In Slovakia (Jasná – Demänovská Dolina), 550 young people from around the world, including a group of 50 young people of the Orthodox faith – will come together in order to deepend the themes of World Youth day. Where: Grand Hotel, Demänovská dolina 72, Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovacchia Arrival: 31st July (evening) Departure: 5th August (after breakfast) Participation: 180€ Age group: 16-30 years More information: postgmg2016@focolare.org
At a meeting with young Argentinians in Rio de Janiero, Pope Francis advised: ‘Read the Beatitudes, it will do you good.’ Our task is to re-read the message of the Beatitudes. For three consecutive years, the Pope has chosen for us three out of the eight Beatitudes as the themes for the WYDs. Each one is elaborated on in his addresses, in which he comments on theological matters and gives the youth some tasks for the next year of spiritual work. The choice of Krakow and World Youth Day’s motto lead us to the Spark of Mercy. Since the appearance of Jesus to St. Sister Faustina, Mercy has been radiating from Krakow-Lagiewniki to the whole universal Church. Krakow is widely known as the centre of worship of God’s mercy, and young pilgrims who come will surely want to see the place of the revelations, Sister Faustina’s tomb, and the shrine – the place where St. John Paul II entrusted the world to God’s Mercy. The theme of the XXXI World Youth Day Krakow 2016 is: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’ (Mt 5:7). Our Holy Father Francis has chosen the fifth of the eight Beatitudes, given by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, to show the importance of the Beatitudes which are at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. In his first Sermon, Jesus presents us with eight examples of qualities that bring us closer to the Kingdom of God. Among the main events there will be the Opening Mass on the 25th of July, the Welcome Ceremony with the first meeting the Holy Father (28th July), the Way of the Cross with the WYD Cross (29th July), and then the event at the heart of World Youth Day: the Vigil with the Holy Father (30th July) and the Concluding Mass (31st July). The program will also include catechesis in various languages The Youth Festival: a religious, artistic and cultural program takes place in the afternoons and evenings during the three days of catechesis, except during the Main Events. The Youth Festival is composed of open and free initiatives of an artistic, religious and spiritual character. This aspect of WYD gives pilgrims an opportunity to participate in concerts, exhibitions, workshops, sporting events, theatre events and many others. The Youth Festival is prepared for pilgrims, by pilgrims. Everyone has the opportunity to participate not only as a spectator but also as an artist or organizer. The young people of the Focolare Movement will give their contribution towards the preparation of WYD, particularly through an event held during this Festival on 27th July in Krakow, Sports Club Plaszowianka ul. Stroza-Rybna 19 (tram stop 50, 20, 11).
“The inspiration to form the Italian Association of Entrepreneurs for an Economy of Communion (AIPEC), goes back to 2012, during what seemed to be the worst economic crisis in Italy. It was then that a group of businessmen, members of the EoC, felt they had to react. The first step was to see if there were possibilities for their businesses to work with one another. In autumn that year, the memorandum of association was approved, along with the charter and an ethical code. The association immediately proved to be a means for the dissemination of the Economy of Communion.” Upon tracing the association’s origins, Livio Bertola, also illustrated the objectives: “The core values of the association draw inspiration from a “culture of giving.” This is why the shareholders feel the urge not to expect gains for themselves, but to find ways of doing something for the others.” What are the objectives of AIPEC and who does it address? “We are addressing businessmen, freelance professionals, cooperatives and generally, all those who wish to have a people-centred economy: employees, students, housewives, pensioners, unemployed, etc. AIPEC aims to promote the values of the Economy of Communion, and we are trying to do so as best we can: on the one hand, promoting throughout Italy, meetings with people who wish to obtain the utmost from their own work, and organising schools of civil economy with special regard for the young generations; on the other, supporting the activities of associated entrepreneurs, and enhancing the synergies that can be created among them.” 
The values of Economy of Communion are expressed in two words that seem to contradict each other … “In effect, the businessmen who join the EoC make a revolutionary choice. The reason why we inserted the preposition “for” is due to the fact that firstly, we are still in the process of building a full communion and none of us has the presumption to feel that we have reached the goal, and secondly, though not less importantly, because Economy of Communion was created for the poor; it is with them that each of the businesses freely shares a part of the corporate profits. This is why we entrepreneurs feel the need to work together by sharing ideas, giving support, paying attention to the others (employees, clients, suppliers, shareholders, or even competitors), and sharing ideas, difficulties and talents. We pay special attention to the businessmen and workers who in these years are suffering the consequences of the economic and social crises.” Who can join your association? “Our network is made up of entrepreneurs and professionals who we define as ordinary partners, and also all the people who want to uphold the values of EoC and who we consider our supporter-partners. You can cooperate with AIPEC also by visiting the site which offers a lot of information on the activities of the association, initiatives and events for information and diffusion. By becoming a supporter, you can become an active part of the projects underway, and also create new projects together.” Any project in the making? “We set an ambitious objective: to spend the next three years from the actual 200 to 6,000 partners! However, personal collaboration and contributions are fundamental, especially of those who already know the EoC and wish to give their time and energy to make the “culture of giving” grow in Italy and throughout the world.”
