9 Apr 2023 | Non categorizzato
Jesus is risen. Happy Easter! Beginning with the Gospel account, Igino Giordani reveals to us the fraternal dimension of the resurrection. Jesus, rising from the dead, appeared to the women who had come to the tomb; and he said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and proclaim to my brothers…’ And, thus, in those concluding moments, he gave the disciples their definitive name: that of being brothers and sisters. Coming out of death, into glory, he thus defined his relationship with humankind. As he presented himself then, he still presents himself now, as a brother: the firstborn. By rising again, he had conquered death and reclaimed fraternity. He had come to earth to restore the Father’s fatherhood; he had descended into hell to overcome the enemy of humankind; now he was declaring the re-established fraternity of children, in the family of God. All of us are included in redemption and therefore all of us are brothers and sisters. If we do not act as such, we are outside of redemption.
Igino Giordani
Igino Giordani, Il fratello, [Our brother] (I edition Città Nuova 2011 – III edizione, Figlie della Chiesa 1954).
6 Apr 2023 | Non categorizzato
In the heart of Holy Week, we publish this thought of Chiara Lubich taken from a conference call on Holy Thursday 1989. Today is Holy Thursday, a very special day for us. It reminds us of various divine truths that are at the heart of our spirituality, so much so that every year, when this feast occurs, it captivates our hearts. In fact, it’s not unusual to feel an atmosphere of paradise invade our soul. How can we not feel our hearts expand when Holy Thursday so strongly underlines the new commandment of Jesus, his last prayer for unity, the extraordinary gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood that makes the Eucharist possible? Let’s pause today and consider with immense gratitude these extraordinary mysteries which are fundamental for every Christian, and in particular for us. And tomorrow is Good Friday. It too takes us right into the heart of Christianity and of our spirituality: Jesus dies, he dies forsaken. Doesn’t this seem like the moment to face, in some way, a subject that few people, if any, want to face in a world like ours that is so caught up in consumerism and other evils – namely the subject of death? We have to do it, in order to be faithful to our Ideal which teaches us how to face every moment in our life, and therefore, also the passage from this life to the next, which is eternal. And we will address this subject remaining within the topic of “prayer,” which we have chosen to live in these past few weeks. There is one very short prayer that is stupendous. The Holy Spirit puts it on the lips of the Church, the “bride.” It is addressed to Jesus, the “bridegroom.” It concludes the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. The prayer says, “Come, Lord Jesus!”[1] “Come, Lord Jesus!” This prayer could be ours when we think of our death, when we are awaiting it, when we are preparing for death. Yes, because we have, or we should have, our own precise concept of death, which is that it’s not the end, but the beginning. It is our encounter with Jesus. And we know that it’s not optional, everyone has to face it. In fact, that day will come for everyone; it’s God’s will for everyone. Yes, it’s the will of God for me, for us, for each person. If this is true, then we have to learn how to welcome death as it is, as the will of God. But how in general do we accept God’s will? We have understood that the will of God, whatever it is, is an expression of God’s love for us. It is neither logical nor should we only be resigned to accepting it. It’s necessary to see it as the best thing that could possibly happen to us. Therefore, we have to strive to live in such a way that God’s will is our will. And we commit ourselves to living the will of God not only with all our love, but also with enthusiasm, because we know that by doing the will of God, we are setting out on a divine adventure, which we know only in part and in part we still have to discover. We also know that this is the way that we can fulfil God’s plan for us. Indeed, this way of facing God’s will is characteristic of a focolarino, because this is the point that led to our initial conversion, when our lives changed direction totally. … “Come, Lord Jesus!” … But this prayer is also good for other occasions. You can say, “Come, Lord Jesus,” while waiting to receive the Eucharist. You can say it before meeting somebody or a group of people in whom you truly want to love him. And you can say it before carrying out any other will of his. “Come, Lord Jesus! Looking at you, we will be fearless in loving, which is our vocation. While waiting for you to come for us, we will live our life well, so that as soon as the next life opens up for us, we will plunge into that adventure that will never end. You have conquered death. And through this prayer we realize that you, from now on, have conquered death in us, too, in our heart. So then come, Lord Jesus, always, in all of us.
Chiara Lubich
[1] Rev 22:20.
31 Mar 2023 | Centro internazionale, Non categorizzato, Tutela minori
The Focolare Movement has now published the first report on cases of abuse of children and vulnerable adults; and on spiritual abuse and abuse of authority that has occurred in the Focolare Movement, with reference to reparation measures, new investigative procedures, and training in safeguarding. “We are writing to give you a public account of information regarding the reports we have received and the measures we have taken as the Focolare Movement in response to the scourge of the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults and the abuse of conscience, spiritual abuse, and the abuse of authority regarding adults, which has also affected us”. In an open letter, Focolare President Margaret Karram, and Co-President Jésus Morán present the first report on the handling of abuse cases within the Movement. The report, published this year on 31st March 2023, one year after GCPS Consulting‘s investigation into serious cases of sexual abuse by a former French focolarino, J.M.M., will be issued annually. The Movement has been working to take the necessary steps to ensure the prevention and all-round safeguarding of the person in all the environments in which its activities take place. Therefore, as the President and Co-President of the Focolare explain, the report being published today, is a first account of the measures of prevention, investigation, transparency, training, and change, undertaken by the Movement, to combat these crimes. First, the President and Co-President sincerely ask each victim and survivor for forgiveness, on behalf of the Focolare Movement. And they express their deep gratitude to the victims and survivors, and to the families and communities involved, not only in France, but in all countries where cases of abuse have come to light. It is thanks to their cooperation and especially their courage in facing and bringing these crimes to light, that the Movement today is more consciously pursuing new commitments and procedures regarding safeguarding. The report consists of several parts and presents figures relating to abuses reported to the Commission for the Wellbeing and Safeguarding of the Person (in Italian CO.BE.TU.) since 2014, the year of its establishment and therefore of the systematic gathering of reports, until December 2022. Information on the “foundation courses on safeguarding” carried out in the various countries where the Focolare Movement exists are also included. Another section is dedicated to the measures put in place, or being put in place, as a priority, following the recommendations of the independent Inquiry by GCPS Consulting; training courses and measures concerning safeguarding available to all members of the Movement, especially formators and those who work with children. Training events have already been held for those in positions of responsibility in the Movement at various levels, from the central leadership to those responsible for different geographical areas. The Independent Central Commission has been set up together with procedures regarding reports, accusations and investigations As of 1st May 2023, the Independent Central Commission will start work and the task of CO.BE.TU will end. The new body will deal exclusively with the handling of reports, while training will be coordinated centrally and locally by another team of experts and consultants. The report also presents the ‘Procedures for handling cases of abuse in the Focolare Movement’, the ‘Role of the Independent Central Commission’ and ‘Guidelines on support and financial reparation in the case of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults’.
Stefania Tanesini
Download PDF Report on the handling of abuse cases within the Focolare Movement
15 Mar 2023 | Non categorizzato
A month after strong earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, here’s a short update on the contributions collected by the Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination and a glimpse of a first intervention phase launched in Syria in February, which will run through August. On 7 February, the Focolare Movement’s Emergency Coordination launched a fundraising campaign in support of the people of Turkey and Syria, through the non-governmental organisations Action for a United World (AMU) and Action for New Families (AFN). Currently, the contributions collected amount to close to 580,000 Euros, and a first instalment of 100,000 Euros has already been sent to some Syrian regions affected by the earthquake. Specifically, the operation will help close to 2,500 people directly and indirectly reach between 5,000 and 10,000 people in the three earthquake-affected areas of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama. Here are some examples of interventions that will be carried out, a variety of support actions:
SUPPORT WITH BASIC NEEDS
- Provision of basic necessities – food, blankets, medicines, clothes, etc. – to displaced people housed in temporary shelters (churches, mosques, etc.)
- Economic contribution to the neediest families; provision of medical services and aids for post-hospitalisation mobility, medicines, physical and psychological treatment sessions for physically and psychologically affected people
- Distribution of food parcels to families experiencing food insecurity (in cooperation with other organisations)
- Economic support to artisans to buy back or repair lost equipment and tools and restart work
REBUILDING EARTHQUAKE-DAMAGED HOMES
- Covering the cost of inspections and technical assessments of the stability of buildings by technical commissions of engineers
- Economic support to families for works to consolidate the foundations of buildings and renovate damaged homes
- Covering costs for the purchase of tools for craftsmen (blacksmiths, plumbers, carpenters, electricians) so that they can resume work in damaged homes
- Economic support for rental costs for those who have lost their homes or need temporary residence due to their homes becoming unsuitable
POST-EARTHQUAKE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
- Covering home care costs for elderly people living alone
- Implementing collective activities and initiatives for group psychological support, particularly at temporary accommodation centres
- Holding training workshops on psychological support to provide tools and methodologies to operators and volunteers who are active in the rescue sector
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
Click the Link – 11 March 2023 https://youtu.be/S_F0ELXyf_k
14 Mar 2023 | Non categorizzato
On 14 March 2008, 15 years ago, Chiara Lubich concluded her earthly life. A few years earlier, in a world-wide connection she quoted the short but intense verse from Psalm 15 (16) ‘You Lord, are my only good’ and invited the communities of the Movement around the world to approach this prayer by giving it centrality in their daily lives. Thank you, thank you! In the “link-up” we truly experience love that “reaches out and comes back” because of how thankful you are and the way you make it your own. . […] In specific circumstances, an excellent prayer that we can say with renewed enthusiasm and with all our mind and heart is: “You Lord; are my only good.” Ps 16:2. In fact, we all realize that, quite often, while we are working, writing, speaking or resting, or doing something else, that some slight attachment can creep into our hearts, attachment to ourselves, to things or other people. Giving in to these would be a terrible setback for our spiritual life. Saint John of the Cross said: “It makes no difference whether a bird is held down by a thread or by a rope. However fine the thread is, the bird is bound as if by a cord, until it can break it to fly away. And he continues saying: “It is the same for a person who is bound to something. Despite all their virtues, they will never achieve the freedom of union with God.” In these situations, we must really act immediately, and nothing can be more helpful – this is a recent experience of mine – than to say often to Jesus forsaken: “You, Lord, are my only good. My only good. I have no other.” I believe this is a very important prayer and extremely pleasing to God. It prevents us from being covered with the dust of earthly things. In living this, we are amazed – I am always struck by this and always have been – by how that phrase, “only,” (“You Lord are my only good”) gives a solemn change of direction to our spiritual life. It immediately puts us straight, as if it were the trustworthy needle in the compass of our journey towards God. Moreover, this way of acting is very much in line with our spirituality, in which the positive aspect prevails: by living what is good, whatever is wrong disappears. We are not so much called to detach ourselves from something (from ourselves or things or people), but to fill ourselves with something (with love for him who is “everything” for us). Instead of saying “no,” we prefer to say “yes.” This prayer, “You, Lord are my only good,” is a wonderful way to live as true Christians who love God with all their heart and soul, and not halfheartedly. It’s also a sublime way to prepare ourselves for all the times we meet him in his daily inspirations. It will also prepare us for our solemn meeting with him, at the dawn of that eternal day when the only thing that matters will be our love for God, and for him, our love for every neighbor. “You, Lord, are my only good.” What wisdom, what understanding, what light, what strength, what love, what perfection there is in those few words! May the Lord grant us to experience all the power contained in them.
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, Conversazioni in collegamento telefonico, Città Nuova, 2019, pp. 630-632) [1] See Saint John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel. Book 1, ch. 11. https://youtu.be/Bf-QHf9vOp4
