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Solidal “low-cost”holiday in Argentina

Solidal “low-cost”holiday in Argentina

20 Feb 2016 | Non categorizzato

In El Espinal, a town in the province of Salta, Northern Argentina, 35 young people aged 18 to 30 from Argentina and Paraguay spent time together from 3 to 11 January, for a low-cost holiday but of “elevated levels of unity,” as they called it. In fact, also the Pastoral for Tourism –Programme for the Development of Solidal Tourism of that region also signed up for this project. This concerned firstly, living with the community and youth of the place, sharing their work in the tobacco fields with the beehive breeders and weavers, and also the typical difficulties of daily living in the countryside: cold water, lack of electricity, the mud that seems to seep through everywhere… The first point was: leaving behind commodities and prejudice. The Golden Rule “Do to others what you would like others to do to you” expressed in a nutshell what the youth of the Focolare wanted to fulfill in that community. But how were they supposed to accomplish it? It was first of all through an infinity of simple acts of love, and then with a cinema forum, meetings, an excursion, moments of relaxation, eating, dancing and singing together.… But the message was conveyed also through theatre plays that showed how El Espinal would be if everyone lived this simple rule. And who knows why this was so – perhaps for that reality “give and you shall be given” which always comes true – a competition of love triggered, where all gave their best. Maga recounts: “We will never forget how Pilar, a weaver, brought the best set of cutlery she had, to offer us a savoury soup, not to mention the ladies who set their chores aside to come and bake bread with us, and the enthusiasm of the boys and girls who fried doughnuts until late t night to make us feel at home. Then there were those who hosted us in their homes, giving us all they had to make us comfortable. There were so many new faces: and in each was Jesus who came towards us every time.” But the so-called holiday also had another objective, and this was to engage in a project to develop the Tourism Pastoral, which consisted in helping the population to see the touristic potential of their town. This was the main aim behind the organisation of activities that could later be transformed into concrete proposals for future visitors: trekking along the river, horseback riding, tractor excursions, and sight-seeing in the enchanting and hidden places of El Espinal. Among the breathtaking landscapes, sudden climate changes, the sun, animals and insects – at times not valued – everyone felt they could “feel God’s presence and the embrace of his creation” and also the relationships established among the youth, which were really enriching. In short, they spent a different type of holiday in the beautiful province of Salta, while adhering to Pope Francis’ invitation to live the Gospel in the outskirts. Before returning to their cities, they expressed their impressions: “I learnt a lot of things: to be happy with the little we have and not to complain, and live the golden rule. I felt loved and welcomed. All has left a deep mark in me. It was the best way to start the year. Thanks to you all, I have come closer to God.” Other impressions: “We shall leave with our hearts full of stories, experiences, their values, life, light and joy. I again discovered that if we live together for the others, everything else will come as an extra enrichment.” But also the local youth expressed themselves: “You are the best friends Jesus has given me.” “You have filled us with smiles, joy and peace.” Dominga wrote a prayer which she shared with us: “Thank you Jesus for being here and for giving me so many brothers as a gift. I discovered You in each one of them. Lord, teach us to dream big, and of beautiful things that expand our hearts.”

Asia: 50 years of unity

Asia: 50 years of unity

19 Feb 2016 | Non categorizzato

Live streaming: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/feb-2013-celebration

01 invite revisedFifty years ago, on February 22, 1966, a group of five men and women focolarini arrived in Manila. They were sent by Chiara Lubich in response to the request of Cardinal Rufino Santos, then Archbishop of Manila. Guido Mirti, Giovanna Vernuccio, Silvio Daneo, Ednara Tabosa and Magdalena Brandao were the first protagonists in the adventure of the Focolare in Asia. From Manila, they travelled to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam … as far as Australia. The Focolare Movement spread widely throughout Asia fostering in all those who came into contact with it the spirit of unity that is its characteristic, in spite of the enormous diversity of cultures, religions and languages present in the region. “In 2016, we are planning a series of events to thank God for these fifty years of abundant graces, fruit of the meeting of the charism of unity,” write Ding Dalisay and Carlo Maria Gentile, from the Philippines. “On February 20 and 21, the whole family of Chiara present in this part of the world will gather together in Mariapolis Peace, in Tagaytay (Philippines). The first day will be ‘a homecoming’, back to our family; while on the second day, there will be a feast of thanksgiving, with artistic and cultural presentations, looking back at the story of these fifty years, to encourage us to go on, with new fervor, and continue offering our contribution towards the unity of the human family. On that occasion we will present the centers that have come up in the ‘little city’ Mariapolis Peace, at the service of the Movement throughout Asia: the School of the Oriental Religions (SOR), the Mariapolis Center, the Schools for the youth, the Centre for Priests, the House of the Seminarians, the Centers for Men Religious and for Women Religious, and the Bukas Palad and Pag-asa Social Centers. Several delegations are expected, from Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Pakistan and Australia. Among the participants will be some among the first members of the Movement in the Philippines who have now permanently moved to the USA, thereby enriching the Focolare community in that country. The guests of honor will be the protagonists of those first times of the Focolare in Asia, who are now residing in Italy, Guatemala and Malta.” “On March 14, death anniversary of Chiara Lubich (January 22, 1920 – March 14, 2008),” continue Ding and Carlo Maria, “a Symposium will be held in Manila, on the theme: Charism of unity, a timeless legacy. This is especially intended for ecclesiastical and civil personalities so that together we may be able to reflect on the contribution that the charism of Chiara Lubich has given to the life of individuals, to communities, to the Church and society.” “In the various Mariapolis that will take place in the course of the year in the Philippines (in Davao, Cebu and Manila), they explain, one whole day will be dedicated to giving as many people as possible the opportunity to know the vitality that the spirituality of unity has brought to Asia in the fifty years of its presence here.” “Asia is also home to the great religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam … For this reason, in 2017, in Thailand,” they conclude, “the 50th anniversary of the Focolare Movement will feature an interreligious event: it will be an invitation to all those who wish to join us in this walk towards the unity of the human family.”

India. At the University of Mumbai and in the footsteps of Gandhi

India. At the University of Mumbai and in the footsteps of Gandhi

18 Feb 2016 | Non categorizzato

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© CSC Audiovisivi – All rights reserved

Traditional Hindu scriptures and the charism of Chiara Lubich were compared during a roundtable at the Sanskript Department of the Mumbai Vidya Peeth on February 7. What kind of training is needed in the current world context for making dialogue relevant? Formation oriented towards valuing otherness. The presentations highlighted years of experiences of dialogue between the Focolare and academics in the field of traditional Hinduism. This was followed by a discussion about the teachings of some recent Hindu reformers like Swami Vivekananda, Juddi Krishnamurty and Mahatma Gandhi. Several students and assistants from the departments of Philosophy and Sanskrit at the University of Mumbai were also present at the meeting. The comments were positive which, in the words of Dr Shubada Joshi, Madhavi Narsalay and Meenal Katarnikar encourage us to look forward to new developments along the path begun fifteen years ago by Chiara Lubich during her first visit to Mumbai.
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Mumbai scholar Dr Sureshchandra Upadhyaya spoke of his relationship with the Focolare, during a video interview: “I entered more deeply into the philosophy of Chiara, that of Love, and I realised it is addressed to every human being. Chiara belongs to the whole human family. And when you talk with her, when you read her books, you realise you are reading about yourself.” “Upadhyaya is a man of high spiritual and intellectual caliber,” Jesús Morán remarked during the February 13th telephone link-up, “he is a prophet in the most beautiful sense of the word.” One professor pointed out that: “The central focus of Hinduism is the divinisation of man and the humanisation of God.” And there is much we can do together towards that goal.
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In the footsteps of Gandhi. Over the years, the collaboration has taken many forms, on both cultural and social levels. There have also been informal peace-training courses and social projects. As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Bala Shanti, pre-schools were opened in villages of the Coimbatore region thanks to collaboration between AFN and Shanti Ashram which continue to make education available also to children who are victims of class discrimination. The 21st Sarvo-Foco Roundtable (between members of the Gandhian Sarvodaya Movement and the Focolare) highlighted what has been achieved in these years, the spiritual, vital and social involvement of the people who have taken up the pilgrimage of dialogue along with their respective institutions and communities (Gandigram University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Shanti Ashram, Gandhi Museum, Bharatya Vidya Bhavan of Coimbatore, and others). In both Mumbai and Coimbatore the possibilities of collaboration with Sophia University Institute were explored: student and faculty exchange programs and studies of the mystical writings of Chiara Lubich that deal with the topic of dialogue; as well as collaboration with three Gandhian institutes of the Tamil Nadu, with the goal of inserting Gandhian studies in the course on interreligious dialogue at Sophia.
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Before leaving Coimbatore, the Focolare delegation took part in the remembrance ceremony of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, which was held at the School of Bharatya Vidya Bhavan on the outskirts of the city. Maria Voce offered a reflection on the spiritual dimension of Gandhi’s personality, highlighting the ways “in these years, we Christians have been gifted with many values and intuitions of Mahatma and been surprised by the surprising closeness and similarity with the spirit that God had given to Chiara Lubich.” Maria Voce went on to say: “In the Gandhi Memorial” – the mausoleum built over the spot where Gandhi had been murdered –“a place that speaks of violence and martyrdom, everything spoke of peace. The harmony in that place left a supernatural peace in my heart, a divine peace. It gave witness to a man who had conquered violence with non-violence. And this could also be seen in all the people who were there.” See also: India. A dialogue of hearts and minds See video news: https://vimeo.com/155503422  

In India: Dialogue of Hearts and Minds

In India: Dialogue of Hearts and Minds

17 Feb 2016 | Non categorizzato

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Photo © Donald Dsouza

“I left expecting to encounter mystery. I return with the feeling of having encountered a far greater mystery than I had imagined.” “My impressions in these first hours . . . on one side, a greater desire for the Absolute and the inner life . . . on the other, a stronger liking for pluralism and less fear of diversity . . . finally the beautifulness of the people especially the young who are the future.” These were some of the first impressions shared by Maria Voce and Jesús Morán on a February 13th telephone link-up with Focolare members across the world, following their long visit to the Focolare communities in India. It was a complex, month-long visit with stops in New Delhi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Trichy and Mumbai. Interreligious dialogue is a major feature of the sub-continent, and the Focolare has been engaged in this dialogue since it first arrived in the 1980s. The paths that were opened in 2001 and in 2003 during two visits by Chiara Lubich to Mumbai and Coimbatore have, over the course of the years, led to a growing relationship that was both academic, and Gandhian. Even though they had many common experiences such as symposiums in 2002 and 2004 in Italy, and 2011 in India, they developed their own unique characteristics that led to diversified types of dialogue that were all the while animated by the same spirit. The definition given by several Hindu friends to describe the dialogue between the Focolare and the Hindu world – as a dialogue of hearts and minds – remains true for all. In 2001 Chiara told a group of Hindus in Mumbai: “I’ve come to India, especially to listen, to learn from you, to possibly begin a cordial dialogue with you in whom I see many brothers and sisters.” When someone asked her what attitude was needed for dialogue, Chiara responded: “We focus on the so-called Golden Rule that is found in all religions, also Hinduism: ‘Do not do to another, what you would not want done to you.’” Another time, during that same period, in an interview with Vatican Radio: “Dialogue first of all means placing yourself on the same level, not having a priori notions, of being better than the others; opening yourself to hearing what the others have inside, putting everything aside in order to enter into their souls and then, naturally, asking them to listen to us. This process allows us to embrace our commonalities that are there – and then agreeing to live those together. That’s concrete dialogue.”    
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In Delhi, during the first phase of the visit at the India International Centre, an intense and interesting meeting was held with the participation of people from different faiths and cultures. The moderators were Mr Merchant, a well-known representative of the Baha’i in the Indian capital, and by Dr Vinu Aram, director of Shanti Ashram in Coimbatore. The programme attempted to offer plural answers to the challenges that dialogue is called to face in today’s world. The afternoon event was titled: ‘The relevance of dialogue in today’s society’ and included a presentation of the experience of the Focolare Movement in the field of dialogue. Maria Voce and Jesús Morán discussed the tension between progress towards unity and the tendency to defend and characterise respective identities, which is major feature of the times we are living in. The charismatic experience of dialogue proposed by Chiara Lubich that has opened original and articulated paths of dialogue is situated precisely in this tension that is typical of the globalisation process and, at the same time, is seeing the world rapidly changing because of the influx of immigrants and regional conflicts, Maria Voce remarked on the Golden Rule that is found in every culture and religion as a point of encounter which enables us to actualise what Chiara loved to call the Art of Loving, an authentic method of dialogue. Jesús Morán presented an anthropological aspect of dialogue describing several characteristics that reveal surprising consonance precisely in the experience between Hindus and Christians in recent years. During the course of the afternoon there were also other presentations concerning quite timely and deeply spiritual topics. Among these, Prof Satyavrat Shastri, a famous expert on Sanscript, Prof Uma Vaidya and Prof Shashi Prabhakumar who highlighted the analogies between traditional Hindu scriptures – especially the Veda Upanishad – and the dialogical charism of Chiara Lubich. Loppiano (Florence), 7th February 2001: https://vimeo.com/155508846