In Cairo: “We will pray together in the streets”

Aug 17, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

They write from Egypt: “We want to assure you that all the members of the Movement in Egypt are well.  The 14th of August was quite a painful day for the country, especially for Christians. As expected the government decided to vacate the occupied squares and unfortunately the reaction was surprisingly violent not only against the army, but against Christians as well. Throughout the country important churches, even ancient ones have been burned, also convents and schools that are run by men and women religious orders. Moderate Muslims immediately spoke out against the attacks and many offered to stand around churches to protect them. The grateful Christians asked them not to put their own lives in danger, because buildings can be reconstructed once the violence has passed.” “The Coptic Church is offering a powerful witness: Pope Tawadros has asked the faithful not to respond to any of the violence: “Will they burn the churches? We will pray in the mosques. Will they burn the mosques? We will pray in the churches. Will they burn both? We will pray together in the streets, for we are all Egyptians.” A. M. from the hard hit city of Assiut writes: “The church buildings have become incense burners, and the incense rises to Heaven to beg God for mercy on this people and grant miracles.” “A month-long state of emergency has been declared and in many cities there is a curfew from 19:00 until 6:00 in the morning. The situation is very serious and we are living moments of suspension, but we are held up by our unwavering faith in God’s love, a faith found not only in us but in all of Egypt’s Christians and Muslims.” “We feel the strong support of prayers from the Movement around the world and, on this feast of Our Lady’s Assumption, we have entrusted to Mary the people of this land who love her so dearly. “Rooted in the life of the Gospel, which invites us to love one another and everyone else, we offer this great suffering for the strengthening of peace not only here, but in the entire Middle East.”

Brazil: 50 bishops live an experience of communion

Aug 13, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“Truly we are eyewitnesses that the Church has taken up a new path as it follows Jesus in a world that is troubled by so much suffering,” said Francis B. Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithanvanij, Archbishop of Bangkok at the opening of the annual fraternal gathering of 50 bishop friends of the Focolare Movement from 4 continents. Following the grand events in Rio the meeting was held at the permanent Mariapolis of the Focolare Movement near San Paulo, Brazil. “There’s someone else at work, the Holy Spirit who constantly calls the Church to reform itself,” observed theologian Hubertus Blaumeiser. This is the constant appeal of Pope Francis.

How does the experience of the bishops enter into this “novelty”? Brendan Leahy, the newly elected Bishop of Limerick, Ireland commented: “At the school of a charism – which is a gift of the Holy Spirit – we must let ourselves be shaped so that, above all, we ourselves can be reformed in our very being; and not only at the level of the individual but also in the communal life among us. Reform always begins from a new experience of God. By living in the light of this charism we have an experience of God that is then communicated beyond us, in all relationships.”

This was the source of the effective and affective collegiality that was lived out with particular intensity during those 10 days together. One expression of that mutual love was the rich exchange of experiences of the practice of the Gospel in daily life and its effect in their pastoral mission.

Interview with Cardinal Joao Aviz

“I realized that above all I must create a relationship of love with the people I work with and with those I come to meet. I should have no other measure but love,” recounted Cardinal Joao Aviz, Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Consecrated Life. “Just for the fact of listening, half the problems are already resolved. Then, one day, I realized that on the cross Jesus received no answer to his cry: ‘My God, my God why have you abandoned me?’ This really struck me. God’s times are not our times. Then, where there seemed to be no solution, the situation suddenly changes.”

The gathering began with the bishops’ commitment to live in profound unity with the Pope and to live Jesus’ new commandment, which they solemnly and openly declared at the celebration of the Eucharist. The gathering concluded at the final mass with the re-consecration to Jesus crucified and forsaken, who is the measure of this love that embraces and transforms the sufferings of the Church and humanity.

By Carla Cotignoli

Italy: Young People and Legality

Aug 11, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

One young woman wrote to her peers from the Meeting 20013 at Caserta, Italy: “I return home enriched with each of you in my heart.” “Working shoulder to shoulder, understanding one another, struggling, dreaming, working deep into the night, feeling discouragement and beginning again, believing . . . All of this done TOGETHER has deeply united us. It’s impossible to turn back!”. Meeting 2013 “Legality – the protagonists of our land” turned out to be a benchmark event for the 500 young people who took part, due to the deep awareness and involvement. The words of Pope Francis in Rio echoed over the miles: “The youth are the window through which the future enters the world. Don’t be left standing at the window of life!” The participants were convinced: “to trigger a change, we need to begin from ourselves.” For young people from northern to southern Italy it was an opportunity to face up to the wound of illegality that spreads throughout the country and heal it with love. Challenges and a call for proposals  emerged from the discussion with journalist Roberto Mazzarella.    Three afternoon sessions: “Legality and the Environment; Legality and Welcome, and Legality and Work, involved a close discussion between the young people and presenters who are on the front lines in giving their witness in the struggle for Legality. Among these was Enrico Fontana, in charge of the Ecomafia of the Lgambiente Party; Fr. Maurizio Patriciello, parish priest from Caivano and stron defender of legality in the “terra dei fuochi;” Dr. Antonio Marfella, oncologist, and Ivan Vitali, economist and director of the conVoi Association. “Legality is not the objective. It’s not a value, but an instrument for reaching the goal that is justice.” These words, spoken by national president of the Libera Party, Fr. Luigi Ciotti sent a thrill through the crowd. “How can love become connected to legality?” the young people wanted to know. Strong words followed: “There’s no legality without equality,” “if people’s personal human dignity is not respected, then legality becomes an instrument of power and exclusion.” He went on: “A well-founded allegation is also a proclamation of salvation,” but “the great sin of today is called delegating;” whereas, every individual “should assume personal responsibility,” which is the third leg of the democratic stool. “What are we willing to pay for our choices to remain faithful to our ideals?” asked the young people in a loud voice. The answers were measured against the events of the mornings in 11 work fields of lands confiscated from the mafia: we need to create community, to become an us that brings back legality. Temporary Procurator of the DDA of Bari, Giuseppe Gatti and RAI journalist Gianni Bianco gave testimony of this us in the book they co-authored, “La legalita del NOI” (The legality of “us”). Sociologist Vera Araujo, from the Focolare Movement, coined a term that summarized the experience and content of the Meeting: the culture of relationships, which pre-supposes and goes beyond legality, but demands action and interaction for the building of community wherever there are people on the fringes of life. The young people also signed a manifesto summarizing their commitments in five points. The next appointment is at “LoppianoLab 2013” (September 20, 2013 – September 22, 2013) for “Safeguarding Italy, creating the future together” and Project “Slot-Machine” which rewards civil virtues in regions that have given up gambling. This project will begin a tour of Italy at the end of September. A memento of the Meeting was left at Caserta, a 120m² mural which the young people took turns painting for 90 hours. It depicts an explosion of colour spewing from a simple pipe. Watch video on Youtube By Victoria Gómez

A carpet from afar

Aug 6, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

For years Mario has worked at a company that recently began to hire many Bangladesh workers. He recounts: “At first it wasn’t easy, but then things got better. They were making an effort to learn the work and were offered assistance when the language became a problem. Well, there was some lingering mistrust, especially in the departments.” Mario doesn’t talk much, but very observant and able to know what people are thinking. He sees their problems and listens with interest, this is why he’s a good man to work with.

Then one day something else happened that regarded a colleague at work. It bothered Mario and he talked about it with his wife, Silvia: “Hossain has to go back to Bangladesh for the holidays. He asked that someone accompany him, after being paid, to the airport. If only you knew how much grumbling there was then, everyone saying that he could manage it on his own, and should they lose a day of vacations in order to do him this favour?” Mario hesitated and coughed a bit, as Silvia moved cups and dishes around the kitchen. “You go, if you feel like it,” his wife suggested. “If you were the one in need, you’d be glad to find people who were willing to help, wouldn’t you?” “Yeah, I have thought about it. It’s a long trip, but I don’t want him to pay.” “You do well, and pay no attention to the criticism from others.”

The day came. Everyone said goodbye to Hossain with a certain joking and euphoria: “Don’t trust this one,” someone said, “you never know where he’ll take you!” “But go on,” says another, “you didn’t feel like taking him, but Mario yes, I’d certainly trust myself to him anytime!” Mario and Hossain departed and travelled for 200 kilometres, but when Hossain wanted to repay him for the ride Mario reiterated: “I don’t want anything, I’m glad to take you and wish you a good trip. I know it will be a bit tiring, but you’ll be happy once you see your children and friends!”

Hossain was visibly moved, he didn’t expect this! A hasty farewell, boarding and then Mario was on his way back home. A month went by, a quiet month, at lunch they often spoke of Houssain and his upcoming return. “And how will he get back?” the family asked. His return is taken care of, Mario informed them, because some of his countrymen who will be travelling with him will give him a lift to his house. When Houssain returned to the factory, Mario was waiting to meet him and listen to all the stories about his visit to another side of the world, where the daily struggles can even involve sharing in the emotional fatigue of having to leave and return to one’s family and loved ones.

He hadn’t long to wait. When he tracked him down, he found Houssain excited and happy. He told of his visit, how his children had grown and the feasts with relatives. . . Then he unrolled a large carpet before the Italian. Mario looked at it with curiosity but never expected to hear Houssain say: “A carpet for you.” Mario’s eyes widened as he thought of how Silvia would be surprised. She had never received a gift like this! It seemed like the flying carpet from those stories he read as a child when he had dreamt of flying on a magic carpet to faraway lands. He closed his eyes and dreamt again, but there was Houssain’s carpet still in front of him, a token of gratitude and a seal on a friendship that had the flavour of a fairy tale.

Annamaria Gatti

Chiara Luce at the WYD: “Until next time!”

Aug 4, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Franz, you wrote the book. What has the life of Chiara Luce left with you?

“Chiara can truly be a model for everyone, believers and non-believers alike, because what she believed in is the same as what every person of good will believes in: striving to love, being attentive to the person near you, living the present moment. Another important thing – and in this she is such an efficacious model for the times we are now living in – simplicity: she’s simple. Her way is not an easy one, but neither is it complicated. For her, of course, this meant going through something very painful, a narrow passage, cancer, one of the most painful cancers. But Chiara didn’t become a saint only because of what she went through with the illness, but because one baby-step at a time, from the time she was a small child she had learnt to  say her “yes” in doing God’s will: whether it was racing around on her bicycle, gathering mushrooms with her Dad, or going for chemotherapy. What led to the great moment of her beatification was undoubtedly the greatness and the lightness, the levity and the love with which she lived all these things.

It was also due to the small population of people that surrounded her from when she was small – her parents and her friends from the Focolare Movement. Moment by moment they shared in both her joys and in her sorrows. There was a mutual “nourishing” exchange among them. These people were enriched, but they also communicated strength and energy to Chiara to go forward.”

How has the reception of Chiara Luce’s life been among young people?

“Even those who don’t know her, who don’t know anything or very little of her,  I don’t know, in some mysterious way – they fall in love with this person. We can talk about her, write books, but my impression is that Chiara Luce doesn’t talk on TV or on the radio. She talks to the individual heart of each person. In some mysterious way she manages to create a personal relationship with her. And this is marvelous. This has been the case for her mother, her father and also for me. I have a stronger relationship with her now than when she was still alive.”

I asked Teresa Badano, Chiara’s mother, for her impressions after having been part of WYD in Brazil.

“It was all marvelous, perhaps because we arrived here with a simple attitude of awaiting, waiting to see what surprises would be in store for us, trying to live each moment in love. Then everything became beautiful. We lived a little bit of what Chiara Luce has taught us: to live in a normal way something that was not normal for us who never leave our house, except for the past several years. We tried to do the will of God that was presented to us in such a wonderful context.”  

Here you could sense the impact Chiara Luce had on the young people. . .  

“We certainly realized that she had a special grace for the young people. Her experience is valid for all children and teenagers like her. She offered her life for the young people. But all those faces, all those embraces that don’t want to let you go. . . for us who are nothing! They just overwhelm us! It’s marvelous. . . You see so much joy in the young, which comes from the heart. She transmits a bit of Heaven to them and they transmit it to us.”

“Yes, many times. There was one teenager who was undecided. It seemed he had a vocation, but he was really uncertain. Suddenly he felt that Chiara Luce was saying to him: “This is your way.” And he jumped into it. Now he’s a focolarino. Even those who have only heard talk of her or seen her photo have been touched by her gaze, by that interior beauty, but that fire she had within. For sure God wishes to fulfill the plan he has in mind for each one of these young people. As Cardinal Joao Aviz said while bidding us farewell, “This is only the beginning of what Chiara has begun to do. We’re only at the beginning here, because it’s going to be something huge, huge, and it will continue.”

We stand waiting. As Chiara Luce said in her last greeting to the youths and young people of the world: “Until next time!”

Compiled by Carla Cotignoli (Brazil)