Worldwide educators meet in Rome

16 Jan 2012 | Non categorizzato

“I love to be among children because they are the ones who have best interpreted my ideal!”, Chiara Lubich wrote in 1955. Today, the children who live the ideal of unity are present in all the continents and number more than 16,000. In an epoch of emergency in education, they are a living answer to many questions on education that adults ask themselves today because through the way they interact with their educators, these children give witness to a new relationship: reciprocal love, as Jesus said: “Love one another as I have loved you.” This was also the title of the formation course held in Castelgandolfo (Rome), from 27^th December to 3^rd January 2012. The meeting convened 180 people who are responsible for the formation of the Gen 4, the children of the Focolare Movement. The participants came from all around the world, including the United States, Vietnam, South Africa – some had to travel more than 30 hours. The event was also transmitted via the internet. Children are often bombarded by messages that are counter-educational and that do not respect their age. How can we offer them a formation that is both human and Christian? Difficult situations are lived within the family, causing loss of trust in adults and consequently in God: how do we make them experience the love of God? These were some of the questions they reflected upon during the week long course of formation. “Our method of transmission starts with ourselves,” the organisers summed up, “by being the first to put the Gospel into practice.” There was a lot of discussion and exchange of experiences and the program included in-depth studies on psycho-pedagogical themes in the light of the collective spirituality, the rights and protection of children, group workshops and plenary dialogue. Everything was done with great dedication towards children and their formation and there was renewed effort and commitment among the participants to work to this end. An experience was shared by participants from Egypt: “The Gen 4 saw the older children of the Focolare carrying out initiatives for our city, Cairo, and they wanted to do something as well. ‘Why not bring peace and joy?’ we said to each other. We bought flowers to offer the passersby. Before going out on the streets, the Gen 4 boys and girls thought of the phrases they would say while they distributed the flowers: “If you love Egypt, when you eat sweets don’t throw the wrapper away on the ground”,and similar phrases. Many – both Christians and Moslems – were amazed at this. A street sweeper exclaimed: “A flower for me?” “Yes,” said the Gen 4 because we want to love you.” And he, visibly moved, replied: “It’s the first time that someone has given me a flower.” A story from Brazil was recounted: Christina, a Gen4 girl, suffers from an illness that can provoke heart failure. After a very serious heart attack this summer she was at risk of losing her life. The doctors had to carry out numerous tests. Christina was peaceful throughout, because having heard the story of Chiara Luce Badano, she was not afraid of undergoing tests and treatments. A doctor said to her: “Did you know you were very close to the door of Paradise?” Christina replied: “Yes, but I did not go in because my backpack wasn’t yet filled with enough acts of love.” On hearing this, the doctor wanted to know more about her life. These were some of the experiences shared during the week of work at the service of the new generations.  The formation course was both complex and delicate, and it was done in collaboration with families and experts in different fields, however we are all summoned to do our part as educators.

Portugal – Bridge between continents

15 Jan 2012 | Non categorizzato

It could be said that 21 February 1966 is the date of the beginning of the Focolare Movement in Portugal. This was the day when two young Brazilian women arrived in Lisbon to open a focolare house. Chiara Lubich herself had wanted it in Lisbon so as to have a place of welcome for the first focolarini who were leaving from or arriving in Europe, because at that time many flights from South America stopped off there. In 1967 the some men arrived in the city as well, opening a second focolare house.

Many people met the spirituality of unity in Portugal in those early years: adults, lay people, religious and priests, but above young people who, attracted by a gospel way of living that was simple and totally committed, threw themselves with enthusiasm into telling others of this new discovery that had given fulfilment to their lives: ‘God is love, God loves us immensely,’ they proclaimed. Urged on by the presence of Jesus among them, with no worry about age-differences, they worked among the poor, organized day meetings and concerts to spread the Ideal of unity. Like this they managed to contribute to building a more united world. And in this way a community like that of the early Christians grew up – where everything was shared by all, spiritual and material goods, sufferings and joys.

On 25 April 1974, with the collapse of Salazar’s dictatorship, the thirteen-year colonial war came to an end. The Movement had expanded greatly: the Mariapolises (typical Focolare meetings over a few days with people from all walks of life) were attended by thousands of people. Similarly the day meetings for young people, both in Lisbon and Porto, were attended by large numbers. The growing number of vocations to the focolare and other kinds of commitment within the Movement were also being consolidated.

Today throughout the country (and its islands) the Movement has more than 2000 members and thousands of sympathizers adhering to its spirituality, ten focolare houses in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Faro and, at 50 km from Lisbon, the little town of Arco-iris which is the living heart of the Movement in Portugal.

Some of the pioneers of the Focolare in Portugal are no longer on this earth, but their witness has left the perfume of genuine gospel love.

Others have given their lives to God to build unity and universal brotherhood in the world. At this moment there are Portuguese focolarini in Japan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, USA, Canada, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium…

Publishing House: as an instrument to spread the spirituality and to offer the chance for formation in it, in 1973 the publishing house Cidade Nova was founded. It has so far published 83 titles by Chiara Lubich and other authors. In 1976 the magazine Cidade Nova was launched and it now comes out monthly.

In the world of the Church: the Focolare Movement in Portugal is characterized by its participation, both locally and nationally, in activities run by the Roman Catholic Church. It is part of the National Assembly of the Laity and is present in diocesan commissions for the pastoral care of families, of young people and for ecumenism.

Social Commitment: the NGO Acções para um Mundo Unido (Action for a United World, Portugal) supports projects in disadvantaged areas with problems of social cohesion. It has also set up small self-help schemes in Portuguese-speaking African counties and offers study grants to students from these same countries.

Family: the Focolare’s New Families Movement is involved – as it is in many parts of the world – in the ‘Adoption at a Distance’ project. In Portugal there are currently 73 children supported in African, Asia and Latin America.

Economy of Communion: in May 1999 during a visit to Brazil, in response to social and political inequality, Chiara Lubich set up the Economy of Communion. It has spread to Portugal and now 12 businesses freely invest their profits three ways: in aid to the most needy, education to support a ‘culture of giving’ and the further development of the business itself. Some of these businesses are based in the industrial zone ‘Giosi Guella’ established in 2010 in the little town of Arco-iris. The Association for an Economy of Communion and Action for a United World, Portugal, have also promoted academic study of the Economy of Communion by means of conferences, forums and regular meetings of specialists from the economic and social fields.

The little town Arco-iris is to be found in Abrigada, in the municipal area of Alenquer. It began in 1997 and is appreciated by Church and by civil authorities who recognize its possible public benefits. The Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, present at the little town’s inauguration, said his hope was that it should be ‘a fixed point of unity, in communion, to demonstrate that unity among all is possible.’

There are about 50 inhabitants: adults, families, young people, children and a priest who the Cardinal has also made the parish priest of Abrigada. It is in constant development and encourages the growth of the spirituality of unity through practical experience of the gospel lived. A moment of outreach that goes beyond the members of the Focolare and appeals, most especially, to young people is the gathering of youth every 1 May for a day of sharing and celebration. The little town is a privileged space for dialogue with civil society and with people of every conviction and culture.

Prophecy and History

12 Jan 2012 | Non categorizzato

History and prophecy, the two eyes with which humanity contemplates its scene in the drama: one looks to the past and the other to the future, so that it can regulate the present. You could say that prophecy is God’s view and history is man’s. Thus history is an epitaph of the fallen and prophecy the longing for freedom from death and new life, a longing for peace. And Christ came. And over his cradle, in the mists of time, the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to men on earth.” What is glory for the Lord God in Heaven is peace for men on earth: Peace is the glory of men; glory is the peace of God. Now Christ indicates peace. “Christ is our peace. . . peacemaker,” come “to bear the good announcement of peace,” as Paul says to the Romans, who were a people of war. His revolution centers on the discovery of the brother, made by the light of charity, and peace is the fruit of charity. His law is forgiveness, and forgiveness replaces the impulses of war. War denounces, in those who promote it, a practical atheism, a rebellion against God. One of the Gospel beatitudes sings: “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called the sons of God.” Peacemakers are makers of peace. For peace must be made, it is produced and it is the most precious product of human civilization. The Christian is a producer of peace that reconstructs the fabric of time indefinitely. He continually reconstructs life, “making war” on war, as Pius XII says, in order to combat his enemy which is death.. But there is peace and there is peace. .  One is life and the other is death. “My peace I leave with you,” Jesus says, “I give you my peace, not the peace that the world gives.” The world’s peace is imposed by war; Christ’s peace is the gift of love.   In this respect, both – peace and war – spring from the heart of each one of us.                                                                                                                                Too many of the world’s peoples still continue to repeat with the prophets: “We wait for peace and we do not have it; we await the hour of healing and remedy for the ills we have suffered, and behold: new tumors and disturbances are appearing; we wait for the light, and look at us still in darkness. . . We await justice and it’s not there; health, and it is still far from us.”  Civilization and peace identify with each other in the same way war and barbarism accompany each other. A prophecy is needed today – a vision of love and reason – to shout on the heads of those responsible the imminent dangers to which their foolishness, their fear can lead us.   If the body of humanity flows with the Blood of Christ, It shall free it of evil. To the city of man today as to the Jerusalem of then Jesus continues so say: “Oh, if you also knew – especially this day – what would bring you peace!”   Precisely on this day, for there is no more time to lose.                                                                                                                                                          What is conducive to peace is human rationality together with the divine rationality, and this is substantially what love is.   The Blood of the Redemption which makes us consanguineous with Christ and therefore with each other, reassembles as a family: in community, able to reach unity.                                                                    Moreover, a universal unification seems to be already underway. The ideals of freedom, justice and peace are common to all, elevating the black and the yellow, proletarians and workers of every land and condition.      Upon their agitation which is forming the dramatic history of our times, the prophetic invitation of Christ is all the more urgent: “May they all be one!” Igino Giordani

Marisa Baù: the search goes on

10 Jan 2012 | Non categorizzato

Marisa Baù, an Italian focolarina resident in Switzerland, is still missing. All sign of her was lost on 20 December 2011. In the last few weeks, the Swiss police from Fribourg have been involved. They are in touch with the Focolare Centre at Montet (Broye), in Switzerland, where Marisa has lived for more than 15 years, as well as with members of her family.

Locally there is a great deal of cooperation to find some clue that will lead to her being found. Her friends and colleagues regularly comb the area around Montet.

The alarm has been raised also among the Fribourg regional gamekeepers, hunting association, anglers, ramblers and birdwatchers. The numerous campsites around lake Neuchatêl have been informed as well.

The news, as is to be expected, has spread swiftly among everyone in touch with the Focolare, Marisa’s friends and all who know her. Official Focolare channels and social networks have begun a chain of communion and prayer which has the commitment to pass on any information useful to the search. ‘We are praying in Sweden too’; ‘We pray for her in Berazategui, Argentina’; ‘In Columbia we pray every day. We call upon heaven with faith!’; ‘Also from Spain we pray that she’ll be found’; ‘We miss you, aunt!’; ‘I pray that your guardian angel with be close to you and that you give us some sign to lead us to you’; ‘Marisa … you followed your star, you walked the streets of the world fulfilling the dream of your life: to serve your neighbour out of love. In this period we are the ones looking for a star to follow so we can find you.’ These are a few of the echoes received.

Marisa was an educator and in charge of Centre’s dressmaking studio. On 20 December she had just returned from a week’s work in Brazil. That morning she decided to go for walk in the countryside around Montet. She left at about 11 am and never returned. After an initial search during the lunch hour by people from the Centre the police were informed and, in the afternoon, dogs were brought in.

Notes on Marisa Baù

Born 12 May 1963, resident at Montet (Broye).

Description:

Light build, 1.63 metres, medium length wavy red hair, green eyes. Was wearing a black winter coat with hood, jeans, black pullover and bootlets. Speaks Italian and French. Please give any information as to her whereabouts to the Fribourg Canton Police on +41 (0) 26 305 17 17.

Further information

“Be a family this Christmas”

24 Dec 2011 | Non categorizzato

«If I should have to leave this world today and you were to ask me for a single word, one last word that sums up our Ideal, I would say – certain of being perfectly understood – ‘Be a family’. Are there among you those who are suffering spiritual or moral trials? Understand them as a mother and more than a mother would, enlighten them with your words or example. Do not leave them alone; indeed, surround them with the warmth of a family. Are there among you those who are suffering physically? They should be your preference. Suffer with them. Seek to understand their sufferings in depth. Share with them the fruits of your apostolic endeavors so that they may realize that they, more than others, contributed to its success. Are there those who are dying? Imagine yourself in their place and do all that you would want others to do to you, to the very last instant. Are there those who are happy because of a particular achievement or for any other reason? Share in their happiness, so that their consolation may not be saddened and their heart closed, but that the joy may be of all.

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