13 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
On 24 September, 30,000 women set out on a peace march from Sderot (Negev) to Jerusalem. The initiative, promoted by “Women Wage Peace” (WWP) included meetings, moments of dialogue and prayer. It ended on 11 October in Jerusalem. “Grassroots initiatives such as this one are important because they express a part of the Israeli people who do not want war, occupation, and to continue in this situation,” commented the Maronite Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The voice of these women fills the void left by an absence of political parties truly committed to peace, at a time of “political stagnation” due to the disinterest of the international community in the Palestinian issue. WWP was born three years ago in response to the conflict in Gaza, and currently numbers 24,000 members, including “thousands of women who belong to right, centre and left wing factions, who are Arab and Jewish, religious and lay, all united to seek a political peace agreement to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Prayer of the Mothers
13 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
In spite of the difficult social, political and economic situation across the country, dialogue among different Christian traditions has not waivered. The Focolare community in Caracas writes: “Last 14 Septmber we met at the focolare in Caracas with Anglican pastor Francisco Salazar and his wife and Pastor Coromoto Jimenez to spend some family time together. Pastor Salazar told us that the international conference in Rome last May was like “bumping across Jesus. There one found a new vision of unity and of the Church.” In Venezuela we are also holding several events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reform. “On October 1st we were invited to a concert celebration at the Lutheran Church of Caracas with more than 200 people, including three Lutheran pastors, the ambassador of Germany and representatives from the Presbyterian and Catholic Churches. It was a solemn event with songs, memories and quotes from Luther, which witnessed to unity in diversity. One pastor remarked: “We have to unite more and more, we have the same faith in Jesus.” On November 19, the Presbyterian Church in Venezuela will mark 120 years. “They are inviting bishops, priests and Focolare members to celebrate the occasion with them. A real friendship has been formed with Pastor Maria Jimenez and her husband uriel Ramirez.”
12 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
The tenth academic year of Sophia University Institute, which was formalized on December 7, 2007 by Pontifical Decree, will be launched on October 24, 2017. In the letter sent on that occasion to Chiara Lubich, who was the inspiration of Sophia, the Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education underscored the novelty of the Institute “that flows from the roots of the spirituality of unity and from the Movement’s rich experience.” He also asserted his best wishes for this “important project, well rooted in the academic tradition but also brave and forward-looking.” Ten year later, the Sophia academic community gratefully remembers the journey from then until now and plans strategies that will determine the near future in total faithfulness to the mission that has shaped Sophia Institute. The main event of the day will be the official opening of the new Sophia Global Studies Academic Centre. Inauguration Forum
12 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
The crisis that has triggered around North Korea’s ballistic experiments and the reaction of the United States Administration have generated fears of the concrete possibility of a nuclear conflict. The old Latin adage to keep the peace prepare war is senseless today. The consequences of a conflict, furthermore with nuclear weapons, would have devastating consequences for the entire planet. Peace must be reached at all costs wherever it is strained and maintained, and wherever it has been achieved. The members of the Focolare Movement feel a growing awareness of the role each of us can play as individuals and as a community, in this process. Besides prayers, they have undertaken different types of common endeavours, often inspired by the initiatives of other organisations or movements with which the Focolare collaborates. In this sense we have to recall what the spiritual friendship between Chiara Lubich and Nikkyo Niwano, founder of the Japanese Buddhist movement, Rissho Kosei kai, has done to contribute to the cause of peace and to educate the new generations about this. “Despite the difficulties, our cooperation will make us hope that we can work for peace together,” Niwano wrote to Chiara. On the occasion of the Focolare’s 50th anniversary, the founder of the Buddhist movement and his son, Nichico, repeated this common commitment to “make our human family more united.” The Rissho Kosei kai also made itself heard over the last days with an official communication of the President-elect, Rev. Madame Kosho Niwano, to the world’s political and spiritual leaders, to renew the commitment of her movement and to ask them to leave no stone unturned in preserving peace in the Korean peninsula. The appeal draws inspiration from the ideas of the founder, Niwano, who on the occasion of his speech before the United Nations Assembly in 1978 right in the midst of the Cold War, had addressed the leaders of the USA and USSR. “Instead of risking with arms, please take the risk of peace and disarmament,” he said. Niwano, like many religious leaders of his time, among which were Paul VI, John Paul II, and Chiara Lubich, had realised the responsibility of religions in contributing to the creation and maintenance of world peace. The message Mme. Niwano also sent to Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, is that of a daughter of a people that had suffered in an indescribable manner in the last world conflict that had set the political leaders of the world before the danger of the effects of sanctions that could cause unpredictable reactions. Also in the West there is a growing awareness of the danger of a nuclear escalation. On the occasion of the remembrance of the Day of Prayer for peace, established by John Paul II in 1986, the Committee for a Civilisation of Love prepared a meditation entitled Project for peace in the Korean region for the convention to be held at the convention in the Sacred Convent of Assisi (Italy) next 28 October. Read the original message
10 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
The event was divided in two parts. A forum in English will be held at 9:00 in the Great Hall of Sophia University Institute, titled Perspectives on Global Transformations. The will mark the official opening of the Sophia Global Studies Centre. At 17:00 the official inauguration of the Academic Year will be held in the Auditorium of Loppiano and include a moment of reflection on the new challenges facing Sophia. Program
![Thanking those who dream of a united world]()
10 Oct 2017 | Non categorizzato
30th September 2017
Dear all, During our international meeting at Castel Gandolfo, we have been able to see all that the charism of unity is doing in the world and deepen our identity as the Work of Mary. At the end of the meeting, we felt a great desire to reach out to each one of you who, in various ways, have adhered to and live the Ideal and who, in the most varied situations, make your own contribution to building up fragments of fraternity wherever you are. We realised there are so many people to whom we owe gratitude and recognition, since you have loved, suffered and given your life to build up this reality. From the depths of our hearts, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone, without forgetting those who, while not considering themselves an active part of the Movement today, continue to live their daily lives motivated by Chiara’s same Ideal. We are certain that Mary, Mother of the Movement and of us all, will help us go forward together on the journey towards the unity of the human family, as witnesses to her love, wherever we are. Considering all of us, in all we are doing and living, as little knots in a great net, we embrace you all.
Emmaus and everyone
