FAITH & LIGHT: WHO ARE WE ?
SUSAN'S STORY
KATH & PETERS STORY
THE FAITH & LIGHT PRAYER
THE BEATITUDES
THE SPIRITUALITY OF FAITH AND LIGHT
FAITH AND LIGHT IN NIGERIA
FOUNDING SPIRITS
FAITH & LIGHT: WHO ARE WE ?
Faith & Light is an International Christian Association of people with learning disabilities, their families and friends.
There are some 1500 communities in all continents of the world. We meet in the belief that each person is of infinite worth, loved by God, and is able to give as well as receive. At the heart of our communities are those who are often on the margins of church and civic life. They can be seen as embarrassments, or having little of worth to offer.
Our communities are ecumenical and in some parts of the world, interfaith. We welcome each person with their unique gifts. We welcome anyone who is open to listening to Jesus and has a desire to live the Gospel message.
Each community meet monthly. We accompany each other in an activity: maybe making a picture, going for a walk, playing games etc. We celebrate the presence of God in our lives, by praying together or listening to Jesus though song and drama. We enjoy each others company, telling stories, sharing difficulties. We always have food!
A cup of tea and one of Margaret's famous scones - or on special occasions we feast!
We also go on holidays, pilgrimages, retreats where we join other communities from England and sometimes from other parts of the world too!
There are 4 communities in the Lancaster Diocese: Ansdell, Carlisle, Lancaster & Morecambe, Walney. We always need your prayers and would love you to join us To find out more: contact Fr Aidan Turner at Our Lady Star of the Sea.
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SUSAN'S STORY
Hi my name is Susan. I am the middle one of 3 girls. When I was born the doctors told my parents that I would never do anything and they should send me away to a hospital. My parents wanted me to be with them, and later on my Mother told me how proud she was of my achievements. I went to a special school where I was very happy. I cried when I left!
My father died when I was 14 and my mother died 8 years ago. When my Mother died I went to live with my sister Ann and her family. But I wanted to be back in the home I had lived in with my mother. So my family and Social Services arranged this.
I see my sisters and their friends often. Ann organises my affairs, and my shopping. I visit Angela at least once a fortnight. I like to read and watch television (Eastenders, Neighbours, Coronation Street)
I am a Catholic and my Parish Priest is very kind. He got me involved with FLAME and I've been to Lourdes 4 times with them. I go to Mass but I do not feel very involved. No one from the church comes to see me. I live close to a Catholic College, but nobody there comes to see me.
I belong to Faith & Light. There people give me a big hug. I have been to lots of holidays. I enjoy the monthly celebrations. I like to do the readings and dramas. When we have mass the epistles and gospels are mimed, so everyone can be involved.
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KATH & PETERS STORY
My name is Kath. I have lived in the same parish for fifty years. My husband, Ben died suddenly in 1989 so I now live with my son, Peter who is 39. My daughter Christine and her family live close by.
When he was bom Peter had a crippled foot - that was bad news. We had to find out for ourselves that he was brain damaged. Peter needs help with all aspects of his daily life: washing, shaving, feeding and so on. He cannot speak but can usually indicate most of his needs; for example if he can see a cup he will show that he wants tea, he takes his Weetabix and a dish out of the cupboard, but cannot pour the milk himself or feed himself. Recently life has been difficult as Peter has had frequent chest infections, he cannot explain pain.
We took Peter to Mass from an early age. We always sat at the back as he could be noisy! People would turn round and stare, this made us feel uncomfortable. We moved to the front and have sat there ever since - Peter thinks the front bench is his! Most of the time parishioners are welcoming and give him the sign of peace.
Occasionally there are incidents, which cause great pain. Once in Mass, a woman said to me "He needs sedating. You should give him Diazepam before you bring him to church" I have learned to ignore such remarks but they do hurt and would cause some families to feel so unwelcome that they may not return.
When Peter was 14 we heard Bishop Brewer tell parents of children with disabilities that their sons and daughters should be receiving the sacraments. So Ben and I went to see our PP who asked "does Peter understand?" We replied "no". The priest patted us on the shoulder and shaking his head said "keep up the good work" We were all very upset, I was in tears and felt patronised. That was a low point.
Three years later another, more understanding priest came to the parish and started to give Peter Holy Communion this is a great joy to me. But I do regret Peter never had a First Communion celebration as other children do. Happily times have changed and I rejoice when I see children with disabilities making their First Communion with the others in the parish.
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THE FAITH & LIGHT PRAYER
Jesus, you came into our world to reveal the Father to us, your Father and our Father. You came to teach us to love one another. Give us the Holy Spirit, according to your promise, so that he'll make us instruments of peace and unity, in this world of war and division.
Jesus, you have called us to follow you in a community of Faith and Light. We want to say 'yes'. We want to live a covenant of love in this big family you have given us, where we can share our sufferings and difficulties, our joys and our hopes. Teach us to accept our wounds, our weaknesses, so that your power may be revealed. Teach us to find you in all our brothers and sisters, especially in those who are the weakest. Teach us to follow you in the ways of the Gospel.
Jesus, we entrust ourselves to Mary, your mother. She was the first to welcome you. Help us to welcome you into our hearts and in our communities. Help us to be faithfully present with her, at the foot of the cross, near the crucified of this world. Help us to live as she did, your Resurrection.
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THE BEATITUDES
"BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”
The Beatitudes are a description of the Blessed, whose home is in heaven.
They also describe Jesus, the most blessed of all human beings.
I have found they often fit our friends in Faith & Light.
By Fr Aidan Turner
1. Manuel, whom I met twenty-five years ago, was on holiday with me in the Lake District. Too early on a June morning, he woke me, opened the curtains, saw the sunshine sparkling the dew on the grass, heard the dawn chorus singing its approval, and said "Look, all God!" "Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God."
2. Lisa is a young lady who lived her life lying in a wheelchair, unable to sit up, to speak, to feed herself; but radiated beauty to all who met her, and her smile was worth more than gold. She was the centre and source of peace for her Loughborough Faith and Light community and now enjoys the life of the blessed in heaven. "Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called children of God."
3. In our Ansdell community Josephine welcomes you with a soft "Hello" and a gentle hug. She has a grace and lightness of step; is a lovely dancer. "Blessed are the gentle, they shall have the earth for their heritage”.
4. For most of us, common currency is now a Plastic Card. For Matthew it is real treasure. Not for the money it symbolises, but for the place it takes in his collection of credit cards (all past their expiry date), business cards, and exotically designed Name Cards. They fill an ever-growing number of purses and wallets, and his heart, withreal joy. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
5. Parents of the people at the heart of our communities hunger and thirst for justice: that their son or daughter is accepted, with a role to play, receiving the dignity and respect they own as children of God. In Faith and Light we learn they have a different but valuable contribution to society "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied."
6. And so often our friends with learning disabilities suffer abuse and all kinds of calumny spoken against them: in English Law, they have no right to life until they are born; and even then misplaced medical kindness can sedate them and starve them to death. “Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you ..Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven."
In faith and light we rejoice and are glad, and every so often are given a glimpse of heaven.
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THE SPIRITUALITY OF FAITH AND LIGHT
Through the years a spirituality unique to Faith and Light has been discovered and described. We become closer with God and with one another through embracing that which is weak, little, poor or wounded in ourselves and others. In this embrace of acceptance, a mystery is revealed. Here we discover Jesus and are transformed into agents of unity and peace. In community we become sources of life for each other by mutually sharing our needs and our gifts in loving friendship.
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FAITH AND LIGHT IN NIGERIA
Never go for a pizza with a ‘Faith and Light’ chaplain because you never know where you’ll be sent! That’s the lesson I learnt in September 2003 when I was invited out for supper by Fr. Aidan Turner. I think my recollection of the evening was that I would ‘think about’ going to Nigeria to represent Faith and Light at a celebration there – the following morning the ticket had been booked. I might have been terrified of going before, but I’m glad Father Aidan sent me.
The two weeks I spent in Nigeria will be an experience I will never forget. New sights, new sounds and amazing people so filled with joy, so optimistic, so full of faith and filled with light. I’ll never forget preaching at the 8.00 am Mass the first Sunday I was there to a congregation of well over two thousand people. Of the four hour Blessed Sacrament procession for the feast of Christ the King (it’s too wet at Corpus Christi). Taking communion to blind men with leprosy just outside Benin City and being greeted with shouts of joy. The sounds of the drums and the music – familiar tunes with an African twist. The immense faith of a people with so little of anything else. The hope of the ‘Faith and Light’ community, its members gathering to celebrate against many prejudices and difficulties – of children cast aside by their parents because of their disabilities yet welcomed with love by their brothers and sisters in Christ. Learning that limitations can be strengths; that faced with so much negativity the only answer was to be positive, filled with hope for the future.
I saw that Faith and Light throughout the world enables many excluded or misunderstood by society to assume their rightful place around the table of the Lord, to be instruments of grace for us all – to be light for the world.
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FOUNDING SPIRITS
Marie-Hélène Mathieu
A special teacher, she created the Office Chrétien des Personnes Handicapées (O.C.H.) Christian Office for disabled people in 1963. In 1968, she created the Ombres et Lumière magazine which she ran until the year 2000. In 1971, she founded Faith and Light with Jean Vanier. In 1979, she became international coordinator of the Faith and Light movement. In 1984, she was nominated member of the Pontifical Council for laity. In 1988, she was the first woman to give a Lent conference at Notre Dame de Paris.
She holds two French honors – Chevalier de l’ordre national du mérite, and Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Jean Vanier
Canadian, son of the Governor General of Canada. In 1950, he left the Royal Canadian Navy to study philosophy. After having obtained a doctorate in philosophy, he taught at Toronto University. In 1964 he created l’Arche welcoming two adults with intellectual disabilities in a small home at Trosly-Breuil in Oise, France.Today, 115 communities belonging to l’Arche are implanted in 30 countries stretching across 5 continents. In 1971 he founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu. In 1988 he was one of sixty laymen invited by the Pope Jean-Paul II to participate in the Synod on laymen in Rome. In 1997, Pope Jean-Paul II awarded him the Paul VI prized “Officer of the Legion of Honour”.
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