The witness of Ginetta: the Gospel, a social revolution

On March 8, six years after the death of Ginetta Calliari, one of the leading figures in the Focolare Movement in Brazil, the Catholic Church will, at the start of her beatification process, begin a study of her life, with a view to recognising her as a model of Christian living. The process will be opened in the cathedral of Osasco, near Sao Paulo, at 20.00 local time.

Ginetta was, for many religious civil and political leaders in Brazil, a spiritual guide and a source of inspiration for their ideals and activities. Over the 42 years that she lived in that country, Ginetta gave her all to spreading the culture of fraternity and the ideal of unity, the distinctive characteristics  of the Focolare. With resolute faith in the transforming power of the Gospel, she drew thousands of Brazilians into this adventure and gave life to numerous social and cultural works.  
She was one of the first champions of the Economy of Communion, a project launched by Chiara Lubich in Brazil. This aims to help bridge the gap between rich and poor, by involving producers of goods and services, in a wide variety of business sectors, in the allocation of part of their profits to social concerns.  

Ginetta Calliari (1918-2001), born in Trento (Italy), was with Chiara Lubich right from the beginning of the Focolare Movement in the 1940s. In 1959, she was among the first young focolarini to leave for Brazil, the first nation outside of Europe where the Movement spread. The Movement now numbers about 300,000 people in 61 places.