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2 Feb 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
A young twenty year-old with a beautiful smile, fresh and simple, that’s how Alejandra Giménez looks. She is studying the second year of Medicine in Asunción, Paraguay, where she lives with her parents and a younger brother. With lots of enthusiasm, Alejandra tells about her commitment at the University, in the scientific and student associations. All these commitments and activities obviously take time from her studies, and she needs to leave out many things she would like to do, but she manages all these because she gives the required time to her spiritual formation. That’s why she meets regularly with the other young people from the Focolare, where she finds all the support she needs. But let’s hear it from her. “I attended a Medicine Conference, in which they discussed about the brain death and organ donation and there I decided to organize an awareness campaign on this subject. I got in touch with the Scientific Society of Medical Students at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) and now I have taken up the responsibility of director at the Department of Medical Education. Together with three of my classmates, Eliana Duarte, Aracy Do Nascimento and Lilian Carrera, we studied this topic, and did a scientific research on the awareness and diffusion of organ donation among medical students. This study was selected to represent my University at an important academic meeting in Curitiba, Brazil; and also in September 2013, at an international conference in the United Arab Emirates”. 
She conducted another research study on the “False alcohol test results” on car drivers. This study deals with common “beliefs” among youngsters, for instance the one that says that using a mouthwash or cough syrup will alter the test results. Road accidents are the major cause of death among the youth in Paraguay, and therefore alcohol, accidents and organ donation are all closely related topics. Alejandra has also been elected to other scientific student associations, and she continued to organize awareness initiatives: one on cardiovascular health, another on breast cancer and on diabetes, to give some examples. Besides all this, she is involved, together with her classmates, in many other projects in the coming year, such as the “Conferences on Research formation for Medical students”. 
“Of course –she acknowledges–, I do many things and it could be that I won’t be able to accomplish everything, but I prefer to aim high; afterwards, if I am not able to attain all those goals, other classmates will take them ahead”. She has no regrets in spending her energies for others and the smile on her face is a good proof of it! Source: Ciudad Nueva Uruguay – Paraguay (Dicembre 2012) Our translation.
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1 Feb 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
A new legal thinking and practical application runs that have succeeded. This is what was presented at the three-day gathering in Mariapolis Ginetta, near to San Paulo, Brazil on January 25-27, 2013. The meeting included 180 lawyers, judges, public judicial ministers, public ministers, public defenders, probation officers, public administration workers, and teachers from all over Brazil.
The numerous experiences that were related corroborated and confirmed the effects of fraternity and its potential. There was the ‘adoption of citizens held without public defence that was carried out in Pernambuco within the framework of criminal law. Here teachers and students offered assistance to detainees who had financial problems. There was the application of alternative penal measures for environmental crimes in the Amazon, through work for the environment that has had the effect of reducing recurrences. There was the work of the core research team of the Centre of Law and Society at the Federal University of Santa Catarina for training in law and the promotion of peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and reconciliation. Family mediation and defence for the weakest members of society, through the interpretation of the law was also achieved.
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Throughout the congress proceedings the many students present were given ample opportunity to voice concerns, questions, discoveries, share experiences and, above all, present their hopes and expectations for a human formation that involves fraternity. At the opening of the congress there was a message from Maria Voce, who is president of the Focolare Movement, a lawyer and among the first supporters of Communion and Law which is an expression of the Focolare’s dialogue with the legal culture. After reminding everyone that “when you live love towards others you respect every law, you interpret the law and you apply it in justice,” she proposed – after decades in which individual rights were held up as the “path to equality” – it was time for a reassessment of our duties since, “without respect for them our relationships are less than correct.” Duties call to mind our responsibility for each other as individuals and as community. This helps to maintain and strengthen the bonds of society.
In this time of crisis and change fraternity taken as a legal category was shown through the work of the conference to be a lens that highlights and brings about something new. Fraternity involves a turnaround, a reminder to the justice system of the individual human person behind each face. It leads beyond a subjective individual right and opens one to a vision of humankind as “us”. It does not reduce Law to a mere production of norms, but sees it as a tool for healing broken relationships. As Cardinal Odilo Schrerer, Archbishop of San Paulo put it, on the afternoon of the 26th January: [Fraternity is] a proposal of “such great interest, of enormous social importance, crucial for society, culture and civilisation.” He went on to say: “We need to continue digging for the gold so that we can offer this gold to all.”
Those who attended the congress return to their homelands with the mission of spreading the experience they lived here, and the commitments they have made demonstrate this. Other congresses are planned for the University of Santa Caterina and Marilia (SP), in the Brazilia Sergipe Tribunals, in the cities of Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, as well as the formation of a group of regular gatherings for delving further into the research and praxis.
To find out more: www.comunionediritto.org
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31 Jan 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Catholics comprise 26% of the population in Australia. Therefore they belong to the most widespread Church of the Christian world that brings together more or less half of the country’s human population. The Conference of Catholic Bishops is comprised of 42 bishops under the guidance of the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis James Hart.
The Australian Church is undergoing many challenges at the moment: growing secularisation (“a real challenge for the civil and religious conscience of the country,” says Bishop Peter Elliott, Auxilliary Bishop of Melbourne); the phenomenon of immigration that brings with it the faithful of other religions (“Our Church is on the way more than any other, because it is mostly comprised of immigrants,” according to the director of Migrant Ministry, Fr. Maurizio Pettena); the accusations being made toward the Catholic Church because of the sexual abuse of minors (“that has removed a lot of credibility from the word of our pastors,” affirms Bob Dixon, director of the centre for studies of the Australian Bishops Conference); because of the teaching of a sexual ethic that the majority of young people do not share (“though there is a strong sensibility, also among non-Catholics for the Christian notion of the human body,” explains Matthew MacDonald, executive officer for Melbourne’s Archdiocesan Office for life, family and marriage.
Some Bishop Friends of the Focolare were invited to the Thomas Carr Center next to the cathedral in Melbourne. This movement is very much loved by the bishops because of its “Marian nature” Bishop of Sale, Christofer Prowse pointed out.
The meeting had been organised by Bishop Prowse. He recounted his encounter with the Focolare, when he was still a seminarian and had ascertained that the Holy Spirit was working in Chiara Lubich. The fact is that “someone would place the Word of Life under my door . . . Then I came to know the Movement and was able to appreciate it, also for the conciliating character of its ecclesial presence. The Focolari, without ever imposing their intuitions, set in place a great welcome, one based on dialogue and friendship that wins hearts.” He concluded: “I had an extraordinary experience at the Mariapolis on Phillip Island, which very much helped me and strengthened me in the faith. The Holy Spirit works gently but firmly in the Focolare Movement.”
A dozen bishops were present, including Anglican Bishop Phillip Huggins who has known the Focolare since 1990. Archbishop Francesco Kriengsak, moderator of the Bishop Friends of the Focolare and Archbishop of Bangkok, sent a message to the group in which he underscored how “the charism of unity is a great help in bringing ahead the New Evangelisation.”
Bishop Prowse introduced Maria Voce in a climate of simplicity that the Australians know how to create. The Focolare president then presented the Movement’s thought on the New Evangelisation beginning with her recent experience as an auditor at the Synod of Bishops: “The Church has come out poorer in glory and honour following a period of humiliations, but richer of God and therefore more strong.” The Synod particularly focused on the Words of the Gospel that regard love.” And concerning the Synod Fathers desire that the Gospel be brought out of the churches: “I think this has happened in many parts of the world also by the Focolare community, especially because of the presence of Jesus in the midst of His own.”
During the course of the discussion Bishop Elliott told how the spirituality of unity had helped him, especially at the beginning of his ministry, and he asked Maria Voce to say something about Jesus Forsaken and Jesus in the midst. “If you don’t choose Jesus Forsaken you cannot have Jesus in the midst. But when Jesus makes Himself present, the joy arrives as He takes up His dwelling among His friends,” she explained. She was also asked about her trip to Istanbul, “where I experienced that mutual acceptance was possible with the Muslims.” They spoke about the present spreading of the Movement and the frontiers that lie ahead, following the death of the founder. Finally, Giancarlo Faletti offered a reflection on what the Movement proposes to priests and to bishops.
By Michele Zanzucchi
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30 Jan 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Australia, a land for the new evangelisation? There are many who believe that it is, because of different reasons. This country is quite multicultural and continues to be so with a recent influx of immigration from Asia; the crisis in the Catholic Church because of the sexual abuse of minors; the persuasive force of consumerism; the presence of youths from around the world and not only children of local families; numerous mixed marriages; the ecumenical and interreligious challenge. The list could go on, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind about the need for an evangelisation in this country as well. But it would have to be first of all a re-evangelisation of the Christian life of the individual.
During the visit of Focolare president Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Faletti, the local Focolare community wished to pause and publicly question itself concerning the new frontiers of evangelisation in Australia and its own contribution toward this. Above all by offering “good practices”, small but great witnesses to ecclesial life, work in public office, living with unemployment, commitment in hospitals, rejecting clientelism, education and family life. The simple Gospel lived in a society where competition is encouraged and in which individualism often wins out over altruism and corporate interests over the common good.
Maria Voce spoke before an audience that included professors and journalists, religious leaders and professionals about the cornerstones of the Focolare’s style of evangelisation, which is to live the Gospel in order to continually re-evangelise ourselves, sharing with each other what the Gospel life has brought about in our lives, finding longer moments in which to experience the power of God’s love together. By acting in this way you finally manage to have a deep impact on environments that before could have seemed impenetrable by the Gospel, from parliaments to factories, from sport arenas to charitable institutions. This evangelisation is one that happens outside the church building. One convincing example was offered by Giancarlo Faletti concerning Rome, Italy. In 2000 after Chiara Lubich had been awarded honorary citizenship, she launched a project for the revitalization of urban life, which she called RomaAmor (Rome-Love).
Maria Voce did not try to hide the fear that the Movement felt at the death of its founder. But the fruits of evangelisation that are, after all, nothing more than the life of the Gospel very soon crushed that fear. These fruits demonstrated that focolare spirit still had much to give to today’s society. This was also noticed by many who attended the recent Synod on the New Evangelisation in which many bishops shared with Maria Voce who was an auditor at the Synod, the many Gospel fruits that they had seen continuing to come forth from the Movement.
Among those present there was also Professor James Bowler, a well-known Australian geologist, who discovered the remains of the oldest human being on the continent known as Mungo Lady and Mungo Man. Surprised by the great turnout, he commented: “It was a moment of great spirituality and openness. The recognition of the other is the right path for a just and coherent social life.” Professor Anne Hunt head of the Theology department at the University of Melbourne underscored “the importance of the presence of the new movements in the new evangelisation, which are able to open unique and original horizons for the faith and for the Catholic Church in fields that are otherwise deserted, especially in the professions and in the media.”
By Michele Zanzucchi
Source: Città Nuova
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29 Jan 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Spontaneity is a trait that immediately stands out as a characteristic of the Australian youth.
It is this that makes the representatives of the new generations present at the Focolare meeting in Melbourne to welcome Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti in a dance circle, beating to the rhythm of their music. Two chairs on the carpet, at the centre of an imaginary circle, and that’s it. They want to move, and above all, to communicate. They are in T-shirts or sleeveless T-shirts (although we are in a cold “summer”), in black or in bright colours, barefoot, with the most original haircuts, piercings and tattoos.
What follows is the sharing of their stories, beautiful and not so beautiful, their search for happiness and a life worth living; they speak about friendships, which are sometimes deceiving, and sometimes fill the heart. In the same way, they ask some questions to their guests, which are sincere and demanding. They address various issues: on the sense of suffering, on the need to keep in touch with those who live the same spirit, on how different the adults’ views are from theirs.
In the background of all these issues, a question seems to arise: how can we listen to Jesus’ voice? Maria Voce explains: «I don’t know what Jesus is telling you, but I can assure you that listening to His voice is the most intelligent thing one can do». Burst of applause. «Jesus –she continues– wants something great for us. In the creation, God said a Word, and He created you. He could also do it now, but He wanted to be with us, to have His Son descend on Earth, so that all can cooperate with him. And this is how Jesus speaks with each one. But His voice is subtle, and is covered by different noises, noises that destroy us and leave us lifeless».
And here is the right path: «When we love, love becomes a loudspeaker for this voice. The more we love, the more clearly we can hear it. Maybe it will seem that it is asking things too great for us, but we need to have the courage, and He himself will help us to realize whatever He asks. And in the end our life will be wonderful ».
To a young boy who asked her what she thinks when she meets young people all around the world, she replied that she really feels glad, because «everywhere there are young people who live Chiara Lubich’s ideal. Even though their potential may not be entirely disclosed as yet, but still they have that strength, that hope and that life that will break forth sooner or later».
And she concluded: «Therefore, fortunate Australia, fortunate New Zealand, and fortunate Pacific Islands! And how can we allow all this potential to break forth? By loving, by loving you will do great things. And we will follow you! ».
By Michele Zanzucchi, correspondent
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28 Jan 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
The introduced themselves with a short video showing the park near the Sydney Opera House, a room at Wellington, a beach on a Pacific island. Some of the Focolare’s local communities offered dances from their local traditions that exuded the natural radiance of the cultures found in Oceania.
January 26-27 2013: Different cultures, traditions, Churches and religions. Oceania is the most cosmopolitan culture in the world. “The Spot” Hall at the University of Melbourne is a spectacle in itself because of its unique architecture and shiny cubes of light, but also because of the variety of people found in the audience. Everyone was an imigrant here, except for the original natives of the Pacific Islands.
Australia Day. Today is the national holiday but the aboriginal population far more prefers the Sorry Day which is celebrated in May. This is the “day of excuses” that was instituted to recall and repair the wounds inflicted on the local populations by colonialism, especially Australia where the impact was most felt by the aborigines. But it also recalls the paths of reconciliation, like the New Zealand one that has led to the creation of effective organisations of ethnic and cultural harmony. Before Sunday Mass, an aboriginal ceremony is performed that recalls the wairua tapu (mother earth), since she is worthy of honour and respect.
The celebration consists in placing hands on a mound of earth placed in the hollow of a large and welcoming bank. The little children together with Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti are invited to place their hands. Then the president of the Focolare receives from the hand of the aboriginal celebrant a wooden blade on which is inscribed a picture of the Australian landscape, the nine territories into which it is divided, according to the cosmogony geography of the Aborigines.
There is the long intense history of the lands of Oceania and there is the history of the local Focolare Movement. And exciting film presented a few moments of this history with the arrival of Rita Muccio in 1967, then the arrival of Maddalena Cariolato, the first locals to welcome the “spirit of Chiara”, individuals and families, youths and the not so young, in Melbourne and Perth. Then there was the “landing” in New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna, New Chaldonia and the Fiji Islands. Some of those people are still living, and some have already “arrived”. Among these are Margaret Linard and New Zealander Terry Gunn. All of them bear witness to having met in the charism of Chiara Lubich the possibility of living the Gospel. With the simplicity and radicalism that characterises this “very new world” coupled with love for neighbour, their lives were changed.
And it was precisely love of neighbour that was the main theme of Maria Voce’s remarks: Just as the three Kings recognized the greatness of the Son of God in a tiny baby boy, so too must we come to recognise Jesus in every neighbour, also beyond appearances. The open discussion that followed immediately took on an existential tone, when a child asked how we can believe in a God we do not see! The youths asked how they were to resist the solicitations of modern society. The elderly discussed their role in the communion among the generations; some brought up questions on how to advance the ecumenical or interreligious dialogue. Serious issues were not avoided, such as the sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church, the growing stress in the cities that impedes progress in holiness, the temptation of consumerism that snuffs out witness to the Gospel, the absence of God in people’s lives, and the courage it takes to bear witness to His love.
Maria Voce ended with a wish: “Australia is a big land, we need to bring her love and unity. Our big family cannot live on memories in a photo album, we need to move forward. Then we’ll be writing a new album.”
By Michele Zanzucchi, correspondent
