Training the Seminary Educators
The course was held at the impressive Vallombrosa Abbey in Italy, during July 17-30 and it concluded the second part of the course for educators which began last year. It involved seminary educators from thirteen countries (Pakistan, India, Korea, China, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, and Italy). The open forum surprised the attendants with its daily motivational richness and its content. The guiding theme of the interactive course was “Prayer, Life, Thought”. Faced with the profound changes that affect a person’s life in the modern world – influenced by the digital revolution – it has become necessary to constantly update educators both on this subject and on educational approaches which can be used with candidates for the ordained ministry. 
In Novo millennio ineunte (n. 43), John Paul II had already invited the Church to become a “home and school of communion”, also in “places where ministers of the altar are formed”. The priests of the Focolare Movement have responded to this expectation by offering this Pastoral Theology Course for Educators in Seminaries, and the Congregation for Catholic Education (office of the Holy See which serves seminaries around the world) has expressed its support and appreciation ever since this course began. The undersecretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Vincenzo Zani, himself, launched this year’s course by attending and making a presentation entitled: “The Communitarian Dimension of Formation”. 
The course is structured around four residential weeks in two years. The first year presents the foundations of the paradigm of communion applied to the delicate task of training future priests. The second year moves into the practical and more complex aspects of formation, dividing it into seven main areas of concern: the gift of self and communion, dialogue and witness, prayer life and life in the “Mystical Body”, entertainment in community, study and, finally, communication at the service of communion. It is in their intertwining that these areas become a valuable approach to the formation of seminarians: one which is not fragmented but unitary, integral and harmonious. Individual participants are invited to enter into a relationship of openness; to attend group workshops exploring specific topics that relate to the main theme; to come up with concrete formation practices; and to make group presentations at a plenary session. 
The support from experts in the fields of theology, pedagogy and other human sciences was also invaluable, together with the personal contributions of the educators themselves who are experts in the field of formation. The interest shown and the need to give formation to educators suggest that this course will continue to be offered in future years. Beginning this year, the course will be held at the Sophia University Institute of Loppiano. Course members will be expected to present a dissertation and will receive academic credit. Links Priests of the Focolare Movement Vallombrosa Abbey Sophia University Institute
“We were halfway through the school year, in the middle of the school’s afternoon extracurricular activities. But since I’m in athletics, it was also the middle of sport preps for the season of competitions which was about to begin. Our Italian teacher had arranged for us to meet the author of a book which we had read. A few days before my trainer suggested that I take part in some competitions that were to be held on the same day as our appointment with the author. The dilemma began as to whether I should choose what I wanted to do or choose to do what would be most correct. I tried to focus my attention not only on feelings, but also on them, on the consequences of my actions for these two people. 
Since I didn’t have any active role to play in the appointment with the author, except to be a listener, I decided to attend the competition. It was in telling my teacher of my absence that my ‘trying to love’ would be put to the test. I was fearful, in fact, that she would be displeased because she was so looking forward to this appointment. And so, upon the advice of some friends, I decided to invent an excuse, a doctor’s appointment or some illness that would excuse me from attending the event and avoid any such risk. But, perhaps because of the way I had set out to do things from the beginning, aside from feeling that this choice would clearly be wrong, I found the courage to face this small challenge of telling the truth. To my great surprise and that of the entire class, the teacher didn’t react negatively in the least. On the contrary, she told of how she had been involved in sport in her younger years, and she encouraged me to attend the sport event. The sport events turned out to be the best I had ever attended, because of the joy I felt and because my previous dilemma had shown how important each tiny choice of love can be, a choice that God welcomes and multiplies in the happiness He gives us. A small attention to respect a neighbour and a small lie never spoken that allowed sincerity to triumph, and fair play made me feel that on that day, I was a real Gen3!” Who are the 
We’ve heard from the 
You have visited all the continents over the past few years, meeting with different cultures and social situations. You have had a close-up look at the Focolare communities spread throughout the world. In light of these rich experiences, could you tell us what you see as the main vocation of the Movement in the world? “It is a vocation to unity, a vocation to contribute at all latitudes, in different contexts and in different ways toward the realization of Jesus’ prayer to the Father: ut omnes unum sint (that all be one). This is the goal that each of us is called to, the imperative which is impressed upon each one of us who shares in the charism of unity (…).” Before arriving in Slovenia, you visited Russia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, three significant countries of the “ex-Soviet-bloc”. What was it that urged you to take these trips? “It is the same thing that urged me to visit Asia, Africa, North America and other European countries: the commitment to stay focused on relationships. My travels allow me to enter into a listening attitude and to grasp the problems and the riches of the peoples I meet, to appreciate their growth and to see where there is potential for development. What are the ones I’ve found in these lands that for years have been built upon a Communist ideology? Chiara Lubich always saw a special calling to unity in this area of the world, precisely in response to the forced unity that characterized these countries. In 1989, just after the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, Chiara saw those historic events as a great step toward unity. Within the process, however, the positive values that were present in that society up until then should be safeguarded: the yearning for unity, a global vision of the world, attention for the poorest classes, exaltation of the human person’s propensity to be social. Grand ideals, but often blatantly contradicted by the facts. She seemed to understand that the charism of unity, which the Holy Spirit had given to her, had a contribution to make in returning those ideas to their original source and rooting them there: in God. (…) Unity could really become the distinguishing mark of this region in particular. For if it is lived in God, the greater the diversity, the more extraordinary the experience of unity that is derived. I had an anticipation of it last summer during my 
IThese years we are witnessing growing polarization in Slovene society that undermines the relationship between the Church and the secular world. It sometimes erupts in a certain intolerance. How can this wound be healed and how can we help to restore true values to the world we live in? “I think that we must above all believe and bring forth all that is good and profound in every human soul. Believers and non-believers alike, hold to certain values that are within them. It’s a matter of highlighting what is positive in each person and find ways to build bridges with everyone. The charism of unity that we strive to practice has a force and light within it that goes beyond each one of us. (…). Then I believe that these values can be offered through personal witness and the witness of the community: the value of life, of the human being, of the family. . . These are values that God places within us and which should shine forth from our life, and be quite compelling. Finally, I believe in the importance of offering your own opinion, but freely, with detachment, with respect for others. In other words, as a gift of love.” Entire interview by Irena Santoro – Source: Novi Svet
It is a land rich in history, faith, and suffering. Therefore it is sensitive to Gospel values like those that are highlighted in Focolare spirituality. This is witnessed to by the fact that a priest who attended the 
The fervent life was teeming in families, among youths, in parishes and the Movement grew to become a “small people”. The Communist Regime, of course, controlled the activities of its citizens, including the members of the Movement, but the life was never hindered and in 1986 the first Mariapolis-holidays were held in Bohinj, a bright spot in the lives of many people. For some it was their first encounter with God, and for others it was a return to Him after many years. In the 1970’s there was an unforgettable event: Gen Rosso’s tour. They held four performances at the indoor stadium which was packed with crowds. The highlight of the evening was the Slovenian song, “Maria” to the Mother of Jesus. It was the first time since 1945 that a religious song had been sung outside of a church building and broadcasted on television. The collapse of the Berlin Wall opened a new phase. Freedom meant that you could speak of the Movement, gather for meetings, organize musical tours for 
Today, Maria Voce will find a very developed Movement as it collaborates more and more actively with the local Catholic Church; enters into dialogue with other Christian churches; and opens toward society thanks also to some