Together For Europe, in Portugal

This was the message that was launched by representatives from Movements and Communities of Europe, as well as leading figures from the institutional and political landscape who met in Brussels on 12 May 2012. One hundred and fifty European cities were linked up via satellite or internet with the Square Meeting in Brussels for the Together For Europe event, which gathered together 300 Movements and Communities from different Churches. There were many stories of reciprocity shared by those present. There were experiences of incarnating the Gospel with social consequences. Zoom on Portugal for knowing the country better, will welcome the visit of Focolare president Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Faletti on 15-22 August 2012. Five Lusitanian cities are involved in the events that are being presented as an occasion for knowing one another better and building relationships of mutual respect and friendship.

The story from the communities.

Lisbon. A hundred and ten youths spread out through the city, to all the tourist spots, distributing flyers with the 7Yeas and descriptions of projects for building a more inclusive Europe, which were being done by seven Movements: Schonstatt, Emmanuel, Cursilhos, Equipas de Nossa Senhora, Verbum Dei, Metanoia and Focolare. In the afternoon there was an event in the Auditorium with 350 people for an open dialogue with several personalities who gave presentations and testimonies on the progress made so far.

Porto. There were year-long preparations, in which working together became a true experience of fraternity. The testimony offered by the Bishop of Port, Bishop Clemente, was quite touching: “The best guarantee for the future is this Christian inspiration, in which we, together with other men and women, can be active protagonists.”

Coimbra. Families as active builders of European unity. Two hundred and fifty people of all ages, from small children to grandparents take part in a walk from Parque Verde to the University, in conclusion to the transmission from Brussels. The characteristic highlight of this year’s edition was the award ceremony for the “At the Roots of Christian Europe” Competition that was geared toward schools and included music, photography, poetry, filming and drawing.

Funchal, Madeira Island. This was the first time that the city of Funchal took part in the “Together For Europe” event. Nine Catholic Movements were involved: ACI, ACR, Cursilhos, Equipas de Nossa Senhora, Equipas Jovens de Nossa Senhora, Focolare, RnS, Schonstatt, and Verbum Dei. There was a link-up with Brussels from the University of Madeira and, in a side event, a collection of food staples for the Diocesan’s Caritas campaign “Funchal, a city that supports”.

Faro, nell’Algarve. Faro (Algarve). Located in the southernmost zone of Portugal, Faro has a large multi-ethnic presence and known for its lack of religious practice. The course taken by the six Movements – Cursilhos, RnS, Fraternal Gatherings Movement, Boy Scouts, Liga de Acao Missionaria and Focolare – had a particular highlight. A hundred and fifty people attended the moment of prayer between Catholics and Orthodox. On 12 May there was a boy’s relay race and a food bank and, at the opening events, some words from Bishop Quintas.

An invitation to “Together For Europe” at one of the most popular national TV programmes “Pros e Contras”  to take part in a debate entitled, “What are civic organizations doing for the crisis in Portugal?”