Jun 3, 2022 | Non categorizzato
On a journey to bring solidarity to migrants fleeing their countries due to war and persecution, Gen Rosso’s music leaves a wake of sharing and fraternity. “We face so many problems, but with you, with this kind of activity, we feel driven to move forward.” These are the words of a migrant who fled Pakistan because of problems facing the country. Today he, like thousands of other migrants, is in a refugee camp in Lipa and Borići in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was able to meet Gen Rosso. From 4–8 May, the international performing arts group returned for a second time to locations on the “Balkan route,” where migrants fleeing their countries due to war or persecution travel every day. The goal of the trip was to bring solidarity and dignity to migrants, lift their hopes for a better world, strengthen their self-esteem, and breathe in the family atmosphere. It was organised with the help of Jesuit Refugee Service, which provides housing and essential aid to asylum seekers and migrants. “We had been here in October 2021,” says Michele Sole, one of the singers, “and it was a good feeling to return to familiar places. This time we went to a larger refugee camp in Lipa, where we met other refugees. The amazing thing is always to see how smiles and welcoming people without prejudice can make a difference and make their faces shine!” Welcoming gestures and small gifts during the brief moments experienced with them offered some a glimmer of joy and light. Another stop was to visit the John Paul II School in Bihać, where close to 100 children were able to participate in dance and singing workshops and attend two Gen Rosso concerts. Along with the pupils and their parents, some migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were also able to participate in the artistic events. “It was our way of trying to include everyone and experience how important and unimaginable the gift of sharing with this piece of suffering humanity is,” adds Michele. “I don’t know what happened to me this morning,” says a Muslim woman who was present, “but I felt your music inside, and moved and lucky to be here.” “Thank you, thank you really, for the passion and hope you gave us,” says an Afghan boy. “The singing was very beautiful.” “The concert was something special,” says Bihać Institute’s headmaster, adding to the chorus of messages of joy and hope. “We sincerely hope to meet again. It was a great honour and pleasure for us to have you here in our school.”
Lorenzo Russo
May 31, 2022 | Non categorizzato
We met Father Vyacheslav Hrynevych, director of Caritas-Spes Ukraine, when he was visiting Rome. He told us what is being done to support the Ukrainian people today, whilst also thinking of the future. 
“The most difficult thing is that there is no end in sight to this war. In the last two weeks I have visited our centres in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Getormel and the surrounding villages: there were poor people there before the war, but today they are even poorer because of the impact of all they have experienced. We want to organise psychological and spiritual accompaniment for them. Our volunteers could provide this.” Father Vyacheslav (Wenceslas) is the young director of Caritas-Spes Ukraine. He has a reassuring smile and the energy needed to endure and persevere in helping the population during this time of conflict in Ukraine. 
Visiting the different centres and cities, he was struck by some images, such as that of the Kharkiv metro, which is like a parallel underground city: “Some people live in the metro, they have organised themselves,” he explains, “There is a food distribution point, with times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is even a medical point, but people, including children, are living in the carriages of the trains. And when we proposed setting up an evacuation procedure, they replied that they wanted to stay, because that is their home and it is important to them. This is happening in all the stations and when something is missing on one side, for example, something like sugar, you get it from another station nearby, through the connecting tunnels. This is a beautiful image of the organisation of the Ukrainian people, but also an apocalyptic image of a country at war.” In the centres, besides providing meals for the day, there are also a number of different activities: some people stay with the children, others offer psychological support and some people distribute clothing: everyone is involved. When we ask about the children, Father Wenceslas tells us how he is struck by the fact that they seem to have accepted the war but without understanding its tragic and brutal nature. “One child,” he tells us, “explained to us, in a simple way, the difference between the sound of rain and the sound of shelling. For them and their families, psychological support is important and will be afterwards too. I think that 80 per cent of the children, if not more, are separated from their fathers who are at war. The women and children are either living outside the country or in shelters. One day we will have to do something to reunite these families. I have experienced this type of situation in 2014. Even then, when the men came back, they were not the same, they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a big challenge and support will be needed years and years.” When we ask him about the end of the war, Father Wenceslas does not know how to give us an unequivocal answer: “The war does not end with an act of peace, the war remains in the memory, we will remember the bombings for the rest of our lives, the ugly images, the separated families, the dead friends… The war will end with forgiveness and we must work on this slowly, examining our consciences very deeply …”. Then a ray of hope breaks through: ‘I’m waiting for the day when I can go home and play five-a-side football with my friends. That will be a time of peace. People will be able to pray in churches without listening for the sirens. They will go to the churches to pray and for Mass and not to distribute or search for humanitarian goods and medicines, as is the case now. But at the moment, it’s hard to say what will happen. The situation is so dynamic and you can’t see any signs, any prospects of things ending.” War destroys people’s lives, and Father Wenceslas is grateful that at this time the Focolare Movement has chosen to stand alongside the Ukrainian people: “Seeing the faces of people who, in a very beautiful way, live the charism of the Focolare Movement, gives me a lot of hope. With those among them who live in Ukraine and collaborate with Caritas-Spes we do a great job, from morning to night, with great respect. I would also like to thank those who cannot help financially, but who are close to us in prayer, thank you. Even during this time of war we experience God’s love.”
Riccardo Camillieri & Stefano Comazzi
Contributions can be made to: Azione per un Mondo Unito ONLUS (AMU) IBAN: IT 58 S 05018 03200 000011204344 Banca Popolare Etica Codice SWIFT/BIC: ETICIT22XXX Azione per Famiglie Nuove ONLUS (AFN) IBAN: IT 92 J 05018 03200 000016978561 presso Banca Popolare Etica Codice SWIFT/BIC: ETICIT22XXX Donations should be marked : Emergenza Ucraina
May 30, 2022 | Non categorizzato
If we put the words of the Gospel and Jesus’ commandments into practice, especially his commandment of mutual love, the Trinity will come to dwell in us. How can God dwell within Christians? What is the way to enter this deep union with God? The answer is to love Jesus, with a love that is not merely feelings but that translates into concrete action in daily life, and in particular by keeping his Word. When Christians love in this way, which is seen in what they do, God responds with his love and the Trinity comes and dwells within them. … Which words are Christians called to keep? In John’s Gospel, “my words” and “my commandments” are often synonymous. So, Christians are called to keep Jesus’ commandments. However, we shouldn’t think of them as a list of regulations. Actually, all of them are summed up in the command that Jesus demonstrated when he washed the disciples’ feet – the commandment of mutual love. God asks Christians to love one another to the point of giving themselves completely, as Jesus taught and did. …. How can we reach the point when the Father himself will love us and the Trinity come to dwell in us? By loving one another with all our hearts, radically and with perseverance. This love helps us find the way to live the deep Christian asceticism to which the crucified Christ has called us. In fact, living out mutual love causes various virtues to grow in our hearts, and this love is also the surest gauge of our personal holiness. Lastly, it is through mutual love that Jesus, the Risen Lord, is present in the hearts of individual Christians and in their midst.
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, in Parole di Vita, [Words of Life] Città Nuova, 2017, pp. 262/3)
May 28, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The existence of struggling couples, separated couples and those in new unions is a cry for help in the world. The “New Families Movement”, a branch of the Focolare, endeavours to support these families. There are many couples in difficulty, who due to misunderstandings, lack of dialogue, coldness in their relationship, arrive at the extreme decision: separation. Families in crisis, torn apart, separated, new unions forming. Often problems between couples, small or large, cannot be resolved on their own but need help from the outside. The New Families Movement has been trying to help such families for many years, families who feel “different”, only because they have not had a straightforward path in life. Giulia and Andrea (names have been changed) are proof that despite the imperfections of life you can still be a family. During her adolescence she got to know the Focolare and discovered that the only ideal that is worth living: God-Love. Time passed, her friends got engaged, married, some consecrated themselves to God but for her a secure future has not yet appeared. She graduated, then her parents split up. “I experienced pain for my family that I discovered after almost 30 years, was different from what I imagined. Yet love is possible even after so many years, because I have experienced it in the “Ideal”!” Giulia moved city to pursue her work dream. One night a friend insisted that they go out with other friends for a village festival. So she met Andrea, nice and kind but he is separated and has two children. “No, thanks, was my answer to his calls inviting me out. I was upset because I didn’t want to and couldn’t have an affair with a separated person. How could I reconcile my life, my being a Christian with someone like him?” Life goes on but her heart was increasingly anxious. “I knew the Church’s teaching on these unions so I went to Mass but decided not to go to communion, since I didn’t feel worthy anymore. I decided to talk to the priest who knows me from childhood. And so we entrusted the situation to Mary”. Time went on. Julia says, “Getting to know him, I felt that this could be “my way” but this made me suffer, above all the thought of no longer being able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. However, if this is the teaching of the Church, I would respect it and go on. Thus I remain faithful to Sunday Mass, even if without receiving Communion.” In 2016, an invitation came from New Families to participate in a conference in Rome for separated couples in a new union. “Andrea and I adhered to the proposal. On the one hand, I was afraid of the reaction that he might have, on the other hand I felt that this was an opportunity for us. It was three intense days. I saw Andrea involved and very happy. For me it was a sense of feeling at home with the person who is important to me, even if not canonically perfect. Andrea brought home the feeling of being a living part of the Church. Not marginalised due to a finite marriage but a member of a living Body, no longer excluded. I told Andrea that the family I wanted in my life had to be built on the love we had experienced in those days, that measure and dimension and if he agreed with this, then we could get married. Yes, a civil marriage, but the family that would be born had to have that seal: the measure of mutual love that we had discovered”. We were married in September 2017, in the Town Hall. “I thought that my great youthful desire to go into the world came true on the very day of our wedding, where all generations and cultures were represented, where there were people from various backgrounds, believers and non-believers, but all happy, sharing our joy. For years now, we have been part of a group of New Families, where there are couples who live the same situation as us and this gives us the opportunity to express ourselves freely without the fear of being judged. This no longer makes us feel “class B” but fully accepted and recognized as a family. It helps us in our journey as a couple not to close in on ourselves, to keep alive the dialogue between us in sharing with other couples, to cultivate positive relationships and good friendships”.
Lorenzo Russo
May 24, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Loving others by generating good, going beyond the objective limits that life imposes on us, beyond our prejudices, breaking down barriers to build fraternal bonds. This is the mandate of Jesus’ New Commandment, the hallmark of a Christian: reciprocity in love. Two pancakes We are two Christian newlyweds, and we don’t have much. Not long ago we learned that a girl from Burundi, who was also poor, had planted a tree and was harvesting its fruit to help the hungry. It had never occurred to us that we could do anything for the destitute: our family’s income barely covers our outgoings each month, so we were always waiting for the day when we would have something “superfluous” to give. But that girl’s example was moving; it encouraged us to set aside the proceeds from the sale of two pancakes a day, since we run a small shop in our neighbourhood. Now at the end of each month we always have a small fund for others, and although it is a small thing, this act of love helps us act more carefully as well. Someone who learned about our experience remarked that this gesture is like the widow’s offering from the Gospels. Yes, it is, and we are very happy about it. J. O., Kenya A floral tribute In our village there are few pharmacies. I did not like to go to the one closest to home, because the pharmacist was grumpy and always seemed angry. Since I was not the only one who had this negative impression, I decided not to go to that pharmacy anymore. But one Sunday at Mass, listening to the priest talk about loving our enemies, the pharmacist came to mind. Knowing her name, I took advantage of her feast day to bring her flowers. With that simple gesture, she was moved, revealing an unusual friendliness. For me it confirmed of the words of St. John of the Cross: “Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.” It’s an evangelical law that applies to every situation. After those flowers to the pharmacist, whatever difficult situation arises, I put that saint’s motto into practice, and it’s sure to have an effect. Even my children now know that to overcome difficulties in relationships it takes more love, and it is good to tell each other about these small or big daily victories. K., Serbia With open arms My husband is Catholic, I am Evangelical. We have learned to accept each other in our diversity. When our daughter was baptized in the Catholic Church, the Lutheran pastor was also present. Ever since then a friendship was born between the two pastors that has led to several initiatives: common prayers, peace rallies, a service for visiting the sick… I am responsible for ecumenical activities in my parish council, and out of love for the Catholic parish I also devote time to raising funds for Caritas. Since the opening of a reception centre for political refugees (mostly Muslims from Tunisia, Libya, Romania, Bosnia and Kosovo), collaboration between Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox Christians has intensified. A couple of Romanian friends who left for their country temporarily entrusted their daughter to us, and in addition we “adopted” a Muslim family in need. Making others’ needs our own is a real asset to our family. Edith, Germany
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
From “Il Vangelo del Giorno”, Città Nuova, Year VIII, No. 2, May–June 2022.
May 23, 2022 | Non categorizzato
In this text, Chiara Lubich tells how the pact of mutual love with her first companions led them to experience the presence of Jesus in their midst. We too can have the same experience on condition that mutual love is the foundation. “On one occasion, … I was asked how we understood for the first time that Jesus was present in the midst of two or more united in his name. To answer this question in complete faithfulness to the Holy Spirit, I began by describing what came before that in our history. It was when, for example, we might have been killed by the bombings at any time and we, first focolarine, asked ourselves if there was a will of God that was especially pleasing to him so that we could live it at least during the last days of our life. I spoke of how Jesus’ new commandment was the answer – the commandment of mutual love, based on the measure of the love of Jesus, who gave his life for us. I spoke about the pact that followed: “I am ready to die for you,” “I am ready to die for you,” but then, of course, I explained at length what happened afterwards. Do you remember? We felt that our life had taken a qualitative leap forward, as if a net had lifted us higher; and for the first time, we experienced a peace we had never felt before. This is what we said and what we always say. We experienced a light that gave full meaning to all that concerned us. We had a new and steadfast will in the place of our own which was often so inconsistent in keeping resolutions. We felt a fresh, rare, effervescent joy, and a new, very lively, ardour and zeal… I explained how we had wondered, in those moments, what might have been the cause of all this. And how we understood that, in that moment, Jesus had come into our midst spiritually because we were united in his name, that is, in his love. Our peace, light, ardour, and joy, and so on, were signs of this. In fact, when he is present, there are all these effects; otherwise, there’s no point in fooling ourselves, he is not present. Therefore, I concluded, we understood that he was in our midst when we were able to experience his presence. In fact, believing in his presence isn’t only a matter of faith, believing because he said so. No, if Jesus is among us, we feel that he is present. We can experience this. This is what is so beautiful and great about this particular presence of his, to which we are called.”
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, Conversazioni, Città Nuova, 2019, pp. 580/1)
