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1 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
Yesterday, 31 August, the busy day began at the Hungarian Parliament where an international youth delegation from the Genfest were welcomed. This was followed in the afternoon by a grand celebration in the esplanade of the Sports Arena, the opening of an “Expo of Eastern Europe” performance and sport activities with live interviews transmitted over the radio. In the evening there was the festive evening concert with young artists from five continents, preceded by the greetings of the Mayor of Budapest Tarlos Istvan, by the General President of UNESCO MS Katalina Bogyay.
Pope Benedict XVI sent a message giving his warm greetings to all the young people present. Referring to the Genfest motto “Let’s bridge” and to the bridges destroyed in the Second World War, the Pope affirmed: “Yet out of the ashes of that terrible conflict, there arose a determination to build peace on lasting foundations, a determination which was to be the inspiration behind the founding of the Focolare Movement. The bridges across the Danube were rebuilt, and the international community set itself the goal of eliminating once and for all the conditions that might lead to future conflict.”
“While Budapest itself, together with much of Eastern Europe, continued to suffer under the oppression of a totalitarian regime, there too, new possibilities for freedom and fraternal outreach have come about since the end of the Cold War. May this beautiful city be a sign of hope to inspire all the young people present to offer the hand of friendship to those from other backgrounds and cultures, “in such a way as to shape the earthly city in unity and peace, rendering it to some degree an anticipation and foreshadowing of the undivided city of God” (Caritas in Veritate, 7).”
Today, 1 September, there was the presentation of the several national delegations and the first part of “Let’s bridge”, the metaphor of the various phases in building a bridge. There will also be alternating reflections and witnesses by the youths from around the world who are committed to bringing about universal brotherhood in today’s world.
A solemn moment took place when the United World Project was launched. This project was conceived and developed by the youth of the Focolare Movement and open to everyone’s collaboration, which will be launched in its first phase in Budapest, aims to highlight and promote fraternity already under way by individuals, groups and nations. It will also start up a permanent international Observatory, recognized by the UN.
It is to these young people in particular that Maria Voce addressed her talk this afternoon, challenging them to: “Look on high. Set your gazes far, it is there that you’ll find something certain that you can grab onto. Look to the Love that is God. He is the only One who doesn’t disappoint you. Place yourselves on his side, trying to see the world and things with his eyes and you’ll be firm pillars of new bridges upon which everyone will walk happy and secure, and others will follow you.”
With their intense silence the young people absorbed her every word.
“Then, have no fear!” she continued, “Be yourselves and enter personally into society, and place your small or great personality at its service, your abilities and your talents. You make a unique contribution, one that will never be repeated again, different from that of the adults. . . You are now called to spend your lives for something immense, leaving behind you something immortal”.
At this point Maria Voce urged everyone: “So you need step into action. . . Begin to love concretely. The first step will not involve grand scale actions, but those small acts of love that make life great and have the power to change the world and influence society. . . And never allow the bridges that have been built today to lessen. The first bridge was built right here among yourselves. . . You’ve constructed a small bit of united world and each of you carries the strength of this experience within you. . . And so you shall file forth from this Sport Arena like a great river of love”.
She concluded by recalling a statement made by the founder, Chiara Lubich: “The world needs more soul, more love. And this is what we should bring to it!” She wished them: “Courage, then! All of us united in this beautiful adventure!”
In the evening there will be a large “Flashmob” – tranmsitted through live streaming – held simultaneously with other flashmobs around the world. The one in Hungary will take place at the historical Chain Bridge over the Danube. It aims to show the commitment of the Youth for Unity to build bridges among people, countries, religions and cultures.
Address by Maria Voce
Message sent by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
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28 Aug 2012 | Non categorizzato
My first contact with Fr. Andrea Balbo and another Franciscan friar from the Friars Minor, was on the steps of St. John Lateran’s Archbasilica in Rome, Italy (1953). It was a encounter,including an invitation to the Focolare Movement‘s summer gathering in the Dolomite Mountains. I don’t recall how long he was able to stay up in the mountains, but he returned to Rome with many of us on the same train. Chiara Lubich was sitting with him in his train compartment and she gave him the name Father “Novo” (New).
Then I remember, in 1954, his words were rather crucial for Chiara at Fr. Pasquale Foresi’s ordination, when Chiara was undergoing both spiritual and physical trials.
Later on the superiors of his Order sent him to the Holy Land and it was precisely through the love of Fr. Novo that Chiara went there in 1956. We were a small travelling party: Bishop Pavel Hnilica (Fr Maria), Fr Angelo Bghetto (Nazareno), Fr Pasquale Foresi, Guido Mirti (Cengia), Aletta and I. In those days, the Holy Land was largely in Palestinian territory. With great competence, Fr. Novo toured around the sites associated with the life of Jesus: Jerusalem, Bethany, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Jericho, the Dead Sea…
A week later as we were leaving for Beirut, seeing tears in his eyes, Chiara turned to me and asked: “Would you like to stay a while longer?” And so I stayed behind in the Holy Land for another few months, sharing the Ideal with the Franciscan Fathers and people they knew.
During those years in which the Movement was under investigation by the Church, Bishop Gawlina, Fr Maria, Fr Nazereno and Fr Novo began the Mystici Corporis League to be an umbrella under which the Movement was able to carry out its activities.
There were a few hard years especially for our priests and consecrated men religious. I recall how after the Second Vatican Council, Fr. Novo worked as an archivist with Cardinal Konig for thirteen years at the Secretariat for the non-believers, which had just been erected by Paul VI (and is now called the Pontifical Council for Culture).
In 1962 there was a first approval by the Holy See. But only after a private conversation between Chiara and Paul VI and later John Paul II was the Work of Mary able to express her true physiognomy. In 1990 Chiara declared that the Work of Mary was accomplished and that “Mary” contains all the vocations.
It is a charism of unity which is all Gospel, one which even people who follow different charisms, both ancient and new, are also able to share. The Work of Mary is to be “alter Maria” (other Mary) who brings Jesus to light and, in Him, all His features that the saints have highlighted through the centuries. It brings out the diverse beauty of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Over time the other branches of the Movement were born: the men and women focolarini, the men and women volunteers, the priests and religious – each of them attached to the Work of Mary in their own way, but all of them carriers of the same charism of unity.
In 1980 Fr Novo was given permission by his superiors to dedicate himself to the consecrated religious members of the Movement. Then he was able to be much more involved in the practical developments: starting a school of formation in the charism of unity for men religious at the permanent Mariapolis of Loppiano; promoting summer gatherings; and creating local secretariats in zones that had consecrated men religious who belonged to the Movement in different parts of the world.
He was a great friend of Fr Silvano Cola who was responsible for the diocesan priests of the Focolare Movement.
When the Abba School started with Bishop Klaus Hemmerle, Chiara invited the religious to be part of it, bringing with them the richness of their own charisms. They included Fr Jesus Castellano OCD, Fr Fabio Ciardi OMI and, first among all, Fr Novo OFM.
Fr Novo remained at the Focolare’s Centre for Consecrated Religious Men, faithful to the ideal of unity, for as long as his health lasted. He had a personal relationship with Chiara also as her confessor. In the difficult moments and in the long trials, he was there for her with exceptional availability. It was he who administered the Sacrament of the Sick to Chiara at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
Now we imagine him in Heaven being embraced not only by the Trinity, but also by Mary, since he helped to build her Work. Now he is with Chiara, Foco, Fr Maria, Fr Nazareno, Fr Massimei, Fr Svastano, Fr Cik and Fr Leonardi who were all members of the first centre for consecrated men religious. Then there were so many focolarini and focolarine who benefited from his counsel, and so many others.
Let us t thank Fr Novo for his faithfulness to the Work of Mary. Just recently he wanted to return to the Centre of the Movement and now he’s buried here in Rocca di Papa, in the common tomb of many first focolarini and focolarine. And on this common tomb are engraved the words: “We have believed in Love”.
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27 Aug 2012 | Non categorizzato
There is much expectation now that we are only a few hours away from the Genfest. This year will be the tenth edition of the gathering which was begun from an intuition of Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) while she was on a visit to Loppiano, Italy in 1973. Right from the start Chiara Lubich shared her dream with the young people present: “I’ve always had so much trust in the young,” she said, “they are the world’s future! They are made for the great ideals and are able to follow them with radicalness. The discovery of a Gospel that comes to life and brings about what it promises is precisely what draws them the most. It is the ideal of a united world that fascinates them.”
The young people of the Focolare have been working for more than a year, together with adults from the Movement, in a communion of ideas and professional experiences. Three-thousand volunteers are involved in the event and six hundred actors and technical staff from around the world. We introduce you to a few of them.
Ark from the Philippines: “I’m a nurse and I don’t’ have much experience organizing grand events like this one, but trying to live the Gospel helps me to see each moment – both the positive ones and the negative ones – as an opportunity to love and build relationships of fraternity with the people around me.”
Luca says: “I work in the general production commission, but I studied optometry. Being able to forgive when necessary keeps the needle of the compass always pointed toward the “North” (Upward). It’s extraordinary.”
Zsolt is a Hungarian economist, who will be in charge of one of the lodgings where the young guests will be staying. He can’t hold back his enthusiasm: “I can’t wait to help out at the buffet during the general practice!”
Then there is Lisa who comes from Austria and will be singing one of the twelve songs, composed by the youths of the Focolare from different areas of the world, which won the Genfest music contest. Twenty-seven year old Rafael is a publicist who left his job in Brazil to dedicate himself to the preparation of this event in which he will be co-responsible for the communications sector.
Marua from Argentina confides: “Doing this work” (she is taking care of the Genfest’s Spanish language Facebook page) “I discovered that the united world will not only be happening at the Genfest in Budapest, but we’re already beginning to live it in the preparations, with this team of workers.”Adelard from Burundy will be playing music with sixteen other youths, and Pelusa from Argentings is one of four members of the band “Anima Uno” (One Soul).
Fabricio is a civil engineer from Peru who truly expressed the experience of all: “We have it strong in our hearts that universal brotherhood is not a utopian dream. It’s a lifestyle we’ve chosen and we want to bring it ahead through small concrete actions leading up to the big event. We are aware that we’re young and we don’t have resources on our own, but we’re putting everything we have into it. The journey has already begun!”
There are many fans (between the ages of 18 and 24) following the official channels of the event on social network, in several languages. Every week 76,000 people are being reached.
To follow the event on Twitter, the hashtag is: #genfest.
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22 Aug 2012 | Non categorizzato
Fatima, 19 August. It was the high moment of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti’s visit to Portugal: the meeting with all the members of the Focolare from every corner of Portugal, including the most distant islands. It was a long-awaited meeting, since it had been postponed for eight months. A true feast in an atmosphere of “rejoicing” that has been the mark of every day of this visit.
“I’ve come to Fatima to entrust the Focolare Movement to Our Lady together with all of you,” the president told everyone. Few people realize that the Focolare Movement was officially approved by the Catholic Church with the name “Work of Mary” because of its nature which is very lay and “Marian”. And so our link to the Mother of Jesus is quite strong, strong as that of the Portuguese. It is this link that forms the very identity of the Portuguese people and reaches beyond religious or secular beliefs. It impregnates the music, the culture, the art, the architecture of their world and their way of expressing themselves. They are people who do things seriously, with sobriety and discretion and harmony. The ancestral relationship of the Portuguese with “Nnossa Senhora” (Our Lady) is quite striking. As far back as 1646, King Dom Joao IV offered his crown to the Immaculate Virgin, entrusting his people to Her and proclaiming Her “Rainha de Portugal” (Queen of Portugal). Ever since then no king has ever wanted to wear the crown that still belongs to no one but Her.”
In the morning after a lively dialogue with 140 Gen3 who together with the adults are committed to living for a more united world, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti were welcomed to Paul VI Hall by 1,800 members of the Movement who are the main animators of the more than 25,000 people who belong to the Focolare family in this land.
In a growing atmosphere of joy, the various Focolare communities were presented from around the country, and they shared testimonies and projects in this moment of economic crisis, that assist those who are in need. It was a real lesson on living the Gospel. Maria Voce exclaimed: “I seem to see many lights, many burning fires that are spread all over, fires that illumine and warm those who draw near to them.” This was followed by a very solemn moment as the faces of members of the Movement filed across the screen, adults, priests, children and religious who have concluded their earthly journey but continue to give witness with their lives that the life of the Spirituality of Unity is a new way of holiness.
Then there was an open discussion. Miguel (9 years old), asked Maria Voce what she thought when she was elected to be president of the Movement. “It seemed to me,” she replied, “that Jesus was asking me: ‘Do you love me? Do you want to help in bringing Chiara’s work forward? If you love me, I’ll help you!’ Now, what would you have said if you were in my place? You would certainly have said: ‘Let’s do it together then!’” Next the Gen4 handed over to her the money they had saved for the poor and needy children of the world.
This was followed by questions from youths and adults: on how to become involved in the local parish community; how to reconcile work commitments with the Movement and the family. There was a very strong desire in everyone to imitate Mary, to live a more sober life, and to discern a vocation. They also spoke about inculturation and the role of Portugal in the context of Europe and, in particular, the specific contribution of the Movement in this regard. The size of the crowd with so many youths moved Maria Voce to say: “Portugal can certainly say that they have youths! And then here you feel such a strong and particular presence of Mary that you (Portuguese) are able to witness better than anyone else.”
In the afternoon a “Musical” was performed by both young and old. The plot opened with a glimpse into Portuguese history and the arrival of the Focolare Movement in the 1960’s. The main elements of the Portuguese culture were presented: the sacredness of fado music, the famous singing groups from Alentejo in south-central Portugal; the colourful popular dances from different regions and from the islands; modern dance and the songs from the youths. The engaging history was accompanied by images on a giant screen.
The busy day flew by in a flash. Everyone left Fatima with a desire to bring this “rejoicing” everywhere, this fire of Gospel love that was burning in the hearts of all.
By Gustavo Clariá
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21 Aug 2012 | Non categorizzato
The message from the 300 representatives of the Focolare Movement’s Youth for Unity, was addressed to the Venerable Kojun Handa, 256th High Priest of the Tendai Buddhist denomination. Among other things, it states: “We feel that we can sincerely assure you all of our nearness and friendship as we renew our commitment to the diffusion of a culture of peace.” Their message had been read at the conclusion of the 25th Meeting of Interreligious Prayer for Peace that was held in Kyoto on 3-4 August thanks to the initiatives of the Tendai School, in collaboration with several religious organizations from Japan. The gathering was entitled “Raging Natural Disasters and the Role of Religious Leaders”. It was meant to be a moment to reflect on humankind’s relationship with nature following the earthquake, tsunami and tragic nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2012.
At the opening ceremonies were present more than 1,200 people, including sixteen representatives from outside religions, and also many religious leaders from the Land of the Rising Sun. The introduction to the event, which included images of Fukushima, highlighted the fact that the natural disaster re-awakened in the people of Japan, and in others as well, the values of prayer and relationships among all.
Pope Benedict XVI sent a message to the Venerable Kojun Handa which was read by Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Among other things, the message states: “The commitment to the cause of peace on the part of religious leaders is of greatest importance (…). I am certain that the work at the Summit and the Symposium that studies the answer of the religious leaders to the natural disasters will bring greater solidarity and mutual collaboration.”
There was also a moment of silent prayer for the victims of war and natural disasters. Very moving was the appeal for help and for prayers from Mar Gregorios Ibrahim, Orthodox Metropolitan, who was able to travel from Syria. This was followed by a series of presentations on how to help the victims of natural disasters and on the positions of the various religions regarding nuclear energy after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The meeting concluded on 4 August at Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, with the ceremony of prayer for peace. Also present at the Meeting were many teenagers and young people from the Tendai. Within this context, Christina Lee who was representing the Focolare Movement, read the message from the 300 teenagers who belong to Youth for Unity. “The theme chosen for this year’s gathering,” the young teenagers write, “is particularly dear to our hearts. In fact, we teenagers are well aware that our future and that of the next generations depend upon the respectful relationship of human beings with the natural environment.” Then recalling the Golden Rule that is present in all the holy books and written in the hearts of all people: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12), they concluded: “We promise to begin living it right away and we ask for your support in spreading this appeal from us among many teenagers of all the religions, because we are certain that every tiny step taken toward peace, if united to many others, will move us ever closer to this goal.”
