Paraguay: 50 years of the Focolare Movement

8 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“Vy’aguasu peteĩ ñe’ẽme” (grand feast in a sole language), the event was given this title in Guarani, which besides Spanish is also the country’s official language. Just as the hearts spoke out in joyful unison on that occasion, last 16 November, Maria Voce wrote: «With great joy I join you in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Ideal in your beloved land of the Guarani, and your festivities at the Mariapolis “Madre de la humanidad. We express our deep gratitude to all those who were the first tools in God’s hands … » Some of these, protagonists of the beginnings of the Movement in Paraguay, recounted their fascination in discovering the novelty and adventure in following “a light that brightens every corner of existence.” Unconditioned, concrete and demanding Evangelical love, still continues to fill the lives of these eighty-year-olds brimming with life and wisdom. Throughout the years, the spontaneous evangelical life of the first group gave rise to the Movement today, and is now diffused in all the main cities of the country, and like the “parable of the small seed, is now a gigantic tree which opens its branches across the world,” as Chiara Lubich had envisioned. Along the lines of the “three keywords” Pope Francis recently addressed to the members of the Focolari’s General Assembly, the day was dotted with brief reflections on “contemplation, going out and formation,” enriched by concrete and effective experiences and actions in the field of bioethics and politics, and of social inclusion. Also in Paraguay, the light of the Gospel took flesh in its culture, in such a way that it became a lifestyle of its inhabitants. And here, the roots of its inhabitants, the Guarani people, are still strong. They were the most numerous among the 20 aborigines who lived in this land for more than 5,000 years, as recent discoveries have confirmed. This naturally communitarian people lived in harmony with nature and possessed a highly marked sense of the sacredness and dignity of the human person. Diana Durán professor and scholar in History, summarised the wealth of the Guarani people’s ancestral values and made herself a spokesman for the Focolari’s proposal to rediscover these values, after centuries of oppression and contempt, and proposed them as the antidote to the anti-values threatening society today. A huge contribution came from the Synod on the Family that encouraged all to stand by others in a concrete way, to heal their wounds and relaunch the family, the pillar of Paraguayan society, still robust but increasingly undermined. The conferment of the “Art of Dialogue” prize, after online polls, was awarded to Mons. Adalberto Martínez Flores, for his promotions of the Multisectarian Coordinating Table of the San Pedro provinces. The multisectarian service was created through his initiative in 2010, amid a situation of great strife that beset society. Thanks to this initiative still underway, and which convoked landowners, entrepreneurs, landless farmers and social parties, important improvements were achieved in the social sector as well as in the weaker brackets. The Focolari communities spread throughout the land recounted their experiences and actions: living a life of solidarity, especially in situations of suffering. The youth and the kids. The music band was able to contaminate all with enthusiasm, while the kids of the Focolari, incredible examples of going against the “have-all here and now” attitude were the protagonists of experience-sharing moments with a hundred of their peers. Lastly, the little ones, the Gen 4, conquered all with the simplicity of their evangelical life. Seeing life spread and grow always takes us by surprise. The first followers of Chiara lubich’s ideal of unity in Paraguay can say that for 50 years they have witnessed the birth and development of dynamic Christian communities, with the typical joys and pains of a growing family. The challenges remain, but when there is unity, nothing seems impossible.  

Lionello Bonfanti: a law in search of justice

6 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“I didn’t know Lionello Bonfanti. Today, not only was I impressed by his life, but I was really deeply moved.” This was one of the impressions shared at the end of the conference, “Law in Search of Justice. The Method of Lionello Bonfanti,” an enriching afternoon that was held on November 28, 2014 at the Parma Industrials Union headquarters. The conference was organised by Communion and Law, a section of the Focolare Movement that promotes the centrality of the person in the field of law, the person’s full dignity, relational skills and openness to the transcendent – as someone qualified to give the world a look that reflects the aspirations of individuals and peoples. A debate on law and justice, “led back,” as explained by Professor Adriana Cosseddu, “to a common root where justice, the guardian of relationships, exceeds the practice of law so that it becomes a sharing and ability to identify with any situation of discomfort or pain. It has a universal breadth, because it is an opportunity offered to everyone to rebuild relationships that are not based on self-interest – to use   the words of the philosopher, Arendt – the capacity of entering in relationship with others and, above all, to place oneself in their place.” Magistrate Bonfanti demonstrated this right relationship between law and justice in his own life: “What emerges from his life,” states Focolare president, Maria Voce, in a message to the conference, “is how this search for justice always went beyond the mere application of norms. His seeking was focused first on relationships, on recognising the dignity of every person and placing himself in relationship with them, whether they were his own colleague, the lawyer, the chancellor, the offended party, or the one accused even of a serious offence. His commitment in seeking to apply the law in order to come not only to the truth of the case, but justice, guided him both in and outside the courtroom. Dr Mario Ricci dealt with the topic of respect for individuals and their basic rights. With entertaining stories, and constant challenges to the audience, especially those working in the legal professions, the Law Ordinary from the Intercultural Law School of the University of Parma underscored, among other things, how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still not taken very much in consideration and seldom applied concretely. The conference was formative with an audience of magistrates, lawyers and notaries, accredited by the National Foundation of Notaries and by the Council of the Order of Lawyers. Many testimonies were given to show how the methodology used by Magistrate Bonfanti in his own career is still relevant and applicable today; these were presented by lawyer Maria Giovanna Rigatelli, Prefect Mario Ciclosi and Gino Trombi, friend of Lionello. An artistic performance about Lionello Bonfanti was an unusual touch, presented by filmaker Maffino Maghensani, who used the words of Magistrate Bonfanti and background music draw everyone into Bonfanti’s inner life, profession and decision to build with every person, authentic relationships that would last. “Today,” his sister Maria Grazia Bonfanti remarked, “Lionello has truly returned to Parma. The meeting in this prestigious hall was at the level of his life and his work.”  

Gen Rosso in Monza with 120 teenagers

5 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

During the concert tour of the Gen Rosso in Northern Italy (Monza and Brianza, from November 10 to 15) “it not only poured liters of water due to the never-ending rain, but also many graces that all those who took part in the project continue to share with us,” the 18 artists of the band upon their return wrote us. The students who were involved in the project were 120 coming from 11 different institutes: “For the first time we were able to involve so many schools.”

The project was requested and organized by the local community of the Focolare Movement, in collaboration with the “Fraternità Capitanio” (Capitaniano Fraternity) , a community of people who live the gift of fraternity according to their particular characteristic as desired by Bartolomea Capitanio, a teacher who lived in Lovere (Northern Italy) during the first ten years of the Eighteenth Century.The Capitanio Fraternity has existed in Monza since 1977 as a community that welcomes young women in difficulty who want to go through re-education and recover their personal dignity so as to become builders of life for themselves and for others. «We found ourselves immediately in harmony with them and a friendships was born that will surely remain for a long time», the Gen Rosso continued. «At the end of the project we saw that these young boys and girls understood and totally welcomed the values intrinsic in the musical “Streetlight”. They spoke of family, of inner strength, of a new faith in oneself and to see them crying upon pur departure really touched our hearts … But we left each other with an ‘arrivederci’ (see you again), certain that we would meet again!».

Some of the faces and the experiences of these teens were broadcast on channel TG3 national.

“I never thought that in one week one could really like these people a lot, and instead this is what happened,” wrote Giada. “Each one of them puts their heart into what they do. And so it is a very big grace because everyday with the mottos that they share with us, they always teach us something new and encourage us to believe in our dreams.” Giada was in the group of the hip hop combination: “If you would get the chance,” she continued – I would advice anyone to try because, according to me, it is one of the most beautiful experiences that could happen to you!”.

“In 2 days I was able to learn two choreographies and in 6 I got to know around 130 people who, putting it mildly, are stupendous, my second very much extended family.” another wrote. “You from Gen Rosso have made me grow and experience a part of my dream, you made me understand what these two words FRIENDSHIP and LOVE mean. Your teachings are like gold: unique and precious.”

Nostalgia for the experience lived, but also a great message of growth: this is what the “120 teenagers of Monza” carry in their hearts, recalling that – as the words of a song in the musical says – from now on “we will love one another’s journey”.

The Seeds of Economy of Communion in Taiwan

4 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

«In the waters of the Sun Moon Lake, the green mountains of the central-eastern region of Taiwan are reflected.This big and beautiful island of the South China Sea was rightly named Formosa by the Portuguese sailors. Its fame attracts millions of tourists every year, also from mainland China. The steep slopes are covered with lush vegetation in the midst of which I can recognize clumps of bamboo, maybe 15 meters tall.

James Liao, a man in his forties, of a slim build like many of his countrymen, was waiting for us at the entrance of a small pier where we can sit on the stern of the Holy Love. It is a motorboat that has been recently rebuilt and he is justly proud of it: it is the only one of the whole lake that is accessible by the disabled in wheelchairs.

‘The special access port, the ramp, the special hooks to anchor wheelchairs during navigation have cost a lot, and this was one of the reasons why it wasn’t understood at the beginning. But it had to be done, if it is true that this initiative was created to overcome all forms of discrimination. This way 200 disabled people have been able to reach our camp already.’

Another instant of discrimination that James wanted to overcome was against the minority of the indigenous people inhabiting these places: the five jobs created in the camp are for them.

The camp is located in a small clearing in the flat bottom of a lovely gulf, virtually inaccessible by land. The surrounding forest and the birdsong create a striking contrast to the opposite shore of the lake, occupied by houses, roads, shops and a huge skyscraper, where the best sights are dominated by flashy five-star hotels. In the middle of the clearing there is a simple wooden house, allowing thirty young people to stayin two dormitories, and next to it there is an open-air structure that serves as a kitchen. All around, from the mountain’s side, some white pointed gazebos have been placed offering shelter from the sun or rain, depending on the circumstances; a corner is occupied by rays of black plastic crates black piled up so as to ensure that the higher ones, filled with humus, are level with the hands of a seated person: all designed to allow the disabled to also avail of the “green therapy”. The plants are well aligned and sprouting from the crates in confirmation that the therapy has been recently practiced.

By the lake, near the pier, there are some twenty lightweight metal canoes arranged in good order. ‘It is titanium, recovered 30 years ago from the carcasses of the planes of World War II by the founder of the camp, Father Richard, an American from Wisconsin who has left everything to devotehimself to us Taiwanese, beginning with the most feeble ones. Before me he was the manager of Special Need Centers (centres for disadvantaged people) of the Diocese of Taichung, and he had thought of this place to give them the opportunity to make learning experiences from which they would otherwise have been excluded. Actually I have never met him, but a short time ago I was filled with joy when I discovered one of the old documents that was precisely about a boat accessible for the disabled.’ The figure of Father Richard has played a role also in the choice of faith of James, followed by the decision to leave a well-paid job in a bank and go to study pedagogy of the disadvantaged and then work for them.

Every word of James’ transmits enthusiasm for all that means respect for the environment, care for the spirit, hospitability, and attention to others. It is really fascinating! But this is also an enterprise, so I ask for information on its economic management. ‘It is a source of great pride for us that we are now already in surplus, thanks to the revenue from the excursions and sports activities that we offer to the general public (down in the city we have two people working for us, in contact with tourist agencies). And so, instead of the diocese supporting us, as in the past, it is now us offering our profits, namely 30% of the all we get. Another 30% goes to the Centers for Social Needs, 30% is reinvested in the company and the last 10% goes to the employees, in a pattern that we have adapted from the Economy of Communion, as we want to follow its principles.’ And in order to be clear, all this is written very visibly on the billboard posted at the entrance of the boat introducing passengers to the logic of Holy Love».

Source: EoC online

Teens for Unity: the greatest goal

3 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

A soccer tournament where the winner is not one team but two and from different parts of the planet sometimes very far from each other? Where Art Play is practiced and awarded? Where the sponsors are willing to donate an amount for every goal as a contribution to finance scholarships for teens from disadvantaged countries? Many initiatives and projects of solidarity? A “third playing time”…?

«This and many other things were part of the Super Soccer World 2014 – Federico Rovea, one of the organizers of the event shared with us. This sporting event was promoted by the “Teens for Unity” of the Focolare Movment and involved 56 soccer teams from various cities in the world».

Two teams win. Characteristic of the tournament is that the winners are the two teams of the twinned cities, which symbolically play together at a distance, giving the competition a planetary dimension.

Among the 14 twinnings: the teens of Bečej, a small city of Serbia, twinned with Tlencem in Algeria; those of Loppiano (Italy) with the teens of Florianópolis in Brazil, the Italian city of Rieti played simultaneously with Buenos Aires (Argentina).

This last twinning, just like all the others, was not just “ideal”. In fact during the tournament it was possible to have a telephone link-up with Argentina to share with the participating South Americans the same spirit of friendship and fraternity. The teens of Rieti shared – aside from the experience of the day – that also some projects of solidarity were born thanks to Super Soccer. And this was: the organization of a sports activity for disabled teens and fund-raising for those in need, through the sale of sweets. The parents present were also very much involved and enthusiastic about the initiative.

Art Play. On the sports fields, the teens put into practice – aside from their passion for the sport – also the spirit of Art Play. This meant four fundamental rules:

• Respect for the others

• Cooperation

• Responsibility

• Relationship

True cornerstones of the tournament that contributed to the points of the teams just as much as the goals scored. The referees watched out, therefore, not only for the respect of the rules of the game but also for the spirit which animated the players, giving a positive point to whoever distinguished himself in living it. «The teens were attentive to these rules just as much as they were to scoring goals. According to me, this rule must be inserted among the rules of the World Cup tournaments », affirmed one of the gymnastics professors involved in the organization of the event.

Scholarships. Linked to the tournament was also the project “Schoolmates”, with the proposal of finding a sponsor which, in every city, would be willing to donate an amount for every goal scored, as a financial contribution for the scholarships for teens coming from disadvantaged countries. The 367 goals scored gained € 2,370, for a total of 22 scholarships.

The “third playing time”. A moment of celebration shared with the participants to the sporting event and with the palyers, which contributed to bringing the spirit of the sports competition also outsied the playing field.

Super Soccer World, more of a celebration rather than a tournament, characterized by its being worldwide and by sharing, by solidarity and the respect for the other, that the teens had the possibility of experiencing within, and above all, outside of the soccer playing field. We’ll see each other again next year!

Turkey: What Pope Francis has left us

2 Dec 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“It is true that the Holy Spirit brings forth different charisms in the Church, which at first glance, may seem to create disorder. Under his guidance, however, they constitute an immense richness, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity, which is not the same thing as uniformity. Only the Holy Spirit is able to kindle diversity, multiplicity and, at the same time, bring about unity.” These words that Pope Francis spoke at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit of Istanbul in front of thousands of the faithful from diverse Rites of the Roman Catholic Church, produced great joy in all of us. Even more, they confirmed our conviction that the presence of the Focolare Movement in this land, although a small presence, has every reason to continue the journey begun many years ago when, in 1967, the focolare first came to Istanbul at the explicit request of Patriarch Athenagoras. But how did we spend these days? With a lot of joy and emotion! We were quite involved in the preparations both in the Catholic Church and, at the request of the Orthodox Patriarchate, collaborating with the press. Thanks to the close relationship we have with Patriarch Bartholomew, we were able to personally express to him our desire to accompany him with our prayers. And we were direct witnesses of his growing joy, his love for Pope Francis and his passion for unity! Two focolarine were in charge of the Holy Father’s lodgings and attended his private Mass on Sunday morning. Along with the welcome from the Movement in Turkey, we also presented the Pope with greeting cards and gifts from some of our Muslim friends. Then we attended Mass at the Cathedral (where a focolarino priest concelebrated) and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning at the Fanar. The message of brotherhood and unity at all levels which Pope Francis leaves to Turkey, hits upon an underlying question of this land as the Gateway between East and West, and of the composition of its population. Undoubtedly, however, his message is primarily an ecumenical one, as he demonstrated at the ecumenical prayer service in the Patriarchal Church of St George where he asked the Patriarch and the whole Church of Constantinople to “bless me and the Church of Rome.” And it is precisely within the context of this ecumenical scenario between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of recent years, at times marked by weariness and apparent immobility, that the Focolare Movement finds a place in these lands. We should say that we are the beneficiaries of a privileged relationship with the Patriarch and with many Metropolitans, which we inherit from what was sown by Chiara Lubich during her visits to Istanbul. However, our relationships of simple and sincere communion are not limited to the hierarchy, but interweave with many sisters and brothers of the Orthodox Church. In light of what has taken place during these days it seems that an unequivocal sign has been given by the two religious leaders: to push forward on the path towards unity and not to succumb to the effort it will take, and to accept the challenges in order to together offer answers and solutions that are required today. The Pope and the Patriarch have proven that they are beyond, although realistically. This was demonstrated in all they did and said, beginning with their joint declaration. During the return flight Pope Francis strongly reiterated that in this journey towards unity, only what “is of the Holy Spirit is correct, because He is [a] surprise; He is creative.” this mandate is both joyous and liberating, indicating a path that is clear: to be open, attentive to the signs that the Spirit will place within our reach; to use imagination, personal and group strengths; to take advantage of every opportunity that is offered in the complex and at times difficult context in which we live, so that He can act. Source: Focolare Turkey