Maria Voce had been invited to visit the current bishop of Aachen in the morning, Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff. They then travelled together to the Cathedral where they paid a visit to Hemmerle’s tomb. In the afternoon a small group of members of the Central German Catholic Committee, who were Hemmerle’s collaborators, met in what had once been his home.

Among these were Matthias Sellmann, professor of Pastoral Theology at Bochum, and Claudia Lucking-Michael, vice president of the Central Committee and General Secretariat of the Opera di Cusanus – an association that awards scholarships to students of merit. They presented two brief talks on the figure of Bishop Hemmerle. The second part of the program included testimonies by people who knew the bishop personally.

“His theological thought and his influence on our work in the committee of German Laity have produced much fruit that has reached far beyond his earthly life,” declared Claudia Lucking-Michel who met Hemmerle only once, but had studied his thought and was deeply influenced by it. She described him as a bridge-builder at so many levels, someone who had motivated her to reflect on the meaning of life and of death.

A great master at teaching a Christianity that was convincing is the way Hemmerle Matthias Sellmann described Hermmerle in his presentation, underscoring Hemmerle’s plural thinking. According to Sellman he was one of those avant-garde thinkers: “He always placed himself in the position of a learner and was convinced that theology always had more than one source. Hemmerle was able to explain the Trinity to you in a way that made you want to live it!” He was a great sage –   Sellmann went on – who was able to explain great theorems in a way that was simple.

“We are thankful for having had him among us. And we’ll manage to understand the scope of his theology perhaps only in the future,” affirmed the current bishop of Aquisgrana Heinrich Mussinghoff. He continued: “We can learn from him how to think in a new way about the faith, how to live and tell it in a new way.”

During a discussion among the participants some interesting ideas highlighted what could be done to help secure that the heredity of Hemmerle would continue to bear fruit in the future: a study of the language that is “both unique and easy to understand” was suggested by Prof. Michael Albus who did his doctorate with Klaus Hemmerle; promoting an award among researchers who study the grand themes of Hemmerle’s work; Claudia Lucking-Michel suggested launching an exchange program for collaborators and leaders in ecclesial environments.

Overall, what emerged was the significance of the figure of Bishop Hemmerle for both theology and the life of the Church not only in the Germany of his time, but for ecclesiastical perspectives of today and the future.

Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit who is the Secretary General of the Ecumenical Council of Churches could not be present at the event, since he was taking an important trip to Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan. Instead, the General Secretary, M. Georges Lemopoulos was on hand to give a warm welcome to the guests and to underscore the importance of this event in the context of the preparation of the General Assembly of the Ecumenical Council of Churches that is to be held on October 30, 2013 – November 8, 2013 in Busan, South Korea, with the title: “God of life, lead us towards justice and peace”.

Doctor of Spiritual Theology, Michel Vandeleene, addressed the audience of 180 people, mostly representatives from local churches and members of international and ecumenical organizations. He read a message that was sent from the President of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce: “I have great appreciation for the passionate commitment of so many – also here today – in favor of the full and visible unity of Christ’s Church, so that Christianity can unanimously make its indispensable contribution of life and thought toward the building of a more just and peaceful world. It brings joy to know that there are people of other faiths and humanitarian organizations who are united with us in this effort towards universal brotherhood, which is so important for toady’s humanity. “It is precisely brotherly love that has a transforming effect on our working together in relationships of reciprocity.” Michel Vandeleene then went on to describe the development and specificity of the charism of Chiara Lubich, stressing the “passion for peace, justice and unity” that earned her the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education and in 1998 that of the European Council on Human Rights.

During the panel discussion that followed, several speakers mentioned the inspiration they draw from the charism of Chiara in their efforts for peace and politics. Ada Marra, National Councilor of the Swiss Parliament shared his desire to maintain the dialogue with his colleagues, regardless of their political differences. He reaffirmed to his commitment to establish interpersonal relationships that are respectful of differences of opinion and ideology. Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, former director of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, examined the connection between the lifestyle proposed by Chiara – unity – and  the two principle concerns of the United Nations: the universal recognition of human rights and the protection of every person.

Professor Ioan Sauca, Director of the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey,  added that “the friendship with Chiara Lubich produced significant results; among other things, the Institute has undergone a number of changes, including a greater unity between its members, collaboration with teachers of other religions and openness to students of new religious movements. One guest said he was touched by the meeting and emphasized that the implementation of the charism of Chiara “must begin with interpersonal relationships that will then induce a profound change in society and lead to the development and peace. “

Vanessa is from Lebanon. She has known the Focolare Movement since she was a child, but at a certain point her search for the meaning of life and for God became deep concerns. At the suggestion of a focolarino friend, she decided to attend Sophia in a last attempt to rediscover that God whose existence she was now doubting. Sophia turned out to be quite demanding, but there she also realized that she was not alone in her search.

Twenty-four year-old philosophy graduate Emanuele from Italy, has been at Sophia University for two years. He explains how Sophia allows anyone, regardless of whether or not they belong to the Focolare Movement, to have access to the basic foundations of the charism of unity that stem from that unique experience of Chiara Lubich in the summer of 1949 when she received intuitions from the Lord concerning the Work of Mary that would come to life in the years that followed. “At Sophia,” he says, “the universal dimensions of Chiara’s charism come to be understood by people who do not belong to the Movement.”

Lorenzo describes himself as an “abnormal” student, since he’s already 47 years-old and has a stable job. He discovered Sophia when he was invited to speak in a debate where the Economy of Communion had been mentioned. This new proposal for the economy put everything into question for him. He thinks it could be the same for many other people like him who have already graduated or begun careers.

Lia, who in her second year at Sophia, posed a question to the President of the Focolare and Vice Chancellor of the University Institute, a question about the educational approach used at Sophia which joins study to life. Maria Voce responded: “A difficulty can be seen as an obstacle or as a challenge that can take you a step ahead. The challenge of living together with others allows you to bear witness to universal brotherhood that is the foundational idea of the Movement and of Sophia. How can one ever give witness to mutual understanding, overcoming different visions, if not through concrete experience? You came here because you were drawn by a project that uses a different approach, one that has fascinated you; otherwise, you would have gone somewhere else. This project is rooted in an extraordinary light, in a ‘dream’ that comes true through much effort. You have been chosen for this and it is an important experience for you. You are experiencing the construction of brotherhood. The effort should not frighten you, nor can you try to make the experience easier, because you are dealing with something very great.” Everyone – including the president – was aware of the effort involved. She herself stated: “We need to be open to believing that we are rooted in a dream that began in God, was transmitted through Chiara, and this demands seriousness from those who wish to make it come true. It is a great challenge for great souls.”

 By Aurora Nicosia

See Flickr photo gallery

Organised in tandem with the Sophia University Institute and two other Catholic universities from Taipei, the event sealed a rapport that the Focolare foundress had been cultivating with the Church and the academic world of the island since the ‘50s, and that reached its apex, as Maria Voce recalled in her greetings on the occasion, in the event organised by the Catholic University of Taipei that conferred on Chiara the Honorary doctorate in Theology in 1997.

Today’s event hosted in the very same place, highlighted Chiara’s charism and her legacy. In his goodwill message to the participants, Pope Francis encouraged them “to renew the joy of the meeting with Christ and to witness His presence in the world” through this very charism.

The opening address by cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, highlighted a challenge faced by the Church: to combine unity that is “it’s essential feature” and catholicity. “In other words”, he specified, “how to reach oneness within the great variety of cultures, traditions, spiritual and theological experiences”. In this journey towards the fullness “of unity in diversity”, Chiara’s charism entered as a “greatest gift”.

Papers were presented by Piero Coda and Luigino Bruni in the fields of theology and economics respectively, along with contributions from local speakers, in a fruitful synergy and bright prospects of further collaborations in the future, as evidenced by the memorandum of understanding signed with Sophia.

Taiwan parliamentarian, Yu-Xing-yang, shared an enthusiastic testimonial of how Chiara’s charism was also a source of inspiration in his own political life.

The significant presence of members from various Buddhist schools of thought, as well as the representative of the Taiwan Orthodox Church, added an interfaith and ecumenical flavour to the event.

We conclude with the words of P. Ramon from the Providence University, that best summarise the illuminating days of the conference: “Chaira visited Taiwan in 1997. Today she came back a second time and we should never let her go”.

“For me, working in the social field has always meant integrating my profession with my desire for a more fraternal world in which everyone’s rights are fully respected,” Valeria continues. “Before going to Sophia I had been working for three years as a social worker in the Borro Quarter, which is one of the poorest quarters of Montevideo (Uruguay) where families, teenagers and children live under  extremely vulnerable conditions. I tried never to lose sight of my main objective of affirming the dignity of the people, involving them and creating social spaces where isolation could be overcome, and facing problems together through dialogue and collective action.”

Last December Valeria returned to Montevideo and has been involved in a project that focuses on children between the ages of 5 and 12, and their families. “The year spent at Sophia,” she concludes, “was quite intense in many ways. It was a turning point for me that required me to change. . . and the learning hasn’t ended. I’m still assimilating the new categories that I learnt there. I now see my activity as an on-going “walking together” in which it is necessary to see each other with eyes of genuine fraternity. What needs to improve are not only the material standards or the quality of life, but also the awareness of our common citizenship.”

In collaboration with: Valter Hugo Muniz

Source: Sophia University Institute

Carol is a neighbourhood block captain who took her mayor’s request to make of every neighbourhood a family and developed the Art of Caring, which she shared with her own village. It encouraged people to take the first step in reaching out to others, sharing their stories with one another and forming positive relationships. Initiatives ranged from raking an elderly neighbour’s yard to addressing the housing needs of residents. The program is so successful that other towns are asking how they can replicate it.

Stephen pursued one of his dreams right after graduating from high school: he went for one year to volunteer at Bukas Palad (“Open hands” in Tagalog), a social project in Manila, Philippines. “I want to give back to those who have fewer opportunities than I do,” he explained. “That means more to me than starting college right away.” When he returned, Stephen and his friends launched fundraising projects to sustain the families in Bukas Palad. “We know that we are one family,” he said.

These three stories are not hypothetical. They are real-life examples of how the Focolare spirituality of unity has had an impact on the lives of those who live it, and on how they influence the environments around them.

Focolare EXPO 2013, to be held in Chicago, April 27-28, will be a showcase of what has actually resulted from people living for unity in their various fields on a daily basis. It highlights an approach based on principles such as the Golden Rule (“Do to others what you would have them do to you“) and founded on individual dignity and mutual respect. The resulting initiatives are attempts to respond to the deepest needs of each situation and to build a sense of renewed humanity for all involved. Interactive case studies will provide a starting point for constructive dialogue about how loving, as an “art” can be implemented to influence the quality of relationships for the better. Exploring the theme “Building a Renewed Humanity,” participants will delve into the specifics of change in their own areas of interest, as well as presentations that bring together the whole group to synthesize the results. There will be workshops reflecting eight major aspects of cultural life: 1) health and recreation; 2) law and ethics; 3) education; 4) faith communities; 5) the arts and society; 6) media and communications; 7) civic engagement; 8) business and economy.

“Positive change does not happen just by wishing for it, or according to some template or formula,” said Amy Uelmen, author and lecturer at Georgetown University Law School and one of the panelists for the event. “Nevertheless, successful initiatives have three essential elements: core values that people can share, no matter what their background; renewed relationships based on those values; and solutions developed for each specific context, based on these values and relationships.”

“EXPO 2013 will be a kind of laboratory for positive change rather than just a set of lectures or open-ended discussions,” added Tom Masters, who is chairing the education workshop. The idea for EXPO came about in 2011, when Focolare President Maria Voce visited the U.S. and Canada and saw that there were many seeds that had been planted, experiences that had begun on a smaller level. She proposed an event that would highlight these projects and give people the chance to come together and see how to make these seeds continue to grow through exchange of ideas and increased collaboration.

by Sarah Mundell (Living City Magazine, NY)

For information visit expo2013.us 

Its beginnings in 1971 were pioneer days

The format of the magazine was designed to offer reflections that could produce effects in daily life and were not linked to the insights of individual persons or specific circumstances, but would highlight attitudes and behaviours that could be applied in many different contexts.

At the origins of the Gens magazine three years earlier was the need to keep seminarians from different lands connected who had found in the life of the Gospel and in the communitarian spirituality of unity a solid foundation for their own lives as well as a motivation for living as a “new generation of priests (sacerdotes)” – hence the name – who, placing God first in their lives, saw the call to the priestly ministry above all as service and witness. A mimeographed magazine began to be printed in 1971, later a printed page and finally the present magazine.

Throughout these busy forty years Gens has become a vibrant living workshop of life and ideas which has seen such signatures on its pages as Chiara Lubich, Pasquale Foresi, Igino Giordani, German bishop and theologian Klaus Hemmerle, as well as other bishops who had begun working for the magazine as seminarians – Italian theologian Piero Coda, Fr. Silvano Cola, Fr. Toni Weber and many others.

Today the Gens magazine continues to build bridges between the Church and the modern world in unison with the Citta Nuova Editorial Group whose vision it shares: Jesus’ dream “that all be one”.

By clicking on the Citta Nuova link you can access the extensive reference material that includes issues of the magazine from 1971 until today. (Click Gruppo CN and then “gens”.)

Over the years, Gens magazine has also been published in other languages in both paper editions and online. In Portuguese as Perspectivas de Comunhão; in English Being One and in German Das Prisma. Other editions are published in India, Argentina and Poland.

Felipe De Mato Miller, philosopher from Porto Alegre, Brazil: “I’m grateful to Chiara Lubich for having given her charism that has inspired me to develop within my field of epistemology a new path of research based on the relational and social dimension of knowledge.”

Lina O’Bankien who is from India and works in the field of economics, often has dealings with the government. The problem of corruption is not a surprise, but “I’ve discovered that I too can help in bringing about a better world, together with others and not on my own.”

 From epistemology to the effects of cardiovascular disease, to the fight against corruption. And what unites these three? They belong to the fields of some researchers who recently attended an international gathering of researchers, graduate students and professors from around the world, the “Chiara Lubich: Charism, History, Culture” conference that was held on March 14 – 15 to commemorate the anniversary of Chiara Lubich’s death in 2008. What they have in common is a spirituality that can animate every profession and school of thought.

The 600-member conference opened with the news of the new Pope. His appeal to brotherhood was recalled, a term familiar to focolarini because of its affinity with their own mission of extending the fraternity contained in the prayer of Jesus: “That all may be one” (Jn. 17:21) which is the inspiration behind the Movement. UNESCO Ambassador, Lucio A. Savoia, gave a talk while the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, and Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi sent written messages.

Chiara had a great love for study and learning. Recall how she left it by “placing her books in the attic” in order to follow God and the nascent Movement. But the charism entrusted to her was destined to blossom in cultural expressions, as is evidenced not only by the numerous honorary degrees that were conferred upon her, but also by the hundreds of scholars who were present at this anniversary event.

Even if we are only at the beginning of this study, the organisers of the Movement’s Centre for Studies insist Scuola Abbà, we are already beginning to notice reflections in contemporary knowledge. Environmental questions, economy at a time of common goods, politics and law are the areas chosen for this turning point.

The roots of the reflections presented during the day, certainly lay in a theological and philosophical dimension and these were widely discussed in a report by Prof. Piero Coda and sociologist Vera Araujo. Coda focused particularly on the “core” of Chiara Lubich’s doctrine: looking to Jesus Abandoned “the plague who during those years [the horror of the Second World War and totalitarianism ed.] secretly drew the longing for truth and justice of men and women (i.e. Bonhoeffer, Stein, Weil) to experience in all its crudity the unfolding of the tragic consequences of that death of God. . .”

Maria Voce spoke with some emotion in her voice, because it was in this universisty that she first came into contact with the ideal of Chiara Lubich, for which she gave her life. Now she was returning as the president of the Focolare, the first to succeed the founder. She spoke of a “culture of resurrection” as Chiara loved to call it, a culture that would be the fruit of modern human searching: “A search that is at times suffered and obscured, similar to a collective epochal night of the spirit, which Chiara herself exprienced in the last months of her earthly life. But at the same time, it is a search in which Chiara was ever able to uncover new paths that allowed her to have a foretaste of a culture pervaded by the light that mysteriously but truly flows from the passage through death towards the Life.”

One personal impression about the day’s events comes from Brendhan Leahy, newly-elected Bishop of Limerick, Ireland and member of the Abba School for Ecclesiology: “We are many here today, to reflect on the life and doctrine of a woman who had a charism whose depth we perhaps only now begin to fathom. Hearing again things that Chiara had said for so many years, you begin to understand the implications and how timely her message on the key to unity: that mystery of Jesus Abandoned who opens God, who opens the human being to us. The negative exists and needs to be recognised, but it doesn’t hold the last word.”

Academic interest in the theme of fraternity, understood not so much within the sphere of the family or as a bond within the community, but as a principle of thought and action in the public arena, has grown tremendously in the last few years at an international level, as witnessed by the growing literature on the topic. It is not a recent discovery, of course, with its long history – a story of many parts since it touches upon civilizations in all the continents which have left many and influential signs upon contemporary cultures.

Moments of fraternity, for example, have characterized recent important and historic turning points (for instance, post Marcos Philippines, the peace process in Mozambique, South Africa following the end of Apartheid). But until only a few years ago there was little awareness of the fact, and its historical, social and cultural impact was not fully understood.

Things are beginning to change and there is growing interest in the notion of fraternity in academic circles as a result of significant published research and scholarly conferences such as the seminar to take place in Loppiano. This seminar will consider a range of themes to do with fraternity, going from democracy (especially intelligent and participatory democracy) to international relations, from law to philosophy, from education to the world’s major cultural traditions.

The international seminar ‘Fraternity, relational principle in politics and law’ is, first of all, a meeting point and an opportunity to explore more deeply for scholars already working in this field, but it is of similar interest to scholars of other disciplines and to the wider public who are also invited to attend.

To book click on the following sites:

www.principiofraternita.it

www.fraternityprinciple.it

www.iu-sophia.org

It was surely not a traditional University Opening Day, where professors and secretaries explain the curriculum and answer questions about registration procedures and fees – although there was also this. It was rather the students, about 80 of them from 30 different countries, and spread out among three specializations – Economics and Management, Trinitarian Ontology and Political Studies – who did the honours. They told of how they landed at Sophia, the reasons why after three years of becoming highly specialized at another university they decided to come here from such different fields and life experiences. One story said it all, the story of Rami, and Egyptian on the forefront of the revolution that two years ago brought aa breath of Arab Spring to his own land. “I slept in TahrirSquare, I protested with thousands of people in the streets, we fought for freedom putting our lives on the line. But after such a strong experience, I felt the need to be enriched interiorly, and this is what Sophia is for me. I came to the “mountain top” far from the crowd, to absorb Wisdom. No, this is not an escape from the problems. I am continuing to live the revolution at the side of my people but in a different way. I write articles that are published in Egypt as I am nourished by the Wisdom that I find here at Sophia, both in the courses and in daily life with the professors and students. I feel that I am setting solid foundations inside me that will prepare me to bring peace where there is none.”

Where are the economy and the world going?” was the title for one of the three lessons that LuiginoBruni, Professor of Economics. Together with political philosopher Antonio M. Baggio, and theologian Alessandro Clemenzia presented to the students in attendance or linked up via online streaming.

“At Sophia,” Bruni pointed out, “specific skills are reinforced by learning to look further. Study then is not a pre-employment stage but complementary to work, thanks to the stagesthat are being defined for all subject areas.”

Three professionals in the areas of enterprise, academic research and political involvement showed the added value of Sophia in three areas. One of these was Letizia De Torre (Movement for Unity in Politics), former Member of Parliament who reminded everyone that a young person cannot “enter into politics without having a vision of the world.”  “Sophia was begun to express a culture that not only looks to the interests of one party but which, by virtue of its interdisciplinary approach, is open to listening and to criticism, the ability to change a position, to change the dynamics, learning to talk. In short, do not be afraid of the differences. Sophia provides you with the tools to build the dream of a better society for all.”