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Nov 6, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“The show communicated so much, it was direct and filled with joy and energy. The performers are happy people who share a genuine relationship of mutual love.” “This performance was fresh and spontaneous and the instrumental and voice quality was quite good. The dynamic and rhythm of the show kept you on the edge of your chair.” “The show transformed me without my realizing it. At the end I was different.” These are a few of the impressions that were shared by some of the spectators of the show when the concert ended. It is one of the most recent shows to come from the Gen Verde Musical Group.
Start Now! took off on October 11th when it was first performed in little town Loppiano before an international audience of 300 people at Gen Verde’s permanent theatre. The band took stage together with 67 young people from both the local area and abroad.
During the three-days of rehearsing for the show – with song, dance, theater and music – the young people were encouraged to practice their talents and discover new ones. Throughout this creative exercise that was guided by respect and transparency, the artists from Gen Verde and the participants in the workshop worked side by side as members of the same team and concluded with a pop-up performance on the Loppiano stage.
“The educational objectives of the project,” Gen Verde explains “are to promote the arts as a means of educating toward peace, intercultural dialogue, human dignity and the creation of interpersonal relationships that promote human development.”
These goals are achieved through multidisciplinary artistic workshops. “This educational method is based on an experiential approach in which workshop participants share in the group’s growth by working not only as students, but also as protagonists on stage with us,” the artists affirmed.
“First I thought it would be helpful to be a bit egocentric in order to perform,” says one of the young people, “but now I realize that being on stage doesn’t mean thinking about me, but about the other.” “While we were on stage,” another girl adds, “I felt like there was no difference between us and Gen Verde.”
This project seeks to help young people discover art as a universal language that transcends every type of barrier, instilling skills that can be applied in every area of daily life.
Start Now! is intended for schools, universities and youth groups, and can be adapted to the target age and artistic experience of the participants.
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Nov 2, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Singing of the hope and desire in the new generations to roll up their sleeves and become involved in building the future while not falling short of their ideals has been the main work of MariTè, a young “Soul and Afro-pop” singer and self-taught guitarist. She is Italian, born of Congolese parents and the music section winner of the Saint Vincente 2013 Beauty and Voice Prize. She responds to some interview questions by Africa News: Tell us something about your music. The musical trio that I sing with offers a blend of Soul and African music, Afro-Soul. Now I’m moving toward Gospel music. I direct a thirty-voice choir, and I’ve returned to my old love Rhythm and Blues, but the African influence is always there. Is there something in particular that inspires you? I draw inspiration from everything around me. I’m a song writer and my lyrics express the things I live. But I also gather inspiration from everyday life: a news headline that has struck me, meeting someone, etc. What are the most common obstacles that you encounter in your musical career? It’s not always easy being a woman. You can find worthwhile opportunities for more visibility, but often for something in return. Refusing on the grounds of my personal values is always a challenge. At times it’s painful, but I also see these moments as moments of strength: showing that it is possible to sing, play and dance while not making compromises. 
What is your message to other young people born in Italy of immigrant families? I deeply believe that the second generation is the bridge between their country of origin and that of their birth. It’s important to study and grow in order to give a valid contribution to the land of our origins as well as the land of our birth, and to open ourselves to the second generation, who are an integral and vibrant part of the country. When I think about this and the fact that I am part of the second generation, I feel so proud. I love both my countries, and I feel honoured to wave the flag of both cultures. On behalf of the Focolare Website, we asked MariTe another question: How does living the spirituality of unity influence your understanding of art and how it is expressed? I’ve known Chiara Lubich and the Focolare Movement since I was a child. When I was 20 years old I attended a convention for artists at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, which was very illuminating for me. I wrote to Chiara to thank her, because I felt that I had understood my mission. My music and my life are a gift given to me by God, and I would like to place this gift at His service in spreading the message of unity. I sing loudly about the hope that seems to be hidden by superficiality today. We young people cannot allow ourselves to crumple; we are the ones who will create our own future. We have to roll up our sleeves and get it done.Watch video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooCiwDvV2ss
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Sep 23, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“Remove from the centre the law of income and profits and put the human person and the common good there instead,” said the Pope in a peremptory statement before a crowd of thousands of unemployed people during his recent visit to Sardinia. It is the “young unemployed, people on unemployment assistance, the poor, entrepreneurs and traders who are struggling to survive.” These are the ones who must be kept most at heart. In this alarming context of uncertainty in which the Pope did not hesitate to strongly affirm that “there is no dignity without work,” he was presented with several testimonials in response to his plea. One was that of the Cooperativa Primavera 83 (Spring 83 Cooperative) that began from the initiative of the Councillor of Social Services for the Commune of Cagliari, who wished to use the financing of a Regional Law to provide jobs for a group of teenagers with social problems, by entrusting them with the care of some school gardens.
Cagliari
In 2008, to celebrate 25 years in operation, the cooperative gave the commune of Cagliari a garden area on the roundabout in front of the cemetery. It is dedicated to some shareholders of Primavera 83 who died of AIDS in the 1990’s. “Now, after 30 years in operation,” continues Maria Grazia Patrizi, “this cooperative that adheres to the Economy of Communion employs 110 workers and works for the protection of the local environment in other municipalities of the Province as well, with a turnover of more than € 3 million. We compare on the market to some of the most important businesses of the region in this sector. Collaboration agreements with local social service agencies allow us to hire for more than a third of our workers people who are at risk, such as the disabled and those suffering from mental illness, prisoners and drug addicts. For us the social cooperative is a business enterprise which, through solidarity, meets the criteria of the market: professionalism, quality and efficiency, enhancement and empowerment of the potential of all, both members and employees. In this time of crisis we fell that this exercise of trying to include people who don’t seem to meet the requirements for effectiveness and efficiency, has turned into a boon for the society as a whole, transforming funding for the unemployed that will be a mainstay for the development of Sardinia.” One of the many responses to the “courage” that the Pope asked of unemployed Sardinians, a “courage that comes from within and urges to do all you can (. . .) to face this historic challenge with solidarity (. . . ) and intelligence.
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Sep 20, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Five hundred people of all ages came from three regions of central Italy. They included lay people, priests and three bishops: Bishop Secchia from Teramo, Archbishop Petrocchi from Aquila and Bishop De Luca from Termoli. They came together for a conference of the Diocesan Movement of the Focolare, taking place on August 29, 2013 – September 1, 2013. The event drew people from six Italian diocese to share projects that focused on the New Evangelization. Together they attempted to come up with a work model for dealing with new challenges and prospects being faced by local churches. 
They spoke about open churches as described by the Pope, capable of welcoming everyone into the great family that is at the service of God. Grouped by age, they shared their experiences, with the aim of then reaching out to their local environments. Beginning with a comprehensive holistic approach, they discussed ways of offering continuing education throughout the journey to adulthood. They shared projects that engaged entire cities, at times entire diocese. In the city of Ascoli, for example, the local bishop sent Christmas greetings to the newly-elected mayors and this simple gesture was the start of a very effective collaboration. Now there are several projects in support of the disadvantaged in that region in collaboration and with the support of the municipality. For many years in the city of Pesaro there has been cooperation between the Orthodox world and groups of young people (especially from Romania) who have brought a wind of hope for ecumenism in that region. In Fermo and Teramo musical bands were begun: Eis (meaning ‘one’ in Greek) and Hope, that bring a message of peace and hope. What came into evidence in the various workshops was the impact of the community on the local environment. So why not apply this experience on a vaster scale? It could also be a way of increasing the fraternity within a diocese. 
The bishops present were unanimous in welcoming the idea. In order to open itself to the existential peripheries, the community had to interrogate itself, be confirmed by its brothers and sisters and increase the unity among all. Final proposals included: to work as a network in order to be enriched and to be of help to one another; to work together at finding new paths and, in this way, have a greater impact on the local environment. The Diocesan Movement of the Focolare began in the 1970’s and developed mostly in the diocese of central Italy. Together with the Focolare Movement its goal is to “work towards the realization of Jesus’ testament that all be one (Jn. 17:21), by animating local church structures (parishes, organizations and diocesan environments) through the spirituality of unity.
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Sep 12, 2013 | Senza categoria
Bathed by both the Pacific and Atlantic, the Republic of Panama is located at the far east of Central America and famous for its interoceanic canal. This small country of 75.517 km² and a population of nearly 3.5 million is a welcoming place with a rich ethnic culture and deep Christian roots. This year it celebrates the 500th anniversary of the first diocese on the American continent, Santa Maria La Antigua (1513). Panama is a meeting point as well as an entrance and departure point for the Americas.
With the arrival of three focolarini on July 31, 2013 a “temporary focolare” was set up, which, as its name suggest, is a focolare that is set up in a local community of the Movement for a limited period of time according to the availability of the focolarini. This experiment is already in is seventh year and this time the temporary focolare was comprised of three focolarini from Germany, Paraguay and Venezuela.
It was quite a beautiful and intense experience for everyone. Many relationships were cemented and many people had the opportunity to delve more deeply into the Focolare’s spirituality of unity. There were gatherings for children, pre-teens and young adults, visits to communities on the outskirts of the city, such as Pacora and Chorrera, 60 km from the capital. Moreover, with the presence of Emmanuele, a focolarino priest, the Eucharist was celebrated and many houses blessed in regions that diocesan priests are only able to visit on a monthly basis.
The days were simple and joyful, in which many were able to enter more deeply into the ideal of unity; for example, P. who said: “these conversations with people from the focolare have been among the best moments of my life;” or P. M., parish priest who runs a pastoral mission in Arco Seco, Azuero Peninsula, 250 km from the capital. He was grateful that they were able to visit him only for the purpose of saying hello. From this simple gesture the possibility arose of having an additional meeting with more people.
There was also a considerable presence of entire families at several of the events that were organized during that month, including families that are going difficult moments and who said they had found the “healing balm.” The generous presence of several members of the Focolare community from Costa Rica was also very much appreciated.
In a gesture of gratitude towards Nuccio Santoro, Michael Wegmann and Emanuele Colombo, the Panamese community organized a splendid barbecue with 80 people, many of whom were meeting the Focolare for the first time. The night was filled with local rhythm and song.
The focolarini have departed leaving the flavour of a family in everyone’s soul, gratitude and a renewed urge to be on the front lines building a society that is nearer to the people, more fraternal and united.
From Panama, Javier Lombardo T.
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Aug 30, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
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The increasingly critical situation in Syria requires a thorough examination of all political and diplomatic instruments at the disposal of the international community for its resolution. In the first place, we believe that all remaining possibilities for negotiation should be urgently explored, along the lines of what was begun in Geneva; this approach, if successful, would have deeper effects both for internal stability, and for relations between the countries of the Middle East. In the second place, the investigation into who was responsible for the use of chemical weapons must be carried out with the rigor appropriate to the seriousness of the offense, in the most transparent manner, by independent organs with full empowerment and effective access under the UN mandate. In any case, there must be no intervention without a specific mandate of the UN. Any initiative outside this framework cannot be considered legitimate. Besides, any intervention which is not accompanied by a comprehensive strategy based on national reconciliation, transitional justice, and political and institutional reconstruction, agreed by all the agents involved internally and internationally, would be contradictory and counterproductive. It is precisely the complexity of the Syrian crisis that reinforces the necessity of a regional agreement on the resolution of disputes and tensions before they become serious conflicts. This process has to be encouraged and supported in all possible ways, in every political and diplomatic institution. The development of peaceful and constructive relations in the entire area of the Mediterranean and the Middle East that foster inter-independent paths of fair, pluralist and balanced growth for the peoples of the region demands a responsible approach to the bilateral and multilateral relations of these countries involving all governments, societies and citizens. We therefore address a strong appeal to all bodies of the international community and to all parties involved to do everything possible – with urgency and with full awareness of the consequences of their actions – to ensure a just and lasting peace.
