![The Philippines: Feeling at Home]()
13 Oct 2014 | Non categorizzato
“Chiara Lubich left us the family spirit as a heritage, and being open to humanity. This is the magna charta of our local community at Dumaguete, a central region of the Visayas in the Philippines. There have been so many occasions to experience it. We got to know about the situation of a mother and her baby who needed a house to live in for an undetermined period of time. We opened our home to them, without thinking of the consequences. To give them the best welcome we prepared everything, and tried to know more about the culture of their country of origin. A month after their arrival we realised that this would be a big challenge, and we would have to change many of our habits. We both still remembered the discomfort of the previous experience. The mother, nervous and full of hatred, had doubts about God’s love. The child was more and more restless, violent and capricious. When the situation become impossible to bear, we turned to Jesus on the cross, who seemed to say: “ If you do not love me, who will?” This gave us the courage to move on. We understood that we had to take up a dialogue with them in order to love them more concretely, for example, cooking their favourite dishes, or carrying out the most suitable activities. We felt that it was important for the child to go to school and the mother to find some little job. So we did all we could; each suggested some job possibilities, and through a communion of goods we managed to pay for some necessities like the child’s school uniform. Some even took turns to take care of the child while the mother was at work. This was a source of great joy. The two were invited to birthdays and parties of the members of the community, and they found a circle of friends, and soon said that they felt “at home.” With time, through everyone’s love, they began to acknowledge God’s love. The mother had the chance to start a new life, and rent a flat – which we furbished together – and find their independence. Another episode regarded another couple, when the husband was diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage. Only the wife had a stable income, but they immediately became poor when the treatment began. The community tried to love them concretely: not only with funds, but also in terms of time and trying to gain knowledge on how to take care of a sick person like him. When he become bedridden, the sisters of the Congregation of the Poor of St Francis offered to bring him Holy Communion daily. We lived the entire vicissitude with the couple up to the end. During the funeral, the community took care of the ceremonies, the preparations in Church and the funeral. There was a strong family atmosphere. Our daughter’s friend came to our place while some adults and young people were preparing an activity. It was something new for her, to see how an adult showed great respect and belief in the ideas of the youth, something uncommon in the environment she came from. She told us that before she met the gen (young people of the Movement), her life was ‘a disaster’. She didn’t take school seriously, and made use of drugs. At a certain point my daughter, who is her best friend, had moved to another city to study, but the other gen continued to stay close to her. Now we have taken her in, and slowly she has started to change, even up to the point of improving her performance at school and has stopped consuming drugs.”
![The Philippines: Feeling at Home]()
11 Oct 2014 | Non categorizzato
“I work in a school in an underprivileged area. One of the experiences I had lived at the end of the year was a confirmation of how each of us can build unity in his own workplace. An ugly episode had happened, involving a professor against the school Principal and other colleagues. While I was taking down the minutes of a school council, there was a moment of conflict. The police arrived, the ambulance, etc. and there was a very explosive atmosphere. Injunctions were served, there were threats to sue, complaints… It was a very negative moment, colleagues were taking sides with one party or the other, at times making mischief and then each going his own way. I felt really uneasy, the report I had to make was really tough, and I tried only to describe the facts. I tried to listen to everyone without prejudice. I felt I had to do something to mend the relationships. The various parties trusted me, seeing how I had worked during the year and because of my relationships with the students, the families and colleagues. I was in this state, just waiting for an occasion when the School Principal asked me to do something to calm down everyone and bring peace back. At this point I went to pray before Jesus in the Eucharist and asked him to make me his spokesperson, since I knew I was not capable of resolving the situation with my own resources. So, with great apprehension, I called the colleague who was involved and who risked getting fired. An idealist with a great sense of justice, and in my view, very honest; he wasn’t a believer but was in search, and with whom I had built a deep relationship based on common convictions. The minute he saw my concern over the situation, he loosened up. We spoke about his life, the motivations behind all that had happened, and he said he was willing to take back his words and ask excuse for some of his attitudes, and certainly not in defence of his principles. I then went to the School Principal, and also on this occasion tried to listen and share. At the end they met and cleared things with one another, to dispel the many misunderstanding of the past. After other encounters the situation was resolved. It was a great relief to all, and a chance to start anew and look ahead. My colleague told me: ‘I want to thank you above all because I managed to free myself from the grudges and I was able to forgive, in a civil manner, that is, I managed to move on.” On my part instead, I knew I had to thank God for his love and mercy.’ (G. B. – Italy)
![The Philippines: Feeling at Home]()
10 Oct 2014 | Non categorizzato
“In Holland there are no wars, no poverty like in other countries of the world, we do not have natural disasters nor the persecution of Christians or of other peoples. We live in a free country where we can do and say whatever we want. And perhaps this freedom was at that moment my greatest enemy. ” Thus begins the story of Laura, a young Dutch girl who helped in the organisation of the 35th National Day for the Catholic youth of Holland. A festival with live music, stands and the sharing of experiences: this year, for the first time, it lasted for 2 days, and was hosted by the little town of the Focolare in Marienkroon (Nieuwkuijk), in a picturesque landscape in the woods. 700 young people arrived there on the weekend of June 28 and 29. “It was a really nice festival, full of joy and sunshine, very informal – continued Laura – The music groups played, someone was eating candy floss or attending a workshop, there was always something to do or experience.” During the preparation, the national television Talpa, contacted the organizers. It was a question of participating in a reality show in which an actor and a singer visit different groups in the Netherlands who share a passion or a way of life. They spend a bit of time with them, have interviews and a dinner to say thank you. When they heard about this festival for young Catholics, they asked to spend the weekend with them. “In this period of great criticism of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands, it seemed that this could be a great opportunity to show to the whole nation a church that is young, vibrant and full of strength and courage. At the same time we were a little afraid, not knowing how the interviews would be modified for the final transmission.” Three young people were chosen to be interviewed during the festival, among them Laura: “During the conversations prior to the final interview, I realized they wanted to create an image of a young Catholic in a precise stereotype: boring and with a limited view on the world. There were questions about pre-marital relations, on living and preaching the Gospel, the prejudices that exist in the Church today and the choices I was making in life at that time. I had to think for a few days before accepting the invitation. So many thoughts were going around in my head, ‘You do not know who will see this program. Maybe my college friends, my neighbours, my teachers, people who do not accept me because of my faith.’ I was sure that with this interview I would transmit a certain image of myself to the whole country, the image of a girl who devotes her life to the Church and to the building of a united world. And I didn’t feel happy about that. I had to take a huge step to overcome this fear of revealing my soul, my ideals, before an audience of a million and a half people. I finally said yes. The interview went very well. There will be people who see the interview and make negative comments or will not want to stay in touch with me. However, the intense and infinite Love that I feel inside of me for having remained faithful to God and to his plan on me as a young Catholic gives me great joy. I could not have given a greater testimony of my faith and my passion for a united world.”
See Vatican Radio article. Pope’s message to the young people
![The Philippines: Feeling at Home]()
7 Oct 2014 | Non categorizzato
Małgorzata Szwarc (left) with her university friends.
![The Philippines: Feeling at Home]()
5 Oct 2014 | Non categorizzato
The world is moving faster and I’m moving slower. Every time I figure out how a thing works someone comes up with something better and, of course, faster. The eyes are failing and the hearing’s shot. The joints are creaking and the digestive system isn’t doing much better, but I’ve discovered lots of chances to be creative in problem solving. Let me share with you seven ways that I have learned to keep living a full life at 93.
1. Giving
The space one occupies as we grow older shrinks, and I’m constantly eliminating things once thought to be indispensable. It’s easier to do this, when one is in the habit of keeping only what one needs. Recently, I gave something away that afterward I realized I needed. Then I thought that the person would make good use of it, and God would take care of me. In fact, a few days later I received from someone else exactly the thing I had given away. So I’ve just decided that giving as a lifestyle never ages, and the hundredfold is always new.
2. New friendship
Everyone is concerned about children when they start school and have to make all new friends, but no one even thinks about a 90-year-old moving into an assisted-living facility and having to start from scratch. She too has to make new friends, because the ones she knew have all died, and she can’t even go home at the end of the day! I’ve had to learn to listen to people who may think very differently and figure out just how each one wants to be loved. I make many mistakes and want to give up at times, but I always try to remember to start again.
3. Prayer
Something that actually gets easier as one gets older is spending more time praying. I used to be very active, so now I try to be just as active praying for everyone. I try to find out everything that is going on, so my list of intentions is up to date. I pray one rosary for my family, another for the Church and the Focolare family here and around the globe, and finally one for all of the problems in the world. I miss going to Mass and feel blessed whenever someone comes to take me, or the priest is able to come where I live. You might think that by 93 I would have worked out the kinks in my life, but I find myself doing the same things I’ve been trying to correct my entire life. Thank God I have learned how to start again in the next moment. Maybe that’s what keeps me young.
4. Health
I’ve found new ways to live the aspect of my life that deals with health and illness. Since it’s pretty clear that my holy journey is nearing its completion, it is still wonderful to be able to go to exercise class, to eat properly, to put in my eye drops and take all my medications as prescribed. I admit that I sometimes get a little downhearted when I see the cost of medications, but then I try to remember to trust in God. I have a pretty active relationship with those who have left for heaven. I entrust different things to different people and ask for strength when the going gets a little tough. I have also been helped by John Paul II’s Letter to the Elderly and by the example of his life. It takes a real act of faith to believe in the value of your life when many around you see things differently.
5. Harmony
I don’t need many clothes or much furniture, but I try to keep what I have in order. With my eyesight so poor, I’m not sure if the colors match, and I might be tempted to think, “Who cares anyway?” But then I remember that even at 93 I have to try to be an expression of the beauty of God in the way I dress and the harmony of my apartment. This gives so much meaning to the little things I’m still able to do.
6. Learning
I’ve always loved learning new things, so I study the documents of the Holy Father (when I can get them in big print) and watch DVDs on the catechism or other topics. I know I’ll never practice nursing again, but it’s part of my vocation to stay on top of the latest advances in my profession. So I keep up to date, and maybe something I read or hear might be useful for someone else. I love wisdom and pray often to the Holy Spirit to help me not say useless words.
7. Connections
I used to keep in touch with people by sending cards or by phone. Instead, times have changed, and, just as I needed to learn to drive at 50, I now have had to learn how to use email so I can get the news and stay in touch with everyone. It is slow going, since I only know how to move that mouse in one particular way. I almost gave up recently, but my family and friends helped me to keep up my courage. It almost seems like a miracle, but, notwithstanding my eyesight, I read every issue of Living City from cover to cover. I also watch the news every day to keep myself informed of what’s going on in the world. Reading about a world that tends toward unity helps me to be hopeful in the midst of so much tragedy. I really believe in a united world.
My conclusion? Yes, it is a little challenging to be 93, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a full and rewarding time.
Agatha O’Donnell
From Living City Magazine
