![A bus bound for Bulgaria. Everyday stories of welcome.]()
Jun 11, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Isabella Barbetta
I bought her medicines, and then I asked Fausto to visit her. We took him to the hospital where she was on drip. During the night I went to take her out of the hospital and back to the sisters, together with her husband who stayed in the waiting room. They still hadn’t found work. Winter was coming and, instead of returning to Bulgaria, as they were planning, the went back to sleeping on the streets. I brought them some candies that I had prepared with lots of chocolate, so they’d be more substantial. Christmas drew near. One night the temperature was 2° below zero, Fausto and I went by the supermarket. Valentina and Michele were seated on a carton, numbed by the cold. We tried to convince them to go somewhere where they could spend the night in warmth. Michele didn’t want it. Fausto asked them why they hadn’t returned to Bulgaria as was there intention. The answer was simple: “We don’t have money for the tickets.” Fausto and I looked at each other: If the problem is money, we thought, we will make do with a little less this Christmas. We asked when the bus would be leaving for Bulgaria: the next morning from the Tiburtine Station. We returned home and as Fausto fetched the money, I prepared a sack bread bread, cheese, ham, fruit, some sweets and water, which they could snack on during the two-day-long trip. We left with Valentina and Michele and arrived at Tiburtine Station at one-thirty. We exchanged addresses, glad that it would also be a happy Christmas for them in the company of their family. But the next day Valentina telephoned to say that the bus was already full and they would be forced to return to Aricccia. But they bought tickets for the following Friday. Valentina said to me: “Italy doesn’t wish, Bulgaria doesn’t wish, only you wish us well.” The sisters were happy to take them in, having experienced for themselves their courtesy and politeness. On Friday morning at six, Fausto took them to Rome – this time with an abundance of sacks filled with groceries, and a warm winter coat to replace the dirty and ice-covered coat of Valentina. I wasn’t able to provide my friends with a job, but I’m sure I provided them with a bit of love.” Editor’s note: This story was shared by Isabella in January 2008. We offer it again today, because of its timely significance.
![A bus bound for Bulgaria. Everyday stories of welcome.]()
Jun 10, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
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“Let’s get together again please!” wrote a German girl on her Facebook account, expressing the longing of many of the fifty participants of the Media Education seminar, which was aimed at young people and their coordinators. The course, sponsered by trade associations from six countries and prepared in detail by NetOne and the Charism Community Projects (UK), received financial support from the Youth in Action programme of the European Commission.
The course provided a theoretical part – three lectures held by the Media Education Professor Luciano Mele from the International Telematic University of Rome (UNINETTUNO), who were the external project partners; evenings with professionals in the areas of communication: social networks, journalism and advertising , and four creative workshops for the remaining of the day. The quality of content was much appreciated by the young people as well as the creativity in the experimental groups on multicultural living.
Arco-Iris, the Focolare’s little town at Abrigada proved to be quite the suitable place for hosting the seminar, not only for the environment but also for the great hospitality and attentive service.
![A bus bound for Bulgaria. Everyday stories of welcome.]()
Jun 4, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
“An opportunity to live brotherhood among us bishops, to deepen relationships of true friendship: this is the reason for the meeting”. This is how Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mobasa, Kenya introduced the meeting. Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, Archbishop Emeritus of Kampala, Uganda, echoed his words saying: “To rediscover our task at the service of society, let us try to understand together God’s design on us. During these days we can feel how much He calls us precisely to unity, which is the charism of Chiara Lubich.” The first thing the bishops did when they arrived at the Focolare little town “Piero”, was to make the commitment to practise “the art of Christian loving” among themselves in order to have the presence of the Risen One in their midst. “It will be the Risen Jesus who will enlighten and who will give us the gifts of the Spirit,” said Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, convenor of the meeting. This same lifestyle is shared by more than 1000 bishops throughout the world, which is inspired by the “spirituality of communion”. Bishop Salutaris Libena, auxilliary bishop of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, immediately affirms: “I’ve come to learn to serve, to love concretely. This is a way of life which fills the heart, which gives supernatural joy.” Bishop Salesius Mugambi, Bishop of Meru, Kenya remarks: “In a serene and joyful atmosphere, we reflected and delved more deeply into the spirituality of communion. We listened to updatings, shared joys and sorrows, but also enjoyed moments of relaxation.” These sentiments were shared by Archbishop Damiao Franklin of Luanda, Angola: “These were days spent in sincerity toward God and toward our brothers.” 
There were several moments for the sharing of experiences, both personal and pastoral, with a look at some of the challenges that the African continent must face: conflicts and violence, poverty, corruption; all challenges in which the members of the Movement are immersed, and which they want to respond to by living the spirituality of communion, which leads them to be workers of peace and unity in the environments in which they live. South African Bishop Patrick Mvemve of Klerksdorp, shared about his first contact with the Focolare during the period of the apartheid, as a young priest: “Having met two priests who truly lived the Gospel with facts, without giving a lot of speeches, I became curious. And so one day they spoke to me of Jesus crucified and abandoned. In that moment I was “healed” of my prejudices and became an apostle of unity. Another topic that was discussed was “the educational emergency”. The experiences of forming priests in the “spirituality of communion” was recognized by the bishops as “one of the valid contributions being made to the Church of today. At the conclusion of the meeting, the bishops wanted to formulate a “pact” of mutual love, declaring their desire to continue taking care of each other once they had returned to their diocese. 
Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Umtata, South Africa, summarizes the experience they had: “I leave enthusiastic with a life programme. I pray the Holy Spirit will guide me to put it into practice in the daily reality of every day.” Meetings for Bishop Friends of the Focolare take place in various geographic locations around the world, which are inspired by the “spirituality of communion” proposed by John Paul II and practiced by the Focolare Movement since its began. Following the gathering in Kenya, similar events will take place in Madagascar and in Cameroon, in the Philippines, the Middle East and Europe. [nggallery id=49]
![A bus bound for Bulgaria. Everyday stories of welcome.]()
Jun 2, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
On 22 May, the Focolare’s little town in Mexico – “El Diamante” – was awaiting the appointment with Christians and Jews united in a sign of living dialogue among people who desire to rediscover their common roots. They are our “big brothers”, said John Paul II using an expression which has now become famous. And “What might happen,” asked Chiara Lubich, “as we deepen the brotherly relationship between us, Jews and Christians, who share the patrimony of the Bible, in what we call the Old Testament?” Today the relationship continues to develop in the Focolare Movement, upon this basis and the dialogue between Christians and Jews continues. The day at Acatzingo is an example. Following a brief introduction, focused on the discovery of God Love as the basis of our brotherhood, along with moments from the history of the Focolare in its dialogue with the Jewish world, Liviu Bleier, president of the new B’nai B’rith of Mexico, stressed that “the best religion is the one that is the closest to God” and he expressed his appreciation and joy for this occasion of mutual exchange. The group, composed of 23 people belonging to the Jewish faith from Mexico City and friends of the Focolare, visited the workshops and the school linked to the Mariapolis Centre, located in a rural setting, with the aim of training people in loving and forgiving, a culture of life and of giving. The inhabitants of the Mariapolis, youths, adults and children, presented an overview of a Christian witness in daily life, which was much appreciated by the guests. 
The ceremony around the olive tree – a symbol of peace, and a symbol common to Christians and Jews alike – was a moment of importance which brought out dimensions of the brotherhood among all: “Thank you for the way in which you welcomed us – said one of the attendees – for the spirit of brotherhood, as if you knew us for a long time. It makes me realize that we must be humble and at the service of others, to change ourselves and the world. ” The next appointment is set for 21 – 24 August in Buenos Aires, for another Jewish-Christian symposium, following the one last year in Jerusalem.
Jun 1, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
(ومُرْضي وكامل”. (رومية 12، 2
نقرأ هذه الآية في الجزء الثاني من رسالة القدّيس بولس إلى أهل رومية. فيها يصف القدّيس بولس سلوك الإنسان المسيحي على أنه تعبير عن الحياة الجديدة، والمحبّة الحقيقيّة، والفرح الحقيقي، والحرية الحقيقيّة التي وهبنا إياها المسيح. إنها الحياة المسيحيّة، إنه
طريقة جديدة تجعلنا، بنور وقوّة الروح القدس، نواجه الواجبات والمشاكل المختلفة التي قد تعترضنا. في هذه الآية، المرتبطة بشكل وثيق بالآية السابقة، يعلن الرسول عن الهدف والسلوك الأصيل اللذَيْن يجب أن تتّسم بهما كل تصرّفاتنا، وهما أن نجعل من حياتنا تمجيداً لله، وفعل محبّة دائم على مرّ الزمن، باحثين باستمرار عن إرادته وعمّا هو مرضي ومقبول لديه. ولا تتشبّهوا بهذا الدهر بل تغيّروا بتجديد عقولكم، لكي تميّزوا ما هو مشيئة الله، أي ما هو صالح ومُرْضي وكامل”. من المؤكّد أنه علينا أن نعرف قبل كل شيء ما هي إرادة الله، لنتمكّن من تحقيقها. ولكن القدّيس بولس لا يخفي علينا صعوبة هذا الأمر، إذ لا نستطيع أن نعرف جيّداً مشيئة الله من دون نور خاص يساعدنا على تمييز ما يريده منّا الرب في كل موقف، فنتجنّب الأوهام والأخطاء التي قد نقع فيها بسهولة. إنها موهبة من مواهب الروح القدس، تُدعى “التمييز”، والتي لا بدّ منها لبناء عقليّة مسيحيّة حقيقيّة عند كل واحد منّا. ولا تتشبّهوا بهذا الدهر بل تغيّروا بتجديد عقولكم، لكي تميّزوا ما هو مشيئة الله، أي ما هو صالح ومُرْضي وكامل”. ولكن ما العمل لإكتساب هذه الموهبة المهمّة إلى هذا الحد وتنميتها؟ مطلوب منّا من دون شك معرفة جيّدة للعقيدة المسيحيّة. ولكنّها وحدها لا تكفي؟ كما يقترح علينا الرسول بولس، إنها مسألة حياة وسخاء وإندفاع لعيْش كلمة يسوع، تاركين جانباً مخاوفنا وشكوكنا وحساباتنا الضيّقة. إنها مسألة إستعداد وإسراع في إتمام مشيئة الله. إنها الدرب التي تسمح لنا باكتساب نور الروح القدس وببناء العقليّة الجديدة التي تطلبها منّا هذه الآية. ولا تتشبّهوا بهذا الدهر بل تغيّروا بتجديد عقولكم، لكي تميّزوا ما هو مشيئة الله، أي ما هو صالح ومُرْضي وكامل”. كيف نعيش إذًا كلمة الحياة لهذا الشهر؟ فلنسعَ لنستحق نحن أيضاً النور اللازم لإتمام مشيئة الله علينا بطريقة جيّدة. ولنقترح على أنفسنا أن نتعمّق بمعرفة أفضل لإرادته علينا، كما تعبّر عنها كلمته وتعاليم الكنيسة وواجبات كلٍّ منا وإلتزاماتنا إلخ… ولكن، سنركّز أكثر من ذلك كله على طريقة العيْش، لأنه كما سبق وقلنا، من الحياة والحب يشعّ النور الحقيقي. فيسوع يتجلّى للإنسان الذي يحبّه إذ يعيش عمليّاً وصاياه (يو21,14). هكذا بإتمام مشيئة الله، سوف ننجح في أن نقدّم له أجمل هدية. هديّة مرضيّة لديه ليس فقط بسبب المحبّة التي تحملها، بل أيضاً بفضل النور وثمار تجدُّد الحياة المسيحيّة، التي سوف تولد من حولنا.
كيارا لوبيك (أغسطس 1993)
![A bus bound for Bulgaria. Everyday stories of welcome.]()
May 31, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Tininha Cavalcanti
Tininha with Chiara Lubich
