prayer leader introduces the celebration by explaining that our sins are like these round circles. For example, if I get angry, if I say something cruel, this is like this black circle that brings shadows with it. Someone sticks the black circle to the board. When I deceive or when I lie, it’s like this black circle. Someone sticks the black circle… However, when we regret the harm that we have done, when we ask for forgiveness, when we have the desire to make amends, when we want to cure the hurt we have caused, then light shines forth! The chaplain or host lists the opposite of each fault in the same order, while someone sticks a yellow circle onto the black circle and is given a small candle that he/she lights from the altar candle and then places by the cross. Then we can lead a forgiveness ceremony. The community is often the only place where people with a disability have the opportunity to confess or to make a step towards reconciliation. We can conclude with this prayer: Jesus, forgive us for the harm that we have done. We want to banish the darkness from our hearts and light a light there. We would like to become little flames that shine brightly in the world. And, with the great light of your heart, we want to bring beauty and warmth to all those around us. The Prayer of a poor person I remain in the power of your love. The fisherman’s net We attach the fire of God’s love to it (see page 104). 56 "Resurrection" Chapel of Saint Stanislaus College, Ljubljana April He is risen indeed! 57 The word of the month Our great witness Baudouin of Belgium B audouin of Belgium was born on 7th September 1930, the second of Leopold III and Astrid of Sweden’s three children. His childhood was marked by the accidental death of his mother when he was only five years old. The accident provoked considerable emotion because she had had a profound impact on the country during the eighteen months when she was Queen of the Belgians. A particular example of this is when, at a time of serious economic crisis, she launched a fundraising campaign, the famous “Queen’s appeal”. In a letter published in the press, the Queen appealed to the “spirit of solidarity which is still so much alive in our country” in aid of children, adults and older people “who are suffering the most cruelly from impoverishment.” Following his father’s abdication, on 17th July 1951 Baudouin became the fifth King of the Belgians, at the age of almost twentyone. In 1960, he married Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón, who became "Queen Fabiola", but they were unfortunately unable to have children. King Baudouin was known as a profoundly religious man. In 1990 he refused to sign the law introducing a conditional decriminalization of abortion. He wrote to the Prime Minister: “This bill raises a serious problem of conscience for me. (…) So you will understand why I do not wish to be associated with this law. By signing this bill and by marking (…) my agreement with the project, I believe that I would be assuming a certain amount of the responsibility for it. I cannot do this, for the reasons mentioned above”. The Council of Ministers said that the King was “unable to rule”, which meant that the Ministers present in the Council could sign the Law. Two days later, the King resumed his functions. The King’s stance led to a sharp increase in 58 his popularity, to such an extent that he was proclaimed “man of the year” by the media. King Baudouin died on 31 July 1993 in Spain. His funeral was broadcast on television and attracted large crowds for a final homage worthy of the great King. The ceremony was full of hope, in accordance with the wishes of Queen Fabiola, who dressed in white for the occasion. Cardinal Godfried Daneels’s homily stressed that the King was a shepherd for his people. There were several interventions at the end of the celebration, including one from a young woman from the Philippines, who had managed to escape from the hellish experience of prostitution and whom the King had personally supported. In 1976, the King-Baudouin Foundation was founded to help improve living conditions for the Belgian people. Nowadays this Foundation distributes funds through its mission to “work together for a better society". We are also trying to create this better society, through building friendships with the most fragile amongst us. King Baudouin may have read our Charter and I imagine that he found his own values reflected there in these lines: “To create a real and liberating relationship with people with intellectual disabilities, our ‘hearts of stone must be changed into hearts of flesh’. Jesus and his Holy Spirit can transform our hearts to enable us to welcome the poor and rejected person, and to recognize them in all their human reality and spiritual depth. This transformation of love will lead us to recognize the face of Jesus in ourselves and in the other.” (Charter II. 2) “According to your will, my JESUS, let the veil fall, Show me your beauty, hold me in your arms, Where the sky obscured shields each star: me, I do not count.” (King Baudouin’s prayer) Focus on the theme of the month We are celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. We are celebrating life. Life is precious. Each new life is the beginning of a sacred story. 59 The Joy of the Gospel Concern for the vulnerable (N°213) Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenceless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this (...)this defence of unborn life involves the conviction that a human being is always sacred and inviolable, in any situation and at every stage of development. Human beings are ends in themselves and never a means of resolving other problems.(…) Reason alone is sufficient to recognize the inviolable value of each single human life, but if we also look at the issue from the standpoint of faith, “every violation of the personal dignity of the human being cries out in vengeance to God and is an offence against the creator of the individual. Welcome and reunion On arrival, everyone receives a white flower to pin in their buttonholes. The team will also have prepared a larger one for the fisherman’s net (see page 105). Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of King Baudouin of Belgium in his/her own words. We can pass his photo around the group. Bringing the Word of God to life Let’s rejoice together! (Lc 14, 16-24) Characters: Jesus, the servant, the master, the guests, and those that came… Materials: A big table is covered with a tablecloth... We can also recreate a field, a cow... 60 First scene Jesus: A man gave a grand dinner, and he had invited many people. He says to the servant: The master: Go and tell my guests that the dinner is ready. The servant: Straightaway, master. The servant, addressing the first guest: Come, everything is ready. The guest: I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets. The servant is sad. He goes to find the second guest: Come; for everything is ready now, let’s celebrate together. The guest: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets. The servant is even sadder and goes to find the third guest: Come, everything is ready. There will be musicians and dances. The guest holding his wife by the hand: I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come. Jesus: The servant returns, sad and alone, to his master. Second scene The servant: My Lord and Master, nobody wanted to come! The master is furious, waves his arms about and cries: Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.... And bring them here. Narrator: the servant went out again and he invited many people. The servant goes to look for each member of the community in turn and says to them: My master has invited you to dinner. Each person who is invited responds: Thank you, with pleasure! The servant leads them to their place at table. Jesus: The servant has seated everyone at table. The servant: Master, I’ve done everything that you asked and your guests are waiting for you. The master: You’ve done well! Let’s eat, drink and rejoice together. We can end with a joyful Hallelujah! 61 In small groups Today we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, we are celebrating new life! Jesus wants to change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. Jesus wants to give us joy; he wants us to rejoice with him and all together. I too, am often like the guests at the party. What important things can I have to do that prevents me from responding to Jesus’ invitation? What’s stopping me being joyful or being happy? Or am I perhaps like the poor people or the crippled…. Who Jesus calls and who say yes straightaway? When? How? Praying Yes Lord, we come to your banquet with great joy! Thank you, Master, for having invited us: Happy is the one who will take his meal in the Kingdom of God. Thank you for this great dinner, Thank you for Easter and the resurrection, Thank you for the feast of joy and of hope. Thank you for the new life. Thank you for the meetings and pilgrimages. Thank you for your dinner tables... We can end with the song: "He lives!"1 The Prayer of a poor person I remain in the kingdom of your love. 1 http://www.deezer.com/search/easter%20song 62 Celebrating The artists’ workshop We can make crowns for this time of celebration (see page 105). Let’s organise a celebratory banquet. Everyone will bring something good to share. Let’s decorate the room. Let’s be happy! Let’s sing and dance… Game: the feast Materials: a cake, a towel, a hat, some gloves, a fork and a knife, a dice. We put a cake in the middle of the table. The players take it in turns to roll the dice. The person who gets a six has to put on the hat and gloves, unfold the towel and start to eat the cake with the knife and fork. Meanwhile, the others continue to roll the dice until another player gets a six. Then, the one who is eating must quickly remove the accessories and give them to the other player. And so on… The one who eats the last piece will be king of the feast! The fisherman’s net We attach a big, white flower to it. 63 "Pentecost", the Episcopal chapel, Tenerife May You will be my witnesses 64 The word of the month Our great witness Lúcia dos Santos L úcia dos Santos was born in 1907 in a village close to Fátima, the last of seven children. Her hard-working and generous father was the one who first taught her how to make the sign of the cross. Her mother taught catechism to her own and her neighbour’s children at siesta time during the summer and around the fire at teatime during winter. The children all liked Lúcia very much and she had the gift of being able to tell wonderful stories. Lúcia took her first communion at the age of six, although ten was the minimum age at the time. At first the Parish curate refused, but a Missionary Jesuit, who had come from Lisbon to assist the curate, questioned the girl and concluded that “this girl knows catechism better than many others who will be taking communion tomorrow”. Her first communion profoundly changed her: “Worldly things had lost their taste and attraction for me, and I only felt at home in solitary places, where I could be alone and remember the delights of my first communion”. Between May and October 1917, on the 13th of each month (with the exception of August, when it occurred on the 19th), Lúcia and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco saw the Virgin Mary. The first time, they were looking after the ewes and goats when a woman completely clothed in white appeared in a holm oak tree and spoke to Lúcia to invite them to return at the same time in the coming months. She then added: “Recite the rosary every day to have peace in the world and to bring war to an end”. From that moment, the children prayed to Mary every day using their rosaries, and tried to introduce small loving gestures into their lives. During her apparition in July, Mary told them three secrets which were only revealed much later, in 1941 in the case of the first two and in 2000 for the third one. 65 The final apparition took place on 13th October: a crowd of around 50,000 people were reciting the rosary in the midst of torrential rain. At midday, Mary announced that the war would soon be over and called on sinners to convert themselves. As she rose towards the Heavens, the rain stopped and the sun came out in a blue sky. For ten minutes, the people who were there could see the sun rotating upon itself. Francesco died quite soon afterwards, in 1919, followed by Jacinta in 1920. They were beatified by Pope John-Paul II on 13th May 2000. Lúcia became a nun, first in Spain and then in Portugal at the Carmelite convent of Saint Teresa in Coimbra, where she lived until her death in 2005. She returned to Fátima four times, always on 13th May. In 1982, she accompanied John-Paul II, who had come to give thanks a year after the assassination attempt at Saint Peter’s square on 13th May 1981. He had seen a sign that day and had declared: “One hand fired the shot; another deflected it”. The bullet was set in the crown of Our Lady of Fátima. This attack was the element that prompted the revelation of the third secret which announced this terrible event. Fátima became a significant pilgrimage site and many Faith and Light communities came to meet there and to give thanks to Mary. The pilgrimages form part of the identity of our movement: everything started in 1971 with the very improbable pilgrimage that was like a challenge, and ever since then we have particularly enjoyed going on pilgrimages. Through them we re-find our origins, whether at Lourdes, Fátima, Aparecida, Częstochowa or Walsingham… Wherever a spark has set hearts ablaze, wherever a community has been born, it is important to remember this and to go out and keep bearing fruit! “The communities may have many activities other than the regular meetings. They arise according to the needs and creativity of individuals and the inspiration from God. Among these initiatives are holiday camps, retreats and pilgrimages, etc.” (Charter III. 2) One of the priorities agreed upon at Leeds encourages us to “organise events in each province: meetings, festivals, pilgrimages and so on to equip people, energize them and enable them to make new contacts”. 66 Focus on the theme of the month We are celebrating Pentecost. Jesus wants to make us his witnesses. Together with Mary, we are contemplating God’s mystery. The Joy of the Gospel Star of the new evangelisation (N°288) Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness . (…) Mary is able to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small. She constantly contemplates the mystery of God in our world, in human history and in our daily lives. (…)This interplay of justice and tenderness, of contemplation and concern for others, is what makes the ecclesial community look to Mary as a model of evangelization. Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person is welcomed with these words: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be my witness throughout the world! Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Lúcia do Santos in his/her own words. We can pass a photo of her round the whole group. Bringing the Word of God to life From the Ascension to Pentecost (Ac 1, 9-14) Characters: Jesus, two angels, Peter, James, Mary, the disciples. Materials: Chairs placed in a circle. 67 First scene Narrator: The resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples. Jesus: You will receive a power of God. Peter: How will this happen? Jesus: The Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be my witnesses throughout the world. Narrator: When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. The angels: Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Second scene Narrator: So they left the Olivet mount to return to Jerusalem. Peter: Let’s go and visit Mary. Narrator: Mary and the disciples were together in the upper chamber where they prayed regularly. Mary held out her hand to everyone: Mary: Good morning Peter, good morning James…. Come in and join us to pray. Peter: Yes, let’s give thanks to God. Let’s pray to God that he sends us the strength of his spirit! All of us sing: "The joy of the Holy Spirit"1 In small groups When have I received the Holy Spirit? When are we witnesses of Jesus? (When we go off on pil- grimage? When we take part in or lead parish liturgies?) Jesus gave us Mary for a mother. Her only desire is to lead us to her Son. What place does Mary occupy in my life? 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUJv4q4sr_4 68 Celebrating Today, we could celebrate mums in a very special way by offering them a flower or a homemade cake, or simply by singing them a song. Let’s show them all our joy and gratefulness! Artists’ workshop Create a Pentecost fresco to decorate our prayer corner (see page 105). We can cut out a tongue of fire for the fisherman’s net. Praying “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers." (Ac 1, 9-14) Let us be devoted in our prayer. Let us persevere, move forward step by step, Day after day. Let’s move forward in Faith, in light with Mary, mother of Jesus. From 1971 in Lourdes until today, we will continue. Let’s move forward when everything is going well and when everything is going badly. Let’s persevere in love. Let’s persevere in prayer. With Mary, mother of Jesus: Hail, Mary... Prayer of a poor person I remain in the prayer of love. 69 Fisherman’s net We attach a tongue of fire to it. 70 "Jesus walks on water," Chapel of the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul, Fiume June It is me, do not be afraid anymore 71 The word of the month Our great witness Cicely Saunders C icely Saunders was born in 1918 in England. Her parents did not get on well with each other and her mother was very cold and distant. This led her to withdraw into herself where she forged a strong character, becoming more interested in the problems of others rather than succumbing to self-pity. She interrupted her studies because of the war and started nursing training at St. Thomas’ hospital, London, where she obtained her diploma in 1944. She thoroughly enjoyed caring for the sick, but crippling back pain forced her to change vocation and she became a social assistant before returning to St. Thomas’ hospital. It was then that she discovered the Bible and re-joined prayer groups, after her adolescence which had been marked by her agnosticism. In 1948, she met a Polish Jewish refugee who had escaped from the Warsaw ghetto. He was dying from cancer, and bequeathed his entire fortune of £500 to her, which she used to lay the foundation stones for a palliative care centre, Saint Christopher, which opened around twenty years later. Throughout all these years, she worked on controlling pain at the Saint Joseph hospital, run by the Sisters of Charity. At thirtynine years old, she became a Doctor, still with the same desire to relieve the pain which she saw as encompassing so many dimensions: physical, social, psychological and spiritual. She aimed to relieve her patients of all their various pains, whilst also caring for their family and friends. The project was properly launched in 1961, with Psalm 36 (v 3-5) acting as a trigger: "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act". At this time, euthanasia was already considered to be the only 72 possible response for those who were suffering from cancer, and she had to fight several difficult battles: over fundraising, resistance of the medical world….. Then, in 1967, the Saint Christopher centre opened its doors. It was at this centre that Thérèse Vanier worked with Cicely! In 1980, Cicely married another Pole, the painter Marian Bohusz-Szyszko. She was so moved by his paintings that she bought one depicting Jesus calming the storm; then she wrote to him, he replied and she covered the walls of Saint Christopher with his paintings and then they married. She was sixty-one and he was seventy-nine! Her reputation grew substantially, and she influenced the emergence of palliative care centres in other countries. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in medicine by the Archbishop of Canterbury and received the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II. In 2005, Dame Cicely Saunders died of cancer in the centre that she had created. At that time, there were already 220 palliative care centres in the United Kingdom and more than 8000 in the world. Dame Cicely believed strongly in the words of a theologian whom she liked very much: “Jesus crucified is the only accurate image of God that the world has never seen, and the hands that keep us alive are pierced with unimaginable nails". Her watchword was undoubtedly "I am loved, therefore I am”. There are many aspects of Cicely’s life that can touch us: her accompanying of people whose lives were considered by many as unworthy; her concern to take the needs of individuals, their loved ones, parents and friends into account: “In this way, we seek to 'be with', carrying one another’s burdens, to encourage and support each other and to respond to the needs of each one. Through friendship, made up of tenderness and fidelity, we become signs of the love of God for one another.” (Charter I. 1) “At the heart of these communities are people with a more or less serious intellectual disability: children, adolescents or adults. They are surrounded by members of their family and friends, particularly young people.” (Charter I.) 73 Focus on the theme of the month We have toiled, we were tossed by storms. Jesus comes to tell us: "I am here, do not be afraid". Jesus comes to give us his peace. The Joy of the Gospel Time is greater than space (N°223) This principle enables us to work slowly but surely, without being obsessed with immediate results. It helps us patiently to endure difficult and adverse situations, or inevitable changes in our plans. It invites us to accept the tension between fullness and limitation, and to give a priority to time. (...) Time governs spaces, illumines them and makes them links in a constantly expanding chain, with no possibility of return. What we need, then, is to give priority to actions which generate new processes in society and engage other persons and groups who can develop them to the point where they bear fruit in significant historical events. Without anxiety, but with clear convictions and tenacity. Welcome and reunion On arrival, everyone receives a small card with the mosaic of the month, with the following words written on it: It’s me, do not be afraid! Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Cicely Saunders in his/her own words. We can pass a photo round the whole group. 74 Bringing the Word of God to life Jesus walks on water (Jn 6, 16-21) Characters: Jesus, Peter, James, John, Judas. Materials: blue cloth, the boat (an upside-down table) First scene Narrator: When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. Peter: My friends, let’s go to the other bank. James: Let’s get into this boat and leave. Narrator: They got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum, on the other bank. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. Second scene Narrator: The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. James: Help, what are we going to do? We’re going to die! John: I’m frightened. Judas: I had warned you that a storm was coming, we should have waited! Peter points at a person who is approaching slowly, walking on the water… James: It’s a ghost… Jesus approaches but the disciples cannot make out his face yet: It is me; do not be afraid. Peter: How do we know if it’s true, if it’s really you, Jesus? Jesus: Keep your faith and your confidence. Peter, recognising Jesus: Get into the boat and save us. Narrator: Jesus gets into the boat but straightaway, it touches the ground at the place they were heading to… In small groups When Jesus isn’t there, we are in the shadows and the storm. Jesus wants to bring us light so that we reach our destination, so that our little boat reaches dry land. 75 Can I tell you about a time when I was in a storm? What can I do to ask for help? How did I let Jesus come to me to give me peace again? Celebrating Game: rain Jesus and his apostles must have often been caught in storms and rain. What do we feel like when we’re in the rain? We make little circles of around ten people. The first player stands in the middle. He closes his eyes. The ten people surrounding him tap with their fingertips on his head, shoulders and back, like raindrops. We remain silent so that we can hear the rain fall…. One by one we can try out this little experience! Artists’ workshop Create a cross "Jesus loves me" or a mosaic heart (see page 106). Praying I close my eyes and in the silence of my heart I slowly repeat Jesus’ words: It is me; do not be afraid. I repeat these words in silence, until I’m no longer uttering them but can hear them: It is me: do not be afraid… It is Jesus who tells me: Do not be afraid… Do not be afraid… Do not be afraid! Song: "Jesus loves me"1 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzzzeHl6kpk 76 The Prayer of a poor person I remain in the heart of your love. The fisherman’s net We can attach one of the crosses or one of the hearts made during the artists’ workshop. 77 "Transfiguration", Lourdes July Happy are the meek 78 The word of the month Our great witness Óscar Romero Ó scar Romero was born in El Salvador in 1917. In 1937, he joined the national seminary in San Salvador and then continued his studies in Rome, where he was ordained a priest in 1942. He started preparing to study for a doctorate in theology, but in 1943, he had to return to his country because of the situation in Italy. He became editor-in-chief of a conservative newspaper, under the traditional stewardship of the Catholic Church. In 1977, he was appointed archbishop of San Salvador by Paul VI. His appointment was well-received by the authorities, but the more progressive clergy feared that he would oppose commitments towards the poorest in society. A few weeks later, the murder of Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit priest (and personal friend) in his diocese at the hands of a death squadron, profoundly shocked the new archbishop, who remarked that “the death of Grande had converted him". Later he said: "When I saw Rutilio, lying there dead, I thought that if they had killed him for what he had achieved, well I too should move forward on the same path”. From that moment on, he was always fearless in openly denouncing social injustice, murders and acts of torture. In 1979, when a junta seized power, he denounced the military support provided to the new regime by the United States. For him, the Church’s raison d’être was to show solidarity with the poorest in society. During a visit to Europe, he met Pope Jean-Paul II and shared his concerns about the situation in his country: “In less than three years, more than fifty priests have been attacked, threatened or slandered. Six of those were murdered, and should be seen as martyrs [...] Once again, the key factor behind the persecution of the Church was the poor.” He was swiftly viewed as a dangerous agitator in the eyes of the incumbent powers. On 23th March 1980, Archbishop Óscar Romero launched an appeal to soldiers in a sermon: “No soldier is obliged to obey an order 79 against the law of God. No one has to fulfil an immoral law. It is time to take back consciences and to obey your consciences rather than the orders of sin. In the name of God, and in the name of this suffering people, whose laments rise to heaven each day more tumultuous, I beg you, I beseech you, and I order you in the name of God: stop the repression!” The following day, as Archbishop Óscar Romero was giving a homily during mass, he was hit by gunshot right in the chest and died a few minutes later. When his funeral mass began, a bomb exploded and shots provoked panic amongst the crowd. Around fifty people died in a stampede and around ten other bodies were recovered, killed by gunshot. Archbishop Óscar Romero was also honoured by other Christian churches, including the Church of England: he is one of the ten twentieth century martyrs to feature amongst the statues above the great West door of London’s Westminster Abbey. At Faith and Light it is our conviction that “each person with an intellectual disability is fully a person with all the rights of a human being […] Faith and Light believes that every person, even the most disabled, is called to deepen his or her life in Jesus, to receive all the spiritual richness from his/her church, sacraments, liturgical tradition…” (Charter II. 1). These weakest people are still too often victims of a desire for omnipotence on the part of the powers that be in our society. We can entrust this prayer from the Gospel of Life to Óscar Romero and to Mary: “We entrust the cause of life to you: look down […] upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time.” 80 Focus on the theme of the month We are facing struggles. However, by putting ourselves at the service of the littlest ones, we will become blessed with the poor in spirit. The Joy of the Gospel The special place of the poor in God’s people (N°199) True love is always contemplative, and permits us to serve the other not out of necessity or vanity, but rather because he or she is beautiful above and beyond mere appearances: “The love by which we find the other pleasing leads us to offer him something freely”. The poor person, when loved, “is esteemed as of great value”, and this is what makes the authentic option for the poor differ from any other ideology, from any attempt to exploit the poor for one’s own personal or political interest. Welcome and reunion On arrival, everyone receives a little card with a Beatitude written on it. Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Archbishop Óscar Romero in his/her own words. We can pass his photo around the group. Bringing the Word of God to life The Beatitudes (Mt 5, 1-12) Before reliving a few scenes from the Beatitudes, we will slowly reread the Gospel text in its entirety. 81 Here we suggest two scenes, but you could think up some others… Characters: Jesus, a disciple, Tom, the captain, Francis, Jane, the passer-by. Materials: a ball, bag of marbles (or any other toy) First scene Narrator: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying. Jesus: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. A disciple: How can we be merciful? Jesus: I’m going to tell you a story. The one who is merciful is the one who forgives the other person who has hurt him/her and who prays for this person. Some teenagers are playing football… One of them, Tom, is not very skilful. Despite his efforts, he’s always losing the ball and making his team lose. The captain goes to call him names. Captain: Tom, you’re really useless, you’re so clumsy… I don’t want you in my team anymore! Tom is very sad and goes away, his head bowed. Tom: My God, help me to forgive my captain… I pray to you with all my heart for him. Bless him Lord! Second scene Narrator: Jesus continues to teach… Jesus: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. A disciple: How can we be a peacemaker? Jesus: I’m going to tell you a story. Jane and Francis are playing in the road. Suddenly it gets out of hand. A passer-by witnesses the scene… Francis: Give me this bag of marbles. Jane: No, it’s mine. Francis tears the bag out of her hands: Now it’s mine! Jane starts crying: Give it back, it’s mine... The passer-by: Francis, give the bag of marbles back to Jane and ask her forgiveness. You know very well that those marbles aren’t yours. Francis: Sorry, Jane, here’s your bag of marbles. Jane: That’s OK. Thank you, Francis. Jesus: And they hugged one another. 82 Final scene Jesus: Happy are you if you are insulted, persecuted, or if any sort of ill is spoken of you because of me. Rejoice; be happy in your hearts, as your rewards are great in the Heavens! In small groups Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This beatitude is indeed the one that Mgr. Óscar Romero experienced and up until his death. Each of us in turn can recite the Beatitude that we were given at the beginning of the meeting. What does this Beatitude mean for me? Am I living by this Beatitude? How? Which Beatitude should I focus on in my life, so that I can be fully content together with Jesus? Celebrating Games Who am I? One player has his/her eyes blindfolded. He/she must recognise the person in front of he/she, simply by touching his/ her face, his/her shoulders etc. The latter must avoid speaking so that his/her voice can’t be recognised… What am I doing? A player receives a little card with a chore to mime written on it. For example: doing the washing up, the washing, cutting down a tree or changing a car tyre… The person who guesses first is the next one to mime a chore. The artists’ workshop The Mountain of the Beatitudes that can decorate our prayer corner (see page 106). 83 Praying We can re-read Jesus’ Beatitudes several times until we feel that we’ve absorbed the gentleness and promise of the word “Beatitude” deep into our hearts. Why did Jesus utter these Beatitudes? Who is the gentleness of the Beatitudes aimed at? Are these not the words of his heart? Through these words, Jesus blesses Faith and Light and each of its members. Song: "blessed are they" 1 The Prayer of a poor person I remain under the look of your love. The fisherman’s net We attach the mountain of the Beatitudes to it. 1 http://foietlumiere.ca/Chap101/Chants/Chants-2a-743.htm 84 August "Risen Christ", Lourdes Love one another 85 The word of the month Our great witness Martin Luther King Jr M artin Luther King was born in Atlanta (USA) on 15th January 1929. His father, Martin Luther King Senior, was a Baptist pastor. The young Martin was a brilliant student. He thought of becoming a doctor or lawyer, despite his father’s wish for him to become a pastor in turn. However ultimately he embraced this vocation and was ordained in his father’s Atlanta temple in 1947. He continued with his studies in parallel, obtaining a doctorate in theology in Boston in 1955. In 1953, he married Coretta Scott and, the following year, they settled in Montgomery (Alabama), where Martin Luther King became pastor. On 1st December 1955, a black seamstress, Rosa Parks, refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person, as she was required to do under Alabama law. The police questioned her and she would have ended up in prison if a witness had not paid for her bail. Then Martin Luther King organised a boycott of buses along with his friend, the pastor Ralph Abernathy. This action lasted over a year! The authorities often put pressure on him to end the boycott. However, on the brink of bankruptcy, the bus company was finally obliged to accept an end to the discriminatory measures. The triumph did not end there: from November 1956, the Supreme Court declared laws imposing segregation on public transport unconstitutional. From 21st December, Blacks could travel on buses under the same conditions as Whites, protected by the antisegregation law. Those were the beginnings of a life of non-violent struggle to recognise the right of the Afro-American minority. Martin Luther 86 King gave his famous “I have a dream”1 speech on 28th August 1963 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC : it is considered one of the greatest and most impactful speeches of the 20th century. Other laws continued the progress and confirmed the justification behind the struggle, but at the same time widespread rioting by blacks broke out in the main Northern American cities…. The young people from the ghettos had gone beyond their limits of despair. Believing themselves to have no past or future, they threw themselves blindly into violence. And yet, on 10th December 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. And then on 4th April 1968, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Martin Luther King often referred to the notion of the “beloved community”. This is what Jean Vanier said on the subject : “When you come to the community, there is a link between us. Because something is born between us. There is a communion, and this communion is a sign. The communion is a sign of what could exist, a sign of the kingdom of love. Martin Luther King experienced this with those who called ‘his people’. He held his hand out to everyone, but there needs to be a centre, and this centre is the beloved community. How can we say that this notion refers to us? What is interesting is that our community is founded on experience and not on knowledge. When I say that we are cured by people with a disability, people cannot understand. They need to experience it. The beginning of John’s Gospel reads: 'We have found the Messiah’. Christendom is the meeting point with the person. It is the faith in a person, in you and in me. That is the secret. You and me. Not me and an ideal of changing the world. Changing the world, one heart at a time. This heart reveals who I am, it reveals who you are. When they are revealed together, we can speak of a beloved community. And this community grows outwards in concentric circles.” “Each person can be important, because each of us can serve a larger purpose.” Text of speech: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1951-/martin-luther-kings-ihave-a-dream-speech-august-28-1963.php 2 At the L’Arche General Assembly in Atlanta, June 2012. 1 87 Focus on the theme of the month The year ends with a grand banquet with our new friends, to taste the fruits of the whole year. Our communities are more open; we have opened our doors and built bridges. The Joy of the Gospel Challenges from urban cultures (N°74) Cities create a sort of permanent ambivalence because, while they offer their residents countless possibilities, they also present many people with any number of obstacles to the full development of their lives. This contrast causes painful suffering. In many parts of the world, cities are the scene of mass protests where thousands of people call for freedom, a voice in public life, justice and a variety of other demands which, if not properly understood, will not be silenced by force. Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person receives the list of community members with their addresses and telephone numbers. This will help us to stay in touch easily over the holidays. Sharing Together After the "weather bulletin", the leader or organiser reads or recounts the life of Martin Luther King in his/her own words. We can pass his photo round the whole group. 88 Bringing the Word of God to life I do not call you servants any longer, but friends (John 15, 12-17) Characters: Jesus, Peter, the master, the pilgrim Materials: a table and some chairs First scene Narrator: Jesus is sitting down with his disciples. He is teaching them... Jesus: Love one another as I have loved you. Peter: Tell us how we can love one another. Jesus: A pilgrim was walking from Galilee to Jerusalem. As dusk came, he stopped and knocked at the door of a house. The master opens the door: Good evening, my friend. What can I do for you? The pilgrim: I am a pilgrim and I’m going to Jerusalem. Please could you give me a meal and somewhere to stay for the night? The master: Come in, my wife will prepare you something to eat. You can also have a wash and sleep in a good bed! The pilgrim: Thank you, master, you are very good. May the Lord bless you, you and all your family. Jesus: Peter, did you see and listen to this story? To love one another, you need to be and behave like this master. Second scene Jesus: You are my friends if you do as I command. Peter: Yes, Jesus, we want to do God’s will. Jesus: It is not you who have chosen me, it is I who have chosen you and established you, so that you can go forth, bear fruit and that this fruit shall endure. Be my witnesses. Peter: Yes, we will be your witnesses, missionaries of joy everywhere in the world. In small groups Jesus wants us to love one another. Jesus has chosen us so that we can bear fruit and be witnesses. How do we see that we love one another? What have I enjoyed the most in community meetings this year? 89 What would I have liked to have done more of – or better What do I suggest for next year? Celebrating The artists’ workshop Friendship garlands can be used to decorate our prayer corner and the dinner or tea table (see page 106). Games The twigs Materials: little twigs or matches, cord. We get into small groups so we can all see. Everyone gets a twig or a match. We try and snap it and it’s very easy to do…. Then, the host will bind together as many twigs or matches as possible into a very tight bunch. We pass it round the group, we try to snap it, but it’s impossible. Isn’t this like a community? Together, we are stronger! Or Who am I? We can print the quiz game on great witnesses who have accompanied us throughout the year, and try to put the right person in the right place. Download via the site: http:// www.faithandlight.org/rubriques/haut/downloads Praying Jesus, you love us, make it so that we love each other as well. You gave your life for us; make us also full of goodness towards one another. You called us your friends, make us your friends in truth. 90 You have chosen us so that we can bear fruit, what fruit have we borne? You told us: “All that you ask the Father in my name, he will give to you.” Father, make it so that we love one another, as your Son asked of us. Song: "What a friend we have in Jesus"1 Prayer of a poor person I remain in the arms of your love. The fisherman’s net We will attach one of the friendship garlands to it. 1 http://foietlumiere.ca/Chap101/Musique/What%20a%20Friend.mp3 91 Box of treasures Bringing the Word of God to life I n bringing the Gospel to life, we want to make present the words and gestures of Jesus as he conveyed them to us. He has entrusted them to us to nourish all of our life. It is a time of prayer, a sacred time to pass on the Good News. "Bringing the Word of God to life" in Faith and Light has two dimensions: During the meeting, it is about experiencing with all our being and our words what Jesus experienced and taught. After the meeting, we will try to live this message of love and humility from Jesus. We often find it difficult to really experience this time. There isn’t always the time to prepare for it properly: people don’t know exactly what they are depicting, what they should be doing or saying. There are bursts of laughter, it is fun. However, through all the flaws, something essential is being conveyed, the presence of the living Jesus. Here are a few suggestions to help us to truly “bring the Gospel to life”. Preparation 1. During the Coordinating Team meeting After having read the meditation of the month together, the suggested reference passage from the Gospel is read. We can choose another one if it seems to us to be more apt for the community. The important thing is to have just one in order to immerse ourselves in it without dissipating our efforts. Take a 92 few moments to meditate on this text, to reflect on the essence of it and how to re-convey it in its simplicity and its depth. Then two members of the team can be entrusted with the mission of seeing how to physically bring to life the passage from the Gospel during the meeting and organise it. 2. Practical preparation before the meeting Who will coordinate it? Who will be the reader? (Someone who proclaims the Gospel simply and convincingly). Occasionally, there will not be any reading during this gospel mime. The participants will use their own words. At what time will the Word itself be read? Before or during the action? Who will be the main characters? Be mindful of the people with disability who will be there as well as the parents and friends. It is a service that is requested, not an opportunity to demonstrate your worth or impress so and so. Who is taking part? As many as possible in some way or another. It is advisable to have a few props, very simple symbols (a white robe for Jesus, some candles, a beautiful Bible for the reading…). 3. During the meeting The small group responsible for organising this time will take care to dampen down the excitement by emphasising the importance of what is going to be experienced. We are responsible for bringing to life the words and gestures of Jesus so that they will gradually become our words and gestures, so that we act like him with his heart. The process will be repeated. It will end with a few moments of prayer to ask Jesus for his Spirit and his heart so that he can act and speak through us. The atmosphere Calmness and silence will emerge from a very simple and repeated song, from the peace of the leader, from the lighting, from a 93 certain order in the room, from well positioned chairs and from having a table where a candle, an icon, flowers, the Bible … will be placed in the meditation. The execution After a few words of introduction, the reader proclaims the Gospel before or at the same time the action takes place. If it is being spoken at the same time, it will closely follow the movement of each person. If there are mistakes, the reader will very simply and naturally rectify them. The action can be punctuated with acclamations, for example, “Hosanna!” or a very simple chorus. Occasionally, the participants will use their own words. If the group is very shy or reticent, five or six people can “bring the Gospel to life”, then invite the whole community to do the same scene together. Most often, the people who bring the Word of God to life don’t speak or only have a few simple words to say, but they try to pay attention to the words that they are hearing so that there is harmony between the text, the gestures and the movements. The atmosphere to create is one of love, peace, respect and especially prayer. To end The scene from the Gospel usually ends with a community song that corresponds to the passage being experienced: thanksgiving, joy, reflection… Most often, this time will be followed by the time of sharing where each person will express what has touched them the most, helped them the most and how they would like to try to live this each day. A gesture that has particularly struck us can be repeated. 94 The prayer of a poor person W e can experience this together when we do the community prayer during the meeting, or in small groups between two meetings, or at our own home and also of course in the coordinating team meeting... “The prayer of a poor person” was given to us by Father Joseph Larsen, former International Chaplain. It is a prayer of the body which says: “I am there because I love you. I am there because you are precious to me. I have put aside all other things, for you, you are more important than anything”. Our presence becomes a sign, a word, a word without words. It is the way friends show their friendship: “I am happy to be with you”. It is not easy to persevere in a blatantly useless situation, without a result to be proud of. It isn’t only “being with”. However, at Faith and Light we know that it is a sign of love, a school of love. Gradually the heart changes. We are no longer focussed on ourselves but on the Beloved. Sit on a chair in a well-balanced position which lets you remain still, without losing concentration. We put our open hands on our knees and close our eyes, thus creating an inner space that nothing can enter. The back is straight. We breathe slowly and calmly. We can help ourselves with a word of love that we repeat inwardly, for example, “I am there for you Jesus”, or simply the name “Jesus”. We remain there, trusting, in the silence of the heart, for at least ten minutes, letting Jesus love and transform us. At the start, we will have a lot of distractions. The peace only comes after a while, perhaps only towards the end. We should not worry, it is our poverty. Peacefully, let us return to our little word of love. The prayer of a poor man is going to change us. It is going to bear a lot of fruit, fruit of an astonishing quality, Faith and Light quality. 95 Priorities 2013-2018 These priorities were adopted during the general assembly of Faith and Light international in Leeds, july 2013 S ince 1971, the context in which Faith and Light works has drastically changed. In some Western countries, the majority of our communities are getting older. Some will even cease to exist. Few new communities are being created and it is difficult to attract young people and families. In some countries, distance is a problem which makes communication and community support more difficult. Provinces have been established, but have faced obstacles linked to language and culture differences. The time has come to renew the modus operandi of our communities and foster greater openness in order to cope with the changes in our societies. We must use the identity and mission of Faith and Light as a starting-point from which to develop. This means engaging communities in a discussion process, which will help us to achieve the aim of summarising the movement’s fundamental values in a few sentences. Between 2008 and 2013, our time has mainly been spent establishing and consolidating provinces. Now, we need to emphasise supporting and caring for communities and their desires for renewal and growth. Although the Regional level of authority is no longer provided for by the Constitution, that does not mean that this support will diminish. The Constitution, which was approved in 2008, has been gradually extended to the whole of Faith and Light. Different interpretations have been made of the text in relation to authority and responsibilities at international level, which has 96 resulted in weak leadership. We have also noticed that certain areas grouped together as provinces do not reflect the geographical, cultural and economic contexts which they cover. We need to plan for future adjustments and consider how to adapt the Constitution in 2018. The pilgrimages organised by the provinces for the 40th anniversary of Faith and Light lifted our spirits. We must continue to plan times for celebrating, meeting and equipping to give us momentum. Renewal Establish a process to help communities reconfirm, based on their experiences, the principles upon which the identity and mission of Faith and Light is based. Encourage communities to review their way of working and adapt it to the expectations of people with disability, their families and young people today, taking the identity and mission of Faith and Light as a starting point. Identify strategies to attract young families and friends, and create new communities. Make an effort to invite them and find new ways to involve them. Develop a sense of belonging to the movement amongst the communities as a whole and a sense of responsibility that communities should participate and contribute to its funds. Openness Build or strengthen links with other associations working with people with disabilities and youth movements. Develop our cooperation with L’Arche. Encourage ecumenical dialogue and review our documents to identify any elements which could inhibit us from accepting other confessions. Encourage initiatives inspired by Faith and Light in non-Christian areas. 97 Community support Boost the frequency and quality of support (accompaniment) for communities with provincial vice-coordinators and make sure they understand, when they are appointed, that support is an important part of their role. Continue to develop training on the roles of coordinators and coordinating teams and on the accompaniment they can expect from the provincial team, particularly with the communities on a regional level. Encourage communities in close geographical proximity to build relationships and potentially group them by local area. Leadership Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Board of directors and the International Coordinating team so as to make their roles clear, and strengthen the leadership, in order to improve their service to the movement and to its mission. Adapt the functioning of provinces in some areas of the world to take into account cultural or economic obstacles. Appoint a Constitution Project Team to review the entire text with a view to adapting and simplifying it accordingly and explaining the hierarchy more clearly. Flagship events Organise events in each province: meetings, festivals, pilgrimages and so on to equip people, energize them and enable them to make new contacts. 98 Evaluate the year to progress A t the beginning or end of the year, together or as a coordinating team, let us take the time to evaluate the life of the community. On that day, let us invite the vice coordinator who accompanies us. The small booklet “Day for a renewal” can help us1. Here are some tips that have been taken from it. Each person answers these questions: What have I liked the most this year in the community? What I have like least? How do we pray together as a community? How do we celebrate together as a community? How do we get to know one another and share our faith when we meet? How do we deepen our friendship between our meetings? Do we have almost equal numbers of persons with intellectual disabilities, family members and friends? Do we have a chaplain who participates in our community? Do we have a coordinating team that prepares and evaluate our meetings? How much importance do we give to using the Guidelines? How can we be more creative in our coordinating team? 1 Available from the international secretariat. 99 How do we pray for/contribute to the unity of all Christians? How do we try to get to know people from different denominations? How do we experience our belonging to the international family of Faith and Light and how do we express this belonging? How would we describe the atmosphere of our community? How is our community a part of the parish/local church? How often do we meet as a whole community? How open and welcoming is our community to new members? How many members do we have? If we are more than forty, are we praying and considering about giving birth to a new community? If we choose to do this evaluation as a community, we form small groups. The leaders will note what each person has said. The evaluations will be looked at in the coordinating team meeting with a view to preparing for the next year. Some communities take a weekend, or a day outside, often in the religious community with which they are twinned, in order to have the whole time for reflecting together in relaxation and friendship. 100 Artist's workshop Fisherman's net It can be easily hooked: Make a necklace of the width which you want to give to your net. 1st row: crochet 7 chain stitches, crochet one double crochet in 5th stitch on row, then make 7 chain stitches. Repeat until end of row. 2nd row: *crochet 7 chain stitches, double crochet in 4th stitch of first row (middle stitch of 7 stitches in first row)* repeat from * to * end of row. Repeat 2nd row until you reach required size. Finally crochet 5 stitches (instead of 7), double crochet in the 4th stitch , repeat to end. Candles to colour in or paint Mandarin candles Materials: a mandarin, a knife, a little bit of oil and a box of matches Split the mandarin skin in two. Separate the top part of the skin. Delicately take out the mandarin quarters by taking great care to not break the white stem in the middle because this will be the wick. 101 Place the mandarin on a saucer. Pour a little oil on the stem and at the bottom of the mandarin and light it! A lamb Copy the image onto a small piece of card, cut it out, make a hole in the top and thread a string through it. A paper mosaic Materials: boxes, coloured paper (or photos from magazines), scissors, glue. Glue the copied drawing on a box. Cut out the small squares of approx. one centimetre and sort them by colour. Paste on the first part of the drawing and stick the squares, starting with the edges, fill up… An angel Materials: wool or cotton, card, scissors. This angel is just as easy to make as a pompom. Cut out a piece of card 15cm high and 5cm wide. Wrap the wool around the card about 100 times and remove the card. Make the head by squeezing a strand of wool of around 2.5cm high. Create the arms. Squeeze at about 1cm for the hands. Cut to adjust the bottom of the dress. You can brush the wool to give it a blurrier look. You can make a strand for the crown and also wings in concertinaed gold paper. Add gold thread to the dress or stars… Pass a thread through the top of the head to attach it. The angel is ready to sing the glory of God! 102 The "hands-hearts" Materials: basic sheets of paper, pencil, scissors. Fold the sheet in half. Trace around your hand, thumb and index finger against the fold. Cut out the shape except the end of the thumb and the index finger. Unfold it and the heart appears! The friendship bracelet Materials: cotton or wool threads in three colours, sticky tape, scissors. Cut three threads of around 70cm in length, one in each colour. Knot the threads together 2cm from the top. Attach the threads to a table with a piece of sticky tape. Pass the purple thread over the green and orange thread. Thread it through underneath and back through. Pull to secure the knot. Repeat around ten times. Continue the same knots but this time with the green thread, then with the orange one. 103 The sun of names Materials: card, paper, scissors, glue, pencil. Copy the sun on a piece of card, and cut out and stick as many rays as there are members in the community and guests at the Feast of Light, so that the names of everyone can be written on the rays. In the centre, we can stick the Faith and Light boat or write the name of our community. The fire of God’s love The Scouts’ way Materials: old CD or any other round, quite solid support; glue, handful of soil or sand, pebbles, little dead twigs, tissue or crêpe paper. Stick the pebbles all around the CD. In the centre, scatter over the soil or sand. Wedge the sticks well. Tear the paper in the shape of flames (yellows, oranges and reds), and stick them between the logs using a toothpick. Or the Indian Materials: for the tepee, three little twigs, some string, a white tissue. For the fire, pebbles, sticks, cotton dyed orange, glue. Fix the three sticks in a triangle and fix the tissue to them to make the tepee. Beside this, put the pebbles and the logs, stick the cotton on top of this. And... for the fisherman’s net, copy the fire image onto a thick sheet of paper. 104 Some crowns Materials: Thick, coloured paper, scissors, glue. Reproduce the pattern twice for a child and three times for an adult. Stick some strips one on top of the other. Cut out and stick the stars on the crown. Close the crown by adjusting it to the size of the head. The Easter flower Materials: 3 sheets of toilet paper, wire, a safety pin. Place the three sheets on top of one another and fold them in a concertina. Fix the middle with a small wire. Separate the petals very carefully. Fix them in place with a small safety pin. The Pentecost Fresco Materials: big board, as many figures as there are members in the community, glue, paint or felt-tips. Reproduce the figures in different sizes, colour them in and stick them on the bottom of the board. Stick a tongue of fire above each figure and add the sun and the bird. 105 A "Jesus loves me" cross Materials: card, coloured paper, scissors, glue. Print the pattern on an A4 sheet of paper. Cut out the 4cm coloured squares and the hearts. Stick. A mosaic heart Materials: carton, giant confetti, or little circles or cut-out coloured squares, glue. Cut out a big heart and stick the confetti to it, allowing them to overlap one another. The mountain of Beatitudes Materials: coloured paper, scissors, glue. Copy the image of Galilee or the drawing of Jesus and write phrases from the Beatitudes all around the coloured paper, "the pure in heart", "the peacemakers"… Friendship garlands Materials: A4 coloured paper, pinking or normal scissors, and stapler. Chain garland Cut strips of 3cm in the direction of the width of the page. Staple. 106 Feed a second strip through the circle and staple… The heart garland Cut some 2cm wide strips. Bend them in half and ensure that the fold is obvious. Refold the two ends towards the inside and staple one outside to the other outside…. 107 Marko Ivan Rupnik A warm thank you goes to Father Marko for allowing us to reproduce in this guidelines several of his works. M arko Ivan Rupnik was born in 1954 in Zadlog, Slovenia. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1973. After studying philosophy, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, and then studied at the Gregorian University. He was ordained Priest in 1985, and in 2001 was awarded his doctorate on the theological and missionary significance of art. Ever since, he has been working at the Ezio Eletti research institute in Rome, of which he is the Director. As an artist, the Pope Jean-Paul II entrusted him with the renovation of the Redemptoris Mater chapel mosaics, which he completed in 1999 along with the Aletti Centre workshop. His mosaics bring together tradition and modernity, helping modern art regain its former prestige in serving the liturgy. All the works of Father Rupnik on the site: www.centroaletti.com/ita/opere/ italia/111.htm 108 The little bookshop of Faith and Light Never again alone, the adventure of Faith and Light Marie-Hélène Mathieu (To be released end of 2014) For community building Charter and Constitution Annual Guidelines Leader's handbook Our first guidelines Identity and mission of Faith and Light Sharing our responsibility General rules of financial management A few easy recipes to raise funds For deepening our life together Day for a renewal in the community Spirituality of Faith and Light Letters to my brothers and sisters, Fr Joseph Larsen The Mysteries of Faith and Light, Ghislain du Chéné How to prepare and live a retreat Retreats in Faith and Light Ecumenism in Faith and Light Fioretti, Fr Joseph Larsen Getting to know us better Messages of the Churches to Faith and Light Leaflets Faith and Light posters "Up Sails!", the Faith and Light international letter (via internet) 109 Free 2€ 3€ 5,50 € 2,50 € 3€ Free 1€ Free 3€ 2€ 0,50 € 3€ 3€ 3€ 2€ 3€ Free 0,08 € Free Notes 110 Notes Faith and Light international 3, rue du Laos 75015 Paris, France T + 33 1 53 69 44 30 [email protected] - www.faithandlight.org 111 Faith and Light prayer Jesus, you came into our world to reveal the Father to us, your Father and our Father. You came to teach us to love one another. Give us the Holy Spirit, according to your promise, so that he will make us instruments of peace and unity, in this world of war and division. Jesus you have called us to follow you in a community of Faith and Light, We want to say « yes » to you. We want to live in a covenant of love in this big family you have given us, where we can share our sufferings and difficulties, our joys and our hope. Teach us to accept our wounds, our weakness so that your power may be revealed. Teach us to find you in all our brothers and sisters especially in those who are the weakest. Teach us to follow you in the ways of the Gospel. Jesus come and live in us and in our communities as you first lived in Mary. She was the first to welcome you. Help us to be faithfully present, with her, at the foot of the cross, near the crucified of the world. Help us to live your Resurrection. Amen ! 112