The “La Sorgente” Mariapolis Centre is located in Ain Aar, in a mountainous area, 20 kilometres north of Beirut. Just as it was in 2006, the year of the 34-day military conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, people fleeing the bombs that are devastating the South of the country are arriving here, in this predominantly Christian and asking for hospitality. “It is normal to knock on the door of the Mariapolis Centre and find it wide open,” says R. of the Lebanese community of Focolare. “How could we not welcome them? What would have become of the ideal of brotherhood that we cherish and which should be our hallmark?” A similar experience occurred in 2006. Then too, Lebanon experienced large-scale movements of families and the Focolare welcomed more than a hundred friends, entire extended families in its Mariapolis Centre. “We met in those conditions and became like brothers and sisters, sharing joys and sorrows, hopes and difficulties, needs and prayer. In a simple and sincere relationship, woven into everyday life, a true experience of brotherhood started and grew, without filters or prejudices”.
No one expected the situation to deteriorate so quickly. “The Lebanese were preparing to return to school, optimistic about this new year”, says R. “Yet an unexpected storm erupted, relentless, threatening and deadly”, with “terrible consequences for a population thirsting for peace, justice and paths of dialogue”. In a few days, or rather hours, military actions hit ordinary neighbourhoods and the people found themselves living “a real nightmare”. According to the Ministry of Public Health, as of 25th September, almost 600 people have been killed in Lebanon, including more than 50 children and 94 women, and about 1,700 others have been injured since 23rd September. Mass displacement continues, reaching around 201,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Since Sunday, the “La Sorgente” Mariapolis Centre has also been filled with guests “arrived with their fears, the trauma experienced in their targeted villages and neighbourhoods”. They drove 120 kilometres, taking between 5 to 8 hours. The roads are crowded with cars fleeing the South. They leave the villages before reaching the big cities of Tyre and Sidon. Around them, they see the destruction of the recent bombings. There are currently 128 guests at the Mariapolis Centre in Ain Aar. Some come from the South, others from the popular suburbs of Beirut hit by the latest attacks. It is not easy: “Their presence raises questions in the Christian community of the region”, say the focolarini. “One wonders: are there members of Hezbollah among them who could threaten peace in the region? But the sense of solidarity is stronger than suspicion. “R. adds: “Where could they seek shelter this time too? Where could they go and know that they would be welcomed without reservation?” For the community of the focolare, a new adventure begins. The welcome is coordinated with local, religious and civil authorities.
A “contest” of solidarity is taking place throughout the country. From the parish priest, to the faithful of the parish, to the volunteers. There are those who take care of the children by organising activities and football matches for them. Those who take care of the necessary help for the reception. “People arrive shocked, worried about their future, with the apocalyptic sight of destroyed houses, burned fields, but also news of acquaintances, relatives, neighbours, friends or students who were killed in the attacks and they will never see them again. Together we unite in living the present moment, with the faith that has allowed us to endure adversity for centuries”.
The “La Sorgente” Centre aims to be, along with many other places scattered throughout the country, true “oases of peace”. “The hope, the deepest wish is that we can soon return home. So much blood spilled must make the desert of hearts bloom. We hope that this ordeal we are experiencing will open a breach in the conscience of the powerful and of everyone, showing that war is a defeat for all, as Pope Francis repeats. But above all we believe and hope that from this crucible of pain a message of possible brotherhood for the entire Region can emerge from Lebanon “.
Maria Chiara Biagioni Source: AgenSir Photo: Focolare Lebanon
They arrived two by two by motorbike, the most common form of transport for getting to the town of Manono in Katanga province in the south-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ninety-two priests from 8 dioceses of the ecclesiastical province of Lubumbashi met together in this town for one of the Focolare Movement’s periodical retreats. The Bishop of Manono, Mgr Vincent de Paul Kwanga Njubu invited the Focolare to hold the meeting there, as he had been struck by the testimony of his priests who had participated in a similar retreat in Lubumbashi in the past.
Mgr Oscar Ngoy wa Mpanga, the Bishop of Kongolo, a diocese which is 300 km from Manono, who had also been struck by young priests who had participated in similar retreats organised for seminarians, also asked all the priests in his diocese to join this retreat. Forty-three arrived. The local press described the retreat as ‘unforgettable’. At its conclusion, the bishop offered everyone a lunch which the participants subsequently shared with the city hospital bringing great joy to the patients.
Members of the Focolare community of Lubumbashi took care of the organisational part (even transporting all the pots and pans for cooking), and the programme was entrusted to members of the Focolare Movement’s International Centre.
The city of Manono which is about 800 km from Lubumbashi is the third largest city in Congo and represents a mining resource of global importance due to the presence of lithium and other minerals. Unfortunately, however, the population does not benefit from these resources. Entire families spend their days searching for minerals, and children leave school to devote themselves to this work. There is huge exploitation, and very low prices are paid for the minerals. There is even a village where houses are collapsing because minerals are being mined underneath them. The region is in a critical situation, having been devastated in the past by a conflict that destroyed the civil and religious infrastructure and left health facilities and schools in ruins. The school attendance rate is less than 30%. Malnutrition and food insecurity are severely affecting the children, with 15% of them suffering from malnutrition. The Bishop of Manono really wanted the retreat to be held here, and it was the first time that priests came from other dioceses, which was why the presence of such a large number of prelates was greeted with such an atmosphere of celebration. During Sunday Mass, the cathedral’s priest asked all the parishioners to bring water, a rare and precious commodity here, for all those participating in the retreat as a sign of love and welcome. Then the actual meeting days began. There were spiritual themes, meditations on the evangelical counsels and in-depth discussions on synodality. With the participants divided into small groups, there were many moments of communion of life, exchange of testimonies, knowledge, sharing and fraternity.
The spirituality of communion, the discovery of God Love, a new style of ‘synodal’ pastoral work that ‘liberates us from pre-packaged schemes and opens us up to mutual love’ as one person said, were some of the points that struck everyone the most.
Back in Lubumbashi, some members of the Focolare were able to greet a number of Bishops from various dioceses who were there for a meeting of the Bishops’ Conference. The Bishops warmly thanked them for the contribution that the retreats were making to the life of their dioceses. In particular, the Bishop of Manono expressed his gratitude for “the contribution made to the spiritual life of priests and laity, and to a communion among priests that is overflowing onto the lives of the laity, giving them the opportunity to live mutual love and put the word of God into practice“. The Archbishop of Lubumbashi, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, who has just been appointed President of the Bishops’ Conference, also expressed his heartfelt thanks for the retreats that have been held for several years, expressing the hope that this formation which is bearing so much fruit, will continue.
After the retreat, some of the members of the Focolare’s International Centre went to Goma in the north-east, where the focolarini organised two schools of formation attended by 12 young seminarians and 12 priests. The Bishop of Goma, Mgr Willy Ngumbi Ngengele was also present for a liturgical celebration. Several of the guests were unable to attend due to an intensification of clashes near the city. There are 7 million refugees in Congo, including 1.7 million in the North Kivu province where Goma is located. The meeting went into depth on the spirituality of unity and synodality. The programme included a visit to a parish surrounded by thousands of refugees where the parish priest gave a very strong testimony of how the Gospel is being lived. The visit to the “Père Quintard Centre”, run by the Movement and located in the middle of 2 large refugee camps, which offers a service of promotion, education and social development, was also a strong testimony for everyone present. Several saw it as a beacon of hope and asked for similar activities to be initiated in their parishes.
The ecumenical family from around the world comes together to listen and care for our common home. As usual, September 1 begins the Time of Creation, a period of prayer and reflection associated with concrete actions for the care of Planet Earth. This event will conclude on Oct. 4 with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations. The Focolare Movement participates in the initiative. From the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this January leading up to today, we have experienced the phase of “Preparation” for the Time of Creation, which is essential for creating bonds and relationships, renewing the joy of meeting and cultivating the gifts of communion and peace as the People of God together with our common home.
Theme of 2024
The theme of this year is Hope and act with Creation. Where does this theme originate? In the letter of the apostle Paul to the Romans, the biblical image depicts the Earth as a Mother, groaning as during childbirth (Rom 8:22). St. Francis of Assisi understood this when he referred to the Earth as our sister and mother in his Canticle of Creatures.
Unfortunately, the times in which we live show that we do not relate to the Earth as a gift from our Creator, rather as a resource to be used.
Can there still be hope?
Certainly, there must be, along with an expectation for a better future. Hoping in the biblical context does not mean standing still and remaining silent, but rather groaning, crying and actively striving for new life in the midst of difficulties. Just as during childbirth-taking up the apostle Paul’s depiction-we go through a period of intense pain but a new life is being born.
Hope is a gift from God. Only through hope can we fully realize the gift of freedom, which together with responsibility enable us to make the world a better place. Only when we cooperate with Creation can the first fruits of hope be born.
Hope and act
Hoping is trusting that our action is meaningful, even if the results of this action are not immediately seen. We know how urgent it is to take bold action to contain the climate and ecological crisis, and we also know that ecological conversion is a slow process as human beings are headstrong on changing their minds, hearts and way of life. Sometimes we do not know how our actions should be. There is much we can learn from other cultures and countries about how to hope and act together with Creation.
This year the 1st of September is a Sunday, we are all invited to celebrate the beginning of the Time of Creation in our respective countries and communities.
Trieste is a city located in north-eastern Italy, on the border with Slovenia. Historically, it represents a crossroads of cultures, languages and religions. Today it is one of the main entry points to Europe for migrants following the Balkan route. They come with a burden of suffering, wars and persecutions.
In Trieste, the Focolare Movement community collaborates with other institutions to welcome migrants.
Claudia, from the local community told us, “The biggest problem is the perception of the problem itself. It is not an emergency, an unmanageable invasion as it is often portrayed but it is a structural phenomenon that is the reality of our historical present. A continuous flow of incoming people who, if properly welcomed, can enrich our city and our country. If the migratory phenomenon is not understood and addressed in appropriate ways, it will inevitably generate distrust, fear, impatience, rejection”.
Last autumn, in anticipation of the cold weather, the Bishop of Trieste, Archbishop Enrico Trevisi, expressed a wish to open a shelter as a concrete response to the reception of migrants. Together with other Catholic associations and individual citizens, some Focolare members responded to the Bishop’s appeal by volunteering. Claudia said, “For us it is not just a charitable service but an opportunity to meet a brother or a sister who needs to be loved in many details: by giving a smile, offering a meal or exchanging a few words. Often these brothers and sisters tell us pieces of their story, their sorrows and their hopes. They show us photos of their children but we also have a laugh and simply spend time together. Some of us have also looked after some migrants more closely for example by accompanying them to a hospital appointment or helping them prepare a CV for a job application”.
Sandra from the Focolare community added: “We try to get to know the migrants, their stories and their needs. This gives rise to experiences that have seen us involved in helping beyond our shift at the shelter and these experiences encourage us to continue. The shifts allow us to work with the other volunteers and to discover that even though many of them are not part of any associations or involved in parish life, they were happy to respond to the Bishop’s appeal”.
Claudia said, “Relationships grow slowly and are a sign of unity for the local Church. This experience, combined with the recent Italian Catholics’ Social Week[1], which took place in Trieste and was attended by Pope Francis, will bring great life to this border city of ours”.
A guest of the diocesan shelter said, “In Trieste I met the best volunteers, people who do not stop at distributing food. Satisfying the hunger of the needy and treating the wounds of the sick are noble tasks because they are the most urgent and essential. However, human beings have other extremely important needs, for example their emotional and spiritual health, which are symptoms of the state of their soul. This is not an individual or minor issue, it is what makes the difference between actions that have a momentary impact and those that persist and permeate the entire society. The best volunteers are so because they are aware that the needy are not just recipients of charity, we are people with stories worth listening to. They know every migrant mourns their lost roots, while also harbouring a hope that crashes against the walls of the system and an incessant struggle for survival. The best volunteers are moved by this suffering humanity and are encouraged to listen to our stories, despite the language barrier. They teach Italian or learn Spanish, use technology, give up their personal time, invest their energy in the common good and dream of a community in which we can all offer the best of ourselves”.
The Gen Rosso international band recently visited Madagascar, performing eight shows in seven cities. They travelled extensively across this beautiful island to spread a message of peace and fraternity through music and dance.
The 950 kms journey from the capital, Antananarivo, to Toliara in the extreme south took two days.
Valerio Gentile, spokesperson for the band, told us, “The community of the Focolare Movement in Tolear welcomed us with a big celebration, gifting us traditional headgear and necklaces and expressing their joy through traditional dances and songs. We performed with a local group, the Choeur des Jeunes de Saint Benjamin, at a well-known restaurant in the city; that was the beginning of our tour in Madagascar”.
The next day Gen Rosso held workshops at the Don Bosco School, which culminated in a concert in the amphitheatre. One girl, moved to tears, said, “It was the best day of my life,”. And a young teacher added: “You have brought out real values for us to live by; I feel that I have to live my life according to the aims expressed in your songs and that we shared with you during the workshops.”
Valerio elaborated on the workshops, highlighting an innovative percussion session using recycled plastic bottles and yellow barrels, commonly used in Africa as water and oil containers. These became improvised musical instruments, turning the session into an environmental action promoting planet protection.
Another significant event took place at the École Père Barré School, where 300 high school students joined Gen Rosso on stage. In the introduction, the participants were invited to live out a saying during the workshop: “make space for love”.
Adelson of Gen Rosso began by saying, “We are not here to put on a show for you, but with you for the whole city”.
The final concert at the Jardin de la Mer came all too soon. It was opened by the Choeur des Jeunes de Saint Benjamin. However, an unexpected power cut interrupted the performance. When the power returned, Gen Rosso resumed, and the young audience participated enthusiastically.
A second blackout occurred at sunset, plunging the area into darkness.
Valerio explained, “We decided to improvise with torches. Several youth groups from the workshops performed, showcasing creativity and joy. The young people of Toliara were the true stars of the show!”
One participant remarked, “Thanks to Gen Rosso, we discovered our resilience,” echoing sentiments about uncovering life’s authentic values, talents, and the right direction to take.
Valerio shared, “These words encouraged us for our final event in Antananarivo at the Fanovozantsoa School. In just a few hours, the young people were ready to sing, dance—hip-hop and Latin American—and perform percussion. The concert on May 18th was a resounding success, filled with applause, hugs, and selfies. It was an unforgettable moment etched in everyone’s hearts.”
he tour concluded with a Mass for Pentecost in Akamasoa, near the City of Friendship, a community established 30 years ago by Argentine missionary Father Pedro to help the poor through job opportunities, education, and health services.
Valerio reflected, “We celebrated with a colourful Mass in the morning and a joyful show in the afternoon in the outdoor amphitheatre. The concert brought together families, young people, the elderly, and children, delivering a message of hope to build a new society based on love.”
On behalf of the band, Valerio concluded, “Thank you, Madagascar, for your millions of hearts beating every day with solidarity, resilience, simplicity, serenity, lightness, humility, joy, and peace. From now on, you ‘travel’ with us as a gift to take to the world!”
At the traffic light Once a week I take a trip from my town to a larger city to meet with friends with whom I share the same ideals. I try to take extra money with me to help people who ask for alms at traffic lights. Last week, on my way home, I stopped at a red light and was approached by a young man ready to clean my windshield. I rolled down my window and while looking for money to give him I told him not to clean it because he would not make it before the light turned green.
He looked at me and said, “Can you give me a little more? I need to buy some chicken for my children.” I answered yes. In fact what I was giving him was not going to do him much good. He took the money and said, “Will you let me earn it? I promise I will do it quickly.”
Almost without waiting for my response, he started cleaning the windshield, finishing just before the traffic light turned green. Immediately afterwards he approached the window of the car and, with a happy face, shaking my hand, thanked me and wished me well. As I drove home, I thought about what had happened and realized that small gestures sometimes edify us and teach us more about ourselves than the people for whom we do them. I know that God is everywhere, but it never occurred to me that He was waiting for me at a traffic light. (S. Z. – Argentina)
In prison For dealing drugs I had ended up in juvenile detention, but where I continued to receive visits from Valerio, my teacher from when I was in school. And that could not leave me indifferent. In life, I had been involved with bad people who I thought were my friends, but not with Valerio: he loved me without any interest. Moreover, he would tell me stories of other boys, who had made a different choice from mine, gospel facts. One day a new “guest” arrived in my cell: a boy so dirty he was smelly. The cellmates began insulting him, spitting on him, intimidating him to go wash up. Since he had no soap, no towel, and no spare clothes, I intervened in his defense and gave him my clothes, soap, and towel. He went to take a shower and peace returned. This experience was the beginning of a turning point. I thought that because of everything I had done, love had disappeared inside me. Instead it was like a seed that, more alive than ever, was beginning to blossom. (T. – Italy)
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
(taken from The Gospel of the Day, Città Nuova, year X- no.1 May-June 2024)
