Italy/2: A people born from the Gospel

“You are a people born from the Gospel, Chiara was born from the Word; she was that ‘Here I am’ of Mary; ‘Let it be done’ coloured her life. She let herself be led by God, the humble and willing key for penetrating the Gospel”. These were the words of the Archbishop of Cosenza, a town in the southern Italian region of Calabria, at a mass celebrated for Chiara’s third anniversary.

The region of Calabria paid homage to the Focolare Movement’s founder in 10 of its cities including Aiello, the hometown of the current Focolare President, Maria Voce. The Bishop of Vibo commented: “Chiara is a living Gospel, she penetrated its core: The New Commandment. She is a marriage between humanity and spirituality”.

In Teramo, Abruzzo, the provincial and town councils dedicated a garden to Chiara. At the conclusion of the event Bishop Mons. Michele Seccia celebrated mass in the city’s cathedral.

The southern Italian town of Foggia in Puglia wanted to dedicate two important events to Chiara. “With the naming of a kindergarten and a park after Chiara the city found a way to remember this important figure in the course of time”, underlined the Councillor for Public Education Morlino, “Lubich left an immense legacy of values based on love of neighbour and respect for each person.”

In Bari, another city in Puglia, an event for reflection on women’s dignity and mission, reviewing the female status throughout the centuries right up until John Paul II’s Encyclical Mulieris Dignitatem. The climax of the meeting was the viewing of a video where Chiara outlines the birth and development of the Marian Profile in the Church alongside the Petrine Profile.

Amongst the many and varied initiatives throughout Italy was the 4th “City of Benevento Fraternity Award” organised by the local Focolare communities of Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Albania, by the City Administration, by the “La Pace” (“Peace”) centre and Focus Association, sponsored by the President of the Republic, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic and by UNESCO. There were various Forums in the program where people of various confessions, religions and cultures engaged in exchange on different topics including: “Dialogue and Fraternity: Chiara Lubich’s Legacy”.

From South to North: On the 3^rd June 2002 Chiara received an honorary citizenship in the North Italian province of Cuneo, Piemonte. This year a kindergarten in Bandito, one of the region’s most densely populated districts was named after her. To mark the occasion, a convention entitled “A city for brotherhood” was held in the school. “Chiara lives together with us” were the words with which the local mayor Bruna Sibille opened the festivities.

The last of this report’s list of events is the concert entitled “Festival of peace and brotherhood, a homage to Chiara Lubich” organised by the Cities for Brotherhood Association, by the town councils of Rocca di Papa and Castelgandolfo (Rome). There were 160 performers and assistants from three U.S. states and from four choirs from Rome and the near by area of Castelli Romani. The mayor of Castelgandolfo Maurizio Colacchi was present at the event along with Mayor of Rocca di Papa who reflected:  “I ask myself, does Chiara need our tribute? It is perhaps we who still need a gift from Chiara and so I turn to her in asking that the social foundation of Brotherhood may develop more and more”