Our Mother Mary’s Bouquet Community

“Yet God has chosen what is foolish, to shame the wise. He has chosen what the world considers weak to shame the strong. God has chosen common and unimportant people, making use of what is nothing to nullify the things that are” 1 Corinthians 1:27-28

Faith and light is a community movement born of a desire to help people with intellectual disability and their families find their place within the church and society.

What We Understand and Put into Plan

At the heart of this community are people with more or less intellectual disabilities. We give persons with such conditions the possibility of recognizing and using their own unique gifts and discovering the simple joys of friendship!

To the parents who have children with an intellectual disability, Faith and Light provides support in their trials and helps them to better appreciate the inner beauty of such their children. A number, in turn, become a source of strength and an assistance to other parents who are crushed by their suffering their daily difficulties.

Meanwhile, the brothers and sisters of the people with intellectual disability are called to appreciate the simple fact that a person with a disability can be a source of life and unity; if this person disrupts their life, he or she can also transform and transfigure it, and thus turn it into a positive experience.

Thanks to the person with intellectual disability, friends also come to understand that there is another world, a world other than that of competition, money and material pleasures. Those who are weak and poor invite them into a world of tenderness and fidelity, of listening and of faith.

Faith and Light believes that each person with a mental handicap no matter how severe that handicap:

• Is loved by God and that Jesus lives in them even if they are scarcely able to express themselves
• Through union with Jesus, can truly become a source of peace and renewal for the whole community for the church and for all humanity
• Is fully a person with all the rights of a human being and is not limited in their capacity to love and to be loved!
  

What We Did in 2008 till now

Besides our monthly celebrations, yearly formations and coffee mornings, 2008 was an eventful year for our community as we gained recognition with Faith and Light International. This means we joined the ranks of other recognized communities around the world who have a voice in sharing the gifts of our community. As such we had the discernment election for our community to choose our leader. This was held from Sat 26th April till Sun 27th April. The process began with a formation for the community members who shared their experiences and the various roles that we all play. Then we looked into the needs of our community and from there we nominated some members. On the next day the group resumed to look further into the needs of the community and as such what qualities would our leader need to have. Fr Phillip graciously joined us in this process and we felt blessed to have him with us. We joyfully praised God and celebrated the election of Luisa Lowe as our new community leader with a mass followed by a joyful celebration.

Faith and Light International had a general assembly in October 2008 where the structure was adopted and a new international coordinator was elected as well. He is Ghislain du Chene, a parent from France.

With the advent of the new structure Luisa and Valerie attended the first Provincial Meeting in Cavite, Philippines in March where plans for formation and growth of our communities in Malaysia were shared extensively. It was a time of great nourishment.

Now we join the Parish of Assumption in celebrating the 50th Jubilee of the parish and we are full of joy to be part of this wonderful parish that is open to the integration with people with disabilities.

In 2009, our community continued to grow in friendship and faithfulness through our monthly celebrations. We have welcomed some new friends to our community and we are happy to share the start of the new community at Church of Divine Mercy, Shah Alam. We have journey together and had some joint formations and celebrations throughout the year.  The community began to look for alternative ways to raise funds to support some of the formation activities which are often held outside of Malaysia and also to prepare for the provincial pilgrimage in 2011/2012 which will also be a double celebration with 40years of Faith & Light. As such we had a jumble sale / flea market sale at Amcorp Mall. We were all exhausted and evaluated how we could do it better and have more fun and fellowship the next time and we sure have been able to do this with the joyful presence of our special friends who bring laughter in our lives. The highlight was our December celebration where the morning was spent in formation with the parents and friends while our special friends prepared some masks for the Christmas mime. We were joined in the afternoon by the Taman Desa BEC  youth you helped us with the music and singing the Christmas songs as we mimed the Christmas story. The singing and dancing and fellowship that followed is warmly rememberd by all.

Now in 2010 we are preparing for the preparation to celebrate 40 years of FL next year and more than that will be our representation at the Provincial Assembly to be held in the Philippines this year. So lots more fund raising efforts will also be going on. May the good Lord journey with our leaders and representatives at the Assembly and throughout this year.
For those parents of special children / adults who wish for friendship with God and with all of us in the community, we welcome you as individuals, parents, guardians, families and friends to be a part of our humble family.