Chianciano — An International Gathering
The meeting of coordinators held in Chianciano from December 5–8 was, for me and I'm certain for all of us there, a deeply fruitful time of exchange and shared reflection.
In peace and calm, we spoke with one another. We offered and received counsel, comfort, and shared not just personal experiences but, more importantly, the stories of our communities. We prayed together, guided by Fr. Vito. Once again we felt the reality of being part of one large community. Of course, each person and each community is different from the others — and thank God for that. Yet there is something that binds us all, something that makes the challenges and struggles of each person and group similar to those of everyone else.
One moment stands out in my memory: Mariangela's testimony.
She told the story of Faith and Light woven together with her own life, pausing now and then to sing and to read passages from "Shadows and Light," which continues to be — though we often forget it — such a treasured source of inspiration and ideas.
Once again I was struck by the power of simplicity.
How vital it is to remember where we come from if we want to understand where we are going! How precious the gift of renewal, of a little creativity, without chasing some frantic and often misunderstood originality!
What I learned that day reminds me this: Faith and Light is woven into our lives. Only when we understand this does Faith and Light keep its true meaning and reason for being. Only then do we have real communities.
Silvia Poleggi, 1999
Sonia De Rosa
"I have called you by name, you are mine." (Is. 43:1)
Sonia De Rosa, now Sr. Chiara Maria of the monastery of the Poor Clares of St. Lucy in Foligno, celebrated her Solemn Profession on June 12, 1999.
She remains close to our hearts. For many years, before entering the monastery, Sr. Chiara Maria was an active member of Faith and Light. In sending us this announcement, she asks us to "share it with all Faith and Light communities so they might hold her in their prayers. She remembers all of you with affection and blesses the Lord, who has met her in the poor."
A Guide to Inclusive Holidays
Lisdha News, the journal of the association "The Sunflower," has published a new guide to inclusive holidays. It offers addresses and suggestions for vacations in natural settings, archaeological sites, and programs supporting disabled people, children, and the elderly. The second section provides resources for holidays accessible to people with severe physical and mental disabilities.
The guide costs seventeen thousand lire and can be purchased at most bookstores or ordered directly from Lisdha News.
An Initiative Close to My Heart
I am the father of Alessandro, a handsome, tall young man—six feet four, almost three hundred pounds—autistic with severe psychological challenges. But he is my whole life, my light, my joy. Alessandro too is God's beloved. Alessandro too was chosen by God from the beginning.
For some years now I have been carrying in my heart an initiative that is difficult to bring about. Now I would like to try, with your help. I want to reach out to other parents living the same experience I do and invite them to begin a journey of sharing and fellowship that goes beyond the usual forms of association. To meet together, to spend time with all our children, to talk and share our stories. To gather and celebrate our children, to give them hours of different kinds of joy—taking them to parks, visiting sanctuaries together, finding courage in one another, and bearing witness that our children are special in God's eyes.
Giovanni Battista De Cola
Resources
As it does each January, the Pedagogical Consultation Service of Trento has published the twenty-second volume of "Italian Bibliography on Hearing, Vision, and Language Disorders," 1998, compiled by S. Lagati. The 128-page volume contains seven hundred bibliographic entries—books, articles, and periodicals—on the topics named in the title, but it also ranges across other disability-related subjects: educational concerns, intellectual disability, various forms of therapy, school and social integration, family life, religious education, conferences, and more.
For information, contact the Pedagogical Consultation Service — P.O. Box 601 — 38100 Trento — Telephone 0461/828693.
Group Homes
The association "Community John XXIII" is organizing a National Conference on October 15–16, 1999, in Bellaria (Rimini) at the European Congress Center. The theme is "Group Homes: What Forms of Family-Style Care?" The conference will also address the training of community leaders and various models of family-centered community living.