Madrid: International Gathering – Cuneo: National Gathering
Faith and Light is a spirit, a friendship, an inner attitude. But good intentions alone won't move us forward. Meetings, celebrations, gatherings, newsletters—all require planning. That's why, from time to time, leaders from across the movement meet together, both internationally and within each country.
For those who don't yet know, the international leaders of the Faith and Light movement are:
- Jean Vanier (Canada), general coordinator
- M. Hélène Mathieu (France)
- Père Georges Vijda (Denmark)
Each country has its own national leader, supported by leaders from individual communities.
In January 1977, three international meetings took place:
- one in Madrid for the Latin region (France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy)
- one in Birmingham for the English region (England, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden)
- one in Canada for Canada and the U.S.A.
The gatherings focused on two main areas:
- assessing where each country stands: progress made, obstacles faced, plans ahead.
- how to birth and nurture a Faith and Light community (leadership roles, youth involvement, parent participation, reaching out to parishes, the pastoral and social role Faith and Light plays, and more).
These meetings are always marked by friendship, the joy of coming together, prayer, and a growing bond with the host city.
The Italian delegation to Madrid included Enzo Ferrazzoli, Mariangela Bertolini, Maria Grazia Pennisi, Lucia Pennisi, and Guendalina Malvezzi from Rome; Don Francesco Marchini and Lucetta Battilani from Parma; and Mimmo Alpigiano from Cuneo.
After returning from Madrid, Mimmo proposed bringing the same gathering to Italy. The result was the Cuneo meeting (March 19–20, 1977), with the same themes we'd discussed in Spain.
Seventeen people came from Rome (many of them young), nine from Parma, six from Milan, and a good number from Cuneo itself.
Two intense days. We were met with generous, warm hospitality and perfect organization, thanks to our friends in Cuneo.
The discussions, our shared prayer, the celebration—all of it encouraged us to keep going.
We made plans, both small and large. For spring 1978, a national gathering is planned for Assisi (open to everyone), and friends from Belgium and Switzerland will join us.
From all of us, heartfelt thanks to our friends in Cuneo.
Mariangela Bertolini, 1977
Who cannot see,
who cannot understand
that stones, bricks, and tiles
are, all at once, everything
and nothing
until they become a house?
In a pile,
they hold the weight of hope.
Placed in service of a vision,
living as one,
they form a whole—
and the whole
is greater than the scattered pieces.
H. Camara