8 Sep 2010 | Focolare Worldwide
Fontem is a small town situated in the South West province of Cameroun. The first little Town of the Focolare Movement in Africa.
“I already see rising up in this place a great city, a city which will be famous throughout the whole world -not so much for its material wealth – but because a light will shine from it that will illuminate everyone, that all will wish to posses. It is a light that will spread forth from mutual love always kept alive among us in the name of God.”
Chiara Lubich, Fontem, 1969
See official website for more information
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4 Jul 2010 | Focolare Worldwide
Mariapolis. It is the same everywhere: Experiencing for a few days – through moments of meditation, hearing life testimonies, and recreational activities – what it means to build bridges of dialogue and brotherhood between persons of different nations.
The Mariapolis, which is the most characteristic event of the Focolare Movement, began spontaneously in the Trent Alps (Italy) as a holiday period of rest spent together. Then, over the years, Mariapolises began to spread and be held everywhere, gathering together people of all ages, social, cultural, and religious backgrounds. The Mariapolis has been called a “family gathering” and a “laboratory of fraternity” in which you experience that it is possible to live in a reconciled world.
“Love unites” is the slogan chosen for this year’s Mariapolis which will be held from the 26th to the 31st of July in Bamenda, Cameroon. “A year has already passed since our great Mariapolis,” is written on the invitation, “And this year we are expecting even more!”
Ivory Coast. 30 July – 4 August in Man City. Man City is situated in occupied territory, but even amid difficulty, this Mariapolis stands as a prophetic sign of the much desired ri-unification of the country.
Sierra Leone. 4 – 8 August. Those responsible for the local focolares write: “We feelthe certainty very much alive in the hearts of the Sierra Leonians, that the Ideal of unity is the medicine for the deep wounds that have been left by the war.”
The Republic of Mali, A land unique for the harmonious relationship between Muslims (the overwhelming majority) and Christians, which is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its independence. It is in the context that everyone, in both religious and civil society, looks forward to the Mariapolis, precisely to reinforce the value of unity. The Mariapolis will take place between the 8th and 13th of August 2010.
In Benin the Mariapolis is planned to take place between the 24th and 29th of August in Ouidah, an important historical and cultural center. This country is also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its independence.
In Madagascar the Mariapolis will take place from the 3rd to the 6th of September in Antananarivo, the capital of the country. “Since last year,” the members from the Focolare in Madagascar write, “the country has been going through political crisis with public protests in which the armed forces were involved. At times, there was much violence and some lost their lives. Still today the situation has not been resolved and we live in constant uncertainty, tension, and fear. But all of this this has also led people to help each other more, love for neighbour, and solidarity within communities. Last year the Mariapolis was held here at Ambatondrazaka, but many from the capital were not able to travel. Seeing their painful situation, but also their desire to be with us at the Mariapolis, we decided to go toward them and everyone is involved in prepararing.”
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30 Jun 2010 | Focolare Worldwide
Young people today face many challenges: globalisation, social justice, the meeting/clash between different cultures and ethnic groups. These problems are often concentrated in the cities which house 60% of the world’s population. How can they be transformed into ‘learning centres of harmonious living’?
In response to these challenges a new project has been set up: ‘Glocalcity – local youth organisations in a global exchange’. An initiative that is coordinated by “New Humanity”, Ngo of the Focolare Movement and which was conceived a year ago at an international congress for young people which was held in Castelgandolfo, and which involves ten associations in different countries: Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Rumania, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The next and final stage will be in Brazil. From 14 July to 2 August, about 50 young people from the above mentioned countries will meet for three weeks in San Paolo and Recife, where there are two Focolare towns – Mariapolis Ginetta and Mariapolis Santa Maria respectively.
This will be a chance to consolidate local voluntary initiatives that have already got off to a good start. It will also be a chance to get to know the Brazilian cultural and social situation and to develop that quality of dialogue that is capable of creating a culture of unity.
We received a letter from a young Italian girl who spent some time in the Mariapolis Santa Maria, near Recife, where there has been a social project called Santa Terezinha going on for a number of years, in a place once known as the ‘Island of Hell’: ‘I find myself faced by 20 small frightened faces, 2-3 years old, as I introduce myself in faltering Portuguese. I’m a stranger to them – big and tall! I start to sing with the young teacher, an ex-pupil of the centre, and the atmosphere changes. We begin to draw, to help with the tasks … and whoever thought I would be able to dance? But I find myself dancing! I put my whole heart into it and they begin to smile. The smiles of children who feel loved maybe, accepted, the centre of attention of someone else … Children who don’t yet have that vacant look in their eyes like the adults, but are the same children who carry the terrible signs on their bodies of life outside the social centre …’.
And its right there in Recife that the conclusion of the project will be held from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August, with the possibility for all the young people to immerse themselves in Brazilian culture. There will be a final concluding event to raise the awareness of local and international bodies by means of the proposals of the young people themselves, future active citizens very much present in our society today.
