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Jan 3, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“I was my father’s favourite daughter,” Mary recounts, “since I was the firstborn. When I was eight years old, I watched my parents argue and fight. One day my father forced my brothers and me to get into his car and leave our mother behind. But she stopped us. I helplessly watched so many terrible things that he did to my mother. Then he left. From that day that I saw my mother and father together, I completely rejected my father.
I tried to convince myself that he didn’t exist anymore. It was a dramatic choice that haunted me during the years of my adolescence. Growing up without a father had an influence on the way I treated other people, especially men. For several years I studied at an exclusive school for girls. When I went to university, it wasn’t easy for me to be with the boys.
Coming to know the Focolare Movement, I was invited to go to the little town of Loppiano, Italy, where there are people who try to live mutual love and have respect and trust for one another.
It was the month when everyone there was trying to live that Gospel sentence: “Forgive seventy times seven times” (Mt. 18:21). Reading the commentary by Chiara Lubich, I suddenly realized that my heart was filled with hostility towards my father. But it was only when I decided to also begin living it, that in my heart I felt the “bitterness” slowly transforming into pardon and I felt a strong desire to see my father.
When I returned to Manila, even though there was still an open wound, I found the strength to telephone my father and to arrange a meeting. We spoke for several hours, just the two of us, in a restaurant. I was happy and at peace, even though my mother didn’t agree with our meeting. But she left me free to meet him.
I continue to communicate with Dad, even if it’s not so often. But any time I have an opportunity to meet him, I try to make him feel my merciful love.
Always aware that Mum and Dad will never be able to get together again because he already has another family, I feel that, through my forgiveness, we all remain united. And this fills me with peace.”
Official Genfest website: www.genfest.org
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Jan 2, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
A chain of text messages containing Scripture quotes to end the day together, this was the idea of a small group of volunteers at the Word Youth Day. Among them was Nard, a young Dutch Focolare member, who wanted to have a moment of communion during the day so as to enter deeply into God. All the things to be done and the work for the World Youth Day seemed to get in the way. A combination of the desire to be united and of using the means of communication well meant that the group started a chain of text messages to share something valuable from the day they had just lived. The text chain did not stay in Madrid; it is still going on and increasing numbers of young people are part of it.
This is one of the stories told in a lively and enthusiastic way at the Katholike Jongeren Dag (‘s-Hertogenbosch, 4 November 2012), the annual gathering of Dutch Youth where for many years the Focolare Movement has been actively present both in the crowds and among the organizers.
Many of the Dutch young people still remember when Chiara Luce’s parents spoke in 2010 and Maria Voce’s talk the following year. This year the Gen were present in the organizing committee, as helpers and stewards during the day itself, and with a stand both promoting the United World Project launched at the Genfest and presenting the life of Chiara Luce.
The stand was visited by many of the young people circulating in 2012’s ‘Square of the New Movements’ where the various stands were all grouped together in their own areas. It was a chance to strengthen contacts among the different Catholic groups in the Netherlands.
During the lunch break, a moment when participants had time to go to the stands, the members of the various movements put on a programme to show passers-by how they live and witness to the Gospel in daily life. Of course this included music and performances, and there was also the presentation of the testimony of Eric Mwangi, a focolarino recently arrived in the Netherlands after a period in the international performing arts group, Gen Rosso.
The next appointment with the Katholike Jongeren Dag is at the end of 2013, but everyone wants to see each other again so much that they will also meet at the various gatherings for young people who want to build a better future, from the 35th European Meeting of Taizé youth (Rome, 28 December 2012 to 2 January 2013) to the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro.
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Dec 31, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
From Aleppo, Syria. “Gasoline continues to be lacking, and what little can be found is sold at exorbidant prices. The same is true for oven gas tanks (5,500 LS compared to 400 LS in March). The electricity has been cut for days and days, leaving the city in a threatening darkness after sunset. Bread is also scarce and it can only be purchased after spending long hours in line, in front of baker’s shops and paying 250 LS for one package (compared to the March price of 20 LS). The army is trying to provide bread, but isn’t able to keep up with the need of the people. School buildings that have not been transformed into havens for refugees are continuing to hold classes. But the lack of electricity makes studying toilsome and difficult (there aren’t even candles anymore). Some have begun to fall ill because of the cold and lack of medicines. Nearly 70% of the pharmacies are on the outskirts of the city and it is quite difficult to obtain medicines from other regions of the country beacuse of road blocks. It is feared that hospitals will soon be unable to continue providing care because oxygen begins to be lacking. Telephone communications are often interrupted. In spite of it all the population is giving quite a great witness of solidarity. The Focolare community and others are bringing ahead support activities: a small school for the deaf has begun to work again in a safer quarter, in some locations that hae been provided by the Franciscan Fathers. The families that we are visiting one by one, ask us before agreeing to receiving any assistance from us: ‘But isn’t there some other family that is more in need than we are?’ Rim, who has a two year old boy, was quite concerned that the boy’s cold would worsen, and he was very touched by the help that we were able to provide! It was exactly the same amount of money that her husband had given away a week earlier to a colleague who was in need. It had taken the couple a long time to save up that amount of money, but they had said to each other: ‘God will take care of us!’”
From Santiago, Cuba. “The destruction caused by hurricane Sandy has caused much damage especially in Santiago. Reconstruction has not yet begun because the Government had also been taken by surprise. Indeed because of the geographical landscape of Santiago which is encircled by mountains, hurricanes usually arrive from the sea and, blocked by the natural barrier formed by the mountains, generally move away without leaving any damage. In this case the hurricane managed to enter and remained inside for three hours (a great length of time), spinning like a kitchen blending machine. The damages suffered by sixteen families who are near to us amount to some 42,000 Euros. The monies gathered through the United World Project, though insufficient, have been handed over to them. The timing for the reconstruction is difficult to estimate because it is linked to finding the matarials and the embargo that has afflicted the island for many years. They are usually available for short periods only and not all at once. Only some cement, some wood or some iron has arrived. When the required materials do arrive, it is necessary to have the required funds on hand in order to be able to purchase them before the supply runs out. We are grateful for the assistance we’ve already received as we continue to hope in everyone’s future support.” To know more or to support the project:
Associazione Azione per un Mondo Unito
presso Banca Popolare Etica, filiale di Roma.
Codice IBAN: IT16G0501803200000000120434
Codice SWIFT/BIC CCRTIT2184D
Causale: Progetto: La mia casa è la tua casa
Causale: Emergenza Siria
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Dec 30, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Thomas Klann in Tokyo,
November 1985
“November 1985. I was in Japan covering Chiara Lubich’s visit there. As the cameraman, it was my job to document the entire journey that was so important because of the dialogues with personalities from the non-Christian religions.
The elderly Venerable Etai Yamada, a great figure in Tendai Buddhism and personal friend of Chiara, had agreed to an interview with my film crew. On the day of the interview we learned that he was not well and had been admitted to hospital. We thought the interview would have been called off, but it hadn’t been. He wanted to leave the hospital, and he met us dressed in full regalia and solemnly seated on his throne.
That day I had left the video footage to a friend so that he could take care of the audio. I used a shotgun mic, so that I could keep my distance and not interfere with the videotaping. I knelt at the feet of the venerable monk and held the microphone from there. We put all we had into listening to him with love. We were only going to need a few minutes of his talking for insertion in the documentary. But in spite of his poor health he continued to speak, always looking at me, seemingly unmindful of the fact that I didn’t understand a word of Japanese. He spoke non-stop for more than an hour, and during that time I kept on giving him my full attention.
A screenshot of the video-interview with the Venerable Etai Yamada
A few years later Etai Yamada died. His followers asked if they could have copies of the interview he had granted to us. We got to work on it right away, because, since the Japanese video system is different than Europe’s, we had to first send this first shooting to Britain where it could be properly recoded. When it arrived in Japan we received a big thank you, because in the interview Etai Yamada had recounted his whole spiritual life, with details that no one knew. It turned out to be a very precious document for his followers!
I’ve never forgotten this event. It’s always there to remind me that for good communication, it’s not as important to talk, as it is to love.”
Thomas Klann
(Centro Santa Chiara Audiovisual Centre, Italy)
Source: Una Buona Notizia: gente che crede gente che muove (Rome: Ed. Città Nuova, 2012).
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Dec 28, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Situated in the West of Africa, Nigeria is a vast land with a tropical climate. It is rich in natural resources like natural gas and oil. This has placed it among the six largest exporters in the world. It is also among the countries with the most inhabitants with some 170 million people, half of which are under the age of fifteen.
It contains an extraordinary variety of ethinic groups and cultures: 250 spoken languages. Its people are profound and joyful with the joy of life. Good listeners, they have a distinct interior life and a faith that is deep and alive. More than 60% of the population lives in poverty on less than a dollar a day. Unemployment is quite high. The average life expectancy, which is presently placed at 48 years, is expected to drop due to AIDS.
Widespread corruption has paralyzed development of the State and of the common good. The large variety of ethnic groups is a major challenge that is often considered a major threat. With the rapid growth of the population, the struggle for survival has become more and more acute. And yet these people are strikingly able to carry on, never giving up, accepting the pain without ever losing hope in a better future while seeking new and creative strategies in the present.
The natural religosity that characterizes the people of this continent is sometimes exploited for political or religious interests. Extremist thinking and terrorist groups that are moved by socio-economic, historical and political motivations convey a falsified image of conflicts between Christians and Muslims. In the North the population is 50%Muslim and 45% Christian.
Twenty five years ago, at the urging of Cardinall Arinze, the Focolare Movement arrived in Nigeria and began communities in several regions. Today it has 5, 490 members across a network of 28 local communities spread throughout the country. These communities distinguish themselves by their strong commitment to witnessing to ethical, spiritual and human values. In fact, taking advantage of the deep spiritual roots of the Nigerians, they stands by their sides so that the faith might everywhere come to be translated into real life: at school, at work, in the marketplace. Their commitment has a positive impact on the social development and health.
The social landscape of this land of many ethnic groups, social levels and different religions is that of universal brotherhood through the practice of dialogue, witnessing to the possibility of fraternal relationships, but especially encouraging and supporting this people as they become bridge builders. No few times have they discovered a variety of riches in their diversity, with positive implications for the public life, creating a civic conscience and public opinion.
In the centre of the country, for example, where there are particulary violent clashes between Muslims and Christians, it is quite striking to hear their stories of “being put on the spot” by universal brotherhood as they reach the point of risking their lives to save the lives of members of the other religion.
Desiring to form a culture of fraternity, a centre of formation and witness is being begun in the village of Igbariam. This has been joined by other social projects: a kindergarten, a primary school, a small clinic and workshops for teenagers. These are all carried out in collaboration with the local population in the village that is actively involved.
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Dec 27, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
‘Still burning in the Kenyan soul is the pain of the blood-soaked battles of the election in 2007 when more than 1000 people died.
“Never again!” is now the cry of everyone’s heart, while the country prepares for the presidential election in March 2013.
‘Many young people are engaged in initiatives for a year of peace.
‘Sr Bernadette Sangma (Director of Youth Ministry) and a group from the Focolare Movement working in the Catholic University of Nairobi, have welcomed this and promoted the idea of the “peace caravan”, which would unify the voices of the university students in Nairobi and make an impression on public opinion. As a symbol of this “earthquake of peace” the idea was to have a song that would be heard loud and clear throughout the nation!
‘This was the request made to Gen Rosso. After the 2007 tour there was already a profound friendship with Tangaza College and after some of us in 2009 went back to Kenya to give lessons and run workshops to teach “music with values”. We had a tradition of working together. How could we refuse this new request?
‘And so the song was written:
Jivunie nchi yako, kabila si silaha
Nyuma twasema, kamwe haturudi
wito wetu ni umoja
Be proud of your country! Tribe is not a weapon. The past never comes back. Our call is to be one.
‘Tangaza College and the Catholic University began to “recruit” young men and women from the various universities in the capital. Other young people from elsewhere became involved. Enthusiasm grew.
‘Magdalene Kasuku, a young journalist, presented “Jivunie” at official State Functions and at the huge celebrations on the 49th anniversary of Kenyan independence, on 12 December, in Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.
‘The song was heard with enthusiasm and it had been the government to propose that it should be sung at this major event in the presence of President Emilio Mwai Kibaki.
‘We recorded “Jivunie” with a choir to make it more “Kenyan” and to make it suitable to be left as an audio support for all the initiatives that will take place until next March.
‘Ponsiano Pascal Changa created a choreography for the performance on the 12th. We wanted a choir that danced with energy and joy and the kind of moves young people make.
‘We recorded everything, mixed it and prepared the choreography in just three days!
‘A group of 120 young people, called Kenya Youth for Peace, were brought together up for the occasion. The choreography captured people’s imagination because of its energy and freshness. The young people sang and danced in a stadium full of people: “Jivunie”: “Be proud! We are brothers and sisters of one nation!”
‘We are really happy to have given a platform to Kenyan youth so that they can proclaim to all who they are, expressing their infinite desire for a world at peace. We have become a single family with them. Family: the experience that Africa can give to the whole of humanity.’
Beni Enderle
