A second edition has been published of the small book that came out when Francesco Gammarelli died. His family and Ombre e Luci offer it to those who wish to know him or remember him. For those unfamiliar with Francesco Gammarelli, here is what Jean Vanier wrote about him.
Francesco lived up to his name. He was a disciple of the "little poor man." At Assisi in 1978, during a Fede e Luce pilgrimage, he returned to the faith after fifteen years away from the Church. His life ended just weeks after a second pilgrimage to Assisi in the week following Easter 1986. His years in Fede e Luce spanned between these two journeys.
His conversion in 1978 was radical. He recovered his faith in Jesus, his faith in the Church, and discovered a new love for his daughter Sabina, so gravely wounded, and for his entire family. He found the great family of Fede e Luce. At once he gave himself entirely to this community—first in a group in Rome, then on the national council in Italy, and in 1982 in the international team as vice-coordinator. He continued his work, of course, but for eight years his whole heart, his whole life, was directed toward Jesus and toward the well-being of people living with mental disability, toward supporting their families, and toward Fede e Luce around the world.
Francesco had a "poor" heart. The way he listened, his readiness to serve, his love for Sabina—these revealed a heart capable of such love, so "poor." His presence at our meetings always struck me. He carried with him an atmosphere of gentleness and humility. When tension or conflict arose among us, he worked to resolve it, to restore unity and peace. His poor heart made him a peacemaker.
— Jean Vanier, 1994
To obtain a copy of the booklet, write to the editorial office: ombreeluci@fedeeluce.it