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 Homepage | The person | The family | The friends | Sitemap | Search | Contact  Who are we ? Français | English | Español |  PrintIdentity  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'' Other denomination ''Faith and Light international'', term commonly used to refer orally to the movement. 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, more than 1450 communities of different Christian traditions have developed in 78 countries. In most of these countries, persons with intellectual disabilities are living in very precarious or even tragic conditions. 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. International Structures The international association Faith and Light is an association under the French law of 1901 and the statutes are registered at the Paris Police headquarters. The board of directors which manages the Association is composed of the continent coordinators and the Bureau (including the international coordinator, the international vice co-ordinator, the international chaplain and the founders Jean Vanier and Marie-Hélène Mathieu). This board of directors forms the international council which meets at least twice a year. The international general assembly includes the national coordinators, the national chaplains, the zone coordinators and the international council ; it meets every four years.  The community, centred on the growth of each of its members, its integration in society and in the Church, is the foundation of all Faith and Light structures. The means by which a community is recognised 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 organs, on a regional, country, zone and continental level is at the service of the community. In these various bodies, the leaders meet in a “council”, a place where coordination, reflection, formation and spiritual nourishment can take place. Each “council” is accompanies by a chaplain. Distribution The international association Faith and Light brings together in January 2006, 1462 communities developping in 77 countries, across six ''continents''. See Faith and Light across the world. 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. Publications The Charter and Constitution Leaders 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 Internet address Email : Foi.Lumiere@wanadoo.fr Internet: www.foietlumiere.org ; www.faithandlight.org ; www.feyluz.org General heads of the movement International coordinator Mrs Viviane le Polain International chaplain Father Guy Vanhoomissen, sj 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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