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14 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
On 13 September 2012 the annual meeting for 300 delegates of the Focolare Movement from around the world began with a welcoming speech by president Maria Voce.
The conference will run until 6 October 2012 and include a three-day retreat that will focus on one of the cardinal points of the spirituality of unity: love for neighbour. This theme will be deepened by drawing on texts and speeches by Chiara Lubich, and will be presented by Maria Voce and by reflections and testimonies of the participants. They will share their life experiences of the Word of the Gospel, which was the previous year’s theme for all the members of the Movement. There will also be a presentation and reflection on Benedict XVI’s Year of Faith by Irish theologian Fr Brendan Leahy and focolarina Dr Lida Ceccarelli. This first phase of the meeting will conclude with an international internet link-up that will involve Focolare communities spread throughout many countries.
On Monday 17 September 2012 work will begin on the various topics: the New Media and the transformation of society, the identity of the “focolarino” and his or her specific contribution – in the light of the charism of unity – to the Church and society, and a presentation on the development of the Movement in a few countries (Canada, USA, Latin America). There will be a presentation on the recent Genfest 2012 in which the young people took the lead. It is a sign of the importance with which the Focolare look to the future generations as a future that is already present and an encouragement for the entire Movement. On 26 September the Holy Mass will be presided over by the Bishop of Frascati, Raffaello Martinelli.
During this meeting Citta Nuova will release its new book, “La scommessa di Emmaus, cosa fanno e cosa pensano I focolarini dopo Chiara (“The Challenge for Emmaus: What the focolarini are doing and thinking in the aftermath of Chiara”).
![Focolare Zone Delegates Gather in Rome]()
11 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
“If each one of us were to share with at least five other young people what we have lived during these days in Budapest, then perhaps we really could change the world.” This was courageously spoken by one Palestinian Muslim from Jerusalem who then concluded: “Don’t forget to pray for the situation in Palestine.” His words were echoed by an Algerian, also a Muslim: “If it was possible to live these days with young people of so many ethnic groups, cultures, languages and religions, then it can also be done in the places we live.” These words were spoken on the last morning of the Genfest, which was dedicated to interreligious dialogue.
Among the main protagonists of the Genfest eventwhich took place in the Sports Arena, there were also Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus who were directly and personally involved in the organization of the event. On Sunday morning as the Roman Catholic young people attended Mass in the great St Stephen’s Square, young people of other Christian Churches took part in liturgical services organised by their own Church: there were members of the Orthodox Church from 8 Patriarchates and Churches, Coptic-Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists and members of the Pentecostal Church. The Holy Supper, which the Lutherans and members of the Reformed Church celebrated together, was presided by Pastor Zoltan Tarr, Secretary-General of the Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church.
For the faithful of other religions an alternative program was provided which allowed them to meet for sharing experiences of their commitment to dialogue in everyday life. This interreligious gathering really took the hearts and minds of all who attended. It turned out to be quite a special moment that strengthened the bridges amidst the diversity of religions and cultures. The moderators of the assembly included an Algerian Muslim, a Japanese Buddhist and a Jordanian Christian.
The hall became a living kaleidoscope. There were people from USA, Uruguay, Japan, Thailand, India, Algeria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territory, Macedonia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, France, Italy and other countries. Among them were Jews, Muslims, Mahayana and Theravada Buddhists, Hindus and Jainists and representatives of the Tenri-kyo, a nineteenth century religion from Japan. There were also some Catholic young people among them who wanted to share this moment with their friends.
Representatives from different religious traditions shared how they are already trying to build peace and universal brotherhood in their daily lives. There were young people from a Jewish group of laity in Uruguay who are working for human rights; the commitment of Algerian and Macedonian Muslim youths in living out the values of universal brotherhood in their daily lives at work and at university; social projects that were organized by a Gandhi organization in southern India. The young people belonging to Tenri-kyo described their efforts in trying to bring joy to the world; the Buddhists of the Myochikai shared about their project involving youth training in ethics promoted through various interreligious networks, particularly that of the Rissho Kosei-kai which organises several peace programs, including the “Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace“.
After nearly two hours they concluded with a minute of deep silence in which each of them prayed in their hearts according to the words and sentiments of their own faith for peace in the world and the work for universal brotherhood, and that they would be true builders of bridges. While leaving the gathering two young Jewish young people from Uruguay commented: “This was an incredible experience! We must work together for bringing this spirit to wherever we are.” Two Hindus said: “There are no words to describe what we have experienced in these days.” One Japanese Buddhist commented: “I’ve found the strength to face the difficult situations with love.” and together with some others he shouted: “Let’s bridge!”
10 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, and Gianfranco Faletti, co-president, visit the Focolare communities in Eqypt (4-11 September 2012).
![Focolare Zone Delegates Gather in Rome]()
8 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
Watch Telepace TV transmission – The Holy Father’s greeting to the young people
There were 1,700 young people from forty-one nations at the Wednesday audience, but they were there representing 12,000 youths who had attended the Genfest (31 August – 2 September), an international event promoted by the Focolare Movement, entitled “Let’s bridge,” that is, “Let’s build bridges.” During the English language greetings the Pope turned to the young people of the Focolare Movement, appealing to them: “You have taken to heart Christ’s call to promote unity in human family, by courageously building bridges.” Then the Holy Father added: “Therefore, I encourage you: be strong in your Catholic faith; and let the simple joy, the pure love, and the profound peace that come from the encounter with Jesus, make you radiant witnesses of the Good News before the young people of your own lands. God bless all of you abundantly!”
The Pope had already sent them a message to them during the Genfest. Now, as he spoke to them in person, the young people returning from Budapest waved the colourful ribbons and scarfs that they had been waving during their march through the streets of Hungary with a flash mob on the Chain Bridge. At the conclusion of the audience, a small delegation of four youths – from Mexico, Iraq and Pakistan – were invited to personally greet the Pope on behalf of the 12,000 young people from the Genfest. They offered Benedict XVI the Genfest CD with songs of the young performers from around the world.
The Focolare youth are now attending a course at the Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo and in Sassone, Italy, which will conclude on Sunday, 9 September. This course will examine the topic of “fraternity”, which was the theme of the Budapest event. They will also discuss how to bring forward the United World Project that was begun in Budapest. And it will create a permanent international observatory that will look into initiatives and projects that have actually been able to generate an “increase in fraternity”. The observatory will also promote the “category of fraternity” through specific cultural activities. Then they will consider the request to the UN of recognizing the international interest of World Unity Week by confirming and expanding this annual event that has been being held by the Focolare young people – and others – for fifteen years with the intention of giving a voice to “universal brotherhood”.
Support the project by signing the online petition at:
http://www.unitedworldproject.it/2/i_commit_myself_329906.html
Watch the video of the audience (excerpt from the live coverage at TV di Telepace).
7 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
Greetings of the Holy Father to the young people who had participated in Genfest 2012
![Focolare Zone Delegates Gather in Rome]()
6 Sep 2012 | Non categorizzato
The annual meeting of bishops from different Churches, animated by the spirituality of the Focolare, is currently underway in Cairo, Egypt (3-8 September). This year, the thirty first such meeting, has included bishops from twenty two Christian Churches from every continent. The choice of Cairo, in this time of painful and uncertain change, adds special significance to the event. This time the bishops wish to testify to their solidarity and closeness to their Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East and particularly the Coptic Church in Egypt. They would like their presence to be a sign that, when faced with external difficulties, it is even more imperative that we draw together in unity.
The program includes moments of reflection on the theme “fraternal relationships amidst diversity”, which the Gospel requires in the form of love for neighbour. There are also moments for ecclesial and personal sharing and for liturgical celebrations with the members of their own Christian communities. On Thursday they attended presentations by the president and the co-president of the Focolare Movement, respectively Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti, entitled “To Meet our Neighbour with Love”.
On the first day of the gathering, the small group of bishops who were the animators of the event, visited the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, where they met with Anba Bakhomios, temporarily administrator of the Church until a successor is elected to replace Pope Shenouda III. They had a cordial meeting in the Cathedral of St Mark’s. Anba Bakhomios, in fact, had spoken of the importance of unity and of the centrality of the Cross in the Christian life, especially in the life of the Coptic community. Although it has often been silenced, the life of the Christians of Egypt has been persecuted in many ways throughout the centuries. Nowadays the pressure is often subtle, but insupportable because of the injustice that has led to the murdering of Christians in several violent attacks around the country.
The bishops of the various Churches took the opportunity to thank the Coptic Orthodox Church for its fedelity to the tradition that goes all the way back to Mark the Evangelist, and for its commitment to defending against doctrinal errors and persecutions. The Coptics thanked the bishops for their prayerful presence and support during these difficult times of trial and pain.
Within the context of this experience of ecclesial communion, on Tuesday (4 September), the bishops visited two monasteries three hours away from Cairo, to discover the monastic patrimony of the Coptics that goes back to the third century. Pope Shenouda III, who was so loved by the people, came from this monastic tradition: “The whole experience of these days among the bishops was one of solidarity in action,” affirmed Anba Thomas, who works in the administration of the Church. “The Christians of Egypt have felt the unity of the Christians of the world. It is the Holy Spirit moving among us, and He is demonstrating that if we get to work, and if we trust each other, then unity among Churches will really be possible.” The gathering highlighted the spiritual unity even before the the institutional or theological one. This spiritual aspect remains what is essential, because without it nothing will be possible.
Coming out of the great cathedral building of St Mark’s and from the Coptic Patriarchate, it was difficult not to remember the Arab proverb that says, “Whoever drinks the water of the Nile, will return to Egypt”. And these were the sentiments expressed by Anba Bhakomios when he took leave of Giancarlo Faletti, who assured him of the Focolare’s prayers for the election of the new Coptic Pope: “We’ll invite you; we will invite you,” responded the Administrator of the Coptic Church, seeming to confirm the bond that had really been born among brothers and sisters, members of the one Body of Christ.
By Roberto Catalano
