Community When you are not here, you are missed and we are less. Faith and Light International Formation Project Team 2012

2 What is Community? Community is a unique way that humans have of coming together – Different from other types of groups or organizations A living reality – Born in time, needs care and nourishment, grows – Can die

3 A human need – We all need a place of acceptance and belonging where we are known, cherished and encouraged to grow to our fullest through exercising our gifts for the good of others

4 What makes Community? We share common vision, values, vocation, vulnerability – We are looking for the same things – We are inspired by the same principles and ideals

5 This humility and vulnerability are the hidden strengths of a community. These hold it together and allow it to come through difficult times with more life than before – I know that I cannot do everything by myself and I can ask you to help me – Whatever is built on pretense or falsity will not last I am here as I truly am

6 We share a common mission – We find meaning and value in sharing what we have been given so that others might live, opening out beyond ourselves, bearing fruit in some concrete way – A community that closes in on itself, becomes irrelevant to others and dies as a community, even though the group may continue to meet for years

7 The Experience of Community What does Community “ feel like ” ? – It is right and good to be here – It is good that you are here with us – It is good for me to be here, I have a valued place here – It is good for us to be together – It is sometimes hard to be here, but I want to be here

8 What does Community require? An impetus to begin – a “ spark ” – a connection Commitment – Each one ’ s “ Yes. ” “ I choose and commit to be here with you. ” Meeting as persons – A regular pattern of coming together to be with one another

9 Fidelity, Honesty, Respect and Authenticity – There is a core group of people who will be present over time – We speak the truth reverently to one another – We can be as we are with one another – with genuine concern for one another

10 Gifts and Skills – Generosity and good will are beginnings, but, by themselves, they are not enough to help all members to face difficulties and to grow – Everyone ’ s gift is needed to fulfill the mission

11 Structure and organization – To fulfill our mission, true to our vocation and values, now and into the future, we need wisdom, a framework, guidance, coordination, and means for communication

12 And every community requires work – Community does not happen by accident. There needs to be planning, preparing, facilitating and evaluating

13 Belonging, Inclusion and Acceptance In community there is no “ them ” and “ us ”. In community there is only “ us ” !

14 We all share responsibility for the life, growth and mission of our community – No one “ controls ” the community – No one is exempt from service – Those who have no responsibility or contribution to make feel less ownership and sense of belonging We all have different roles of responsibility

To Grow into the Future Attraction – “See how they love one another” Invitation – “Come and see” Engagement – Participation is meaningful and life-giving Outreach – We are impelled to share. We believe that others need what we have been given. Without new members we will die 15

16 What distinguishes a Christian Community We identify that what brings us together is our common call from God

17 God has created a bond (covenant) between us – Our lives, brought together by God, are somehow interwoven into a network of relationships 17 This is a gift/grace to be lived in the Spirit of Jesus To bring about the Reign of God in some concrete way by becoming (incarnating, embodying) the Good News – A place of conversion / transformation for all members

18 Forgiveness – We have been forgiven, so we are opened to forgive and forgive again Celebration – As followers of Jesus, we can celebrate everything - even death and our “ defeats, ” because God has the last word

19 Faith and Light Community A specific call to be discerned – There are many organizations that promote good – Not every group or community with persons with intellectual disabilities is Faith and Light or is called to be Faith and Light

20 Trios / Triads – A corporate, public witness to the value, place and contribution of persons with an intellectual disability at the “ heart ” of our community – A network of supportive relationships for family members – The presence of friends who have no “ reason ” to be here, yet have been invited and drawn into this “ alternate world ” of faithful friendship

21 What we do – Simple, “ foolish ” difficult to explain “ Being with ” not “ doing things for ” No accomplishments or “ good works ” to point to

22 – We invest in relationships of friendship – We create an atmosphere of welcome and acceptance that favors growth for all members – We gather to share who we are, to pray and to celebrate in the midst of true joy and deep, irremediable suffering

23 Mutuality and Reciprocity – We have equal value. We all have gifts to contribute. We all have needs and we receive from each other. – The energy that binds us and moves us is God ’ s love

24 Part of a big, worldwide family – We are one local expression of a much larger reality – We live a solidarity of spirit, prayer, support, friendship, structure and resources – Charter and Constitution, Statutes, Guidelines…

25 Counter-cultural everywhere – In a world of individualism, egoism, accomplishment, deceit, self-promotion and rivalry and that uses violence as a solution to problems; we offer a viable alternative

26 Our Mission – To witness to, to become, and to announce the Good News that God loves everyone equally - No Exceptions and to be living proof that it is possible for people with very great differences, seized by a broader vision, to be together in unity, harmony and peace through the grace of God