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9 Jul 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“I’m an elementary school teacher. Often, I’m sent to teach in mountain villages. There are terrorist groups living in these remote areas, who call themselves liberators of the people. It happened that I ran into some of these terrorist squads, but I managed to escape by finding a hiding place in some rocks.
But one time, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hide myself quickly enough. They caught me and brought me back to their camp. For days on end I was put through lengthy interrogations.
Despite the fear, I tried to answer as repectfully and truthfully. One of them in particular tried to indoctirnate me with their ideology. He wanted to convince me to espouse their cause. When he asked me what I thought, I didn’t want to comment. On the following day he repeated his speech. I objected that it was necessary to begin by changing ourselves if we wanted to transform the power structures that seem unjust to us.
‘What should change is the love we have for each other,’ I tried to explain. Perhaps my words touched something inside him, perhaps they made him recall things that he had once believed. The fact remains that after this interrogation they let me go.
Ever since that day I continued to pray for that man and his companions. Recently, to my surprise, I recognized him on television, as the news was given of a terrorist who had handed over his weapons to the military and left the terrorist group.”
Nelda, from the Philippines.
From: “Una buona notizia”, Ed. Città Nuova, Rome, pp. 56, 57.
A book that offers a positive contribution to the New Evangelization, in view of the October Synod. It contains 94 brief stories from around the world.
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8 Jul 2012 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“Our story,” recounts Lucia, “began 42 years ago when we decided to share life journey. But the more we got together, the more we saw that we didn’t think alike, especially when it came to religion: I had faith, he didn’t. At first I didn’t worry about it. I didn’t think it would influence our future together. Instead, we had the first clash came when I became pregnant. We had to decide whether or not to continue the pregnancy.”
“I was too young,” continues Tonino, “to think about becoming a father and husband. I was still a student, I had many plans for the future, and now I found myself having to make a decision that would change my life! I grudgingly accepted Lucia’s determination to continue the pregnancy and to marry with a civil ceremony. The pregnancy went well, but as soon as the child was born, I once again felt crushed by the enormous responsibility to the point that I just ran away from everything and everyone.”
“Suddenly I found myself all alone – even though my parents never abandoned me – with a little girl to raise. The following years were marked by suffering, especially when he asked for a separation.”
“I wanted to live my life,” Tonino confirms. “I obtained the separation and then the divorce. I was free again. But many times I found myself thinking of them, and this is how I began to retrace my steps. I returned to courting my ex-wife again and to visit my daughter. We soon felt the need of a house for us to live in, the need for intimacy, to rebuild the family. I also accepted to celebrate the new marriage in church.”
“At that stage, those years of anguish were a thing of the past,” recalled Lucia. “We were living a new life and also our second child, Valentina, was born. It was very peaceful phase of our life due to the fact our economic situation had become more stable and also due to my gradual acceptance of living with someone who was different from me.
After a few years, the Focolare Movement suddenly entered into our family and turned everything around! Invited by a teacher, Valentina came to know the Gen3, the children of the Focolare. It was the beginning of a different path, first for her and then for us.”
“Taking Valentina to the Gen4 meetings was my job,” says Tonino. When I went to pick her up, she was always very happy and, as soon as she got into the car, she would ask forgiveness for being late (she always made me wait at least a half hour) and then begin to tell me about the beautiful evening. Contaminate by her enthusiasm and by the festive welcome that everyone in the Movement always had for me – even though I had no religious reference – I have also become a part of this family. Initially I joined the group for the “friends of dialogue”, comprised of persons with diverse convictions.”
“A while later – curious that a Catholic movement had accepted my husband the unbeliever – I also began to attend. And as my knowledge of the Focolare’s spirituality grew deeper, many of my questions found answers.
We have done some road together: many barriers have been knocked down. I’ve learned to listen, without fear of losing myself, to give space and listening, both inwardly and outwardly, so as to accept and understand others.”
“Our diversity – not only religious – “stresses Tonino, “has not in fact impeded the course of our life together. Valentina’s decision to become a focolarina, didn’t find me unprepared, since I have come to share so much with her. The relationship between us was minimally affected; on the contrary, it was strengthened, unlike for Lucia who, at least at first, didn’t accept it so well.”
“It wasn’t so easy for me to accept Valentina’s decision at first,’’ Lucia admits. “I would have liked her to have had other experiences first: a boyfriend, for example, a job; in order to compare the two choices and be able to make a more serene decision. But she felt strongly that this was her path. She’s already been in a focolare for eight years and more convinced than ever. I’m glad I went along with her decision. Even though she’s consecrated to God, she’s never neglected her relationship with all the family.”
“I thank Chiara Lubich and the entire community that I belong to,” Tonino concludes, “because you have given me and all those who share my same idea, the opportunity of strengthening this desire for unity through following a path based on the basic values of brotherhood and love for neighbour.”
Compiled by the international Centre for Dialogue Among Persons of Non-Religious Convictions
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30 Jun 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
I am hurt by the injustice of it all and, since my culture encourages people to respond to violence with violence, I also found this violence within me and would justify it when I saw it in others.
I’ve come to study in Italy at the Sophia University Institute. I had so many questions. I’m experiencing something new here, something powerful. I took the political direction for my course of study, and I began to enter new surroundings. I discovered, for example, that the principle of fraternity can be a true and proper political category alongside freedom and equality. I’ve understood that fraternity is a choice, an answer that repairs injustice. Here you don’t only study, great importance is given to experience, and the more you live the more you understand what you are studying.
A few months back, I was enormously shocked by the news that Israel and Palestine had agreed on a prisoner exchange. I had seen it on the Internet that there would be 1 against 1027. It was incredible news! Many of these Palestinians had been in prison for thirty years. I would have desired so much to home in order to celebrate this moment with family and friends. I was really moved. I spoke at length with my fellow students about what was happening in my land and they, who are of different nationalities, feasted with me!
A few of us went to church and prayed for the freed prisoners and their families. But as we left the church one student said to me: “. . . I pray also for that Israelian prisoner.” I didn’t agree. How could she say such a thing! Exchanging one prisoner for a thousand seemed deeply unjust.
When I returned home, I took up my books again but was unable to study. I was furious. A thousand thoughts. . . then a question: what is the sense of a theoretical study of fraternity, if I don’t try to experience it? Maybe I should also pray for this one prisoner and his family. . . I had to overcome many things within me, it was difficult, it cost me much, but in the end I managed to really do it with my heart.
Now, months later I still feel so much gratitude towards those who shared that moment with me, the students and professors at SUI. I’m not merely studying fraternity, but now I’m experiencing it both in my relationship with them and within myself. Samar Bandak – Jordan”.
(Source: official website of Sophia University Institute: http://www.iu-sophia.org )
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26 Jun 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
For the first time, a year after the start of the work, 90 people in all, between authors, producers, choreographers, costume designers, technicians, artistic directors and organizing members, put together the single pieces developed by each section for Genfest 2012.
Now the programme is clear, foreseeing three days that will include a variety of activities. From a concert to the sharing of projects and experiences, from moments of prayer to a Flashmob, to the launching of the United World Project, all focused on the title of the event: “Let’s bridge!” – to activities that will actively engage those who attend in building bridges of fraternity among people.
The 12,000 seats available are practically sold out. Even if the majority of the participants come from Europe, they are also coming from the most varied places: for example, 2 young people are coming from Madagascar and 180 from the USA and Canada, 160 from Korea, 180 from Argentina and over 250 from the Middle East. The cost for those coming from countries with more economic means has been increased to permit the lowering of costs for those who are coming from countries with less means.
(http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/)
* FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST – Welcome to the 12,000 participants on the large square of the Sports Arena with stands, artistic performances and a sports area. The evening programme will take place inside the Arena with a concert:
- 21 original songs, chosen out of 70 songs composed by young people the world over for the competition promoted by Genfest 2012;
- 6 bands, coming from Argentina, Burundi, Costa Rica, Jordan, Italy and Portugal, will play their own songs;
- 1 band formed for the occasion, with members from Austria, Brazil, Korea, Philippines, Italy and Slovakia, will play for the interpreters of the other songs.
- On a stage, in the middle of the audience, a DJ will alternate with the programme, with new remixes of the songs from the 9 previous Genfests.
* SATURDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER:
- During the day, at the Arena, the different phases of constructing a bridge will be followed: “Why?” “Take the Measurements,” “Dig into the Ground,” “Build Solid Pillars,” “Reach the Other Side,” “Many Ways” .
- Then the United World Project will be launched, a wide-ranging project in three phases, with the final goal to promote the creation of a worldwide Permanent Observatory on universal brotherhood and to have it be recognized by the UN.
- In the evening, there will be a march to the Danube River, which will conclude with a Flashmob on the Chain Bridge; the actors will be the 12,000 participants.
* SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER – In the square of the Basilica of Saint Stephen, in the city centre, a Catholic Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Péter Erdő, archbishop of Budapest. At the same time, in the various Christian churches present in the city, there will be liturgical celebrations for members of the respective churches. For the participants of other faiths and of non-religious convictions, there will be moments of sharing for them, which will take place in a place near the basilica.
There will be 3 hosts of the Genfest, according to the 3 official languages: a Hungarian young man, an Italian young man and a Kenyan English-speaking young woman. All the talks will be given in one’s own language, thanks to simultaneous translation via radio in 27 languages.
See you in Budapest! Will you be there?
Info: www.genfest.org – Area Stampa
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The Genfest 2012 project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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22 Jun 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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19 Jun 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
In her concluding remarks at an open meeting held by the Focolare in the Royal Dublin Society on 16 June, Maria Voce stated: “The powerful experience lived in Ireland with this Eucharistic Congress is an extraordinary grace that can give the Church of Ireland a new start, and we are all to be the protagonists.” Just before, she and Giancarlo Faletti had met with teenagers who were concluding their Run4Unity that was held in several schools. “What is your favourite mathematical symbol?” the youngsters asked. “The equal sign,” Maria Voce responded, “because in a family, sisters and brothers are all equal.” Giancarlo Faletti preferred the “plus sign”. “Every person is a gift of God, there’s a plan of God on each one of you, and this is what is totally precious.”
The program continued in the afternoon with an open meeting for 300 people – the seating capacity of the hall, and others stood outside – with many new faces among the Irish focolarini. There were practical applications of the spirituality of communion in the family, at school, and in Church environments. Everything interspersed with pieces of music. Each musical selection was followed by a moment of dialogue on how to put the Gospel into practice and respond to the many challenges of today.
“Is it easier or more difficult to love your enemy when you become old?” on little girl asked. “I think it’s easier,” responded Maria Voce, “because God has placed a small flame in our heart, and the flame grows each time we love. Old people are much helped when they see a child who loves.”
When the word was given to some families, the discussion turned towards the economic crisis: “How can we live in a Christian way, faced with the economic problems of so many people?” Maria Voce recalled the experience of Chiara Lubich at the beginnings of the Focolare in Trent, surrounded by the misery left by the war. By setting in motion love among people, they reached the point of sharing even their material goods, or their personal needs. When they lived the words of the Gospel, ‘Ask and you will receive,’ they asked and received. The problem of one was the problem of all. God intervened through this mutual love: “And this guarantees that work and material wellbeing don’t become a myth, but a means for loving more and for growing and increasing the communion among all.”
The final round concerned the Church and the relationship with the Church authority. When asked how to live unity with the ecclesiastical authority even in face of the abuse scandal and cover-up, Giancarlo Faletti recalled that it is the authority of Jesus that must grow in every Christian. “It was important for me recently to meet many people who have been marked by this difficult situation in the Church. I met people who felt like they had been robbed of something sacred, who had invested their entire lives in the Church, and now feel betrayed. It’s like investing all your money in one bank, and this bank fails.” “For me this is a call to live the Gospel more strongly,” he continued, “(and) this enables dialogue, a climate of love, which also permits those who carry out an episcopal ministry, to serve the Church, to continue to express a word and to guide us on the way. The moral authority of Jesus lived in His word belongs to all.” Faletti pointed out the example of Saint Catherine of Siena, who lived during hard times for the Church, and had direct contact with the Pope, strongly and decisively urging him to return. But she was able to do this only because she had made room for God in her life”.
By Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
