29 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide
I am an internist and belong to the Russian-Orthodox church. As a person and believer, I was educated by my parish priest and the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. I was still very young when, through contact with the focolarine in Moscow, I felt the call to follow God in a radical way and I have been living in the focolare house of Belgrade (Serbia) for 7 years now. There is a particular and unique tradition in Serbia: the Slava feast, which the families celebrate on the day of that family’s patron saint; for the Serbs, the Slava is as ancient as Christianity itself. No Christian nation has this type of celebration, except the Orthodox Serbs. For a Serbian family the Slava comes after Easter and Christmas in terms of importance. The Orthodox-Christian missionaries who converted the Serbs to the Holy Orthodox faith, also Christianised their customs. Upon becoming Orthodox Christians, the Serbs accept the saint or saints of the day on which they are baptized. In Serbian culture, the Slava has always been a unique element throughout the history of the Serbian Orthodox people. Since the Serbs find themselves in a geographic region between the East and the West, and between different cultures, the Slava has become a feast identified with one’s own name and existence. It is celebrated by cities and even by military units also through cultural and social organisations. On that day, relatives, friends and acquaintances get together. The house is open to all. Our focolare is composed of Catholic focolarine from various countries and by me. For some time now we have felt the desire to make this beautiful tradition of the Serbian people our very own, and celebrate it together with our brothers and sisters. In the ecumenical spirit of the Focolare, our monk-friend, Fr. Djordje, helped us to choose our patron saint, and he suggested celebrating the holy “mironosice” women (the “women who went to the sepulchre with the herbs and spices”), and to whom the Orthodox Church dedicate an entire week starting from the second Sunday after Easter. So we have celebrated the Slava in the focolare for 4 years now. Many of our Orthodox friends were enthusiastic about our decision and helped us to prepare the things needed for the feast. Every year, for the Sunday of the holy women at the sepulchre, we welcome our friends of various churches, among whom are also our next-door neighbours, and some colleague, labourer or doctor. The highlight – the rite of slicing the Slava bread – is celebrated by our friend, Fr. Djordje, before the icon of the women at the sepulchre. We start with a devout prayer, accompanied by songs, and then, very moved and hand in hand, we pray according to the Slava feast tradition. Giving us the first benediction, Fr. Djordje pointed to the holy women of the sepulchre as models and protectors of the focolare, encouraging us to follow the example of the women, follow Jesus and become “like the salt that transforms society and its surroundings.” The rite is followed by the agape, with various culinary specialties in an atmosphere of joy and communion, as in a family. One of our acquaintances told us that he considered this step “a real enculturation that appreciates and makes the other’s culture one’s own: true Christianity.” Source: NU, new humanity, no. 231, p. 75.
28 Oct 2018 | Non categorizzato
53 years have passed since, Pope Paul VI, 28 October 1965, signed the first historical “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian religions,” known as Nostra Aetate (in our time). The Declaration affirms that “The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and doctrines, which, although differing in many ways from her own teaching, nevertheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.” But it also underlines that the Church “is duty bound to announce without fail that Christ is the “way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14,6), in him whom God reconciled all things to himself, men find the fullness of their religious life.” The Declaration urges all Christians “to enter with prudence and charity into discussion and collaboration with the members of other religions, while witnessing to their own faith and way of life, and acknowledge, preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral truths found among non-Christians and also their social life and culture.” Read the entire text
26 Oct 2018 | Non categorizzato
Archival photo: Pasquale Foresi with the young people of the Focolare Movement.
25 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide
“During the summer months I attended the business programme of the network of businesses that belong to the Economy of Communion in the United States. So, in addition to the two-year course in Economics and Management that I was taking at the Sophia University Institute in the international town of Loppiano, Italy, I found myself in Indiana during the months of July and August. I only expected it to be an experience of scientific research. Instead, I found myself immersed in a series of activities, but also in the midst of a compelling personal adventure. (A reminder for the next times: How necessary it is to disarm ourselves of any expectations in order to embrace the full depth of every experience!) The internship for young people is held at Mundell & Associates Inc headquartered in Indianapolis, USA. But this year was something more: The interns could spend time and share their professional skills inside Project Lia, which is another EoC business that is developed along two tracks: social impact and environmental impact. It was really an extra bonus to be able to draw closer to this business sector as well. 
I’d like to share a couple of thoughts. First of all, I think that one of the most important things about studying, observing, practicing and promoting the EoC is the will to collaborate. In order to enter into the relational dynamic of this proposal, it is necessary to open one’s heart, mind and eyes to those small details that make each day something extraordinary: mutual encouragement and a welcoming smile, recognizing the value and the humanity of the other person, the personal encounter with people you never knew before, the ability to wonder, striving for a balance among the different aspects of life, the decision to appreciate every learning opportunity, to assimilate new information, to recognize and support the change that is taking place, to take part in the transformation of obsolete concepts. EoC is an economic proposal that is different from the others, because it is managed by a diverse group of people. It’s not the model in itself, but the people that constitute the center of all the action. At the conclusion, when I was getting ready to leave I asked myself: How will I describe this experience? The internship was very demanding: the encounter with Project Lia, an innovative business experience, had given me so much. Among other things, working so closely with Elizabeth Wallin, who had begun the project, I saw myself in the future being able to face and overcome challenges and difficult moments. I so much appreciate the time that I had to learn her story: it permitted me to understand business, but also to enter into contact with what is the essence of a business that serves a social purpose. I saw that launching a start-up is quite an enriching process. It’s no secret that doing business is an ongoing Discovery of new things, a real battle. Watching Elizabeth, day after day, I admire her capacity to navigate in a sea of changes. Giving one’s life for a business is an activity that is born from intelligence, but also heart. To launch a project of the EoC society, you need to be able to step out of your comfort zone and encounter the others, just as they are. Patience is needed, humility and flexibility. When this path opens for me too, I’ll be a little closer to what I really am.” Source: Sophia University Institute sophiauniversity.org See also: Project Lia: Transforming Lives
24 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide
On November 2-4 the International Prophetic Economy event will be held in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. It is being organized by several international movements and institutions whose goal is to create new paths of collaboration among change-makers (individuals as well as private and public organizations) from around the globe. These are change-makers who utilise sustainable solutions for social and environmental problems, work and become engaged in new creative forms of “prophetic” economy that favor the human person, especially the most needy. “Our world,” they claim, “faces an ecological and social crisis. Climate change and growing inequality are nourished by unjust political structures and short-term aid, along with obsolete policies and procedures. Many people around the world believe passionately in human development and in sustainable development that can change the rules and require justice. It’s time to put ourselves together and be more than the sum of our parts. The event was preceded by an award contest, the Prophetic Practices Award 2018, which 135 change-makers held in 35 countries. The experiences of the finalists, chosen by an international jury of experts (Vandana Shiva, Jeff Sachs, Cristina Calvo and Stefano Zamagni), will be presented live during the event in November. See: Prophetic Economy website
