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The courage to forgive

The courage to forgive

8 Oct 2016 | Focolare Worldwide

Reconciliation by Josefina de Vasconcellos at Coventry Cathedral

Photo: Reconciliation by Josefina de Vasconcellos at Coventry Cathedral

This month’s ‘word of life’ invites us not to respond to offence with offence, but – as Chiara Lubich suggests – «with clarity of mind and an act of the will, to accept our brothers as they are despite the wrong done to us, the way God accepts us, sinners, regardless of our defects.» Here are some testimonials: The wall that came down “I had a very sad childhood and youth, to such a point that I cannot remember even one positive aspect. Even when I married, the relationship with my own family always left a profound bitterness in me, with only criticisms and disdain. It was not easy to forget, but in the meantime I tried to live the evangelic motto: give without seeking any reward. One day my parents came to pass their holidays with us. I decided to satisfy their demands, without expecting anything. I kissed my mother, a thing that I had no longer done since my childhood. She hugged me and her eyes filled with tears. I felt that the wall dividing us had crumbled. And on his birthday, my father asked me to put on his favourite music and dance with him. This harmony among us was a great conquest!” (Margherita – Switzerland) A quarrel that ended in gentleness “I had learned from my sister that our parents had quarreled. They had not spoken to each other for three days and Dad refused to eat the food Mom cooked. When I got home I immediately felt the heavy atmosphere. Without asking anything I set about serving all concretely, and doing some chores. At the first occasion in which I found myself alone with my father, I tried to ask him what happened. He thus confided in me and so I was also able to tell him that I tried to live the words of Jesus. When I mentioned forgiveness, of which He was an example, he listened attentively. In the end we agreed that when Mom returned he would welcome her. From the kitchen window, I saw her return and my father asking her gently how things had been at work.” (P. F. – Cameroon) A simple “hello” “For some time now, there have been some misunderstandings between me and one of my sisters, to the point that we no longer spoke to each other. One day I decided to take the first step to reconcile with her. But it was not at all easy: in reality I was the elder brother, and I had my own dignity… After a restless night, the next morning in the kitchen I said “hi,” but so softly that she didn’t hear it. I took courage and repeated “hello,” in a stronger voice. She was so surprised and we immediately made peace. Out of joy and the sense of liberation, I started to sing.” (Dolfi – Italy)

Madaba, At the Start of the New Host Spot Project

Madaba, At the Start of the New Host Spot Project

4 Oct 2016 | Focolare Worldwide

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Marco Desalvo (right)

“We haven’t come to teach, but to learn, not to talk, but to listen. Then, when we return to our own countries we’d like to tell many others what we’ve seen and experienced. We’re here from several European countries, from the Middle East, from New Zealand, the United States and Argentina. We’ve already begun among ourselves to enter the other’s culture and to sincerely understand other points of view,” explains Marco Desalvo, president of New Humanity at the conclusion of a visit to Madaba, Jordan. He visited the country on August 7-19 with 55 young people from several European and Middle Eastern countries, to begin the first phase of the Host Spot Project at a welcome centre for Syrian and Iraqi refugees. This place has sites that are significant for the three great monotheistic religions,” Desalvo recounts. “Visiting the Jordan River, the place where Jesus was baptized, I was struck when I learned that it’s the lowest place on earth. It seemed to indicate the kind of attitude we should have in front of each person we would meet. We began each day with a motto, our ‘daily input’. The first day was: Try to understand others by serving them, aware that we have much to learn. Then came the meetings with the Syrian and Iraqi refugees: stories of great suffering, families, children…. Sharing their pain united us with them more and with one another. I’ll never forget Saheed and his story: Two years back, on August 6, the whole family, including his mother who was unable to walk, had to leave their house, the country, leaving everything behind. I could only imagine how they must have suffered and lived in those months, the hope to return, and now the infinite expectation for that telephone call that would let them know whether or not they would be welcomed in a new country. 20161004-03The president of New Humanity admits being very struck by the volunteers from Caritas Jordan: “Irreplaceable, precious, discreet, source of hope, of life of concrete love, medicine for everyone they meet.” Without them thousands of refugees would not have a roof over their heads and the means to survive – to find hope. Working with them we touched with our own hands the deepest meaning of the word ‘Caritas’: concrete love. Two weeks ago I was in Poland at the World Youth Day, and the message of Pope Francis to the two million young people is still fresh in my mind: ‘Don’t retire at the age of 25, [….] don’t be couch potatoes […] aim high. […] They might be able to judge you dreamers because you believe in a new humanity that does not accept hatred among peoples, that does not see borders between countries as barriers, and that preserves its own traditions without egoism and resentment. Don’t be discouraged! With your smiles and your open arms you preach hope and are a blessing for the human family.” Here in Jordan I’ve met young people who put these words in practice. Their work is certainly a small drop in front of the problems we’re facing. But with young people like them, the world will change. These days have turned us into ambassadors of the refugees, of their suffering, of a world of Peace.” 13996160_1667580330228501_7097858906827142546_oThe Host Spot Project is promoted by New Humanity and other associations from nine countries, and is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme. The objective: to spread a culture of human rights. These are young people from different backgrounds, ready to acquire the knowledge and skills to defend the right of freedom of expression and to be engaged in producing documentaries that tell the life stories of the refugees. After Jordan, the project is planning on a March 2017 training course in Germany to develop the technical skills needed to produce social documentaries. There will be the meeting with refugees in German refugee camps, and different forms of welcome will be compared. See also: Volunteerism in the refugee camps of Jordan Facebook: www.facebook.com/hostspot9/

Chiara Lubich Prize 2017

2 Oct 2016 | Focolare Worldwide

In this competition – promoted by the “Cities for Fraternity” Association – all local administrations from any part of the world may participate. Projects and initiatives can compete if: –       they institute and/or spread, principally within the local territory, but also on a national or international level, practices of universal brotherhood, according to the diverse  interpretations of the meaning of such a principle; –       they stimulate the citizens to commit themselves for the common good and to participate in the life of civil society, –       they encourage the growth of a culture of active and inclusive citizenry. The project must be representative of a style of administration that is not occasional and always  more aware of the value of the principle of universal brotherhood. On the side of the public adminitrations and other social, economic, cultural subjects, it is possible both to become candidates, and also to nominate the projects of others. All the recommendations must be sent on or before January 10, 2017 , to the office of the Chairman of the “Cities for Fraternity” Association, c/oTown Council of Castel Gandolfo, Piazza Libertà, 7 00040 Castel Gandolfo (Rome). Download fact sheet (in Italian) Info: www.cittaperlafraternita.org/

Fontem and the Light of Mafua Ndem

Fontem and the Light of Mafua Ndem

30 Sep 2016 | Focolare Worldwide

© CSC Audiovisivi – Caris Mendes

The nine traditional leaders (Fon) represented people from Nwametaw, Nwangong, Essoh Attah, Akum, Lewoh, Nkar and personalities of Bamenda and Douala. They were accompanied by Mafua Queens, two Mayors and other dignitaries from their kingdoms. The purpose of their journey – besides celebrating the Year of Mercy with Pope Francis – was to thank God for the 50th anniversary of the first encounter between the Focolare Movement and the Bangwa people in Fontem. They especially wanted to thank Mafua Ndem Chiara Lubich (Queen Sent by God) as the Bangwa call her, for all that she did for their people. She and the Focolare were actually the answer to a prayer of the early 1960s that the Bangwa raised to God when sleeping sickness threatened to wipe out the tribe with a 90% infant mortality rate. Now a permanent Mariapolis has arisen in Fontem which bears the name of the Focolare foundress, and sleeping sickness has been nearly wiped out thanks to the intervention of doctors and nurses from the Movement.
19 settembre 2016 - 28 settembre 2016 Nel 50° dell'arrivo del Movimento dei Focolari a Fontem (Camerun), un gruppo di Fon visiteranno Roma, Loppiano, Trento e il Centro Internazionale dei Focolari, come ringraziamento e dietro i passi di Chiara Lubich.

© CSC Audiovisivi – Caris Mendes

The pilgrimage began at a general audience with Pope Francis on St Peter’s Square and a visit to St Peter’s tomb and those of other popes. Then there was a tour of St Peter’s Basilica. “It is my precise duty to continue to teach this spirit that has changed my people,” said the Fon of Akum and vice-president of Fon Friends of the Focolare Movement, during a visit to the Focolare town of Loppiano which was the second stop on their pilgrimage. On that occasion the Regional Minister for International Cooperation, Peace and Reconciliation, Massimo Toschi, recalled the first time he visited Fontem, ten years ago: “In December we’ll celebrate the 50th anniversary in Fontem, and we’ll see the shining face of a ‘field hospital’ Church as Pope Francis described it.” The third stop was on September 24th in the birthplace of Chiara in Trent. They visited the places she lived in and where the Focolare Movement began during the Second World War. They met some of the local citizens, representatives from different institutions, the Mayor and the Archbishop.
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Photo Credit: SIF Loppiano

The last stop was a visit to the international centre of the Movement in Rocca di Papa where Chiara Lubich had lived for many years and is now buried. The Fon of Fonjumentaw recalled Chiara’s last visit to Fontem in 2000 when she proposed a pact: a promise to love one another as Jesus would love. “This was Chiara’s testament,” he explained, “her legacy that is not only for our peoples. After that pact we were not the same anymore. Now, I invite you today to make the same pact with each other in the name of all humanity.” During the send-off meal, there were greetings, words of gratitude and gifts that several Fons and Mafuas offered to the Focolare. One was from Essoh Attah. It recalled a proverb from his tribe that says that no Bangwa will ever drown so long as there is someone from the valley (the other tribe). He paraphrased it and applied it to Chiara: “So long as she and her people are there, none of us will drown.” A journalist from Bamenda, who had accompanied the group, concluded: “In these days my eyes have been filled with the light of Mamma Chiara, and I would like to go back to my people and take it to each one of them.” See also: Story of Fontem Thirty years after her last visit to Fontem (Cameroon)

Chiara Lubich And Religions. Traditional Religions

Fontem, a Jubilee of Thanksgiving

Living the Gospel: We’re not alone

28 Sep 2016 | Focolare Worldwide

Manna from Heaven “I’m an Iraqi veterinarian. My work was impacted by the current historic and dramatic situation my country is going through:  now, the clients are few and far between. As I tried to find a way to push on, I was promised a job with a high salary in a city far from my own. It would be a favourable solution for my family, but would have placed me far from everyone else. My parents were insisting that I accept what seemed like manna from heaven. I spoke at length with my wife and it seemed to us that it wouldn’t be opportune for us, to leave at that moment, both because of our children and because several friends whose families were in need of our support, at least our moral support. Therefore we let go of the idea, blindly entrusting ourselves to God’s love. Incredibly, already from the day after we made this difficult decision my work picked up. I’m now earning four times more than what I was before.”  (Y.K. Iraq) The Unexpected “We had been married for a short time when we discovered that we were expecting our first child. Something quite unexpected was also added to that: a small lump in the breast. Exams revealed a tumour. For me and my husband, who is a doctor, it was a hard blow, the first serious one in our marriage. Just three days after talking with a specialist I underwent surgery. He and his colleagues concluded that keeping the child would only aggravate the illness: we needed to proceed with an abortion immediately, so that I could begin chemotherapy. Finally, we decided on caesarean birth in the seventh month of pregnancy, when the child would be perfectly able to survive. Only afterwards would I begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Eight years have gone by since then. Now, we’re expecting our third child.”  (M.D. France) More Joy in Giving “I searched for happiness in the wrong way: bad company, discos, cigarettes and alcohol. My boyfriend both peddled and took drugs. I was rebellious and morose both in school and at home, I dressed strangely, always in black with clothing full of studs and spikes. And I was totally indifferent to God. When I realized I had hit rock bottom, by sheer force of will I left that boy and abandoned the friendships. But how could I resolve the sorrow and sense of emptiness that I was feeling? When I began the new schoolyear my new Religion teacher inspired trust in me. Through my conversations with him I received the gift of faith. The encounter with God-Mercy changed me totally and satisfied my longing for love. I began to pray and seek God, getting involved in volunteering, experiencing that ‘there is more joy in giving than in receiving.’ I live a normal life: I go to school and do all the things a girl of my age does, with the only difference that now I have God in my heart.”  (A.R. Italy)