June 11, 2013

to deepen the spiritual dimension of dialogue

27 participants  are attending  the Seminar on Jewish-Catholic dialogue  taking place from the 10th to the 13th of June at the Mariapoli Centre of Castel Gandolfo,Rome. This Seminar is  organised by  the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Focolare Movement.

These participants come fromUSA,Argentina,UruguayandItaly, and they have been at the forefront of the Jewish-Catholic dialogue for quite a number of years.   The theme chosen for this meeting is “Imitatio Dei” (image of God), a central concept in  Holy Scriptures  and a basic idea about man as a being essentially relational.

On Wednesday 12th June the group will attend the General Audience of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. At 12.30 there will  be a  meeting with the Press at Sala Marconi of Vatican Radio.

 June 11, 2013

to deepen the spiritual dimension of dialogue

27 participants  are attending  the Seminar on Jewish-Catholic dialogue  taking place from the 10th to the 13th of June at the Mariapoli Centre of Castel Gandolfo,Rome. This Seminar is  organised by  the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Focolare Movement.

These participants come fromUSA,Argentina,UruguayandItaly, and they have been at the forefront of the Jewish-Catholic dialogue for quite a number of years.   The theme chosen for this meeting is “Imitatio Dei” (image of God), a central concept in  Holy Scriptures  and a basic idea about man as a being essentially relational.

On Wednesday 12th June the group will attend the General Audience of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. At 12.30 there will  be a  meeting with the Press at Sala Marconi of Vatican Radio.

Updated on June 12, 2013

LH – BF

SIF – Focolare Information Service

May 21,  2013

The commitment of the Focolare Movement  at the conclusion of the Pentecost meeting with the Pope.

«We are all committed to live to the letter what you have said, especially to go out and meet people so that they can encounter Christ». This is what Maria Voce told  Papa Francesco this morning  at the end of the Mass at Casa Santa Marta, while expressing  the Movement’s gratitude for the Pentecost meeting with him.   «This is what is needed», the Holy Father  replied, «the culture of encounter!».

This brief greeting concluded the intense experience lived by 200,000 members of movements and lay groups during the Pentecost meeting with Papa Francesco. On behalf of the Movement, Maria Voce expressed “the great joy of having participated in this event, and even more, for having contributed towards assuring the Pope of the vitality and vigour of the Church”. At the end  of the vigil on Saturday she had the opportunity to assure him that “the Movement wants to give witness of a Christianity full of courage and joy”.

May 21,  2013

The commitment of the Focolare Movement  at the conclusion of the Pentecost meeting with the Pope.

«We are all committed to live to the letter what you have said, especially to go out and meet people so that they can encounter Christ». This is what Maria Voce told  Papa Francesco this morning  at the end of the Mass at Casa Santa Marta, while expressing  the Movement’s gratitude for the Pentecost meeting with him.   «This is what is needed», the Holy Father  replied, «the culture of encounter!».

This brief greeting concluded the intense experience lived by 200,000 members of movements and lay groups during the Pentecost meeting with Papa Francesco. On behalf of the Movement, Maria Voce expressed “the great joy of having participated in this event, and even more, for having contributed towards assuring the Pope of the vitality and vigour of the Church”. At the end  of the vigil on Saturday she had the opportunity to assure him that “the Movement wants to give witness of a Christianity full of courage and joy”.

“The Pentecost message delivered to us by the Pope through the three words: newness, harmony and mission is a very strong one”, Maria Voce said. “I was particularly impressed by the word ‘newness’. It is the one that challenges us most of all”.

“We have received the strong confirmation that communion is an essential mark of today’s Church.  Hence our commitment to live more and better the specific charism of our Movement,  and  live it as a service to the whole Church”

Press Release

Updated on May, 22nd 2013

BF – UF

SIF – Focolare Information Service

18 – 19  May 2013

Thousands of members belonging to Movements, New Communities and Lay groups will  participate in the Pentecoste Vigil  and Sunday Mass  in St. Peter’s  Square.

“We would like the Pope to feel  he is meeting thousands of people who yearn to be witnesses of the vitality of faith, of the richness of God’s gifts, of the ability to respond to today’s major challenges through the various  charisms that the movements and associations  are endowed with”.  This is what  Maria Voce augured on the eve of the Pope’s meeting  with  thousands  of members of various ecclesial associations.

 15 years have passed since that first large gathering of movements with John Paul II on May 30, 1998, and seven years passed since a similar meeting with Benedict XVI  that took place on June 3, 2006.  Later on, Papa Ratzinger said: “The ecclesial movements and new communities are one of the most important innovations inspired by the Holy Spirit for the implementation of Vatican Council II”.

18 – 19  May 2013

Thousands of members belonging to Movements, New Communities and Lay groups will  participate in the Pentecoste Vigil  and Sunday Mass  in St. Peter’s  Square.

“We would like the Pope to feel  he is meeting thousands of people who yearn to be witnesses of the vitality of faith, of the richness of God’s gifts, of the ability to respond to today’s major challenges through the various  charisms that the movements and associations  are endowed with”.  This is what  Maria Voce augured on the eve of the Pope’s meeting  with  thousands  of members of various ecclesial associations.

 15 years have passed since that first large gathering of movements with John Paul II on May 30, 1998, and seven years passed since a similar meeting with Benedict XVI  that took place on June 3, 2006.  Later on, Papa Ratzinger said: “The ecclesial movements and new communities are one of the most important innovations inspired by the Holy Spirit for the implementation of Vatican Council II”.

The fruits of communion among movements that matured during these years  are abundant. And their openness even towards movements that belong to other various Christian Churches gave rise to the initiative “Together for Europe”,  a contribuition towards the much hoped for “New Europe of the Spirit”.

Press Release

Interview with Maria Voce

Updated on May, 20th 2013

BF

SIF – Focolare Information Service