24 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
“Among Christians there is an experience that is similar to married life. Inevitably difficulties between the couple arise. Only if there is love these difficulties serve to maintain love and enable unity to grow among them. When love is absent, problems become an insurmountable obstacle and they are given as an excuse in the event of a separation. But in reality it is not the problems that have destroyed the family, but the lack of love. So it is between the Churches. The division happened not only because of religious or theological differences, but also – and at times foremost – because of political, economic or cultural motives. In the measure that love grows, disunity becomes unbearable and problems are overcome. I think that one day the various Churches, without abandoning their own traditions and legitimate expressions that have developed throughout history, can participate together, when God wills, in a Council that will unite them and which will ensure that the Church, while being one, retains many of these expressions. The time is perhaps premature, but in a single day God can make us live a thousand years. It will be an event which will have a profound impact on all members of the great religions.” From “COLLOQUI” – Pasquale Foresi – Città Nuova 2009 – pp. 155-156-161
21 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
“One of our Focolare contacts living on the border with Syria, has made us aware of the critical situation they’re currently undergoing. With the onset of Winter in Syria there is urgent need for heating and appropriate clothing to withstand the low temperatures. The people there are unable to buy these types of clothes because of economic difficulties but also because of the embargo on importation of these types of items. Speaking about this in our group, we understood that we needed to immediately do something to help these brothers and sisters of ours. Through a Facebook page which keeps all the young people of the Focolare in Italy connected, we launched this appeal which is being spread via the hashtag #riscaldiamolasiria. The most immediate solution to meet their needs was to ship a package with appropriate clothing. The action started with all of us going through our wardrobes and organising collection points throughout Italy to collect the items. The generosity was overwhelming! With the help also of other members of the Focolare Movement in different local communities, many parcels were dispatched within a few days and are already reaching Syria. At first our enthusiasm was somewhat dampened because of the high shipping costs, but through our communications network across Italy in real time, we were able to find the most secure transport with the cheapest rates. The help that we’re giving will not stop here; we will continue to support them in a practical way with every means at our disposal! For now we’re sending the items to those in need in Syria, and any items left over will be given to those most in need in our city.” Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
20 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
The reasons for the award is in recognition for the work of the physician, Dr Noorjehan Abdul Majid, and the work of the Sant’Egidio community, in the fight against AIDS. Dr Abdul Majid’s ability as a Muslim woman to build exceptional bridges between Christians and Muslims, demonstrate that through the promotion of a peaceful co-existence it’s possible for there to be effective collaboration between Christians and Muslims. Among those who will be present at the ceremony are Annette Schavan, the German ambassador to the Holy See, who will deliver the oration. The award is in memory of the person and spiritual heritage of Catholic bishop of Aachen, Klaus Hemmerle (1929 – 1994). The Focolare Movement gives these awards to outstanding “bridge builders” of dialogue between churches, religions and visions of the world. The prize is awarded every two years. See also: www.fokolar-bewegung.de Sant’Egidio’s DREAM public health project
18 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
The news summary will be made available on the Collegamento CH website a few days before the Internet transmission. On the same website one can find all the previous linkups in various languages, as full editions as well as individual news video clips. https://vimeo.com/154703542
18 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
Out of the hundreds of communities that opened over the years in every corner of the world, the spirituality of the Focolare, the one in the Arab Emirates is particularly original and unique. It is in fact, a group composed of members of the Movement who are not natives of the place. There are often entire families from various countries of Asia and the Middle East, and also from Europe and Latin America, who landed in the Persian Gulf for employment purposes, and will leave once their contracts terminate. In fact, 90% of the Emirates population is composed of foreigners who are temporarily based, and the group of the Focolare is part of this section of the country. Last 15 January, in one of the hotels of this world financial capital, around 80 people got together. They belonged to the most varied professions and jobs: construction engineers, embassy clerks, teachers and professors of high schools, nurses, computer staff, university researchers and even humble labourers. Some have been here for years, grew up in this world, and witnessed the vertiginous growth of the country, while others have just arrived. Some of their children were born here, and others will leave soon. The reasons for these transfers are often connected to difficult economic situations in their countries of origin, with salaries they would never have dreamed of. It is a complex and often surreal situation, a life made up of work in the centre of a society at the apex of consumerism. 
Here the Christians often meet according to their language groups and country of origin, in the Churches of Dubai every Friday, which is a feast day given that this is a Muslim country. The people meeting these days come from every corner of the region: Doha in Qatar or Abu Dhabi, Sharja and Fujera still in the Emirates, and Oman and Bahrain. The occasion for this meeting was the Emirates stopover of Maria Voce and Jesús Morán at the start of the journey in India. It was a moment of sharing with this original community. The morning passed quickly, with the presentation of the history of the presence of the Movement’s members, characterised also by the visits of focolarini from Pakistan, India, the Philippines or other Middle East countries. Then followed some experiences that revealed the true reality of the life lived in this apparent paradise of rampant consumerism, far from one’s own culture, and with the danger of being sucked in by a mentality of commodity, profits and interests. Often, experiences lived in one’s youth and inspired by the spirituality of communion were left aside to find suddenly in these difficult situations, other brothers and sisters who share the charisma of Chiara Lubich. There were situations of difficulty in on-the-job relationships, but also risks of the breakup of families due to consumerism and discarded values of their original countries, and solitude. And yet, even in this corner of the world, a group of people have continued to meet to discuss the Word of Life in the name of the Focolare spirit. Another part of the dialogue with Maria Voce and Jesús Morán focused on these challenges and sufferings, the underlying risks, and the need for a dynamic community that is able to be the nurture the values of Evangelical communion, fraternity, and sobriety. The President and Co-President of the Focolare recalled how the first Christian communities were disseminated in the great Roman Empire and how the Christians, often alone and isolated, were able to resist the temptations of that world thanks to the communities, however small. The image of the desert flowers was often called up during the dialogue, as a reminder of how Chiara in the 1990s, used this image to describe the first members of the Focolare Movement who found themselves in the Arab Emirates. Besides the need to compete for the primacy of love in an environment which was renowned for other types of “firsts,” there was the challenge to remain well-rooted to the present moment. Upon concluding this dialogue, Maria Voce commented that any other method was unthinkable. The country not only guarantees nothing as to long timeframes, since employment contracts may terminate, and a job may be lost due to financial gambling. So what matters ìs to set deep roots also for those who will come, perhaps when those who are living today in the Emirates will have long gone. This community has to continue. At the end of the morning session it was impressive to see the emotions of the faces of many, and also the joy and enthusiasm in having found and rediscovered a spiritual family, and to be aware that also in this place, they are part of this great global family.
18 Jan 2016 | Non categorizzato
Igino Giordani was a forerunner of ecumenism. His sensitivity to ecumenical issues began when in 1927, he embarked on a ship for the USA to study Library Science on behalf of the Vatican. It was there that he discovered that he still was unfamiliar with the various Christian denominations and was deeply struck by their religiosity. In many previous writings, Giordani affirmed that ecumenical dialogue draws inspiration from the model of Trinitarian relationships, because all are set on the same level of love. Communion calls all to dialogue, and in the same measure, all are called to give of themselves to create unity. “In the past, discussions were undertaken to eliminate divisions; today the preferred method is respectful confrontation of ideas, and the effort to reach a convergence and reconciliation. The concept today is that unity is not static but dynamic, and grows in quantity and quality. Dialogue thus marks an innovative “historic turning point,” overcoming controversies, disagreements, excommunication, and likewise sets the grounds for comprehension, approach to the truth and virtues of the others. Dialogue, through which advocates of one or more churches get together, is neither propagandistic nor academic. Possessing the truth does not hinder the inexorable penetration of the mysteries or the real progress of the dogmas which are to be studied in depth, and reinterpreted. 
“Ecumenical dialogue does not arise from the doctrinal differences between the two (or more) churches, but from unity which already exists among them, from a common heritage. The psychological atmosphere is kindness, or rather, charity. In the words of Maritain: “Perfect charity towards one’s neighbour and perfect fidelity to the truth are not only compatible but refer to one another.” For the prophetic mission of the People of God, the Christian has to convey the truths he possesses and allow the other to convey the truths he holds. For such a prophetic mission, the Christian must not limit dialogue to the theological aspect (making it a task for experts). Unity is not only a technical and theological issue, it is a question of charity. «The interlocutors have to treat each other as peers, and with reciprocal esteem, no insinuations or sly tricks, and no offensive words. This equality does not signify confusion or adjustment of doctrines. It implies for both, awareness of belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ. They have to accept pluralism, recognising every legitimate diversity. What unites the faithful is stronger than what divides them (Gaudium et Spes, 92). Otherwise, dialogue is reduced to an alternated monologue. All Christians are called to practice dialogue which can be enhanced by every encounter (work, tourism, studies, etc.). No fences can be allowed between one confession and the other: but all doors should be opened to reach an encounter and dialogue. The job is long and tedious, but God wants this from us.”
