Come and live in us. Guidelines Faith and Light international

Transcription

1 Come and live in us Guidelines Faith and Light international 1

2 Cover and illustrations This year the guidelines were prepared by an Egyptian team who worked with great enthusiasm. They were very happy to be able to show all the riches of their country. Among these treasures, there is the Nile which gives fertility and life. The Coptic liturgy includes a prayer of thanksgiving for this great river, the longest in the world. Amgad Edward, who made the illustrations, wanted to show that Christ also gives life at his resurrection. The silhouette of Christ follows the course of the Nile, from Aswan to the Mediterranean Sea. Its two arms contain the delta, the head is located on the capital, Cairo, and the shadow cast on the right is the Red Sea. The glory of the resurrection illuminates the whole country and its inhabitants. Faith and Light international 3 rue du Laos Paris, France T foi.lumiere@wanadoo.fr - 2

3 Summary Foreword, Ghislain du Chéné 4 Come and live in us, Jean Vanier 5 Our prayer, where does it come from? Marie-Hélène Mathieu 6 To you, members of the coordinating team, Corinne Chatain 7 Our Lady of Egypt 9 Prayer 1: A spirituality of compassion 10 Jesus, the visible face of the Father Prayer 2: A missionary spirituality 15 The Holy Spirit sends us on mission Prayer 3: A community spirituality 20 The Faith and Light community Prayer 4: A Church spirituality 25 Faith and Light in Church Prayer 5: A spirituality of fragility 30 Faith and Light, power in weakness Prayer 6: A spirituality of the Magnificat 35 Mary Prayer 7: A spirituality of hope 40 Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus A spirituality of incarnation: Christmas 44 A spirituality open to the word: Feast of Light 49 A spirituality of joy: Easter 54 A cross-cultural and ecumenical spirituality: Pentecost 58 A lay spirituality: Live the Gospel (summer camps) 62 On the banks of the Nile 66 Artists' workshop 68 The little bookshop of Faith and Light 79 Faith and Light prayer 80 3

4 Foreword Ghislain du Chéné International coordinator The theme of the Guidelines is the Faith and Light Prayer: we have chosen this so that, together, we can reflect on this beautiful text throughout this year leading up to the next international meeting in The Faith and Light Prayer is a summary of our spirituality. In it, we find the essential elements that we will examine at the monthly meetings of our communities The coming year will be a strongly spiritual time that will help us to support, meeting after meeting, the choices and decisions that the delegates present in Lebanon will have to make. For the period , we are going to try to discern and follow the calls of God for our movement at this time in our history. In order to go on the road of this discernment, we can use, in addition to the Guidelines, the tools that we have at our disposal: the booklet on spirituality and the DVDs 1 produced in various languages, which will immerse us in the retreats that Jean Vanier has given in Trosly. 1 On sale at the international secretariat or in the little bookshop: rubriques/haut/publications/faith-and-light-publications 4

5 Come and live in us ou have chosen a beautiful title: the word remain (to live in) in Y the Gospel of St John is of great importance. The Holy Spirit in the form of the dove remained upon Jesus and the two disciples of John the Baptist who followed Jesus asked him, "Where do you live?" And Jesus answered his disciples to "remain in my love". Remaining is taking joy where we are, to remain in community, to let God remain in us. The little ones are also the house of God. "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood", says Jesus, "lives in me". Yes, let this year be a year in which we remain in community and in God. Jean Vanier 5

6 Our prayer Where does it come from? uring the preparations for the 1971 Lourdes pilgrimage, D which led to the creation of our movement, we felt the need to entrust this process, disproportionate, that was totally beyond our strengths, to the tender love of God and the Virgin Mary. We proposed that every Wednesday, we met spiritually for a few moments. We suggested a simple decade of the Rosary. In the years that followed, the tradition continued. We often fell back on the beautiful prayer of l'arche, with whom we shared the common inspiration transmitted by Jean Vanier. However, in reality, what we were experiencing was quite different and we felt the necessity to have a prayer that would be our own. It did not burst forth spontaneously. Members of the office were asked to each give a basic idea. This was a long term undertaking. I was given the task of bringing unity to the mosaic of suggestions. This text received the agreement of the Board members and it was sworn in at the international retreat session at Easter 1989 in Poissy (France). I found a letter from Mariangela Bertolini, appalled and crushed at the birth of little Chicca so disabled. She found the text of this prayer very beautiful but suggested an essential idea: After share our sufferings and difficulties, couldn t we add at times so overwhelming that they destroy us. We were unable to keep this idea. The prayer has to stay short but it is vital not to forget it. Our prayer is this very thin and very strong thread of all the communities across the whole world meeting. We recognise all the children of our Father, those from Heaven and those who continue their pilgrimage from Earth, giving us an invisible hand. Marie-Hélène Mathieu 6

7 To you, members of the coordinating team Last year, a Ukrainian team set to work to propose suggestions for the various times of our meetings. This year, it has been our Egyptian friends who have produced these Guidelines and I wholeheartedly thank them: Bernadette Labbad (founder of Faith and Light in Egypt), Rami Sedhom, Maged Moneer, Amani Sarwat, Haitham Aziz and Father Adel Zakka (chaplain of the Holy Family province: Egypt North, Sudan). The illustrations are by Amgad Edward, vice international coordinator. Ghislain du Chéné wrote the meditations for each month and I have put it all together for the final layout. To ease things for our friends in the southern hemisphere, who start their school year in February and have their summer holidays in December and January, we have not indicated the months so that everyone can adapt them for themselves. There are seven meditations on the Faith and Light prayer, four on the big liturgical feasts to be placed, obviously, at the appropriate time: Christmas, Feast of Light, Easter and Pentecost. Finally a last one on holiday camps. The underlying theme of this year will be the beautiful River Nile, 6700 km long with its source in Khartoum (Sudan) and flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. We will copy a large map of the Nile and, each month, we will travel along its banks. At each meeting, we will stick a drawing on it relating to the theme of the month. In each community, there is always someone who loves to paint or colour in. We can entrust one or more people with the job of colouring in the drawing for the following meeting For the times of sharing, the team proposes questions for two groups: one between parents and friends and the other for the 7

8 people with disability. Of course, everything in the Guidelines is only suggestions. Each community will adapt the content to its personality, its traditions and its culture We do not have a specific heading for the Gospel mime, but in the Focus on the theme of the month, we have shown one or more reference texts. And it is always good to bring to life the Gospel as a community so as to better understand and absorb it. On the Faith and Light International site, you will find all the illustrations and many tools (washing of the feet celebration, how to bring the Gospel to life, the way of the cross, way of light ) 1. We also suggest two booklets for you: Games and Artists' Workshop 2. Finally, don t forget that to help you, Faith and Light has many tools available to you. You will find the list on page 79. I wish you a beautiful Egyptian year in the faith, enthusiasm and courage of our Coptic friends. Let s work! Yallah! Corinne Chatain General Secretary Amgad at work

9 Our Lady of Egypt The statue of Our Lady of Egypt, which overlooks the altar of the Jesuit Church in Alexandria, is rich in symbols. This slender woman is a typical Egyptian countrywoman, with her noble and aloof appearance, that hard work in the countryside has helped to maintain up to the present day. Her slender profile also conveys Upper Egypt, nestled in the narrow area where it is wedged between two chains of mountains and two vast deserts. In addition, this Virgin raising the Child symbolises the life rising to the sky, the Prince of Life who waves his small hand to bless us. The middle three fingers symbolise the trinity, whilst the two others express the union of the two natures of Jesus Christ. The thumb, the symbol of his divinity, is folded on the little finger, the image of his humanity, totally subjected to the person of the Son. As for the horizontal position of the arm of Mary, this suggests the Mediterranean that the Nile flows into and where the beautiful Alexandria is spread out. This statue was the joint work of a Franciscan nun of Mary, Sister Rose Békhyt, who designed the outline and a Muslim artist, Mahmoud Morsi, who executed it. 9

10 1 A spirituality of compassion Jesus, the visible face of the father 10

11 The word of the month Jesus, you came into our world to reveal the Father to us, your Father and our Father. You come to teach us to love one another. A ll prayer begins with a sign of the cross, ours is not an exception to this rule: it starts by mentioning the Son, the Father and the Holy Spirit. The words and the gesture of the sign of the cross are often undertaken in a very mechanical way, without really thinking about it Let us take the time to meditate, in depth, on what exactly this sign of the Cross is. Jesus made himself man in order to tell us about his Father, the one he so familiarly called Abba, Father! He wishes us to enter, with him, into this intimate relationship. In the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus in his first and last words of his earthly life tells us about his Father: Did you not know that I must be in my Father s house? (Lk 2: 49) and Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (Lk 23: 46). After the Jubilee of Mercy, we know what Jesus wants us to understand about his Father: Mercy. In seeing Jesus, we see his Father: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (Jn 14: 9). Pope Francis reminded us of this in his prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy: You have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. The mystery of the cross was explained to Nicodemus by Jesus: And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (Jn 3: 14-15). The vertical post of the cross on which Jesus was lifted is the divine dimension, which, through Jesus, opens up the door to Heaven for us and lets us inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Mt 25: 34). The horizontal post obliged Jesus to open up his arms to invite us to take refuge in his love, a love through which he invites us to love one another and to follow him. 11

12 Faith and Light helps us to respond positively to the call of Jesus that reserves this revelation for all the small ones and hides it from the wise and educated. In our communities, perhaps it is our friends with disability who make the most beautiful signs of the cross! Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality of compassion Understand and deepen the importance of the meaning of the sign of the cross. The exchange of love between the three persons of the Trinity invites us to love one another as they do. Love is the cross, forgiveness and mercy. I love you even if there are wounds between us. Exchange of love between the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit. It is a daily experience. In order to experience the spirituality of Faith and Light, it is vital to listen to the small ones, to evangelise them so that they evangelise us. Reference text: You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, Luke 10: Welcome and reunion A large cross is placed opposite the entry door. On arrival, each person is called to make the sign of the cross very slowly. Then they are offered a glass of water, a sign of life. Artists' workshop Make brooches in the shape of the Coptic Cross that will be worn throughout the meeting and that can be taken home (see page 68). Cut out these simple crosses that will be used during the time of prayer. 12

13 Sharing Between parents and friends What does the cross mean to me? How can I see mercy in the cross? Jesus suffered to bring us his forgiveness, am I ready to suffer to bring mercy to others? How? In what way is my brother the cross and mercy? (you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent...)? With people with disabilities When do we make the sign of the cross (before a meal, before going to sleep, on waking up, at church, at the beginning of the prayer)? When does Jesus show his mercy? How do I experience mercy during my day (at home, at school, work, in the street )? Praying We place a large cross in the centre of our prayer corner, lowering the lighting and lighting candles around the cross with quiet background music playing. We all receive a simple cross. The chaplain or prayer leader asks each person to write or draw on the cross what he would like to say to Jesus as a sign of his love for him and to also ask for the grace to accept those who it is hard to love so as to look at them with the same look of love as Jesus. Each person goes and places their cross around the large cross. Start going round from right to left. The first person moves, followed by the second and so on. Each person says to the other: Jesus loves you and I also love you. End with a song of praise. Prayer of a poor person God, you are love, teach me to love. 13

14 Celebrating Game: Treasure hunt We form two teams. The treasure (a cross) has been hidden. The game leader gives each team a piece of paper, upon which the clues to finding the treasure are written. Watch out for false clues that make the game harder! On the banks of the Nile The Nile Delta resembles a cross. We are going to stick the face of Jesus on it (see page 66). And until the next meeting Try to see what is good in my brothers to learn from them. 14

15 2 A missionary spirituality The Holy Spirit sends us on mission 15

16 The word of the month Give us the Holy Spirit according to your promise, so that he will make us instruments of peace and unity, in this world of war and division. D uring the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come (Jn 16: 13). The Spirit breathed at the Cenacle on Pentecost Day and drove all those present to go on a mission to inform the world of the Good News of Jesus Christ. On 12 April 1971, Easter Monday, Jean Vanier invited all those who wanted the Faith and Light adventure to carry on to do whatever the Holy Spirit inspired them to do, and the joyful news of Faith and Light was announced by countless missionaries of joy! It is important to continue this work, there are so many families awaiting us! Our message of peace and unity deserves to be known. In addition, we will be recognised as sons, and we, too, will be able to call the Father Abba : For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. You have received a Spirit of adoption. When we cry Abba! Father! it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Rm 8: 14-15). At Faith and Light, we welcome everyone, whatever their religion; the people with disability help us to recognise each person as a friend of Jesus, no matter what form their liturgy takes. In our communities, we are witnesses of the way in which any disabled person is a source of love as long as they are accepted as a whole person, is a source of joy as long as they are given the place that they can legitimately claim, is a source of peace as long as their ability to build friendships is recognised. On the contrary, it is the rejection of people with disability that is the source of tension and conflict, it is the refusal to meet people with a disability that deprives us of the graces that they alone can provide us with, and it 16

17 is getting rid of people with disability that causes us to fall into the structures of sin. Let us continue allowing ourselves to be driven by the Spirit! Focus on the theme of the month A missionary spirituality Faith and Light is a place of healing, a place to feel good. The disabled people invite us there so we are able to discover the path of peace and unity; we must announce it to the world. The Holy Spirit calls us to accept differences. He shows us a different way to that of the world, war, divisions and fear of others. He offers us peace. The strength that He gives us can change our heart. Through nature itself, God gives himself to all of us: the sun, the water Also work towards unity within the community. Reference text: they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, John 17: Welcome and reunion Offer the first person who arrives a glass of water whilst saying this sentence: "Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of the disciple truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward. (Mt 10, 42). They will do the same thing to the second person, the second person to the third person and so on... Sharing Between parents and friends What does accepting others mean to me? What can I do to accept someone who is different to me 17

18 (another religion, faith, opinion, in my work place, at school, at home )? What is the biggest difference that I do not accept? How is difference welcomed in my community? Talk about a situation where I have had experience of being accepted personally or when I have accepted someone in the community. With people with disability What is the symbol that makes me think of the Holy Spirit (wind, dove, thunder )? Who am I angry at (in the community, at home, at work)? How do I make peace with this person? Artists' workshop Water and life, a picture to decorate the prayer corner (see p. 68). Praying Sit down or even stand up to form a row. Each person holds in their hand a plastic pipe about 30 cm long and 5 cm diameter. A 2cm wide slit will have been made along the length. Bend it towards a large container. The leader of the time of prayer gently pours the water on top of each pipe. The water flows and goes into the container. The leader explains that the water is the symbol of baptism and purity. He reminds us of the importance of water in the life of man. End with a thanksgiving prayer and a song about reconciliation and peace. Prayer of a poor person Make me, my God, an instrument of peace. 18

19 Celebrating Dance of peace Form one or more circles. A guide dancer is in the middle and, to lively music, starts to dance with harmonious and simple gestures. We dance around him, copying these gestures. On the banks of the Nile Stick on the picture of the shadoof. It is a seesaw instrument that is used to draw water from the river and water the crops (see page 66). And until the next meeting Choose a person to make peace with. 19

20 3 A community spirituality The Faith and Light community 20

21 The word of the month Jesus, you have called us to follow you in a community of Faith and Light. We want to say yes to you. I f we are part of a Faith and Light community, it is because we have answered a call from Jesus himself, a call to take part in a meal to which Jesus himself has invited us: When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Lk 14: 13-14). We are invited to this banquet, but we are also invited to call others! If we have discovered this treasure that is Faith and Light, it is important not to selfishly keep it to ourselves, we must share it and tirelessly call. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (Mt: 13: 44). The way in which Faith and Light grows is described very well in the introduction to our Constitution. It all started with a desire, that of helping people with an intellectual disability and their families find their place within the Church and society. Then this desire gave the strength and energy to build a pilgrimage project around small groups: In order that the gifts of this pilgrimage would not be lost, it was necessary for the participants to be members of a community that brought together people with an intellectual disability, their parents and friends, especially young people. Then these communities stoked the fire and maintained and deepened the links that had been created between their members. The fruit of this work has been that the whole world has burned with the desire to warm itself at our big fire: in the course of the years other communities were created throughout the world, developing in different Christian denominations. We must, in turn, stoke the fire and burn with this great necessity to be Faith and Light missionaries of joy! Let us not 21

22 be afraid to be the spokespeople of Jesus, it is perhaps commendable but, when God crowns our merits, He crowns nothing else but His own gifts (Saint Augustine). Community life is demanding and thus painful. It is not easy to love people, to listen and to be attentive to each one, to help each one exercise their particular gift and find their place. The community life is a continual process of death and resurrection. But it is also a place of celebration, a sign of the Kingdom; it is to be one Body reborn in the Spirit where we can live in faith, an experience of that love which unites the Father to the Son in the Holy Spirit. And in the Body each person, whether they be parents, people with disabilities, or friends, is precious and important. (Jean Vanier) Focus on the theme of the month A community spirituality We are invited to a wedding feast. We have to say yes, but then, it is important for us to invite others. If we discover Jesus in the most little ones, we cannot sit idly by, we have to be the spokespeople of Jesus. Reference texts: The guests at the banquet, Luke 14: and The calling of the first disciples, John 1: Welcome and reunion We will have prepared a large bowl filled with water and as many pebbles as there are community members. On arrival, each person is invited to throw a pebble into the water while saying the name of the person who invited them to Faith and Light the first time. On seeing the waves rippling out on the surface, we could say who we would like to invite in our turn. 22

23 Sharing Between parents and friends How was I invited to Faith and Light? Have I invited other people? Why do I stay at Faith and Light? How has Faith and Light contributed to transforming my family? Am I waiting for something that Faith and Light has not brought me? What is the meaning of the word family in Faith and Light? Have we conformed to what it means? With people with disability Why do I like to come to the community meeting? When was the first time? Who invited me? What am I expecting from Faith and Light in the future? What didn t I know how to do before and have learnt to do in the community? Praying Decorate the prayer corner with a large picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Where the heart is located, stick a small material or paper bag. In a container with sand in it, place a large lit candle and around it place as many candles as there are participants. Sit in a circle. The leader of the time of prayer reminds us how beautiful it is to meet in Faith and Light and then we think about the people who invited us to become part of it Some of them are still here, others are already in heaven and some have left the community. A first person takes the photo of one of these people (or a piece of paper) upon which their name is written and prays for them out loud or in their heart. Then they put the photo (or piece of paper) in the bag on the heart of Jesus and light a candle. Chant the chorus of the community song or alleluia, then a second person comes forward End by holding hands and singing The Lord s Prayer. Prayer of a poor person Thank you Lord for calling me to be part of Faith and Light. 23

24 Artists' workshop Community tree (see page 69). Celebrating Game: : Relay race We form two teams. In each team, the players stand one behind the other. About 20m in front of each team is a target to hit. The race begins: the first person in the short line touches the target and comes back, taps the hand of the next person and then goes to the end of the line. When the second person arrives, he holds their hand and so on until a farandole is formed. On the banks of the Nile We stick on the picture of the pebble that has fallen into the water, forming growing ripples A symbol that we must always invite new people and turn to others (see page 66). And until the next meeting Try to invite a new person to the next meeting. 24

25 4 A Church spirituality Faith and Light in Church 25

26 The word of the month We want to live in a covenant of love in this big family you have given us, where we can share our sufferings and difficulties, our joys and our hope. T he Faith and Light communities are not groups of friends who meet on the basis of more or less well defined criteria; we are like families whose members aren t chosen. To experience a true covenant of love, the election method would rather be that of the call to share the Beatitudes that Jesus taught us and to experience a true happiness. At the time of the first Christians, the communities would arouse the astonishment of those watching them: Tertullian ( ), a great theologian, wrote at the end of the second century: See, they say, how they love one another! (Apologeticus, 39). He was describing the meals that they took together, the way in which solidarity operated between them. True Faith and Light communities! It is fair to say that we meet in Church, we live our community meetings in Church. When such bonds of friendship are built, you can share in depth and tell one another difficult things that you would not say in other circles: tell of your sufferings and difficulties without fear of the comments of others, experiencing joy and hope through games, songs and dances must arouse astonishment in those we meet. Faith and Light began in Lourdes in 1971 after an Easter Triduum. So we know that suffering and pain are never the last word and that the resurrection that follows is a source of immense joy. This joy irrigates and illuminates all our life: you cannot experience joy and friendship on the day of the meetings and behave badly on other days. Father Joseph Larsen told us this so often! Our meeting times are times where we build on the rock and when difficult days come, 26

27 the community pulls together and becomes a place of rest and restitution; this is why the communities in Syria meet so often, they have a terrible need for it. Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lack in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers (Rm 12: 10-13). And we can radiate around us by living within the word of Jesus: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13: 35). Focus on the theme of the month A Church spirituality In our times of sharing, we become close to one another and happiness always comes out of this! Each person, in their community, experiences the bliss of all being in the same boat. Reference text: The Beatitudes, Matthew 5: Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person receives a silhouette on which they write their name. Sharing Between parents and friends What is my role today in this boat that is my community? What are the graces from the Beatitudes that I experience whilst carrying out this role? What role would I like to carry out in my community? And 27

28 what graces from the Beatitudes would I like to experience outside my community? With people with disability The coordinating team will have prepared pictures illustrating the eight Beatitudes (see page 69). Each person chooses one. Why have I chosen this picture? What other beatitude would I like to experience? Praying Prepare the prayer by putting a picture or model representing a boat sailing along the Nile, the symbol of life. Place the photos or silhouettes representing all the members of the community in this boat. The chaplain or the leader of the time of prayer reads the verse from 1 Samuel 3, 10. He heads for the first participant, leads him to the boat and asks him: "Who do you love in this boat and why? Do you want to pray for this person throughout this month? And help the community pray for the needs of this person?" Chant the Kyrie three times and a second person is called End the prayer with a blessing. Prayer of a poor person Lord, you teach us to share our suffering and our joy. Artists' workshop Copy a large boat with its various parts: motor, rudder, sails, oars (See page 69). We can add other elements like the sun, the clouds, birds, an island, fish, and people on the bridge or in the water Everyone comes up and sticks their silhouette on board. Celebrating Game: Chinese whispers The players sit in a circle. One person whispers a word in the ear of their right hand side neighbour, they repeat it to their right hand side neighbour When we get to the last player, ask them to say the word that they have heard out loud and ask the first 28

29 player to repeat the word that they said. You will find that the last word will likely be different from the first one On the banks of the Nile Our emblem is a boat, we stick the picture of the Egyptian boat, called a "felucca", on the Nile (see page 66). And until the next meeting Look at what role I could carry out in my community. Choose a Beatitude that I will live until the next meeting 29

30 5 A spirituality of fragility Faith and Light, Power in weakness 30

31 The word of the month Teach us to find you in all our brothers and sisters especially in those who are the weakest. Teach us to accept our wounds, our weakness so that your power may be revealed. Teach us to follow you in the ways of the Gospel. T he prophet Elijah experienced this, God is not met in a great wind, an earthquake nor a fire, but in a sound of sheer silence (cf. 1K 19: 11-13). The Lord declared to Saint Paul: My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. And he concludes: So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Co: 12, 9). We too have this experience in our Faith and Light communities: it is in the fragility and weakness of those who are the smallest amongst us that Jesus is found. The people with an intellectual disability show us a world in which God is present in each one of us and shows himself in our relationships, again it is necessary that we learn to enter into a relationship with them and that this relationship is on an equal footing. God made himself quite small to join our humanity: it is in becoming close to our brothers and sisters, especially the weakest, that we are going to get to know Jesus who is awaiting us. When we recognise him, he will help us to find our own wounds, everything that we are not proud of and that we bury as much as possible: the gaze of Jesus on our misery is going to transform us as he transformed Matthew: He saw the tax collector and, because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him, he said to him: Follow me. This following meant imitating the pattern of his life not just walking after him; because whoever says he abides in Christ ought to walk in the same way in which he walked (1 Jn 2: 6) (The Vene- 31

32 rable Bede). So, all together, we can follow Jesus on the ways of the Gospel. We need to lower ourselves to the level of the smallest to climb back up with Jesus transformed, ready to become missionaries and go and announce our joyful news! Faith and Light is rooted, founded on people who live in anxiety and suffering. This is why our communities are communities where suffering will always exist. But it is through this suffering that we discover, together, the joy of the Resurrection (Jean Vanier). Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality of fragility It is important to discover Jesus in the smallest, to accept our own disabilities by allowing ourselves to look through Jesus. Then, we can set out after him. The look of Jesus transforms us because He sees us truthfully. Reference texts: Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me, Matthew 25: and My word [ ] shall not return to me [ ] without accomplishing the thing for which I sent it, Isaiah 55: Welcome and reunion A piece of blue material representing the Nile is laid on the ground. On our arrival, someone will take us by the hand and help us to the other side. 32

33 Sharing Between parents and friends How has my brother transformed my life? What is the weakness that I can offer to Jesus? How did I discover my weaknesses? How can I transform my weaknesses into strength? With people with disability What do I often do that annoys others? What can I do when I see these annoyed people? What can I ask Jesus to change in me? Artists' workshop We are sheep sat to the right of Jesus. We will make a sheep for each person (see page 69). Praying Some members of the community will have prepared the mime of the Last Judgement in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: and some simple costumes for the participants. The chaplain or the leader of the time of prayer begins by reading the passage from Isaiah 55: 10-11, and explains the meaning of these words. He then invites the community to bring the passage from the Gospel of Matthew about the Last Judgement to life. End with spontaneous prayers interspersed with songs and the Lord s Prayer. Prayer of a poor person Lord, you open my eyes so that I discover you in my weakest brothers. Celebrating Game: The blind shell We will need a ball and a scarf. The player carefully looks around the room then leaves. He is blindfolded. The ball is placed in a corner of the room. The player 33

34 returns and his team direct him so that he can kick the ball. It is funny to see missed kicks before finally kicking the ball! On the banks of the Nile We stick on date palms covered with fruit (see page 66). And until the next meeting Choose one of my weaknesses and ask God to help me correct it. 34

35 6 A spirituality of the Magnificat Mary 35

36 The word of the month Jesus, come and live in us and in our communities as you first lived in Mary. She was the first to welcome you. W e have demonstrated our desire to respond favourably to the invitation to follow Jesus in our community, we have learnt to follow him in the ways of the Gospel after having felt the gaze of Jesus on our wounds and weaknesses. But Jesus wants still more: not only that we follow him, but he wants to live in us, as he lived within Mary his mother. This closeness is a further step to take towards entering into the intimacy of the love that exists within the Holy Trinity. This love that brings together the three persons of the Trinity, Jesus wants us to share it so that we discover that we will only progress if there are equal relationships between us and we recognise that the people with disabilities are not people for whom we should do things, but are friends with whom we share the joy of being together. But as with Mary, Jesus does not impose himself, he cares too much about our freedom. It is certain that the Angel Gabriel had to wait very carefully for the response of Mary to his invitation: Would you, Mary, carry the child so long awaited for by the people of your country? Jesus has a great desire to meet us, but he only asks us by arousing our prayer to come and live in us and in our communities. He is at our door and he is waiting for us to let him in! Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me (Rev 3: 20). What a blessing to be able to invite Jesus to our community meals! One of the keys to opening the door to let Jesus enter is humility, as St Teresa of Avila says so well: For humility 36

37 brought him down from Heaven into the Virgin s womb and with humility we can draw him into our souls by a single hair. Mary was full of grace and beauty, filled with the Holy Spirit, a hidden woman, a silent woman, a woman of desire, impassioned by God and the word of God [ ] a poor one of the Lord (Jean Vanier). Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality of the Magnificat We must welcome Jesus in our communities. Like the day of the visit from the angel to Mary, Jesus wants to come and join us, but He expects us to ask him to. Jesus cares about our freedom, he would never impose himself on us. If Jesus remained in Mary, all is possible, he can remain in us and in our communities. Jesus is the most important. Jesus needed Mary to be incarnated. He always asks, as with the Samaritan woman. If Jesus says, I am thirsty, it is because we are thirsty. Reference text: The Samaritan woman, John 4: Welcome and reunion On arrival, we receive a drawing of a jug (see page 70) on which we write our name. Sharing Between parents and friends Jesus is always knocking on our door. Do I open the door to Jesus? Am I not ready to open up? Why? 37

38 Am I ready to do anything to follow Jesus? What is stopping me seeing Jesus in Faith and Light? With people with disabilities When do I feel close to Jesus? What do I need to change in my behaviour so that others see Jesus in me? If Jesus comes to live in me, what gift can I offer him? What promise can I make? Why? Artists' workshop On a board, we stick the drawing of Jesus and the Samaritan woman and we stick all our jugs around the well to signify that each of us thirst for living water (see page 70). Praying The prayer corner is prepared by installing a large plastic barrel filled with water symbolising a well. Next to it is a carafe and one glass per participant. The chaplain or the time of prayer leader invites the community to sing Psalm 41 (As a deer longs for flowing streams ). He then reads the passage from the Gospel of John (4: 5-14), then the participants, one after the other, are invited to come to the well. The chaplain draws the water with the carafe, fills a glass and offers it to the person he has called. She then says a prayer of thanksgiving for the source of living water. Prayer of a poor person With You Mary, my soul glorifies the Lord. Celebrating Game: Collecting balls You will need various coloured balls, scarves and two baskets. Form two teams. Spread the balls on the ground. In each team, decide who is going to collect the balls. He is blindfolded with a scarf in the same colour as the balls he has to collect and put in his basket. His team is going to guide him by saying yes and no 38

39 whilst encouraging and clapping. The aim of the game is to collect the most balls in the right colour in a set time. On the banks of the Nile We stick on the well and the jug (See page 66). And until the next meeting Choose a way for the community to live with Jesus for a certain amount of time (for example, a few months, a year ). We can then remove the obstacles that we have discovered (ask questions, pray for one another, invite those who have not attended meetings for a while ). 39

40 7 A spirituality of hope Passion, death and resurrection of Jesus 40

41 The word of the month Help us to be faithfully present, with Mary, at the foot of the cross, near the crucified of the world. Help us to live your Resurrection. W hen Jesus invites us to follow him or when he comes to live in us, inevitably this will end at the foot of the cross, just as the yes of Mary took her to Golgotha. Before the crucified Christ, despite the suffering, bonds are created: Mary received a new son, John a new mother, as if a new life was about to start death is not the last word. It was important that Christ died in order to signify and fulfil his love, so that his suffering became a source of life, a mysterious door to heaven (Jean Vanier). At times, the disability is very hard to bear, let us not forget this. A gesture of compassion and friendship, remaining there without fleeing the suffering of others, this is what we recognise in ourselves as brothers and sisters of John, the children of Mary. Faith and Light began at the end of a pilgrimage to Lourdes during the Pascal Triduum. We know therefore that the Resurrection is close to the Passion, that the joy that we show on Easter Day is the positive reflection of the suffering experienced during the Passion. It is vital that we now live each day as witnesses, messengers and missionaries of the joy that we experience in the friendship and communion of our communities. And Jean Vanier clarifies the mission received on Easter Day for us: Jesus came to call us to come back to life and become fully living. This resurrection takes place every morning, every evening and every day. We are called on a way of resurrection to accomplish the work of God, to carry the love into our families, our communities and the world. 41

42 A spirituality of hope Focus on the theme of the month Disability is at times hard to bear, let us not forget this. A gesture of compassion and friendship, remaining without fleeing the suffering of others, this is what we recognise in ourselves. In order to bear fruit, it is important to agree to abandon ourselves to Jesus, to love as he loves us: to love is to give everything and to give oneself (St Teresa of Lisieux). Reference texts: What is foolish in the world: 1 Co 1: 27 to 1 Co 2: 5, Zacchaeus: Luke 19: 1-10, The grain of wheat: John 12: Welcome and reunion On arrival, each person receives a small pot and a few seed sand will file it in the prayer corner. Sharing Bringing the Word of God to life Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 1-10). Between parents and friends Who are the weak people in my opinion? How does Jesus see the weak person? How does he react in the face of weakness? What does he do? How do I react in the face of God s intervention on my own weakness? With people with disability Who are the people from this gospel? What are their weaknesses? What step did Jesus make towards Zacchaeus? What is the reaction of Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus was hated by people but Jesus transformed him. 42

43 Jesus also asks me to change, what can I do for the people who do not like me as I would like them to? Artists' workshop The seed that fell on the ground became a beautiful flowering tree. Paper flowers can also be made to decorate the prayer corner (see page 70). Praying The small pots will have been filled with earth or cotton wool and the seeds prepared and a watering can. Read the passage about the grain of wheat (Jn 12: 24-26). The chaplain or the leader of the time of prayer gives each member of the community a small pot where he plants a few seeds that he then lightly waters. Each person can say a short spontaneous prayer for the people or countries that are suffering. End with the Lord s Prayer or another prayer of supplication. Prayer of a poor person Lord, make me close to those who suffer. Celebrating Game: The smile We sit in a circle. The leader names a person who is the only one to have the right to smile. The others are serious. The one who has the smile must send it to a friend: he hides his mouth with his hand, makes the gesture of taking the smile from is lips and throwing it to the other person: "Catch this smile, Paul". The one who receives the smile, smiles in their turn and sends it to another person until all the community radiates through its smiles On the banks of the Nile We stick on an oasis (see page 67). And until the next meeting I easily see the weaknesses of others. Do I know how to find my own? 43

44 8 A spirituality of incarnation Christmas 44

45 The word of the month Lord, you came into our world to reveal to us your Father and our Father. W hen God finished the creation, He rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done (Gn 2: 2). Why did God feel the need to rest, He who is all powerful, and who, therefore cannot be tired? He made man in his image and the resemblance was almost perfect: What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour (Ps 8: 4-5). Man is just a bit smaller than God himself, but he is free to choose, decide and look for God or to hide He knows himself to be finished and tired, so he needs to rest: The greatness of man is great in that he knows himself to be miserable (Blaise Pascal). And God sets the example by resting. In multiplying alliances, God accompanies His people and prepares them for the coming of the Son, who will be finished and tired in his humanity, as well as the Word incarnated to the perfect resemblance, the visible face of the Father. He needed to find the one whose humility, purity and obedience would become the backdrop in which Jesus could be conceived, grow and come into the world. It is thus that he is made flesh, incarnated and lives amongst us (cf. Jn 1: 14). With the birth of Jesus, there was no need to rest in Heaven, it is rather a great celebration, an explosion of joy! The night is lit up, the angels say the glory of God and announced peace for all those who loved Him (cf. Lk 2: 14). There were many who came to realise that God revealed himself in a small baby, weak, fragile and dependant. We must keep searching for God where He is not. When man wants to make himself all powerful, he 45

46 distances himself from God and the example of the massacre of the Holy Innocents, sadly still a current reality, shows this to be a false road. Instead, let us learn to discover his face and his presence in all our brothers and sisters especially in those who are the weakest. Let us always be missionaries of the joy that we experience in our community meetings, we will therefore then be witnesses of God who only reveals himself in the weakness. But let us start by celebrating and trying to do it as beautifully as the announcement by the angels during Christmas night! Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality of incarnation The importance of being the witnesses of the weakness of Jesus. We all have our fragilities and we can share them with Jesus rather than hiding them. How can we show our weakness? Seeing the face of the almighty God in the face of a baby. Trust and faith should be deep in order to believe that, in this baby, we are seeing the almighty Father. In any person with disability, we see the face of almighty God. Through Jesus, we have the link between the infinitely great and the infinitely small. Reference text: She gave birth to her first born son, Luke 2: Welcome and reunion During the first week after the birth of a baby, Egyptian families have a custom of inviting their families and friends for the first bath by the parish priest. This is not the baptism. We can meet around the crib for the chaplain to give this first bath to Jesus. 46

47 Artists' workshop We are making angels to decorate the prayer corner. We can also make Christmas cards to be used during the time of celebrating (see pages 71 and 72). Celebrating Shepherds and sheep We will all have brought a small present. On the cards made during the artists' workshop or just on a piece of paper, each person writes their name. Place all the cards in a bag. In turn, each person is going to draw out a name. Throughout the meeting, we pay close attention to the person whom we have drawn. At the end of the meeting, each sheep will be asked if she has guessed who her shepherd is. The shepherd will give his sheep the card and the small present. Sharing If Jesus was born today: Who would be chosen to be the mother of Jesus, Joseph, the angels, Herod, the shepherds, the Magi kings, the star? Where would Jesus be born? Would there be problems, a crackdown? What hasn t changed today from the time of Jesus? You could split into small groups and do role plays with various scenarios about the birth of Jesus in our time and in different countries. Praying We are going to bring the nativity to life (Luke 2: 7-20) through a mime with simple costumes. Sing Christmas Carols and give Jesus a present: an intention that we want to live throughout this year in a sign of joy. Each person expresses his intention out loud or silently. Prayer of a poor person Your birth, Jesus, makes my joy. 47

48 On the banks of the Nile Bethlehem means house of bread. On the banks of the Nile, we stick a mill (see page 67). And until the next meeting Learn to no longer hide my weaknesses and fragilities. 48

49 9 A spirituality open to the world Feast of Light 49

50 The word of the month We want to live in a covenant of love in this family you have given us. W hen the Word was made flesh, when God was made man, He put down roots in a family. They returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him (Lk 2: 39-40). Joseph and Mary accompanied Jesus in his development into a man. God also put down roots in a culture and a religion; obeying the Law, they went to present their first born son at the Temple in Jerusalem, as was required of them. Jesus, although he was with his parents, did not belong to them: this is what Mary had to reflect on every day in her heart. Jesus, on the cross, gave us Mary as a mother, we are therefore linked to the earthly family of Jesus in order to, all together, die and rise again for the eternal life. We have perhaps said last year, with Samuel, Here we are to demonstrate our wish to live a covenant of love within our community; we are also placed in a sequence of circles of belonging: our family, our community, our parish, our country The Feast of Light is a way of saying that we are happy to no longer be enclosed in our isolation, that we have found a place of consolation. As one of the mums from a community in France said: I often say Faith and Light saved us. My outlook changed. I was no longer burdened. Of course, there is still uncertainty and worries as for all parents but I share them and especially I accept and I have trust. 50

51 Our community life is like all shared life, made up of ups and downs, but what remains is this joy of meeting, sharing and praying together. We must testify to it as often as possible, other families are waiting for us to come and show them, in turn, their child. Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality open to the world The Feast of Light is a way of saying that we are happy to no longer be enclosed in our solitude, that we have found a place of consolation. Parents can speak of their fear of the future but also say I trust in you. It is the opportunity to repeat our commitment, our wish to live in this covenant of love. Reference texts: Jesus is presented in the Temple, Luke 2: and Moses is saved from the water, Exodus 2: Welcome and reunion The chaplain welcomes each person by presenting them with a bowl of holy water. Dampen the right hand to make a sign of the cross whilst the chaplain says: (Name) you are called to live a covenant of love. Sharing Trust is believing that someone (a person or God) can share everything with me (secrets, work problems, future ) without fear of their reactions or the future. 51

52 Between parents and friends For me, what is trust? What makes me afraid of the future? What worries me the most? How God responded beyond my expectations? With people with disabilities What worries me the most? How has God responded beyond my expectations? We write our worry on a piece of paper that we give to Jesus during the time of prayer. Artists' workshop We are making candle holders for the time of prayer. We can also make clown masks for the time of celebration (see page 72). Praying Place an image of the Holy Family and a large candle in our prayer corner. Give a candle holder to each participant. Sing a song about light and light all the candles. Then come and place your worry in front of the picture of the Holy Family. In the community, we all have a responsibility. In turn, each person is invited to go forward and we all pray with this person so that the responsibility they have taken on develops and bears fruit for the whole community. End by reading Luke 2: Prayer of a poor person Lord, you illuminate our community with Your light. Celebrating With our clown masks, make a large musical farandole. If we want a calmer celebration, we light all our candle holders, turn out the lights and sing joyful action songs. 52

53 On the banks of the Nile We stick on the image of Moses in his basket floating on the Nile (see page 67). And until the next meeting Try to experience trust by praying for what worries me and trying to listen to the voice of God in me, by recalling the story of Moses and the presence of God in his life. 53

54 10 A spirituality of joy Easter 54

55 The word of the month Help us to live your Resurrection. I t is good that Faith and Light was born on Easter Monday 1971, the morning after a celebration without equal, where pilgrims discovered the true joy, that of the Risen Jesus. After the suffering of the Passion comes the joy of sharing the announcement of the Resurrection: He is risen; yes, he is truly risen! After experiencing the suffering of isolation and segregation due to the disability of their child, families found the joy of having friends: it is almost like they have been resurrected with Jesus. It is truly important to believe what we are announcing; Frederic Nietzsche had said that he could perhaps believe in God if the glad message of our Bible were written in our faces! The Emmaus pilgrims, arriving out of breath - having run 60 stadiums - to announce that they had met Jesus alive, would have had truly a glad message on their faces whereas they had left that same morning full of sadness. If we want to live the resurrection, as we ask of Jesus, we need to believe it. If our faith was as large as a grain of mustard, we could change the world, convert it to the joy that is experienced in our community meetings. It is very paradoxical to experience joy whilst the disability is not something particularly enjoyable; seen from outside, many do not imagine that a hurt can bring forth something positive. It is true that it is difficult to understand why God lets that happen whilst we believe Him to be all powerful and infinitely good. But St Augustine gives us some guidance that is a bit the definition of what we experience in Faith and Light: For the Almighty God (...), being Himself supremely good, would never permit the existence of anything evil among his Works, if he were not so omnipotent and good that He can bring good even out of evil. The Christ is risen, yes he is truly risen! We shall bear witness to this to the ends of the earth! 55

56 Focus on the theme of the month A spirituality of joy Through Faith and Light, I can meet the living Jesus. Now I have friends, a sign that Jesus is here, living amongst us. Families have ups and downs with their children: sadness and fear of the future On entering the community, they begin to experience a new joy with their child especially if he is difficult and easily rejected. For these parents, it is the resurrection. Often in Egypt, outside Faith and Light, they say my child is my cross. People who are not disabled also experience times of sadness as if they were dead. When they feel welcomed as they are, they too experience this passage to the resurrection. Reference text: The Emmaus pilgrims, Luke 24: Welcome and reunion The chaplain welcomes each person by saying: (Name), be joyful, Christ is risen, he is truly risen! Sharing Between parents and friends Do I believe that all suffering will be followed by joy? How can I find joy in my life and experience the moments of sadness differently? Do I believe that Jesus walks with me when I am joyful and when I am sad? Have I had the same experience as the Emmaus disciples? I felt alone and discovered Jesus walking with me? What sign did he give for me to find him? Am I ready to let God walk with me during my day? 56

57 With people with disabilities When am I joyful? When do I feel sad? Does Faith and Light bring joy into my life? How? When I am sad, how do I find joy again? Artists' workshop We can make Easter crosses to decorate the prayer corner during the washing of the feet ceremony, small baskets for the egg hunt or the tree of life of the community (see pages 73 and 74). Praying Make circles of 8 to 10 chairs with a basin, a water jug and a towel in the middle. Read the Gospel of John 13: 1-17 and begin the washing of the feet celebration 1. Prayer of a poor person Jesus, keep me in Your love. Celebrating Game: Recognising you We blindfold a first player. The community members mingle. The player has to recognise who is in front of him by touching the face, hair and shoulders. The person who is recognised is then blindfolded. On the banks of the Nile Surround the river with flowers, trees and birds (See page 67). And until the next meeting Bring joy or a bit of light into the suffering of my life and those closest to me

58 11 A cross-cultural and ecumenical spirituality Pentecost 58

59 The word of the month Give us the Holy Spirit according to your promise. A t Pentecost, the apostles were sent to proclaim the good news to the ends of the earth; for this, they needed the support that Jesus had promised them: When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning (Jn 15: 26-27). And many heard about the miracles of God in their own language: Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs (Ac 2: 9-11). Others, more sceptical, thought they were drunk on sweet wine! But everyone understood the great joy of the message that they heard from the apostles. The morning after the Easter celebration in 1971, Jean Vanier said to those who did not want Faith and Light to stop: Be faithful to the Holy Spirit. And the fruits were many: Following this event, which was a time of great blessings, a great number of communities maintained and deepened the links that had been created between their members, leading to the creation of communities all over the world (Charter, p. 5). Although we are approaching our fiftieth anniversary, we do not believe the work is done when you stop pedalling, the bike falls over. It is vital that we find again the enthusiasm from the beginning of Faith and Light, the joy of the beginnings of each one of our communities in each one of our countries Faith and Light 59

60 can exist in so many ways: the songs and dances that allow us to experience joy and friendship and liturgies that allow us to praise Jesus Christ are very varied in all the countries where there are communities; it is a great wealth for us all to share without restraint. Our cross-cultural and ecumenical spirituality must be shared and communicated even more around us. The Holy Spirit will help us, of that we can be certain! Focus on the theme of the month A cross-cultural and ecumenical spirituality The Spirit drives us to go and announce our good and joyful news. We should still and always be missionaries of joy. Reference text: The Pentecost, Acts 2: Welcome and reunion The chaplain welcomes each person by sprinkling drops of water on their head: (Name), receive the Holy Spirit! Sharing Between parents and friends What is my gift? What do I like to do? How do my family, my community and my church benefit from my gift? What are the gifts that I have discovered or improved thanks to Faith and Light? How can our gifts be used to build the community? With people with disabilities What do I love to do the most? In turn, each person can stand up and introduce their gift. Each friend can say what the gift of their disabled friend is (or 60

61 something that he likes to do), even if it is something quite simple. How do I use this gift? Artists'workshop Tongue of fire crowns (see page 74). Praying Decorate the prayer corner with a picture of the Pentecost, with incense and oil or holy water. Read an extract of the Gospel of John 16: 7. The chaplain or time of prayer leader explains the work of the Holy Spirit: baptism, prayer, Eucharist. Sing a song to the Holy Spirit. In turn, each person comes forward and places a drop of incense in the incense burner saying: Like incense, my prayer rises before You. With oil, the chaplain or the time of prayer leader makes a sign of the cross on the forehead of each person saying: Receive the Holy Spirit and he puts the tongue of fire crown on him. Prayer of a poor person Come Holy Spirit. Celebrating Game: Card of gifts Each participant is given a sheet of paper cut in half vertically. He writes his name at the top and passes it to his neighbour. The latter writes a gift of the person at the bottom and folds it so the next person cannot see what has been written. And so on When the accordion folded sheet returns to its owner, he finds the card of his gifts! On the banks of the Nile We stick on the picture of the dovecote and the doves (see page 67). And until the next meeting I look for and find the gifts of the community members and encourage them to improve them and put them at the service of everyone. 61

62 12 A lay spirituality Live the Gospel Summer camps 62

63 The word of the month Teach us to follow you in the ways of the Gospel. T he ways of the Gospel are those where you don t venture out all alone. To experience friendship with Jesus, you cannot remain alone. A child one day gave this beautiful definition of the Holy Trinity: if God is Love, he cannot be all alone! In Faith and Light, you learn not to remain alone, to break down the walls of indifference, to find the rest proposed by Jesus: come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Mt 11: 28). To know the happiness promised by Jesus in the Beatitudes, let us experience friendship within our communities, let us share, celebrate and pray all together. We shall understand, little by little, how to experience love to the end and limitless forgiveness from the depth of our heart. During holiday times, it is important to maintain contact through a few words, postcards sent to each other, it is vital to carry on experiencing friendship differently, even if you are far away. Some take advantage of this time to experience an intense time together, a summer camp by the sea or in the mountains No matter what the location, we continue to strengthen the bonds woven throughout the year. If the holiday camps are in the mountains, they are like flocks leaving for the transhumance in the mountains. All together and with young friends who come to help and discover our treasure, we are going to share our dreams, our joys and our sorrows. These holiday times are also times of spiritual resourcing to better set off again with Jesus on the ways of the Gospel and to better live the Gospel. And if these holiday camps happen during the summer, let us not forget to organise beautiful evenings and look at the stars in the sky, it is always by looking at the sky at night that we can meet God who is waiting to make a covenant with us. God said: If you want follow me. But I will not make you, I will not promise success on earth, but heaven, which is always to be with you. If you want, let us walk together, I will not leave you. (Jean Vanier). 63

64 A lay spirituality Focus on the theme of the month People alone are sad. Water is life. People love to come towards water. The community is like a spring that welcomes. Experience of nature, of the creation that God has given us. It is the highlight of the community to give strength for the year to come. It is also the time when young friends can join us and help us. How can we encourage them to stay with us? Reference texts: The Good Shepherd (for the camps in the mountains or countryside), John 10: and The miraculous catch of fish (for camps at the seaside). John 21: Welcome and sharing We are invited to draw a wave at the top of the map of the Nile to represent the Mediterranean Sea into which the river flows. Sharing Let s observe nature: How can we discover God in nature? How do we praise and thank him for all he has done in nature for me and how do we protect it? Do we see the power of God in the mountains and oceans? How do we depend on God? Do we have trust in him like the birds who find all they need to feed themselves? How do we thank God for the sun and warmth? And for the beauty of the sky and the stars that cannot be counted? Artists' workshop Make a herbarium with leaves and flowers picked during our walks (see page 74). 64

65 Envelopes can be made to send a card to those who are not here. For a prayer vigil, make hands that open up to reveal a name (see page 75). Praying We are happy to be meeting, like Jesus when he met his disciples on his return from a tiring mission. We pray for the international meeting in July in Lebanon. Prayer of a poor person Jesus, come and renew our community. Celebrating As we are on holiday, we can organise a paper chase or a treasure hunt... On the banks of the Nile It is the last meeting. Let us admire the map of the Nile, now decorated, while recalling the highlights of the year. 65

66 On the banks of the Nile The map of the Nile You can reproduce the map on a large board or even download a piece of software free of charge. Posteriza will let you reproduce an image on several sheets of A4 and even A5. Then just stick them to one another on the reverse to get the large format: Christ Shadoof Growing ripples Felucca Date palms Well 66

67 Oasis Mill Dovecote Moses Flowers and birds 67

68 Artists' workshop Coptic crosses Materials: card, safety pin, adhesive tape. 1. Copy a cross for each person and cut it out. 2. Fix the safety pin to the back with the adhesive tape. Water and life Materials: old round plastic box, card, scissors, blue paint, glue 1. Cut out a circle and paint it blue. 2. Stick on the fish and the crocodile. 3. Stick underneath the trees, animals and people. 1 The Coptic cross is a cross of evangelisation. The three ends of each branch symbolise the announcement of the Gospel by the twelve apostles to the four cardinal points. The centre symbolises Jesus in Mary. 68

69 Community tree Materials: board, paint. 1. Reproduce a tree trunk on the board. 2. Dip your hand in the paint and press down on the branches. 3. Write your name on the hand. Images of the Beatitudes 1. The poor of heart: he trusts in God. 2. Those who mourn, will be comforted. 3. The meek: he is humble. 4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: he is hungry and thirsty for a relationship with God. 5. The merciful: He welcomes and forgives 6. The pure of heart. 7. The peacemaker. 8. Those who are persecuted for 6 righteousness sake The community is a boat Materials: paper, paint or felt tips. Copy the drawing on a larger scale. The sheep Materials: small paper cup, clothes pegs, cotton wool, card, black felt tip, glue. 69

70 1. Separate the two pegs into two to get four feet. Take off the spring. 2. Stick the feet at equal distances around the paper cup and colour the feet black. 3. Cover the cup with glue and cover with cotton wool balls. 4. Stick on a ball of cotton wool for the head. Draw the eyes and the muzzle. 5. Cut out two small oval strips for the eyes, colour them in black and stick them on. The Samaritan woman s jug Materials: board, paper, felt tips, glue. 1. Copy the drawing on a larger scale and stick it on a board. Each person can colour a part of it. 2. Copy a jug per person and cut it out. A flowering tree Materials: bottom of a plastic bottle, thick paint, card, felt tips. 1. Draw the trunk and branches. 2. With the bottle, print flowers. Paper flowers Materials: coloured paper, scissors, glue, thin sticks for the stems. 1.Draw a spiral and cut it out. 70

71 2. Roll the strip inside to outside and put a dab of glue on the bottom. 3. Cut out some leaves and fix them to the stem. Or Materials: crepe paper in different colours, scissors, plastic or wooden picks, double sided adhesive tape. 1. Cut out strips of paper, according to flower chosen. 2. Roll the double sided tape around the top of the pick. 3. Roll the strip of paper around the pick, gathering the paper to give volume to the flower. 4. Secure the base with the adhesive tape and cover with green paper. Angels Materials: paper or card, scissors, glue, thread. 1. Cut out a circle and wings following the diagram. 2. Stick the wings on the back and a small circle for the face. Or Print and cut along the dotted lines. 1. Decorate. 2. Insert slot A into slot B. 3. Stick a thread behind the head to hang the angel. 71

72 Christmas tree cards Materials: card, coloured paper, scissors, glue. 1. Cut out the strips of paper with different thicknesses and increasingly smaller. 2. Stick the strips straight and sloping. 3. Stick on a rectangle for the pot and a star. Or Materials: card, black felt tip, paint. 1. Trace the outline on the card. 2. Paint with finger. Candle holders Materials: soft drink caps, candle or wax crayon bits, pre-waxed wick. 1. Place the wick at the bottom of the cap. 2. Melt the wax in a Bain Marie. 3. Pour over gently. You can also decorate small glass jars with stuck on buttons. Party masks Materials: paper plates, crepe paper, balloon or small jar for the nose, card, scissors, glue, paint or felt tips, sticky dots, elastic. 1. Accordion fold the crepe paper and stick it to the top of the plate. 2. Cut out the hat and stick it on. 3. Make a small hole in the middle of the plate and slide in a small, slightly inflated balloon for the nose. 4. Draw the face, cut out holes for the eyes and decorate it. 5. Put holes in the sides for the elastic. 72

73 Easter crosses Materials: card, scissors, crepe paper, glue. 1. Cut out the cross. 2. Make rosettes from the strips of crepe paper and glue. 3. A hole can be pierced into the top of the crosses to hang them. Or simply colouring in. Copy the cross, cut it out and colour it in. A basket to collect the Easter eggs Materials: paper plates, glue, scissors, felt tips, cord 1. Cut out the ears, colour the inside pink and stick on. 2. Draw the eyes of the rabbit on the plate. 3. Cut a second plate in half, glue and draw the nose. 4. Thread through a cord. To decorate the Easter table Materials: paper cup, white and pink card, sticky dots, black felt tip, small Easter eggs. 1. Cut out two small white oval strips and two smaller ones in pink for the ears and stick them inside. 2. Cut out three thin tongues of white card and fix to the paper cup with the sticky dots. 3. Draw the eyes and fill with Easter eggs. 73

74 The tree of life of the community Materials: board, coloured paper, photos of community members, scissors, and glue. 1. Copy the trunk and stick on the board. 2. Cut out a coloured circle for each member of the community and stick their photo on it. 3. Fold two strips of green paper the length of the board, glue half and zig zag the top to resemble grass. 4. Decorate by adding leaves, a heart, birds Tongue of fire crowns Materials: card, glue, coloured pencils. 1. Cut out a 4cm long strip of card and adjust to the size of the head. Glue. 2. Cut out the tongue of fire, colour in and stick on. A herbarium Materials: Large brown envelope, glue, sheets of white paper, stapler, scissors, leaves and flowers. 1. Close the envelope and place the sheets of paper on it and in the centre. Fold whole thing in middle. 2. Put two staples diagonally at the top and the bottom. Make two new vertical folds on the right and left of the first level of staples 3. Decorate the cover. 4. Dry the flowers and the leaves in a newspaper under a large book. 5. Stick on the plants showing their names. 74

75 "Home-made" envelopes Materials: gift wrap, white paper, scissors, glue. 1. Cut out a heart from the gift wrap and another from the white paper and stick them on top of each other. 2. Fold according to the diagram and stick. Hands that open up Materials: paper, scissors, glue 1. Copy the hands and the heart. Cut out, except the last two fingers. Fold the hands one on the other and open up. 2. Stick the heart inside. 3. Write the name of a community member. During the time of prayer, we will open our hands and pray for him. 75