The visit to the Fazenda began in the small chapel, where we remembered Chiara Lubich, whose spirituality is the inspiration behind the life of the Fazenda da Esperanca. In 2010, when the official recognition was given by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Fiar Hans and his collaborators desired to visit the international headquarters of the Focolare in order to “thank” Chiara, paying her a visit in the chapel where her body rests.

The friends from Gen Rosso asked Friar Hans what he had in mind for the months before them in Brazil: “Let’s look at the beginnings of the Focolare Movement in Trent,” he answered. “Around the table of that first focolare there was a focolarina and a pauper, a focolarina and a pauper. . . There was the spiritual dimension joined to the social dimension. This is our challenge, especially here in South America, but I think also in the whole world. When there is the spiritual dimension without the incarnation of it on a social level, something’s missing. When the opposite happens, there is social involvement that has no roots in God, and the effort is vain. The challenge is found in the unity of these two dimensions.”

This was also the plan for the Gen Rosso tour that began on May 16 with their Musical Streetlight. The Musical will involve 200 young people from the Fazenda da Esperanca and will conclude with performance at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on July 27. The first 3 concerts were attended by over 5000 people. “Each day we try to root ourselves in God,” Gen Rosso writes, “through reflection,  the life of the Word and the mutual love that we try to have among us, which generates the presence of Jesus in our midst (Mt. 18:20). With the strength of His presence we then try to love all the teenagers who are working with us on the “Strong without violence” project.” The teenagers are often coming from experiences of abandonment and unspeakable suffering. They find a refuge in drugs: “We’d like to offer them the joy that doesn’t pass away,” they write “because Jesus opens the door to the Eternal, even in the midst of much of our own suffering and that of others in this world.”

In conclusion: “This is the message that we would like to cry out to society here in Brazil, through our shows and the media: Something exists that doesn’t pass away: God. And he loves us immensely. It is he who can make us strong without any violence!”

Watch video on YouTube

Duration: 11’30″

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xz6N7Wznj58

Nearly 500 people attended the event that was held at the Sheraton Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. They came from North America, Santo Domingo, Australia and Europe. An additional thousand participants were linked up via internet.

Expo 2013 put on display the creative, industrious and courageous spirit of America, of both individuals and of communities who have put themselves on the line. It was a moment for knowing one other better and sharing in a common purpose. No speeches, reports or roundtable discussions were part of the plenary sessions; only a series of brief expriences as a way of introducing  the eight workshops that took place on Saturday afternoon. Workshop topics included: music, work, art, faith, health, education, ecology, media and comunication.   

“This is change that begins from the relations, from the relationships that are created among people that construct the social fabric,” declared Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of the city who stopped in to greet the assembly. “And this is the wish that I have for you from here on: that you will continue to build unity at all levels, even if it will be necessary to risk because this is what will most serve today’s society.”

This was the experience of Carol Spale who lives in Chicago. In a difficult family situation, she received free assistance from her neighbours, which provoked a chain reaction that today continues to involve her entire neighbourhood and city administration in an effort iin fovour of the needy in her city. This is also reciprocity.

Marisol Jimenez, who runs the Cafè con Leche School in Santo Domingo that not only provides education and daily meals for more than 500 children, also plays a fundamental role in re-establishing social harmony in the city’s poorest quarters.

The same is taking place in Canada and in the entire North America that came together in Chicago to see each other face to face, take stock of the situation and draw new courage to begin again in bringing ahead a variety of projects in many regions of the land.

Expo 2013 – Photo Album

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 

But Sandra was so strongly determined that we couldn’t say no to her request. So it was that we decided to put our prejudgements aside and welcome her friend as our own daughter. Little by little, as the girl felt our love, she began to reveal some of the problems in her family. She stayed with us a few days and then, as she was leaving, thanked us very much. In reality it was we who were grateful to our daughter for having given us the opportunity to open our hearts and to create such a deep relationship with her friend. Later, along with our daughter she helped to organize projects for the victims of earthquakes, gathering a large collection of clothing, toys and Easter eggs.

One day we were all surprised by our son, Massimo, when he opened the door of our home to a poor man and his young son. Massimo ran to his bedroom and returned with a small model car, his favourite, which he gave to the child. When he grew older Massimo seemed to distance himself from us, to be indifferent to what we said to him, intolerant of our willingness to help others. We knew as parents that this was no time to assail him with sermons but we were sure that God would continue to show him the correct path. Last year, as he was about to board a plane that would take him to another country for his studies, he handed us a letter for his friends. He told us we could also read it. It was his way of revealing the treasures in his soul, that we weren’t able to see. It was such an unexpected gift and it filled the void in our hearts.

We had always tried to transmit to our children a sense of openness towards everyone. This was how the story with Joe began. The doorbell rang. When we opened the door, we were met by a young Nigerian man who wanted to sell us some household goods. Like many of his countrymen, he supported himself as a travelling salesman. We bought a few things, a kitchen mop, a small kitchen tool. But its seemed little. We invited him inside, we exchanged telephone numbers and promised to invite him to one of our gatherings in the parish.

As the day of the gathering drew near, we remembered Joe. We were doubtful as we telephoned, but he answered with enthusiasm saying: ‘Everyone is polite at first, but then they immediately forget you.’ From then on a strong bond of friendship was formed between us. We shared in his difficulties and helped him to find a job, which wasn’t easy due to his immigration status. We found him a place to live and helped him in many things. Joe then married and had a son. When he asked us to be the godparents of the little one, we were deeply moved as we considered the long and profound friendship that had been formed between us, one of the many friendships that were born by opening the door of our home.”

(Maria Luisa and Giovanni, Italy)

The Brazilian version of the Strong Without Violence project that in Europe has touched the lives of more than 500,000 young people, started in January 2013 in various places in South America. The aim is to make young people strong in their opposition to violence, sidelining others, harassing them and the many kinds of subtle but painful abuse that there are.

Central to the project is the musical Streetlight performed by the international band Gen Rosso. It tells the true story of Charles Moats from the Chicago ghetto. He stayed faithful to his Gospel ideals despite the difficulties and the hatred he faced. He made a decision not to follow violence and stuck to his choice even to the point of sacrificing his life.

The project has four weeks of modules that lead up to the final show. In them the students study the theme of violence and its negative effects. At the same time they learn how to recognize and develop their own talents. In the final show the young people take part in the musical itself, together with Gen Rosso – both on stage and behind the scenes.

To create the project Gen Rosso worked with the Starkmacher association in Mannheim, which supports them in Germany, and the Brazilian Fazendas da Esperanza. These are rehabilitation centres, generally on farms, where the young people can get together and find a way out of the world of drugs and other forms of dependency.

To get things ready to put Strong Without Violence into the Brazilian context, a group from Starkmacher made the trip to Brazil to share their own experience. They went to Fortaleza and Guaratinguetá in the North East and South of Brazil. They met about forty young and older adults (educators of various sorts), who came from a variety of Brazilian cities, and who will be able to multiply the project all over the country. They were trained in  its methodology, its educational bases and the organizational structures that support it. In four and a half days, then, they worked together to produce the Brazilian version. A tremendous influence came from various people of influence, such as Eros Biondini, Secretary for Minas Gerais State. He said he too would spread the word about the project.

It seems that Strong Without Violence comes at just the right moment for Brazil. There is a passionate public debate on a new law proposing enforced therapy for drug addicts. Requests for new places in the rehabilitation centres, the ‘fazendas’,  are growing hugely.

Strong Without Violence, in its Brazilian version, looks like it will become an instrument that can give hope that there will be new possibilities for Brazilian young people in tough situations.

By Andrea Fleming

Ample time was given to a discussion on widowhood, interspersed with contributions from specialists and real life experiences.

“First there is the initial shock,” explained psychotherapist Dr. Angelo Alessi. “Then there is desperation followed by sadness and resignation. The moment of accepting the loss is a sign of hope and healing, allowing oneself to express honestly the feelings and pain, rebuilding the bridges with the outside world are a few of the ways of not becoming caught up in the feelings that usually block a person”

“The loss of Cosimo was a great trial for me,” Rosa confided. “I felt empty. I set out to perform many acts of love and I experienced a very deep peace. Faith that God is Love made me hope, it gave me consolation in order to be able to console others. It instilled a certainty within me that it hadn’t all ended but that everything had to go on.”

Chiara Lubich says: “Our beloved dead are in God. Now we can continue to love one another through Him because the love that they had for us on earth remains. Indeed, it is perfected and unable to fluctuate”.

Another experience of the Spirit was shared by Ilde’s widower: “My conversations with her continue and accompany me throughout the day, now more than ever. She’s already arrived there. Ilde is with me in this portion of my journey that remains to me here on earth until we meet again.”

Tiziana’s son, Matteo, who was 16 years old at the time of his father’s death, told the audience about the process that led him from anger and interior laceration to calming the great interior void through gestures of helping and sharing: “The more I helped someone the more I felt Dad was near and there was a great peace within me. . . At times I thought that if Dad had not died, perhaps I would never have experienced this.” Beyond the immeasurable suffering and loneliness that mourning brings, the bonds of love remain and can continue to bear fruit as a sign of hope. This seemed to be the main message that emerged from these deep moments.

The reasons for this choice are many, the most important one being that of demonstrating how much the Latin American continent that is comprised of peoples with such diverse cultural roots, has to offer to the world. Moreover at the last project site which was held in the Focolare town of Loppiano (July 2012), the teenager in attendance had expressed their desire to repeat the experience every two years on a different continent.

The idea of beginning at Mariapolis Lia in Argentina came because of the abundant presence of young people that characterizes this Focolare town located on the Pampas. Thus it was chosen to be the place that will host the first phase of the project because of its special ability to welcome the new generations.

The Global Project has two phases. The first will be carried out at Mariapolis Lia where, for four days, the boys from around the world will set up their project site through a dynamic program whose goal will be to learn to “relate” with everyone by overcoming cultural differences, sharing personal experiences and being enriched by those of others – all in a climate of mutual love that allows each and all together, to be formed into world men.

The second phase of the project will take place in a variety of cities of the Latin American continent where there are already social projects that are animated by the spirituality of unity (schools, clinics, child-care centres, elderly care).

This experience will “give witness,” as Focolare president, Maria Voce stated during a visit to Latin America in spring 2012 “that there is no boarder nor ethnic difference that is insurmountable. There’s not anything, not even the Andes that divide us, not even the ocean, nothing, nothing, nothing. We can go beyond all of these things because of our reciprocal love.”

By visiting local sites the boys will be able to enter into local environments, to embrace real challenges, as well as the cultural riches of each people. Within this atmosphere, together with local teenagers who live in these cities, the participants from other countries will be engaged in social projects through contact with native populations in local “culture of giving” projects; for example, in sport, art, and so on. This project was born from a need to look toward the world, after a few years of involvement in the “Let’s Colour the City” project. Because Chiara Lubich would say: “one city is not enough: aim far, at your own country, and at everyone’s country – the world.”     

‘Still burning in the Kenyan soul is the pain of the blood-soaked battles of the election in 2007 when more than 1000 people died.

“Never again!” is now the cry of everyone’s heart, while the country prepares for the presidential election in March 2013.

‘Many young people are engaged in initiatives for a year of peace.

‘Sr Bernadette Sangma (Director of Youth Ministry) and a group from the Focolare Movement working in the Catholic University of Nairobi, have welcomed this and promoted the idea of the “peace caravan”, which would unify the voices of the university students in Nairobi and make an impression on public opinion. As a symbol of this “earthquake of peace” the idea was to have a song that would be heard loud and clear throughout the nation!

‘This was the request made to Gen Rosso. After the 2007 tour there was already a profound friendship with Tangaza College and after some of us in 2009 went back to Kenya to give lessons and run workshops to teach “music with values”. We had a tradition of working together. How could we refuse this new request?

‘And so the song was written:

Jivunie nchi yako, kabila si silaha                    

Nyuma twasema, kamwe haturudi                                        

wito wetu ni umoja

Be proud of your country! Tribe is not a weapon. The past never comes back. Our call is to be one.

‘Tangaza College and the Catholic University began to “recruit” young men and women from the various universities in the capital. Other young people from elsewhere became involved. Enthusiasm grew.

‘Magdalene Kasuku, a young journalist, presented “Jivunie” at official State Functions and at the huge celebrations on the 49th anniversary of Kenyan independence, on 12 December, in Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.

‘The song was heard with enthusiasm and it had been the government to propose that it should be sung at this major event in the presence of President Emilio Mwai Kibaki.

‘We recorded “Jivunie” with a choir to make it more “Kenyan” and to make it suitable to be left as an audio support for all the initiatives that will take place until next March.

‘Ponsiano Pascal Changa created a choreography for the performance on the 12th. We wanted a choir that danced with energy and joy and the kind of moves young people make.

‘We recorded everything, mixed it and prepared the choreography in just three days!

‘A group of 120 young people, called Kenya Youth for Peace, were brought together up for the occasion. The choreography captured people’s imagination because of its energy and freshness. The young people sang and danced in a stadium full of people: “Jivunie”: “Be proud! We are brothers and sisters of one nation!”

‘We are really happy to have given a platform to Kenyan youth so that they can proclaim to all who they are, expressing their infinite desire for a world at peace. We have become a single family with them. Family: the experience that Africa can give to the whole of humanity.’

Beni Enderle

This workshop which is very unique both as a musical and human experience took place on 5-12 November 2012. It involved Gen Rosso and 155 teenagers from the LVR-Gerricus-Schule and the Hauptschule Montessori. Many of the students were hearing impaired and some had learning and behavioral problems.

What they managed to create among them was new and unexpected: they said they had created a “space for mutual exchange”. On the one side there was the opportunity to learn the art of listening, learning to ‘spend a small stretch of our life’ alongside hearing impaired youth from several social and faith backgrounds. On the other side it provided an opportunity to dress up the musical in new forms of artistic expression: short light shows, acting and song using sign language.

At the end of the week there were many expressions of gratitude both for the work that had been done and for the indispensable supplement of love that everyone had put into it. As a motto for the week they chose the title of one of the songs from Streetlight: “Count me in!” This song is sung by one of the characters during the show, who sings it to tell of his desire to join the others in living for the ideal of peace and fraternity. “I’m so proud of my students,” said the director of LVR-Gerricus-Schule at the end of the show, “because performing a musical in spite of their hearing problems is quite a challenge, but it was possible thanks to Caritas Verband Colonia, the Starkmacher Association and Gen Rosso” .

Between the 8th and 12th October 2012, students and teachers from the Werkrealschule Isny were involved in a project that put them on the stage with Gen Rosso and their musical “Streetlight”. And it all happened witih only three days of rehearsaling! Foolishenes? “Maybe so,” says Tomek who is one of the band members, “but we all believed it could be done and rehearsals went on without stopping.”

“A project involving the whole school does not happen every day,” admits School Principal Grimm, “for this reason Starkmacher Schule was introduced in every class.”

The projects provides an experience living and working alongside Gen Rosso to present their musical after a three-day workshop integrating different subjects and skills training, through a course developed at the University of Heidelberg for teachers and students that helps them to discover the qualities and skills that can be used to accomplish their goal. “Already last year some of the teachers and students went through this training,” says Anita Heumos, a social worker who was a translator last year and is now the project organizer in her own city.

“For many youths, getting on stage and performing in front of their peers is not something to be taken for granted,” explains Tomek. “Therefore it is important that the educational system helps them, offering them new challenges and skills. This guarantees the sustainability of the project. It’s one of the novelties of this new edition.”

Instructor  Günther Kreutzer added: “The show has a lot of people working around it. In the workshops, for example, there were translators, because the members of Gen Rosso band come from different countries. This was a very engaging and creative feature of the project.

“On the 19th of October 2012 we were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Isny. He was so enthusiastic about what was happening in the school. And some businesses, two parishes (Catholic and Protestant) and common people have offered support for the project with money and other gifts,” Anita recounts. She goes on to say: “The principal was also very satisfied with the response from some parents, who also took an active part in the project.”

With the help of the music and several  creative workshops the youths reached a good level of preparation for the project, both concerning the seriousness of everyday violence and in the interior strength needed to face and resolve daily problems. The standing ovation they received at the end of the performance by the more than 1000 member audience at the two musicals in the Rotmooshalle of Isny, was recompense enough for all the work that was put in by everyone. One local newspaper wrote: “A Musical makes a school happy.” “The spirit of unity,” Tomek concludes, “has left a mark in each one. . . Their shining faces seem to confirm it!”

Photo gallery Starmacher Schule Project in Isny