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Nov 20, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Kheit Abdelhafid couldn’t find the words to bring the event to a conclusion: “Believe me, I’m speechless, I can’t find the words to bring this beautiful day to a conclusion. Last year, before the meeting on the topic of the family, we wondered if we would be capable to conduct a meeting together. And now that we’re concluding this second meeting, I realise that we are more than able and this day has demonstrated that. When I see our children together I know the future will be better than what we see now in the world.”
Niether was it easy for the Imam, who is very accustomed to large crowds, to find the words to conclude the second meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement and the Islamic Community of Sicily, on November 16th in Catania (Italy), titled A Culture of Gift and the Common Good. 450 people from several east Sicilian cities filled the meeting hall with an odd-sounding interweaving of languages and dialects.
A great contribution was given by the speakers at the round-table discussion that was moderated by the director of Citta Nuova, Michele Zanzucchi. Msgr Gaetano Zito, Episcopal Vicar for Culture in the Diocese of Catania, underscored the importance of a culture of friendliness and being together. Samia Chouchane, delegate at the interreligious dialogue of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII), highlighted the motivation behind everything: “Motivations are at the heart of everything: Imagine, then, if the motivation is love for God. And this leads us not to be indifferent to what happens in the world right beside us.”
Kamel Layachi from the Scientific Committee of the Interreligious Dialogue Department of the UCOII challenged both communities to not only to interreligious dialogue, but also intrarreligious dialogue, in order to launch a reflection also within each of their individual religious experiences. Margareth Karram from the Focolare Movement in the Holy Land shared her personal experience as a Christian Palestinian who had been raised in a predominantly Jewish environment. She was literally born and grew in a world of dialogue, although it was often wearying and marked by setbacks. Nonetheless, it is always important to know one another, to know our differences, history and culture: “We need to know one another deeply, friendship isn’t enough, a deeper knowledge is necessary. It’s our ignorance of each other that produces the fear.” Giusy Brogna who is in charge of interreligious dialogue on behalf of the Focolare in Sicily expressed great satisfaction with the meeting: “That journey we began several years ago is bearing fruit. I am quite hopeful certain that both communities – that of the focolarini and that of the Muslims – will bring dialogue ahead not only in Catania but in other Sicilian cities as well.”
At the end of the meeting it was decided to contribute economically to the completion of a well in Cameroon, which is being promoted by one of the projects in the Action for a United World. “Water is life,” Kheit Abdelhafid remarked, “and that well we are building together will be the sign of the life that is here among us.”
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Nov 17, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
“This has been an unbelievable experience. Now I’ve seen it all! Should I become a teacher in 20 years time, I’ll be telling my students: “I created this program with my former classmates.” And I’ll also tell them that it wouldn’t have been possible without those classmates or the great artist, Antonio”.
4,700 glass tiles were the raw materials that made it possible for a creative workshop to be held over 12 sessions. All the students described the experience as a “memorable” one, allowing them to unleash their imagination and to have respect for others by working alongside them. The workshop, inspired by the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, and designed by the Alessandro Mammucari Association – a partner of the “Let’s unBully ourselves” initiative promoted by the Latina municipality – used art as a medium to transmit the message.
Antonio Casarin, a glass artist, together with Patrizia Sarallo, his right-hand person, and Tatiana Falsini, coordinator and art history teacher, involved 120 young people in this creative project that lasted 2 days.
Delight, sadness, anger, fear: these are the basic feelings for our survival, chosen as the main theme for the workshop. It started off with an abstract introduction to art, stressing its connection with the world of emotions. How does it work? Tatiana, the coordinator explains: “The students are asked to study Antonio Casarin’s artworks in glass through the senses of sight and touch, in order for them to grasp their deeper meaning. We proceed from one bench to the other, while listening to a narration, after which we ask the kids to anonymously write on a piece of paper the emotions they have experienced; they are then asked to listen once again, but this time within themselves, in order to recognise their own emotions”.
The students are subsequently asked to experience making glass art in a creative workshop during which a panel is made for each class, two per school, which depicts a tree in its four seasons, symbolising the four emotions.
“Everyone receives a transparent glass tile,” Antonio Casarin explains, “and the kids have to paint the surface, arrange them in an interlocking fashion and glue them together, after which they are baked in a kiln. We ask them to do it in teams because it is a joint endeavour, and it helps everyone to work better, sharing both materials and abilities”.
One of the students wrote: “When we started to make the tiles I was terrified something would go wrong or that I may not even find the missing piece. But when they were brought back after being baked in the oven, I was so happy!”
The students were enthusiastic and entirely focused on their task. They worked non-stop even during recess and once their tiles were done, they immediately asked for more. The ones who finished heeded the instructions to go and help their companions who were still busy. Once the tiles were all baked, we came together to assemble the mosaic of the trees. When the panel was raised, there was a burst of applause. Everyone agreed that its beauty was a result of a collective effort which bore the characteristics and diversity of each one making it even more unique.
In conclusion the experts asked the students to write what the workshop meant for them. Together they were even able to come up with an anti-bullying rhyme!
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Nov 14, 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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Nov 13, 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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Nov 11, 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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Nov 10, 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)
