A celebration twenty-five years long
In honor of the Feast of Light, a mother from our community, Marina, wrote us these lines which I am happy to share with you: «I have understood that I seek you… I have understood that I await you… I have understood that I love you… All of you, from the oldest to the smallest. And above all our children, with their disarming smiles, their out-of-place and out-of-turn remarks, with the request for love that becomes a glance and a word, from one who offers you their whole heart, holding it in their hands. I, mother, father, sister or brother, no longer feel weariness, nor tears nor pain, if only I look into your eyes and find there a sorrow, that transforms itself into a request for love. And in the eyes of our friends? An open, wonderful, sweet and formidable discovery… "I am always with you. To laugh with you, rejoice, dance and pray. I will not abandon you." And it is still a request and an offering of love».
Rosita
The merit of normality
A piece of news has come to the fore, receiving comments of dissent but also, alas, of defense, which has troubled us greatly.
The news is that which emerges from the Annual Evaluation Reports (RAV) that schools have been required for some years to draw up and publish on the MIUR website ("Scuola in chiaro") so that the strengths and weaknesses are made clear, what must be accepted and what must be improved within the Educational and Didactic Project of every school at every level.
The annual report of some high schools in Italy notes a complete absence of integration of various "diversities" (foreign students, pupils with disabilities or pupils with learning difficulties).
In the report that was drafted and approved by the board of teachers and the School Council, the headmaster considers this "exclusion" a merit, something to be proud of for the better performance of the pupils.
This is news that has shocked us greatly.
I hope that Ombre e Luci will find the space and the most appropriate means to address it.
In respect of the values of which we make ourselves spokespeople, and in respect above all of those who have preceded us in the long and painful battles for the rights of children with disabilities to be welcomed and to find a real place in civil society, in school and in the Church.
Monica Leggeri
"Messengers of Joy" in the surroundings of Milan
Many are the gatherings of these past months that we wish to share with our readers.
For the Christmas bazaar we thought of selling gift baskets and, at Nives's suggestion, bottle holders crocheted by Debora and Pasqua, two mothers from our group. We got together at the oratory of San Giustino and spent the afternoon filling and wrapping the baskets. Each of us brought what they wished, from food products to bath products, and we packaged them in an assembly line of friends, children and parents. Of course, a snack could not be missing… a break to refresh ourselves and then back to work. Riding the wave of the first afternoon's success, we organised another one as well. The first bazaar, in a parish in Figino, a neighbourhood of Milan, was run by two mothers, Debora and Cristiana, who, during Holy Mass, also gave a testimony: "Being together has helped us to overcome many difficulties, to do things we didn't think we could do… for example, a testimony in church!".
The second was in the chapel of the Hospital of Sesto San Giovanni, guests of don Donato; at Holy Mass it fell to Nives to give a testimony: even though she is a veteran "it was a strong emotion, these are beautiful moments to share". The last ones were in two parishes in Cesano Boscone. We braved the bad weather, wind and snow, but we, the daring ones, were there holding our ground and it went well there too.
On Friday 15 December at 9 p.m., in the parish of San Materno in Milan, the Christmas vigil took place, to live together a moment of prayer in anticipation of the birth of the Baby Jesus. Seeing the mime performed on this story makes a great impression. Alessandra and Giancarlo took on the roles of Mary and Joseph with naturalness and spontaneity. The readers — Pucci, Gabriella, Manuela and Simone — step by step guided us with just the right tone of voice during the readings. Paolo, with his guitar, accompanied the Christmas carols we know, so we all joined in, and by singing, as they say, one prays twice. Flora took photos to be included in the memory album; don Walter opened the doors of the church to us and let us be known to his parishioners.
Once the vigil was over, we went to the oratory where, over a slice of panettone and a toast, we exchanged our good wishes in a lovely moment of joy.
On Sunday 28 January, our community was invited by the parish priest, Don Luigi Caldera, to attend the Family Feast at the Istituto Sacra Famiglia (ISF) in Cesano Boscone. In the morning we took a walk around the institute: at each stop there was a testimony followed by our Community Song, simple, catchy and engaging, which everyone learned very easily. Before and after lunch don Luigi led the reflection on the importance of the family: how important collaboration, unity, esteem, and trust are. The family is our pillar, our foundation, for helping those in difficulty, lending one another a hand, collaborating, supporting each other, in an experience that teaches, in a mutual exchange of ideas, suggestions, and advice.
In the afternoon, while the children attending catechism were entertained with outdoor games by don Michele and the educators, their parents attended the moment of meditation and others went for a walk. For lunch, in the institute's canteen, and for Holy Mass, other children with their families and friends joined us; at the end don Luigi handed out small bags, some containing salt and some containing a small candle, so that the family may be salt that gives savour and guiding light that illuminates us.
On Sunday 4 February 2018, the Feast of Light, the feast of all the Fede e Luce communities in Italy and in the world. We animated the 5 p.m. Mass at Sant'Ireneo in Cesano Boscone. The opening procession, the songs, the prayer of the faithful… all accompanied with care by Nives. To close, the gift of a little boat, made by all of us, with our motto written on it: better to light a candle than to curse the darkness; followed by a happy hour in the oratory bar, inviting the parishioners and the don. The evening continued at a pizzeria… when we get together, we feel so well that it saddens us to say goodbye.
Anyone who wishes to join us is welcome, we welcome them with open arms!
Flora Atlante