‘The essential thing is to share’

Southern France, 6 – 8 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010. Visit to the Mariapolis Center in St Pierre de Chartreuse where more than 2,000 people are welcomed each year. “This centre is a jewel,” said Emmaus, which carries its name so well: The People of God.” In the afternoon, Maria Voce and Giancarlo were with the Abbot of the Great Chartreuse, the Reverend Father Marcelin. It was a meeting and communion marked by the memory of Chiara.

Change of scene: From the great silence of St Pierre to the noisy traffic of Lyon! But the same active presence of God was present in the evening at a meeting between Maria Voce and Giancarlo and a group of leaders from various Movements from the South of France as Maria Voce underscored that “the essential thing would be to share what we live interiorly, to live this communion, this mutual love which later allows everyone to discern – with the help of the Holy Spirit – what should or shouldn’t be done, and how it should be done.”

Friday, 7 May 2010, Lyon, the Capital of Gaul

Following a short tour of the city, three significant events marked the afternoon and evening:

An interview with Maria Voce on RCF (French Catholic Radio) where she talked about the specific charism of this movement and its “Marian profile” in the heart of the Church and of Humanity. Then there was an encounter of profound communion with Cardinal Barbarin, during which was mentioned the current interest of the Church concerning the forthcoming beatification of Chiara Luce Badano, and the Focolare Movement’s ecumenical dimension.

The evening ended with a meeting for young people. It was a moment of joy and free expression. Maria Voce and Giancarlo replied to several questions, including one on true love: “What does it mean to give and not want anything for yourself, to serve instead of making use of others to serve your needs?” It was an intense moment born from the life and needs of young people in today’s world. Then there was the conclusion with celebration, souvenir photos, and the profound joy which was visible on every face.

Saturday, 8 May 2010

In the morning, Maria Voce and Giancarlo met members of the focolares of Southern France. It was a special moment of communion in which joys and sorrows were shared, forging strong bonds of unity around the One Treasure for whom they had each given up everything: God.

In the afternoon there was a meeting for the community, with about 500 people from the regions of Lyon , Drome-Ardèche, French Riviera, St Etienne, Montpellier, Toulouse, Aurillac, Corsica, Isle de la Reunion. After a presentation of the groups, many of the issues that have so strongly influenced these regions were described through experiences made by some of the participants including a Muslim: injustice, sharing, openness, tolerance and fundamentalism, fear, responding, safety, crisis, violence , commitment, stress, truth. With their lives, the members of the Focolare Movement saw that they were able to offer real and authentic answers to each of these problems.

Maria Voce concluded her visit in France urging everyone to look at people and events through the eyes of God, recognizing the miracles God works both within our lives and around us.