4 Feb 2017 | Non categorizzato
“Economy and communion. These are two words that contemporary culture keeps separate and often considers opposites. Two words that you have instead joined, accepting the invitation that Chiara Lubich offered you 25 years ago in Brazil, when, in the face of the scandal of inequality in the city of Sao Paulo, she asked entrepreneurs to become agents of communion”. Pope Francis said these words in his welcoming speech to 1200 entrepreneurs, young people and scholars who came together to celebrate the 25 years of life of the Economy of Communion. In the opening sentence of his address he said that he was pleased to welcome representatives of a project “in which I have been genuinely interested for some time”. “With your life you demonstrate that economy and communion become more beautiful when they are beside each other. Certainly the economy becomes more beautiful, but communion is also more beautiful, because the spiritual commnuion of hearts is even fuller when it becomes communion of goods, of talents, of profits”. 
In his message to the extremely attentive gathering, Pope Francis expressed hope and recommendations on three main points. The first concerns money. “It is very important that at the centre of the economy of communion there be the communion of your profits. The Economy of Communion is also the communion of profits, an expression of the communion of life”. “Money”, he said “becomes an idol when it becomes the aim (…). It was Jesus who defined money as a ‘master’: ‘No man can serve two masters”. And he continued: “Thus, one understands the ethical and spiritual value of your choice to pool profits. The best and most practical way to avoid making an idol of money is to share it with others, above all with the poor (…). When you share and donate your profits, you are performing an act of lofty spirituality, saying to money through your deeds: you are not God, you are not lord, you are not master!” The second concerns poverty. “The principal ethical dilemma of this capitalism is the creation of discarded people, then trying to hide them or make sure they are no longer seen (…). Aircraft pollute the atmosphere, but, with a small part of the cost of the ticket, they will plant trees to compensate for the damage created. Gambling companies finance campaigns to care for the pathological gamblers that they create. And the day that the weapons industry finances hospitals to care for the children mutilated by their bombs, the system will have reached its pinnacle. This is hypocrisy!”. Faced with this abominable situation “the Economy of Communion, if it wants to be faithful to its charism, must not only care for victims, but build a system where there are ever fewer victims, where, possibly, there may no longer be any. As long as the economy still produces one victim and there is still a single discarded person, communion has not yet been realized; the celebration of universal fraternity is not full”. 
The third point concerns the future. «These 25 years of your history say that communion and business can exist and grow together” , an experience limited to a small number of businesses when compared to the world’s great capital, “but the changes in the order of the spirit and therefore of life are not linked to big numbers. The small flock, the lamp, a coin, a lamb, a pearl, salt, leaven: these are the images of the Kingdom we encounter in the Gospels (…). It is not necessary to be in a large group to change our life: suffice it that the sale and the leaven do not deteriorate (…). Salt does not do its job by increasing in quantity – instead too much salt makes the meal salty – but by saving its ‘spirit’, its quality”. While recalling the time when there were no refrigerators and the mother dough was shared to make bread, the Pope encouraged the Economy of Communion entrepreneurs “not to lose the active ingredient, the ‘enzyme’ of communion”, by living “reciprocity”. “Communion is not only the sharing but also the multiplying goods, the creation of new bread, of new goods, of new Good with a capital ‘G’”. He invited those present to: “Give it to everyone, firstly to the poor and the young (…). Capitalism knows philanthropy, not communion”. At the end of his speech Pope Francis said: “You already do these things. But you can share more profits in order to combat idolatry, change structures in order to prevent the creation of victims ‘ and discarded people; give more of your leaven so as to leaven the bread of many. May the ‘no’ to an economy that kills, become a ‘yes’ to an economy that lets live, because it shares, includes the poor, uses profits to create communion». «I hope you continue on your path, with courage, humilty, and joy…, continue to be the seed, salt and leaven of another economy: the economy of the Kingdom, where the rich know how to share their wealth, and the poor are called “blessed”. This new awareness makes one look ahead with joy and a renewed commitment. Press Releases
4 Feb 2017 | Non categorizzato
“You know that the idea of the Economy of Communion has awakened latent energies in many of us (from the youngest to the oldest). It has prompted important and demanding decisions and shown ways of making what seemed unbelievable dreams come true. You also know it has triggered the mechanism of “giving” so that almost everyone, we can say, is committed in offering services, prayers, energy and money; in offering to move, to give land, homes and jewellery. You know too that seeds of promising business enterprises, aimed at sharing part of their profits with those in need, are already blossoming like a new springtime everywhere. You know that places in which “new people” will be trained are rising up as if by magic and that the little towns are multiplying. Now, in order for everything to grow and mature, we must strengthen this virtue of “giving”, so that it becomes a habit for us. The enthusiasm with which the Economy of Communion began has to remain alive within us and grow. We must not disappoint the great hopes and expectations of the needy, as well as the explicit and often enlightened words of encouragement from religious leaders, economists, business people and other experts. We must keep the Economy of Communion alive in all its aspects, until there is no longer anyone in need among us. Then, there will be a surprising reality that is both human and divine: a whole “body of people” will proclaim God to the world and reveal his presence in history to many, as someone said referring to our project. … So “giving”. … Let’s give always, giving a smile, understanding, forgiveness or a listening ear; let’s give our intelligence, our will and availability; let’s give our time, talents and ideas (every idea is a responsibility); let’s give our actions, experiences and skills; let’s give our goods which we review periodically so that nothing accumulates and everything circulates. Giving: let this be the Word that allows us no respite. We want to live it for the glory of God and to bring back the spirit and practice of the early Christians, who “were of one heart and soul … there was not a needy person among them”. (Acts 4:32-34)” Chiara Lubich (Taken from a telephone conference call with the focolare communities in different parts of the world, 23rd April 1992).
2 Feb 2017 | Non categorizzato
In Slovenia, the Christmas atmosphere is felt already in the first days of December. Many in the Focolare community have learned to make advent wreaths which they sell and then allocate the revenues to social purposes. The feast of St. Nicholas is on 6 December and he goes around with sacks full of gifts on this day. It is an occasion in which families in need are able to experience the fantasy of Divine Providence, through the collection and redistribution of all the surpluses of many families. In the exchange, some detach themselves from objects they are attached to sentimentally, which become gifts for the others, and everyone experiences the typical joy that arises from ”giving.” And while some members of the various communities deliver the proceeds of the wreaths to humanitarian actions in the territory, as they do every year, the Youth for a United World gather at the Arche (the Movement of Jean Vanier) for a unique sharing experience. In other districts, they visit the centre for single mums, bringing joy and warmth to all. The dates of these initiatives are first published on Facebook, extending the invitation to other youths to go out together to gather and distribute gifts. The smaller ones instead organise themselves in the streets to offer the little statues of Baby Jesus, that they have handcrafted themselves. It is not a sale, but an awareness campaign to bring the focus to the real protagonist of Christmas. But many leave offerings which they devolve to poor children. This is why they choose the big malls as the location for their campaign, as well as the homes for the aged, of relatives and next-door neighbours, and the midnight masses. In one of the towns, also the mayor went to visit. In a shopping centre, the Gen 4, and bigger kids (Kids for Unity) held a Christmas flashmob, giving a hand to the smaller ones who were thus able to distribute their 125 statuettes. In 18 Slovenian districts, there was also a fixed date for Christmas preparations. The entire community gathered together, with the participation of around 1,300 people, among whom was also a bishop. One of the communities wanted to pass the Epiphany together, and went to visit Baby Jesus in an old church on the hill. The group was accompanied along the trails in the woods by the Magi who also wanted to follow the star. Along the way they came across Herod who begged the Magi to return to him once they had found the Child. But suddenly an angel appeared to invite them to take another route home. This was exactly what the whole group did, choosing an alternative path. After this real-life staging, nobody would ever forget how Baby Jesus was saved from the anger of Herod. Of great significance were the Christmas stage plays held in the two Slovenian kindergartens, which drew inspiration from the educational games of unity: “Sun Ray” of Škofja Loka and “Jurček” in Grosuplje. The latter was held in the city’s Cultural Centre. Though many of those present declared to be agnostics, the intense atmosphere engaged them all. They followed the stage play of the Nativity of Jesus with great attention and in the end many joined in the children’s songs, and no longer wanted to leave.
1 Feb 2017 | Non categorizzato
Theme of the Meeting of Bishops, Friends of the Focolare Movement: «If the world knew Him …» Jesus abandoned on the cross: fundament of the spirituality of communion key to a “culture of encounter” For info: segves@focolare.org – and tel.. 06 947 98150
1 Feb 2017 | Non categorizzato
Brazil is a land of contradictions, the emblem of joy, hospitality, folklore, music, pristine nature, beaches, luxorious forests and metropolises oon the one hand. But on the other, like many countries in the world, Brazil is a land of contrasts, criminality and social inequality. Drug traffiking in the city represents a real wound on society that inevitably leads to armed conflicts. In addition, the murder rate among women is high, prostitution, lack of health care, child labour, low level of education, and the spread of slave labour generates high levels of inenquality as in the favellas and in the outlying districts of big cities. Health care and education are not garunteed and young people can’t look forward to an education and a job. Few escape the clutches of cime, thanks mostly to a few public policies and the work of social aid organizations such as parishes and Christian church groups that are really the only ones who have the fate of the poor at heart. Even in my own city with its 800,000 citizens, children between the ages of 13 and 17 have been mudered because of their involvement with drugs. My desire to love my neighbor, to give myself especially to the people that have been rejected by society, led me to be involved for five years, in the spirit of the Focolare, with a social project years in the diocese of Teresina: “The New Youth Community Centre.” The project, which is geared towards at-risk children and teenagers, tries to provide alternative opportunities. Eighty children and teenagers (betweeen the ages of 5 and 17) attend music, dance and theatre classes. They receive tutoring and are provided with hot meals, since they often don’t find food in their homes. Their lives change when they come into contact with people who welcome and care for them. I also tried to be involved, listening to many young people who have shared their suffering with me. One boy told me about his drug problem and asked me to help him out of the tunnel. Another told me how he steals in order to get money. We often involve the professionals who work there, such as psychologists and social workers. Now many of the children are grown, they study and have found honest work. Others continue to arrive in search of an opportunity at a better life, of being loved and cared for. One of them who had been abandoned by his father, called me “Dad” and so I took on this role One boy had suffered various forms of violence and neglect. We found a way to channel his energy, by introducing him to judo, and that changed him for the better. He became a source of pride for all of us who had helped him. But one day he didn’t show up at the centre. We learned that he had become involved in some ugly ways and, one day, as he sat in front of his house was murdered. He had just turned 15. It was a big suffering for all of us, also for me because of the friendship we had built. Many other teenagers suffer the same fate. The project foresees also moments of training for educators and young people, according to the Chiara Lubich‘s spirituality, with monthly meetings of the Word of Life. What I got out of this experience is that continuity is required for recovering these boys, working in synchrony with the State, public institutions of education and health, with civil society, and with the church. To win this challenge we need to create networks and dialogue at every level: personal, group, community, all the way to the highest levels of society. But it all begins with me, moving beyond myself and going out to encounter the many peripheries. We’ve already begun.
30 Jan 2017 | Non categorizzato
The program will focus on these themes: The absurdity of suffering on an individual and social level Living with suffering The value of suffering There will be input from various geographic regions and from various disciplines: psychology, medicine, philosophy, art, through personal experiences given by people of different age-groups. Bookings can be made through the Centre for Dialogue with Persons of no Religious Affiliation Focolare Movement, Via Frascati 306, 00040 Rocca di Papa (Rome), Italy Email: centrodialogo@focolare.org Tel: +39 06 94798-343
