For the opening of Faith and Light in Rome, we had scheduled a festive day with fifteen communities for October 9th. Eight days before, Marie Hélène Mathieu—co-founder of Faith and Light with Jean Vanier—called Maurizio, our national coordinator, with unexpected news. Pope Benedict XVI had appointed her an auditor to the Synod of Bishops. "What do you think?" she asked. "Could we invite some of the synod bishops to your gathering?" It seemed like an extraordinary opportunity for exchange. But would the Rome communities agree? Could we redesign the program in so little time?
A weekend on the phone reaching out to every community leader. Then Monday evening, we held a summit meeting. Together, we decided to accept the challenge.
The synod secretary agreed to deliver an invitation from Marie Hélène to all 250 synod fathers. Unfortunately, nearly all had already made other commitments for that day. Many, though, sent their thanks, expressed regret at not being able to attend, and showed genuine interest in the movement—some discovering it for the first time, others already familiar with Faith and Light communities in their own countries.
Four bishops joined us that Sunday: from Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh. The bishop of Bangladesh, Monsignor Theotonius Gomes, had known Faith and Light for thirteen years—he was the one who brought the movement to his country. He arrived with seven sisters from Bangladesh, India, and Burma, and three seminarians from Bangladesh.
Before they came, I felt a little anxious. I worried our guests would feel out of place, embarrassed, or bored. Instead, the day became a true celebration. They shared our picnic with complete ease. They took part in every activity we had planned and listened attentively to the testimonies of a young man with disabilities, a father, and a friend. They seemed surprised at moments, but never uncomfortable.
The farewell at the end made us think and hope that Faith and Light communities might one day bloom somewhere because of what happened that day.
Valentina Calabresi, 2005
Testimony of Gabriel Piroird, Bishop of Constantine (Algeria)
"I was attending the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, which took place in Rome from October 2nd to 23rd. During the first week, I found an invitation in my folder from Marie Hélène Mathieu for a Faith and Light gathering scheduled for Sunday, October 9th. Not knowing the movement and having the day free, I decided to go. It was the opening gathering of fifteen Rome communities. There were about 250 people: young people with disabilities accompanied by friends in a warm and festive setting. I shared lunch with them. I admired the patience and courage of the parents whose children often demand their entire attention. The atmosphere was a bit noisy but expressed a joyful peace. At the end of the day we celebrated the Eucharist. A group played guitar. The Mass was certainly somewhat noisy and animated, as one might expect—but there was one unmistakable sign: the only moment of silence came at the Consecration.
In a way, this gathering brought new life to the work we were doing that week at the synod. It left an impression on me throughout the synod and remains alive in my memory.
From the Homily of Theotonius Gomes, Auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh
National Assistant of Faith and Light in Bangladesh
"Something wonderful and deeply mysterious happens when the greatest and the smallest come to communicate together. We lose all sense of who is highest and who is lowest, because the highest stoops down and the smallest is lifted up. We are happy to exchange our positions in affection and in love.
Our communion in spirit and in heart with our children with disabilities, with our brothers and sisters with disabilities, gives us the power to free ourselves from anger, from pride, from hatred toward others. Through this communion with them, our hearts are healed. While we try to help them as best we can, in return they help us to heal from the hardness of our hearts, to become kind and merciful, and to have hearts that know how to love.
Proposition 44: The Eucharist and the Sick
We consider it of primary importance to foster the celebration of the Eucharist for the sick through suitable catechesis on active participation in the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. The Eucharist has a special meaning as the summit of Christian life, particularly when received as Viaticum—the Church's final provision for the dying. Since it opens the fullness of Easter to the sick, we recommend intensifying this practice.
We specifically ask that the Eucharistic communion be assured to the mentally disabled who have been baptized and confirmed. They receive communion in the faith of the family or community that accompanies them. The fact that we cannot know the precise inner awareness of certain people with disabilities is not sufficient reason to withhold from them all the sacramental supports the Church has to offer.
It is important that those who suffer from disability be recognized as full members of the Church and have their rightful place within it. We also hope that the architectural design of churches will be improved to facilitate their participation in our celebrations.
