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Society Sant'Egidio (St. Giles)

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  Earlier this week we had dinner at Gli Amici Restaurant. At first glance this appears just like another delicious Italian restaurant in the Traverser neighbourhood. We had the opportunity to chat with Sophie Janssens, a volunteer for the community who shared how the Society of Sant'Egidio   (St. Giles) is helping to find meaningful employment for adults with intellectual disabilities.  The Society was founded by Andrea Riccardi in 1968, is run by lay people whose purpose is to serve those outside the community, the poor, the disabled, those with mental illness, migrants and the elderly to name a few, they are united in prayer and reading of scriptures.  The community took on the name of Sant'Egidio who is know as the patron saint of the poor, the disabled, those with mental illness and the outcasts. The Society has also been recognized for their work in the efforts of peace negotiations as they helped establish dialogue which brought an end to the Mozambican c...
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Doing It Afraid

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  A beautiful start to our stay in Rome was attending the Angelus on Sunday afternoon. As we walked, the Vatican Dumo was visible, leading the way. Promptly at noon Pope Francis addressed the crowds that had gathered from all parts of the world, with a cheerful Buongiorno, Buona Domenica (Good Sunday)! The Angelus is a special prayer that can be said three times a day, at 6:00 am, noon, and 6:00pm. On Sunday Pope Francis leads this prayer and also shares a  message which is traditionally based on the Gospel of the day. Pope Francis reminded us today, just as Jesus spoke to his disciples, to have no fear. We are encouraged to be mindful of our priorities, spending time in prayer, caring for others, valuing the life given to us by God. We are to remember how precious we are to God, and as Pope Francis stated we should only be afraid of wasting our “existence in the pursuit of trivial things that do not fill life with meaning”. So, when we are faced with challenges, become unpopu...
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Location: 00120, Vatican City
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