Jan 25, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The 34th World Youth Day organized by the Catholic Church is underway in Panama. We turn to Panamanian journalist and Focolare member, Flor Ortega, for her firsthand comments. The bridges logo of the 2019 WYD – with the main theme “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38) – represents both the Isthmus of Panama and the spirit of welcome. A small strip of land, measuring just 75 square meters, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Panama links not only the two Americas, but also all continents, through its famous canal frequented by world shipping. It is a welcoming, open-door country, particularly for the many migrants who are, and have ever been, moving South or North. How have you been preparing for this event? “Back in 2016, on 31 July at the ‘Campus Misericordiae’ in Kraków, Poland, Pope Francis announced that the 34th World Youth Day in 2019 would be in Panama. The Focolare Movement in the central American region greeted the news with great enthusiasm,” recalls Panamanian journalist Flor Ortega. “It took a while for updates to get through. We set up commissions to be able to transmit information on the preparation in all its aspects quickly and effectively. Now the WYD has a strong media and social media presence”. On 17 May, in Panama City, during a Eucharistic celebration with thousands of people, Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa launched the idea of a series of Prayer Days on the 22nd of every month leading up to the WYD. The Archbishop then personally asked the youth of the Focolare Movement to prepare the first such day, on 22 June. How did the young people react to this proposal? “With real enthusiasm and commitment. Carmen Cecilia from Panama, told us how this commitment actually helped her to a new understanding of prayer, of the Eucharist and of the Rosary ‘as opportunities to meet Jesus face to face’.” Many young people, members of the Focolare Movement in Panama and other countries, have been working for months on a two-day event at the end of the WYD, 29-31 January, for around 400 youth. “Adults have been offering their support by organizing the meals and accommodation, as well as fund-raising. The young people have been concentrating on creating the online registration system, setting up a consultation service and ‘call center’ connecting people wishing to contribute from outside Panama. The women’s Focolare centre in Panama has become something of a logistics coordination point. Keilyn from Costa Rica described it as ‘as opportunity to get to know the community of Panama which is very united and hard-working, a real example to us all’.” Among those arriving from around the world, Jesús Morán, Focolare Vice President, from the Movement’s international centre in Rome, Italy. And the international Focolare band, Gen Verde travelled from Italy to perform in two pre-WYD events. The first was in Chitré, provincial capital of Herrera, on the Gulf of Panama, the second in Colón on the Atlantic coast. Gen Verde will be performing again on 26 January at the vigil leading up to the concluding Mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis. “Pro mundi beneficio”, “For the Benefit of the World” proclaims Panama’s national motto. What does it mean? «The motto, historically, is linked to the service provided by the canal. But now, ideally, we’d like to extend it to the message that will come out of this World Youth Day!»
Chiara Favotti
Jan 24, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The trip was promoted by the Patriarch Athenagoras-Chiara Lubich International Ecumenical Chair, which was established after Patriarch Bartholomew received an honorary doctorate in 2015. “Continue on the path you’ve taken on the way of dialogue, because it is reconciliation, true encounter, the ability to understand, divine philanthropy, welcoming others who are different, transfiguring the world, and welcoming God into human history. Bring this message to all those at all levels who participate in the work of your institute, with a fraternal embrace to Focolare Movement President Maria Voce, and all our brothers and sisters in the movement. The ecumenical patriarchate is your home as well, this city of Constantine is your city as well, because you are not foreigners, but friends.” This was the final greeting that Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I gave to 30 professors and students of the Sophia University Institute (Loppiano), who are from a number of countries. Together with the institute’s director, Mons. Piero Coda, they had traveled to the patriarch’s residence at Phanar (Istanbul, Turkey). The visit of the Sophia delegation to the ecumenical patriarchate was from January 8–12. It was promoted by the Patriarch Athenagoras-Chiara Lubich International Ecumenical Chair, which had been established after Patriarch Bartholomew received an honorary doctorate on October 26, 2015. It was established “to remember and restart the prophetic spirit that animated the extraordinary harmony of heart and mind between Patriarch Athenagoras I and Chiara Lubich, just before the Second Vatican Council and the historical meeting between the patriarch and Pope Paul VI.” The academic trip included, among other things, together with the audience with the patriarch, a meeting with Metropolitan Gennadios Zervos, who was in Istabul during that time for the Holy Synod. The group also met with Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa on January 10, at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the island of Halki, Turkey. This meeting opened up productive possibilities of cooperation between the seminary and Sophia University Institute, including a summer school that will probably be held in late spring 2020. The visit was particularly significant in this fragile, tense moment that the Orthodox world is going through today. It is aiming once again to call for a commitment to tenaciously pursue a path of mutual understanding, and a reciprocal exchange of gifts to promote fraternity and communion.
Jan 22, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The meeting entitled “Co –governance – mutual responsibility in cities today” has ended with a written proposal to citizens and public administrators to both engage in and to create networks drawing together citizens, social partners and cities. “Politics is the love of loves that brings together the richness of people and groups in the unity of a shared project, allowing everyone to fulfil their vocation freely”(1). These challenging words of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare, resounded at the end of the “Co-Governance, co-responsibility in the cities today”, conference dedicated to participatory governance of cities promoted by the New Humanity Movement, the Movement for Politics and Policy for Unity and the Association of Cities for Fraternity, all outworkings of the social and political engagement of the Focolare. It was the first event of its kind that in two years time will be replicated in Brazil. Over 400 public administrators, politicians, business people, academics and citizens from 33 countries participated in the event. The focus of the event was participation, presented in the many forms it can take and illustrated through stories and good practice shared by over 60 experts in the fields of town planning, communications, services, economics, politics and the environment. “We are convinced that participation is a strategic choice, the best way to live well within cities – explained Lucia Fronza Crepaz, a former member of the Italian parliament and educator at the “School for Social Engagement” in Trent and member of the central committee of the event. “Participation is not seen as replacing procedures enabling representation, but is chosen as an effective way of addressing complex problems and thus strengthening the concept of democratic delegation”. The outcome of the event was the approval and signing of the “Pact for a new Governance” with which the participants committed themselves to engaging the interest of their own communities and public administrations. The 400 signatories to the pact committed themselves to form three networks to bring diversity together and respond to the complexity of reality. They are networks of citizens: “People who live in the city while having different roles and tasks, but inspired by the same sense of responsibility”; networks of people working in particular sectors, forming groups in professional and economic spheres, the voluntary sector, faith communities, academia and universities, communications, etc.”; networks among cities themselves: “… that aim to engage citizens actively and collaboratively first by creating platforms that are accessible to all and easy to use. They will cooperate by overcoming particular interests and prejudices that undermine trust, which is an indispensable foundation for building a network.
Stefania Tanesini
1) Info and texts of the conference: www.co-governance.org
Jan 21, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Today, the 22nd January, the Focolare Movement recalls Chiara Lubich’s birth on this day in 1920. As usual, the date falls within the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and is an opportunity to remind ourselves of the Focolare founder’s passion for unity. Below is the text of an “ecumenical prayer” for unity read by Chiara Lubich in Augsburg, Germany in 1998. If we Christians take a fresh look at our 2,000 year history, and in particular at the history of the second millennium, we cannot help but be saddened to see that there has often been a series of conflicts, of quarrels and of mutual incomprehension. Certainly it was because of circumstances: historical, cultural, political, geographical, social circumstances. But it was also because among Christians there was a lack of what should be one of their specific unifying features: love. (…) But, if God loves us, we cannot remain inactive before such divine goodness. As true children we must return his love also as Churches. With the passing of time each Church has, to a degree, become set in its ways, because of waves of indifference, lack of understanding and even of mutual hatred. What is needed in each Church is a supplement of love. So we need love for the other Churches, and mutual love between Churches. The love that leads each Church to be a gift for the others, so that we can foresee in the Church of the future that there will be just one truth, but that it will be expressed in different ways, seen from different angles, made more beautiful by the variety of interpretations. Mutual love, however, is truly evangelical, and therefore valid, only if it is practiced in the measure wanted by Jesus: He said: “Love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13) (…) I know, also from experience, that if we all live in this way, there will be exceptional fruits. There will be one effect above all. By living together these different aspects of our Christianity, we will realize that we form, so to speak, one Christian people that can be a leaven to help bring full communion among the Churches. It will be the living out of another dialogue, in addition to the dialogues of charity, of prayer and the theological one. It will be the dialogue of life, the dialogue of the people of God. It is a dialogue that is more than ever urgent and necessary given that, as history shows, little can be achieved in the ecumenical field without the involvement of the people. It is a dialogue which will enable us to discover more clearly, and more effectively, the rich heritage already shared by Christians, including Baptism, Sacred Scripture, the first Councils, the Fathers of the Church. We are eager to see this people and already, here and there, we can see glimpses of it, and we are confident that it will be seen here too. (Chiara Lubich, Augsburg-Germnay, 29 November 1998) Fonte: Centro Chiara Lubich
Jan 18, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Alejo from the Focolare community in La Colmena, Paraguay, uses music to communicate his passion for the ideal of fraternity. Alejo Rolon explains that in the Guarani language, “japay” means “wake up!” Alejo lives in La Colmena, a city in the state of Paraguari, about 130 kms from Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, in the heart of Latin America. He teaches music in a very prestigious college in the city. Several years ago, he began an interesting initiative and has worked with over a hundred young people in staging a series of pop concerts. Using music and words, these concerts have conveyed an invitation to build a more united and stable society. Guarani is an ancient language and is spoken mainly in Paraguay. In 2011, after a complex legal process that lasted over ten years, Guarani and Spanish were recognised as the official languages of the country. Alejo says that “japay, wake up” are words that symbolise the attitude we should have towards life. His aim is to make everyone and especially young people more aware that we must all wake up and take initiative because the change we hope to see in our towns and cities begins with us. He says, “If we keep this in mind, everything we do, even small actions, can be the basis of a new way of life. This is Japay’s challenge.” During a very difficult period for this South American country that is grappling with the changes needed to overcome widespread corruption, crime, poverty, social inequality and economic crisis, what impact can Alejo’s songs truly make? He says, “This is our philosophy: we have to change the way we think. For example, our songs speak of living honestly rather than stealing or practising corruption which is so widespread and damaging; of being responsible citizens rather than just trying to look out for ourselves; of not being resigned to the fact that ‘it has always been like this’ but to go to the very root of our culture and draw out all that is good – creativity, initiative, generosity towards people living around us, courage in addressing our limits and the capacity to live peacefully with people who are different from us. As the Constitution of Paraguay says, ours is truly a ‘multicultural, bilingual country’ rich in traditions and values. However, it has deep wounds and many of them are recent. We focus on the potential there is in each person and appeal to their deepest feelings.” Alejo uses music to communicate what he has received from the charism of unity. He explains, “Japay also has another meaning for me: JA are the initials in Guarani which refer to Jesus forsaken and suffering and PAY stands for Paraguay. I recognise the face of Jesus suffering on the cross in the social problems experienced by the people around me. I began this project for him and who knows where he will lead us.”
Chiara Favotti
Vedi anche www.japayparaguay.org e https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqByefcq1Yc
Jan 16, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Insights from Congolese journalist Liliane Mugombozi, currently based in the Focolare centre in Nairobi. She works at the Jesuit Refugee Service in the Kenyan capital: “African migrants? The majority are not going to Europe but are moving within the African continent”. “According to the international media, Africa is a continent of mass exodus. But this is not true in reality. Most of these migrants are moving within the continent itself. From 2015 to 2017 nearly 19 million people have moved to destinations within Africa”. Liliane Mugombozi knows what she’s talking about when she describes this under-reported phenomenon. She has been observing it closely through her journalistic lens but also with direct experience over the past two and a half years working at the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. 
“Since September 2017 more than half a million refugees are living in Kenya. They come mainly from the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa and Central Africa, but also from Myanmar, Afganistan etc. Most of them are living in refugee camps at Dadaab and Kakuma; around 64,000 refugees are living within the city of Nairobi itself”. Last December Liliana helped to organize a workshop for 48 young refugees, from many different African countries, including South Sudan and Somalia, to investigate their living conditions as refugees and offer tools to deal with the daily challenges they face, from human rights violations to cultural difficulties. ‘When I look at you – Liliana told them – I don’t see refugees, I see the future of this continent, I see the future of the world. Each one of you has experienced suffering, so who better than you would know how to build strong and fair institutions?’ “From the moment I arrived at JRS in Nairobi, where I work for the secondary school and university students who are able to continue their education because of scholarships and sponsorship, I immediately realised that my service would demand huge flexibility on my part, going way beyond a simply administrative approach. I felt called to share in the suffering behind each one of their stories, to actually meet the person. I understood that the key was to build truly reciprocal relationships with each one.” In the face of so much hope and so much suffering, Liliane was careful not to fall into the trap of confusing the person with their need. “This is a dangerous temptation which would have closed off my heart from a true encounter with these young people, their families, teachers, and with all those around”. The Focolare community in Kenya, especially around Nairobi, has worked in collaboration with the Jesuit Fathers, organizing collections of clothes, food and other essential items, household necessities, books and toys from friends, relations and parishes. Liliana reflects, “We understood firstly we had to overcome our prejudices and get to know the refugees’ own stories in order to create a culture of encounter and of welcome. We are all too aware that we cannot resolve all their problems, but we can become a brother or sister for them. Of course we are only just beginning, but we believe that with Jesus among us, we will find a response to this cry of Jesus on the cross today, in this our own land”.
Stefania Tanesini
