Living the Gospel: the children’s example
Sonia is from Slovacchia; she’s five and goes to nursery school. One day she told her mom that she had found a friend in school. “And what’s her name?” “I don’t know, she doesn’t speak. I approached her since I saw she was always alone and nobody wanted to play with her.” Sonia’s mom usually fetches her for lunch. But the teacher said: “Let her stay! She helps us with a gypsy girl who at first did not speak at all and now, thanks to her, has started to talk and cooperate with the others.” When she returned home her mother asked: “Did your friend say something to you?” “No, but she smiles when I tell her I like her.” Her mother remained silent. And the child said: “You know, love warms up each one of us.” 
From Cameroon Kevin wrote: «One day in school during the break I asked one of my schoolmates if he had anything to eat. I was hungry and had nothing. He refused. The day after, I brought a piece of bread and when he came to ask me, I in turn refused. The next day, upon throwing the love dice it said: “Love your enemies.” I thought of that classmate. In school I tried to speak to him but he didn’t answer. So I sat in front of the house, waiting for him and when he came by, I called out to him, went up to him and when I asked why I shouldn’t speak to him anymore, he answered: “You refused to share with me the bread you had.” I immediately said, “Let’s make up!”and handed him some guava fruit I had with me. And so we started to talk and became friends again.» From Italy, Marco recounts: «One day at the nursery, the children made fun of me because I’m fat. I was sorry they did that and sometimes I cried. So I went to the Nun and instead of accusing them I told her of my sufferings. I understood that I had to forgive them and did so, because a Gen4 is one who, like Jesus, forgives and loves all.» Carmen lives in a slum at the outskirts of Mexico City. Often in the evening her uncles returns home drunk. Carmen is scared and hides herself. «But the other evening I didn’t hide – she says – I waited for him and helped him enter. I wasn’t scared because I knew that Our Lady takes care of me.» E Bartek, from Poland: «At the children’s party I received a gift from Teacher Ela, a chocolate bar and a lollipop. In my class there a girl called Asia, whom nobody likes. I remembered that in the morning upon throwing the dice, it said: “Love your enemies” and so I gave Asia the lollipop and half of the chocolate. She was surprised and thanked me, and then left. Now we have become big friends.» «In the centre of Naples (Italy), the “Baby Jesus” we make and offer to people is really selling quickly and many gather around the stand if only to say that they wish to join the initiative. A teacher, an agnostic, who has many problems, held Baby Jesus in her hands and looked at it: “This will be my Christmas!” A child ran home, emptied out his piggy bank and came with all his coins to buy his own Baby Jesus.» By the Gen4 Centres
New Humanity and Law: Congress for law operators
The objective of the convention was to «Review the various professions involved in the sector of justice – magistrates, lawyers, chancellors, university professors, prison staff, law enforcers – and discover the path to be pursued together, with the active participation of all the “actors” of the multifaceted relationships involved». The international congress promoted by Communion and Law (CeD) and New Humanity, was held last 26 and 27 November in Castel Gandolfo (Rome). The presence of a film director in a meeting on justice may have seemed to be quite unusual, but in his moving testimonial, Fernando Muraca succeeded in describing the experience of a prison staff in the Penal Institute for Minors of Catanzaro (Southern Italy). This was a documentary filmed entirely by the youths of the Institute, and the fruit of a commitment translated into a “cinema project” that transformed the young inmates not only into actors, but into people who have given a new meaning to their existence. Muraca is also the author and director of the film The land of Saints in which he faces the reality of the mafia’s organized crime. During the two days of intense dialogue among the various operators working in the field of justice, the discourse oftentimes stressed the concept of human dignity, and the intrinsic and inestimable value of every human being, in the conviction that also legal relationships can be lived in the spirit of fraternity and the quest for true justice. The rich and varied programme also deepened particularly current themes such as the protection of unaccompanied minors and political asylum applicants, relationship with jailees and protection of the victims. Dr. David Shaeed (magistrate in Indianapolis), Atty. Alba Doto (Boston), Atty. Endy Moraes (Fordham University, New York), and Dr. Luciane Barzotto Cardoso (magistrate of the Federal Court of Porto Alegre, Brazil), reviewed the current laws in various parts of the world, and elaborated the methods of pursuing the research and study paths initiated for some years now, also enriched by concrete implementations. Among the speeches was the video presentation of Maria Voce, Focolare President, the first woman lawyer of the Court of Cosenza (Italy), entitled Justice and the common good in the perspective of universal brotherhood. In a passage of her speech, Maria Voce explained: «Today, in the light of this “piecemeal World War III,” the tragic destructions, wiping out of every right and respect for peoples living in war territories, and closure of the borders to migrants, fraternity is the only answer, and the commitment we are called to give is to build it even with small actions, infinitesimal drops that may, however, enlighten the night.». The working sessions according to professional sectors evidenced the need to facilitate a confrontation within the various professions without losing sight of the entirety, to develop a dialogue among the operators and share know-how and experiences of the various activities developed in the field of Law. A significant note was the presence of the youth and the deep involvement of students. One of the most heartfelt testimonies was that of Roberto (former convict), and Alfonso, who has been working for some years in the Rebibbia Jail (Rome) to give a concrete hand to the families of the prisoners. Roberto did not hide his emotions in presenting his experience before such a qualified public, and ended by requesting the civil community to facilitate and promote the difficult employment and social reinsertion of ex-convicts. The next event will be for the youth in the Summer School 2017. Patrizia Mazzola
Christmas With Earthquake Victims in Central Italy
Christmas is also on the way for the displaced victims of the earthquake in Central Italy. We know that you are working in during this after phase of the earthquake. What are you doing? FrancescoTortorella explains: “AMU and AFN have coordinated with the Focolare Movement in Italy, to carry ahead their work during the after phase of the earthquake. Since August, there have been three site surveys in the regions that were hit, to examine the possible ways of intervening. The first intervention that we identified was that of supporting the families that run small agricultural businesses, along with the farm regions that suffered damage.” After a feasibility study, you came up with the comprehensive project. What is it? “We called it RImPresa and it consists of two activities,” Paola Iacovone explains. “The first activity, which will be carried out by the Abbraccio Planetario from Castelli Romani, Italy, and the Bread and Fish Foundation from Ascoli Piceno, Italy, will consist of 4 joint purchasing groups which, through a web portal, will purchase products from the small businesses that were hit by the earthquake, which will provide long-term support to entire families.” There are also many agricultural businesses that were damaged by the earthquake and are finding it hard to start up again. Are you also working on this front? “Yes. The Italian Associazione Italiana Imprenditori per un Economia di Comunione (AIPEC), which we work with is promoting the second activity of RImPresa,” Tortorella adds, “which is only concerned with supporting families with small agricultural and breeding businesses, by providing machinery or small infrastructures. All of it is carried out in coordination with the Italian Civil Protection Agency that has the full picture of the businesses that were damaged and of the assistance that is distributed.” “We’re a small drop in the ocean along with many others,” Paola concludes. “We’ve received many contributions up until now part of which had been destined to help finance the RImPresa Project. There are still funds to carry out other projects that will begin in the next few months. The contributions continue to arrive, so this fund will probably grow in the next few weeks.” Best wishes for a happy Christmas! Gustavo Clariá To collaborate:
| Azione per un Mondo Unito ONLUS (AMU) | Azione per Famiglie Nuove ONLUS (AFN) |
| IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 at Banca Popolare Etica | IBAN: IT55 K033 5901 6001 0000 0001 060 at Banca Prossima |
| Codice SWIFT/BIC: CCRTIT2184D | Codice SWIFT/BIC: BCITITMX |
| CAUSE : Emergenza terremoto (Italia) | |
| All contributions that are deposited in these two accounts for this cause will be jointly administered by AMU and AFN. Except for cash donations, Italian taxpayers can get deductions and allowances from income, in accordance with the regulations for non-profit organizations, to up to 10% of income and the € 70,000.00 annual limit. Tax benefits are provided in many European Union countries and other countries of the world in accordance with local regulations. | |
Bishop Javier Echevarría has passed away
Upon receiving the news of the death of Bishop Javier Echevarría, prelate of the Opus Dei, yesterday 12 December, the Focolare Movement conveys its heartfelt condolences. Most grateful for his life spent at the service of the Church, Bishop Echevarría, the second successor of St. Josemaría Escribá de Balaguer, founder of the Opus Dei, the Focolare Movement is particularly united in prayer and friendship with the Opus Dei family worldwide.