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Sep 10, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
““Please accept my gratitude and joy for allowing me to be here with you, and for your Christian presence in this land. I feel honoured to be somehow part of it too.” These were the opening words of Maria Voce as she met with representatives of the local Church on September 5, 2013 at Rosary College of Amman.
Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Nuncio in Jordan and Iraq was joined by Bishop Salim Sayegh, Emeritus Latin Bishop, Archbishop Yasser Ayash, Greek Catholic Bishop, Salomone Warduni, Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad, several archimendrites, men and women religious – including the superiors of the Christian Brothers, Sisters of the Rosary and Dominican Sisters – and by lay people from the Catholic Church (Melkites, Latin and Chaldean Rite) and by the Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican Churches. These more than 300 people offered a picture of the ecclesial reality of the country. The evening, which was part of an ecclesial programme within the context of the Year of Faith, had been organized to present the contribution that the spirituality of communion can bring to the faith.
Two young people presented the United World Project with the most recent experiences in Amman, that aimed at engaged the city with mostly ecological and environmental projects. One couple shared their Christian experience of involvement in marriage, which was marked in the early years by suffering, due to the absence of children but also of involvement in the ecclesial field, especially with families. “After 6 years, during which many other couples were praying with us, our daughter was born. In the Movement we have learned that everyone is called to holiness and we are committed to follow this path.”
The last to share her experience was Zena, an eighteen year-old who shared her expierence with a tumour when she was seventeen years old. “Everyone pitied me, but I felt fortunate that God had chosen me to carry his cross.” She admitted to being fearful, but in hospital she tried to cheer up others, especially the children who were there with her: “I saw many people suffering and how great was the faith of some of them. One day I felt all alone. I telephoned the focolare and they reminded that Jesus had also felt abandoned.” Now Zena is doing better, life pouring out of every pore. She left the hall amidst a loud round of applause, especially when she said that in spite of the demanding treatments she managed to pass her high school examinations with a 95% average.
During her presentation Maria Voce underscored several points of the spirituality of unity that highlighted how the spirituality of communion enables a person live the Year of Faith in a deeper way. She recalled how “deeply Pope Benedict XVI’s invitation to give public witness of the faith had found an echo among us, “a public witness of living the Word, the experience of having received love,” “and sharing this as a joyful experience of grace.”
The president of the Focolare, who is visiting Jordan from August 28th to September 10th, told how several aspects of this spirituality seemed to be truly prophetic on the ecclesial level. “In the first years of the Focolare Movement communion of the experiences of living the Word was quite a novelty. And these were irrefutable because they were ‘life,’ they were fruitful too, capable of generating a true and living encounter with Jesus, making people who were scattered into a community.” She then underscored what Pope Francis had recently written in his Encyclical Letter Lumen Fidei: “It is impossible to believe on our own. Faith is not simply an individual decision which takes place in the depths of the believer’s heart, nor a completely private relationship between the “I” of the believer and the divine “Thou,” between an autonomous subject and God. By its very nature, faith is open to the “We” of the Church; it always takes place within her communion.
Maria Voce concluded: “Thanks to this spirituality of communion we have also seen communion blossoming in the Church among the various Movements that enrich her, charisms both ancient and new. Moreover we see how this contributes to the unity of Christians and opens dialogue with people of other religions who present the more urgent and challenging frontier of the third millennium.”
One priest commented on a message that was posted on Facebook: “My heart is Christian but my mind does not believe in religion. Don’t consider me an atheist, because I don’t accept your evaluation. Who are you to evaluate me?” “And how are we to answer our young people?” the priest asked.
Focolare co-president Giancarlo Falettisuggested the life option. “What this girl writes is interesting: a Christian experience divided between heart and mind. When the Christian experience is lived together with others it brings the presence: the presence of Christ in the community. So then we can answer: my secret is a Person, it’s Jesus who came to life for me and the others. I think that this is the witness we should give, also with the modern means of communication.”
By Roberto Catalano
Visit to Jordan
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Sep 9, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“Let the sounds of weapons cease! War always marks a defeat for humanity.” Severe words from Pope Francis during the vigil of Saturday, September 7th in Saint Peter’s Square, where he prayed for peace inSyria and throughout the world. In the days preceding the vigil there had already been much response from many parts of the world, also from Amman, Jordan, where Maria Voce had gone to represent the Focolare Movement. A hundred thousand people prayed with Francesco for four hours of awesome silence. The quiet atmosphere of composure and recollection was interrupted only by the sound of prayer. The Pope venerated the icon of the Salus Populi Romani, Mary Protectress of the Roman Peoples. Then the Rosary was recited by the crowd in a single voice. As the conversation with Mary unfolded, a sense of trust in the Mother of All and Queen of Peace filled everyone’s soul. Amongst the crowd, just outside the barriers, a group of Muslims recited verses from the Koran. In an atmosphere of universality, everyone raised prayers to the one God. 
The meditation offered by the Pope was very dense; his face concentrated and serious. He began with the Book of Genesis, speaking of God’s desire for harmony in Creation, and of the chaos that was unleashed by man through violence and dispute: “Where is your brother, Abel?” “The same question is asked of us, and it would also be good for us to ask ourselves: Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes, you are your brother’s keeper! Being a human being means caring for one another!” But when we break this harmony, “the brother to be cared for becomes an adversary whom I must fight and eliminate.” “Still today we raise our hand against our brother.” “We have perfected our weapons, as our conscience fell asleep, we have sharpened our thinking to justify ourselves . . . Violence and war bring death only. They speak only death! Violence and war speak the language of death!” “Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death?” the Pope asks. “Yes, it is possible for everyone!” And a loud applause confirmed his words. “I would like us to cry out from every corner of the world: Yes, it is possible for everyone! Indeed, I would like each one of us, from the smallest to the greatest, including those who have been called to govern the nations, to respond: Yes, we want it!” 
Then he went on: “How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the Cross if only for a moment! There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death. In the silence of the Cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue, and peace is spoken. Then the praying continued. Long silences followed by prayers and songs. A long period of silent adoration. Everyone was focused on the white host in the golden monstrance, focused on that God who appeared to be like the heart of the world in that moment. On the next day, the 8th of September, during the Angelus he spoke again about peace “in this moment as we are so strongly praying” for it. He exhorted everyone to “say ‘no’ to fratricide and to the lies it makes use of, no to all forms of violence, no to weapons proliferation.” Then without hesitation he strongly added: “This war here, that war there – because there are wars everywhere – are they truly wars because of problems or because commerce, for selling the illegal selling of weapons?” It’s time to say “no” to conflicts, to hatred, to violence towards our brothers and sisters. But to say this “no” “it’s necessary that each one of us strongly and courageously decides to renounce evil and its seductions, and choose good.” “Let us carry on with prayer and works of peace” so that “the violence and devastation inSyriamay immediately cease, and we may work with renewed commitment for a just solution to conflict and fratricide. The search for peace is long. It requires patience and perseverance.” By Victoria Gómez
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Sep 9, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
These are the testimonies of Syrians that have been gathered by Roberto Catalano, our correspondent in the Jordanian capital during a meeting among Focolare members with the Movement’s president, Maria Voce.
How are the tragic events that are tearing the country apart being perceived by Syrian Christians? Does it make sense to speak of dialogue among religions in such a context?
“There has always been dialogue in Syria at an official level, promoted by Mufti, other religious Muslim leaders and by the Churches, and they have always been respected for their work. In this respect, nothing has changed. In these past three years Syriahas paid the price for Islamic fundamentalism, which has manifested itself in the killings of moderate Sunni Islamists. These were persons of great value, such as the chekr El Boudi, president of the International Council of Islamic Law Scholars. Friends already in their forties have been telling me how since childhood they willingly went to hear him preach on Friday afternoons, because his teachings were infused with feelings of love, compassion and mutual respect. This is how it was up until the barbarous killing a few months ago inDamascus.”
And Christians?
“In terms of the people, when the violence began fear began to spread among Christians, the result of what we might call the historical memory of this religious element in the country (i.e. the Lebanese war). On the other hand, we must not forget the entrance of armed Syrian terrorist groups into Syrian cities, who are openly hostile to Christians, killing them just because they bear the Christian name. Not that it was all rosy before, but even when the reins of power were in the hands of the Muslims, Christians were respected and could also hold positions of responsibility in public administration and in the academic world. In any case, although the events inSyriaare not a directed attack on Christians, it does place them in front of the drama of emigration, which is the only way to escape the violence and ensure a future for their children. Interreligious dialogue is not only a Syrian issue.”
“How do you live your daily lives under attacks and bombardments?
“In Aleppo prices have gone up. In areas controlled by the Syrian army bread is nowhere to be found, because the roads leading to flour storehouses are in the hands of the rebels. The Aleppo-Homs-Damascus road is extremely dangerous, especially the beginning of the road. But travelling anywhere in the city has become a gamble. Roadways that before required two or three hours to traverse now require up to 36 hours. Ten days ago terrorists from Jabat el Nouszra came down from Krak des Chevaliers towards the Christian zone of Wadi Nazara, they eliminated the soldiers at two road blocks, went into the first Christian village where a feast was being celebrated and mowed down all the people they saw passing by, especially the young. This instilled terror in the families, and many have fled to other places inSyria.”
Is there hope at any level for a peaceful or political solution to the conflict?
“I don’t think there were any positive signs this week. On the contrary, the fighting has intensified in several parts of the country and, as a consequence fear has grown among the public. Last week inDamascusthe words of Isaiah were echoing in my ears: “Like a lamb he was lead to the slaughter” (Is. 53:7). Never before had I understood the innocent Lamb who is helpless in front of impending death, unjust death. This is the reality among the people, especially following the threat of attack by theUnited States. They’re fearful, appalled, desolate. They looked into our eyes in disbelief: “Are they really going to attack us?” The mortars and rockets from the suburbs to the city were much more numerous, and army attacks just as heavy.”
Source: Città Nuova online
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Sep 8, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
The Right to an Education for Burmese children project provides primary/elementary education for Burmese immigrant children with families who have fled to Thailand to escape persecution and extreme poverty in Myanmar. During the last school year 640 children were served. The project is promoted by the United World Project (NGO) in collaboration with its local affiliate the Good Friend Centre in Thailand’s Mae Sot Province. Since 2006 Good Friend Centre has been working in Mae Sot Province providing primary education to Burmese children who have immigrated with their families, to escape persecution and extreme poverty in their homeland. Many of the families had to leave everything behind when they fled. Now they work as farmhands without the guarantee of regular salaries. The children often have to stay at home to help their parents in the fields. Their inability to pay tuition and school fees is a further discouragement that leads them to abandon early schooling. With 8 schools on the Thailand, Myanmar border, the Good Friend Centre provides free schooling to hundreds of children who would otherwise not be able to receive and education. To help the school become economically independent, production activities have begun to pay for educational fees (salaries and professional development courses for teachers, a daily meal for the children, school uniforms and educational materials). In 2011 the United World Association supported a project for raising chickens and pigs beside the New Blood School, a project which supports 450 children who are attending the school. For several months, a 5-acre plot has been rented beside the school for the cultivation of beans and corn, providing further support for the project. This new school year began with 2 production projects (raising fish and pigs) which will support the Mae Wah Khee School and the Pa Lu Gyi School attended by 190 children. This project requires an initial investment for the purchase of 3,000 fish and 10 pigs and a year’s salary for personnel. The pig farm should become self-supporting in 15 months; whereas, the fish farm should begin producing profit for the school in 5 months. These projects will help the schools to be independent of external support, and continue to provide free services to minors who otherwise would have no access to an education. Source: Action for a United World Newsletter
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Sep 7, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
During the months of July and August many countries of the northern hemisphere were holding Mariapolises, an annual gathering of the Focolare Movement. For several days, young people, children and adults of every background gather together with the one aim of living an experience of brotherhood according to the universal values of the Gospel. In some countries the guideline of this gathering is the Golden Rule that invites us to treat others as we would like to be treated.
So it was in Algeria where the Mariapolis was held on July 4 – July 6 at the Ulisse Centre in Tlemcen with its intriguing title: “My neighbor is another me.”
The community of the Movement in Algeria is largely Muslim and the upcoming feast of Ramadan that requires painstaking preparations, led Mariapolis organizers to hold the event for only three days.
In spite of its brevity the days were lived even more intensely, enabling everyone to enter more deeply into the topic: love of neighbour in the spirituality of unity and in the Koran.
More and more, people who have attended other Mariapolises want to introduce it to their relatives and friends. For this reason some had to be turned away for lack of space.This year 140 people attended the Mariapolis, nearly all of them Muslims several places in Algeria including the Sahara. There were many families and very many young people. The contribution of the young was very considerable, both in the preparing the event and in giving witness to their adherence to this ideal of brotherhood.
The children and youngsters were also able to experience what love of neighbor means: “I understood all the good that love of neighbour can do;” “I felt loved the whole time” two of them commented.
Some of the families who had come to the Mariapolis for the first time were awestruck by this great idea of brotherhood: “It seemed to me that I was touching God with my hand during these days,” one person remarked. “I discovered how to love God, without complicating life,” “I found such great serenity here,” “You are my second family.” Many such comments expressed the thirst for a more fraternal lifestyle, which is so needed to ease the tensions, especially at this moment in time.
It was this concrete brotherly love that helped to form a community in this land, a community in which love and respect prevail over cultural diversity, traditions and religions.
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Sep 6, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), founded in Amman in 1994 under the patronage of the Prince El Hassan bin Talal, offers, an academic level contribution to eliminate the tensions between religions and cultures, for the promotion of peace. Given the geo-political and cultural humus out of which it was born and the current seriousness of the problem, the main focus of RIIFS is the study of the relationship between Islam and Christianity.
The Institute is also engaged in what has been called the ‘Promotion of the Amman Message’ project, the speech delivered by Sheikh Izz-Eddine Al-Khatib Al-Tamimi, Chief Justice of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, November 9, 2004: a declaration of commitment to dialogue by the Jordanian Muslim world.
This was the context in which Prof. Amer Al Hafi, Associate Director and Head of the Research Committee of the RIIFS, called on the President of the Focolare, Maria Voce, these days in Jordan, to consult a qualified group of institutional representatives to present the contribution that the Movement brings to interreligious dialogue, with particular attention to relations with Islam.
The meeting was held at the Arab Thought Forum in the presence of about seventy guests. Dr. Kamel Abu Jamer, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, opened the evening by presenting Maria Voce as a friend “of our country, the only nation in the region where, in accordance with the true spirit of Islam that is a spirit of peace, all religions are free to practice.”
The intervention of Maria Voce was focused on the experience of dialogue that was born thanks to the charismatic figure of Chiara Lubich, noting that Jordan is a “country where Muslims and Christians have lived side by side for hundreds of years, offering a great testimony of positive coexistence.” She also expressed appreciation for “the many initiatives promoted by His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein to strengthen co-existence, including the initiative that has been welcomed by the UN, to hold an annual week dedicated to the harmony among people of different faiths.”
Then, tracking the development of the contribution of the Focolare to dialogue and pointing to love as its typical methodology based on what Chiara Lubich had defined as the art of love, Voce mentioned some significant experiences of Muslim-Christian dialogue in which the Focolare has played a part in recent decades. She referred to the relationship begun in Europe with many Muslims who arrived on that continent because of migration flows; the experience of Tlemcen in Algeria; one in the U.S. with the followers of Imam WD Mohammad and others in the context of the Near East. She said: “Often interreligious dialogue requires overcoming past misunderstandings in order to rediscover that we are brothers and sisters […]. Working together based on love and mercy brings numerous benefits. We often find that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim becomes a better Muslim, and that the society, which is the fruit of this collaboration, also improves.”
“Thank you for this heart to heart talk,” said Dr. Sadeq As AlFapiq, Secretary General of the Arab Thought Forum. “We have lost the courage, but this Movement was born in a discouraging moment of war. In moments of tragedy new hope is always born. “
“Sacrifice is a method of loving that is able to bring people together,” Prof. Amer Al Hafi reflected, “and your presence here makes us feel that Christ is still alive and sends signs in people who love.”
“What we have all experienced this evening is something real, concrete and alive,” added Dr. Azmy Shaheen. “This change begins from oneself. The point is how are we to transform this into concrete models of peace and be missionaries of life and not only of words.”
Comments were also made concerning this particular moment in Islam and its critical view of the West which it views as anything but positive. Maria Voce addressed these comments as well at the conclusion of the evening, thanking everyone for their honest analysis that expressed the problems and the pain. “I’m Western and I come from the West and if I could do something to repair the injustice that has been done by that part of the world towards your lands I would wholeheartedly do it.”
By Roberto Catalano
