16 Oct 2017 | Focolare Worldwide
Once again this year the Youth Fest that coincides with the start of spring in the southern hemisphere, has made its mark. On September 23 and 24 more than a thousand young people from Uruguay, Paraguay and several regions of Argentina took over the permanent Mariapolis immersed in the Argentinian Pampas, to have an experience of brotherhood. But this year they’re looking farther – to Manila where the 2018 Genfest will be held with young people from around the world. 
Using a video game format, the young people gradually confront some of the issues they have to face in their daily lives: appearance, individualism, choices and consumerism. These are the four levels that the four actors on stage have to pass through to overcome and reach the last level with each other’s help. The keys that get them through each level are: values such as self-acceptance, solidarity, effort with regard to what the conscience suggests to every one of us, and sharing. But often you need to take into account the past that draws you back and the future that can paralyse you. Only one option is left: to live the present and, in that moment, take control and reset your history. The inventor of the game leaves the actors and the Youth Fest participants with a question: Reset, yes or no? The answer is left open. The video game ends and becomes a metaphor for life that places the players in front of the possibility of going through the daily situations of life in order to grow and reach their personal goals. The game becomes real life. Reset your life, you’re in control is the slogan of the event which, with the help of songs that had been composed for the event, planted the message of the 2017 Youth Fest in the hearts of all the participants.
14 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
“Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). This statement is from Luke’s Gospel where the evangelist includes it in the wonderful description of the shepherds at the grotto of Bethlehem where Jesus was born. An angel had informed the shepherds of the amazing event: “Fear not! I bring you tidings of great joy that will be for the whole people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour” (Lk 2:10-11). As soon as they reach the place, “they told all that had been said to them concerning the boy; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). Luke gently contrasts the outward amazement of the others who are at the grotto – shepherds, perhaps townspeople – to the dense loving and faith-filled silence of Mary. The words of those simple pilgrims to the first Marian shrine on earth, enter her soul, taking their place alongside the other revelations that she had received, and they make her understand more and more the mystery that is unfolding before her very eyes, a mystery she shares in as Mother of God. One can only Mary’s instant willingness to respond to God’s word and loving guardianship of the sacred gifts she received, but never disclosed to anyone for many years. Perhaps it was only to Luke that Our Lady personally told about this attitude of her soul during the days around the Saviour’s birth. Only she could have known it. We are so in need of the comforting sweetness of God’s gifts today. In the stressful, frenzied rhythm of these times, we run the risk of materialising everything even the life of the spirit. Silence, humility, reserve, meekness, patience in trial, can seem like obsolete virtues that are no longer viable, no longer able to allow the presence of Christianity to be felt in this century. We believe more in loudspeakers than in an edifying sentence from the Gospel. One believes more in the speeches of orators than in the prayerful silence of souls consecrated to God. First of all, the aggressiveness of the wicked and the power of their possibilities attempts to to leverage the aggressiveness of the good with their capital and power. It’s materialism that seeks to demean the values of the spirit, turning them into external expressions that will no longer carry any weight amidst the deafening deafening noise all around them. Only what is the fruit of the spirit has value in front of a world flattened by materialism; only what is part of our deep and personal love for God. For this reason humankind must once more fix its gaze on Mary.” Pasquale Foresi, “Parole di vita”, (Rome: Ed. Città Nuova, 1963) 15-17.
13 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
On 24 September, 30,000 women set out on a peace march from Sderot (Negev) to Jerusalem. The initiative, promoted by “Women Wage Peace” (WWP) included meetings, moments of dialogue and prayer. It ended on 11 October in Jerusalem. “Grassroots initiatives such as this one are important because they express a part of the Israeli people who do not want war, occupation, and to continue in this situation,” commented the Maronite Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The voice of these women fills the void left by an absence of political parties truly committed to peace, at a time of “political stagnation” due to the disinterest of the international community in the Palestinian issue. WWP was born three years ago in response to the conflict in Gaza, and currently numbers 24,000 members, including “thousands of women who belong to right, centre and left wing factions, who are Arab and Jewish, religious and lay, all united to seek a political peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Prayer of the Mothers
13 Oct 2017 | Focolare Worldwide
The untamed fires that are devastating parts of California, strengthened by the strong winds and unseasonable temperatures, have left dozens of victims, the largest number in the recorded history of California, along with hundreds of people who are missing. The number of volunteers and equipment is quite striking: more than 8 thousand fire-fighters and volunteers, 550 ground equipment, 73 helicopters and more than 30 air-planes. Images of the fires that are destroying more than 80,000 hectares are spreading around the world. Countless homes have been burnt down. The most devastated counties include Sonoma, Mendocino, Yuba and Napa. Thousands of people have already been evacuated, especially in Napa County, which is known for its wine vineyards. One of the most hit areas is Sonoma County where Santa Rosa is located, which is head location for more than 200 thousand inhabitants. Entire regions of the city have been reduced to ashes. From Santa Rosa, Cindy Fitzmaurice, from the Focolare community was able to send news through Facebook, concerning the difficult conditions that many are living in now that they’ve had to abandon their houses. “We’re ready to flee,” she writes, posting a photo taken around three o’clock in the morning, in which the sky appears orange. “My heart is in pieces for my friends who have lost everything. We’re learning what really matters, and it’s certainly not material things.” It’s been a hard experience for Cindy and her neighbours, fleeing the fires in the middle of the night, looking for shelter in the homes of friends. Some had to escape with nothing but their pyjamas, leaving everything else behind. Fortunately, she writes again: “Evacuated, but safe and sound. May God bless Santa Rosa. Leaving my house after 25 years was hard. But at least we had enough time to do it and, for this, we are eternally grateful. Other’s can’t say the same. We’ll see what tomorrow will bring.” Following a night of fear and praying, last Wednesday Cindy was able to tell her friends about the good news: “Feeling extremely grateful. We are back home this morning. “Feeling extremely grateful. We are back home this morning. For now. the winds shifted east overnight toward Napa. Good for us, but so bad for others. I can’t even imagine their loss. Cindy thanks her friends who take care of them, especially her elderly mother-in-law. “All we can do is be grateful and see how we can help others. Thank you all for your prayers.” Cindy’s 18 year old niece works at a nursing home: “All the residents were evacuated to anther city. I’m proud of how she’s taking care of all of them.” Many others have posted photos on Facebook of their houses devoured by the flames and reduced to ashes. But they’re grateful to be alive. This is what matters most.
13 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
In spite of the difficult social, political and economic situation across the country, dialogue among different Christian traditions has not waivered. The Focolare community in Caracas writes: “Last 14 Septmber we met at the focolare in Caracas with Anglican pastor Francisco Salazar and his wife and Pastor Coromoto Jimenez to spend some family time together. Pastor Salazar told us that the international conference in Rome last May was like “bumping across Jesus. There one found a new vision of unity and of the Church.” In Venezuela we are also holding several events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reform. “On October 1st we were invited to a concert celebration at the Lutheran Church of Caracas with more than 200 people, including three Lutheran pastors, the ambassador of Germany and representatives from the Presbyterian and Catholic Churches. It was a solemn event with songs, memories and quotes from Luther, which witnessed to unity in diversity. One pastor remarked: “We have to unite more and more, we have the same faith in Jesus.” On November 19, the Presbyterian Church in Venezuela will mark 120 years. “They are inviting bishops, priests and Focolare members to celebrate the occasion with them. A real friendship has been formed with Pastor Maria Jimenez and her husband uriel Ramirez.”
