Focolare Movement
Prevention of Abuse
Media Area
Contacts
Indonesia: Focolare Centre inaugurated in Yogyakarta

Indonesia: Focolare Centre inaugurated in Yogyakarta

7 Jul 2011 | Focolare Worldwide

Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world, with some 240 million inhabitants, living in the 17,000 islands that comprise the Indonesian Archipelago. The house was inaugurated with a Mass and house blessing on 2 July 2011. It will be the first stable centre of the Focolare in Yogyakarta, a city on the island of Java, with some 3 million inhabitants and it is known as a centre of Javan art and culture. Why did the focolarini from nearby Singapore (one of the richest countries in the world) decide to move to a country with one of the lowest GDP index in the world, leaving behind excellent professions? In arriving at our decision, we took many things into consideration,” says Nicolas, one of the focolarini. “especially our decision to spread the charism of unity, and Indonesia, where the majority of the population is Muslim, is a land of great religious tolerance. It’s enough to recall one of the supporting columns of their Constitution which goes more or less like this: ‘We are many but one’, that is, unity in diversity. But it would be a long story to explain how God brought us to this point.” We came to know the people of the large Archipelago due to the frequent natural disasters which Indonesia has undergone in the past few years: tsunamis, earthquakes and the latest eruption of one of its volcanoes. The focolarini were generous with the local people, bringing forward a project for the victims. In this way many relationships were begun which, little by little, created a community, beginning with the youths. “Moreover,” Nicolas continues, “it’s a country that’s on the forefront, very open to interreligious dialogue, and our spirituality helps us to construct relationships of friendship and fraternity among members of the different religions who live in the country.” In fact, the population is comprised of Muslim faithful, Buddhists, Hindus and many other religions. Christians constitute 16% of the population. “It was moving, Xiong adds, “to see the joy in these people and how they prepared things, down to the smallest detail, with such a sense of hospitality which is their characteristic. More than 200 people came, many youths, with some Muslims among them.” People arrived from Sumatra (Medan), Java (Jakarta and Semarang), from Borneo (Kalimantan), Sulawesi, West Timor, and even Singapore and Malaysia (Johor and Penang). Hans Jurt, who is responsible for the focolarini worldwide, was also present together with a few other men and women focolarini from neighbouring Asian countries. Hans said: “We realized that leaving Singapore and moving to Yogyakarta was following God’s plan, a step that He made us take.” It is very nice to see how the community of Singapore feels that it has given its focolare to Indonesia. [nggallery id=65]

Indonesia: Focolare Centre inaugurated in Yogyakarta

Focolare Youth Prepare for World Youth Day

5 Jul 2011 | Non categorizzato

The youth at the "Gen School" in Loppiano prepare a choreography

We asked them what World Youth Day means to them. Here are some of their answers: “This extraordinary opportunity to gather with other youths at World Youth Day reminds each and every one of us that we aren’t alone in believing that we can make a better world. When we’re together our strength grows in living for this. . Then, going to Madrid means being with Benedict XVI! At times he could appear to be far removed from our daily life, particularly for us who live on another continent where the Pope isn’t often mentioned. But the Pope is the point of unity for the Catholic Church and we young people also hold a special place for him in our hearts and in our prayers.”. Maria Lúcia comes from Brazil, she’s sounds quite certain. In fact, she’s absolutely certain when she states: “WYD allows us to shout to the world that young people are not like many think. . . unable to think of the future, indifferent and passive. We have great ideals and great values! How are the preparations going? During these past few weeks we’re experiencing a power “acceleration”, inspired by something Chiara Lubich wrote which focuses on the art of loving, to help us improve more each day. Prayer is also helping us to prepare for the WYD with our soul. And the result is that great enthusiasm you experience, because of the joy that we find in God alone. Mariana, another young Brazilian woman is equally convinced: “For me this is a strong sign that the world of millions of youths is still more interested and involved more than ever in the Church. Together we hope to show that Christianity is not something of the past. . . quite the opposite! Today still, we young people would like to live for something great! Personally, I’m very interested in having this experience for myself: youths from many cultures, many ecclesial backgrounds, many movements – all of us together. Our differences are the bricks that will help us to construct a world that is united. I don’t know if we’ll see any planetary changes, but for those of us who attend and for those who are linked up via Internet, it will certainly be a radical experience!” Kyoko comes from Japan; she belongs to another culture and to another faith group. We are surprised that she is also preparing for WYD. We ask her the same question: “At first I thought that WYD was only for Christian youths; I’m a Buddhist and didn’t feel a need to attend. But I’ve been here at the  Gen School” in Loppiano for the past few days, and many young people will be going from here to the WYD in Madrid. And so the idea of making the trip with them began to interest me. Now I’m convinced that it can also be an important moment in my life too. I can discover something beautiful, meet other young people whose values might differ from my own; this is what the experience in the Focolare Movement is showing me . . .”.

July 2011

30 Jun 2011 | Non categorizzato, Word of

“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In order to understand these words, we should keep in mind the cir­cumstances in which they were said. What Jesus was giving his disciples was more than words of advice. We should see these words as reflecting his state of mind, that is, how he was prepar­ing himself for the trial. Facing his imminent passion, he prayed with all his soul, wrestled with the fear and horror of his death and totally entrusted himself to the love of the Father so that he might be faith­ful to God’s will to the end and help his apostles to do the same. We see Jesus here as the model for all those who must face trials and, at the same time, the brother who stands by our side in those difficult times.

“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus often gave exhortations to be vigilant. For him, to be on guard meant not to ever let ourselves be over­come by spiritual “sleepiness.” It meant to be always ready to welcome the will of God, to discern its signs in everyday life and  above all to be able to see difficulties and sufferings in the light of God’s love. Vigilance and prayer are inseparable, because prayer is indispensable for overcoming trials. The fragility of human nature (“the flesh is weak”) can be overcome by the power coming from the Spirit.

“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

How then should we live this month’s passage? We too should ready ourselves to meet trials: the small and big ones of each day. They are the trials which we cannot help but en­counter from one day to the next. Now the first condition for overcom­ing a trial, any trial, Jesus advises, is to be on guard, to “watch.” It is a matter of discerning, of realizing, that God per­mits them not to discourage us, but so we can grow spiritually as we over­come them. And at the same time we must pray. Prayer is necessary because there are two particular temptations to which we are vulnerable in these moments. One is to think we can go it alone. The other is the opposite feeling, that is, the fear of not making it, as if the trial were greater than our strength. Jesus instead assures us that our heavenly Father will not leave us without the power of the Holy Spirit if we stay on guard and we ask him with faith. Chiara Lubich

Indonesia: Focolare Centre inaugurated in Yogyakarta

Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement in Kenya, Madagascar and Cameroon

30 Jun 2011 | Focolare Worldwide

“Rediscovering God’s plan for today” was the theme for the three conferences of Bishops Friends of the Focolare Movement which were held in May and June. The central topic was one which was of common interest to all: the desire to experience fraternal communion among Bishops, entering more deeply into the spirituality and life of communion. Different characteristics and nuances of each country were highlighted at each of the meetings. Sixteen Catholic bishops from South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Kenya gathered on 23-27 May at one of the Focolare’s little towns in Nairobi, Kenya, called Mariapolis Piero. They had many opportunities to share both personal and pastoral experiences, with a look at some of the challenges being faced by the African continent today. For more information about the Kenyan conference go to: Nairobi: Meeting for Bishop Friends of the Focolare. The May – June event in Moramanga, Madagascar was very well attended with nine bishops who had come from all over the island, the fourth largest island of the world. Among them were Bishop Antonio Scopelliti who had first arrived on the island as a young missionary, and Bishop Amgatondrazaka who for many years has been a promoter of communion among bishops, priests and laity. But there were also various bishops who are natives of Madagascar itself, such as Archbishop Michel Malo (Archbishop of Antsiranana) and the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Eugene Martin Nugent.   The final event took place in Cameroon. It began on 7 June in Bamenda and ended on 11 June in the village of Fontem. Two Chiefs of the Bangwa tribe were there to welcome the bishops. They expressed their delight at receiving these distinguished visitors to a land that bears witness to the “new evangelization” that has been launched by the experience of unity among the Bangwa people and the Focolare. During their visit to the hospital, college, and carpentry workshop, the bishops appreciated the simple daily Gospel life, and especially the “love with which the activities are carried out.” The memory of Bishop Paul Verdzekov was very alive among them. He died last year, leaving behind a powerful life witness that was rooted in focolare spirituality. “He was a father for all of us,” said Bishop Ntep, bishop of  Edéa, Cameroon. After having visited his tomb, they celebrated Mass at the cathedral in the presence of many of the faithful for whom his memory is still very much alive. The bishops used these days to discuss topics that are of great interest to them: effects of the Economy of Communion in Africa; formation of formators; and the Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini. Another important topic was that of Inculturation. In this regard, Bishop Ntalou, bishop of Garoua, Cameroon said: “Just as you need the effort to know the ‘seeds of the Word’ in our cultures, you also need the effort to know the light of the Gospel, because it is in Jesus, and in Jesus alone, that we find the fullness of salvation.” During the final farewell, Bishop Bushu, bishop of Buea, Cameroon, seemed to summarize what everyone else was thinking: “I thank God for this week, for having lived in His presence. . .”. “Holiness is a gift, not an activity,” concluded Cardinal Vlk, underscoring how everything is a gift from God: “Our true identity lies in living in harmony with this gift (that we have) received.” At each of the three meetings, the culminating moment was the “Pact of Mutual Love”, which the bishops made with each other during a Eucharistic celebration.

Indonesia: Focolare Centre inaugurated in Yogyakarta

Youth for a United World at World Youth Day, Madrid

28 Jun 2011 | Focolare Worldwide

Below are listed a few open meetings, and the four events presented by youths of the Focolare, who are attending WYD with their respective diocese. WYD 2011 – Madrid

  • Tuesday 16 August 20:00 Opening of WYD – Holy Mass at Cibeles Square, Madrid 22:00 Gen Rosso in Concert “INDELEBILE DIMENSION”. Pilar García Peña Auditorium (Pinar del Rey Park) – *
  • Wednesday 17 August 10:00 Bishops’ Catechesis 22:00 Musical “LIFE, LOVE, LIGHT” One of us. A life fulfilled. Chiara Luce Badano, beatifiedon 25 September 2010 by Benedict XVI.Pilar García Peña Auditorium (Pinar del Rey Park) – *
  • Thursday 18 August 10:00 Bishops’ Catechesis 12:00 Pope arrives at Barajas airport. Welcoming Ceremony. 12:40 Pope’s entrance into Madrid. Arrival at the Nunciature. 16:00 Welcoming Pope. Welcoming ceremony for the Holy Father. 19:30 Youths welcome Pope in Cibeles Square. 22:00 Gen Rosso in Concert “DIMENSIONE INDELEBILE”. Pilar García Peña Auditorium (Pinar del Rey Park) – *

 

  • Friday 19 August 10:00 Bishops’ Catechesis 11:30 Meeting with young consecrated religous Pope at El Escorial Monastary. Ore 12:00 Pope Meets at El Escorial Monastarywith 1, 000 young university professorsin the Basilica. 19:30 Way of the Cross 22:00 “Adoration – Get together”, Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement. church of the Carmelite Fathers: Via Ayala, 35 (Madrid) Metro Velázquez – line 4 (15 minutewalk from where the Way of the Cross is held)

  • Saturday 20 August 16:00 Preparations at Cuatro Vientos. Youths will begin to arrive at the aerodrome and take their seats. There will be activites on stage (testimoniesby youths, music, prayer, etc.). 19:40 Visitto theSan José Institute Foundation. 20:30 Prayer vigil with the Popein the Cuatro Vientos Aerodrome. 23:00 Night at Cuatro Vientos

  • Domenica 21 agosto 09:00 Pope arrives at Cuatro Vientos 09:30 Sending out mass of theWYD 17:30 Meeting of Pope with volunteers 18:30 Farewell greeting from Pope

 

  • (*) HowtoreachAuditorium Pilar García Peña (Parque Pinar del Rey) Via: López de Hoyos c/v carretera de Canillas (Madrid) Metro: Pinar del Rey- linea 8 – Bus: 9, 72, 73