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3 Dec 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
The Political Movement for Unity (MPPU) has been active for several years in Argentina in order to disseminate the fraternity dimension in the heart of the life of political parties, as is done in other countries where the movement is present. Juan José Pfeifauf (of the “Frente Para la Victoria” Party) and Pilar Goldmann (of the “GEN/Generacion para un Encuentro Nacional” Party), are two youths who arrived on a visit to Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), the most southern capital in the world. Militant in two different political parties, they wanted to put on record that to inspire oneself by fraternity means “putting this idea in concrete action amongst the different political sides, by exercising empathy towards the other, with humility, knowing that nobody possesses the absolute truth about any project, and starting to recognise in the other a valid and necessary interlocutor.” Their visit forms part of the follow up of the local School of political formation that holds its lessons regularly every Saturday. They themselves have followed the MPPU training at La Plata (Buenos Aires). Now Pilar is a tutor at a centre at San Miguel del Monte, in the province of Buenos Aires, where she has been encouraged to contest as candidate for the commune council in the last political elections. About participation in active politics by youths, Pilar’s impression is that “from the years in the nineties up to today, in Argentina, we have seen a growth in political commitment, even if we cannot yet say that 100% of youths are interested in it.” But youths should not be considered only as subjects to whom to refer some occasional projects: “youths must become the main actors in the public realm. The renewal of politics passes through here.” The Mppu/Argentina, that draws its inspiration from the principles of fraternity inherent in the proposal of the spirituality of Chiara Lubich, is 10 years old in 2011. It was formed on the occasion of the grave economic crisis that gripped the region in that unforgettable year, causing an increase in poverty in society. It was a moment which saw a real divorce between the people and the political class, a divorce that only recently seems to be recomposing. Pilar relates that, on the premise of that crisis, some persons animated with the spirituality of unity, took on the commitment to give birth to the Centres of social and political formation, “to seek to give an answer, to imprint a reversal of route, aware of the necessity to reconstruct the basis of the rapport between society and the institutions; not only, but also to diffuse seeds of dialogue and trace a common way.” Today we can say that we have come a long way and hundreds of young Argentinians have been to these centres. A “capital” now mature, ready to contribute to the development of the South American country: the commitment which they feel to bring about fraternity in politics, understood as service. Presented by Daniela Ropelato (from extracts published in the Diario El Sureno, 16th November 2011- our translation)
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2 Dec 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Oran, Algeria’s second city, overlooks the Mediterranean. It is also one of the major commercial and cultural centers of North Africa. One group of mostly Muslims are engaged in living out the values of brotherhood as they are presented by the Focolare Movement. Scheherezad has been part of it since 1990. They have been involved in an ongoing experience with the blind: “In 1977,”she recounts, “I met a Catholic nun who was looking for someone who could teach French to a group of blind people from the city. I didn’t feel equipped for such a task, I’m a housewife and it seemed beyond my abilities. But in agreement with my husband, I decided to accept the work, thinking that there might be a plan of God in this.” 
“As time went by we began to see that our attitude of openness towards the other gave a special quality to our teaching: it turned into an opportunity to offer support to the people. Some needed to find employment, others needed some simple help or a comforting word.” To better meet the needs of their students, Fouzia and Sheherezad learned Braille. This did not go unnoticed: “One of our friends, seeing how we were giving out time so freely, decided to help us and join with us in this effort.” They tried to help some of the young men and women to begin jobs. One girl, for example, looked for work as a switchboard operator. They found a company: “We noticed the director’s willingness to help us in finding a way. And he was struck by our effort and decided to hire the young woman indefinitely.” All the community of Orano shares in the projects and in reaching the goals. We have organized open houses to acquaint people with the rich life that can be found in this world of the blind. “The theme of the open house is always “the other” and, in the end, there are no longer those who are blind and those who see; the Muslim and the Christian: we are all brothers and sisters sharing the same situation.” The national press became interested in these activities, recognizing the right of the blind to live like everyone else. It is also a work of sensitizing that has involved many people in the efforts of Sheherazad and Fouzia. Overcoming administrative and legal difficulties, an association has been formed for professional integration of the blind, which is very active and is working for the construction of a school. City institutions have also become involved and this training project has now been officially recognized by the department for professional training of Orano. “There is still a lot to do,” Sheherazad concludes, “but doing things for others, notwithstanding our limitations, is beautiful and thrilling! It gives everyone that strength to carry on which throws us open to new surprises.” Compiled by the Community of Orano – Algeria
1 Dec 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
The situation following the worst flooding that Thailand has experienced in the past fifty years is slowly improving. Here are some of the latest figures:
- Of the 10 million people in Bangkok, million have been affected and 700 died.
- 80% of the city was flooded. Only 9 of Bangkok’s districts remained dry; the others received 20 to 200 cm of water. 17 provinces were affected.
- The dollar damage is estimated to be 37 billion.
- 60 million tons of crop (mainly rice) have been lost.
- 8 of the largest industrial parks were flooded producing a job loss of approximately 1,200,000 jobs, with further consequences for Thailand’s industry and that of other countries (Japan has about 40% of its factories in 8 of the flooded parks.)
It all began – Elena and Chun write – in the month of June. The rains were a month late this year, but they made up for lost time by doubling the amount of rain that fell in 2010. In September things looked bad, but in October it became dangerously serious. Bangkok is called the “Venice of the East” because of its nearly 2000 km of canals, which make it one of the world’s most equipped cities against flood rains, but not of such volume. Many people fled from Bangkok. It was like watching a film. We decided to stay together with some others, in order to stand by the people who remained behind. Then people began to help each other even those they didn’t know because of their previous indifference. Who was it that saved the country from a disaster of such large proportions? It was the people who loved and went beyond themselves to offer help; the people with houses flooded to the north of the old airport, who sacrificed themselves so that at least some of Bangkok’s other neighborhoods could be salvaged; the people who were able to have a heart for others, and there were many. Also the wealthy, actors and television journalists went around on boats distributing foodstuffs. Lives in the city were saved by the ordinary people who showed that “together we can do it.” The military also contributed, along with many government workers who worked over 15 hours each day bringing help. Even the elderly were involved cooking in the kitchens at the shelters. Buddhist monks welcomed thousands of elderly, infirm, mothers and children into their monasteries. Priests opened their parish school buildings and went out by boat to bring the people who were left stranded on the rooftops of their homes. This was the real Thailand that teaches to live, rejoice and suffer with those who suffer. It is the miracle of life and of love that overcomes death. Those of us from the Focolare also did what we could. Many of our families were hit by the flooding, some have had water in their homes for weeks. Some of us went to ask for help at the bus stops, or went to the welcoming centers to offer assistance. We opened our homes to any who were asking for help; telephoned people every day so that they would feel loved, offering encouragement and consolidating the unity among us. In this tragic moment, we witnessed the most beautiful side of the Thai people emerging. It went beyond the political differences that a year ago had divided the country, it prevailed in the form of a great love for neighbor who was suffering. One CNN reporter described this wave of solidarity that seemed to invest Thai society as “an extraordinary social phenomenon.” We also lived the saying that is going around these days: “Don’t give up”. Love made us all Thai, even if we were born in different parts of the world. No one knows when things will be normal again. But we carry on, overcoming many difficulties. Elena Oum and Chun Boc Tay _______________________________________________ THAILAND EMERGENCY FUND BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS OF YOUTH FOR A UNITED WORLD SECRETARIAT Please indicate that donation is for Thailand Emergency Fund. Bank Account Name: PIA ASSOCIAZIONE MASCHILE OPERA DI MARIA Via Frascati 306, Rocca di Papa, 00040 Roma, Italia. Bank Name: INTESA SAN PAOLO Bank Address: FILIALE DI GROTTAFERRATA VIA DELLE SORGENTI, 128 00046 GROTTAFERRATA (ROMA) ITALIA IBAN CODE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IBAN: IT04 M030 6939 1401 0000 0640 100 BIC: BCITITMM
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28 Nov 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Foto © CSC
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24 Nov 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Orgosolo is a town in the heart of Sardinia renowned for its murals which illustrate the problems, the hopes of a people living mainly through farming and agriculture, a people often terrorised by roving bandit gangs widespread in this area. It was precisely in this town that on 24 December 1998, Fr Graziano Muntoni, assistant parish priest, was shot in the chest at dawn break leaving the whole community in shock and disbelief. Despite the understandable anger and dismay, the parish community immediately sensed that they couldn’t just condemn the violence; they felt they wanted to do something positive. But what? The community began to reflect on the words of the Gospel which invite us to ask anything of God united in his name. The idea was born of establishing a daily appointment, in different places, to invoke God for peace for their land by reciting the prayer “It’s time for peace”. It was by no means simple as peace is something one has to generate and safeguard; it requires a firm commitment to live love for neighbour each and every day. With this awareness a number of initiatives were set in motion to make Time for Peace known to as many people as possible, even to children in schools and to students through various conferences. Members of the community also spoke on the main television networks. Time for Peace brought new hope to the town; many people became reconciled with one other after years of tensions, like G., a woman who confided to us: “I need to find the strength to forgive those who killed two of my sons and who sent my other two children in jail.” In a subsequent meeting, G. shared with everyone: “I have been able to forgive. The prayer for peace has removed hatred from my heart. During Mass, I went up to my enemy and I shook his hand.” Since then, others are finding the strength to forgive actions that were just as serious, and they are steps taken that are by no means insignificant: like Anna, whose son was kidnapped and killed in 2008 and who despite the tragedy is managing to rebuild her life serenely. Even when she learned that a suspect was found for the murder of her son, rather than ask for punishment, she prayed that for him it may be an encounter with God. Our choice of solidarity prompts us to embrace the abyss of grief which has engulfed our people and we openly try to sensitize institutions about the initiative through the actions we promote. Inspired by our efforts, one of the schools has developed a project for a culture of peace and forgiveness among the students, and the results of this project will be published and brought to the attention of the United Nations. Our efforts to build peace, even where it seems almost impossible, are leading to concrete results giving a new face to our town. Compiled by the Focolare community of Orgosolo, Sardinia, Italy.
22 Nov 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
The one thousand participants at the annual meeting of the adherents of the Focolari came from all over Italy, Slovenia, with representatives from Argentina, Germany, Holland, Portugal, and South Africa. They reflected and shared experiences on the Word of God, the central theme that is being delved into this year. Amongst the experiences there was also the experience of a group on evangelisation in Benin, the country that hosted the visit of Benedict XVI between the past 18th and 20th November. He was on his second apostolic visit to the continent, and he also delivered the post synodal exhortation on the church in Africa, at the service of reconciliation, justice and peace. In Benin, for several years, a group of the Focolari organises meetings with inmates to bring to them the light of the word of God. Often the prisoners are rejected both by society and by their families. Reading the Word of God opens in persons unexpected gates, and gives rise to profound reports not only about faith but also about the experiences of suffering that the inmates rarely manage to relate, for example the reasons for their detention. This allows the volunteers to intervene for them before the Tribunal so that the cases of some of them are taken into consideration: in fact there are persons who have been in prison for ten, fifteen years without ever having been heard by a judge. Many cases have been solved, and the prisoners who were detained unjustly have been released. Amongst the many stories, that of Paula stands out. She was detained unjustly in prison because of her husband without having any news of her children. Paula opens up in a profound relationship with one of the volunteers who go to see her in prison for the meetings of the word of life. Slowly she finds within herself the power of forgiveness and the tribunal eventually summons her to communicate her liberation. Paula however knows that she is returning home with her heart free of the weight of hatred and vengeance.
See Vatican News: Holy Father’s Visit to Benin
