Ivory Coast: When solidarity is a risk

Dec 21, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria

Between 2002 and 2006, a civil war was underway in the Ivory Coast, which went virtually unnoticed by Europe and the world. It was a political conflict over control for power. The Focolare Movement has had a presence in that country, in the capital city of Abidjan and in Man, since 1975.

When hostility broke out and Man became the target of the rebels, the western countries advised their co-nationals to evacuate immediately. The welcoming centre for foreigners was located in front of one of our centres, Mariapolis Victoria. That centre began to fill up with refugees, and so we decided, Africans and Europeans together, to stay on with the population. It was certainly a risky decision, but motivated by the desire to partake in the drama that was engulfing everyone.”

Then they began working together in welcoming the thousands of people who poured into the centre. The refugees belonged to different tribal groups and were Muslim, Christian and followers of traditional African religions. All were welcomed without distinction. The Focolare Movement offered temporary spaces where they could stay. Many of the refugees brought with them all they could carry.

“Life within the compound, even amidst the difficulties caused by the war, continued as it was in the city, in peaceful and integrated coexistence of the diverse communities, not without some natural tensions. There was also a vast sharing of goods and basic needs (clothing, food and water). All doctors and nurses had fled, according to the government, and the only doctor remaining was one of us, who cared for the people without any discrimination, including rebels who controlled Man for a period of time. As soon as the government took control of the region, the majority of people left for the villages, but some remained behind.”

The Man experience highlights how a Focolare community responds in risky situations: “Firstly, the many years of people in the area who are trying to live the Gospel, has created an inter-ethnic community that offered a place of welcome and peace; the members of our community, acting because of a powerful spiritual motivation, decided to stay with the people and share their fate. That principle of fraternity garunteed that all were to be welcomed, without any type of discrimination. This created mutual trust, which allowed the thousands of people not only to survive, but even to share what they had with others. the trust that was generated among all, even the rebels, secured the possibility of saving other lives. In fact, one group of rebels risked their lives, escorting a special bus that brought children from a hospital which had fallen into the hands of some of their fellow-rebels, into an area controlled by the government. Thanks to everyone’s effort, a certain social cohesiveness was preserved.”

See also: Witnesses to Peace, New City Philippines

Croatia: European EoC Meeting

Nov 13, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria

The Economy of Communion is not a “done deal,” but a “process.” This idea was repeated often at the 5th meeing of European business owners and promoters of the EoC, held in a Focolare town in Krizevci Croazia (October 17-20, 2014). This year again the meeting was a process, a communion created one day at a time.

A hundred and fifty people from 23 countries took part in the meeting. Besides Europe, they came from Brazil, Argentina, Congo, and India. Forty two young people between the ages of 18 and 30, from 7 countries also took part in the meeting with their “Together we grow: youth towards and inclusive economy” project. Seven European associations (from Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Germany and Italy) had the idea of organising a simultaneous “exchange” with young people that would be an integral part of the business meeting. That portion of the meeting was titled “Together we grow: youth towards an inclusive economy,” and was supported by the European Commission that co-finances the project.

Where is the EoC today and what are its prospects for the future?

This question was answered by Professor Luigino Bruni, who recalled the beginnings of the Focolare Movement in 1943 when Chiara Lubich and the first focolarine welcomed the poor into their home for lunch. “This is the primary image of the EoC,” he said. “In this scene the poor person is inside the house, and this is fraternity.” Bruni spoke of three challenges for the Economy of Communion, which he gave three titles: offering a great ideal; today’s poor are the young people because they cannot find work; and doing things together with the many people who already share the same values of communion and brotherhood.

The three days in Croatia were filled with the testimonies of business owners. Nico Daenens from Belgium, presented his business which offers domestic help, with 3000 collaborators. Koen and Chris from Belgium, along with Atila and Boglarka from Serbia, told about the collaboration that began thanks to the values they shared values with the EoC, and that a new company has begun in Serbia.

In the afternoons workshops were held dealing with several topics: “What is needed to come up with an EoC business plan and start-up?”, “Paths of inclusion for people at the local level in the life of the EoC business,” “Spreading the EoC project and its culture,” “Management of non-profit associations” and others.

One person who attended the meeting summarised the event: “It was truly a workshop of brotherhood, open to future projects which we hope will lead us beyond old geographic and mental boundries, following the path of communion.”

Source: EoC online

New Zealand: A peace that is gentle and strong, like the Kowhai

Nov 11, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria

L’arcivescovo John Dew di Wellington

We are in New Zealand, in the heart of Wellington, capital of a land that has opened its arms to many peoples. Urged by the news of wars in Iraq, Gaza, Ukraine and Central Africa; the growing fear of Ebola; and the Pope’s many appeals for peace, some young people from the Focolare Movement in New Zealand felt the need to gather in a public place and voice their longing for peace.

The Archbishop of Wellington, Most Rev. John Dew, contributed personally to the evening event, which included songs, prayers and testimonies. There was also a witness offered by  two young women from Iraq who had met in New Zealand and were followed by their families to that land: Sendirella, a Catholic, and Ayssar, a Muslim. They spoke about what had united them in their homeland. They had first met at the home of a common friend and from there a friendship began that led them to share their dreams, studies and travel. Sendirella said “we’re different,” but Aysser quickly added, “but we are the same.” They said that for many people religion is the great difference, perhaps even the great obstacle, but it was never a problem for them; on the contrary, it drew them closer. “In the religion of one,” said Sendrella, “we’ve always recognised elements of the religion of the other.”

Sendirella e Ayssar

Then, they talked about their country. Today’s Iraq is associated with war, fleeing minorities and torture, but the Iraq of their parents was one where your neighbour could be a Christian, Muslim, Jew or Yazidi; “an Iraq,” Ayssar said, “where the difference of religion was always accepted as a fact, not a problem.” Now that Iraq seems so far away. “They’ve told us that peace is impossible,” Sendirella continued: “But we know that peace is not merely a word in a constitution, it’s not some particular form of government, nor air-raids meant to enforce peace. We know that that peace lies in the daily observance of our values, that it’s something that comes from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.”

A young university student called Kathleen told how she felt urged to ask forgiveness following a misunderstanding among the students with whom she shared a flat. Before, that would have been a very difficult and demanding thing for her to do, but as it turned out, it opened the door to a new and better relationship with the other girls.

The evening prayer concluded with an invitation to become builders of peace, sealing that commitment with the knotting of a white ribbon to a small Kowhai tree. This tree with a Maori name originated in New Zealand. It has many medicinal qualities and several species of birds are nourished by its rich nectar. With delicate branches the Kowhai is a strong tree that can reach heights of 20 metres. It was a perfect symbol of the humble but powerful cry for peace that went forth from those young people on that night of prayer.

Priests at the service of humanity

Aug 28, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria

“Networking – The Church’s Touchbase”: a four-day event together, with meetings, debates, workshops for young priests and seminarians who want to be at God’s service, active in facing the challenges put to them by people and society today. Fr Justin Nary is 42 and comes from the Central African Republic. He talks so calmly, as if he were referring to someone else, and narrates of those over 2,000 Muslims he had taken in, risking his own life to save them from the deadly violence that has recently bloodied his country. Just before this, Fr. Josef Pal, a Romanian, had recounted his own efforts to set up a number of ecumenical and social events in his city, where people of non-religious beliefs, were able to dialogue with civil institutions and also in the parishes. These fragments of true life, the stories of priests “passionately dedicated to humanity,” were shared with the 268 participants of the “Net-working – The Church’s Touchbase” meeting for priests, seminarians and individuals oriented towards priesthood and held in Loppiano from 19 to 22 August. “We wished to address the new generation of priests – Fr Alexander Duno of the Focolare’s Center for Priests,  explained – and there was a massive response: the participants spoke 12 different languages and came from 38 countries, mostly Europe, with representatives from Africa, Asia and the Americas. There were great expectations for these four days, focused on the image of the “network” and all were eager to learn, participate and share the lives and dramatic experiences lived by their own people. Also the International Centre of Loppiano gave its support for the dual theme of dialogue-communion and welcomed the participants with that typical warmth which has become the distinctive mark of its 50 years of existence. This was an open workshop where experts, teachers and participants formed an only working team, and who not only attended the plenary sessions but also the 27 thematic workshops emceed by international professionals. The themes  focused on the family, economy, politics, cultural and religious pluralism, dialogue with Islam and the great religions. Open debates were held on the Church’s going out towards the existential outskirts and the present-day profile of the parish as a “community network.” Great attention was paid to the crucial issues in the lives of priests today: their life balance, the gift and challenge of celibacy, solitude and ways of living a community life, capacity to dialogue in the midst of conflicts and social challenges. A first series of these workshops centred on the modern-day scenarios and unveiled the fact that beyond the crises, there are realities that give concrete examples of brotherhood, and communities that give their response full of hope.  Also the workshops on the current realities of the Church today were fully booked. All resulted in drawing the profile of the Church as a lively body, open to dialogue, and which does not retreat in face of contemporary novelties, but pushes itself deeply into the crossroads of history, to enlighten it with the perspective given by the evangelical Word of Unity, lived through relationships and groups that make of communion and sharing, their very strong point. “During these days,”remarked Fr Stefano Isolan, a young priest of Fiesole, in Florence, “we experienced the beauty of our being priests and not isolated individuals, full of commitments and meetings; we really lived the experience of being the knots of a net, important for one another.” “I experienced the joy of having so many brothers,” an evangelical pastor from Serbia commented, “It made me feel that love which unites us, even if we belong to different Churches.” A young seminarian declared: “The idea of communion is not just a notion in my head, it penetrates into my life.” Another said: “Though we are so different from one another, we were able to confide in each other. The workshops were really a great help.” The atmosphere that reigned was joy and new hope in having experienced what Pope Francis said before all the Asian Bishops in his recent trip to Korea, when he wished “authentic dialogue” would rise from “a capacity to empathize with others (…) which is the fruit of our spiritual outlook and personal experience which brings us to consider each other as brothers and sisters.” Now that the meeting has ended, the challenge continues on a national, European and worldwide level: in the parishes, communities, side by side with the people, and in the cities where the priests and seminarians returned to, with the desire to continue putting into practice the phrase of St. Paul which was chosen as the meeting’s motto: “Receive one another the way Christ has received you». Visit website:  networking2014.focolare.org Fotogallery: Loppiano

Sophia: Young People Rediscovering Politics

Aug 1, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria

This year most specialisations at the graduate summer session of Sophia Univeristy Institute (IUS) came from the Department of Political Studies. Ramy Boulos from Egypt with the thesis on Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Rethinking, Recovering and Reconciling Current Practices; Vanessa Breidy from Lebanon with Pluralisme et Conflicts Culturels Au Liban. Entre Communitarisme Et Conscociativisme Perspectives Pour le Futur (on prospectives of institutional reform in the country); Melchior Nsavyimana from Burundi with Le Soudan du Sud e la Communaute est Africane (on the integration process of Sudan in East South Africa; Vilmar Dal Bo Maccaria from Brazil with O concieto de social segundo o paradigma fraterno a partir do pensamento de Giuseppe Maria Zanghi (on social life and fraternity, with a particular reference to the thought of Zanghi).    Choosing a topic for a thesis is always very demanding. What was your approach? “There was a big question that was returning to me for some time: What defines the identity of a people? Why does identity still appear as such an irreconcilable contrast? What relationship is there between identity and democracy? The Middle East is still in the midst of a very critical phase that will long determine its appearance. Only three years ago there was talk of an Arab spring, whereas now we are much more cautious about using this term: the line between Arab spring and Arab wars is not as clear as we observe the return of several non-democratic military regimes. Prolonged oppression of minorities, persecutions against those who think differently, rigidity and fundamentalism, vicissitudes that are deeply rooted in history . . . what we see emerging from a combination of confused and at the same time dramatic factors seems to me to be a sad inability to ‘under-stand’ the cultural, ethnic, political and religious diversity that is found in different countries. The theory of democracy is struggling with these unanswered questions, and I think we have to recognise that we still have a long road ahead of us.” What is the message that comes from your own country of Lebanon? “John Paul II said that Lebanon was more than a country – that it was a message. And yet, until now the Lebanese have not managed to secure harmonious coexistence amongst the ethnic groups, religious groups and different faces of its inhabitants. The search continues amidst challenges and disappointments. Lebanon has several interesting features that should not be undervalued; but a critical analysis should be allowed to also identify what is lacking so that the values, upon which our coexistence can be built, can be highlighted.” From where should we begin again? The high vision of politics that I studied at IUS has given me much hope. I learnt that it is always necessary to choose dialogue, accepting even our fears and ambitions, while aiming for the truth. Each one of us, in our deepest being, is formed by the Other: by the identity of others. In politics, dialogue becomes the true art of understanding and learning. With this in mind I placed the accent on the question of Good more than Justice, an idea that seems to be making strong headway throughout the Middle East: why not continue following this line after for so long asking what is just has proven to be so unfruitful? I am convinced that, following this path, the Lebanese will also rediscover the fruitfulness of their own message – the peaceful coexistence of different religions and cultures, but especially the dialogue among them, for a new blossoming of service to the Middle East and beyond.