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From the ‘Land of the Cedars’

From the ‘Land of the Cedars’

16 Jun 2010 | Focolare Worldwide

The commitment to take the charism of unity into politics has always been part of the history of the Focolare Movement, above all because of the presence, next to Chiara Lubich, of an Italian member of parliament – Igino Giordani.

The ‘Movement for Unity in Politics’ was founded on 2 May 1996, and today politicians, members of parliament, mayors and local councillors from around the world are part of it. Whilst remaining part of different political parties they are united in a common aim: to make universal fraternity a fundamental political category, and to translate it into facts, into rights and duties, support it through political action, and to review institutional and international structures in this light.

In Lebanon as well, the members of the Focolare lived the different stages of preparation for the elections as ‘an occasion to build sincere and honest relationships with people of every political persuasion’, they wrote to tell us. ‘The desire to commit ourselves for the good of our towns and villages and above all to introduce a new way of relating to each other in our local councils’ was what had decided them to get involved in the local elections. A Mayor, Deputy Mayor and several members of local councils were elected, all committed to ‘putting the common good in the first place, and to help each other to be faithful to this aim; this gives us an added possibility today of putting into practice the Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II’.

In fact, in 1997, John Paul II made an unforgettable visit to that country, and speaking to the young people in the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, gave them a challenge: ‘Your task,’ he said, ‘is to build bridges amongst people, amongst families and between the different communities. In your day-to-day life, be signs of reconciliation – you must transform diffidence into trust! Your task is to make sure that every Lebanese, especially young people, can participate in every aspect of society, of your common home. In this way a new fraternity will be born and solid relationships will be formed, because the principal for building Lebanon is love.’

From the ‘Land of the Cedars’

Tomorrow’s Church

9 Jun 2010 | Focolare Worldwide

There were songs, experiences, and artistic pieces from around the world, all celebrating the figure of the priest in today’s world. This event was promoted and put together by priests of the Focolare and Schoenstatt movements, in collaboration with the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal and other Church organisations.

The main objective of the gathering was to highlight examples of authentic communion in priestly life which are supported by the new charismas, and how these can be a gift for clergy. A particularly meaningful artistic piece prepared by the musical group Gen Verde together with a Romanian Orthodox choir, the Psalmody Transylvania and the drama group Ars Amoris, about the life of Jean Marie Vianney.

Three survivors shared the story of the massacre of a group of seminarians in Burundi, one of them now a priest, in memory of those who bore witness with their lives that unity between these warring peoples (Hutu and Tutsi) is possible. This was followed by the story of Brendan Purcell, an Irish priest who overcame a spiritual trial in which his celibacy was put at risk, by embracing even more radically his choice of God. Finally there was the story of a German priest who fell into alcoholism and was saved by his community.

“The breath of communion is essential for the health of the body of the Church,” said Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who came to bring greetings from the pope. A priest, who spoke at the conference, said: “Today I start again to live my priesthood with the enthusiasm of the first years and the maturity of the 40 years that I have been a priest.” The reactions of the laity were also significant:. “Today I saw the Church of tomorrow, the Church that will accompany my children as they grow.” The global embrace of the Church, the unity of the Church that I’ve discovered, has taken up a central place in my heart.”

For texts meeting, photo downloads, TV connections and other information go to: www.sacerdotioggi.org

Parishes: which direction?

2 Jun 2010 | Focolare Worldwide

‘The Parish – a witness of God’s love’: was the theme of the Parish Movement and Diocesan Movement Congress which was held at the Mariapolis Centre, Castel Gandolfo from 16 to 18 April. The theme was inspired by the reflection the Focolare Movement is dedicating to ‘God Love’ and the encyclical of Benedict XVI ‘Deus caritas est’. There were over 1,500 delegates coming from different continents.

‘The biggest certainty that we have taken away with us’ – a young person writes – ‘is that God loves us immensely, the phrase that was most repeated in these three days! We have acknowledged this and it entered inside of us with a new certainty and conviction …. We can only rejoice in this and draw strength from it!’

During the congress a face of God not always present in today’s mentality emerged: Don Silvano, who was the first focolarino priest and who died in 2007, wrote: ‘Without wanting to, we have often preached a Kingdom of God where it appears that a paternalistic father is saying to the child: if you are good, and do what I tell you I will give you the prize.’

The Parish changes from a ‘place where the Church is administered locally’ to a ‘place capable of announcing the God that Jesus has revealed to us’, ‘a space which shows the community of people gathered in the name of Jesus.’ This is the experience of a number of parishes where they try to live communion and sharing.

A very relevant experience in this year dedicated to priests, the living heart of the parish.

Of prime importance is the fraternal relationship between people, families, groups, associations and movements – amongst everyone. In this way the parish becomes an ‘Epiphany’ of God, a witness to his love. One of the participants said ‘The important task I have to do now is to help to nourish a spirit of fraternity amongst all the realities present in the parish where I am.’

A Parish which is a witness to God’s love is capable of responding to today’s challenges: young people’s expectations, the crisis in family life, situations of suffering, the new poverty, the urgent need for dialogue.

The witness of Chiara Luce Badano, told by her mother and father through a video and by others who knew her, made a deep impression on everyone. Her yes to Jesus when she was told of her illness encouraged many to adopt a new attitude of total trust in the will of God.

From the ‘Land of the Cedars’

Net-One: “Dialog Tryouts”

27 May 2010 | Focolare Worldwide

From the 10th to the 13th of June, the Mariapolis Center will host the international seminar promoted by Net-One: the “Net” of communicators, reference point for many media agents. Thanks to this net, they will share in-depth cultural and professional experiences with a single aim: putting back at the center of their work the human being. The latter, is being considered as the main mean of communication from the perspective of universal brotherhood and of a more united world. “Dialog Tryouts”, this is the title of the event. The event is considered to be more like a seminar than a common conference. The speakers and the professionals of the various fields of communication will only give hints. This will allow all those attending -coming from all over the world- to give their meaningful contribution and new importance to todays reality, through this mean. “The aim of communication is the change established by love found within communication itself” said the philosopher Guy Lafon. Net-one’s first years of life clearly show this: we must increase the value of communicating with others, we must understand who is behind the mean, we must do it in order to manage and promote an immediate good communication in an always more complex universe made of printed press, T.V., Internet and social networks. Throughout the seminar, we will try to rediscover the meaning and the extraordinary potential of being communicators by building new relationships and discussing themes regarding the medias world through plenary sessions and workshops. The speech of Maria Voce -the President of the Focolare Movement- will close the Seminar. By connecting to the website of Net-One you will find the Program of the Seminar and the Contacts and informations needed to attend.