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21 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“Strong people have no need for violence,” was the motto chosen by the Werkealschule School of Isny (Allgäu-Germany). It is one of the first partners of the new edition of Gen Rosso’s educational project and association Starkmacher. No longer the famous “Strong without Violence” but “Starkmacher Schule” (Schools that make you strong).
Between the 8th and 12th October 2012, students and teachers from the Werkrealschule Isny were involved in a project that put them on the stage with Gen Rosso and their musical “Streetlight”. And it all happened witih only three days of rehearsaling! Foolishenes? “Maybe so,” says Tomek who is one of the band members, “but we all believed it could be done and rehearsals went on without stopping.”
“A project involving the whole school does not happen every day,” admits School Principal Grimm, “for this reason Starkmacher Schule was introduced in every class.”
The projects provides an experience living and working alongside Gen Rosso to present their musical after a three-day workshop integrating different subjects and skills training, through a course developed at the University of Heidelberg for teachers and students that helps them to discover the qualities and skills that can be used to accomplish their goal. “Already last year some of the teachers and students went through this training,” says Anita Heumos, a social worker who was a translator last year and is now the project organizer in her own city.
“For many youths, getting on stage and performing in front of their peers is not something to be taken for granted,” explains Tomek. “Therefore it is important that the educational system helps them, offering them new challenges and skills. This guarantees the sustainability of the project. It’s one of the novelties of this new edition.”
Instructor Günther Kreutzer added: “The show has a lot of people working around it. In the workshops, for example, there were translators, because the members of Gen Rosso band come from different countries. This was a very engaging and creative feature of the project.
“On the 19th of October 2012 we were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor of Isny. He was so enthusiastic about what was happening in the school. And some businesses, two parishes (Catholic and Protestant) and common people have offered support for the project with money and other gifts,” Anita recounts. She goes on to say: “The principal was also very satisfied with the response from some parents, who also took an active part in the project.”
With the help of the music and several creative workshops the youths reached a good level of preparation for the project, both concerning the seriousness of everyday violence and in the interior strength needed to face and resolve daily problems. The standing ovation they received at the end of the performance by the more than 1000 member audience at the two musicals in the Rotmooshalle of Isny, was recompense enough for all the work that was put in by everyone. One local newspaper wrote: “A Musical makes a school happy.” “The spirit of unity,” Tomek concludes, “has left a mark in each one. . . Their shining faces seem to confirm it!”
Photo gallery Starmacher Schule Project in Isny
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18 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Many revolutions in history started in an unexpected way. Young people often find themselves at the centre. I cannot hide the fact that, like many immersed in the problems of the mega-cities of our countries, I also found myself asking: “When will this change?” I discussed this with some friends; I studied the paths taken by the great protagonists of history; I asked myself many questions.
When I started working as a journalist at the headquarters of ANSA in São Paolo, I never missed the opportunity to illustrate in my articles the signs of the times, seeking the truth. I had great aspirations. Yet as I gained experience, I felt that idealism was not enough.
I was faced with the demands of a complex world which required expertise and experience I didn’t yet have. Furthermore crisis situations were rampant in our interdependent societies, together with financial and work-related problems, internal conflicts, obsolete institutional mechanisms as well as other scenarios I was unable to decipher.
The offer to enrol in Sophia University arrived just as I had been reflecting on all of these things. I decided to invest in a plane ticket and decided to spend two years of my life doing a course which combines theory and daily practice, to explore a new culture, that of unity. I enrolled in a political subject and I found myself in a laboratory of life in which, day by day, together with students and teachers from different backgrounds, we faced an intensive program of study which delineated the culture of unity in many areas of science and of human interaction.
At Sophia University we experience that our goals for social change need to be accompanied by adequate preparation: we need professional formation, multi-dimensional knowledge and a 360° mode of dialogue in order to relate to peoples near and far and to able to manage the network of interdependence that characterizes our time. The comparative study approach among disciplines, illuminated by Chiara Lubich’s charism, is supported by the daily effort to put into practice the insights and academic results we achieve in the classroom. All these things involved my whole being, giving me new skills and different perspectives.
Having concluded the course, I can say that I acquired more expertise as a journalist, not only in employing better writing techniques, but also in reporting certain facts that I might have overlooked before.
I realized that the “new” I was looking for consisted in building relationships all round: with work colleagues, with the people I interview and with the members of the public who read my articles; it only comes about through an intense dialogue of life, through sharing and community consultation.
To aspire to a better world is something very important, but searching for the right tools to create it is equally fundamental. At Sophia University I realized that solutions can’t be improvised; we must devote time and resources to make sure the necessary conditions are there for things to happen.
(Source: Sophia University Institute website)
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16 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“I’m an African studying in Northern Italy. Some time ago I read an article in a magazine in which the author spoke of a “night” that had fallen over Western culture, causing it to lose authentic Christian values. To tell the truth, I didn’t really understand the meaning of the text until something happened that opened my eyes. It was a Saturday afternoon. Some guys who live nearby invited me to to go out with them for an evening together. They wanted to do something different. There were six or seven of us. At first we went to a dance at a local place. At first it was fun, they told me that the music was in my blood and that I really knew how to dance. But I soon noticed that the people around me were dancing without any respect for themselves or for others. They weren’t dancing for the sheer enjoyment of it, but in order to taunt each other with mixed messages. I heard the subtle voice within me telling me to go against the current by dancing with dignity and with love that was sincere.
A few hours later, my friends wanted to go to another place. I went along, after all, they were my friends, and I accepted their proposal. We reached a place and went in. Without any time to realize where I was, surrounded by such loud music, psychedelic lights and an acrid odour that was filling my nose, I found myself feeling quite shocked. This wasn’t a normal disco, there were young women there prostituting themselves. I felt disappointed and angry. Without saying a word I turned around and walked out. One of my friends followed me. He insulted me, calling me backward. I didn’t answer him. A few moments later another friend came up to me, not to insult me but to agree with me. Finally another friend slipped out of the place and he also agreed with me. Without saying a word about my Christian beliefs or that I believe in God, they all saw and understood. A few months passed. I never thought about the incident again. One day one of the guys came to me and apologized, telling me that he didn’t want to go to places like that. This experience helped me to more radically understand why it is necessary to risk and say “no” to certain things.”
This story of Yves from Cameroon, is one of 94 stories published in “Good News” recently published in Italian by Citta Nuova, as a positive contribution to the New Evangelization. It has a preface written by Maria Voce. The protagonists of these stories are young people, families, professionals, workers, directors, consecrated religious and priests who face daily challenges with the help of the Gospel. A people that believes, lives, moves and engages others, with due respect for the beliefs and experience of all, with the awareness that every human being brings something good to the great human family.
Do you have some good news to share?
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15 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
In this humanitarian crisis, a million and a half Syrian refugees have had to flee their homes.
Having no other choice than to leave house, work and friends would be quite traumatic, but a million and a half Syrians have had to flee from the “hot” regions of their land and head toward less dangerous ones. And according to the latest UN numbers, 311,000 have sought haven in countries along the border: Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. There is no way to predict when they will be able to return home or what they will find if they do.
There is no foreseeable solution to the conflict situation that has put government forces and opposition forces on opposite sides. On the contrary, there is fear that the crisis will extend to the international level.
And yet, the wind of the Arab Spring had raised hopes in the power of nonviolence and in the push towards a peaceful democratic reform in the country where peaceful coexistence among different religious groups has never aroused serious problems. Then everything fell.
While still new diplomatic solutions are being sought, and hoping that the true soul of the Syrian people can emerge and fulfil its aspirations of peaceful coexistence without fragmenting the country, attempts are being made to assist the population.
The Focolare in Lebanon is on the front lines in aiding the refugees. There the communities have responded generously to this emergency situation, placing everything they could at their disposal: money and goods. Some Syrian families have been given lodging at the Mariapolis Centre in Ain Aar, while others are being hosted in other parts of the country. “They would like to return to Syria,” they write from the Movement in Lebanon, “but the situation doesn’t allow it. Therefore we’ve enrolled the children in Lebanese schools as we wait to see how things evolve. The refugees give what they can, but the cost of living in Lebanon is five times higher than in Syria, and their economic resources quickly run out.”
© Photo UNICEF HQ
Meanwhile, in Syria, the progressive loss of work for the closure of many factories, the collapse of trade and rising prices of basic commodities, especially oil and gas, makes life a drama for many families and their future very disturbing. Therefore it is important not to leave the population alone and without help, but to offer every possible aid.
United World Association (AMU), an NGO inspired by the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, coordinates funds and emergency assistance in collaboration with local groups. At the moment the funds that have been gathered are used to provide basic supplies (food, housing, health care fees) to for refugee families and families that have fled within Syria. In Lebanon refugee children are being enrolled in Lebanese schools.
Anyone wishing to make a financial contribution to assist the Syrian people, may do so using the following bank account details:
ACCOUNT NAME: Associazione Azione per un Mondo Unito
BANK NAME: Banca Popolare Etica (Rome branch)
IBAN: IT16G0501803200000000120434
SWIFT/BIC: CCRTIT2184D
Description: “Aiuti alle famiglie siriane” (Emergency aid to Syrian families) or “Scolarizzazione bambini siriani” (“Syrian children schooling”)
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11 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Leyland is a charming city of Lancanshire, near Preston (UK), which grew quickly after 1950 because of the expansion of the automobile industry and others. Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists and other Christians have lived together in this area for more than three hundred years. “In the 1980’s,” John recounts, “some people from St. Mary’s parish attended a Mariapolis and were so well impressed by it that, afterwards, they invited more parishioners to attend. In order to pay for the registration fee they sold sandwiches after Mass! Some people were curious and offered their talents organizing celebrations, music nights, quiz games, and theatrical performances that all helped to gather funds, but also brought the people of the parish together. And so each year the number of people attending the Mariapolis increased and when they returned to the parish they tried to live the spirit of unity that they had experienced at the Mariapolis, in the parish.” 
Leslie continues: “Evangelization is not a theory, but a way of life that engages everyone: those who go to church regularly, those who go seldom and also those who are not interested in religion at all. Each person is appreciated for who he or she is and is involved in this joint venture like Julie who does not talk and finds it hard to move around. She helps with the cleaning at the parish and offers hope and encouragement to the people who work with her. Julie, who found the faith a few years ago, is truly a symbol of what is happening here: welcoming everyone, welcoming the poor and needy, caring for the sick, the elderly – all in a spirit of joy. The Church is open to everyone. It once hosted a Hindu funeral, because the family could find no other place to have it. Many of their family and friends attended, and they were all very struck by the welcome they found.” “This year, there were two hundred Confirmation candidates,” John explains, “and preparations for the Sacraments required a huge amount of work, but the unity among the animators allowed us to overcome all the obstacles. As a service to the local population we have special ceremonies for pre-school children in wheelchairs and for those who take care of them. In this way we meet many people who do not attend church. We join with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in caring for the elderly, the sick and the lonely, visiting them and bringing them material assistance that is often the fruit of the communion among nearby parishes. Recently the Newman Fund was instituted, sponsored by our parish with the goal of helping people in need. This help covers the cost of school transport for some of the children who live in this area. It also administers the communion of goods and the distribution of furniture and clothing to families in need.” 
John continues, “The pastoral council is attentive to the local population and supports people’s participation and the communion among all, with the help of many volunteer animators. They also collaborate with ten other churches nearby. The ecumenical group that began spontaneously is very active. When the wife of a lay Methodist preacher died, the first one to call on him was our parish priest. Many of us Catholics attended the funeral in the Methodist church. These kinds of relationships are the order of the day now.” “On the exterior of our church,” John concludes, “there is a Latin phrase that says: ‘Where charity and love are, God is there’. It’s quite a programme! Indeed we would like our parish to be a spark of light for the world around us.”
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7 Oct 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
I am Nacho from Argentina and I am 25 years old. For many years I played with one of the best football teams in Argentina. My life was organized around sport and I was going to play professionally. I was engaged to a girl who since she was little lived the same ideal of life I have, one based on Gospel values. We dreamed of getting married and having lots of children. I had many plans for how my life would be with her.
But while I thanked God for having been with me throughout my life and for what I was living with Lucia, I felt as if God was saying inside me, ‘Nacho, are you willing to follow me, leaving all behind and consecrating your life to me alone?’ I immediately felt I wanted to say, ‘Of course I am.’
I asked myself what giving ‘my all’ could mean and I understood that God was asking me to follow him by leaving my present family: father, mother, brothers and sisters and, above all, leaving my possible future family. I talked to Lucia about it. It wasn’t easy for either of us but, with tears in my eyes, that day I had confirmation of the decision I was about to take: to follow Jesus as a focolarino, in the path first trodden by Chiara Lubich.
It’s not easy to explain what I experience living out the things Jesus has promised, that is, that no one leaves house, father, mother, children and does not receive back in this life a hundredfold what has been left. This is my experience day after day, for example in giving some of my time to someone in need and feeling this person truly my brother or sister, sharing in suffering or in joy. Some days ago I got back home dead tired from work and all I wanted was to have a rest. Another focolarino was making the evening meal asked me to give him a hand because he was late. I began to help, just like that, forgetting my tiredness, and I felt the joy of being able to live for him.
Having these small experiences, I’m able to discover even more of myself. I see that my limits become a springboard for growth and my horizons are widened, especially when it comes to other cultures. Living together with people from other countries I feel that the only real barriers are the ones inside us. And this makes me overcome the fear of the unknown, of what is different from me, because I’ve understood that diversity doesn’t so much create division as serve make us more complete.
Now I’m in Switzerland finishing my training as a focolarino. I don’t yet know which focolare in the world I’ll go to, who I’ll be living with, but I feel that God calls me personally to build up fraternity in the world, embracing the whole human family with a free heart, and I want to spend my life for this ideal .
From Genfest 2012
