Members and friends of the Focolare representing various denominations were present alongside local clergy and ecumenical officers.
“The ecumenical legacy of the Vatican Council” was the cardinal’s theme, which he delivered not so much as a formal lecture, but as a personal account of his insights into ecumenism.
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The cardinal began by recognising the contribution of the Focolare spirituality of unity and its ecumenical work, which pre-dated the Council. He spoke of Chiara Lubich as “one of the bright luminaries of our century, of the centuries” and considered her “numbered among the blessed in heaven.”
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor recalled the Council decree on ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, and its bold proclamation that “there is no ecumenism worthy of the name without a change of heart … without inner conversion, newness of attitude and unstinted love.”
He cited suspicion, inertia and impatience as the three enemies of ecumenism. Drawing on his own experience both in his time as a priest and later bishop of Arundel and Brighton, and in latter years as archbishop of Westminster, the cardinal summed up the ecumenical endeavour as something that begins locally from a relationship with those around us believing that “ecumenism is blessed where people are.”
Among the milestones since Vatican II, the cardinal highlighted Pope John Paul II’s visit to Canterbury Cathedral in 1982, which he described as “a beginning of new life, new hope.” The cardinal also cited the importance of Pope Francis’ recent meeting with Archbishop Justin Welby.
The Cardinal concluded his lecture by recalling Pope Francis’ recent address where he urged that bishops might be ‘shepherds for the flock … to tend hope and have sun and light in their hearts’. In recalling the Pope’s words, Cardinal Cormac communicated an optimism reminiscent of the Vatican Council. This was not simply a looking back with nostalgia at the good old days but a looking forward conscious that ‘the work of ecumenism is God’s work’ and our joint task is ‘to communicate God’s love to his people with that same sun and light in our lives’.
Following a question and answer session, Bishop Robin Smith, retired Anglican Bishop of Hertford, offered a vote of thanks reiterating the Cardinal’s affirmation of personal relationships in ecumenism and underlined that it is on these that the future of the Church, not least the unity of the Church, depends.
They come from the most varied backgrounds, lands and cultures: Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Morocco, Senegal, Romania, Nigeria and Belarus. Like many of their fellow countrymen and women they are leaving behind dramatic situations, as well as their loved ones in the hope of finding work and a better future for their lives.
They have landed in Acquaviva delle Fonti, a town of the Bari province which, like other southern Italian towns, has become the destination or crossing point for many who are dreaming of a better life. The Focolare community here has for some time felt summoned by their presence: “We had it in our hearts,” they write, “to see to it that these many foreigners/immigrants would feel welcomed in our city.” Personal relationships were established, bonds of friendship that overcame barriers and mistrust. “Three years ago,” they say, “we decided to organize a festival that we could all share during the Christmas season, so they could breathe in a bit of family atmosphere instead of the loneliness and marginalization that many unfortunately experience.” Our friendship became deeper and deeper.And now the Christmas festival has become an annual tradition. In what we call the ‘festival of the people’ our friends now feel free enough to extend the invitation to other foreign friends, and we are more than happy to welcome them.”
This year fifty people of all ages and religious backgrounds attended: “The family atmosphere that had been established in previous years was immediately renewed. Spontaneously people began sharing experiences about the journeyand arrival in Italy, putting in common both the sufferings and the joys.”
The proposal to live the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – as a basis uponwhich to build universal brotherhood and as a common point we could all share even amidst the diversity of our religious beliefs was immediately accepted by all because we had already experienced how “mutual love demolishes every distance. At the buffet which was served in the evening, alongside dishes that were prepared by the local community, there were also dishes from a variety of other countries that our friends had prepared. What gave everyone the most joy that evening was certainly the fact that we had experienced what it means to be a family.”
At the end of the evening, Abdul from Senegal invited some people from the community to take part in a prayer meeting in a neighbouring town: “Great was his joy and surprise when he saw us arriving. There were 200 Senegal Muslims there, barefoot and seated on prayer rugs, reading the Koran. Abdul introduced us to his spiritual leader and, then, two days later he was again deeply moved as he thanked us for our visit.”
Another concrete gesture was the opening of a listening booth that is carried ahead by the entire community in order to identify people’s needs and to provide expertise, offering Italian lessons to children and their parents, for example, or assistance in resolvingbureaucratic problems, finding medical treatments, and so on.
“This experience of family,” they conclude, “and the fruits that have grown from it make us certain that a united world is no utopia, but a reality already very much alive amongst us.”
A young Turkish man named Fathi, living in Basel , intoned Surah 134 of the Koran: “And Allah loves the doers of good!” With these words he took everyone right to the heart of the day’s message: love for neighour. Imam Muhammed Tas, also fromBasel, told of his weeklong ski holiday with parish priest Ruedii Beck and two others: “Together we cooked for each other. We saw where it was most comfortable for each other in the apartment, for our prayer. We were like a family where you learn from each other. Thanks to these friends I learned to ski much better. In Autumn we plan to have another holiday together, this time inTurkey.”
Abdul Jabbar Koubaisy, vice-president of the Muslim League in Poland, also expressed his admiration of the following Muslim saying: “Anyone who does not know how to thank God’s creatures will neither be able to thank their Creator.” Paul Lemarie from the Focolare Movement’s International Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue told about a Mariapolis in Macedonia with 35 Catholics, just as many Muslims and a dozen Orthodox Christians. Finally, a young Catholic woman offered her following testimony: “This gathering has deeply changed me. Up until now I only took my own faith into account and refused all the others: atheists, Muslims, even Orthodox Christians. Now I understand: God let’s his Sun rise on everyone.”
The focus of the dialogue on June 23rd in Baar was the experience of community that is already possible when there is respect for the diversity. As a way of delving into this topic Imam Mohammed Tas introduced a video recording of a talk given by Chiara Lubich in 2002 at the congress for Muslim Friends of the Focolare Movement in Castelgandolfo, Italy. “Love is quite an important thing in our religion,” Tas emphasised. “If a person doesn’t love, it means that he or she has a problem in their heart . . . Thirteenth century Muslim poet Yunus Emore, states: ‘I love you for love of the Creator!’ With these words he expresses the deepest love that can exist in a human being.”
And speaking with the words of Chiara Lubich: “What is needed is love for neighbour, that love that you find in many different religious environments, in forms of mercy, benevolence, compassion, or solidarity. Love of neighbour which, for us Christians, isn’t merely a human sentiment, but enriched by a divine spark, is called agape, love of a supernatural origin.”
There followed in the afternoon a period of prayer in different locations according to religions and then group meetings for a deep and enriching sharing on the art of loving, forgiveness and the Golden Rule. Imam Mustafa Oezturk, president of the association that groups the most mosques inSwitzerland, stated in his final remarks: “We’re learning a new grammar here. The traditional one begins with the word “me,” then comes “you” and then, lastly, “him” or “her.” But the grammar of love for neighbor begins with the word “you” and then comes “I” or “me.” And “He” or “She” possess a right that must always be respected; that you only speak well of them.”
“This is an invitation to be with the Pope as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.” “We willingly and joyfully respond to this invitation.” Wherever the Church is, that is where we must be. The WYD broadens your horizons. It changes you and helps you grow in the faith. And so we are strengthened in our daily difficulties: at school, at work, at home and so on. The WYD leaves a permanent mark in the hearts of all the youths who’ve ever attended one, and we are certain that the same will happen here as well.” The speakers are Maria and Leandro, two young people from the Focolare in Rio de Janeiro. They are on location and actively involved in the preparations of this grand world event, but they express a commitment that involves the Focolare in various ways around the world.
What awaits the pilgrims who will be there on July 22-28? There are five main events planned for this pilgrimage:
July 23: The World Youth Day Opening Mass in Copacabana.
July 25: Welcoming Ceremony with the Pope on the shores of Copacabana, first encounter between Pope Francis and the millions of young people from five continents.
July 26: Way of the Cross in Copacabanapresided by the Pope in the main park. The fourteen stations will retrace the path of Jesus with readings based on the great problems of today’s youth.
July 27: Prayer Vigil with the Pope at the Fidei di Guaratiba Campus. Among the fifty artistic groups that will animate this prayer vigil, there will also be the Gen Rosso international band that will present its musical “Streetlight” involving two-hundred youths from the Fazenda da Esperanca and other communities. Gen Rosso has been on tour in Brazil since May 2013: seven cities and more than a thousand youths have been involved on stage, in the presentation of the show to another ten thousand spectators.
July 28: The “sending out” Mass at ten o’clock, celebrated by the Holy Father, marking the end of the World Youth Day and announcing the location of the next WYD.
WYD week will be filled with many other events: the Vocations Fair where the Youth for a United World will also have a stand, along with many others who will be gathered together at the Youth Festival with a variety of presentations expressing their willingness to share the way they live the faith.
Among the more than three-hundred official events, on July 24 there will be a show presentation on “The Life of Chiara Luce,” the young Italian who was recently beatified and is one of the “intercessors” of WYD. The show has been put together by young people from the Focolare in Rio together with friends from other Catholic Movements, other Christian Churches and others who do not know much about Christianity. There is even a young Buddhist girl. They see the show as an opportunity to acquaint the WYD participants with the experience of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano who shortly before dying wrote: “The youth are the future. I can’t run anymore, but I’d like to pass my witness on to them, like in the Olympics. You have only one life, it’s worth it to spend it well.” Cidade Novahas published Franz Coriasco’s book on Chiara Luce (“Dai tettin in giu”) in collaboration with Aid to the Church in Need. Five-hundred-thousand copies will be distributed to the young people at WYD. On July 25 a prayer vigil and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be animated by the young people of the Focolare.
Pope Francis has many other activities scheduled for Brazil besides WYD. Among there is a visit to the Shrine of Aparecida; inauguration of the Integrated Care Campus at São Francisco da Tijuca Hospital, a center specializing in addiction recovery which is one of the main social focuses of the Rio WYD; a visit to a favela in northern Rio with the Varginha Community.
For more information on Gen Rosso in Brazil:
show at Aparecida with young people from the Fazenda da Esperança
Rede Globo (World network) presentation on the “Strong without violence” project
In a letter dated June 24, 2013 from the International Christian Organization of Media (ICOM) based in Geneva, Switzerland, it states: “Today we are happy to announce that you have won an Honorable Mention in the category of the International Award for Interreligious Dialogue. The jury took the decision considering the value and the relevance of theme you have submitted. We hope that your efforts and contributions through the more and more challenging world of journalism will help better the humanity worldwide and the environment.” The letter was signed by Jean-Marie Scheerlink of the ICOM directing committee.
The international award for inter-religious dialogue honors and recognizes the services and contributions of a media professional, institute, publisher or publication (including a book) in the field of peace and co-existence among members of various religions and cultures. The award brings to light initiatives of media professionals or their institutions for the peaceful, happy and harmonious co-existence of peoples belonging to all types of religions and opinions. The award encourages the use of media for inter-religious dialogue and harmony by media professionals.
The Focolare New City Magazine writes articles and issues from the perspective of universal fraternity. It is committed to interreligious, ecumenical and cultural dialogues. It features profiles and interviews with people who are making a difference in the field of arts, economics, science, education, medicine and cultural life. It promotes peaceful co-existence, and respect for differences in religious and cultural beliefs. It plays the role of a catalyst in pursuing a peaceful and harmonious society particularly in the Philippine and Asian context. For his entry submission, Aranas submitted two e-book magazines of New City: January 2013 issue with its theme on the fragile peace process in the Southern Philippines in Mindanao (to see articles you may visit: http://newcityph.com/archive/1301/issues.asp); and the June 2012 issue with its theme on dialogue: a call for an education towards a culture of dialogue, one that build bridges and promotes peace: http://newcityph.com/archive/1206/issues.asp
The triennial awards honor outstanding media professionals, publications and institutions worldwide, and recognize their exemplary contributions irrespective of all differences. The international awards enhance and make journalistic and media works more valuable in diverse fields, and acknowledge the efforts of all participating journalists and media professionals as well as their milieu. They help guarantee freedom of expression and freedom of the media at all levels in spite of all types of pressures especially from political, business and religious leaders and authorities. The awards are recognition for lifetime and reference for professionals to consult issues that concern nations, continents and our world. They reconfirm the competence and consolidate the authority of the winners on their domains and topics that are of major relevance and extreme importance in the world affairs.
There were more than 2,000 entries and candidatures worldwide that participated this time. But only 25 winners were chosen for the awards and honorable mentions in eight categories: The Titus Brandsma is won by Anto Akarra (India): the Cardinal Foley for David Lindo (Panama), and honorable mention for Fr François Lespes (France); Jose Rebelo (Portugal);Christopher Lamb (UK): Robert Duncan (USA); Photojournalism: Francis Wong (Hongkong); Interreligious Dialogue : Yassine Mohellebi (Algeria); honorable mention: Andrea Krogmann (Germany): Jose Aranas (Philippines); Women Issues : Roselyne Sachiti (Zimbabwe); honorable mention: Sanga Boureima (Burkina Faso): Aftab Alexander Mughal (Pakistan); Educommunication: Italian Association for Media Education (President: Gianna Cappello, Italy); honorable mention: Franco Montesino (Argentina); Josephat Kioko (Kenya) : Victor Khroul (Russia); Solidarity with refugees: Juan Carlos Giraldo (Colombia): honorable mention: Jean-Baptiste Sourou (Benin): Reji Joseph (India), and Excellence in Journalism: Anne Matho (Cameroun): ;Christian Locka (Cameroun): Damian Avevor (Ghana): Sally Mbilu (Kenya) and Benita Sambu.(Congo DR)
The awards will be conferred to the winners at the World Media Congress to be held, for the first time in Central America, in Panama City, Panama from 29 September to 6 October 2013.
François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân (1928-2002) was arrested in 1975, a few weeks after he had been nominated coadjutor bishop of Saigon. He spent 13 years in prison, 9 of which were in solitary confinement. After he was set free he became president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. (http://www.vanthuanobservatory.org/?lang=en) The following lines were written in 1980 in prison, 15 km from Hanoi. They are a kind of ‘spiritual testament’.
Beloved children,
I find I’m at a new stage:
tough, dark, endless. I meet here others who are also pilgrims; I look on them as friends, and on all the things that happen as priceless experiences. Because everything is grace.
In my night, populated by silence and solitude,
I think of each and every one of you, offering you all to God. God has given me the most beautiful moments of my life. Never were my prayers so heart-felt, nor mass so fervent, nor so favourable the chances to be united with God’s love and show love in the midst of hate and sow hope in the midst of despair. You can lose everything materially but, if God remains, you still have everything. God is Love. Love gives me courage to love as God loves.
I have nothing more.
But every day I offer the love of God to all in the heart of Jesus and Mary. I am by your side, caring for you and loving very deeply, because you have a prime place in my heart. I have left a few modest experiences in The Road of Hope. Read my most intimate thoughts in the light of the Word of God and of Vatican II. Meditate, read, work so that your heart may be filled with love and wisdom… Dry tears and cover over the weaknesses that come from circumstances and all that is lacking.
This is my testament,
following the example of Paul VI. ‘My programme is to fulfil the Second Vatican Council.’ Strive to set alight the flame of hope in the places that you live.
Like John XXIII
I consecrate the rest of my life to prayer, to sacrifice, to service. May Jesus, Mary and Joseph strengthen your footsteps along the road of hope. Excerpt: François Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, Vivere le virtù [Living Virtues] (Rome: Città Nuova, 2012), 7-8.
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