At a Friend's Concert
The evening of November 15th was special for the young people from Fede e Luce attending the national formation program. Our friend Leonardo invited us to his concert. To make sure we wouldn't be late, we decided to meet in Lodi at a pizzeria near the theater. While he was rehearsing, we had a wonderful time catching up because, coming from different communities, we hadn't seen each other since summer. After dinner we moved into the theater and took our seats. The theater was unusual—it was a church converted into a performance space. Leonardo played the violin while his friend played piano. They performed film scores: I loved them. I knew some, but others were new to me; they were all beautiful. Leonardo looked very elegant and did a fine job introducing each piece. When the concert ended, he came over to greet us and we took photos together.
Silvia Freschi - Milan
A T-Shirt's Journey
At last summer's Little March, the Minister for Disability Alessandra Locatelli sent us an encouraging message wishing us well on our journey—something we deeply appreciated. We decided to bring her the march t-shirt, and she accepted our invitation (through a mutual acquaintance) to deliver it to her office in person. We were a small delegation of marchers. The task fell to those of us closest by geography—some members of the Rome group, including several from Fede e Luce. We brought the minister the t-shirt and a painting by Benedetta showing our footprints on the path toward Saint Francis and the Tau. Saint Francis loved the marginalized, and people with disabilities often feel cast aside, forgotten. This meeting gives us hope that our institutions are ready to listen to our voices—just as Minister Locatelli listened to the stories of Federico, Benedetta, Antonietta, and Stefano. She heard their experiences, their struggles, their lives, and she tried to reassure them, promising that as long as she holds office, she will work to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Above all, she will ensure that the law on life after parental care is properly implemented and that the staff in facilities serving disabled people maintain the highest standards of professionalism.
Maria Agnese Boitani and Chiara Perucatti Rome
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If you were enchanted,
I'll have a laugh.
Claudio Moriggia