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United World: Let’s Show It!

United World: Let’s Show It!

23 Mar 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

MichelleSopala

Michelle Sopala

When I think back on the Genfest 1995, I can’t only think of the event, itself, although who could forget the dances, the faces, the excitement, the event and the very strong experiences of the participants. In fact, before all the excitement of those two days at the Palaeur in Rome, my thoughts go back to the intense experience of unity built during the months and especially the weeks before the event. I can’t really remember the details, but every time we got together to prepare for it, the result was a deeper and stronger union with God. Strange, I know, but before beginning the concrete stuff, I remember we always tried to put everything into perspective: we weren’t doing this just for fun (although fun, it was!), but we were doing it because we believed it could be a contribution to the united world that we all dreamed of… a world where all relationships were based on mutual love and respect, and could overcome all divisions. Then we got to work, trying not the sway from the goal. First, the ideas. Then came the song, the dance, the rap… Each little piece was born from giving our ideas, losing them, trying to be full of love and empty of ourselves in order to really understand the others. That took sweat, energy, pain…, but for some reason it filled us with a special joy and happiness. We gave our all, but ready to lose it all. And that was the deal, because as much as we were working, we didn’t even know if the piece would be chosen by the central organizing committee in Rome or not. And even if chosen, we knew it could be cancelled up to the last minute. But, with that said, full-speed ahead! Genfest1995And now for the Genfest, itself! Even though it was a life-changing event in all its aspects, I can’t hide it: for me the highlight was the meeting with Chiara. I don’t know if the other 12 thousand young people in the arena felt the same, but I felt like Chiara was talking to me, and me alone. When Noel asked her the final question, «Chiara, from the bottom of your heart, what would you like to say to us young people?», her answer rang out like a war-call that still rings in my ears. With a super-astute intuition and understanding of what the young heart yearns for, she quoted St. Catherine who had told her disciples not to be satisfied with small things because “God wants them big!”. «You, young people – she said, with a conviction that went straight to the heart – don’t be satisfied with crumbs… with small joys… but aim high and seek the fullness of joy: that joy that comes from living out unity!» Hmm. For better or for worse, that’s been my experience ever since. “Unity”? A deep word that I’m still discovering after these 23 years. But that “fullness of joy”? Yep! I’ve found it! Oh! …and by the way, our performance was chosen. Take a look. Hope you like it! Michelle Sopala

https://youtu.be/LX6rNkyGjoE

Pre Synod Preparation: young people and the Church

Pre Synod Preparation: young people and the Church

22 Mar 2018 | Non categorizzato

Jonathan Michelon

Jonathan, what is actually happening? “There are group and plenary sessions. There are about twenty groups in total, divided  according to language – English, French, Spanish and Italian. Each group has a facilitator and someone who takes notes.  The members of the group have to work together and answer fifteen  questions that have arisen from the Synod Document.  The responses from each group will form the basis of a document that will be given to the Synod Fathers.” Tell me more about the questions. “The first section is about the challenges and opportunities that young people experience in the world today.  For example, it refers to personality development, relationships with people of other nationalities, inter religious challenges, diversity seen as opportunity, young people and the future, their dreams, their attitude to technology, their search for meaning in life and the relationship between what is sacred and what is mundane in life.” What about the second section? “That part refers to faith, vocation, the specific role of young people in the world, discernment and accompaniment as a vocation develops. There are also questions about their relationship with Jesus, about how they see Jesus in the twenty-first century.  The last part focuses on pastoral formation and activities provided by the Church; it’s really about how young people see and experience the Church nowadays.” Where do the young people in your group come from? “Some come from  Europe – Slovenia, Germany, Greece and Poland – but there are also people from other continents. One person comes from as far away as the Islands of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean.  A young Sikh boy talked about his faith and the relationship he has with the spiritual leaders in the temple where he worships. He said they are always there as a source of peace and encouragement for everyone. There is also a young Anglican boy from Zimbabwe who is studying for the priesthood. I feel they speak with great wisdom:  discussion is always very open and enriching.” Have you been struck by any of the experiences they shared? “Yes, there was one in particular.  A young Polish doctor, who is part of the Neocatechumenal Way, spoke about an association that he and his wife have founded that cares for people who are dying. The first day, there was a reflection upon the meaning of suffering that was based upon the experience of Chiara Luce Badano and I think this helped them to speak openly about what they are doing. The members of this association spend time with people who are dying, they provide medical assistance but also ask these people to offer up their sufferings for others. In doing this, these people leave the earth “full of life” because, as the young man said, ‘Dying is the most beautiful time in life because we are drawing close to God who we love more than anyone else.’” The young people from the Focolare have been asked to help with the liturgy for the Mass each day and with the time for  meditation… “Yes, some young people from Loppiano and from the Gen Centre in Rome formed a choir which is beginning to take in other people. They asked people with talent to help with the music for the Mass. A violinist joined them yesterday.  It’s a really good experience.” Are the young people happy with what is happening?  “We are beginning to realise that this is a historic moment in the Catholic Church. This is the first time in two thousand years that there has been a synod  about young people in which  young people are  participating! But  it’s natural for them to play a role in the Church. They are the Church. They treat the Pope and the Cardinal as their best friends – shaking hands with them, embracing them  – it’s beautiful to see.” What’s it like for you?  “It’s an absolutely unique experience. You realise how great the Church is and the impact it makes in the world.  There is the whole world here – the universality of the Church.” Source: Loppiano online

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/976421224095076352

Hope in sight for Aleppo

Hope in sight for Aleppo

22 Mar 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

20180322-01bThe story of Jean and Vivian is a story of love, hope and courage. They met in Aleppo, Syria, in 2000 while belonging to the Focolare Movement. Vivian is a widow with a one year-old son who is totally deaf. Jean is a carpenter and socially active. Their common commitment to living the Gospel and bringing the ideal of a united world to humanity brought them closer and, in 2003 they got married and have four children. Vivian’s first son, Marc, was the motivation behind their adventure. Because of his need for special care, Vivian went to Lebanon where Marc would later follow and stay at a centre run by the Focolare: “It’s really a foretaste of Heaven,” he says. “Living the Gospel in daily life accompanies the whole educational process. The children grow up in this oasis of peace and develop their talents while overcoming their handicap. The dream began to grow in me of setting up an institute myself, in my own city of Aleppo.” Jean supported him in his venture and, in 2005, their small centre was begun. Other larger ones would follow with larger capacity for up to ten children, all from poor families who couldn’t afford the cost. The centre was always in deficit: “Whenever we needed something,” Jean recalls, “we’d go in front of the crucifix and hand over our needs to Him. Providence arrived right on time every time.” 1395739130-720x0-c-defaultThe breakout of the war in 2011 brought much death and destruction. Jean lost his carpentry, the centre wasn’t having any financial input and many were living on help from the Church and humanitarian organizations. Many left the country and, even though Jean and Vivian were tormented at the thought, they bought tickets to go. But one thing became clearer and clearer in their hearts: they couldn’t leave “their” deaf children and destroy that dream that had come true with so much effort. “On the night before our departure, I stepped into church,” Jeans says, “I had a deep conversation with Jesus, face to face, man to man. He seemed to speak in my heart and asked me not to go: what would the children now? I felt him posing this tragic question to me. I put my children in His hands. I went home and Vivian and I decided to rip up the tickets and stay in the city forever to be a help to the people who needed us.” “We were hopeful that God would accompany and support us in all our future projects and especially in our family,” echoed Vivian, “and that’s what happened.” Now the centre is their second home, their children also take part in the life of the group and Jean works full time “This community has widened our hearts. There is no longer boy or girl, student or teacher, healthy or handicapped, Muslim or Christian. We live in the one love and beneath the same gaze of a God-Love, incarnate, living in our midst.”

The feast of the “new day”

The feast of the “new day”

21 Mar 2018 | Non categorizzato

b6dc1756de The celebration of the Persian New Year coincides with the vernal equinox which marks the beginning of spring, on 21 March, day in which many countries of Asia and Eastern Europe celebrate the feast of Nawroz (literally “new day”) proclaimed the international day of the United Nations which in 2009 was officially registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity. Nawroz is an ancient, happy and joyous feast, estimated to be celebrated by 300 million people. Connected to the idea of the rebirth of nature, it is  pervaded by a rich symbolism and promotes values of peace, reconciliation, solidarity between generations, friendship among families, peoples and communities.

A world without prejudice

21 Mar 2018 | Non categorizzato

Could it be that there are still prejudices based on the colour of the skin despite the great achievements of the last century? Many steps have been taken, but work needs to be done to completely eliminate all forms of inequality. On 21 March, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, established in 1966 by the United Nations, reminds us of the massacre in Sharpeville, South Africa, which occurred on 21 March 1960. On that day, perhaps the bloodiest in apartheid history, the police opened fire on a crowd of black citizens protesting against a measure of racial segregation which was imposed on them. About 70 of them remained lifeless on the ground. In these days, campaigns in support of integration and against all forms of discrimination, hatred and violence perpetrated for racial reasons are organized in various parts of the world. The protagonists of these initiatives, as always, are the young people.