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
13 Mar 2023 | Non categorizzato
On the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate, Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare, has sent the Pope a message on behalf of the whole Movement which is published below.
Your holiness, dear Pope Francis
I am united with all the prayers that are being offered, in so many parts of the world, to thank God for these ten years in which you have embraced the Church and humanity being the bearer of Christ’s love.
Thank you, Holy Father, for this time of light, courage and unwavering faith. Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit, with whom you continuously call us to “go out” from our homes and communities, to journey on the roads of the world and to share joys and sorrows with the women and men of our time.
I still have in my heart the joy and gratitude I felt at our last meeting, on 24 February, when together with some of the moderators of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, you invited us to meet you. Once again we witnessed your far-sighted wisdom and evangelical realism, and I want to tell you that your words guide and encourage me every day in my service to the Church and to fraternity among all people.
The topics we discussed with you, Your Holiness, will be the subject of reflection and sharing. In particular, your recommendation to be coherent witnesses and to be docile to the new ideas given by the Spirit, so that the Marian dimension of the Church can be seen, together with the rich contribution that women can make to ecclesial life, also through the contribution made by the Movements.
Know that, wherever we are in the world, we are with you to build the Church and to give our lives so that peace may return wherever it is lacking, and bear fruit in justice and reconciliation among peoples.
Together with our daily prayer, I send you, also on behalf of the Focolare Movement, my warmest wishes for all that you desire and for your health. May Mary, Most Holy, be at your side with her motherly love and care.
With filial affection,
Margaret Karram
4 Mar 2023 | Non categorizzato
The Asian Continental Assembly for the Synod, which drew up the valuable contribution of the largest and most populated continent in the world, recently concluded in Bangkok (Thailand).We interviewed Vanessa Siu-Wai Cheng, a Chinese focolarina present at the event. The important centre of pastoral formation of the Archdiocese of Bangkok (Thailand) is located in Baan Phu Waan. It’s a beautiful place. About eighty people participated at the Asian Continental Assembly of the Synod that took place from 24th-26th February 2023. 
Vanessa Siu-Wai Cheng, a focolarina from Hong Kong, told us about this new continental phase of the Synodal Path in Asia, a pathway that, as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tokyo (Japan) Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi said in his opening homily: “It is not only a passing event to be celebrated, but rather a change of attitude of the entire people of God so as to make synodality the founding nature of the Church.” Vanessa, how many participants were there? Seventeen Episcopal Conferences and two Synods of Eastern Rite Churches representing the 29 countries of the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences) sent their representatives to this event, which aimed to give the Asian Churches the opportunity to discuss the way leading to the Synod as Pope Francis has outlined. We were able to share our experiences by focusing on several issues and some challenges that afflict our continent. We spoke about synodality, decision-making, vocations to the priesthood, the role of young people, poverty, religious conflicts and clericalism, with the hope of being able to proceed together on a true path of communitarian growth. We were delighted to have representatives of the Synod Secretariat, the Commission and the Task Force. This indicated the willingness of the universal Church to engage in the synodal process. 
What was the working methodology? They were three intense days of communion and group work. The methodology was always that of spiritual conversation. The various inputs we received were very important and stimulating. First of all, Card. Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, brought us the Pope’s warm greeting and assured us that we have not been forgotten. He emphasized that a synodal Church is a Church that listens and discerns. The success of the synodal process depends on the participation of the people of God and the pastors. We must be very attentive to voices, especially those that challenge the Church. What specifically struck you? A very strong impression was from the first day, to see that at every table where a group worked there was an empty chair, representing those who cannot lend their voice and those who do not want to give it. In the centre of the table, there was a candle surrounded by a wreath of beautiful flowers that was lit at the beginning of the day as a symbol of the light of the Holy Spirit, which is necessary to make discernment. We experienced conversion in listening to the others, emptying ourselves, all together: cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay people. It was a moment to dig deep, to leave the detail in order to be able to reach, with a broad vision, the continental level. The transformation from the “I” to the “we” took place. In addition, it must be said that Asia is home to many religions, including the most ancient and one of the characteristics of Asians is that of spirituality and prayer. The program included 10 minutes of silence during the discussion of a topic and half an hour of prayer in the chapel between two discernment sessions. These moments of silence and prayer really helped all participants to be with God and in God so as to hear His voice both individually and collectively. What do you think is the biggest challenge? It was wonderful to be together as a Continental Church contemplating the complexity and variety of different and common characteristics and challenges. On the first day I thought it was a bit ambitious to think that in three days we could produce a draft that could contribute to the formulation of the instrumentum laboris for the Synod, indicating precise priorities for the Asian continent, but we felt that the Spirit was blowing strongly. Thanks to the work of a drafting group that prepared a “draft framework”, a draft project in order to save us the time to read all the reports ex novo, we were able to work calmly and with a well-ordered text. The last draft of the document expresses a single symphony with many voices that echo the dreams, hopes, aspirations and suffering of the Asian continent.
by Maria Grazia Berrett Foto: © Synodbangkok2023
24 Feb 2023 | Non categorizzato
365 days of war in the words and experience of Mira Milavec, a Slovenian Focolarina who has been living in Ukraine for some years and where she works for Caritas Spes. “It has been one year of war, but it seems like an eternity. I never imagined I’d experience such a situation firsthand.” 
This is how our conversation with Mira Milavec, a Slovenian focolarina who has been living in Ukraine since 2019, began. Mira has been working tirelessly at the frontline during this year of conflict, working with Caritas Spes Ukraine to support the people. Caritas has been supported by the Emergency Coordination Committee of the Focolare Movement through the NGO’s Action for a United World (AMU) and Action for New Families (AFN). Mira told us, “I see a lot of fatigue around me. There are some places in particular where people are still living in very precarious situations. After a year, people’s needs have changed. Before with Caritas Spes we dealt with the distribution of basic necessities, now we have moved on to a new phase in which it is very important to restore dignity to people and also provide socio-psychological support. We are still at the beginning in this area but we are trying to understand how to do it”. Mira, the Caritas operation never stopped… That’s true. I am in contact with our collaborators who are in the most affected places. I think they have never had time to rest but they are there, day and night, personally sharing the sufferings of these people who have lost everything, their loved ones, their houses; their whole life is shattered. I think being in direct contact with these stories, gives our collaborators, no matter how tired they are, the push to continue doing good”. Is there any particular story you carry with you? “Yes, the stories are different, and that’s where hope comes from. I remember a family from Donbass who had to leave their city already in 2014. They had saved all their lives to be able to have an apartment and as soon as they could, they bought one in Kharkiv. Then the war came and they had to leave. They went back to that apartment at the end of 2022 and found it in really disastrous conditions because of the bombing. We brought them wood stoves to keep warm and, despite this tragic situation, it was moving to see immense gratitude in their eyes. It didn’t matter how much it was going to cost to repair the damage to the house. They were happy and grateful to receive that little help, to be alive and still together. ” What have you experienced in this difficult year? “I have seen how in these situations we are all able to do something to help. Above all I feel God’s support and really feel that we are in His hands. Often people here don’t ask for much, it’s enough just to ‘be’, to be there with them. God gives us all different talents and I have to say that in the situation I’m in now, I can really draw on them and they can really help others. Prayer is a real support. I truly hope that this war will end and that each one in our own small way will be able to teach the new generations that such hatred cannot be allowed to exist.”
by Maria Grazia Berretta
Activate English subtitles https://youtu.be/gFOMlUj6axA To continue supporting the people of Ukraine click on the link Ukraine: fundraising to support the population begins – Focolare Movement (focolare.org)
