What is a Faith and Light Community ?

Faith and Light is an International community movement bringing together people with a learning disability, their families carers and friends, particularly young people. It recognises that everyone has gifts to offer – the ability to welcome others with love and affection and a gift of Celebration. The communities are non residential and meet together regularly to pray , to share and to celebrate together. Friendships are formed and groups link to share outings and pilgrimages. The most important thing is to meet and listen to the man woman or child who is often marginalized in today’s society . In this way we get to know each other and nobody is left out.

How did Faith and Light begin ?

In 1968 a small group of people met in Europe with Jean Vanier and Marie Helen Mathieu to plan a pilgrimage to Lourdes for people with a learning disability and their families. This was in response to the rejection of a family who had gone to Lourdes as a place of healing and hope Gerard and Camille had two sons, Loic and Thaddee who were very handicapped not being able to walk nor talk. They were told it was impossible for them to join their Diocesan Pilgrimage.. What good was it taking them to Lourdes they would only upset others..

So the family set off by car and travelled to Lourdes independently They were lonely in Lourdes In the hotel they were told not to come into the dining room Their meals were served in their bedroom They heard people say. Children like that should be kept at home.. It was then they met Jean Vanier and Marie-Helen Mathieu and told them of their suffering in Lourdes. Then came the gem of an idea to organise a pilgrimage to Lourdes which would be especially for families such as this one. Communities of about 30 people started to prepare for that first pilgrimage in 1971 12000 people came from all over the world. After the pilgrimage the communities went on meeting and so Faith and Light was born.

Major Pilgrimages

• 1971 Lourdes
• 1975 Rome
• 1981 1991 and 2001 Lourdes becoming more and more Ecumenical.
  1500 communities in 76 countries + 5 continents