Una via per l’unità d’Europa è possibile
Young People, Music, and the City: On Tour with Gen Rosso
In September and October the international musical group Gen Rosso made stops in Italy and in the Czech Republic. This tour was part of a European project for secondary schools that involves students from half of Europe in a unique and fascinating adventure. In Udine, Italy, thanks to the “Arts & Culture Reshaping Urban Life” project, 16 youths worked together with Gen Rosso for three days as they performed their musical “Streetlight.” As one of the participants explained: “Each one of us has a role. If you know how to play an instrument, you shouldn’t be afraid to play and, if anyone doesn’t know how to play well, he or she shouldn’t be afraid of not being at their best. . . everyone has a place here.” Turning personal talents into a common resource for everyone is one of the results that Gen Rosso is often able to obtain during these events. The youths from Bohemia know this firsthand, after having participated in the “Silni Bez Nasili – Strong Without Violence” project in the cities of Jihlava, České Budějovice and Plzen. More than 850 teens from different institutions have participated in various types of laboratories – theater, music, dance, and voice – and then performed in shows before thousands of people. The teens experience for themselves the gift that they are, not only for their own personal fulfillment, but also for the prevention of marginalization, violence, and feelings of awkwardness that sometimes accompany the teenage years. And so they are able to contribute in proactive ways toward the building of a more united world. Both the local and national press has focused on the dynamic of working “together with” and the great answer that these young people have been able to offer their own peers. Honza Musil, a popular television presenter in the Czech Republic, was always on hand to open the events in the various cities beginning with the first project in Brno (May 2011): “Where you are, is where I also want to be.” The last stop is Belgium where there will be the launching of “Together4Peace,” an initiative focused on developing creativity in youth by offering them an experience of unity in diversity. The project will conclude with a performance of Gen Rosso’s musical “Streetlight,” involving some 120 youths within the framework of “Together for Europe” on the 12th and 13th of May 2011.
Solidarity: Thailand, Turkey, Italy
Given the situation of great emergency in some zones in the world, particularly in Thailand, following the great floods, in Turkey owing to the violent earthquake, and in the North and Centre of Italy because of the inundations, we made contact as soon as possible with the members of the Focolari in the respective zones. From Bangkok: “We are living in a situation of suspension. Many parts of the city are already inundated. Many have already gone out of the city also because drinking water and food are scarce and there is no electricity. We know that many of our families have their house inundated. In the north, where they have been under water for more than a month, we know catholic schools that need help to repair the structures, once the flood is over. The youths of the Movement have undertaken several initiatives to collect money for the basic necessities. They went to distribute it in the largest camp for those hit by the floods.” From Istanbul: “The zone that has been hit is amongst the most (if not the most) poor in Turkey, and it is already an effort also to just send the children to school that is obligatory, besides providing the books and various materials, and the school uniform. Without mentioning the basic necessities that the people need in ordinary life; imagine after an earthquake!” From Piedmont, Liguria, and Tuscany: many from the Focolari have given aid together with all the volonteers. The Consorzio Tassano, a firm of the Economy of Communion, went to the place, owners and workers together, to unite themselves to the wave of solidarity and the enormous efforts to reduce the damages. Now, after the first aids that have already arrived, a worldwide action has been initiated to gather funds by all the youths of the Movement and whoever wishes to participate, to confront the necessities of the persons who live in these zones. It is possible to send the sum that is collected by bank draft, to these accounts: Current Account of the central secretariat of Youths for a united world (GMU) Specify the cause of the transaction. The Account name: PIA ASSOCIAZIONE MASCHILE OPERA DI MARIA Via Frascati 306, Rocca di Papa, 00040 Roma, Italia Address of the bank: INTESA SAN PAOLO FILIALE DI GROTTAFERRATA VIA DELLE SORGENTI, 128 00046 GROTTAFERRATA (ROMA) ITALY IBAN CODE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IBAN IT04 M030 6939 1401 0000 0640 100 BIC BCITITMM For information: www.mondounito.net
Be Fire: A Day with the Dutch Youth
Thousands attended the annual Gathering of Catholic Dutch Youth, which is held every 6 November by the Catholic Bishops Conference in collaboration with various Movements. It had the style of a rock concert with its fast rhythm, loud music, enjoyment, but also serious reflection. The Catholic identity, which is a minority in Holland, was powerfully emphasized. Between one religious song and another, a priest was interviewed and then it was Maria Voce’s turn. A small group of Gen went on stage with her and asked her some questions. Their questions were concerned more with unity than diversity: “Before belonging to this Church or to that Church, what comes first is that we are all children of God, and therefore brothers and sisters.” Maria Voce recalled when she first met the Movement and how it struck her: “This isn’t an organization, but a life: If you live the Gospel, you belong to the group.” More songs were followed by an interview with the bishop who has been serving the Dutch youth for twelve years and is now handing this post over to one of his auxiliary bishops (who also interviewed). Then there was a video about World Youth Day and a half-hour of Radio Maria, which has begun transmitting in Holland. This was followed by Mass, workshops, and visiting stands. Many expressed emotion, but there were also many who are seriously engaged in offering a living testimony of that “fire” that was day’s theme, which today was being rekindled or lit for the first time. The presenter would repeat it: “Let’s make fire!” That afternoon Maria Voce met at Marienkroon with Focolare members from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland. “We had always dreamed that Chiara Lubich would visit our lands, but she didn’t manage it. Now this is an historical moment for us.” With these words they offered their warm welcome to Maria Voce (and the Nordic people are said to be cold!). They told of their difficulties and conquests especially in the field of ecumenism. Maria Voce thanked them for their fidelity and encouraged them saying: “We must arrive at becoming a universal family. But let us always remember that we don’t make dialogue between religions but between people. For example, at the recent meeting among religions in Assisi, I experienced a great joy, because nearly everyone there, from different religions, knew the Movement and offered me their testimonies and their appreciation. Certainly we will always run into differences that will never be overcome, but we can always accept each other completely, loving one another as we are. And I must testify to the fact that in 2011 I was surprised to find people from other religions no longer standing on the outside, in dialogue with us, but standing together with us giving witness to the ideal of unity.” Everything ended with songs, photos, greetings and a promise to meet again soon, perhaps in one of the Nordic countries! The final moment of the day, was the encounter with the inhabitants of Marienkroon, especially the pioneers of the little town whose willingness to leave everything made Marienkroon possible. People who never held a microphone in their hand were now standing on stage and sharing very personal things: “I work in this little town for the people who come here and say: ‘How beautiful it is here.’ And so that they can find God, because God is beautiful.” Marienkroon: a unique little town, a town built with hearts. By Giulio Meazzini
Happy Birthday, Holland!
The prefabricated structure set up on a lawn at the Focolare town of Marienkroon was filled to capacity. It was a noteworthy gathering of 800 people – young and old, Danish and Dutch, Fins and Icelanders, Swedes and Norwegians – coming from miles to celebrate the arrival of the Movement in Netherlands.
You have to wonder: Why does it always work? What is there beneath this tangible joy that makes everyone brothers and sisters, people of different ages, races and religious convictions? The lyrics being sung by the young people on stage are in Dutch, but they engage everyone, even those who do not speak this language, because the smiles matter more than the words. Perhaps the secret is that it begins with life, with concrete love and then, only after we have become friends are we able to contrast cultures. Or perhaps it depends on the fact that Chiara Lubich had taught us not to stop problems and misunderstandings, but to go ahead, beginning again, seeing each other new in every moment.
The orchestra is formed by three trumpets, one violin, two flutes, a set of drums and a piano. Highlights of this ongoing adventure are told in review: the arrival of the focolarini in Holland in 1961, the Genfest with 4 thousand youths in 1976, Chiara’s visit in 1982, the opening of the focolares in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo in the 1980’s, the first visits to Iceland in 1989, the focolare family coming from Poland in 2010, and the inauguration of the new Mariapolis Centre in the Focolare’s little town.
Each country presented itself with much creativity and imagination. Sweden, where the ecumenism of the people is lived almost without realizing it, since every meeting is comprised of people from different Churches. Norway, with an emotional moment of silence in rememberance of the tragedy of 22 July. Finland, with its lively community. These were moments of great unity, along with the ecumenical celebration with the Lord’s Prayer recited at the same time in seven languages.
Bishop Jan van Burgsteden, who is responsible for ecumenism at the Bishops Conference, testified that “for 50 years the Movement in Holland has been helping people to live the Gospel. And from this new involvement in the Church was born, even in an era of secularism, which helped overcome the polarization. I saw also how the Movement was able to create an “ecumenism of the heart.” I’m convinced that one day we’ll see the Church shining like a morning star, because in all of its parts the Word has become life.”
Maria Voce responded to a few questions. One general question: “What do you remember most from 2011? “In the Holy Land, when I was at the Holy Sepulcher I felt crushed by the evil of the world which seemed to have flattened Jesus as well. But later, as I stood before the empty tomb, I felt the sudden certainty that Jesus is alive, and that we can carry Him alive, among us, into the world, and that we are fortunate in being able to do this. Another (memory) is the trip to North America: with those endless landscapes and people everywhere, the focolarini seemed so few. What could they ever accomplish on their own? The people who came to the celebrations in New York were only 2 thousand – a drop in the ocean. And yet, I felt a certainty within: Now, let’s not start worrying about numbers, they don’t matter, only the growing presence of Jesus among us matters, then the rest will come.”
“This has been a busy day with many official events – concluded Giancarlo Faletti, “but is was above all a family day that has given us all much hope. I carry your multi-ethnic and multicultural presence in my heart, this blossoming of life. And every flower needs love, tenacity and industriousness, which are your very characteristics. Then again, the flower is the symbol of Holland.”
By Giulio Meazzini
Holland: With the Communities of Northern Europe
4 November: The first day of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti in the little town of Marienkroon began at a meeting with some Catholic bishops from Holland and Iceland. They had a frank and open discussion how to give testimony to the faith in today’s secularized society. In the years following the Second Vatican Council, in the Netherlands, a so-called “polarization” entered the field, increasing incomprehension between “conservative” and “progressive” Catholics. The situation only began to improve in the 1990’s, thanks also to the collaboration between young people from different movements and youth directors in the diocese. With regard to ecumenism the situation has changed for the better compared to the 1960’s when Catholics and Protestants had almost no contact at all. Now a process of reconciliation is underway that will hopefully soon lead to a day of reconciliation. Together for Europe is partnering in this endeavor. In spite of this, due to the sexual abuse scandals, there has been an increase in apathy and indifference toward religion. “This challenges us to work together, because no one movement is able to change things on its own,” affirmed Maria Voce. “Each Movement responds with the particular gift it has received. For us, it is unity, which we should help to bring among the movements.” According to Bishop De Jong, the Focolare town could include a school run by the Focolare, which is founded on love of neighbor and open to all, which could help form the youths of today’s Netherlands who are only given the atmosphere of a secularized culture to breathe. Maria Voce responded by saying that more than only one school, there would be need for teachers in every school who incarnate the Gospel in their own lives. But the feasibility of such a proposal will have to be examined by the Movement in the Netherlands. In the afternoon there was a meeting with representatives from different sections of the Movement and its communities in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Holland, which gave Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti an up-to-date picture of the situation in these countries. Cultures and peoples who are different from each other, yet “each rejoices for what the others are doing as if it were its own. Each time I reach a new country and the airplane begins its descent,” the president continued, “I get a lump in my throat as I think of the brothers and sisters who are there waiting to celebrate our arrival. We are such lucky people to be able to experience this gift of God which is the family of the Movement in every country of the world.” Finally, after dinner, there was a face-to-face discussion with 25 Gen concerning the upcoming “Catholic Youth Day,” which is being promoted by the Bishops Conference in cooperation with the youths of the Focolare and other Movements. The future of the Focolare lies here among these youths who are being summoned all over the Netherlands to tell the story of Chiara Luce Badano, the first young person of the Movement to reach the glory of the altars. By Giulio Meazzini