18 Jan 2024 | Non categorizzato
From January 18-25, 2024, all churches in the northern hemisphere will celebrate, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In the southern hemisphere it will take place on the Feast of Pentecost. This year the motto chosen is from the Gospel of Luke: “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Locally, in each country, city, diocese, and church community, moments of prayer, conferences, round tables, and ecumenical meetings have been organized. In Rome, Pope Francis will conclude the week on Thursday, Jan. 25, together with representatives of various Christian churches with the recitation of Vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. On this occasion we offer a short video documentary on the meeting of people from the Focolare Movement belonging to various Churches held on October 13 and 14, 2023. It was attended by 150 people belonging to the Movement from 15 Christian Churches: Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglican Church, Lutheran and Reformed Churches, Pentecostal Church and Catholic Church. It was a meeting among people who have been living the spirituality of unity for years and have responded to God’s call in the various vocations of the Movement. It was a moment of deep communion in an exchange of testimonies of life in their own Church and in the Movement, each with different forms and expressions bringing into play talents, culture, knowledge, within the horizon of a constant commitment to unity at all levels. A meeting marked by a great joy of coming together with strong bonds of unity, as in a family in which differences are valued as richness that can be known and shared to become a gift for all. https://youtu.be/Ab7gLDEeL2I
13 Jan 2024 | Non categorizzato
From Dec. 26-30, 2023, at the International Mariapolis Center in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, was held the congress “Giving Roots of Joy. The call to be disciples-missionaries and the spirituality of communion.” It was a moment of encounter among seminarians, deacons and young priests that focused on meditation, reflection and sharing with the international participation of some groups connected via internet from Congo, Argentina and Romania. Antonio Carozza, a seminarian from Sulmona, Italy, tells us about it. 
How can we become roots of joy? This is the question Pope Francis asked us on the eve of WYD in Portugal, and which he also posed to us in the meeting for seminarians, deacons and young priests held in Castelgandolfo (Rome) from Dec. 26-30, 2023, with the intention of deepening the contribution of the Focolare Movement’s spirituality of communion, to the Church’s synodality and missionary spirit. I am experiencing for the third year in a row this appointment of the Christmas season and for the third time I was surprised by the beauty of coming together; coming from different places we found each other, met and recognized each other. It is always an exciting experience to reconfirm the beauty of our spirituality centered on unity and fraternity among all, so that it is not just a slogan but an experience, an embodied life experience. 
A moment experienced with particular emotion was the meeting with Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, who wanted to listen to our reactions on the theme she proposed this year, “Called and Sent”; we felt welcomed and listened to in our different experiences. In particular, Margaret shared with us how she felt about the outbreak of violence in the Holy Land. Strong was her invitation to witness to God’s love by making us neighbors through true words that flow from a deep inner life and the authenticity of a life lived because only those who have experienced love can love, only those who have experienced failure and forgiveness can become credible witnesses. The same love and passion emerged from the words of Jesús Morán, Co-President of the Focolare Movement. We understood how we cannot be fathers if we do not first learn to be sons; Christmas reminds us precisely of this fact, our whole life is called to be Christmas. In fact, Jesús reminded us how in pastoral commitment, to which we are all called in various capacities, we need to give birth to Jesus, and to do this we must first become like Mary. Pastoral work can only be Marian. Another highlight was the talk by H.E. Bishop Brendan Leahy, Bishop of Limerick in Ireland, who shared with us his experience of participating in the Synod, making us understand how Synod means first of all conversion. In fact, the Synod invites us to pursue a process of conversion made of mutual listening and a renewed listening to the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church. A special moment of grace was the participation in the General Audience of Pope Francis, who urged us to be custodians of our hearts. We heard echoed Chiara Lubich’s words, “if the heart is set on God alone, everything else falls.” With many new insights and with hearts filled with joy, we returned to our parishes and seminaries where, as disciples-missionaries, we are called to make ourselves roots of joy for others every day with the spirit that Chiara herself left us: to “make unity around us, in the environment where we are” in order to be one, to be Jesus, because his love makes us enter deeply into the hearts of others.
Antonio Carozza
11 Jan 2024 | Non categorizzato
Father Adolfo Raggio, 95 years old, is a priest who is a “citizen of the world”. He says that when he met the spirituality of unity, which he likes to call “the Ideal,” his life changed. From a parish in a small town in Liguria, northern Italy, the roads of God led him to different countries, where in each place he gave life to people and communities who live the spirit of the Focolare Movement., In this video, he shares his journey, which still today keeps him active in serving his brothers. Watch the video (activate English subtitles) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N66bxl2KoU
Interview: Carlos Mana Voice: Giuseppe Vetri Filming and editing: Javier García
3 Jan 2024 | Centro internazionale, Non categorizzato, Tutela minori
The Prefecture of Nanterre (France) issued an appeal for witnesses On Tuesday, 2 January, the Police Prefecture of Nanterre (France) issued an appeal for witnesses following the accusation of sexual abuse within the Focolare Movement in France by former focolarino Jean-Michel Merlin. The document states that the Prefecture is looking for ‘anyone who can provide information relevant to the investigation or who wishes to denounce facts of which he may have been a victim’. Jean-Michel Merlin,” the appeal explains, “has been accused of sexual abuse of children and adults committed over a number of years within the Focolare Movement. Many of the victims have come forward and denounced the acts committed against them. The Focolare expresses its complete availability to facilitate the work of the judicial authorities and to make this appeal known. They offer their support to the victims and their commitment to continue implementing measures to protect and safeguard children and individuals, so that the Movement can increasingly be a safe place for everyone. Anyone with information of interest to the investigation or who wishes to report incidents of which they have been a victim, in France or elsewhere, is invited to contact the French judicial authorities via the following address: appelatemoin-btpf92@interieur.gouv.fr
24 Dec 2023 | Non categorizzato
A Christmas that speaks of strength, courage and warmth, in a “family” which is as big as the world
All one! A goal to be reached.
One day heaven opened up, because the Word became flesh. Then He grew, taught, performed miracles, brought together His disciples, founded the Church and, before dying on the Cross, said to the Father: “May they all be one.”
He did not address His words to human beings: perhaps they would not have understood. He turned to the Father, because God is the bond of this unity, and he obtained this grace that enabled us all to be completely one.
We know that we are brothers and sisters, we know that a link binds us, but we do not act as brothers and sisters. We pass by each other without looking at one another, without loving each other. If that is the case, in what does our fraternity consist?
God (…) wants us to open our eyes and look at one another and help one another and love one another.
The fault is ours; we have forgotten what is essential. Our vision is clouded by material goods, activities, affections, personal ideas and egoism. We don’t let go of anything so as to give priority to God. God exists; yes, God does exist, but he is one of the many things in our lives. We think of him only in those moments when we need him.
As Christians, we should live in a different way. We must put God in His rightful place in our lives and put aside everything else.
And He will teach us how we should live, and He will repeat his words to us: “Love one another.”
Then many things will change. My family will become the whole of humanity, as Jesus said: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God.” And passing through the streets of this world, we will realize that people are not just people, but they are children of God. All one!! Let’s make the world become a single family, where the rule of every rule will be Love.
Chiara Lubich (from Città Nuova – no.24 – 25 December1972)
