![Different eyes: face to face with disability]()
28 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato
By chance I took part in a meeting on the disabled. There I met several young people who didn’t have severe disabilities but were still unable to be fully inserted in society. If it hadn’t been for their families and some associations, they would have been left to themselves. I teach in a centre for adult learning, and I understood that my school should also care for them. But in which way? I had an idea: I could teach them an old hobby of mine, how to use a photo camera.
My goal wasn’t to photograph them, but to allow them to capture some moments in their own lives. I gathered the group with their families and the adventure began. Four of them took part in the project along with four adults who were willing to help. It was September 2007.
Lesson one: how to use a simple digital camera. Homework: photographs of your house. M.G. showed me his photos: a colourful sock, the edge of an embroidered blanket, an elaborately carved doorknob. I was amazed. Timidly he told me that these were the things in his house that he liked.
This is how I learnt that my task was not to teach them something that I thought they needed to learn, but to discover and draw out what they had within them. As time passed unimaginable talents and interests began to emerge in teenagers: appreciation for detail; picture composition by a visually impaired girl, who was able to stay still for up to fifteen or twenty minutes before snapping the photo at just the right moment. Some didn’t show so much interest, but the relationship that was created among the group drew them in, and they didn’t feel excluded.
I had ventured to include wedding photos in the programme. But I didn’t know where I was going to find a couple who would be venturous enough to entrust their wedding pictures to a group of disabled teenagers. Providence allowed me to meet Matteo and Beate who wanted to leave out the extras from their wedding, including the photographer. And that’s how they found the most ramshackle band of photographers that’s ever been seen. The result was a very beautiful photo shoot with lots of originality and warmth of expression.
As the contact and friendship grew among all, so did the size of the group. One photographer whom I had asked to do something for the group thanked me for the important lesson he had received from them, having learnt that “different” is a pre-conceived notion, and how now it is not so easy for him to see others as different.
Then, with the help of a young artist, we came up with the Occhi Diversi (Different Eyes), a photo exhibition of 100 photographs, all of them beautiful and detailed, permeated with a sense of purity and passion that left a mark on many visitors. In the guestbook many expressed their gratitude at having sensed God’s love in the photographs.
None of what happened was ever planned sitting around a table. What has begun is the fruit of real and true mutual love among all the participants, several of whom do not profess religious faith. I often found myself in situations that would have required totally different skills; I was “forced” by the events to throw to the wind all the content of the training I wanted to give, in order to allow space for listening, playing, accepting a sign of affection, allowing freedom of expression; in other words, giving space to relationships.
Alberto Roccato
28 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
This Word of Life emphasizes two things.
In the first place, love is presented as a debt, that is, as something we cannot be indifferent to, something we cannot put off. It is presented as something pressing on us, spurring us on, leaving us no peace until it is satisfied.
It’s like saying that mutual love is not an ‘extra’, the result of our largesse, whose strictures we can set aside without incurring any legal penalty. This Word urges us to put mutual love into practice on pain of betraying our dignity as Christians called by Jesus to be instruments of his love in the world.
Secondly, this Word of Life tells us that mutual love is the moving force, the soul and the goal of all the commandments.
It follows that, if we want do the will of God well, we cannot rest content with a cold and legalistic observance of God’s commandments. We must always keep in mind the goal that God sets before us through the commandments. So, for example, to live well the commandment not to steal, we cannot limit ourselves to not stealing, but we ought to be seriously committed to eliminating social injustice. Only like this will we demonstrate love for our neighbour.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
How should we live the Word of Life for this month?
The subject of love for our neighbour, which it puts before us once again, has infinite shades of meaning. Here we pinpoint one in particular that would seem to be suggested in a special way by the words of the text.
If, as Paul says, mutual love is a debt, we need to have a love that is the first to love as Jesus was with us. It will be, therefore, a love that takes the initiative, that does not hold back, that does not delay.
Let’s do this in the coming month, then. Let’s try to be the first to love each person we meet, we speak to on the phone, we write to or we live with. And let’s love in a concrete way, knowing how to understand the other, foresee the other’s needs, be patient, trustful, persevering, generous.
We will notice that that our spiritual life takes a qualitative leap, to say nothing of the joy that will fill our hearts.
Chiara Lubich
First published in September 1990
![Different eyes: face to face with disability]()
21 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato
“I want to meet you in Cagliari!” These words were addressed to the young people by the Pope in Saint Peter’s Square last May, but all the Sardinian people are planning to be there with the Bishop of Rome. “Our world today is especially in need of hope,” said the bishops of Sardinia in a letter written to the faithful on September 8th, “and Pope Francis comes to repeat it to us again: “don’t allow yourself be robbed of hope” (Homily of March 24, 2013). 
Considering the growing number of difficulties this courageous people has to face on so many fronts, the bishops thanked the Pope who, with this pilgrimage, “takes by the hand and leads us to the feet of Mary, so that we might all discover her as a model of the Christian life and as the Mother of Hope.” From Sardinia they write: “The young people are looking forward to his visit with enthusiasm and hope. These past several months have been a time of reflection, comfort and group work. The process has happened in stages, all highlighting the importance of service and giving oneself to others, and responding to the call.” It will particularly highlight experiences that give hope. One example being the Primavera 83 Cooperative that will be presented to the Pope, which is a member of the Economy of Communion project and offers social assistance. In recent years, contrary to popular trends, it has seen an increase in turnover. The Focolare community is present and active with experiences of solidarity and support also in the mining region of Sulcis, which is steeped in suffering due to the drama of unemployment. 
Experiences and dialogue will alternate with moments of prayer and reflection, along with moments of joy and feasting. The international Gen Rosso Band has been given the task of preparing and animating the Pope’s meeting with young people. During the days leading up to the event the 18 artists of the group who come from nine countries, have offered three thematic workshops: communication, choreography and song. “Two days of workshops,” they write, “which many youths have attended; an explosion of joy and celebration as we prepare for the big event,” of welcoming the Pope with their performance – young people and artists together – and providing songs, choreography and background music for the program. Read Vatican Radio report Watch VideoNews
![Different eyes: face to face with disability]()
16 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato
Th
ese ‘simple’ reflections mirror discoveries that Bishop Brendan Leahy feels he needs to constantly re-discover in order to be most effective in building up the presence of Jesus among “two or more” who are going to God together. He offers reflections on a variety of spiritual themes personal to his journey as a Christian and bishop. His reflections are poetic, solidly grounded in the spiritual tradition of the Church and clearly “audible” to the heart of every person seeking to find God in the midst of their hectic everyday life. I highly recommend this book for daily meditation and spiritual reading. Brendan Leahy is Bishop of Limerick, Ireland. Formerly professor of Systematic Theology at the Pontifical University of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, he is a von Balthasar scholar and an ecumenist and has authored articles and books, including His Mass and Ours: Meditations on Living Eucharistically.
Available from New City Press (NY)
(more…)
![Different eyes: face to face with disability]()
15 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato
A laboratory never closes but continues. Especially if its purpose is to implement practical solutions that will generate some hope for Italy’s revival. The organizers of LoppianoLab did not place the word “end” at the conclusion of this second LoppianoLab (September 18, 2011), a national laboratory lasting four days which brought together in close dialogue researchers from the fields of economy, culture, education, art and Italian communication networks not to search for a new future for Italy, but to come up with a shared idea for Italy’s present.
The final assessment was positive. The Lab was confirmed in its calling to create a national meeting space for the different worlds of work, cultural agencies, citizens and institutions. The meeting gathered together 3, 000 people and 70 Italian companies. There were 56 events including panel discussions, conferences, artistic performances and Literary cafés.
One event that was particularly highlighted was the Second National Convention of the Economy of Communion twenty years following its birth. It involves economists and entrepreneurs together finding new avenues for work’s future. Alberto Ferrucci from the International EoC Commission announced that a document of proposals is to be presented at the United Nations, which the Economy of Communion project has formulated for confronting the crisis and finding a new model of development. Many stories were shared during these days by entrepreneurs who decided to not only consider the final product and profits, but the individual persons who are the true assets of the company.
The Trinity a Way of life?” This was the title of an evening dialogue session between theology, philosophy and art, based on Coda’s theological volume, “Dalla Trinità” (From the Trinity). Two parts of the LoppianoLab took place at Sophia University Institute. One was the presentation of Sophia magazine, which reports on the research being carried out at the Institute; and the other was the presentation of Nuova Umanita which, for thirty years, expresses the Focolare Movement’s culture. Participants were also given the opportunity to become acquainted with the academic project of Sophia Institute, which is a path of life, study and research for the acquisition and deeper understanding of a Christianly inspired culture that is capable of illuminating many human dimensions as well various academic disciplines.
The meeting of the Città Nuova Press Group gathered together regional work groups of journalists and officers, editors and collaborators who are involved with “Città Nuova” magazine. They stand on the front lines in strengthening a national network which promotes the culture of unity. The town of Loppiano, which hosted the events, offered an “Open City”, a presentation of its people and places: a fifty years of Centro Ave Arte art exhibit, dramatic readings from the writings of Igino Giordani and Fraçois Neveux, music, dance, and a taste of cultures from around the world.
The concluding laboratory took place on the morning of September 18. It was entitled: “Hoping with Italy. A network for the common good on the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.” This laboratory highlighted the results that have been achieved in various settings, pointing out practical avenues for continuing reflection and experimentation, which were summarized in four proposals to make Italy hope again: support for young entrepreneurs with special attention to the South in the Expo of EoC businesses at the Bonfanti Industiral Park; the necessary openness to other networks, organizations and institutions, in the laboratories that are promoted by the Città Nuova Press Group; summer schools in Argentina and Cile with three new Masters from Sophia University Institute, which is an instrument for re-launching the new humanism: Loppiano as a permanent laboratory. What is its contribution to Italy? To demonstrate that unity in our cities is possible even in daily life.
![Different eyes: face to face with disability]()
13 Sep 2013 | Non categorizzato
©Osservatore Romano – Pope Francis welcomed Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti
© Pope Francis welcomed Maria Voce
