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 Who are we ?
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Identity
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Official denomination and logo
French : "Association internationale Foi et Lumière"
English : "International Association Faith and Light"
Spanish :"Associacion international Fe y Luz"
Italian :"Associazone internationale Fede e Luce"
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Other denomination
"Faith and Light international", term commonly used to refer orally to the movement.
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Background
Faith and Light was created following the organisation of a pilgrimage to Lourdes in Easter 1971, at the initiative of Jean Vanier and Marie-Hélène Mathieu. It was a response to an appeal from Taddée and Loïc, two children with intellectual disabilities and their parents.
 In order to participate, people were asked to form communities bringing together persons with intellectual disabilities, their family and friends, particularly young people.
Often living in distressing situations, the pilgrims experienced joy and moments of deep communion in Lourdes. On their return, the communities continued to meet at least once a month for mutual support and to deepen the grace they received in Lourdes. Other communities were born.
For more than thirty years, the communities have spread and grown throughout the whole world. Today, 1500 communities of different Christian traditions have developed in 80 countries. In most of these countries, persons with intellectual disabilities are living in very precarious or even tragic conditions.
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Identity
Faith and Light is a community and family based movement. At the heart of these communities, where people meet rather than live, you can find persons, children or adults with intellectual disabilities of different levels; they are surrounded by their family and friends, particularly young people. At each gathering, the community experiences a time of friendship, prayer and celebration.
The disabled person helps other community members to understand that there is another world outside the one of competition, money and material pleasures. Through his/her frailty he calls for tenderness, loyalty, listening skills and faith. Her/she is the source of communion and unity in his community, his Church and between the different Churches.
Faith and Light, born on Catholic ground, is now developing in other Christian traditions too. Very often the members of a community belong to the same church and are integrated in the Parish and the Diocese. Some communities are of mixed denomination. All members are encouraged to deepen their faith and their love of Jesus in their own Church.
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International Structures
The international association Faith and Light is an association under the French law of 1901 and the statutes are registered in Paris.
The community, centered on the growth of each of its members, its integration in society and Churches, is the foundation of all Faith and Light structures. The means by which a community is recognized as belonging to Faith and Light is defined in the Constitution which also specifies the composition and functioning of each of the Association’s organs. Each organ (see list below) is at the service of the community.
The Province is a branch of the international family and bring together between 15 and 40 recognized communities.
 The International General Assembly represents the members of the Faith and Light Movement from all over the world. First and last authority of the movement, it reflects the experience of the movement and its concerns, and establishes large strategic orientations. It discerns and elects the members of the Board of Directors. It is composed of delegations from each province, the members of the Board of Directors and the Vice-International coordinators. It meets every five years.
The Board of Directors governs the association. It is composed of the President, Vice-President, International Coordinator, International Chaplain, International Treasurer and two other members. It meets at least twice a year.
The International Coordinating Team is composed of the International Coordinator, International Chaplain and Vice-International Coordinators. This team is attentive to the needs of the different Provinces, to the formation and accompaniment of their coordinators. It meets at least once a year.
The Coordinators’ Council gives life to the movement under the leadership of the International Coordinator. It provides an opportunity for mutual support and formation. It is composed of the International Coordinator, Provincial Coordinators, Vice-international Coordinators and International Chaplain. It meets at least once between each General Assembly.
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Distribution
The international association Faith and Light brings together in January 2010, 1612 communities developping in 81 countries, across "Provinces". See Faith and Light across the world.
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Charitable organisations with a link to the Association
The association has special links with:
The international Federation of the Communities « l'Arche », founded by Jean Vanier
The Office chrétien des personnes handicapées (O.C.H), founded by Marie-Hélène Mathieu.
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Publications
The Charter and Constitution
Leader hand book
Faith and Light Booklets (« Sharing our responsibility in Faith and Light", "Retreats", “Deepening our spirituality”, “Ecumenism”, “Let’s go on holiday”
Our first guide lines (for communities just starting out)
The annual guide lines (theme and proposals for activities for each community gathering) Newsletters
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Internet address
Email: foi.lumiere@wanadoo.fr
Internet: www.foietlumiere.org ; www.faithandlight.org ; www.feyluz.org
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General heads of the movement
President: Henri Major, Canada
International coordinator: Ghislain du Chéné, France
International chaplain: Father Isaac Martinez, msa
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Headquarters and international secretariat
Association internationale Foi et Lumière
3, rue du Laos - 75015 PARIS - France
Tel. + 33.1.53.69.44.30
Fax + 33.1.53.69.44.38
Foi.Lumiere@wanadoo.fr
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