Sep 19, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“I’ve lost everything’ tearfully declared a fisherman from Guanaquero – a small village 450 km north of Santiago, on the Pacific. “But we will start again, as we Chileans have always done.” The cameraman embraced him in a supportive manner. These were some reactions after the night of the earthquake. On the evening of Wednesday, 16 September, just before 8 p.m. the series of seismic waves began, with an intensity of 8.4 on the Richter scale. The following secondary waves also exceeded an intensity of 7. The long seismic activity made us run to find refuge in the courtyard of our home. Our neighbours on the street also did so. “How are you all? Is all ok?” “Yes, don’t worry, and you?” we all asked one another. “Do you need anything?” There was no fear, no agitation. Also the children knew what to do. In Chile all are taught on how to behave in the buildings, schools, and supermarkets where the safety zones are all marked out for the protection from possible collapsing buildings. After the experience of 2010 the country was more than adequately prepared. In La Serena, 480 km north of Santiago, the capital, due to the intensity of the quakes we knew that the epicentre was very close. The lights went off and only when we found a radio transistor did we know that it was about a 100 km from here. A triangle of small towns of 20/30 thousand inhabitants, Illapel suffered great damages, but it was not so in the bigger towns. Less than an hour had passed and the radio then confirmed the tsunami alert. Throughout the country, evacuation of the coast of 6,000 km had started, from the desert in the north to the cold south: a million people had to find refuge at an altitude of at least 30 km?? above sea level. The waves arrived in the form of huge masses of water that advanced and raised the sea level to at least four metres. The port of Coquimbo with 150 thousand inhabitants was partly submerged. Then came the news of the victims. All were expecting it. It was just a few hours before our traditional celebrations for the independence of Chile, on the 18-19 September. The 12 victims and five missing would not be celebrating this year’s event. Among these, three died of heart attacks, another three were sucked up by the sea, and the others lost their lives due to falling rocks from the mountains or the collapse of walls. The government had declared a state of calamity in some provinces of the 4th Region. The President, Michelle Bachelet, spoke to the country: the rescue system has been activated. Our thoughts go to those who lost all their possessions: villages of fishermen, the inhabitants of the epicentre zone. It is the eighth emergency in less than two years. The earthquake in the north last year, the floods, and in March the most arid region of the planet, the Atacama Desert, was submerged by floods. Then the volcanoes were next: one last year and an eruption a few months ago. Then there was the tremendous drought from north to south, Valparaiso overwhelmed twice by fires in the surrounding zones, and now the earthquake and tsunami alert… Once the terrible list concluded, we recalled the words of the old fisherman of Guanaquero: “We shall overcome!” In his eyes I saw a reflection of determination and perseverance. The same values explained why on the bare and steep slopes of the mountains of this northern zone, suddenly immense green spots suddenly appeared with avocado and vine cultivations. They were literally pulled out from the soil, exploiting every drop of humidity for their irrigation. Only determination and perseverance can obtain fruits from nature that over here has nothing to offer. This is how we built this nation. It would be impossible not to love it » Alberto Barlocci, from Chile
Sep 18, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
«I have been out of my country for more than 30 years. Every time I would return there was always the chance to meet with one of my brothers or sisters who had gotten married, or witness the birth of a nephew or niece. In my life, our family relationships and above all, the faith of our mother, a simple and brave woman like many African women, have always been the force that has sustained me in all my decisions and choices in life. Ever since I was a child, I had always been impressed by one of my uncles, a Franciscan friar who, at every visit, took care of all the children in the neighbourhood and not only his nieces and nephews, leaving a mark in my heart, and the desire to follow his footsteps in the future. When I just an adolescent – Mandela was already in prison – the massacre of the youth of Soweto happened and upset me so much that I vented out my anger against Fr. Paul, a Belgian Jesuit. I had said him, «If it only depended on me, all the white people would have to return to their own homes.» He answered calmly: «You know, we can fight discrimination with other weapons.» A few months later, he invited me to meet the Word of Life group in my town. Five years later, I found myself in Fontem, Cameroon, in the first testimonial-town of the Focolare in Africa, side by side with young people from Italy, France, Ireland, Belgium and other various African nations like Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and Cameroon; and together with them I discovered that we are all brothers, despite our differences. This was how in my heart I felt the great desire to shout it out to the whole world, and testify to this fraternity, especially in daily life. In 1986 I was sent to Man in the Ivory Coast, where I remained for eight years. Together with all those who wanted to live the same ideal of fraternity, we nurtured mutual love among us, which drove us to promote concrete initiatives to help the needy in many ways, also through music, to tell the world that the united world is not a utopia. When I was 40 I transferred to Sao Paolo, Brazil, and had to learn a new language. I met a new people, which I fondly call a “population composed of peoples”: indios, native Brazilians and also the descendants of Germans, Italians, Ukraines, Japanese, Chinese, Afro-Brazilians and many other roots, but all Brazilians! It was creative, generous, and full of a contagious joy, which we, Africans are very familiar with. In a short time, I felt like I was one of them, that is, Brazilian. For 15 I worked in the Mariapolis Ginetta as a graphic designer and in the production of books and magazines for the New City publishers, building relationships among the staff, suppliers, printing press workers and security guards who had the task of inspecting all the boots of cars. With others, I also coordinated the activities of the young people of the Focolare Movement: the Gen3 and Youth for Unity. This experience was one of the most important of this period because they taught me to become an “adolescent,” even if I was an adult. Through love for one another kept alive among us, I discovered that I also had the capacity to make big sacrifices, since they had overflowing energy and enthusiasm. I also understood why the hair of many parents start turning white when there is an adolescent in the family. So now I am back again in the Ivory Coast: I have returned to continue building this pathway that started years ago with the youth. I had always been struck by the focolarini in the Focolare town of Victoria during the war, and who could have left the country then, but had decided to stay. Like Chiara Lubich and her first companions, they had sealed a pact of readiness to give up their lives for one another. This testimonial is something I treasure deep inside, and I wish with God’s grace, to live up to this measure with all our people. I do not know if we will achieve extraordinary things, but I would like to live each moment as if it were the last of my life.» Source: African Nouvelle Cité, July 2015
Sep 16, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
He greeted me crying He was an idol for me. I was proud to have a father like him, but one day he left us. My mother never explained why. I had to grow up in order to find out: he had another family. I didn’t want to see him anymore, not even when he came to visit us. One day a classmate who was in a similar situation told me that as a Christian, he had forgiven his father and had drawn a great joy from this. In order to do this concrete act, which was very difficult for me, I went to visit my father. He greeted me crying. There was no need for explanations. We had again become friends. (R.S. – Venezuela) The “troublesome” student One day a rather rebellious boy in my class had a fit, throwing a desk in the air; fortunately, there were no serious consequences. A colleague, who had always wanted to get rid of this “troublesome” student, had thought to proceed with a legal strategy, sending a grim report to the headmaster. On one hand, I wanted to avoid a further rebellion from the boy with a worsening of his psychological condition, but I also wanted to consider the opinion of my colleague and respect his suffering. The report was written, but we did it together, searching for the right words in a way that would not worsen the situation. The causes of his behavior came to light, and a greater comprehension of the problem was born. Now this colleague and I have a new understanding: he has decided to collaborate with me on projects for rehabilitating students at risk. (R.R. – Italia) The grandmother In our neighborhood there lived an elderly woman. She was alone. Every once in a while she came to ask us to read her the letters she received or to ask us to accompany her to collect her pension. On special occasions we invited her to our house, where she always felt at ease. Our children loved her too, and each time they welcomed her with joy: for them she was the “grandmother,” and for everyone she was the “least” of which the Gospel speaks. One day she suffered a stroke, and her neighbours immediately called us, almost as if we were her biological family. She remained in the hospital for two months, and we constantly assisted her. When she recovered, she accepted the offer to move to a home for the elderly. But we continued to look after her, with the collaboration of the others. Thanks to the grandmother, a great solidarity was put into motion in the hospital and in our neighborhood. (M. S. C. – Spagna)
Sep 14, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“This is the plea of the entire of the Middle East: ‘Stop the conflicts!’,” states Arlette Samman, a Lebanese, in the face of the unprecedented exodus of entire populations from Syria, Iraq and other countries: “For those who leave, it is an immense suffering, since they are going towards the unknown and feel that death is near. They find themselves without resources and security for the future of their families… otherwise none of them would have wanted to leave their own country.” “It is comforting to see the humanitarian response by many European countries,” continues Philippe who has lived in Egypt over the past 14 years. “But we also wish to give a voice to the Middle East as it anxiously awaits peace and the right “to live and not to die”. Both underline the importance of finding ever new solutions for brotherhood and above all, intensifying public opinion. This is the same perspective targeted by the peace mobilization that the Focolare Movement has currently relaunched together with all those working for the same aim. In Europe, solicited by the words of Pope Francis, and also by the new awareness on the part of the political authorities – as recently expressed by the EU Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker – initiatives have doubled to welcome the refugees with private homes opening their doors, coordination of material aids and fund collections. 
Practically the entire world will be present in Rome over the next days, with the 80 delegates from 36 countries, representatives of the respective geographical macro-areas: “Coming here is an occasion to meet our brothers and sisters operating for peace, and who continue to support us in difficult times.” This is the general state of mind of those coming from distressed areas. From Latin America, Maria Augusta De La Torre, gave us a view of other situations: “In Cuba people are full of great expectations and hope. On one hand is the ‘new friendship’ between Cuba and the USA, and on the other, the Catholic Church which in Cuba is more dynamic than ever. The Pope’s mediation and his next visit to the Island is boosting this revival.” As to the frontier conflict between Colombia and Venezuela she said: «It is a very painful situation. We went to the border and saw the suffering of the people who had to leave their homes and there is great uncertainty with regard to the future, suffering and rebellion in face of the what has happened. Smuggling has always existed, but now nobody knows what lies behind these forceful decisions. In Venezuela the people feel depressed and without hope. The members of the Movement find the strength that comes from living the Gospel and want to continue to bear witness to fraternity between these two peoples. » From Nigeria, Ruth Wambui Mburu, a Kenyan citizen, confided that the stronger commitment they have to face as a Focolare is the radical enforcement of separation between north and south, between Muslims and Christians, and ethnic groups. Their efforts and commitments consist in being testimonials of fraternity lived among these different groups. Georges Sserunkma, also from Nigeria, upon arriving in Rome precisely in this historic moment, said “I feel that this is really the unique home we all live in – seeing how the Church and the Movement take all these situations to heart, makes me breath a wider dimension and fills my heart with hope.” 
“Each of us has come with a heavy load on our shoulders,” affirms Marcella Sartarelli from Vietnam, “but also with hope in believing that “the world is reaching out to unity.” One of these signs for her is also “the openness we saw in Vietnam, for example in our contacts with the Church. There is a new awakening, which is giving more hope. All we know about Vietnam is the war of 30 years ago, but less about what Vietnam is today – a country undergoing rapid development. Some passages of the encyclical Laudato Si’ seem to trace a precise profile of this country: a fast advancing economy, with ultra-modern cities and at the same time, the countryside abandoned to pollution. With a group of young people in a village near Hanoi, where the situation is critical, we are documenting this hidden problem, but at the same time, rolling up our sleeves to clean up.” 
Also in Oceania, environmental problems are strongly felt: “In New Zealand, the young people promoted the action Give one hour of your power, inviting everyone, on the day dedicated to the care of the planet, to switch off the electricity for an hour,” Augustine Doronila recounts, “while for years now there has been an ongoing action to help the population of Kiribati, an archipelago at risk of extinction due to the rising sea levels.” Reflections and sharing of experiences will mark the two weeks meeting, from 14 to 27 September 2015, dedicated to the word “unity”: not only a point of the focolarino spirituality, but a key to the spiritual and social action of the Movement, the word that synthesizes its message.
Sep 12, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
Monday, 31 August. At this time it is not easy to reach Fontem, the Bangwa village in the midst of the Cameroon forest. This is, in fact, the heart of the rainy season and the road is muddy and practicably impossible to pass at some points. Nonetheless, a continuous procession of people have come to pay homage to Pia Fatica. Today there are at least a thousand people from all over the region saying goodbye to this extraordinary Italian woman who decided to live here 48 years ago. The funeral rite is celebrated by Bishop Andrew Nkea who began by saying: «As a bishop and as a Bangwa citizen, I can say that Pia has lived all the beatitudes. This means that for her, today is the day of her birth in Heaven.» These authoritative words confirm what in 2000 the traditional locals had provided for, upon awarding Pia with the title of Mafua Nkong (Queen of Love). But who is this woman, who at 38 chose to pass the rest of her life in Africa, and also requested to be buried there? Pia was born in Campobasso (Italy) in 1929. An obstetrician, a prestigious and profitable profession even in those times, she read an article in the Osservatore Romano that a mission was about to start in Cameroon, that would also see to the construction of a hospital. She felt involved, at first hand, and without even knowing what Movement planned the project, decided to leave everything behind to go and give a hand. Upon reaching Fontem, she found out that due to a widespread infant mortality, obstetrics was an absolute priority. She made the decision with all her heart, and delved deeply into the tradition of these animistic people who, anguished by the death of their newborns, turned to the Catholic bishop for help.
Pia Fatica
Sep 7, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“Often we are closed in ourselves and create many inaccessible and inhospitable islands. Even the most elementary human relations sometimes create realities that are unable to open to each other: a closed couple, a closed family, a closed group, a closed parish, a closed homeland… And this does not come from God!” Pope Francis’s words at the Angelus on 6th September resound strongly, in his call for concrete action to support the hundreds of thousands of refugees forced to leave their homes: “As we draw close to the Jubilee of Mercy, I appeal to parishes, to religious communities, to monasteries and convents and all the shrines of Europe to show the concreteness of the Gospel and take in a refugee family”. In the name of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce has expressed “gratitude” for this courageous and practical appeal by the Holy Father” and stressed the decision to do what he asks by “opening the doors of our houses and centres to receive people”.
Florence (Italy): Bed & Breakfast project for migrants
