Its a model that attracts and bears fruit.
Couples on the point of breakup find the strength to begin again
And to mend what was broken.
In a world that has forgotten important values
and stands by inactive, while the basic cell of society disintegrates,
the witness of families motivated by profound values, who are supportive and open, is
a leaven for a religious and civil society, where others matter.
The New Families Movement
In the forty years since it was born in 1967, New Families has concentrated its activity on a new emphasis in family life and a new culture of the family, based on four principles: education, formation, sociality, and solidarity.
This approach is based on a commitment by its members to live the Focolare spirituality of unity in a radical way. It is a “vocation” that, in a family, is also formation. The deep unity that parents build day after day is a powerful example for children, and provides a framework where the generation gap is not a clash of opposites, but a positive exchange of gifts.
“The family is not closed within itself”, said Iginio Giordani, considered by Chiara Lubich a cofounder of New Families, “but grows like a cell that lives as much for others as for itself. A new society is born, as if from a natural sacred well, from families that live the Gospel”. (www.iginogiordani.info)
Formation
The Loreto School - This is the international school for families run by New Families since 1982, attended to date by 1200 couples from all over the world. A recent development has been a course for family mediators recognised by the European Community. The school is based at the little town of Loppiano near Florence. Other similar schools are beginning in other countries.
International Congresses – Dealing with different subjects, and held from time to time, they encourage discussion and dialogue between families and experts of international repute.
Family-point – A series of formation meetings for families, looking at serious current problems for the family. They are held at the little town of Loppiano.
International solidarity
Support at a distance 
– In developing countries, New Families is currently supporting 100 development projects involving 15200 children, in 45 different countries. These actions which include literacy and work training, and parenting skills for adults, are financed with the support at a distance of New Families, which also handles international adoptions.
(www.famiglienuove.info/sad/)
Familyfest
This international gathering takes place every 12 years. The most recent one was “Familyfest 2005… to John Paul II, the Pope of the family”. It was held in April, shortly after his death, and was dedicated to him as a sign of gratitude. It was a single event comprising a network of 200 meetings in cities and towns in 78 different countries in all five continents, broadcast live by RAI I. There was enormous response to a new project for solidarity:
“One family, one home”. This project, born among the families in the most abandoned quarters of Manila, has now spread to the areas of Thailand and Sri Lanka hit by the Tsunami, and to the slums of Cochabamba in Bolivia.
The climax of the first Familyfest, in May 1981 was a visit by John Paul II. It was held in the Palaeur, in Rome, with over 20,000 people from all continents. The next one was in 1993, in preparation for 1994, the international year of the family, and broadcast live by RAI I and RAI SAT, to many television stations throughout the world. The programme contained stories, discussions, performances, and launched solidarity projects for disadvantaged children. It was a moment of great upheaval in Yugoslavia, and one project offered hospitality and work to Bosnian women recently released from detention.
Contacts
International Secretariat “New Families”
via Isonzo, 64
00046 Grottaferrata (Roma) IT
tel. +39 06 9411565
fax +39 06 9411614
e-mail: famiglienuove@focolare.org
web-site: www.famiglienuove.info/
