In God's house, theirs is the first place…
On Sunday, November 25th, we celebrated our first Mass at the Ascension parish.
At eleven o'clock a large group of Faith and Light arrived from all over Rome. We gathered with others to celebrate the Eucharist.
Perhaps some people were taken aback to see or hear our children moving about a little restlessly. But we felt it was time to stop worrying about bringing our children to church for fear of disturbing others. They belong there. They must be there in God's house—indeed, they deserve the first place, and people are ready to welcome them without hesitation.
We had grown comfortable with our private Masses, reassured by knowing each other and understanding our young people well. But it was right that we take this first step. We know them everywhere. We understand them more deeply. And saying "poor thing" is nothing but admitting our own ignorance.
If others found the courage to come close, they would discover the peace and truth of life.
This was our first experience, and more will follow in parishes across Rome.
It was truly beautiful, even though we missed Don Pierino. Afterward we gathered in the hall and showed slides about Faith and Light to everyone interested.
I was so happy to see us all gathered in my own neighborhood church.
Rita Ozzimo
Sunday the 25th
On Sunday, November 25th, I attended the parish Mass at the Ascension with Maurizio and many other friends. It was a wonderful experience to bring him to communion in front of everyone. But I won't hide that I felt a deep sadness. Maurizio doesn't sit still—he wants to walk—so he stands out more than the others.
I'm grateful to Mimmo for walking with him throughout the Mass, and to all these remarkable young people from Faith and Light who give us such strength and courage to face obstacles that may seem trivial but are hard for us. With our friends beside us, we could take on the world.
The priests welcomed us warmly. The people offered us their praise for the young people and their pity for us and our children—it couldn't have been otherwise. But it was a wonderful experience, and I would do it again if we have the chance.
T.L.
We could offer only a simple field…
When we thought about holding a gathering at our house, we were honestly all a bit skeptical. What could we possibly offer? At Nazareth there was everything—activities, games, all of it. What we could offer was a simple field.
We tried it, and it worked beautifully. Seeing Elena run freely across the grass, Carla, Rosaria, and Maurizio sitting in the sun happy among their friends—it filled us with joy and made us hope they would come back often. Perhaps you young people, friends, and parents are used to outings like this, full of cheer and celebration. But for us it meant something more. It meant welcoming into our home—and not just for a few hours—a gift of peace, through the serenity, love, and joy that you, great and small, from Faith and Light, bring with your presence.
Maria Posani
Feast of the Light
"When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord'), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.'"
(LUKE 2:22-24)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND OR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD
we celebrate together in all our communities the FEAST OF THE LIGHT
Gabriella…
Gabriella, her mother, and her sisters are a lesson in love for all of us.
They have taught us the value of life and the power of love.
No matter how life is lived, it must be respected, and all of us have the duty to preserve the life we have been given.
We once asked in our newsletter whether Gabriella understood how much love surrounded her.
Now we know she felt that love perfectly—and she knew how to call forth love in all those around her.
Francesco Gammarelli
Andrea…
The light of hope you kindled in us gives us certainty that Andrea lives in the life of the Spirit, in the kingdom Jesus promised us.
The faith you helped us rediscover at our gathering in Assisi last year will not let us be crushed by a pain as terrible as this. We believe that Andrea, in his long and silent suffering, bore witness to God's goodness and mercy. He gave us the strength and courage to face, together with our son, one of the most tragic moments of our lives.
Now our life has purpose again.
God sent Monica to us for this. We live for her, here with us, alive, needing understanding and love. In her we discover the immense richness of the love she gives us in the name of her Creator.
God is with all who suffer.
God was in my son, and for us that is great comfort.
When sadness threatens to overwhelm us, Andrea speaks to us from above: "Love her. She is there for you. Don't make her sad." And we smile through tears.
Thank you!
Maria and Enea Varoli
The Carpineto Retreat: An Experience to Repeat!
Last summer at Alfedena I only stayed a few days—enough to get a sense of the spirit of a "retreat," but not enough to experience it fully.
The chance came with Carpineto. A friend asked, "Why don't you come with Elena?" We all need to study, so we'll set up study shifts. Come on!" That last line made me smile. Knowing how peacefully I study at home, I imagined what would happen when you put cheerful disabled young people together! But it was wonderful. During the day Cinzia and Baba sang little songs over and over. Giorgio, showing off the new shirt the Padre Maestro gave him, did skits after dinner and got huge applause. He often looked after Elena, and Cinzia and Baba seemed drawn to his presence. A snowfall blessed New Year's Eve, delighting everyone and filling Giorgio with such energy he couldn't stand still for a moment. In the evening, sitting in a circle, Robert celebrated Mass and spoke to us about what it means to be among "the weaker ones." It made us feel more united and helped us think about two short words with deep meaning: peace and love. They're easy to say but hard to live. The family atmosphere let us know each other better and gave us the certainty we would never be abandoned. Pipino and Goffredo were tireless; Barbara, M. Teresa, and Susanna showed great patience. When we left, all our faces showed how much we would miss those days. In our hearts, one shared hope: an experience to repeat!
Paolo Nardini
A Note on the Carpineto Retreat
A few thoughts on Carpineto, setting aside for a moment the pleasant memories, the times of real communion, the moments of exhaustion, and the great laughter. I want to focus on one aspect that might seem small but that, I think, could be a crucial step toward a goal many of us have marked for ourselves. Let me explain: we all had specific study plans to keep. So we organized study shifts. Despite our initial doubt, they worked perfectly. We created a communal experience within the rhythm of our daily lives. With a little willingness from each of us, we managed to balance personal needs with the community's needs. Are we perhaps moving closer to L'Arche? I remember an article by Anna Cece that said, "We must move slowly beyond the little house, perhaps toward L'Arche." Where are we now in that journey? And more importantly, how ready are we, how committed? I don't want to create false hopes. For now, this is only a hope.
Susanna Posani