The Faith and Light movement was started during a Lourdes Pilgrimage. At the time of the movement establishment many families with children with a disability were refused participation in common pilgrimage groups.
There was a fear, that handicapped children could “upset” others. So, Jean Vanier and Marie Helen Mathieu helped such families organize a pilgrimages to Lourdes.
About 12000 people from all over the world took part in the first such pilgrimage in 1971. After the event the communities continued to meet and so Faith and Light was born.
Major pilgrimages organized by the Faith and Light movement to Lourdes took place in 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011. As of 2012, the movement has over 1640 communities in 78 countries around the world.
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2011
In July, 2011, a group of nearly 300 Faith & Light members, travelled to Lourdes to join with members of Faith & Light from England, Scotland and Wales, to celebrate the 40th Faith & Light. The week included opening ceremony, Masses, Stations of the Cross, Ecumenical services, Stations of the Cross, visits to the Grotto, Cold Baths, Torchlight procession, Sacrament of Reconciliation/ Washing of the Feet, day trip to Gavarnie and a grand Fiesta. In 2021, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Faith & Light with another pilgrimage to Lourdes.
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