Book Extracts
We had only ourselves to offer
In the introduction of his book “The Poor are the Church”, after having evoked his childhood in the text “A (…) Read more
Proximity and distance
“We need to be simultaneously in proximity to extreme poverty and distant from it. Proximity, because the poorest are our (…) Read more
It’s Not Easy to Forgive
In this time of crisis, this message, written in 1984, is as relevant now as in the plea made by (…) Read more
Women – the last line of defence against poverty
In this extract from a training session in 1962, Father Joseph Wresinski invites the volunteers working at the camp in (…) Read more
Facing my people
I arrived on the plateau called “Le Château de France” on the fourteenth of July, 1956. The sun was scorching (…) Read more
Tomorrow Will Be Different
Tomorrow Will Be Different
How can I express the anguish of these families whose gas and electricity have been cut off (…) Read more
The Children of The Market Place
“Why don’t people like us?
Catherine looks at them.
These African children
keep asking her the same question
as French children in housing projects
at (…) Read more
When Children Smile
“Go ahead, smile!”
my mother would whisper to me,
whenever she was anxious herself,
having to face intimidating or worrisome people.
In moments of (…) Read more
I’ve Been Waiting Too Long
I found Matthew there alone
sitting on a pile of planks and cardboard,
amid the debris that had once been his hideout.
He (…) Read more
A Young Mother
Extract from “Tomorrow Will Be Different” ( Paroles pour demain)
documents
A Young Mother