Inauguration of the 19th Academic Year at SUI

11 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

Sophia University Institute of Loppiano will celebrate the opening of the 11th academic year on October 22, 2018, at 17:00 in the Auditorium. Following the greetings from the Grand Chancellor, Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, Archbishop of Florence, Italy; Vice-Grand Chancellor Dr Maria Voce, president of the Work of Mary; and Dr Egidio Sgulloni, president of the Foundation for Sophia, there will be a panel discussion “On the net: Sophia and the University of Perugia,” with interventions by Dr Piero Coda, president of Sophia University Institute, Dr Franco Moriconi, Grand Rector of the Universty of Perugia Studies, and of Dr Mary Elisabeth Trini, double graduate with a double title IU Sophia-University of Perugia. It will conclude with a roundtable titled “The Challenge of Fraternity In Politics and Law,” with a presentation by the “Sophia Center for Researcih on Politics and Human Rights.” Professors Antonio Maria Baggio (IUS), Adriana Cosseddu (University of Sassari) and Antonio Marques Prieto (University of Malaga) will also make presentations.

The enduring legacy of the “Velvet Revolution”

10 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

The great history of Central Europe, in particular of the Czech nation will serve as a backdrop for a new stage in the journey of Together for Europe, which promotes dialogue between divergent cultural and political identities. In November 2017 the European meeting of Friends of Together for Europe took place in Vienna, a bridge between Eastern and Western Europe. This year, we will have the opportunity to take another step to the very heart of Central Eastern Europe – Prague, with a singular desire to face challenges, prejudices and fears which weigh on the collective conscience of EU member states and beyond. Through the life of the Gospel, nourished and enlightened by the presence of Christ in the Christian communities, we wish to witness to the fact that the path towards Europe as a House of Nations and a Family of Peoples is not a utopia. The enduring legacy of the “Velvet Revolution” On 17th November, the Czech Republic commemorates the anniversary of the “Velvet Revolution” (so called due to its peaceful nature) which transformed the Czech Republic into a co-protagonist for the ongoing process of European reunification. The presence of the Friends of Together for Europe in Prague on this very day, urges us to renew our shared commitment: to bring to a post-secular culture the spirit of Christian Humanism, and in so doing contribute to building a more united Europe. The renowned Czech Philosopher and Theologian Tomas Halik, friend of the late Vaclav Havel, Jaroslav Sebek of the Historical Czech Academy of Science, and Pavel Fischer an emerging Czech politician, together with leaders and representatives of different Movements, Communities and Associations will be present. Their contributions will reinforce the daring objective of this meeting: to recall a Europe of hope and promise, a Europe which stems from a rich heritage of ethnic, social and cultural diversity and calls out for communion and dialogue. In this way, the Prague event will become a fundamental phase of Together for Europe which continues its commitment for a more united, brotherly and just Europe. It will also be a unique opportunity to prepare together for the upcoming elections for the European Parliament. The meeting will conclude with an open evening, in which Movements and Communities from different churches and which are present in the Czech Republic will be represented. Address: Mariapolis Centre, Mladoboleslavská 667, 190 17 Prague 9 – Vinoř, Czech Republic – Tel. +420 286 007 711; Email: cmpraha@espol.cz; www.centrummariapoli.cz Source: Together for Europe Foto: Canva

India: the #zerohungergeneration project continues

9 Oct 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

Last September, Mayur and his friends visited the slums in Bhandup and a school in Kanjur (Mumbai). They met with around 110 children. With his group, the Mayur’s Dance Academy, Mayur organised dance workshops for children at a town school in the Bhandup school district. At the conclusion, there was the long awaited distribution of nutritious food like milk, fruit, etc. to the joy of all! Despite the strong rains over the last months, we, Young Ones for Unity of Andheri (Mumbai), went door to door to ask for old newspapers to sell as paper to over 50 families in our neighbourhood. We also handed out letters addressing all the residents of the neighbourhood, with the same request. Many gave us their newspapers willingly, others who did not have any wanted to give something just the same, like cereals, and notebooks for school, and lastly, others gave us money to buy school material. Some parents and friends joined us, supporting the initiative also in the more concrete aspects. And so 383 kilos of paper were collected! The man who bought them gave us a good price, and moreover, also gave us some cash “since it was for a good cause,” he said. With the sum collected, we bought a lot of cereals which we donated to the Ursuline nuns who take care of children affected by AIDS and their families. Though it was tiring, the happiness for having done something concrete was greater. Our efforts, though modest, were a small step ahead in contributing to the “Zero Hunger Project.” launched by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – http://www.fao.org/home/en/) and to which we, the Young Ones for Unity all over the world, are committed to. We’re so happy that all went well – concluded Anu and Alvin, the Young Ones for Unity of Andheri – but now we want to continue and do something more to build a better world, eliminating hunger, starting from our own neighbourhood.“

Watch video of Mayur Jayram Mandavkar https://vimeo.com/275110601