Lebanon: after the bombs, hope reborn from young people

4 Nov 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

The Lebanese chief of police was killed and 40 houses in the Achrafieh neighbourhood destroyed in a terrorist outrage in Beirut on 19 October. Many people were left homeless and in need of aid. Jacques, a member of Youth for a United World (Y4UW) who had been at the Genfest in Budapest – an event called ‘Let’s bridge’ that brought more than 12,000 young people to the Hungarian capital – had the idea of holding a concert to raise funds for the homeless and give a message of peace.

It all began with a conversation on WhatsApp. Jacques is also president of a Music Club at his university. After chatting via WhatsApp with several members of Y4UW and other members of his Music Club the idea emerged to have a concert. In just a few days more than 2,500 young people confirmed via Facebook that they would be present. The word spread through TV and radio interviews and articles in newspapers.

On the eve of the concert, organized together with other Lebanese NGOs, the Y4UW in Lebanon wrote, ‘Something much bigger than us is happening, but we go ahead with God’s help. We feel that it is God who is working miracles, because at the moment there are too many political divisions in  Lebanon, and they have been made worse by the bomb. Many young people are disgusted by what the politicians have been saying. This concert is like a light in the midst of deep darkness, a message of hope, of peace and unity among Lebanese people. With this concert we want to give witness to our ideal and to the unity of Lebanese young people.’

The colour code for the concert was white, a sign of peace. At the entrance white strips we handed out, just as they had been at the Genfest, as a sign of a commitment to build peace. ‘The concert left a trail of enthusiasm. We feel as if the Genfest has continued,’ Y4UW also wrote.

It was an important event, therefore, under the banner of the United World Project launched at Budapest (www.unitedworldproject.org). The project is being made effective by means of small or large fragments of fraternity, like this one in Lebanon, building up a more fraternal world even in the most sensitive and risky places.

Celebrating with Blessed Clare Badano

3 Nov 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

In Sassello, the town where Chiara Luce was born, from 27 to 28 October a large number of young people met together to celebrate her life. The title chosen for the weekend was: ‘I have everything’. In four stages the young people went around the town and listened to many things from people who had witnessed the life of Chiara Luce. They felt as if they were having a truly personal rendezvous with her. Meeting Chiara Luce’s parents, Ruggero and Maria Teresa Badano was a powerful moment. They spoke of many details from Chiara Luce’s life right up to the last period of her life when she began her intense journey towards Heaven. Immediately after that there was a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, where readings from some things written by Chiara Luce were interspersed between pauses for thought, and then a visit to the cemetery, to ‘get together’ with Chiara Luce in a moment’s intimate conversation. Chiara Luce’s young people, however, with find it easy to go from moments of profound reflection to moments of joyful recreation, all lived with the same intensity and a spirit aiming at the highest values, as was seen at the party at the end of the day run by a young DJ.

At Mass on Sunday more than 700 people crowded into the church. In the homily the parish priest of Sassello invited the young people to have courage and trust in God, following the example of Chiara Luce who one day encouraged her mother saying, ‘Trust in God and you have done everything.’ In the afternoon the programme carried on and the small parish hall was unable to contain all those present, and so the show about the Chiara Luce’s life, put on by the theatrical company Passi di Luce (Steps of Light) from Castelfiorentino (near Florence), had be done in two sittings.

By now Chiara Luce and the example of her life have gone irrepressibly beyond the confines of the region of Liguria where Sassello is located. This can be seen both in the fact that in Sassello there were young people from 33 different nations and in a Skype call to Mexico where in the little town called El Diamante (The Diamond) there is a chapel dedicated to Blessed Chiara Luce. There in Mexico 1,700 people had held three days of celebrations at which a musical about Chiara Luce’s life had been a great hit. There was tremendous joy also in Isernia, in Italy, celebrating Chiara Luce’s life in a musical show called ‘Be happy, because I am’. It was put on by artists from Azioni Musicali from Loppiano (near Florence) for more than 700 people.

The general impression is that in these few days the ‘torch’ of Chiara Luce has been handed on  to many, many young people, just as she wanted.

Reformation Day

31 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

On 31 October German Evangelical Christians and Protestants throughout the world celebrate ‘Reformation Day’. It recalls the beginning of the Luther’s reform when in 1517, according to tradition, he nailed his 95 theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. There will be many liturgical celebrations, Bible readings and concerts to mark the day. In Switzerland, however, the day is celebrated on the first Sunday of November.

On 27 October 2002 Chiara Lubich was invited to speak in the Reformed Cathedral of St Pierre in Geneva, the Calvin’s Reformation. She was introduced by Pastor Joël Stroudinsk who at the time was the Moderator of the Reformed Church in Geneva. He said, ‘In a few days Protestantism in its diversity will celebrate the Reformation. Beyond the specific characteristic of Protestantism, it is shared now by other Christian confessions, represented here, this morning in their diversity. The specific characteristic is the passion for the Gospel. It is the will to register the power of a word that transforms the world in its existence and in everyday life, in its many expressions, social, economic, political. This is the challenge that Chiara Lubich … has highlighted. It is with a spirit of gratitude and fellowship that we welcome her this morning to this place.’

Chiara Lubich on 27 October 2002 in Reformed Cathedral of St Pierre in Geneva

In a Cathedral filled to capacity with more than 1500 persons, Chiara started her talk with these words. ‘On the next 3 November here in Geneva there will be a celebration of the anniversary of the Reformation, a religious festival that I hope will be rich with the best spiritual gifts for all Christians from Churches of the Reform, my beloved brothers and sisters. In that day the word ‘Reform’ will ring out. ‘Reform’, a term that expresses the desire for renewal, for change, almost for rebirth. It is a special, attractive word that means life, more life. It is a word that can stimulate a question: are the noun Reform and the adjective Reformed relevant only for the Church that has its centre in Geneva? Or are they not words that can be applied in some way to all of the Churches? Indeed, were they not always typical of the Church?

Chiara went on to say, ‘The Second Vatican Council in its decree on ecumenism, says “Christ summons the Church to continual reformation as she sojourns here on earth. The Church is always in need of this, in so far as she is an institution of men here on earth.”[1] If we observe the history of the Church, and in particular the years when Christians were still united, we see that Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, has always thought, willed, directed his Bride towards a continuous reformation, bringing about in it a constant renewal. For this reason he sends on earth, from time to time, gifts, charisms of the Holy Spirit who has given rise to new spiritual currents and new religious families. And with these he has presented again the vision, in men and women, of a life that is evangelical, totally dedicated and radical.’

And she concludes, ‘Dearest bothers and sisters, this is what we have understood: the present time demands love from each one of us, demands unity, communion, solidarity. And it also calls the Churches to build up again the unity rent by the centuries. And this the reform of the reforms that heaven requires. It is the first and necessary step towards universal brotherhood with all other people, all men and women in the world. Indeed, the world will believe if we are united. Jesus said it: ‘May they all be one … that the world may believe (see Jn 17:21). God wants this! Believe me! And he repeats it and shouts it in the current circumstances that he allows to exist. May he give us the grace, if not to see this come to fruition, at least to prepare for it.’[2]

Family and Buddhism

28 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

A visit to the families in Loppiano

The Rev. Saito from the Buddhist Association Rissho Kosei-kai together with his wife Hiroyo and Mrs Eriko were in Italy this year for a trip full of events and meetings, which began at the Focolare Movement’s New Families’ Centre.

Rissho Kosei-kai’s commitment in the field of family life is in deep harmony with the aims of New Families, and they have been working together for many years: ‘I am a member of Rissho Kosei-kai. One of the teachings inspiring it is that we should be committed to building peace in the world, the State, society and the family. I remember that also Chiara Lubich said that society begins with the family, so it is vital to practise love, living it first of all in the family, which is the thing closest to us, and then in society which is made up of many families, and then in the State, and then in the whole world. Like this we can build peace. We can say that the family contributes love to the world.’

A particularly important moment on this trip was the audience with Pope Benedict XVI. Rev. Saito recalled it like this: ‘In Japan there have been huge disasters, like the tsunami last March, and large numbers of people have died, have lost their families, homes and work. The Pope made an appeal for prayer for Japan and I believe that that has deeply touched the hearts of many people in the world. I was able to tell him that the Japanese people never forget his words and I expressed my personal, profound gratitude. Benedict XVI smiled and he shook my hand with great warmth. This made me understand how much love he has in his heart.’

In Assisi

The visit to Assisi was also important for Rev. Saito: ‘The words of God-Buddha are becoming fact because people have put them into practice. This is true of the words of Jesus: “Love one another as I have loved you”, “Whatever you have done to the least, you have done to me.” These words of Jesus have become concrete teachings for us to live as a result of our seeing the life and witness of St Francis.”

Having met Chiara Lubich personally and his tremendous respect for her drew Rev. Saito to go in the end to visit Chiara’s house: ‘When we went into the room where she lived the last moments of her life, in front of her bed, the focolarina who was our guide us said that in that last period Chiara had read the gospels again in order to check if she had put into practice all of Jesus’ words. Having had the confirmation that this was so, Chiara left for heaven. I would like to live faith in the same way Chiara did, following her example.’

‘Terre di Loppiano’: 200 products, 1000 flavours

25 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

A website that does all the right things, with attractive graphics, but above all with integrity – a combination of three things that have made Terre di Loppiano’s fortune. It was set up to promote and to sell (www.terrediloppiano.com) the products of several agricultural businesses. Its 200 products of high quality, certified, from known sources, guaranteed and tested, come from different parts of the world. The entrepreneur Giorgio Balduzzi had the initial idea and started it up. We asked him for a few thoughts on the project.

Why use the name Terre di Loppiano?

‘The brand “Terre di Loppiano” (literally “Lands of Loppiano”) does not express so much a link with a particular territory as the value of the “land” which, if it is respected, can yield produce of the highest quality. “Loppiano” refers to our way of doing things grounded in the spirituality of unity which the little town of Loppiano expresses in its daily life.’

Do all the businesses that are part of Terre di Loppiano participate in the Economy of Communion (EoC)?

‘Of the 15 businesses that are part of it only a few are participate in the EoC. Others have been chosen because their professional and ethical values are similar to ours. But also these businesses have now asked to be part of the EoC.’

What added value has the relationship with these businesses given to your work?

‘The relationship with some of these business has given rise to the idea of promoting some of the social projects they are involved in. It is important to publicize these things and, especially, to bring them into a network, so that not only can they get beyond simply knowing one another but, above all, so as to ensure that each one serves the common good.’

Synergies, relationships, networks, team building: it all seems like part of a single mission that you have …

‘Yes. We have experienced that with mutual help and all the seeking the common good together, businesses can even find a way out of crisis. In 2010, for instance, Terre di Loppiano found itself involved with a honey producing firm that was at risk of closing down. Meeting us gave them new energy. We guaranteed the annual purchase of a quantity of honey and, thanks to our network, we were able to put it on the market, so the firm did not fail.’

Have you managed to spread outside Italy?

‘We have opened eight shops with our brand in Korea, thanks to a chance meeting with a Korean businessman who has taken on board the same challenge as we have. And now he is working to make this kind of economic activity known in Korea.’

Great commitment and responsibility are required then…

‘It’s true, things need to be done well, and if they are done also with love for the people round about us, who perhaps are in difficult situations, you can’t avoid good results. Our experiences are always similar. For instance, the people running a food shop selling some of our products once said that they understood the spirit behind this kind of business by looking at the relationship among us. Some of our suppliers have now asked to join in an educational programme for this new economic culture. We try to sow the seed and do our part, then if the sowing has been good, a harvest is inevitable.’

Edited by Paolo Balduzzi

Rowan Williams at Bishops’ Synod in Rome

22 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

Dr Rowan Williams at the Synod of Bishops in Rome

Lambeth Palace, September 2011. Archbishop Rowan Williams receives Focolare President, Maria Voce, together with Cardinal M. Vlk,and Msgr A. Bortolaso