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31 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“Mostly people felt very afraid and needed support to stay calm. We are all shocked. Closeness and sharing are the things we most want”. Maria Palladini and Franco Monaco, who are responsible for the focolare community in the Emilia region of Italy: the site of the earthquake. In the space of a week a series of quakes resulted in 17 deaths, over 350 wounded and 15000 displaced persons. The situation continues to unfold with strong aftershocks. The worst hit regions are the area between Modena and Ferrara. The earthquakes caused major damage to historic buildings, factories and many churches have been destroyed or are beyond repair. Lots of remarkable stories have come to light. For example, someone couldn’t get out of their house but this saved them as a large block of the building fell outside and could have harmed them. Another person was deeply affected, suffering by the death of fellow workers in a collapsed warehouse. Someone else was evacuated from hospital. Each one experienced “the power of how everything can change in a split second” and straight after the fist shock “a network of phone calls started to find out how everyone was”. To help us understand the situation from the aspect of humanitarian help are Adriana Magnani and Stefano Masini of the New Humanity Movement. They tell us “The Civil Protection organisation is up and running now in all the towns and villages affected and has instigated accommodation in a variety of ways (reception areas, undercover shelters, some hotels) providing some 9,000 places”. Volunteers from the Civil Protection organisation have come from all parts of Italy. 
Adriana and Stefano outline the greatest needs: “Some psychological support, because everyone has been really traumatised; any campervans or caravans for sleeping in rather than sleeping in the street, we’re working on this in this region; there is an urgent need to check the viability of large and small companies as there is the possibility of 15,000 people being out of work…” “The priority is to have technicians who can help”. We need psychologists, doctors and engineers: however, all those who want to come and help should deal directly with the local Civil Protection agencies as they are the one co-ordinating all offers of support.” Together with a small group, it is Adriana and Stefano who are the reference point for the collection of requests and availability of help “we try to match all the needs match as much as possible with the appropriate help and co-ordinate; awareness of who, in the political or social field can help to resolve the bureaucracy that can block the start of actions”. Alongside the devastation, wounds and terrible trials the people of the Emilia region have endured through this earthquake there runs a river of solidarity. Maria Palladini and Franco Monanco confirm this: “Many people have flung open their doors to welcome the homeless. Each area has a kind of competition of fraternity and solidarity which itself is spreading like oil on water. We really understand the experience of Chiara Lubich and the first focolarine during the destruction of the Second World War: everything crumbles, only God remains, only Love.” Donations/Bank details: BANK ACCOUNT: Associazione Solidarietà BANK NAME: Cariparma Crédit Agricole IBAN: IT34F0623012717000056512688 Title: Terremoto in Emilia Romagna For payment via Credit Card or PayPal visit www.solidarietaonlus.org)
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30 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
The Family: work and celebration”. This is the theme of 7th World meeting of Families which will take place from the 30th May to the 3rd June 2012 in Milan, Italy. Promoted by the Holy See through the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Archdiocese of Milan, the organization of this event mobilizes quite a number of associations, groups and movements that contribute towards the well-being of the family.
Work began on 30 May with a Congress on Pastoral Theology, with opening words from Prof. Luigino Bruni of Bicocca University of Milian. On the evening of 1 June, there was a concert at the Scala with Maestro D. Barenboim.
For Benedict XVI, this edition of the World Meeting of Families is “an opportunity to reflect about work and rest as aspects of a united family, open to life, well inserted in society and in the Church, attentive to the quality of relationtionships besides that of the household economy”.
Since the very beginning, the families of the Focolare Movement have been contributing towards the organization of this event, both as members of the Pontifical Council for the Family and also because of a longstanding presence in religious and civil institutions that contribute towards the well-being of families in Lombardy. The appointment given for Saturday morning 2nd June at Carroponte di Sesto San Giovanni will be in preparation for the evening meeting with Benedict XVI. From there they will proceed together to Bresso Airport to greet the Pope. “Relating about families while waiting for the Pope” is the programme intended for this session. Maria Voce and the couple Anna Maria and Danilo Zanzucchi, who are among those who began the New Families Movement, are expected to participate and give talks.
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27 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Spain has a long history. In 218 BC the Roman Empire set the stage for a cultural and territorial link between the Celtic and Iberian peoples who had already been settled there for centuries. The Basque people, however, who settled in the north-west of the country were not subjected to this influence. The Latin language evolved into Castilian – the official language – Catalan and Galician. Together with Basque these are the co-official languages of the country. In later centuries, Islam conquered most of the peninsula. The coexistence of Muslim, Christian and Jewish cultures created the necessaray conditions for the transmission of the scientific and cultural heritage of antiquity and Arabic science to the Christian West.
Today, Spain appears as a society that wants to take into account the diversity of these cultures that are contained in the Constitution, but that still have many challenges to resolve, such as the tensions between the autonomous communities and the State. It is a society that in the past has had great economic and social development, but now suffers the consequences of the social and economic crisis.
Una delle prime Mariapoli a Seo d’Urgell
The Focolare Movement arrived in Barcellona in 1959 through Piero Pasolini, an Italian focolarino. “There is a lot of God in this nation,” he would say, “and it seems to me that He has a very special love for this place.” Subsequently, people of all ages were drawn into the spirituality of unity. Mariapolises were held in Solsona, Seo d’Urgell, Avila. . . A few of the pioneers left a deep mark on this land. We remember the Italians Nunziatina Cilento and Gino Bonadimani, and the Argentinians Margarita Bavosi and Carlos Clariá.
The Focolare’s Gospel lifestyle became incarnated over the years in many social and cultural environments, giving rise to the Political Movement for Unity and to businesses that belong to the Economy of Communion. With the publication of Chiara Lubich’s first book, “Meditazioni,” publishing work was begun in 1964 with two magazines: Ciutat Nova (in Catalano) and Ciudad Nueva (in Castigliano), and several book series dealing with topics of spiriuality, theology, patristics and testimony.
There are currently some 25,000 people in Spain who live the Spirituality of Unity.
Chiara Lubich’s two visits (1989 and 2002) were fundamental for the life and development of the Focolare Movement in Spain. The first visit was to Santiago de Compostela for WYD, where she gave one of the catecheses before an audience of thousands of youths. In the second visit she went to several cities where some of the great mystics who influenced her had lived: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross (Segovia) and Ignatius of Loyola (Manresa). At the Monastery of Montserrat she was moved to say: “The movements can be living examples of the Gospel’s charismatic freshness. And the movements can learn much from the witness of the consecrated religious life that preserves so many treasures of experience and wisdom.” During the same visit Chiara offered a challenge to all the members of the Focolare: “In Spain you need to stress Unity, because the distinction is already there” (referring to the variety of languages and cultures).
Two permanent Mariapolises were begun: one named Loreto in Castell d’Aro (Girona) and another named Exterior Castle in Madrid. Exterior Castle quickly became a meeting place for all, where a visible witness is given of unity in diversity and multiplicity, which is characteristic of the sprituality of unity.
In 2011, during a visit of the president of the Focolare Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Faletti, she will reiterate how “each of these peoples that make up Spain has something to offer to all the others,” encouraging everyone to be a gift one for the other, precisely because of the unique identity of each individual.
Visit: Spain in Focolare Worldwide!
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27 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“‘The Mine’ was set up in 2003 adhering to the principles of the Economy of Communion which Chiara Lubich launched in 1991. She was the one who called it ‘The Gold Mine’, in reference to the value of the people who would use it: the elderly. How it works is described by Elena Bravo and Jose Alonso, respectively director and administrator of the day centre of which, together with Miguel Monoz and Ana Vera, they are the founders: “We try to act so that at the heart of what we do is not profits but people. We do all we can so that everyone who comes feels welcomed and valued no matter what their physical or psychological state.”
This focus on the care for the older person is lived out practically in lots of ways: “One time”, says Jose Alonso, “one of our workers told us that two of our elderly visitors should be in residential care. We knew this would mean a financial loss to us if two left, but we said: ‘We must think of their needs and not ours’, and we began looking for a new residence for them’.
“We have been through difficult moments “ continues Elena Bravo, “ from illnesses to family problems, but mutual love has helped us to keep going ahead, and when necessary doing each other’s jobs”. In fact, you can feel the atmosphere of sharing and joy among the 18 staff at The Mine.
This atmosphere touches the 50 elderly at the Centre and all those who come to visit: “Recently, Elena says, various youth groups have been here with their economics teachers”. “Some of them, explains Jose, are moved by the happiness of the elderly people, by the family atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the staff. These are the very things that are important to us.”
The existence and development of The Mine is in a great part due to its ‘secret Partner’, who ensures they lack nothing. Divine providence, in fact, always comes when there is greatest need through: office equipment, fabric, linen, sewing machines to use for teaching needlework…and other more specialised apparatus. “We needed a hoist for lifting our elderly but we didn’t have enough money to buy one. We decided to buy one anyway, thinking of the discomfort of the elderly and their helpers. On the Friday a hoist was delivered for a trial period. On the Sunday we got a phone call from the director of a centre for people with physical disabilities. He who knows how we work and offered to give us an electric hoist. I went to collect it and, with surprise, saw it was exactly the same as the one we had for a trial”
After almost 10 years of faithfulness to the principles of the Economy of Communion and to the “culture of rights”, always putting the person in the centre of our actions even in difficult moments, Elena and Jose can confirm that “In spite of all the difficulties and sharing the profit with those in need, the EdC project grows and stays in the market, even in moments of crisis.”
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25 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“We have had the experience that our differences are not a reason to divide, but represent a multiplicity of gifts and a resource”. This is an extract from the Manifesto which was read in the Square Meeting Centre in Brussels, at the conclusion of the day meeting Together for Europe 2012.
More than a thousand people came together in Brussels from every part of Europe. Tens of thousands linked via satellite in 22 countries, all shared the message of hope, unity and peace for Europe.
“Together for Europe”: the underlying characteristic of this event set it apart from all other events for Europe: it was the complimented by a fine-mesh net of events simultaneous meetings held in 144 cities throughout Europe.
A mix of events, some small scale others large held in places of symbolic high profile in places. They brought collaboration between movements and ecclesial communities. These relationships show a glimpse of hope for future moves to act together for the common good of local communities: from Breslavai in Poland to Belfast in Northern Ireland, Oslo in Norway to Valletta in Malta. There were lots of initiatives involving people of all ages, walks of life and creeds.
In Augsburg, in Germany, the programme started with a ‘flashmob’ in the central square: seven giant balloons were released each displaying one of the seven yeses which mark up to today the commitment of the movements and communities for families, life, peace and a more balanced economy.
In Breslavaia, Poland the aim was to highlight the delicate process of meeting and reconciliation between the people of Poland and Germany (to heal the hurts lingering after the Second World War) with an event called “Christians of Germany and Poland Together for Europe”.
In Ischia, Italy, a human chain ‘encircled’ the perimeter of the island as a symbolic gesture defending the environment and of welcome. Still in Italy in Florence, at the Sala dei Cinquecento, in the Old Palace, the event had a direct live link with the main event in the Square Meeting Centre in Brussels.
And if, for some of the Movements and Christian Communities the way of brotherhood of “Together for Europe” has been an experience over a number of years, for others the events in 2012 were the chance of experiencing at first hand working together and getting to know one another better. A couple from Laudau in Germany explain: “Brussels 2012 has been an excuse to get to know one another better, to take an interest in Movements we had never heard of. We are very enthusiastic and want to concentrate our strength to bolster the Christian soul of Europe starting in our own city”.
These stories of collaboration and fraternity give credence to the possibility of giving Europe the hope that Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant’Egidio Community, spoke of in his talk in Brussels: “The greatest European mystery is the lack of hope” Because of this “we need to generate a climate of sympathy and solidarity, a sense of a common destiny has to rise up, a social network has to be born’.
“Together for Europe – Maria Voce underlined in her talk – is a fascinating undertaking: we have the possibility, also through events such as this one today, to give witness to the men and women of our times that live on the earth in a spirit of sharing opens a future of fraternity and peace for the individual, peoples, to our continent and the whole of humanity”.
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Flickr photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/together-for-europe/
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23 May 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
May 23, 1992: Italian magistrate Giovanni Falcone was killed in a Mafia bombing together with his wife and bodyguards. 57 days later, on July 19, another prosecuting magistrate, Paolo Borsellino, who was also investigating the Mafia, died in a second attack. Those sad events marked a civil re-awakening, starting from the new generations, which today is living in a new phase.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the massacre, ships carrying 2000 students will arrive in Palermo. Various activities have been organised involving the local citizens, including one by the Focolare’s “Youth for Unity” who will promote the “Golden Rule” as the basis for a culture of justice in the public squares of Palermo as well at the site of the “Falcone Tree” (a magnolia tree planted in front of the magistrate’s house which has become a focal point for the anti-Mafia movement) during the solemn commemoration.
Their manifesto reads: “Our motto is the Golden Rule found in all the sacred books of the great world religions and the basis for Natural Law”.
In the Gospel it says: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. “ (Mt 7:12)
In the Old Testament: “What is hateful to you do not do to others. This is the whole Law” (31st Sabbath, Babylonian Talmud)
In the Qur’an: “None of you is truly a believer until he he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” (Prophet Mohammed, 13th of the 40 Hadith Nawawi)
In the Buddhist holy book: “Treat not others in ways that yourself would find hurtful.” (Udana-Varga 5.18)
“Living the Golden Rule in our cities also means abiding by the law,” continues the appeal of the Youth for Unity. It means rejecting all forms of bribery and not giving in to bullying ; it means becoming involved in civic life and refusing Mafia dealings and corruption.
The young people’s aspiration is that there be lawfulness in the city “where the underprivileged, the least in our community are looked after,” “keeping in mind the blood of the martyrs which has been shed over the years in our lands”. Their desire is that this message can reach the Youth for Unity throughout Italy and as many young people as possible so that together they can be “the answer and the fruit of the bloodshed of martyrs in order to build a better future for our country and the world”.
At the conclusion of this initiative aimed at peace and justice, the Youth for Unity will invite all the young people in the various towns and cities of Palermo and Sicily to meet on June 2nd in a symbolic place: the Brancaccio neighbourhood. This is where the Fr Pino Puglisi was killed by the Mafia. He was a priest who gave his life for his people through his mission of re-education. School materials and supplies collected on the day will be donated to the “Puglisi” high school.
