Focolare Movement

Oreste Basso: a life spent turning the world into a family

Apr 14, 2013

On the night of 14 April, Oreste Basso left this world. He was among the first focolarini who were with Chiara Lubich in the development and spread of the Focolare Movement. We remember his cheeky smile and the perpetual twinkle in his eyes, but most of all we remember the warmth of his welcome.

A sudden and unexpected decline in his health over the last few days led to his death a half an hour after midnight. His life, the richness of his humanity and his smile are imprinted upon the hearts of thousands of persons he encouraged in the long years he spent in the service of God and the ideal of unity, which he got to know in his youth in Milan.

We will write more of his life story at a later date. In the meantime, those who wish to honour him may do so in the chapel of the International Centre of the Focolare Movement, in Rocca di Papa, where from 2 o’clock this afternoon (Italian time) he will be lying in state.

The funeral will be tomorrow, 15 April, at 15:00, at the Focolare International Centre in Rocca di Papa.

___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

In the same boat: a journey toward peace

In the same boat: a journey toward peace

8 months of navigation, 30 ports, 200 young people. The ship for peace, ‘Bel Espoir’ set sail in March 2025 from Barcelona (Spain) and will continue its voyage until October. Its route will link five shores of the Mediterranean. On board, eight groups of twenty-five young people of various nationalities, cultures and religions that share a common desire to build a better world. They will live together and get to know each other, amid debates and personal experiences, tackling new issues at each stop. Among them are traveling twenty Living Peace ambassadors and other young people from the Focolare Movement. Bertha from Lebanon shares her experience. She is involved in the MediterraNEW project which works for the education of young people, predominately migrants in the Mediterranean.

Argentina: commitment in intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples

Argentina: commitment in intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples

Agustin, Patricia and their two children are an Argentinian family. After following a course at Sophia ALC, the Latin-American branch of the university institute that is based in the international little town of Loppiano (Italy), they began to research their roots among the indigenous peoples, and this gave rise to a strong commitment in intercultural dialogue.