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12 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato
Msgr Lazzaro You Heung-sik
This 38th meeting of bishops was based on the central theme, “The Eucharist, mystery of Communion”, about which Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement gave her reflection, starting from the experience and spiritual doctrine of Chiara Lubich. The development of the Movement was initially linked to the sacrament instituted by Christ in the Last Supper; it led Chiara to state more than once that the Work of Mary was born from this relationship “between her and Jesus in the Eucharist”. The power of the sacrament of unity appeared as the root and nourishment of the Church, leading to the communion amongst brothers within the family of the children of God, inspiring all towards a profound dialogue with everyone, believers and non believers. Through discussion with Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Falletti, the participants could deepen their understanding of the principle themes which will be the subject of the next General Assembly of the Focolari, during the coming September at Castelgandolofo (Rome). There was ample time for reflection and sharing about the present challenges of the Church and the various shades that these can take in the different continents. 
The 52 bishops then concelebrated the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Trent together with the Arhbishop of the place, Luigi Bressan, who said that their cathedral had never contained so many bishops and cardinals since the time of the conclusion of the Council of Trent on the 4th December 1563. The meeting was held as part of the initiative, started 38 years ago by Chiara Lubich and Mons. Klaus Hemmerle, Bishop of Aquisgrana. At present the moderator is Msgr Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok. The city chosen this time was Trent, where the founder of the Focolare Movement was born and during the turbulent years of the Second World War. In the dramatic scene of much conflict in the world, the return to the origins of the spirituality of unity has resulted in the participants from suffering regions finding a motive of hope and a confirmation that God never abandons his people.
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9 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato
The youth of the Focolare Movement are mobilizing their contacts around the world to work for peace through the launch of an appeal which affirms the need to practice dialogue as a way to find a solution for conflicts, and it encourages each person to start practicing this on a personal level while proclaiming the message to governments and policy makers. 
The initiative, which starts on August 15, aims at involving people from all over the world who would like to adhere to this idea, wherever they are, through a page on Facebook where they can sign their membership by posting messages, clips and photos wearing something white. This initiative fits in the various peace campaigns that are being held in individual countries during this time. “Dialogue to unlock” will continue during the coming months while it collaborates with other peace initiatives. “We appeal to governments on all sides of the conflict to end the use of violent means,” the young people write. They intend to take action locally by inviting everyone to be “promoters of dialogue in everyday life”. A current account has been opened for contributions towards the many emergency situations caused by the current conflicts. Its details are the following: C/bank account no. 120434, payable to: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” Via Frascati, 342 – 00040 Rocca di Papa (Rome, Italy) Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma
IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 – SWIFT/BIC CCRTIT2184D Description: Emergency Middle East
Tax deduction is possible for European donors.
27 Jun 2014 | Non categorizzato, Word of
‘Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
You have probably read in the gospels how often Jesus urges us to pray, and he also teaches us how to receive what we ask for. But this prayer is truly original. For it to be answered, it must be offered by several people, by a community. Jesus says: ‘If two of you…’ Two. It’s the smallest number for a community. What matters to Jesus, therefore, is not the number, but that there should more than one believer. In Judaic tradition, as you may know, it’s an accepted fact that God takes pleasure in prayer offered together, but here Jesus says something new: ‘If two of you agree…’ He wants several people, but he wants them united; he stresses their unanimity. He wants them to have one voice. Of course, they have to agree on what to ask, but their request must be based above all upon the agreement of their hearts. Jesus affirms, in practice, that the condition for getting what we ask is our mutual love.
‘Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
You might be wondering why prayers offered in unity are more pleasing to the Father. The reason, perhaps, is that these are the most purified kinds of prayer. For isn’t it true that our prayers are often reduced to little more than a series of selfish requests that make you think more of beggars before a king than of children with their father? What we ask for together with others is certainly less tainted with personal interests. In contact with others we are more likely to be open to their needs and share them. But it’s not only that. It’s easier for two or three persons to understand just what to ask the Father. So, if we want our prayer to be heard, it’s better to keep exactly to what Jesus says, namely:
‘Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
Jesus himself tells us the secret of this prayer’s success. It’s summed up in those words, ‘gathered in my name.’ When we are united like this, he is present among us, and whatever we ask together with him will be received more easily. For it is Jesus, present where mutual love unites hearts, who himself asks the Father together with us for the grace we seek. Can you imagine the Father not hearing Jesus? The Father and Christ are one. Isn’t this amazing? Doesn’t it inspire trust? And make you confident?
‘Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
At this point, you’re probably interested in knowing what Jesus wants you to pray for. He himself makes it very clear: ‘anything.’ He sets no limits. From now on, then, why not add this type of prayer to your daily life? Perhaps your family, or you yourself, or your friends, or the groups you belong to, or your country, or the world round about you, lack countless useful things because you’ve not asked for them. Get together with the people close to you, with whoever understands you or shares your ideals. Having set yourselves to loving one another as the Gospel commands, be so united that you have the presence of Jesus among you. Then ask. Ask as much as you can. Ask during worship. Ask in church. Ask anywhere at all. Ask before making a decision. Ask for anything. And, above all, don’t act in such a way as to disappoint Jesus by not caring after he has given you such an opportunity. People will smile more; the sick will find hope; children will grow up better protected, homes be more harmonious; the world’s huge problems will become faceable even in the intimacy of the family… And you will gain Paradise, because prayer for the needs of the living and the dead is also one of the works of mercy that will be asked of us when we are judged at the end of our lives.
Chiara Lubich
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12 Jun 2014 | Non categorizzato
Burundi. “This area experienced dramatic events in 1994 – the AMU workers tell us -: The population was caught up in killings, reprisals, robberies, wholesale destruction of homes and goods. Living and hygiene conditions are still deplorable, and the worst effected are women and children. The vulnerable families of these towns are very numerous and many of the children don’t go to school; often they are brought up by single women with children, weakened by years of war and hardships, and they don’t have resources of any kind, without any hope of improvement.” In 2014 a new project was set up in the metropolitan area of Bujumbura together with a partner association CASOBU , in collaboration with the Associazione Uomo Mondo of Treviso (Italy) and with co-funding from the Veneto Regional Council in Italy. In the working through of the project, in dialogue with the beneficiaries, the institutions and the staff of CASOBU, certain needs were identified as priorities. An attempt to address these needs will be made through a series of activities aimed to help 250 vulnerable families, totalling 1,500 people altogether. 
Camerun. The construction of the water well at Nega (Cameroon) has been completed, and it has become a place of meeting and sharing. “We can say that everyone – adults, children and the elderly – have helped build the well – (AMU Notizie n. 4/2013) – through physical labour and the transport of stones and sand. A small annual fee for maintenance is also asked of each family according to the possibilities of each, thanks to the sale of cocoa and other produce grown. This direct involvement makes everyone feel the well as his or her own: an asset to protect. ” Prior to the construction, the villagers had been informed and trained, through community meetings, on how to take care of the well and use water responsibly. The well, also, was built at a transit point, so travellers can use it too. Fr Simon Pierre, a priest of the parish, writes: “Without exaggeration, we can say that the construction of the well has brought visible benefits to the village. Everyone now has drinking water so there is an improvement in terms of health; for example, there are fewer people with abdominal pains. The well has become a place of meeting and sharing between people and this helps to unite the community.” Source: AMU Notizie n. 2/2014
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11 Jun 2014 | Non categorizzato
In the early 1960’s, Sicily was far from Trent and seemed inaccessible. Yet since that time, through the first group of the Focolare Movement, the spirituality of unity spread in many towns of this island in the far south of Italy. Among these Scicli, which has 25 thousand inhabitants, is a town which is a jewel of the baroque period and has been declared a World Heritage Site. It overlooks the Strait of Sicily and has found itself at the centre of the new migrant influx of these times, like Agrigento, Pozzallo and others that we often hear mentioned as places where migrants from north Africa come to land. By nature, the people are welcoming, but Jesus’ invitation “That all may be one” (John 17:21) and the suggestions of Chiara Lubich about the way to follow for those who wish to conquer their own city for God, over the years have motivated the Scicli Focolare community to seize every opportunity to reach out to many people: a dialogue with Christians of different churches, support for immigrant youth, a New Year’s Eve initiative not to leave anyone alone, Italian lessons, a day care centre animated by children for children, a meals service which turned into a project (“One family, one table”), and more. 
“There are members of the Methodist Church living in our city,” says Ignatius Ventura from Scicli. Already in the 1990’s a deep dialogue of communion and sharing of ideas started with them. Together we decided to run a weekly canteen for the many immigrants in our city.” “Hichem and Samia are a young Tunisian couple who recently came to Scicli. We supported them as they tried to sort out their modest house. Worried about their precarious financial situation, they told us that they were expecting a baby. It was the concrete love of many that reassured to go ahead with the pregnancy. After the first few moments of joy, the birth of their child, Deyssem, turned into an alarming race against time. Due to an abnormality: an operation was needed within a few hours! We were with them in this delicate moment. We had to arrange the transfer to Rome. One of our community offered to accompany the child and his dad. The operation was completely successful and the child was saved.” Around that time, together with other institutions, the Scicli community founded an intercultural reception centre named “The Source” and responded to an appeal launched by the City Council for Italian language lessons for migrant youth which were given three times a week, for two consecutive years. The result was a performance in which North African and Scicli youth gave the best of themselves. 
Inspired by the ‘Manifesto’ that Chiara gave to the new generations, “One city is not enough”, since 2005 the “Teens for Unity” look after children in a day care centre which some Religious Sisters run. Here children from difficult situations have lunch and spend the afternoon. A rota was organized for playing with them and for helping them with their homework. The social worker and the psychologist have said that the presence of the “Teens for Unity” is very important for children. In 2006 the families of the Focolare were asked to contribute to the formation of the families of the children of the Centre. These were Albanian families, from a different religion and culture, families which were separated and some of which had parents in prison or under house arrest … “Our support to the centre and to the Sisters gave us many opportunities to establish relationships of mutual help and assistance, even when all we could do was to listen and try to understand their suffering. This was how the “One family, one table” project started: a meal organized for sixty people, one Sunday a month. Ignatius concludes, “We are experiencing that the spirit of family spirit exists beyond cultural barriers. It’s really true that by giving ourselves to others we experience peace in our souls and the freedom of being children of God.
