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14 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Similar meetings had taken place in other parts of Italy and throughout the world, and it was the first time for the city of Udine (in north-eastern Italy), event also highlighted in the local newspapers: at the Balducci Cultural Centre on Sunday 19 October, 150 members of the Focolari and Muslims participated in an afternoon encounter, dialogue and prayer and – why not – a get-together. During the prayer session, the Muslims went to another room to pray according to their customs. First the Imam had recited a prayer in Arabic, and then the Catholic priest said the “Our Father,” with the absolute respect and silence of all those present.
Two not-so-distant worlds, besides sharing the “golden rule” common to all the great religions, “Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you”, «Christians and Muslims believe in an only God – underlined one of the leaders of the Movement, Franco Vasta – both are sons of Abraham, and have an impartial love for their brothers and outstanding sense of family.»
“Muslims and Christians have a lot in common – Mercy and solidarity,” confirmed the President of the Association and head of the Udine Islamic Center, Errachidi Abderrazak, “And it is important that they unite forces. Let us think of the youth, and try to reach them to transmit to them the values of our common efforts, to help them avoid the wrong paths. The youth are our main mission. We need to work together also for this.”
The friendship between the Focolari and the Muslim community was established in Triest, thanks to Imam Abdel Aziz El Barikhi, and also set roots in Udine. In the afternoon, all watched the film of the speech of Focolare Movement’s foundress, Chiara Lubich, in the Mosque of Malcom Shabazz at Harlem, New York in 1997, considered the starting point of this dialogue, and was followed by the sharing of experiences, testimonials, prayer and music, uniting Christians and Muslims in one voice also in a delicate phase like the current one: “The media is giving out wrong signals, accompanying images of ISIS with images of mosques, for example,” affirmed Fr Pierluigi Di Piazza of the Balducci Centre, “It is very wrong to draw this parallel since it creates the risk of people using religion to justify violence.”
The decision to join forces, however, is strong in Udine, so much so that Abderrazak declared to the media, that “Should an Italian enter our mosque, we would welcome him. Mosques should not create fear. It is a place of education. It teaches us how to do good to others. It educates the youth to take the righteous path, which is not the path of harshness and intransigence.”
This meeting which deeply involved the participants, will not end here: to a journalist who asked if other meetings will be held, Abderrazak replied, “Certainly. These are meetings that open out to dialogue, help us to get to know each other. I admit that the path is not easy. But it is worthwhile to pursue, since knowledge and integration cancels fear.”
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13 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
The Economy of Communion is not a “done deal,” but a “process.” This idea was repeated often at the 5th meeing of European business owners and promoters of the EoC, held in a Focolare town in Krizevci Croazia (October 17-20, 2014). This year again the meeting was a process, a communion created one day at a time.
A hundred and fifty people from 23 countries took part in the meeting. Besides Europe, they came from Brazil, Argentina, Congo, and India. Forty two young people between the ages of 18 and 30, from 7 countries also took part in the meeting with their “Together we grow: youth towards and inclusive economy” project. Seven European associations (from Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany and Italy) had the idea of organising a simultaneous “exchange” with young people that would be an integral part of the business meeting. That portion of the meeting was titled “Together we grow: youth towards an inclusive economy,” and was supported by the European Commission that co-finances the project.
Where is the EoC today and what are its prospects for the future?
This question was answered by Professor Luigino Bruni, who recalled the beginnings of the Focolare Movement in 1943 when Chiara Lubich and the first focolarine welcomed the poor into their home for lunch. “This is the primary image of the EoC,” he said. “In this scene the poor person is inside the house, and this is fraternity.” Bruni spoke of three challenges for the Economy of Communion, which he gave three titles: offering a great ideal; today’s poor are the young people because they cannot find work; and doing things together with the many people who already share the same values of communion and brotherhood.
The three days in Croatia were filled with the testimonies of business owners. Nico Daenens from Belgium, presented his business which offers domestic help, with 3000 collaborators. Koen and Chris from Belgium, along with Atila and Boglarka from Serbia, told about the collaboration that began thanks to the values they shared values with the EoC, and that a new company has begun in Serbia.
In the afternoons workshops were held dealing with several topics: “What is needed to come up with an EoC business plan and start-up?”, “Paths of inclusion for people at the local level in the life of the EoC business,” “Spreading the EoC project and its culture,” “Management of non-profit associations” and others.
One person who attended the meeting summarised the event: “It was truly a workshop of brotherhood, open to future projects which we hope will lead us beyond old geographic and mental boundries, following the path of communion.”
Source: EoC online
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11 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
L’arcivescovo John Dew di Wellington
We are in New Zealand, in the heart of Wellington, capital of a land that has opened its arms to many peoples. Urged by the news of wars in Iraq, Gaza, Ukraine and Central Africa; the growing fear of Ebola; and the Pope’s many appeals for peace, some young people from the Focolare Movement in New Zealand felt the need to gather in a public place and voice their longing for peace.
The Archbishop of Wellington, Most Rev. John Dew, contributed personally to the evening event, which included songs, prayers and testimonies. There was also a witness offered by two young women from Iraq who had met in New Zealand and were followed by their families to that land: Sendirella, a Catholic, and Ayssar, a Muslim. They spoke about what had united them in their homeland. They had first met at the home of a common friend and from there a friendship began that led them to share their dreams, studies and travel. Sendirella said “we’re different,” but Aysser quickly added, “but we are the same.” They said that for many people religion is the great difference, perhaps even the great obstacle, but it was never a problem for them; on the contrary, it drew them closer. “In the religion of one,” said Sendrella, “we’ve always recognised elements of the religion of the other.”
Sendirella e Ayssar
Then, they talked about their country. Today’s Iraq is associated with war, fleeing minorities and torture, but the Iraq of their parents was one where your neighbour could be a Christian, Muslim, Jew or Yazidi; “an Iraq,” Ayssar said, “where the difference of religion was always accepted as a fact, not a problem.” Now that Iraq seems so far away. “They’ve told us that peace is impossible,” Sendirella continued: “But we know that peace is not merely a word in a constitution, it’s not some particular form of government, nor air-raids meant to enforce peace. We know that that peace lies in the daily observance of our values, that it’s something that comes from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.”
A young university student called Kathleen told how she felt urged to ask forgiveness following a misunderstanding among the students with whom she shared a flat. Before, that would have been a very difficult and demanding thing for her to do, but as it turned out, it opened the door to a new and better relationship with the other girls.
The evening prayer concluded with an invitation to become builders of peace, sealing that commitment with the knotting of a white ribbon to a small Kowhai tree. This tree with a Maori name originated in New Zealand. It has many medicinal qualities and several species of birds are nourished by its rich nectar. With delicate branches the Kowhai is a strong tree that can reach heights of 20 metres. It was a perfect symbol of the humble but powerful cry for peace that went forth from those young people on that night of prayer.
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10 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Young people from Cagliari, Pisa, Treviso, Prato, Macerata, Torino, Mantova, Pescara, Rome, fielded time, travel, and energy to construct the gathering titled: “Democracy for all: flip the pyramid.” The seminar was held on October 5, 2014 in the assembly hall of Sophia University Institute (SUI) following the enriching LoppianoLab 2014 programme, which focused on several important current issues in Italy. The approach was the same one followed by all the other courses of the programme, whether theoretical lessons or practical workshops in the various regions of Italy: respecting, listening and sharing, in order to have above all an experience of fraternity, and from there to discover the validity and the dignity of the political paradigm at each of its levels. The programme included a series of life experiences, practical involvement, projects and the need for a politics that is truly new and can already be seen in the experiences of administrators (two of them from North and Central Italy offered an encouraging contribution), informed citizens, young people actively involved and in positions of candidacy as representatives in institutions, and adults who generously placed themselves at the service of young people and their research. 
To summarize the interventions which were rich and diverse, we present a brain-storming session by the young people from the School of Turin. It is a set of their own comments on some of the main points of the discussions. Sovereignty. “Participating means to collectively exercise one’s own share of sovereignty, in a manner that is non-viloent, constructive and informed. (Chiara Andena) Duty. The duty to participate, to go beyond the crisis, defeatism, immobilism and refusal to fight and to give up.” (Matteo Dematteis) Growth and willingness. “The contrast between differing points of view, life experiences and cultural baggage brings personal enrichment which is indispensible for personal development, all of this joined to the willingness to search for ever-new perspectives.” (Katia Follina) Discovery. “If I look at the world from my point of view, I’m given three dimensions. If I look at it with the eyes of others, I’m given an infinite number of dimensions.” (Marco Titli) 
Competency. “For me, participating means getting down to work, each according to his or her inclinations, personal interests and personal knowledge. However, participating together means integrating each one’s talents in order to expand points of view and make them more inclusive and in accord with the perspective of fraternity.” (Federica Mensio) Communality. “Realising that we belong to a greater whole empowers us. This new awareness makes us collectively active and capable of making a positive mark.” (Paolo Cataldi) Hope. “Discovering that a young person who is involved in politics with completely different political orientations from mine can still spend their lives for the same ideals, not only gave me hope for a better present and future, but reminded me that one should never close the door on dialogue, no matter how differing the points of view may be. (Elena Destefanis) Struggle and Resistence. “Resistence is a non-violent form of fighting where mutual listening, sharing ones thoughts and ideas, freely, without prejudgements are weapons of mass construction.” (Matteo Bracco)
9 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
In this competition – promoted by the “Cities for Fraternity” Association – all local administrations from any part of the world may participate.
Projects and initiatives can compete if:
– they institute and/or spread, principally within the local territory, but also on a national or international level, practices of universal brotherhood, according to the diverse interpretations of the meaning of such a principle;
– they stimulate the citizens to commit themselves for the common good and to participate in the life of civil society,
– they encourage the growth of a culture of active and inclusive citizenry.
The project must be representative of a style of administration that is not occasional and always more aware of the value of the principle of universal brotherhood.
On the side of the public adminitrations and other social, economic, cultural subjects, it is possible both to become candidates, and also to nominate the projects of others.
All the recommendations must be sent on or before January 9, 2015 , to the office of the Chairman of the “Cities for Fraternity” Association, c/oTown Council of Castel Gandolfo, Piazza Libertà, 7 00040 Castel Gandolfo (Rm).
You may download the notice (in Italian)
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9 Nov 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
A Fund for the Needy For more than twenty years I’ve been working at a university hospital. One day a patient arrived in my department of dermatology. None of my colleagues wanted to take care of her because of prejudice. Her blood tests had confirmed that she was suffering from AIDS. Since I couldn’t perform surgery on her, I began a different treatment using radiotherapy. Three months later she was doing better. Since we couldn’t keep her in hospital any longer and knowing that her children would not be able to care for her, I asked if she had other relatives who could help her. She had, but they lived in another state. So I asked my colleagues if they would contribute money for her ticket, since she couldn’t pay for it. We gathered enough money for the journey and also to help her family. When the patient left she was happy. Following this experience my colleagues and I decided to begin a fund to help out patients in need. How many people have been helped over the years thanks to that fund! (K. L.- India) The Prescription I’m forty years old and suffer from asthma. When I found myself expecting a child, the obstetrician proposed abortion. I said no. The doctor explained to me that I had to choose between my life and the baby’s, mine being more important since I have other children. I was disturbed and unable to understand how I could kill this innocent creature. Seeing my condition my husband left the decision to me. Then I was given the prescription for a medicine “very important for my health.” My husband bought it. I don’t read very well, but a doubt came to my heart. I asked for more information. That injection would produce an abortion. I didn’t take it and entrusted myself to God. When the pains began I was frightened. I wrote my will, entrusting my children to relatives. I cleaned the house and went to hospital. This delivery turned out much easier than the others, with no complications. My husband wanted to take the baby to the obstetrician and show her. I preferred not: for me it was a personal experience of God’s love and I couldn’t gloat but only thank Him. (D. A. – Costa d’Avorio) Falling in Love Again That day there was a lot of tension between me and my husband. “Is something wrong?” I asked him. He replied: “You don’t need a crystal ball to understand it.” In his opinion I didn’t understand his needs. It was true, but I said to myself: “But, is it possible that with so many beautiful things going on in our lives, he gets stuck in front of the one thing that’s not going well?” We went to bed pouting. The next day I thought: “We’re a team, to resolve him I have to work on myself, to soften my heart and ask forgiveness.” I couldn’t do it. To make him happy I postponed an appointment we had that evening, so he could watch the European Cup. But to truly begin again we had to clear the air. So, one night, despite our tiredness and other responsibilities, we went out and, little by little were able to open up and talk, which hasn’t happened in a long time. We looked at one another differently and understood one another. I’d say we fell in love again. (G. S.- Italy)
