From Brussels
"Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Sofia. Thank you, Father Roberti, for giving us this day of celebration.
There were colored balloons hanging from the ceiling, paper flowers, singing, laughter, faces and tears... But above all, there was a great friendship that transcended—or perhaps existed because of—the handicaps, the wheelchairs, the white hair, the poverty or wealth, the youth or age, the Christian, the priest, the unbeliever.
It was the feast, the dawn of a new world where we could believe the Beatitudes possible.
Then came the Eucharist: hundreds of hands and hearts joined in love and ready, if need be, to change their lives to give glory to God.
We had come to be together, to tear down barriers, to show everyone that Love can do anything—that we can smile and sing even when everything seems to be falling apart.
Lord, help us to "keep going" with this celebration. They will think us mad, but Lord, make us cry out to everyone that suffering borne together, help offered, hands extended—these are witnesses to your Love, to Christ living among us.
M.F. Heyndrickx
From Rome
The Faith and Light group in Rome has grown so large that it has divided into three separate communities, each of which has already met several times.
One meets at Villa Patrizi — Via di Villa Patrizi 13. The next gathering is December 14 at 4:30 p.m.
One meets at Saint Joachim Parish — Piazza dei Quiriti 17 (Preti neighborhood). The last meeting was Sunday, November 17.
One meets at Saint Sylvia Parish — Largo Santa Silvia 1 (Portuense neighborhood). The last meeting was Sunday, November 24.
Celebration at Villa Pacis
Sunday, December 15, 1974 — we are all invited to spend the day together at Villa Pacis (Via della Camilluccia 567).
Getting there:
- Bus #48 (from Piazzale Flaminio)
- Bus #67 (from Termini Station)
Schedule
10:00 a.m. — Arrival and greetings
11:00 a.m. — Parents and adult friends will meet for a conversation with Father Roberti, who will share his experience of community life with handicapped young people in Belgium. At the same time, the children and teenagers will play together in the park.
12:00 p.m. — Mass
1:00 p.m. — Lunch (everyone is asked to bring a packed lunch)
2:30 p.m. — Young people will meet with Father Roberti, while parents supervise games for the younger children.