26 May 2006 | Non categorizzato
I work in the United Nations Organization, in one of its agencies in Rome, which has offices in more than 80 countries. We are the largest agency of food aid in the world. We operate not only in developing countries, but also anywhere there are victims of natural disasters or man-made crises like war. My daily working environment is multiethnic, multiracial, multilingual, and multi-religious. In my daily activity I try to keep an attitude of openness towards others, reminding myself constantly that for God, no one is a stranger. This helps me to be more attentive to those who are newcomers to Italy or, more generally, to those in need. At the beginning of winter, there was an e-mail circulating in our offices which contained a request for a kerosene heater. It was for a family in great financial difficulty, living in a small house with no heat, not far from my place. There are certain appeals one just cannot ignore. I felt this one was addressed to me directly, especially when I realized that I could truly do something about it. I therefore registered that memo in my mind. A surprise came the next day. When I opened my computer on the buy-and-sell announcements for the private use of our organization’s personnel, I read that a French colleague of mine was selling a kerosene heater for € 130. It was quite unusual to find such an article in our buy-and-sell index! It really seemed to be an answer to the previous day’s request… I immediately thought that that announcement, which was directed to our 1000 staff members, was actually addressed to me. I decided to tell my officemates about the situation and suggest that each of us contribute to buy the heater. They rallied around, and in half a day we were able to raise € 85! Since God never stops amazing us, the next day, when I phoned my colleague to tell him about the whole thing, he said that in view of the situation he would lower the price of the heater to only € 50. I decided to look for the fuel for the heater, and it cost exactly € 35! I have another different, but significant experience. It involves K., a Nigerian Muslim colleague. He began to work in my office some years ago. From the beginning we had a good relationship. Often, during break-time, we would find ourselves sharing our spiritual experiences in a climate of profound respect for each other’s culture. We felt that each accepted and understood the other as he was, with his diversities, and was free to express all the personal richness he had. Two years ago, K. was transferred to Sudan, a country with 97% Muslims. We continued keeping in touch. Last year, at 6 o’clock on Easter morning the phone rang: “Hello, my dear friend! Happy Easter to you and your family!” I reciprocated by extending to him my best wishes for the forthcoming Ramadan. Recently, K. was transferred to Uganda. I wrote to congratulate him for this promotion to a new work experience. Last month I called him on the phone, and after talking about technical matters, I inquired about his new job situation, home life and whether or not there was a mosque nearby where he could go and pray. He thanked me for my concern and he shared some of his experiences in his new country where the majority was Christian. From a distance our common desire to put into practice the “golden rule” – “do unto others what you would have others do unto you.” binds us together. This helps us both to reach out to others, no matter what nation they belong to. (T.T. – Italy)
22 May 2006 | Non categorizzato
Meeting with the Pope – There is eager expectation all over the world for the meeting of the ecclesial movements and new communities with Pope Benedict XVI on June 3, the vigil of Pentecost 2006, to be held in St. Peter’s Square. The event is a follow-up to the unforgettable experience of May 1998, when hundreds of thousands of people belonging to these new ecclesial realities gathered together for the first time with Pope John Paul II.
The magisterium of Benedict XVI thus unfolds in continuity with that of his predecessor. As then Cardinal Ratzinger, the present Pope immediately recognized the connection between the flourishing of these Movements and Communities and Vatican II, as well as the action of the Holy Spirit who, through these new forms of lay aggregations, was giving to a large number of the faithful the possibility to experience anew the joy of the Church’s perennial youthfulness.
An international Congress – The June 3 event will be preceded, as in 1998, by an international Congress of ecclesial Movements and new Communities, promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. The Congress will have the same title as the meeting with the Pope: “The beauty of being a Christian and the joy of communicating this.” It will be held from May 31 to June 2 at Rocca di Papa (Rome) and will be attended by more than 300 invited participants.
Prayer vigils – In preparation for the meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, prayer vigils will be held on June 2 at various places. The initiative, which aims at somehow rendering “visible” the beauty of the faith, will enable the different charisms to express the essence of their unique gift in a spirit of brotherly communion. The prayer vigils will be open not only to the people of the respective Movements and to the organizing communities, but to all faithful and pilgrims as well. The Focolare Movement will host one such prayer vigil at 8:30 p.m. in the Sacro Cuore Immacolato di Maria (Sacred and Immaculate Heart of Mary) Church in the Parioli district of Rome.
The pathways of communion – The years that followed the Vigil of Pentecost ’98 were characterized by a significant development in relationships of communion among the Movements and new Communities, which resulted in knowing each other more deeply and in a keener awareness of their role in the Church’s task of fostering a new evangelization.
Preparations for Pentecost 2006 – From the time the Pope convoked the June 3 gathering, an intense collaboration has been going on between the leaders of about a hundred movements and communities and the Pontifical Council for the Laity to prepare for this important Church event.
Pilgrimages in large numbers have been announced, with tens of thousands of participants from Italy and abroad, including persons of the Neocatecumenal Way, Communion and Liberation Fraternity, Focolare Movement, the different expressions of Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Regnum Christi Movement, Organismo Mundial de Cursillos de Cristiandad, St Egidio Community, Schoenstatt Movement, Christian Life Movement, Emmanuel Community, Pope John XXIII Community, SERMIG (Servizio Missionario Giovani – Youth Missionary Service), L’Arche Communities, Faith and Light Movement, the Comunità Missionaria Villaregia, Comunidades Laicas Marianistas, Teams of Our Lady, FASTA (Fraternity of St. Thomas Aquinas Associations), Movimento di spiritualità “Vivere In”, Opera di Nazaret, Talleres de Oracion y Vida, ADSIS Community, and many more.
