A River of Peace – North
Parents of disabled children worry about "what comes after." It's almost a law of nature. The questions pile up and multiply. Many families in our communities are now thinking about the support they can put in place right now—guardians and support administrators who will care for their son or daughter when they cannot.
As friends, we're being asked directly. Some of us have received requests from mothers and fathers, especially those who are widowed or divorced. They're looking ahead and feel the need to count on someone who shares their values and truly loves their child.
Some of us have lived this for years. Others are just beginning. That's why we're planning to organize meetings with experts who can walk us through the latest legal changes and explain what responsibilities we'd be taking on.
It's a sign of something beautiful—the bond of friendship and trust built through years of gatherings and shared days. When a friend says yes, it's also a way of saying thank you for the confidence you've placed in them.
We grow together. We look ahead together. We know that other friends will be there to support us when these responsibilities become real.
It's a journey we make as one. And it's good to walk it together, even in these moments.
Angela
Sea and Volcanoes – South
Last April, the Faith and Light communities in Sicily received the gift of pilgrimage. We journeyed to the sanctuary of "Madonna of the Tears" in Syracuse. Pilgrimage is a special gift for us—it calls us back to the humility of walking together with our poverty, searching for what truly matters.
And it was a gift to have leaders like ours, who refused to be crushed by difficulties. They trusted in the One who draws us to Himself with the tender love He reserves for the smallest and most fragile.
About eighty of us gathered. Our pilgrimage theme was: "Let us embrace our fragility as Mary embraces hers, and with her tears offer it to God."
We found ourselves sharing the fragility of our own communities—sometimes tired and aging, yet rich with the experience of being together, even through conflict and poverty.
We learned to value the difficulties we've lived through. They're a sign of vitality, a call to grow in new ways, more authentic and more humble.
To explore these themes, we used a story left unfinished and completed it in small groups. Everyone imagined different endings.
What emerged was how much we need to communicate—even across our differences—and especially to reach out beyond ourselves, to open more to the world.
Walking where the miracle happened, we felt Mary's presence beside us, preparing us to receive the gift of her closeness.
Adriana
"Take courage. It is I."
Forty years have passed since Faith and Light began its journey in Italy. We want to celebrate this milestone with a pilgrimage to the city of Saint Francis.
But there's a surprise. How could we visit Saint Francis without first stopping by our friend Francis? We couldn't.
So the pilgrimage will start in Rome, with a blessing from the Pope!
But how do we get there? How many of us? How much will it cost?
Easy now. All in good time. For now, mark these dates on your calendar and keep them free!
June 23–27, 2015
"Take courage. It is I."
(Mt 14:27)
Rome — Assisi
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