Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - A manifesto issued by “Gli Amici”, movement of the S. Egidio Community with 1000 members with mental or physical disabilities opens with the words: “We are many, we are known in many cities”. More than 30 years since it was started the “Gli Amici” movement has organised regular initiatives including exhibitions of paintings, a book on catechesis for persons with a disability, and an on line magazine “La Voce de gli Amici”, visited by about 31.000 every month. For 2003, proclaimed by the Council of Europe, “European Year for Persons with a Disability”, “Gli Amici” planned a series of conferences to present a book Gesù per amico (Jesus my Friend) which rather than a catechism for the disabled, is the fruit of a journey of shared faith. The first conference will be in Rome on 13 December.
Lastly, thanks to “Voce de gli Amici” some 700 web pages contain pictures, ideas, prayers and news on the movement, ranging from the anti-death penalty battle to support for Vohipeno Centre in Madagascar.
(AP) (2/12/2003 Fides Service ; lines 28 words 342)
