![Young people with the Gospel in their pockets at the farthest ends of the earth]()
Feb 3, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“Being Jesus 24 hours a day” was the title of the Australian youth congress which was held at the Mariapolis Centre of Melbourne, Australia. 115 teenagers were present, aged between 9 and 17 years. They came from various cities of the country, from New Zealand and New Caledonia. The meeting lasted 5 days, and was made possible through the communion of goods made throughout the past year by the young people together with families and friends. Even the shops and markets participated by donating fruit, vegetables, bread, meat and drinks. 
The programme provided for moments of study of the Gospel and how to put it into practice, space for dialogue and sharing of experiences from life. “The moments of communion were profound-says Madeline – and they helped us to understand that we are not alone in trying to be another Jesus in every moment of our life.” It was a solemn moment when a copy of the Gospel was given to each one. “I felt that Jesus was really present-said one of the youths-as though He in person gave us His Word.” The readings of the day, with the call of the apostles, put in the hearts of each one a purpose: to live the Gospel in their own environment, as today’s apostles, sent by God to evangelise these lands. 
The second event was framed within New Zealand, a marvellous archipelago, with high mountains and crystal clear sea. 60 youths of various ages took part in the “Teens4unity Camp” of Lower Hutt. The theme was: putting the Gospel into practice in our cities. Many of the youths, together with their families were refugees from other countries. Their experiences were strong, often painful, but lived in a “one to one” profound relationship with God. Together they examined the initiative “Colour the city with love” that the Youth for Unity are taking forward on a worldwide level, in order to help those persons in their cities who are alone or deprived. Many ideas emerged on how to take forward this initiative, as for instance those activities involving the youths of the aborigines population. 
The last stage was Perth. Characteristic of the meeting is that it was an itinerant day: the youths accompanied Nadia and Agostino across this magnificent city where natural beauty and very modern buildings trace a very harmonious landscape. Thus, between the banks of the river Swan and those of the Indian Ocean, the youths spoke of the history of the city, of the discord between the colonisers and the aborigines, of its characteristics and today’s problems. Then the dialogue opened up on the commitment of Christian life, and also on the responsibility and beauty of the response of each one to the call of God. While saluting each other, they expressed the desire to continue to meet to delve into the life of the Gospel, involving also their friends. They also bore in mind the world relay race “Run4Unity” of the 12th May when the youths of this region, at the extreme east of the world, will be amongst the first to begin the race.
![Young people with the Gospel in their pockets at the farthest ends of the earth]()
Feb 3, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
How did you react to the news?
With surprise and joy. The word that immediately came to mind was ‘service’, in the way Jesus teaches us. Now all I have to do is serve the Church, and through it, society.
What are your first impressions?
In the first place: that I have a chance to give my contribution as an aspect of communication in dialogue. Secondly, looking at the group of consultants, which is made up of priests, a nun, a lay woman and several lay men: that here you see the Church in its various vocations, its charisms and its intercultural dimension.
What is your background and experience in the field of social communication?
My degree was in Social Communication, Social Science and Catholic Social Teaching. My first studies were in the field of education, at Montevideo, my home town. Later on I studied Formation in Popular Communication and Analysis of Social Communication at Buenos Aires. After that I got a degree in Sociology at the Gregorian University, Rome, and a Master’s in Catholic Social Teaching at the Lateran University. Last of all, again at the Gregorian, I obtained a doctorate in Social Sciences, specializing in communication. My work has been in the field of communication, not just as theory but as social practice within the constructive interplay of theory and praxis.
What is your current experience of the Latin American Episcopal Conference?
I have been part of it for 6 years as a communications consultant, and in that role I was present at the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate held in Aparecida (Brazil). Experiences like that have touched me deeply, seeing at first hand the social relations that make up Latin American people. The Latin American Episcopal Conference, CELAM, since it began in 1955 has had a real and lasting commitment to dialogue and communion with the universal Church, which comes from its very being as Latin American. In relation to Vatican II, the General Conferences of the Episcopate at Medellín, Puebla, Santo Domingo and Aparecida give witness to this powerful desire. I believe that being a consultant to PCCS while being a member of CELAM, I will be able to be a bridge, even though there is already a high degree of communion between these two parts of the Church.
What influence does the spirituality of Chiara Lubich have on what you do?
The Spirituality of Unity is where my core vocation is rooted: to share Jesus’ dream, ‘May they all be one.’ I got know Focolare spirituality in the 70s when, like all Latin American young people, I was looking for something to change the world. In Chiara’s spirituality I found a Jesus who was alive, and with other young people I learnt how to put the Gospel into action, forming a community open to everyone, and building a little town – the Mariapolis Lia – which proclaimed to society that Jesus’ New Commandment can be put into practice and that the presence of Jesus among people united in his name is a visible reality capable of transforming society. As time went by I carried on living that same experience in the various Focolare communities where I have been. I have done this until now, when I am here in Bogotá with the wonderful Columbian people.
I begin my new service with joy because of the love for the Church that Chiara Lubich, with her own life, communicated to us.
Feb 3, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Please note: The geolocalization feature on this website – which displays cities and towns where Focolare centers are present – is only meant to be a guide. The markers on the map do not necessarily point to a specific address and they must not be relied on for navigational purposes.
Feb 3, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Please note: The geolocalization feature on this website – which displays cities and towns where Focolare centers are present – is only meant to be a guide. The markers on the map do not necessarily point to a specific address and they must not be relied on for navigational purposes.
Feb 3, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Please note: The geolocalization feature on this website – which displays cities and towns where Focolare centers are present – is only meant to be a guide. The markers on the map do not necessarily point to a specific address and they must not be relied on for navigational purposes.
