Focolare Movement
Prevention of Abuse
Media Area
Contacts
The Focolare and “Rio +20”

The Focolare and “Rio +20”

28 Jun 2012 | Non categorizzato

This United Nations’ conference on sustainable development which took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (13-22 June 2012), has been called Rio+20 because it occurs twenty years after the Earth Summit in Rio (1992). Since then all sectors of society have been invited to take part in the event, with the idea that sustainable development cannot be reached by governments alone, but requires the participation of civil society. These groups are asked to actively participate and to make concrete contributions toward the conference goals.

The Focolare Movement took part within its capacity as the NGO, New Humanity – which has consultative status in the Economic and Social Council of the U.N. (ECOSOC); with the support of the Brazilian publishing house Cidade Nova; and the New Humanity Movement. The delegation was made up of 28 experts in the fields of development, ecology, politics, art, communication, economy and sport. They came from several regions of Brazil, Argentina and Germany.

The delegation presented at four events:

  • “The Power of business in the service of society” conference held at the “Social Forum on Entrepreneurship in the New Economy” (16 June) during a side event. The Economy of Communion was also presented with an experience of Brazilian entrepreneur Glaison Jose Citadin.
  • At the People’s Summit (a side event promoted by the civil society at the Rio+20 Conference) on 16 June, Civitas, the Movement for Unity In Politics’ school of formation, presented the Movement for Unity in Politics and the Economy of Communion in partnership with other organisations.
  • At one side even entitled “The Human Being: Heart of a Sustainable City” (19 June 2012), the more than twenty year-long experience of the NGO AVSI was presented in the urban sector of developing countries.
  • Finally, on 20-22 June 2012, a series of discussions and side events at the Riocentro Convention Centre, in which the civil society dealt with priority issues in the international agenda for sustainable development. These events were held as side events to the plenary sessions and official meetings between heads of State and of governments.

Many themes were touched upon within the framework of sustainable development: poverty and the environment, the role of women, alternative energy, strategies for combating desertification, food security, unemployment, access to information, international scientific collaboration and indigenous peoples.

Several considerations were mentioned at the end of the conference: concerns about the final document, “The Future We Want” because of its unclear goals; but optimism over the involvement of civil society. “The issue of sustainability is the greatest possibility of contemporary humanity as a whole rather than as a fragmented world, in constant competition and conflict,” stated Adriana Rocha, Brazilian artist and painter, president of the NGO Afago (Sao Paulo) and member of the delegation. Andres Porta, Argentine chemist, research professor at the University de la Plata and member of EcoOne said: “What I think is still lacking is listening and dialogue between the positions of developed countries and the developing ones, between the ideas and values of capitalism and those of indigenous peoples and other minorities.” Proposed improvements: Continue to work with formation courses for young people as a basis for dialogue at international meetings on a more vast scale.

The Focolare and “Rio +20”

Love That Embraces All The World!

23 Jun 2012 | Non categorizzato

Chiara Lubich described the Gen4 as “tiny buds” on the great tree of the Focolare Movement. She gave the go-ahead to the first international Gen4 congress in 1988. This year more than 400 Gen4 arrived, unafraid of flying in an airplane and in spite of their young age (4-9 years old). They came from Argentina, Panama, Venezuela and several European countries. It was a real congress. Two entrepreneurs from the Loppiano Prima Cooperative explained how they are living for a “new economy” and answered some questions from the Gen4. They studied the life of the early Christians, through games and quizzes. Then there was the grand “A City Invaded By Love” Game, with clowns, challenges, quizzes, bankers, mayors and everything else, all of them brought together by a single law, trying to “see Jesus in their neighbor” and understanding what the needs of such a unique city would be. The slogans of the day were being chanted in two songs that had been written for the occasion: “The person next to me is Jesus: and “You did it for me”. They sang it, acted it out in small plays and put together a musical which they presented on Friday morning to the president of the Focolare, Maria Voce. They also posed some questions to her and were anxious to hear what she would say. “Hi Emmaus, what is Heaven like, and what is Hell like?” “Why did God create the world?” “We learned about the early Christian martyrs. Should we, today, also be martyrs for Jesus?” “How did Chiara realize that Jesus is among us?” “Could you explain to me what the Focolare is?” On the first day, one of the Gen4 had this to say: “I’m so happy inside, becuase I dreamt that Jesus came to this congress, that He was here with us, in the midst of us.” It was a dream that came true over the following days. Despite the different languages and cultures, they understood one another, they talked to one another, invented games that they could play together and exchanged gifts. During the Mass on the last day, they offered their acts of love to Jesus: a hundred colourful small papers, folded inside a small basket on the stage. There were also baskets filled with the things they had brought to put in common with the poor – the Gospel come to life.

The Focolare and “Rio +20”

400 kids have hands-on experience

20 Jun 2012 | Non categorizzato

The gardens of the Mariapolis Centre of Castelgandolfo became a great park filled with small flags, strands of colourful paper and balloons. The garden was also filled with many festive children who were moving in teams, together, everyone sweating. But if you stopped one of them to ask who they were, or where they came from,  or why they were there, or if they were happy, they would look you straight in the eye and open their hearts to you without mincing any words. With them were also some slightly older children, the Gen3 and their assistants. Some mothers and fathers too.

This was a glimpse into the Gen4 congress that was held on 14-17 June. Four hundred boys from all over Italy and several other European countries, as well as a numerous representation from Korea. They really liked the meetings’ slogan, because they shouted it out so often in chorus, but also because it expressed the experience they were living: “One brother, two brothers. . . all brothers!”

The atmosphere wasn’t that of a school, but of a family. In fact, everyone had a voice in the meeting. Even on stage, the microphone was spontaneously passed from adults, to children, to teenagers. Everyone had a say, from the smallest to the biggest. Everyone contributed something: the presenters, the ones who did magic tricks, the ones who shared stories, as in a true family. Also the focolarini who work at the Mariapolis Centre took part in the game, recounting how they were working for the congress behind the scenes.

“May this be a training ground where you become champions at loving.” This was the message that Maria Voce sent to the Gen4 congress when they arrived. And indeed it was. The stakes were high, but they were willing to walk the path in four stages: discovering one another as brothers; giving a hand; beginning again; meeting Jesus in many others.

“I had built a paper kite and it came out very well,” recounts Nicolà, “Then I met a boy who didn’t have one, so I gave him mine and I felt happy.” And Marco says: “I was alone in front of the goalkeeper, but instead of making the goal, I passed the ball to another Gen4 so that he could score the goal.”

Sitting in the first row throughout the congress were some of Chiara Lubich’s first companions: Bruna Tomasi, Marco Tecilla and Bruno Venturini. There were also some older Gen from the Gen School at Loppiano. Past, present and future coming together in harmony like the branches and foliage of a tree. The Gen4 had some serious questions for them. Luca from Trent, Italy, asked: “I wish there was no more hunger or war. What can we Gen4 do about it?” And Francis from Korea asked: “Did you really meet God directly in your life?”

On the schedule, the Mass was called “The Encounter with Jesus”. And with respect for the liturgy, the priest was able to find a way for the Gen4 to present their acts of love, the animated songs and several moments for speaking with Jesus personally. One Gen4 spoke with great seriousness when we pulled him away from a football game long enough for a quick question:  “Jesus is our reference point,” he spontaneously replied, “the friend who is always with us.”

The many workshops were also a great success. They had been planned with a holistic educational approach. During the working sessions in preparation for the congress, the director of the Gen4 Centre explained: “Consumerism (de)forms children from the earliest years of life. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on activities that help a person to be proactive, to express himself in a creative way, to overcome obstacles, to access his inner self and to develop a sense of the common good.” And so the proposals were to build a musical instrument and learn how to play it; to sing and dance; to experiment with different colour combinations, making a mandala; to model a piece of wood to give birth to a dolphin; to be fascinated by the endless combinations of shapes and colours in a mosaic and to use recycled materials to build airplanes, kites and parachutes.

When they returned home, the Gen4 left behind in Castelgandolfo, a concrete sign of love and solidarity: more than 4,000 toys to be given to children in war torn lands.

The Focolare and “Rio +20”

A Message from Belfast: Have Trust!

16 Jun 2012 | Non categorizzato

Belfast, with its vivid memories of years of division: barbed wire, walls, its main thoroughfares the stage for the troubles of the 1970’s/90’s. Now against this historic backdrop, in which the political struggle was mixed in with religious struggle, the event of this 14 June has an even greater impact.

Three hundred people gathered in St Anne’s Cathedral, which is the heart of the Church of Ireland (the official denomination of the local Anglican Church), in response to the invitation extended by Reverend John Mann, Deacon of the Cathedral. It was he who had invited Maria Voce to Belfast, in order to extend the confines of the Eucharistic Congress. Also present were leaders from the four Christian denominations majorly present in Northern Ireland: Methodist President Reverend Lindsay; Anglican Bishop of Connor (the diocese of Belfast), Reverend Abernethy; Presbyterian Moderator Reverend Dr Dunlop – who worked for peace in Northern Ireland; Catholic Bishop of Down & Connor, Bishop Noel Treanor. Seeing them together spoke volumes. They made an important pact in which they signed, agreeing to love one another as Jesus has loved us. They prayed for the grace of unity, of being able to consider the sufferings of the other as their own and of sharing their joys.

This “Pact of mutual love” was then repeated by all those present. It spoke of a “sacrament of encounter”. Ruth Patterson, minister from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland described the moment in the following way: “It seemed as if what they were saying was already happening. It’s a step ahead towards reconciliation.”

In her talk, Maria Voce proposed living a culture of trust, as a basis for the construction of brotherly/sisterly relationships: “I’ve listened to many stories during these days, known many people. Many have come to me with tears in their eyes, telling me of their desire to begin again by approaching others with this sense of trust towards them.” Maria Voce highlighted three elements from the spirituality of unity, for bringing about this culture of trust: the art of loving that is found in the Gospel; mutual love that blossoms in a pact; and Jesus Crucified and Forsaken, the Model and Key to love. Her remarks were interspersed with testimonies from Ireland and abroad.

And how was her challenge to convert to a culture of trust accepted by hear listeners? “This is the way to move beyond the barriers that we’ve imposed upon ourselves and which too often surround us,” stated Rev Mann.

Fourteen year-old Conleth remarked: “We teenagers are not so conditioned by the past, and so we can be among the first to live the culture of trust towards everyone, and build a better society. Like a phoenix being born again from its ashes, I see a real hope in this for Belfast and for Northern Ireland.” 

I leave here with much gratitude towards those who have been living in this hope for years, those who have built bridges of charity, of relating,” commented Focolare co-president Giancarlo Faletti. “The work is certainly not accomplished yet, but it’s a prophetic sign; this is a symbolic place for Europe, for humankind.”

One such person who has lived this culture of trust is Gerry Burns. With his wife, Mary. In a small countryside in the far north of Ireland, they formed an association in 1990 to unite people, beyond politics and religion. They did not give up in face of the difficulties, not even in 2000 when their centre was burned to the ground, nor when they were seen as traitors by their own community. Now their centre is even larger, and people are living in peace with one another. They have many projects in progress. “From the Focolare,” recounts Gerry, “we’ve learned that not only can we overcome our differences, but that we can also benefit from our diversity.”   

 

Compiled by Maria Chiara De Lorenzo