Apr 30, 2014 | Cultura
In this moving collection of writings from his final year in this world, we hear John Paul II’s voice again as he calls us to build a society that recognizes universal human rights, to listen to our neighbours cry for help, to build bridges and to share in one another’s gifts. Read more
Available from New City Press (NY)
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Apr 8, 2014 | Cultura
Author: Marc Foley
The reflections contained here invite us to ponder our lives and to open our listening hearts to the voice of God, so that our Lent can truly be a Lent in its deepest sense a spring that buds forth new life. Drawing upon classic and current literature, Marc Foley accompanies us in this Scriptural-personal Lenten journey. He does it in a way that invites us to both explore the human condition and embrace the grace the Lord again offers us in order to transform who we are and how we are living. What more than this can you ask of a Lenten guide?
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Mar 11, 2014 | Cultura
Strengthen the spiritual life of the parish Living City Magazine of the Focolare announces the release of Called to be community — A guide to living a spirituality of communion as a new resource for those involved in adult catechesis to deepen the Gospel life of their parishes and local communities. The 88-page manual is rich in content and gives guidelines on how to implement the Gospel in daily life, thus forming the kind of “living parish communities” that were envisioned by the Second Vatican Council. It offers participants the means to deepen their faith and the opportunity to put the Gospel into practice — together! Called to be community has been specifically prepared for small groups in parishes and other pastoral environments or home places where Christians can be of “one heart and one mind” in living out a spirituality of communion — a spirituality that belongs to the whole Church. In the words of Pope John Paul II: “We need to promote a spirituality of communion, making it the guiding principle of education wherever individuals and Christians are formed.” This guide will lead one to discover God who is love, and ways to respond to his love through love of one’s neighbor. It outlines the essential points of a spirituality of communion, and offers practical exercises to make them an integral part of life. Called to be community can be a great tool for those responsible for adult catechesis in the parish and even for those who are not yet part of parish life. Its simplicity and accessibility to everyone makes this program an invaluable resource to make the parish a school of communion and contribute to the fulfillment of Jesus utmost desire, “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you” (Jn 17:21). $11.95 per copy (88 pages), discount on bulk orders. Leader’s manual (16 pages), $2.95. To order copies, or for more information please contact Living City: Living City 202 Comforter Blvd, Hyde Park, New York 12538 tel. 845-229-0496 fax 845-229-1770 email: livingcity.ed@livingcitymagazine.com www.livingcitymagazine.com (more…)
Jan 24, 2014 | Cultura

Chiara Lubich’s explanations of the presence of Jesus in the Midst (cf. Mt. 18:20) are collected in this book.
Beside being theologically valid, her profound thoughts deal with an experience that is crucial to the life of the Focolare Movement; it is, in fact, the hidden source of its strength.
From the Foreword by Bsp. Klaus Hemmerle
Available from New City Philippines
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Jan 1, 2014 | Cultura
The New York Times called Chiara Lubich “one of the most influential women in the Catholic Church.” This biography transports readers inside the story of a young woman, born to a poor family in Trent, who felt called to dedicate her life to God. Against the backdrop of WWII’s devastation, Lubich shared her passion first with a group of young women her age. Torno presents a forthright account of Chiara Lubich and her friends’ collective mystical experience and their resulting life, both profoundly spiritual and deeply human, which always aimed at fulfilling Jesus’ prayer “that all may be one.” By the 1960’s, her inspiration had reached every corner of Italy and spread throughout Europe, behind the Iron Curtain, and around the world. Wherever she went – from the jungles of the Cameroon, to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, to the skyscrapers of New York, to the Buddhist monasteries of Chiang Mai, Thailand – she shared her choice of God and the lifestyle it generated. This biography brings to life those people Chiara met along the way – from everyday folk to political leaders to popes – and describes how her charism affected each one. He reveals the challenges that arose as a vast movementgrew up around Lubich as well as her joy at seeing authentic gospel life spread around the world. Together, they achieved what Chiara defined as “…the great attraction of modern times: to penetrate to the highest contemplation while mingling with everyone.” Also available as an eBook. Orders: New City Press (NY) (more…)
Dec 18, 2013 | Cultura, Focolare Worldwide, Focolari nel Mondo, Nuove Generazioni

Clip video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymXHLfOal4U
Belamy Paluku comes from Goma, but is in Belgium for three month. In his Country, Congo, he is a member of the group Gen Fuoco, a band whose message draws its inspiration from the spirituality of unity, and is responsible for the “Foyer culturel”, a cultural centre in his city. Thanks to his musical talent, the Wallonie-Bruxelles Centre offered him a scholarship to study singing at Verviers, in Belgium. Belamy is a songwriter, whose songs highlight the search for peace, dialogue, the value of suffering. His most popular song is entitled “Nos couleurs et nos saveurs” (Our colours and our flavours), which is an invitation to appreciate the different colours and tastes of the different peoples, because “a world with just one colour and with just one kind of food would be a very poor world”. In the video which we are presenting to you, there is the interview of this young Congolese musician and that of a young Belgian girl. 
Belamy Paluku
Belamy, you are from Goma, in Congo. In this moment you are in Belgium for an intercultural exchange for your specialization as a musician. How do you feel in such a different world? «I discover many people of different origins and I realize that each one always has something to give and to receive from others. The diversities of cultures and languages cannot stop us from living together and communicating.» And you Elisabeth, you were born in Belgium, what do you think about this welcoming people who come from all over the world? «It’s true that in Europe, and especially here in Brussels, there is an immense richness of nationalities and different cultures. Personally I have met some young people of the Focolare Movement from Syria, Slovakia, Italy etc. And what always helped me is also the art of loving which concretely makes you take the step towards the other. But I think that living one next to the other is not enough, we can take an extra step. The challenge for us Europeans, who perhaps are rather reserved, is precisely to go and meet the other person and to build bridges until we all become one family, until we truly recognize one another as brothers and sisters.» Belamy, is it from this exchange of riches that you wrote a song? «I come from a region with a constant danger of war sparking off between ethnic groups. This exchange of human and cultural riches seems to me a way to be followed towards the fulfillment of a world of sharing and tolerance. I began from our differences so as to cry out to the world that remaining together, united, we can unfold the puzzle of humanity.» Belamy Paluku is on facebook as Belamusik (the cultural centre of Goma) (more…)