Friends

True values
Retirement is a time for introspection, for becoming aware of everything that has accumulated over time. Reconsider your values, dust off some of them, embrace others and be happy that they are in such good shape! Plant new ones, enjoy your garden, water it and tend to it. That's what retirement is all about.
Natalia Syrotych, psychologist and art therapist from Kiev. 

Reaching out
This experience has taught me that inclusion is a wonderful thing. No matter how different we are, we all have a special place in this world. I would like to say to those reading this that everyone has a unique talent and that we can shine by being ourselves.
Paula, Peru

Faith and Light weekend
I loved the whole weekend.  I thought it was wonderful to get together and discover other Faith and Light communities. The theme of the Heart of God really spoke to me. When we talk about the Heart of God, it's also in our daily lives.  We are all a little bit in the Heart of God when we live in community. When we are in darkness, we move away from the Heart of God; when we are connected to the light, we have faith. 
Caroline, France

Doing good
At first, like most people, I came to ‘do good’. Gradually, I realised that it is the most vulnerable people who do me good and who have helped me to overcome my fears and blockages. 
Asma Bou Raad, Lebanon

We all are Gospels
A universal prayer written by young people from Faith and Light when they met the youth of the chaplaincy:
"Despite our differences, we can come closer to each other. How wonderful it is to love, it is good to be together. We all are Gospel."

With his heart
Guy, a friend with a disability, came and spent a weekend with us. When we were getting ready to go to mass, he looked at me and said: “Now let’s go and pray with his heart”. He came up to me, held my shoulder and said again: “We are going to pray but pay attention with the head in heaven, the head in the heart!”
François, France

Yannick and Judikaël
During the prayers, Father John reminded us of the personal call to each of the 12 apostles. After which, we all received a little envelope containing a message that was addressed to us personally. This message ended with: “I choose you and I love you, Jesus".
Two reactions particularly touched me: Yannick, who at once said to us “Thank you everyone”. He had perceived that the recognition of Jesus for his person, passed through the recognition of all the community.
Judikaël who, after reading his message and of “I choose you and I love you” cried out “For always?” and then with assurance, “Jesus is proud of me”. When you know the story of this little fellow, who is today entering his third family, how can you not be overwhelmed by this cry? The call of Jesus to Judikaël, but also the call of Judikaël to the community: “Can you receive me and love me such as I am, for always ?”
Eric, Belgium

I was deeply moved and I wanted to come again
I came to a Faith and Light community meeting to please a teacher who invited me. The first time, I was a bit scared and also deeply moved. But I wanted to come again.
Like other friends from school, I think I was attracted to the way the person with a disability come to you, smile at you and welcome you without trying to see if you are good or bad, rich or poor, disabled or not. I stayed because I was fascinated by the people or by God present in them. Faith and Light, how captivating...
Carlo, Italy

My friend Liva
Liva is 22 years old, he begs seating on his doorway with his poor distorted body. His mum carries terracotta bricks on her head, used for building houses. This work is very hard and she must often leave Liva alone. Meeting with Faith and Light changed his life. Now, he is not alone anymore, he is not rejected and Liva recovered his beautiful smile (he does not speak, but he understands everything).
Cécile, Madagascar