The Economy of Communion and Pope Francis
https://vimeo.com/204142200
May 1st in Loppiano
The worldwide appointment which inaugurates this year’s edition of United World Week is an event whereby young people from over 40 nations come together in unity in order to have the finger on the pulse on humanitarian issues. The program includes choreographic expressions, life experiences and spaces for dialogue on politics, economy, art, religion, culture, social commitment for peace. 1st MAY EVENT PROGRAM 10.00 am -3.15 pm – Welcome and start of program
Workshop: Peace and … Religion – Economy – Politics – Art – Education – Nature
3.30 – 4.30 pm – Many pulses in the one world: stories of peace 4.45 pm – Explosion of peace: music4peace Information and bookings: www.primomaggioloppiano.it FB primomaggioloppiano https://www.facebook.com/primomaggioloppiano/videos/1391995820874604/
United World Week 2017
For over 20 years, United World Week has been an event which gathers young people from all over the world who, through a variety actions, public meetings, conferences and cultural debates, commit themselves to having an influence on public opinion in the host country, and in together giving witness that a united world is possible, they leave a tangible sign of this unity in the cities and institutions which took part. This year the 1st May event will be launched from Loppiano and it will be preceded by the international meeting for Youth for a United World. Program of Youth for a United World Meeting (29 – 30 April) 2 days dedicated to meetings, reflections, learning, assimilating, envisaging a new world where peace is the universal law 800 young people from around the world who are part of Youth for a United World; 3 workshops dedicated to welcoming and integration, social commitment, peace expressed through art; 4 forums focussed on: Peace and religious traditions; Economics and Politics; Education to Peace; Peace and Nature. 1st May Program 10.00 am – 3.15 pm – Welcome and start of program Workshop: Peace and … Religion – Economy – Politics – Art – Education – Nature 3.30 – 4.30 pm – Many pulse beats in the one world: Stories of Peace 4.45 pm – Explosion of peace: music4peace Information and bookings: www.primomaggioloppiano.it FB primomaggioloppiano
Loppiano: International Meeting of Youth for a United World
The meeting aims to be a voyage of discovery whereby ideas are explored for changing the course of history. In their quest to be a node in the worldwide network, Youth for a United World are committed to working alongside other associations and groups. The actions of YFUW, referred to as “fragments of fraternity”, are collected up in the United World Project, which since 2012 has been connecting up people from all latitudes who have chosen universal brotherhood as a way of life. The program of the meeting which precedes United World Week (1-10 May 2017) which will kickstart with the 1st May event 2 days dedicated to meetings, reflections, learning, assimilating, envisaging a new world where peace is the universal law 800 young people from around the world who are part of Youth for a United World; 3 workshops dedicated to welcoming and integration, social commitment, peace expressed through art; 4 forums focussed on: Peace and religious traditions; Economics and Politics; Education to Peace; Peace and Nature. 29 April 3.00 pm – Welcome: Peace in the world 5.00 – Peace in our cities and nations 6.45 – Group meetings 9.15 – Evening program 30 April 9.15 am – Peace within us 10.45 – Dialogue 12.30 – Prayer 3.00 pm – Workshop and forum 6.45 – Group meetings 9.15 – Evening program Partner organisations: Sophia University Institute, “Non Dalla Guerra”, “Nuovi Orizzonti”, “Rondine”, Action for a United World, “Italia che cambia”, Economy of Communion, Living Peace, EcoOne, DanceLab, La Pira Centre (Florence), Moslem Youth, Assisi Group, “Barbiana”. More information: www.primomaggioloppiano.it – FB primomaggioloppiano Video clip: https://www.facebook.com/primomaggioloppiano/videos/1347355652005288/
Meeting of the Focolare’s Little Towns
Cittadelle, literally “citadels”, but translated here as “Little Towns,” are small-scale models of society, with sharing among generations, schools, offices, businesses and centers of art. But the first rule of these communities is mutual love among their members. They are cities on a hill, cities of the future, ideal cities – only that they’re real. When you visit them you see concrete and tangible examples of a society healed of rivalry, competition, war, lawlessness and hatred. They are living incarnations of the ideal of a united world, “luminous examples suspended in time” of human communities that look towards a future of peace. Utopian? It wouldn’t seem so, walking the corridors of the Focolare’s international center in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, where a hundred young people and adults from little cities around the world got together over the week of February 12th. It was the first international gathering of these model cities. 
Each has its own story, its own personality that was shaped by the culture and social context in which it grew, with its own number of members, challenges and developments. For example, the Focolare Moviment‘s little town in Thailand is called “Golden Rule” because of a law that is found in every culture and religious tradition: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. But they all share in common the same inspirational spark, the same strand of DNA that makes them all places of witness, in which it is possible to experience what the world would be like if everyone lived the Gospel, places where God’s invisible presence seems to become visible to human eyes. The presentations were like a trip around the world: from “El Diamante” in Mexico to Tagytay in the Philippines; from Fontem in Cameroon to Curryhills in Ireland; from Ottmaring in Germany to “Faro“ in Croatia; from Hyde Park in the United States to Loppiano in Italy. Together they form a network across the map. Participants from around the world discussed common issues such as governance, organization, economic sustainability, relationship with the local environment and future plans. One emerging feature is the growing connection with the local environment, both on the professional level (such as the Preset-Participation Project, the Resilience and Employability through Sustainablity Project, and the Entrepreneurship and Training Project at the permanent Mariapolis in Argentina) and on the human and spiritual level through ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Young people make important contributions, such as in the innovative management system at Marienkron, Holland 
Clara Zonlini and Vit Valtr, who coordinate the Focolare’s permanent Mariapolises around the world, underscored at the close of the week: “A key element for bringing these little cities ahead is an extended form of responsibility. . . . There aren’t any cliques: Each one is complete in itself, with its own identity. And even if some of them don’t have certain elements like schools or businesses, what really matters is the presence of Jesus among the members.” What are the future prospects after such and intense and fruitful week together? Clara and Vit: “To return to the original identity of the Mariapolis (city of Mary), to give that specific witness, which is the witness to the whole Work of Mary,” taking part in ecumenical dialogue, interreligious dialogue, and dialogue with every person of goodwill within each local context. “There was also unanimity in the desire to be connected: each little city in sync with the respective Focolare region. These days together have shown the importance of reciprocity and how the experience of one can be of help to the other, often giving important insights into solutions to a possible problem.” So, it’s not a utopia; the place exists. Indeed, at least twenty-five places exist.
Brazil: a Franciscan, honorary citizen
On 10 February 2017 in the Amazonas Legislative Assembly Hall in Manaus, Brother Gino Alberati received the title of Amazonas citizen, a merited award for the 47 years of the mission spent for the people in Amazonas, Brazil. An untiring and authentic Capuchin, he lived all these years in the spirit of unity which characterises the Focolare Movement. Deputy José Ricardo Wending, a member of the group of politicians who promote the Political Movement for Unity (MPPU), inspired precisely by this movement had mainly conceived this important award. The award ceremony was simple and fraternal. The protocol rituals were set aside, overcome by the atmosphere of fraternity created amongst all those present. In his simple and unofficial speech, Brother Gino underlined his calling to fraternity, typical of his being a son of St. Francis of Assisi. He also transmitted the simplicity and depth of the charism of unity of Chiara Lubich, whom he had met when he was a young friar about to leave for Brazil. 
These 47 years passed in Brazil have confirmed what he said. His tenor voice, which never failed to resound in the midst of the Amazon forest, also echoed in this Assembly Hall, because he sang the Hail Mary, which moved all those present. Besides the civil and religious authorities, also a group of Capuchin brothers and some members of the Work of Mary attended the event. The various speeches that followed underlined the precious service that the missionaries rendered to the Church, not only in evangelisation but especially in human promotion and concrete love for others, especially in the fields of education and health, which are so fragile and jeopardized in these lands Source: Blog CROM