From a Rebel to a Builder of Unity
I belong to the generation of “rebels”. I was raised in the Catholic faith without understanding or living it in a coherent way. From the time I was young, I questioned many things. Above all, it took a great effort to attend mass every Sunday. I found the solution: I gave up believing, but I continued to hold on to Jesus’ message of love as my point of reference.
I met M. Angels, my wife, and a long period of transformation began for the both of us. She is a believer and a member of the Focolare Movement. Actually, as time went by, I discovered that I had married an “activist” in the Movement.
We were immediately faced with the decision concerning the rite of matrimony. We married in the Church. Nevertheless, on my side, I didn’t give up any of my ideas. I not only accepted a religious ceremony, but I actively participated with great interest and respect.
The other important concerned the education of our children. Once again we followed a simple principle which has always worked well when it came to these difficult decisions: I told my wife “a Catholic education would be to our children’s advantage. It would make them sensitive, more complete, happier.” I said to my wife, “ You have the faith, I have emptiness.”
It wasn’t all as easy as it might seem. For example, I didn’t understand my wife’s enthusiasm about Focolare events. Was it a sect? I must admit that I was a bit jealous. Little by little, with effort from the both of us, we found our balance. I was a bit curious about the Movement and she found ways of discreetly telling me about it.
A significant event was when I attended a meeting. I recall the welcome I received and the atmosphere. I began to learn the spirituality of Chiara Lubich, which I tried to make match with my personal beliefs. One significant thing was how it led me to understand the word love in a new way. This word has lost its relevance in today’s world.
This was a spirituality that centres on the message of Jesus, in an explicit and radical way, and is concretised in the small events of everyday life. My interests in the spirituality grew, and also the desire to live it with my friends, acquaintances, colleagues at work and – in the most difficult setting – in my family.
One obstacle remained. It seemed to me that the Movement was reserved for Christian believers. I was truly surprised when I learnt that it also included persons who held no religious convictions, not only: I was even invited to be actively involved.
I’ve learnt to see my neighbour as a brother and to think and act accordingly. I’ve learnt that you don’t need to be a hero. I’ve experienced that it requires constant effort, but we are helped in this by a spirituality with a high communitarian component.
In recent years I’ve had the good fortune to direct a group of young musicians. It was fortunate, because being with them has given me the opportunity to share not only in their musical growth, but also their spiritual growth. This has required a lot of hard work and much patience in adapting myself to their requests, knowledge, age and their desire to play and live.
I now look back on my life as a trajectory that allowed me to grow on spiritual ground and to fill that emptiness that I seemed to carry with me, compared to my wife’s fullness of faith. This evolution has required me to move on from being a spectator to becoming an actor.
Jordi Illa
September 2011
“But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
These are words of invitation that God addresses to you, and to all those who believe, to rejoice with him, to celebrate and to participate in his joy at the return of the sinner who was first lost and then found again. These words in the parable are addressed by the father to his elder son who shared fully in his life. When this elder son returns home from a hard day’s work, he refuses to enter his house where they are celebrating the return of his brother who had left them to squander his inheritance. The father goes out to his faithful son, just as he went out to his lost son, and tries to convince him to join them. The contrast between the father’s sentiments and those of his elder son is evident: on one side, the father with his immeasurable love and great joy that he wanted everyone to share; and, on the other, the son full of contempt and jealousy toward his brother whom he no longer recognizes as such. He refers to his younger brother, in fact, as “your son … who swallowed up your property with prostitutes” (Lk 15:30). The love of the father and his joy at the return of his prodigal son serve to emphasize still more the ill feelings felt by the other son who had remained with his father. These ill feelings reveal, however, a cold and — one could say — false relationship between this son and the father. We can deduce from the narrative that it is work and the fulfillment of his obligations that matter most to this son; he does not love his father as a son should. Rather, we feel that he obeys his father as a hired worker would obey his boss.
“But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
With these words, Jesus points out a dangerous trap that you could fall into: that of a life lived for the sake of appearances, in search of personal perfection which can lead to judging others as less perfect than yourself. As a matter of fact, if you are “attached” to your own perfection, you concentrate on building yourself up to the point of being filled with self-admiration. You act like the son who remained at home, who enumerates his merits before his father: “Look, all these years I have served you, and not once did I disobey your orders” (Lk 15:29). <
strong>“But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
With these words Jesus goes against the attitude of those who see their relationship with God as one based only on the observance of the commandments which is not enough. Jewish tradition is also very clear on this. In this parable Jesus puts the spotlight on divine Love illustrating the fact that God who is Love takes the first step without considering whether the person deserves it or not, but with the desire that the person be open to establishing an authentic relationship of communion. As one can imagine, the greatest obstacle to God who is Love is precisely the life of those who accumulate actions and deeds while God wants their hearts.
“But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”
With these words, Jesus invites you to extend the same measureless love that the Father has toward those who stray. Jesus calls you not to judge according to your own standards the love that the Father has for each and every person. In inviting his elder son to share his joy for the return of his long-lost son, the Father also asks from you a change of heart: you should welcome as brothers and sisters even those people for whom you nurture sentiments of superiority and even of scorn. This will work in you a true conversion because it will purge you of your conviction that you are “better.” It will save you from religious narrow-mindedness and allows you to welcome the salvation won by Jesus as a pure gift of God’s love. Chiara Lubich
Word of Life, March 2001, published in Living City Vol. 40 No.3, p.17.
Living the Charism: Wisdom and Study
In 1940, Chiara Lubich in a letter wrote a striking passage: ‘I am a person passing through this world. I have seen many beautiful and good things and I have always been attracted only by them. One day (one indefinable day). I saw a light. It seemed to me to be more beautiful than other beautiful things, and I followed it. I realised that it was the Truth.’ Her ambitions at the time, as a recently qualified teacher, were to go to the Catholic University in Milan. Her thinking was: ’It’s Catholic, they’ll speak about God there, they’ll teach me a lot about God’. There was an entrance test which resulted in funded places for 33 candidates. Chiara came 34th. She felt she had missed a great opportunity. “Between the tears, a voice rang clearly in her troubled heart: ‘I will be your teacher!” Her understanding of study lies in the answer Jesus gave. Later, in 1980, Chiara explains further: ‘Already in ’44 Jesus had asked me to leave my studies behind and put my books in the attic (…) Thirsting for truth, I saw the absurdity of looking for it in the study of philosophy when I could find it in Jesus, the Truth Incarnate. I left my studies to follow Jesus (…) There was, in that episode, a prelude of what would come to be in time the Focolare Movement. We saw a splendid light, but this in our soul, a fruit of our life (..) Following that choice which God asked of me, the light came to us in abundance. It gave light to the spirituality that God wanted from us, it shaped day by day the Movement as it developed. We called this light ‘wisdom’. (…) We understood that wisdom was fundamentally our new way of studying, the studying of the whole Movement (…) Having left studying behind in ’43-’44, by 1950 I felt it was necessary to pick up the books again and study theology. I felt a need to base all the intuitions of that period upon a solid foundation.’ Now the Movement has many places where the culture of unity is developed for example, the ‘Abba School’, which explores the doctrine that pours out from the ‘charism of unity’, and is at the source of many initiatives permeating various fields of thought and life; the Marian University which aims to provide basic theological courses for the members of the Movement; various schools and courses based on the specific aims of the Movement; through the publishing house Citta Nuova with numerous publications in many languages, and the cultural magazine Umanita Nuova, and finally in 2008, the Sophia University Institute based in Loppiano (Incisa V. – Florence).
Conclusion IV Jewish Christian Symposium
“…We had to wait for the appearance of three stars in the sky, the sign that Saturday had ended. Only then could we start. The appointment was in front of a large hotel in the centre of Buenos Aires, where some of the Jewish friends who came over from the United States, Europe and Israel were staying. After three hours travelling, we arrived at the Mariapoli Lia, in deep night.
“The first day of the Jewish-Christian symposium. The participants are around eighty from various parts of the world. The atmosphere is very high, with reciprocal listening, and friendly relationships. Several of us have met in previous symposiums, especially that of Jerusalem. The chosen theme is that of identity and dialogue, two realities that enter into each other: identity is the fruit of relationship. There are very profound presentations from the philosophical, anthropological, and psychological point of view, with names that are remembered: Martin Buber, Emmanuel Lévinas, Victor Frankl, Paul Ricoeur…”
“… I realise increasingly that interreligious dialogue cannot be improvised; preparation and refineness of soul are required. It is participation in the work of mediation done by Jesus between heaven and earth, and between the divisions of human beings. So as to fill every divergence and bring unity, he became that “nothing” of love that allowed unification without there being anymore any diaphragm.
“… If night in the Argentine Pampas is silent, with stars that shine mutely, the day is full of the singing of a thousand birds. Nature seems to participate in the feast among us in this symposium. We become aware of an increase compared to the previous three: a profound knowledge, more trust, and a love which is more sincere. It seems a dream. Today, next to the usual conferences, the dialogue meetings for different ambiance: the world of Justice, of communication, of education…
“… the strong affirmation of one’s identity can generate conflict. Only the reciprocal “non-being” in front of the other, as expression of love, makes “being” the other and makes one find oneself fully in the most profound religious identity: being love. Another intense day. It seems almost superfluous to speak of dialogue amongst us, so profound is the unity achieved. When the Rabbis speak one feels the wisdom of centuries.
“… I delivered my talk: the Crucified, Icon of Extreme Love. The greatest love, Jesus said, is that when one gives one’s life for one’s friends (Jn 15, 13). Thanks to this extreme love, every person becomes his friend. He gives his life also for those who are his enemies. It is the new view required to build universal brotherhood: see all as brothers and sisters for whom one is ready to give one’s life: see a friend in every person one contacts. Chiara Lubich has translated this extreme love of Jesus with a simple and demanding expression: “make oneself one” with the other, or rather understand him deeply, enter in his world, share his sentiments. It is the preamble for every dialogue. Chiara has applied this teaching of hers in the field of interreligious dialogue, placing herself in the disposition of listening to members of different religions, so as to understand them from within their culture.
“…the symposium was concluded at the seat of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, at Buenos Aires. There were present Jewish and Christian civil and religious dignitaries. It was thus highly represented. We part feeling called in person to accomplish a work of mediation between tendencies, positions and experiences that are sometimes contrasting in between themselves. The way- we have understood in these days – is to be only a presence of love, without any pretences, or judgements, being of service, until we become that “nothingness of love” that allows us to come together.”
From the diary of Fr Fabio Ciardi (OMI)
The new Schoolmates website is online
Schoolmates is a project conceived and implemented in 2002 by Teens for Unity, a branch of the Focolare Movement, in collaboration with Action for a United World and New Humanity, which involved hundreds of schools over the past ten year period. Its objective is to allow boys and girls of various countries to get in touch and to know each other, as the name suggests, from one part of the world to the other . The one who participates in it contributes afterwards, through various activities, to increase a solidarity fund which allows to distribute various scholarships every year. In the last 12 months 376 scholarships were given out in 25 nations. The revamp of the website www.school-mates.org aims at improving communication, participation and interaction among classes and groups which adhere to the three phases of the project. One begins by committing himself or herself to live the “Golden Rule” which invites to “ do to others what we would like them to do to us”, a rule which is present in the sacred books of many religions. The second phase allows students to get to know each other by connecting classes and groups of boys and girls of different countries through the website. The project wants to offer a possibility of knowing other cultures creating a dialogue in which the differences may be source of enrichment for one another. In this phase we find one of the novelties of the website: the possibility of managing their own space in the website, for those who will have completed all the three phases of the project. In it boys and girls will be able to introduce their classes or groups, making their own country known to others historically, geographically, culturally and sharing their experiences and witness of their commitment in living the Golden rule. If the class or the group wants to get into contact with other classes or groups, that will be made possible through a reserved area. The third phase is characterised by sharing: in fact the classes and groups which adhere to the project commit themselves to contribute to the solidarity fund in order to support, every year, some micro projects of solidarity. The objective is to allow boys and girls to be able to go to school and to complete secondary school or professional formation, by giving them scholarships. Among the novelties of the new website there is also a section dedicated to teachers, educators and tutors, in order to allow them to share materials and pedagogical experiences made in various Countries and schools of different order and grade.
Together for Mexico
Next Saturday 27th August 2011, the first meeting will be held of “Juntos por México”, (Together for Mexico), the fruit of many years of rapport woven with movements and associations. 500 leaders will be reunited representing around 8 million lay catholics in the whole country. A little history: in 2007, the assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELAM), reunited in Brazil, indicated an important stage for all the Latin American church, launching in the whole continent the so called “continental mission”. In answer to this challenge, in Mexico, a a start was made, by organizing the first meeting of all movements, at a national level. From the beginning, the event is seen as a festive meeting, that is at the same time, a witness to the lived Gospel, both on a personal level and in the various surroundings of society. At the end of 2009, a Central Commission was formed, currently composed of 8 movements together forming “The Episcopal Dimension for the Laity”. The group, that is the expression of over 30 of the main Mexican movements and associations, has worked actively to prepare the event with great enthusiasm and a spirit of communion. 
The subject chosen for this first edition is the family, studying in particular three large themes: Formation, Sociality, and Communication. It will be followed by an open dialogue with the aim of defining concrete actions to be undertaken together. Moments for youths and Holy Mass presided by Mons. Javier Navarro, President of the “Laity Dimension” will conclude the works. Many see in this meeting the possibility that new avenues will be opened among the movements and new associations. This is a novelty in the Mexican church, that can, without doubt, blossom into a greater protagonism of the laity in the various surroundings of society. From our correspondents in Mexico
Argentina: XV Day for Peace
Around one hundred persons belonging to different Jewish communities in Argentina and the Focolare Movement, met, on the 15th August, to celebrate the XV Day of Peace, as is done every year in this month, at Mariapolis Lia, the little town of the Focolare in Argentina, situated 250 kms from Buenos Aires, deep in the Pampas. The initiative has the aim of strengthening the reciprocal commitment for Jewish–Christian dialogue in this country. Every year they share reflections, and most of all experiences, as well as the most awaited moment of all – meeting around the olive tree brought from Israel and planted in the citadel around 15 years ago. This tree has become the symbol of the friendship and commitment to building peace together, Jews and Christians. In a brief summary of the path followed in these years, the thrust given by Chiara Lubich was recalled when she spoke in 1998 at the seat of the International Jewish Institute B’nai B’rith. On that occasion Chiara underlined the common points existing in the spirituality of the Focolari and in the Jewish tradition. 
Concurrently, around 180 youths participated in three round tables about tolerance, peace and freedom, and subsequently communicated to all the participants the conclusions and the commitments that were undertaken. Many messages of adherence were received for the occasion, amongst which that of encouragement and applause for the initiative from the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who highlighted the work of the focolari in interreligious dialogue in all the world. This edition of the Day for Peace was characterised by its internationality, by the presence of the participants of the IV Jewish–Christian symposium, programmed for the 22nd-25th August, also at Cittadella Lia. In fact, participants were present from Israel, Switzerland, Italy, United States, Messico, Perù,Uruguay, apart from those who came from different cities in Argentina.
WYD: See you again at Rio De Janiero!
“On 19th August, the Way of the Cross was held in a central place in the city, at which magnificent traditional images were utilized, from the procession of Holy Week (known as “los pasos”), which were brought over from several Spanish regions. It was unbelievable, to see, hundreds of thousands of youths, who, in spite of the heat and the accumulated tiredness, arrived from everywhere, and know that on the morrow, they would continue the cathechisis in different parts of the city. A very familial moment: the lunch at the nunciature of Pope Ratzinger with 12 youths from various continents. They are happy and moved, but not withstanding this, everything happens with extreme normality. All repeat that the Pope has listened more than spoken; he wanted to know the attitude with which the youths lived the WYD, and what were their interests, and those of their age group. Well, he wanted to know from them the reality of youths from all parts of the world. Only at the end, they asked the Holy Father what did he expect from them: “ That you are witnesses to the faith each of you in in their own environment-he answered-rooted in Christ”, being always springs of enthusiasm and joy. And this is what we experienced in the evening during the get together – a moment of prayer and adoration – organised in a large church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It is impossible to describe the joy, and at the same time, the solemnity that reigned. Against all forecast, the Church was full, half an hour early; and therefore they had to prepare also the large crypt, linked by video. The program took place in Spanish, English, and Italian. 
The songs alternated between the Spanish band of Youths for a United World and the international group, Gen Rosso, both now well tuned together, thanks to the work done together in the last evenings. The event was introduced by Rafael of Porto Alegre and Natalia from China, who related their experiences on their commitment to live the Gospel. Then, Chiara Lubich – through a video with youths assembled at La Coruna for the WYD of 1989 – took us on another level. It was as though she was in the midst of us, speaking to us about the immense project that God has in the life of each one of us! With this very high atmosphere, it was natural to adore Jesus, present in the Eucharist, exposed by Mons. Andres Carrascosa, Nunzio of Panama. Together with songs and musical exerpts, we witnessed this marvellous intimate one to one with God. We left with the appointment to meet the following day at “Cuatro Vientos” (a military airport on the outskirts of Madrid) for the much awaited Holy Mass. It took place, as many could see, in between rain and storm, without affecting in any way, the ardour and enthusiasm of the youths, all concentrated on prayer. So much so that the Pope exclaimed: “Thank you for your joy and your resistance. Your strength has been stronger than the rain.” The TV’s of all the world transmitted the extraordinary images of that sea of youths, under the sun (around 2 million according to the organisers), attentive to the words of Benedict XVI: “Reply to Him with generosity and audacity, as is proper of a young heart like yours. Tell Him: Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, that you gave up your life for me…you know me and love me. I trust you and put my entire life in your hands…You be the strength that sustains me, the joy that will never abandon me…communicate to others the joy of your faith.” And his invitation for the next edition of WYD in 2013 at Rio De Janeiro, in Brasil, was received with great enthusiasm. From our our correspondent Dolores Garcia
Brussels: Together for Europe 2012
Brussels 2012. A symbolic site, the seat of important institutions of the European Union, an important date – a European Year of Solidarity Among Generations. Brussels 2012 is also the next step in the free assembly of movements and communities who, while maintaining their own autonomy, occasionaly act together for common goals, offering the contribution of their own charisms and spiritualities. This journey began on 31 October 1999 and was entitled “Together for Europe”. Today it has become a network involving more than 250 movements and Christian communities: Catholics, Evangelicals, Anglicans, Orthodox, members of free churches and Pentecostal communities. They work together for the common good of the continent, as an accompaniment to the path of reconciliation that has been set forth. (10 years for Europe http://vimeo.com/25805381) Many events are planned for 2012 in many European cities, both in preparation for the events in Brussels and simultaneous to the events. For more information go to www.together4europe.org where you will also find many documents and the history of “Together for Europe”. Especially worthy of mention are the two major events in Stuttgart in 2004 and 2007 with their keynote addresses, known to history as the 7 SI’.
Stuttgart 2004 - Chiara Lubich with Evmenios Tamiolakis
Living the Charism: Harmony and Environment
Marilen Holzhauser, one of the first focolarine explained: “For us every object we have has to have a reason or purpose”. From the start Chiara Lubich and the first followers in her adventure have had their own style in living, dressing and home furnishing which was simple and moderate. They understood that beauty revealed in the mystery of a flower that consumes only what it needs and in this way its real beauty. Beauty becomes the splendour of the Truth. The harmony reflected in simplicity makes us discover ‘the beauty which will save the world’ and that world will save beauty. In the Letter to Diogneto, referring to the first Christians we read: ‘Living in the Greek and Barbarian cities, as we each have, and adapting ourselves in each place to the customs of dressing, eating and so on, we give witness to an admirable and undoubtedly paradoxical way of living.’
Dina Figueiredo, "Eucharist" - St Clare Hospital, Trent, 2004
WYD: Chiara Luce Musical – short video clip
Chiara Luce at World Youth Day
Included in the World Youth Day’s rich cultural program was this event deemed “essential” in today’s means of communication: a musical entitled “Life, Love, Light” which depicted the life of blessed Chiara Luce Badano. 50 young people of the Focolare Movement had a very ambitious goal: to present this musical at WYD which so far had been only been performed once at Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on the occasion of the beatification of Chiara Luce, in response to the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “I invite all young people to get to know her: her life was short, but her message was great. Nineteen years full of life, of love, of faith. The last two years of her life were full of suffering, but lived with love and light, a light that she irradiated around her, a light born from within her: from her heart filled with God!” It involved months of preparation and commitment, together with a strong, deep experience of God. What seemed to be a challenge achieved only through “a miracle”, yesterday evening, at the Auditorium Pilar García Peña (Madrid), it became a splendid reality. Up until a few months ago, they were only novice artists, but on the stage yesterday they were true professionals. Before the show, a Gen from the choreography group expressed herself in these terms: “What we want to communicate is that all of us can follow Chiara Luce’s way. She was one of us.” The auditorium, which has a capacity of 5,000 persons, was completely full and many people followed the musical seated on the floor or standing. Through songs, writings and choreographies, the musical Life, love, light” depicts the milestones in Chiara Badano’s life: her childhood with her parents, her relationships with friends and with the founder of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich, her hopes, achievements, failures, up to the crucial moment of her sickness. “Why, Jesus?” she asked herself when faced with this immense suffering and her own response, “If You want it, I want it too”. A special, profound and emotional moment was the live testimonies given by Maria Teresa and Ruggero Badano, Chiara Luce’s parents as well as by Chicca Coriasco, her best friend. Other young people present were also given the opportunity to share their experiences and their commitment in living the Gospel daily, like Chiara Luce. The audience was strongly moved when extracts of her letters to Chiara Lubich were read out: “I discovered that Jesus Forsaken is the key to unity with God. I chose Him as my first Spouse, and I want to prepare myself for when He arrives. I want to prefer Him.” Many people in the audience praised the beauty of the musical, the spectacular stage lighting effects, the use of modern language. Some young people who were present, while professing to be unbelievers, affirmed that they accepted the message of “love and unity” which was transmitted through the show. “I can no longer run,” Chiara Luce said shortly before she passed way, “but I would like to hand the torch over to you, as in the Olympics… because we have only one life to live, and it is worth to spend it well.” They are strong words which also reflect the atmosphere experienced during yesterday evening’s concert. Now it is up to each one of us to carry this torch. Video Clip on YouTube [nggallery id=61]
Welcome to Madrid!
Dear young people, The day we have all been waiting for has arrived: the inauguration of the 26th World Youth Day. After a long path of preparation you are finally here in Madrid, a beautiful modern city that will be the world capital of Catholic youth for the next few days. “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Ps. 118: 26). With the words of the psalmist I extend a cordial welcome and affectionate greeting on behalf of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the department of the Holy See entrusted by the Pope with the organisation of world meetings of young people. I also greet your bishops, priests, religious and lay leaders who have come here with you and have guided you on your journey of spiritual preparation for this great adventure of faith that we shall experience together for the next few days. 
You have come to this meeting with the Holy Father Benedict XVI bringing with you all your plans and hopes, as well as your concerns and apprehensions about the choices that lie ahead. These will be days that you will never forget, days of important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future. Our reflection and prayer over the next few days will be guided by the words of Saint Paul that you know so well: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf Col 2:7). This is very demanding because it contains a definite life plan for each one of us. Faith will be at the centre of our reflection at this time. Faith is a decisive factor in each person’s life. Everything changes according to whether God exists or not. Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments. It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives. Many of us might wonder: in our world today where God is often rejected and people live as if God did not exist, is it still possible to have faith? 
Dear young people! You are gathered here in Madrid after having come from the most remote corners of the planet. You have come to say aloud to the whole world – and in particular to Europe which is showing signs of being very lost – your unwavering “yes”! Yes, faith is possible. It is in fact a wonderful adventure that allows us to discover the magnitude and beauty of our lives. This is because God, revealed in the face of Christ, does not put human beings down. God exalts us beyond all measure and beyond our wildest imaginings! For the next few days, together with the apostles, we all want to shout aloud to the Lord: “Increase our faith!” (Lk 17:5). Like Saint Anselmo, we too want to pray: Lord, “Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me as I seek, because I can neither seek you if you do not teach me how, nor find you unless you reveal yourself (Proslogion 1:1). 
As we await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI, we have welcomed a special guest this evening to WYD in Madrid. Blessed John Paul II has come back to you, the young people that he loved so much, and who was equally loved by you. He has returned as your blessed patron and as a protector in whom you can trust. He has returned as a friend – a demanding friend, as he liked to call himself. He has come to say to you yet again and with much affection: Do not be afraid! Choose to have Christ in your lives and to possess the precious pearl of the Gospel for which it is worthwhile giving everything! Dear young people! The 2011 World Youth Day in Madrid has begun! Once again I say to you: welcome to you all to Madrid!
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko
President, Pontifical Council for the Laity
Plaza Cibeles, 16 August 2011
WYD: Gen Rosso concert in Barcelona
On August 13, the international performing arts group Gen Rosso performed at World Youth Day to an audience of over 30,000 young people who travelled to Spain from all over the world. The concert was in preparation for the 26th occurrence of this great youth event, already underway. The Gen Rosso musicians write: “The majority of the young people staying in the host city of Barcelona have come from France, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, but also from Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, Canada, Uganda, Syria…”. The cardinal of Barcelona, Msgr Luis Martinez Sistach, challenged the young people present from all over the world “to love every person without distinction, but to have a preferential love for the poor”, encouraging them to imitate Jesus by following Mary’s example. “To love people indiscriminately” – state the members of the Gen Rosso band – “seemed to be the perfect admission ticket to our evening concert!” The band is not new to World Youth Days. We ask them what they expect from this one in Madrid: “Today many young people react against a system that doesn’t think about them; the WYD is another expression of rebellion, but not against something or someone, but to promote the Gospel values that Jesus left us”. 
Fresh from tours in Cuba, Jamaica, China, Morocco, we ask them to give us a brief impression: “There’s so much to say… but we have to summarise it in an SMS! A common denominator that we found, here too, is that of seeing that a united world is possible, that it is not a utopia. We found so many young people in these countries, all different, yet extremely willing to share our values and adhere to the ideals of universal brotherhood”. The concert you presented is new: “Indelible Dimension”. What is it about and what do you want to convey to spectators? “As always, Gen Rosso tries to show its identity through its concerts. ‘Indelible Dimension’ has something more: it aims to convey the indelible marks left in our souls through coming directly in contact with so many young people from all over the world. A great number of them have become part of our lives and we of theirs. This ‘dimension’ goes straight to the heart of the spectator as well“. The day after the August 13 concert, a Catalan newspaper highlighted the group’s international identity, lived in a spirit of brotherhood, as the quintessential essential element to build a cohesive society in today’s times. “Our hearts are filled with gratitude towards God” – state the ‘Genrossians’ – “for giving us this first beautiful moment with the Barcelona youth. Here we found a youthful and lively Church! Now Madrid awaits us!”
Chiara Lubich’s address at the 1991 World Youth Day in Poland
Video (Italian soundtrack only)
Faith in God’s love gives all of them the strength to risk everything in life in order to be faithful to this extraordinary vocation of acting like children of God, of leading a life in union with their Father in heaven, of having the Father, God‑Love as the Ideal of their life. They have placed Him foremost in all their thoughts and have given Him first place in their hearts. And by doing so, all their aspirations have been totally fulfilled. With Him they have found the fullness of joy and happiness, that happiness which today, in every corner of the world, young people are striving to have as the ideal of their lives. But they rarely find it because they often search for it in possessions, in “having” more than in “being”, in entertainment or in purely earthly goals. 
Furthermore, because our young people know that God not only created the universe and them, but that He is present throughout the course of history and guides it, they are convinced that He has wonderful plans also for each one of them. Thus while the majority of young people today consider only their immediate future, making only short‑term decisions and putting off the more demanding choices, our young people make plans for their lives but not only from their own point of view. They seek to harmonize their personal actions with the actions of God’s providence in the world. This is why they place themselves on the ray of His divine will and live it to the fullest, fully aware that they have set out, along with many others, on a wonderful divine adventure. Chiara Lubich
Project Ratan in Brazil
“My name is Sandra, I’ve been an entrepreneur for thirty years. At present I’m the owner and director of some handicraft companies. I work in designing with tropical fabrics from Amazonia, and I do research in that region. I’ve always been sensitive to the needs of those who are less favoured. I’d say that it’s part of my nature to dedicate myself to those who are most in need of help and solidarity. As a young woman I worked with prisoners in a jail. Then I became the director of a business. I’ve always tried to use my knowledge to promote others by offering vocational training and job opportunities. In 1999 a family tragedy changed my life completely. In a single moment that marvellous “island” I was living on completely crumbled. The earth was taken from beneath my feet. I was desperate. During this dramatic period, this painful period, I deepened my relationship with some friends in the focolare, whom I had met three years earlier. I found much support in them and gradually I was able to lift myself up again. Coming to know the experience of Chiara Lubich, it was as if a reflection of her light was giving me the hope of finding a way out at the end of the tunnel. I realized that her example was contagious towards me. Thus I had the strength to begin again. In 2009 I attended the Congress on Dialogue for people with no religious conviction at Mariapolis Ginetta, the Focolare town near San Paolo. It made me feel motivated and I entered into concrete collaboration with them. A possibility was found for opening a course on making handicrafts with coconut fibre and “buriti” palms, which are native to Brazil. Coming from a family of specialists in using vegetable fibres, I create a job that not only increased the workforce, but also secured the conservation of the environment. And Project Ratan was born. At present our workshop is active three times a week and is frequented by a group of eight youths who work there. They are followed by a worker from one of my factories, and I provide the supervision and targeting of designs. The products are useful for decorations, like vases, decorated boxes, with woven designs. At the end of last year, we had a cultural afternoon during which we presented our work and sold some pieces. Quest’anno è già iniziata una seconda tappa del corso, con l’ampliamento dei lavori. Essendo un corso professionale, i giovani potranno essere inseriti poi nel mercato del lavoro. Le iscrizioni sono in crescita.This year the second phase has already begun with the expansion of the work. Since it is a professional course, the youths will be equipped to insert themselves into the work market. Enrolment is on the rise. This project has been a gift for me. I realize that I also receive so much and, at times, much more than they. I feel such enormous joy at being able to collaborate in some way. From the moment I dedicated myself to this project, I felt reborn. And for as long as I live, I hope to continue working for this cause.” S.G.
Pope Benedict to the young people preparing for WYD 2011
Thousands of young people from all over the world will converge on Madrid for WYD 2011. There is a lot of joy and enthusiasm among those working for this event. Everything is set to go – one has to only follow the posts on Facebook or Twitter, or keep track of what’s happening on the official website.
The Holy Father has chosen as the theme for WYD 2011 a phrase from the Apostle Paul: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” (Colossians, 2:7). Here are some passages from his message for WYD2011 dated 6 August 2010. But the entire document is worth a read.
Dear Friends,
(…) Now we are looking forward to the next World Youth Day, to be held in Madrid in August 2011. Back in 1989, several months before the historic fall of the Berlin Wall, this pilgrimage of young people halted in Spain, in Santiago de Compostela. (…) i would like all young people – those who share our faith in Jesus Christ, but also those who are wavering or uncertain, or who do not believe in him – to share this experience, which can prove decisive for their lives. It is an experience of the Lord Jesus, risen and alive, and of his love for each of us.
(…) Many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. Many of them yearn to build authentic friendships, to know true love, to start a family that will remain united, to achieve personal fulfilment and real security, all of which are the guarantee of a serene and happy future…. In thinking of my own youth, I realize that stability and security are not the questions that most occupy the minds of young people. True enough, it is important to have a job and thus to have firm ground beneath our feet, yet the years of our youth are also a time when we are seeking to get the most out of life. When I think back on that time, I remember above all that we were not willing to settle for a conventional middle-class life. We wanted something great, something new… Part of being young is desiring something beyond everyday life … Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. Nothing else will ever be enough. Saint Augustine was right when he said “our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you”. The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace.
(…) You are the future of society and of the Church! As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Colossae, it is vital to have roots, a solid foundation! This is particularly true today. Many people have no stable points of reference on which to build their lives, and so they end up deeply insecure. There is a growing mentality of relativism, which holds that everything is equally valid, that truth and absolute points of reference do not exist. But this way of thinking does not lead to true freedom, but rather to instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment. As young people, you are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help you to make choices and on which to build your lives: like a young plant which needs solid support until it can sink deep roots and become a sturdy tree capable of bearing fruit.
In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by Saint Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength. These images are very eloquent.
(…) Dear friends, build your own house on rock, just like the person who “dug deeply”. Try each day to follow Christ’s word. Listen to him as a true friend with whom you can share your path in life. With him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs.
(…) “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 150). Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him, like the Apostle Thomas who showed his firm faith in Jesus in the words: “My Lord and my God!”.
(…) “Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166).
(…) The victory born of faith is that of love. There have been, and still are, many Christians who are living witnesses of the power of faith that is expressed in charity. They have been peacemakers, promoters of justice and workers for a more humane world, a world in accordance with God’s plan. With competence and professionalism, they have been committed in different sectors of the life of society, contributing effectively to the welfare of all. The charity that comes from faith led them to offer concrete witness by their actions and words. Christ is not a treasure meant for us alone; he is the most precious treasure we have, one that is meant to be shared with others. In our age of globalization, be witnesses of Christian hope all over the world.… if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!
(…) The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community (…) Dear young people, the Church depends on you!
Benedictus PP. XVI
Vatican, 6 August 2010.
Living the Charism: Life and Nature
The Psalm says: “Teach us how short our life is, so that we may become wise.” (Ps 90,12). Wisdom is the mother who teaches us to recognise that which does not pass and all that through eternity has been shown through time. Calm fears, resolve anxiety, fills emptiness, opens hearts to neighbours.
“Sickness has healed me – a mother writes – , it has brought me a complete vision of existence which the course of my life had taken from me. Now I seem to know how to love my family.” Love is perpetuated through the ages in the biographies of those who have passed before us and whose stories allow their lives to reach us. This is the communion of Saints. This aspect highlights the relationship between the person and not only life but also death. Chiara Lubich wrote in 1973: ‘Were I to leave this earth today, and were you to ask me for a final word about what our Ideal is, I would have to say, certain that it would be understood in its deepest sense: “Be a family”. Are some among you suffering from spiritual or moral trials? Be understanding to them, as a mother would, and even more. Enlighten them through your words and through your example. Do not allow them to lack the warmth of a family, but rather increase it. Are any among you in physical pain? May they be our preferred brothers and sisters. Suffer with them. Try to understand their pain completely. Share with them the fruits of your apostolic activities so that they know that, more than anyone else, they have contributed to them. Are any among you approaching their final moments of life? Imagine you are in their place, and do for them what you would want done for yourself, until their very last breath. Are any of you rejoicing because of a success, or for any other reason? Rejoice with them, that their consolation may not fade and their hearts not close, so that their joy may belong to everyone. Are some moving to another place? Do not let them leave without filling their hearts with a single inheritance: the sense of a family, so that they may take it with them wherever they go. Never place any kind of activity, whether spiritual or apostolic, before the spirit of being a family with the brothers or sisters with whom you are living.’
Fourth International Symposium on Jewish-Christian Dialogue
The symposium’s promoters say: “It is an honour for us that Argentina, and particularly Mariapolis Lia Brunet were chosen to organise this symposium.” This year the symposium will be preceded by a series of events that will begin with the “World Day of Peace” which will take place on 15 August in the small Focolare town. These day meetings have taken place since 1997 with growing participation on the part of members of the Jewish and Christian communities of Argentina and Uruguay. Each year a new topic is examined by Jews and Christians, with moments of reflection, testimony, dialogue and recreation. These day meetings are an expression of the link that has been formed between the Focolare Movement and members of the Jewish community in Argentina. 
A second event, which is geared toward the youth and run parallel to the World day of Peace, is entitled: “I met people who want a united world. . . come and meet them too.” This event is organised by the Teens and Youth for a United World from the Focolare Movement and by the Ann Frank Center of Argentina. Teenagers and youths from each of these centres have been actively involved in putting together this event. The dynamic programme will include laboratories, games, debates, presentations and sharing. The objective of the programme is to promote the integration of respect for the social, political and religious culture of the other, with all that this implies, and to face various problems facing youths, like violence, discrimination and exclusion. This event is geared toward teens and youths who come from Argentina and other lands such as Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, the United States, Italy and Jerusalem. This series of events will culminate in the Fourth International Symposium for Jewish-Christian Dialogue, on 21-25 August under the auspices of the Minister of Cult & Worship of Argentina. There will be presentations by Jewish and Christian scholars from around the world who will delve into the topic chosen for this year: “Identity and Dialogue: an experience that continues” The Argentinian Minister of Foreign Affairs will preside at the closing events.
Slovenia: Religious from around the world with Maria Voce
At the conclusion of their visit to the Focolare community in Slovenia, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti met with the secretariats of consecrated religious, adherents of the Focolare Movement, during their annual meeting. They are seventy, six from Asia, seven from Africa, five from Brazil, one from Canada and the rest from almost all European countries. It is the third time that the president of the Focolare and the co-president met the leaders of this significant part of the movement and therefore knowledge has become more and more profound, simple and familiar. The meeting was in the Mariapolis Center Spes – Upanje, obtained with very good taste and imagination of the old post office building, which used horses to transport the letters. So much so that the stables have been transformed into a dining room, but it is the new meeting room, ogive lines, full of light, to welcome the meeting and the intense dialogue. By Costanzo Donegana [nggallery id=60]
Panafrican Meeting for Priests of the Focolare Movement
One hundred and ten priests from twenty African nations met in Nairobi from 27 July to 4 August for a “Panafrican Conference of Focolare Priests”. The meeting was entitled: “In God’s Family the Church: A Way for Priests Today”. Through discussions in workshops and plenary sessions, they explored some of the challenges facing the Church on the African continent. What united these priests from so many ethnic backgrounds at a small Focolare town near to Nairobi in Kenya? They wished to contribute to the rediscovery and actualisation of God’s design for this continent, in the light of the evangelical lifestyle proposed by the Focolare Movement, which has been present in Africa for nearly forty years. The president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce, welcomed the priests in a written message at the opening of the conference: “I heartily wish that the presence of the Risen Lord in your midst may be the Light for understanding how Jesus desires priests to be in this day and age, and how they can serve the Church in our most beloved Africa, which has so much to offer to the whole world.” The conference gave living expression to the potential of the African clergy today. It also underscored the average age of the attendants – thirty-five – many of whom are already in positions of responsibility. 
In an Africa which some of the participants described as the “Africa of crises”, the idea of the family, which is so central to African social and ecclesial culture, took on new intensity and light when viewed from the perspective of mutual love and evangelical unity. The discovery of Jesus Crucified and Forsaken as the key to reconciliation and peace, led them not to feel that the challenge was a utopia, but to enter into the wounds and to become protagonists on the road of renewal and of communion which have the measureless love of Christ as their standard. The meeting was based on listening and sharing, with moments for reflecting and examining in study groups. And there were plenary meetings for sharing and discovering ways to incarnate their vision in a culturally liveable proposal for the Church in Africa. The meeting was interspersed with real life experiences that were “offered,” as one attendant wrote, “not in the form of scientific accounts, but in a family style which was nevertheless not disorganized, and had much to offer for meditation.” 
This renewed in them their calling to rediscover themselves as men of God who are called to evangelize Africa with the weapons of the spirit, of love and of unity. Also through their ability to go against the current, as the Nunzio Apostolico of Kenya, Paul Alain Lebeaupin stated during his presentation. The Archbishop of Mombasa, Boniface Lele, invited the participants to a great openness and mutual assistance among priests so that they may be coherent servants among the Family of God.” The nations represented at the conference stretched from the Atlantic to Indian Oceans and embraced the austral and central regions of Africa: Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Madagascar. Compiled by the Secretariat for Priests of the Focolare Movement
Living the Charism: Spiritual Life and Prayer
The first young woman to follow Chiara Lubich was Natalia Dallapiccola. She once shared the following episode: “One evening, we gathered around a table (the only piece of furniture that survived). Since there was no electricity, Chiara was reading by the light of a candle: “This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples by the love you have for each other.” Natalia continued: “Those words fell like gasoline on fire. We wanted to know what Jesus’ deepest desire was, a word that would immediately reveal precisely what he wanted of us. And here was the summarizing phrase, the great discovery of our search.” She concludes: “We said to each other: ‘And so, before going out to school, to the office, to buy something at the market; before going out to help the poor, or even to pray – we must first have among ourselves the same love that Jesus has for us. This is what He wants.’”
Photo ©Adriana Avellaneda
Conclusion of Maria Voce’s visit to Slovenia
Wednesday 3 August. On a limpidly clear day, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti visited the historical center of Ljubljana and the Parliament Building, and greeted the Vice President Vasja Klavora, remembering the visit of Chiara Lubich in 1999. He welcomed them with exquisite hospitality , visiting with them the Halls of the Senate and of the Chamber. It gave them a glimpse into the past and present future of Slovenia. Then Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti visited with the Evangelical Pastor, Geza Filo. He expressed his gratitude for the contribution of the Focolare to the ecumenical cause in his land and, in the name of his bishop, he described Chiara Lubich as a person “sent by God”. 
A very significant moment was the gathering which took place in the Sports Stadium in Medvode, a few kilometres from the capital, with some 1200 people from different parts of the country, which demonstrates the spread and vitality of the many local communities of the Movement in this land. Many young married couples were there, and swarms of lively children. It was a composed and orderly assembly that welcomed Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti with songs and stories about the Focolare in Slovenia. It was a luminous story, not without its moments of suffering. Nothing was superfluous or overdone in the testimonies that were offered in representation of the different generations, within the warmth of a family feast that’s been long looked forward to. 
Then Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti were given an opportunity to have an open dialogue with those present, through a series of questions which were put to them by teenagers, children, priests, and married couples. Their answers were rich in wisdom and experience. “Courage!” exclaimed Maria Voce, using the Slovenian word. And the answers she offered were all permeated with this encouragement. Perhaps it will be the countries of Eastern Europe, she went on,“that have experienced a type of unity that contains certain values, but crumbled because it was not founded in God. . .” It is precisely these countries of the East, as they are now confronted by the aggressive materialism of the West who should “bring the others of Europe to discover that true unity cannot be constructed unless it rests on God.” Then she added: “You, with your experience, can say that the only positive and frutiful revolution is that of the Gospel.” Herein lies the need to “live and to speak”, “to improve” in witnessing with our life and with our word to the radicalness of the Gospel – without fear. It was a real consignment that Maria Voce was handing over to the people of Slovenia, in this land in which she encountered so much harmony. “This life of communion,” she concluded, “that we felt from the first moment we arrived here, and which has characterized this visit, a fruit of mutual love, must become total for all of us and for each one of us. And let us bring it to the whole world.” On the following day, 4 August, the Focolare president visited Archbishop Anton Stress of Ljublajna, President of the Slovenian Bishops Conference. Then she met with the priests of the Movement and the consecrated religious who live the spirituality of unity. Everything concluded with a Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Brezje, fifty kilometres from the capital. Goodbye Slovenia! This trip has taught us to “live the Gospel message with the radicalness of the early days of our Movement, and to make it known to all.” What an exciting mandate for this small but courageous people! By Mario Dal Bello
Giordani: To implant God firmly in the soul
[…] Crowds of young people today are joining together to recover the value of religion in their lives, and they draw from this collaboration new energies of renewal in the ordinary workings of society which are threatened by multiple abberations such as the use of nuclear energy, murder, the tyrannies of war, drugs, and pornographic sexual practices.
It could be said that the new consciousness of young people is attached to corpuscles that reduce faith to a reliquary decorously laden with violently charged ideologies, typical forms of externalized force, under the pressure of superficiality. But even from their tangle of politics and anarchism these unattached cells can learn the substance of the faith by looking at the attitude of bishops in countries where freedom is threatened, by looking at the life of believers that are causing a reaction based on convictions, after the lust and fear of violent and fearful rulers have offered a most powerful demonstration that, without faith in God, we do not live, we die. You die spiritually and often physically as we can sorrowfully observe in countries of the Third World.
The task of evangelization is therefore to implant God in the human soul […] If he is everything, then even our actions in this world, for others and for ourselves, are all influenced by his inspiration.
[…] Then the day is not only comprised of acts of labor and human relations and the cult of the human self, but it is enriched in an intimate higher life, a life of the spirit that imparts a dignity on a par with the freedom assured us as sons and daughters of the Almighty. The entire day is His intimate presence who gives us strength in trials, joys and weakness. It unfolds in a spontaneous evangelization, which so much of society is in need of, a society which is not atheistic, but ignoring the Gospel.Bottom of Form
[…] The existence of the Christian is also from God, just as it is for everyone else. Perhaps it is contemplated as something external, gaining, growing, learning, having fun and maybe even with a bit of effort to develop some inner virtue and draw near to God. But the Christian will live only to the degree in which he and she are attentive to their need to channel every action of the day toward the relationship with God, carrying out these actions with a view toward carrying on the Incarnation of Christ.
Every person, even the smallest, ailing, miserable and powerless human beings can yeild holiness, enrich humanity, and strengthen their brothers and sisters. And so nothing is a waste: every thought, every word, every action, within this vision of life created by God, serves to provide us with raw material for the construction of His Kingdom. And the day assumes a priestly value, as an association brought about by man between the life of Heaven and the needs of the earth.
The internalization of Christianity in the modern soul, therefore, is not so much a question of institutional reforms […] as it is a matter of “metanoia”, a continual daily rebirth in entering more deeply into the mystery of God, where the soul is immersed in His strength which is love.”
Città Nuova, n.13, 10/07/1977, p.29.
Training the Seminary Educators
The course was held at the impressive Vallombrosa Abbey in Italy, during July 17-30 and it concluded the second part of the course for educators which began last year. It involved seminary educators from thirteen countries (Pakistan, India, Korea, China, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, and Italy). The open forum surprised the attendants with its daily motivational richness and its content. The guiding theme of the interactive course was “Prayer, Life, Thought”. Faced with the profound changes that affect a person’s life in the modern world – influenced by the digital revolution – it has become necessary to constantly update educators both on this subject and on educational approaches which can be used with candidates for the ordained ministry. 
In Novo millennio ineunte (n. 43), John Paul II had already invited the Church to become a “home and school of communion”, also in “places where ministers of the altar are formed”. The priests of the Focolare Movement have responded to this expectation by offering this Pastoral Theology Course for Educators in Seminaries, and the Congregation for Catholic Education (office of the Holy See which serves seminaries around the world) has expressed its support and appreciation ever since this course began. The undersecretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Vincenzo Zani, himself, launched this year’s course by attending and making a presentation entitled: “The Communitarian Dimension of Formation”. 
The course is structured around four residential weeks in two years. The first year presents the foundations of the paradigm of communion applied to the delicate task of training future priests. The second year moves into the practical and more complex aspects of formation, dividing it into seven main areas of concern: the gift of self and communion, dialogue and witness, prayer life and life in the “Mystical Body”, entertainment in community, study and, finally, communication at the service of communion. It is in their intertwining that these areas become a valuable approach to the formation of seminarians: one which is not fragmented but unitary, integral and harmonious. Individual participants are invited to enter into a relationship of openness; to attend group workshops exploring specific topics that relate to the main theme; to come up with concrete formation practices; and to make group presentations at a plenary session. 
The support from experts in the fields of theology, pedagogy and other human sciences was also invaluable, together with the personal contributions of the educators themselves who are experts in the field of formation. The interest shown and the need to give formation to educators suggest that this course will continue to be offered in future years. Beginning this year, the course will be held at the Sophia University Institute of Loppiano. Course members will be expected to present a dissertation and will receive academic credit. Links Priests of the Focolare Movement Vallombrosa Abbey Sophia University Institute
Between Classroom and Sport Events: A Lie Left Unspoken
“We were halfway through the school year, in the middle of the school’s afternoon extracurricular activities. But since I’m in athletics, it was also the middle of sport preps for the season of competitions which was about to begin. Our Italian teacher had arranged for us to meet the author of a book which we had read. A few days before my trainer suggested that I take part in some competitions that were to be held on the same day as our appointment with the author. The dilemma began as to whether I should choose what I wanted to do or choose to do what would be most correct. I tried to focus my attention not only on feelings, but also on them, on the consequences of my actions for these two people. 
Since I didn’t have any active role to play in the appointment with the author, except to be a listener, I decided to attend the competition. It was in telling my teacher of my absence that my ‘trying to love’ would be put to the test. I was fearful, in fact, that she would be displeased because she was so looking forward to this appointment. And so, upon the advice of some friends, I decided to invent an excuse, a doctor’s appointment or some illness that would excuse me from attending the event and avoid any such risk. But, perhaps because of the way I had set out to do things from the beginning, aside from feeling that this choice would clearly be wrong, I found the courage to face this small challenge of telling the truth. To my great surprise and that of the entire class, the teacher didn’t react negatively in the least. On the contrary, she told of how she had been involved in sport in her younger years, and she encouraged me to attend the sport event. The sport events turned out to be the best I had ever attended, because of the joy I felt and because my previous dilemma had shown how important each tiny choice of love can be, a choice that God welcomes and multiplies in the happiness He gives us. A small attention to respect a neighbour and a small lie never spoken that allowed sincerity to triumph, and fair play made me feel that on that day, I was a real Gen3!” Who are the Gen3 according to Elena? “They’re teenagers who try to live the Gospel and to bring unity through their actions. Gen3 life is normal everyday life, but and everyday life that plants each moment in eternity, a normality in which each gesture is made exceptional because it is addressed to God, and aimed at winning Heaven.”
Trip to Slovenia/2
A surprising welcome for Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti in Slovenia where a group of smiling Friulians and Slovenians waited for them with flowers. It was an unusual sight, given that these two peoples have had mutual disagreements since 1918 due to the world wars. The Focolare’s Gospel Ideal has helped them in overcoming the past, and for this reason the atmosphere is warm and festive as the Slovenian people are.
This is a community that has been strengthened by long years of fidelity even through great suffering. A community which Maria Voce noted presented itself “mature” and rooted “in mutual love, that love which links one to the other.”
It is a small people in terms of its territorial expansion, but decisive and concrete in its Gospel experience. The lively youth of this land gathered together 600 of their countrymen, and presented to them the life of Chiara Luce Badano, a Gen who was recently beatified. Another original experience has been the constructive contact with other Catholic movements without which “the Church cannot go forward,” as the recent Archbishiop of Ljubljana pointed out. And it is for the contact with the faithful of other churches and religions.
Faced with a growing secular trend, on the 20th of June major representatives of the religions in Slovenia signed and launched a public appeal for religious freedom. Thousands of people had previously held public manifestations in defence of family values and against legislation that opposed them. These were projects that involved the community of the Movement in standing up for that “quality in relationships that creates the family, to that Gospel spirit which is a family spirit,” as Maria Voce stated on the last day of her stay in Slovenia.
Skofja Loka
Another significant moment was the August 2 visit of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti to a noteworthy educational project at the “Sunray” Pre-school in the historic city of Skofja Loka, twenty-five kilometres from the capital. The whole is immersed in green and overlooked by a castle – one of the two-thousands castles to be found in the whole state – the summer residence of the ancient patriarchs of Aquileia.
Twenty-eight teachers – including twenty from the Focolare – have been bringing ahead this educational project since 2003. It involves 120 children between the ages of six months and six years, and is founded upon the spirituality of communion of Chiara Lubich. It is amazing to witness how such a pilot-project, which is born from a Gospel experience, provides a life education based on relationships of mutual love and respect, and of listening and it engages teachers, parents and the children themselves.
Although they do not teach the catechism in the traditional sense, they do present Jesus to the children as someone who was born into the simplicity of a family and as someone who accompanies their growth.
The project has been a large success and more requests are arriving to open similar pre-schools based on the same pedagogical model. Few know the suffering that lies beneath it all, due to the State’s reluctance to support such projects. Maria Voce exhorted the teachers to “write of their extraordinary experience” as she continued to hold up the value of a work that strives to educate children at a relational dimension which is based on the new commandment of Jesus: “This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you.” It was an historical moment for Sunray Pre-school whose very name expresses the sensation one has while visiting there. To the joy of everyone, Maria Voce suggested two “protectors” for the project: two focolarini who showed great love for the youth: Camilla and Vincenzo Folonari.
By our correspondent Mario Dal Bello
Maria Voce in Slovenia
Horn of Africa Emergency Aid
We’ve heard from the Focolare community in Kenya about their immediate commitment to respond to the appeal of Benedetto XVI to skip a meal and donate the price of that meal to help Somalia. Giovanna Vasquez and Flavio de Oliviera write: “Dear Everyone, as you will have come to know from radio and television news, the Horn of Africa is undergoing a devastating human disaster. Our brothers and sisters have come to the bottom of the well, they are dying for lack of food and water due to the drought that is affecting the region.” There are many organizations working on site while, on behalf of the Pope, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum has sent its first aid money in the amount of 50,000 euros. It arrived through the Bishop of Djibouti and Apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, Msgr. Giorgio Bertin. In their letter Giovanna and Flavio from the Focolare Movement in Kenya continue by mentioning one of the main points of Focolare spirituality; that is, recognizing the face of the crucified Jesus in every human suffering. “Standing before the face of Jesus forsaken in this great suffering, we asked what we could do to heal at least a bit of this pain, and the idea came of launching a campaign that we’d like to call: “skip a meal”. It would involve depriving yourself of at least one meal during the month of August and, by donating the price of the meal, you could put into practice the words of Jesus: ‘I was hungry and you gave me food. . . (cf Mt 25:35). In living for universal brotherhood, we salute you!” Any sums of money which we are able to collect through your generosity will be placed at the disposal of the interested diocese which are already directly involved in providing aid to the populations affected by the drought. You can make bank transfers to one of the following accounts, specifying the reason: “Emergenza Corno d’Africa”. Other assistance can be given through: International Secreteriat of Youth for a United World Account Name: Pia Associazione Maschile Opera di Maria Intesa San Paolo – Filiale di Grottaferrata (Roma) codice IBAN IT04 M030 6939 1401 0000 0640 100 codice BIC BCITITMM Cause: Emergenza Corno d’Africa AMU – Action for a United World Account Name: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” c/c bancario n. 120434 presso Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma codice IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 codice SWIFT/BIC: CCRTIT2184D Cause: Emergenza Corno d’Africa New Families New Families Projects ONLUS Presso “Banca Prossima” IBAN: IT55K0335901600100000001060
Novi svet Magazine’s interview with Maria Voce
You have visited all the continents over the past few years, meeting with different cultures and social situations. You have had a close-up look at the Focolare communities spread throughout the world. In light of these rich experiences, could you tell us what you see as the main vocation of the Movement in the world? “It is a vocation to unity, a vocation to contribute at all latitudes, in different contexts and in different ways toward the realization of Jesus’ prayer to the Father: ut omnes unum sint (that all be one). This is the goal that each of us is called to, the imperative which is impressed upon each one of us who shares in the charism of unity (…).” Before arriving in Slovenia, you visited Russia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, three significant countries of the “ex-Soviet-bloc”. What was it that urged you to take these trips? “It is the same thing that urged me to visit Asia, Africa, North America and other European countries: the commitment to stay focused on relationships. My travels allow me to enter into a listening attitude and to grasp the problems and the riches of the peoples I meet, to appreciate their growth and to see where there is potential for development. What are the ones I’ve found in these lands that for years have been built upon a Communist ideology? Chiara Lubich always saw a special calling to unity in this area of the world, precisely in response to the forced unity that characterized these countries. In 1989, just after the crumbling of the Berlin Wall, Chiara saw those historic events as a great step toward unity. Within the process, however, the positive values that were present in that society up until then should be safeguarded: the yearning for unity, a global vision of the world, attention for the poorest classes, exaltation of the human person’s propensity to be social. Grand ideals, but often blatantly contradicted by the facts. She seemed to understand that the charism of unity, which the Holy Spirit had given to her, had a contribution to make in returning those ideas to their original source and rooting them there: in God. (…) Unity could really become the distinguishing mark of this region in particular. For if it is lived in God, the greater the diversity, the more extraordinary the experience of unity that is derived. I had an anticipation of it last summer during my voyage in Croazia, in which I met a group of the Movement’s members who came from different geographic and cultural regions: a single people comprised of many peoples, united in the name of God and living for unity (…).” 
IThese years we are witnessing growing polarization in Slovene society that undermines the relationship between the Church and the secular world. It sometimes erupts in a certain intolerance. How can this wound be healed and how can we help to restore true values to the world we live in? “I think that we must above all believe and bring forth all that is good and profound in every human soul. Believers and non-believers alike, hold to certain values that are within them. It’s a matter of highlighting what is positive in each person and find ways to build bridges with everyone. The charism of unity that we strive to practice has a force and light within it that goes beyond each one of us. (…). Then I believe that these values can be offered through personal witness and the witness of the community: the value of life, of the human being, of the family. . . These are values that God places within us and which should shine forth from our life, and be quite compelling. Finally, I believe in the importance of offering your own opinion, but freely, with detachment, with respect for others. In other words, as a gift of love.” Entire interview by Irena Santoro – Source: Novi Svet
Maria Voce in Slovenia
It is a land rich in history, faith, and suffering. Therefore it is sensitive to Gospel values like those that are highlighted in Focolare spirituality. This is witnessed to by the fact that a priest who attended the Mariapolis at Fiera di Primiero in 1958 was able, with the help of others, to silently spread its message on such a vast scale. The Focolari in Slovenia – Small communities were begun, whose life overflowed with the opening of the first focolare in a basement in 1966. A second focolare was opened in 1974. 
The fervent life was teeming in families, among youths, in parishes and the Movement grew to become a “small people”. The Communist Regime, of course, controlled the activities of its citizens, including the members of the Movement, but the life was never hindered and in 1986 the first Mariapolis-holidays were held in Bohinj, a bright spot in the lives of many people. For some it was their first encounter with God, and for others it was a return to Him after many years. In the 1970’s there was an unforgettable event: Gen Rosso’s tour. They held four performances at the indoor stadium which was packed with crowds. The highlight of the evening was the Slovenian song, “Maria” to the Mother of Jesus. It was the first time since 1945 that a religious song had been sung outside of a church building and broadcasted on television. The collapse of the Berlin Wall opened a new phase. Freedom meant that you could speak of the Movement, gather for meetings, organize musical tours for Gen Verde and Gen Rosso, republish the Focolare’s Novi Svet (New City) magazine, with a new look and a circulation of 2,300 copies. 
Today, Maria Voce will find a very developed Movement as it collaborates more and more actively with the local Catholic Church; enters into dialogue with other Christian churches; and opens toward society thanks also to some Economy of Communion businesses. The name of the Mariapolis Centre in Planina is “Spes”, “Hope”. There couldn’t be a better word for the trip of Maria Voce to a land in which hope has been proven and lived with such intensity in the past decades. Mario Dal Bello
August 2011
These words are part of a passage through which the author wants to demonstrate the infinite superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice compared to the sacrifices made according to the old Law. Those sacrifices offered to God were animals or things external to the human being, but what Jesus did was different. His intense love led him during his life on earth to offer the Father his very own will, all of himself.
“Behold, I come to do your will.”
These words provide the key to understanding the life of Jesus. They help us to grasp its deepest aspect and the golden thread that runs through all the events of his life on earth: from his childhood, the years of his private life, the temptations, his choices, his public life, all the way to his death on the cross. In every instance, in every situation, Jesus sought only one thing: to fulfill the will of the Father. And he accomplished it in a most radical way; that is, he never did anything outside of what was expressed in that will, and he refused even the most striking suggestions that were not in full agreement with it.
“Behold, I come to do your will.”
These words help us understand the great lesson that the whole of Jesus’ life offered. That is, that the most important thing to do is to fulfill not our own will, but the will of the Father. It means being able to say “no” to ourselves in order to say “yes” to him. True love of God does not consist in beautiful words, ideas and feelings, but in effective obedience to his commandments. The sacrifice of praise that he expects from us is to lovingly offer him the most intimate thing we possess: our will.
“Behold, I come to do your will.”
How can we put this passage into practice? This is also a sentence that emphasizes the fact that the Gospel goes against the current in so far as it goes against a very basic human tendency: to fulfill our own will, to follow our own instincts and feelings. This sentence is also one of the most annoying for modern men and women. We live in an age that exalts the ego and celebrates individualism. Freedom is seen as an aim in itself, and self-satisfaction as the fulfillment of the person. Whatever gives pleasure is considered the guideline for making one’s decisions and the secret to happiness. But we all know well the disastrous consequences that the pursuit of this culture leads to. A culture based on satisfying one’s own will stands in complete opposition to that of Jesus, which is totally oriented towards fulfilling the will of the Father and produces the wonderful effects that he promises. Let us try to live this passage by choosing the will of the Father, making it the guide and motivating force of our whole life, as Jesus did. We will thus set out on a divine adventure, for which we will be eternally grateful to God. Through it we will reach sanctity and enkindle the love of God in many hearts. Chiara Lubich
Living the charism: Witness and outreach
True happiness, that can be seen on people’s faces, in their eyes, in their actions. It takes root in the depths of a person and unleashes buried energies that can no longer be still. It’s a contagious and liberating joy that helps us to see the events of life correctly. It was the same story for everyone in the early days of the Movement, everyone who drew close to the Movement followed this same track. It’s what happened to Graziella De Luca in Massaia Hall, in Trent, where the newly-born Focolare community would meet. “As Chiara spoke, with the eyes of my soul I could see a very great light and I realized that this light was God, endless Love. The understanding was simultaneous to the light. Saying “I realized” implies a lapse of time. It was an immediate understanding. It was God, infinite Love, satisfying my soul, there was no emptiness left inside me. It was what I had always been searching for.” The experience of being loved by God and responding with love is the common plot of every story that is shared in environments where the Focolare is at work. Whether in small sharing groups or in the large public gatherings promoted by the Movement, it is a thrust toward universal brotherhood that begins in the place where you live in the present moment: in the family, at school, at work, even on a hospital bed. It’s this natural personal and communitarian spreading that leads to a deep inculturating of the Gospel and of the charism of unity in every continent and country. Stressing how our age is called to live unity, Chiara Lubich wrote: «(. . .) if it is lived, its reflections on society will quickly become obvious. And one of these will be mutual esteem between States, between peoples. This is somewhat unusual. We have become strongly accustomed to seeing the boundaries between peoples, fearing the other’s power, unless to join powers for our own benefit. But we think it difficult to act – since popular morality has never reached this point – only out of love for another people. But when the life of the Mystical Body is so developed among individuals who actually love their neighbours – black or white, red or yellow – as themselves, it will be easy to transplant this law to between States. And we’ll witness a new phenomenon, for love either finds or makes us similar, and nations will learn from what is better in the other and each people’s virtues will be put into motion for the enrichment of all. Then there will truly be unity and variety and a new people will blossom in our world which, though child of this earth will be formed by heavenly laws, and be called “People of God”».
From Guatemala: the focolare, a school of inculturation
Like all focolarine, Lina Velasquez lives in a focolare, the heart of the wider community. She lives with five others on the outskirts of Guatemala City. In her country too, people and ethnic groups have met serious conflict with much suffering, pain and, at times, discrimination. How is it living with other focolarine – a Guatemalteca ladina, which is another ethnic group, a Nicaraguan, a Mexican and a Salvadoran – a world in miniature. . . ? What helps inculturation among you? The love among us, with the measure that Jesus asks of us, that is, being to be ready to give our lives for each other, even in small everyday things. At times, out of love, it’s better to stay silent, at times it’s better to say what’s in our hearts. It helps me a lot to understand that the other person is different from me and so there is something for me to learn from everyone. I can be a person, someone who loves, not an “indigena” who wants everyone else to understand her. The inculturation among us is a witness to those who know us and a contribution to the elimination of discrimination. I feel fortunate to have a calling that unites us and that is mutually enriching. What work do you do? I’m a teacher at a school for “ladino” and indigenous children. This helps me to love everyone without distinctions, without prejudice, without the fear of being who I am. Each morning we toss the dice of love. It’s a very original toy that we use with the children: each side of the dice has a sentence, like: “Love everyone”, “Love your enemy”, “Love each other” , “Make yourself one”, “Be the first to love” “See Jesus in your neighbour”. We all try to live the sentence that comes up each day. It also helps me, because when I don’t take part, the children ask me: “Why do you say we have to do it, but you don’t live it?” One morning, we tossed the dice and the sentence that came up was: “Love your enemy”. Precisely on that day, the father of one of the students reprimanded me saying things that simply weren’t true. As I listened to him, I asked Jesus to help me forgive him and to see this “enemy” with new eyes, even if it cost me some effort to do so. The next morning that father came up to me and I greeted him with a nice smile. He was so surprised and he came closer to me and said: “Truly, I am heartily sorry and I ask you to forgive me. Today I realized that you are a real Christian person, and capable of understanding me.” From then on his attitude changed. Some of the parents don’t know me, especially when I’m wearing my traditional dress and, mistaking me for the cleaning lady, they don’t allow the children to greet me and embrace me. But the children are learning to love, even me, and they take this discovery home with them. It’s a freedom which I wish all indigenous people could experience, those who don’t wear their native dress and try to hide their origins. I’m glad to be working in this school, because I feel that I’m helping to form new people, that I’m able to love without prejudice, because they feel that they are children of God, and that each culture has great richness to offer to others. Your language is Kaqchikel. Is it still spoken today? My parents didn’t speak Kaqchikel, but my grandparents did, because they had never learned Spanish. The majority of the people in my community speak it among themselves, but never in the city because they are ashamed. Now with the Education reforms in Guatemala, the young people have begun to appreciate the language and also the precious indigenous culture. I’m doing my Master Degree on it, so that I can know it well and help my people to understand that the values I live can be a gift. I’ve realized that the spirituality of unity must reach my people in my language, so that they can understand it better.
SSA
[:it]Tolleranza e dialogo
Dialogue and not mere tolerance
Video in Italian (2 minutes, 30 seconds) « The proposal of dialogue goes far beyond simple tolerance, which can also be considered an achievement and is always a value at risk in our society. If two centuries ago Lord Stanhope could say that tolerance, which was once invoked as a grace and then acquired as a right, “would be rejected one day as an insult,” it was because he foresaw that one day – we hope today – people would become sensitive to higher values, like dialogue, that is, not only tolerating the other person, but profoundly respecting him or her, being open to different ideas, building a relationship among true brothers and sisters. What do you think of this reflection? » Piero Taiti asks Chiara. I’m sure that dialogue goes far beyond tolerance, even though I wouldn’t totally disregard tolerance because it would be a first step in some cases, at least people wouldn’t be fighting one another. Dialogue, however, is a completely different thing, it’s mutual enrichment, it’s loving one another, it’s feeling that we are already brothers and sisters, it’s creating universal brotherhood on earth, so it’s completely different. Of course, dialogue is true if it is animated by true love. Now, love is true if it is not selfish; otherwise, it’s not love. What kind of love would it be? It would be egoism. In fact, you’ve asked me a number of questions in which you speak of a love that might nurture personal interests, even in dialogue. Such a dialogue would not be built on love, so it wouldn’t even be dialogue, it would be something else. Proselytism. Proselytism must stay outside of this door, it can’t be admitted, otherwise, there isn’t dialogue. Dialogue means loving, giving what we have within out of love for the other, and also receiving and enriching ourselves. This is dialogue: becoming “world men and women,” as our gen say, people who are open to everyone and who give what they have to everyone. I remember that when we first began to live this way of life, we followed the path of loving, and we were really convinced that love is not selfish. You must not love in order to win over another person, or to form a little group for yourself. You must not love in order to have an impact, let’s say, in the office or at school. No, you must love simply in order to love. Our motives were supernatural because of our Christian convictions. Here, we can speak of building a brotherhood, this value of universal brotherhood, but never in order to conquer others. And this is why very many people followed us – because they felt free and they saw the beauty of this way of life. Likewise, we’ll have many contacts with people of other convictions, if we love in this way. Chiara Lubich at the Meeting with Friends of Other Convictions Castel Gandolfo, February 8, 1998
WYD: Città Nuova and the YouCat App
Preparations are underway in diocese around the world, preparing young people for their meeting with the Pope. In the backpack that each young person who has registered for WYD will receive, there will also be YouCat, the aid to the Catechism of the Catholic Church made especially for youth with its question and answer format. Just recently Città Nuova Ppublishing House, which edited the Italian edition of YouCat, has released an application that can be downloaded to the latest mobile phones. It is an “app”, that is, an “application” called YouCat, which enables teens to discuss the issues contained in the Catechism and the WYD. What is it exactly? Debora Donnini asks Giulio Meazzini who works for Città Nuova and dealt with the application of YouCat for mobile phones: 
“Città Nuova decided it wanted to give a gift to the youths who will go to Madrid by offering them, gratis, the chance to download this app to phones that have the Apple operating system, Windows Mobile or Android; that is, the vast majority of the latest mobile phones. The functions that are available include a social network like Facebook with a “wall”, a wall for messages where you can share comments, create your own profile, exchange messages and text messages between users as well as create a list of friends, also “famous friends”. We, for example, put in Maritain, Blessed John Paul II, St Francis, Cardinal Van Thuan etc. So every couple of days, via this application, you can receive quotations from these well-known people. In addition, specifically with regard to WYD, through this app, you have the opportunity to receive news updates directly to your phone in different languages regarding the World Youth Day, a daily update on all the events that happen during WYD and also the possibility join a kind of “community” of those participating in the WYD, with information and comments …”. 
This responds to what Benedict XVI himself wrote in the premise to YouCat. In fact, the Pope invited youths not only to study the catechism, but also to read it among friends and to form study groups and networks. So was this meant to be your answer to this invitation from the Pope? This is precisely what we were thinking. In fact the other feature that’s available with this app, the most important perhaps, is the ability to have available on the phone, twenty per cent of the questions and answers from YouCat. It’s a way of making the message immediately available. The intent is to enable young people to discuss the content of the catechism through the phone. . . “Exactly. Just as they are accustomed to talk and share information on social networks, in this way they’ll be able to share impressions, questions – also the questions and answers and topics in YouCat. A site will soon be opening on internet – www.cittanuova.it – where more information will be provided about WYD and YouCat. I also don’t want to forget to mention the international site that all the European editors are putting up in different languages, regarding YouCat. I would add that other editors have asked us to publish questions and answers not only in Italian but also in other languages, and so there will probably soon be English and French.”
Daegu
Mariapolis Center “Mary Mother of God”
The community of the Focolare movement in Korea is continuously growing, and felt the need to have a place where they could be formed in the culture of unity and fraternity, where they could meet and exchange experiences of the living the Gospel. Thus, apart from “Providence” which arrived in abundance, all committed themselves in various fund raising activities and they could acquire land measuring 9779sm on which to build the Mariapoli centre in accordance with their requirements. The most actively committed were the Gen4, the children who live the spirituality of the Movement, who faithfully filled up their moneyboxes, also making sacrifices. The Mariapoli centre “Mary Mother of God”, that is situated at an hour’s distance from Seoul, the capital, was inaugurated in 1994, to the joy of all. Aldo Fons Stedile was present. He was sent by Chiara Lubich. He is one of the first focolarini and one of her closest collaborators. From that moment onwards, the centre has been functioning in full swing, and serves above all for the formation of the members of the Focolari. Every year, around 7000 persons participate in the various courses and meetings, to delve into the spirituality of unity. The third Sunday of the month is the liveliest and heavily participated day as the centre is open to all children, boys and girls. Around 200 children are accompanied every month by their parents: the house is full of songs, laughter and their typical vivacity. For the parents an appropriate meeting is held contemporaneously, and often it is the children that encourage their interest in the life lived according to the spirituality of unity.
Living the Charism: Economy and Work
“Love, for example, is communion and leads to communion. Jesus in us, because he is Love, brought about communion.” – Chiara Lubich
Their awareness that God shows his love through the circumstances of life, even the painful ones, gave the desire to the first focolarine who were in danger of losing their lives beneath the bombs, that they should be buried together in a single tomb with the inscription: “We have believed in love.” This awareness of being loved by God made them able to be ready to give their lives each for the other. This led to the sharing of all their spiritual and material possessions, the sharing of all their aspirations, of their fears, and their dreams.
Giosi Guella, one of the first focolarine shares about the first living conditions of Chiara and her first companions: “There wasn’t anything in Piazza Cappuccini. But, at the same time, there was everything: for us and for others. It was logical that there shouldn’t be anything: if there was something, we gave it away. We returned home with our salaries, and put them in common.” Our jobs, balancing our budget, studying, teaching, doing house chores, since they were all seen as service, became the concrete occasions to love our neighbours. Service was the rule of the community that was forming around the first Focolare and made you think of the first Christians who ‘were one heart and one soul and didn’t have any needy among them” (cf Acts 4:32-35).
Whoever adheres to the charism of unity, in one way or another communion of heart becomes a natural thing, putting into common the things one has: for some it means everything, for others something, for others what is extra. From these expressions of communion a far-reaching project has also been born, even from a theoretical point of view: the Economy of Communion, which is the mature and integral expression of a way of understanding the human person and living in service of him. Hundreds of businesses around the world belong to the Economy of Communion. In these businesses, work is envisioned as a way of nobilization of the human person. Legality and justice are daily priorities.
Chiara Lubich wrote: “The magna charta of Christian Social Doctrine begins there, where Mary sings: ‘He has put down the mighty from their thrones, he has raised up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty‘ (cf. Lk 1: 53-53). The highest and most uncontrollable revolution is found in the Gospel. And, perhaps, it is part of God’s plan that even in these times, immersed in finding solutions for social problems, it will be Our Lady who will give a hand to Christians in building, consolidating, constructing and showing to the world a new society in which the Magnificat will be powerfully echoed.”
Argentina: 25 Years of Social Involvement
“Love brought to a social level will make us credible.” Challenged by these words of Chiara Lubich in 1984, the Igino Giordani School of Social Learning (EDES) was begun in Argentina. Since then, twelve courses have been offered every two years allowing the charism of unity to enter into dialogue with various issues in the social field in the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church (SDC). Vittorio Sabbione and Lia Brunet who were pioneers of the Focolare Movement in South America, were the principle supporters of this project, guided in the beginning by Bishop Jorge Novak. This year, EDES has begun a new phase in Mariapolis Lia (O’Higgins-Argentina) where the school is located. Between the 9th and 11th of July it examined a topic entitled: “The Social Dimension of Humankind’s Yes to God”. 
Methodology. The coordination team which was composed of experts, used a communitarian work approach. Topics and issues were chosen together by everyone. Texts were screened and chosen by the whole group as well. Then a final version was drawn up that was presented to the School. It was constantly a matter of thinking together enlightened by the words of the Gospel: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (cf. Mt 18:20). This same dynamic was applied by the students who participated in the seminar. Some of the topics that were discussed included: “Social life in the perspective of fraternity”, “Principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church”, “Humankind’s yes to God in its Trinitarian structure: Jesus Forsaken, the social question and the united world”, “Tools for implementing the SDC”. The presentations given by Bishop Agustín Radrizzani (Bishop of Mercedes-Lujan and current Rector of EDES), were much appreciated, because of how they were both deeply rooted in the teachings of the Church and steeped in the charism of unity. 
Experiences were important: the construction of housing in the Barrio Nueva Esperanza (Tucuman); efforts to integrate the work between the neighborhood parish of San Nicolás (Córdoba) and a community of gypsies; the preferential option for the poor of a teacher from Asunción (Paraguay), and the extensive work of “family listening groups” (San Martín, Buenos Aires); “Child Alert”, a citizen’s initiative born from the town’s painful loss of its dying children in Santa Fe, after which the provincial government enacted a law that was then adopted by other Argentine provinces; and the wonderful story of the Aurora School of Santa María of Catamarca, that with its craftsman training program has become a pioneer in the redemption of the culture of the native Calchaquí people “The training course was very important for evaluating our situation with new eyes,” says one Argentine youth. He adds: “It helped me to understand that change is within our reach and that we can accomplish it together.” The presence of the young brought a note of vivacity and hope to the EDES. 
The enthusiasm that was expressed at the conclusion of the seminar foretold a future that would be rich in developments and proposals. “The climate of simplicity, seriousness, research and inviting to live a new kind of society, permitted me to profit from the topics that were discussed, and instilled in me a desire to lose nothing of what I experienced here,” said a young professional career woman with a lot of experience behind her. She concluded: “It seemed beautiful to me and well done. The topics discussed were well inculturated in the Latin American reality and in tune with the DSC, especially the “Aparecida Document”. I learned so much!”
Bissau: Forgive your enemies? Can you?
I was parish priest at the Farim Mission, in Guinea Bissau, a city to the north of the capital, Bissau, on the border with Senegal. I would go to a village for catechism classes, preparing for Baptism. What was being taught was important, but I personally had the impression that it was all too theoretical. In past years, during my stay in Fonjumetaw, Cameroon, I had seen how the Word of Life helped in the work of evangelization. And so I began to take the monthly Word of Life and, following a brief explanation, I would invite everyone to put it into practice in order to then share with each other the fruits of doing so in the coming weeks. To make it easier, I handed everyone a piece of paper on which I had written the Gospel sentence and I invited them to hang it by their bed and read it in the morning when they rose from their beds, and at night, when they went to sleep. If they didn’t know how to read, I suggested that they ask their children to help them. Over the next few weeks, more and more people had something to say. One afternoon, in the village of Sandjal, some twenty km from Farim, when the time came to share experiences, a man told what happened to him during the previous week. The Word of Life was “Love your enemies” (Mt. 5:44). “One night the my neighbour’s cows entered into my bean plantation and destroyed it. This wasn’t the first time. This is why we hadn’t spoken to each other for months. But this time I was determined to make him pay. It was high time for him to see the damage he was doing. Me, my wife and children each took up a big piece of wood and set out for our neighbor’s house. But after taking only a few short steps i recalled the the Word of Life and said: ‘Stop! We can’t go. Last week I received a small paper which said to forgive our enemies, and in a few days I have to go back to the catechism class. What will I tell them if I go now to punish my neighbour? But then he will carry on doing as he has always done!’ Let’s go home and sit down. Letting it go as if nothing had happened didn’t seem correct. We decided to go to the man, not with a threatening air, but to dialogue. We explained to our enemy what had happened and we asked him to pay more attention to his cows. Our neighbour was speechless. He fell at my feet and asked me to forgive him over and over again. From that moment we began to greet each other, and I would say that we have become friends. It was months that we hadn’t spoken! And a new joy has entered my home.” In another village, Sarioba, 5 km from Farim, the same scene, a student stands up and says: “Every Monday we have to go on foot to Farim for school. There’s a seller who lives in a village not far away, who also goes to Farim with his truck. Normally, he doesn’t carry anything on the truck. Only that this time, after we had already travelled a distance of almost one kilometre, he stopped. He was having mechanical problems with the truck and he wasn’t able to move. When we reached him, we asked him if he needed a push to get the truck running. My friends said to me: ‘Let it go, let him take care of it himself. He never helped us.’ I was thinking the same thing, but then I remembered the Word of Life. And so we decided to give hi a hand to get the truck started. The engine started and the gentleman invited us to jump on, but we told him there was no need, and we continued on foot.” Fr. Celso Corbioli, OMI
Tanzania: Exploring Gospel Values Through the Teaching of “Us”
After a trip of nearly thrity-two hours, Franco Pizzorno and Pierangelo Tassano from the New Humanity Movement arrived in Singida, Tanzania. The object of their trip was to attend a formation course for seventy leaders of the ‘volunteers of God’ coming from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ruanda, Congo and Tanzania, who are invovled in enlivening different sections fo society with Gospel values. 
The five days of meetings proved to be very fruitful, highlighting the importance giving a life witness to the efficacious words of the Gospel. The cultural and spiritual research, presented by the volunteers themselves, and the deep sharing of experiences, made some guidelines emerge for seeking peace and the common good of society and its different ethnic groups, particularly in the field of education. “The peoples of these nations,” say Franco and Pierangelo, “have in communion and creativity in their DNA, perhaps more than people of other continents.” “Ubuntu, a typical African term means “I am what I am because of what we are,” and this is the natural root of this culture of relationships that makes you see problems in a different light, opening a space for new intuitioins from which valid solutions can be found not only for African society, but beyond.” 
John Bosco from Uganda states: “M. lives in my city. She has AIDS and other related illnesses. She’s old and poor. I called a meeting of the executive committee from my parish to see how we could help her, and with my wife cared for her. We brought her food, medicine, we washed her clothes. . . and other friends helped us in assisting her. Now M. is a part of our community. These actions did not go unnoticed and our testimony has stimulated many others to look better upon those who are in need.” Franco e Pierangelo conclude: “We left well aware that the peoples of this continent have so much to offer to the world, and so we listened and tried to understand not so much their most compelling needs, but mostly the talents of this culture which is so different and rich. As always, we recevied much more than we gave.”
Focolare.org App available on iPhone, iPod, iPad
Download site: http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/youcat/id448164885?mt=8 
Smartphone, iPhone, iPod, and iPad users will not be surprised by this announcement; in fact, they’ve been waiting for it. For the uninitiated, however, it can be useful to know that the frontier of new technologies, and in particular the so-called applications for mobile phones, now allow you to receive the news published on www.focolare. org on your smartphone! Glossary Smartphone (literally “smart” or “intelligent” phone) is a portable device that combines the functionality of the phone and the management of personal data. App – If you have a latest generation cell phone or iPad – as Giulio Meazzini, Citta Nuova journalist, explains in his book “Dal mare libero alle oasi protette” (From the Open Sea to Protected Oases) – the services that interest you can be accessed by using the “applications”, the so-called apps on the display that appear as many coloured icons, each one different from the other. 
The difference is by no means trivial: every app is built by a specific provider and offers a range of quick services, which are private and exclusive, targeted to the user. How the App of Focolare.org functions The app has been developed by TeamDev for Focolare.org and it can be downloaded for free at: http://itunes.apple.com/it/app/youcat/id448164885?mt=8 It is currently only available in Italian. In weeks to come it will also be available in English and Spanish. The screen allows you to enter the home page or one of the theme channels. This is version 1.0 with successive modifications forthcoming. Happy navigating to everyone! We look forward to your feedback!
New section: Living the charism
In 1968, Chiara wrote: “Love is light and, like a ray of light that passes through a drop of water, it unfolds into a rainbow of colors for us to admire. All the colors are light and they, in turn, divide into an infinity of shades. And just as a rainbow is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet – Jesus’ life in us could be said to have different colors, to be expressed in various ways, each different from the other. “For example, love is communion, it brings us to communion. Jesus in us, who is Love, could work communion. 
Love is never closed in on itself, it is diffusive by nature. Jesus in us, Love, would irradiate love. 
Love elevates the soul. Jesus in us would raise our soul to God; that’s what prayer is. 
Love heals. Jesus, love in the heart, would be the health of our soul. 
Love heals. Jesus, love in the heart, would be the health of our soul. Love gathers people in assembly. Jesus in us, since he is Love, would unite our hearts again. 
Love is a font of wisdom. Jesus in us, Love, would illuminate us. 
Love brings the many into one; it is unity. Jesus in us would meld us into one. These are the seven principle expressions of the love that we feel called to live, and this number seven signifies something infinite.”
[:it]Singapore: l’amore che circola e sana
Maria Voce: Towards a new meeting among religions at Assisi
A meeting with surprises of the Spirit
Interreligious Symposium in Thailand - 2010
In this time of great upheaval, “the walls in which the various civilizations live with their individual culture are crumbling,” and, “a city-world without walls can be seen on the horizon, full of hope.” This was the vision offered by Chiara Lubich in London in 2004, before an audience of representatives of numerous religions, on the topic of the future for a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society of our time, faced with the risk of a clash of civilizations. In the 1970s, speaking at an international congress of young people, Chiara had asked them to, “not close their eyes at the sight of this torment of humanity but to conscientiously enter into the gestation of the new world.” “You are here,” she added, “to be formed in a “world mentality,” to become “world-man.”
Chiara Lubich with a group of Buddhist monks
In these twenty-five years, the road opened by Blessed John Paul II has made great progress thanks to the action of the Holy Spirit. It is He who guides history in this great design of unity, despite the many shadows which fall across our planet. We are witnesses to it. For our Movement, almost as a surprise, the unexplored page of interreligious dialogue was opened. Chiara Lubich recognized a sign of the Holy Spirit in the interest shown in her spiritual experience by representatives of different religions present at Guildhall in London in 1979.
Since then, numerous developments have occurred in more than thirty years. In 1972, when Chiara invited young people to become protagonists in the gestation of a new world, she gave them what she called a “very powerful weapon of love,” “the model capable of re-creating the unity of the world:” Jesus crucified who calls out to his Father in his abandonment. It is He, the Crucified and Resurrected Lord, who is the key which opens dialogue even in the most difficult situations.
Maria Voce with Buddhist grand master Ajahn Thong - Thailand 2010
Today, dialogue between religions cannot be limited only to leaders, scholars and specialists. It must become a dialogue of the people, a dialogue of life. We meet Christians and Muslims everywhere who are testament to the fact that one can progress from fear of the other to the discovery of the other and contribute to a peaceful living together in their cities.
We begin now to pray for the great meeting in Assisi next October; in the hope and expectation of new surprises from the Holy Spirit.
Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement
July 13, 2011
Chiara Luce at WYD 2011
Thousands of young people from all over the world in Madrid for the 11th WYD. The events will take place this summer on the streets, auditoriums, public squares, colleges, schools, and parks of Madrid. There will be concerts and exhibits, museum tours, theatrical performances, and a cultural program entitled: “Youth Festival”. Among all the events, there is one that is particularly special – as shown by the great interest of the organizing committee. This is the presentation of Chiara Badano, a young Italian girl, better known as Chiara Luce, who was recently beatified. She will be presented during a show that will weave together music, theatre, acting, and dance. It will be held on 17 August at 22:00 in the Pilar García Peña Auditorium, located in the Pinar del rey Park. Three-thousand persons will be able to attend this event which promises to be unforgettable. 
This presentation would like to manifest that “Love” with a capital “L” that gives happiness, as shown in the life of Chiara Luce who Benedict XVI called a “ray of Light” at the Angelus of 26 September 2010, the day before her beatification. It will be a feast for young people, “who can find in her an example of Christian living,” as the Pope said. Pablo Alcolea, a music professor who is actively involved in the preparation of the event, tells us that it has been an experience of God for him: “It involves a lot of work, matching the tasks to the volunteers, but it’s a beautiful opportunity to let ourselves be taken by the hand of the Father and trust in Him.” Another Spanish youth, Pablo Garrido, who is co-responsible for the music assures us: “The first word that came to my mind was “folly”. In my opinion attempting to prepare something of this caliber falls into the realm of the miraculous, but it’s very gratifying, seeing how everyone immediately got to work in building this experience of unity.” Another member of the music group shares with us how this is something very personal for him, “as if Chiara Luce herself had asked me to participate in this with my own two cents, helping to communicate her lifestyle, her ideal of living for unity even beyond time and space.” “What a fantastic opportunity,” continues Pablo Alcolea, to contemplate through music the life experience of Chiara Luce Badano.” Other events which everyone is looking to are the Gen Rosso concerts, an international musical group of the Focolare Movement whose performance “Indelible Dimension” will be held on the 16th and 18th August. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akWjPRkdgJA.
The Immensity of God
Contemplating the immensity of the universe, the extraordinary beauty of nature, its power, I was spontaneously turned to the Creator of all things and I seemed to understand something new of God’s immensity. The impression it made on me was so strong and so new that I would have knelt down to worship, praise, and glorify God. I felt the need to do it, as if it were actually my vocation. And, now as my eyes seemed to be opening for the first time, I understood as never before, who it is that we’ve chosen as our Ideal; or rather, who it is who has chosen us. I saw him so great, that it seemed impossible to me that he should think of us. And this impression of his greatness remained in my heart for some days. Now it’s a whole new thing for me when I pray: “Holy be your name” or “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: it has become a necessity of the heart (. . .) We are on the way. And when someone travels, they already think about the place where they will be welcomed when they arrive. We should do the same. Won’t we praise God when we are there? Then let us praise him starting from now. Let us allow our hearts to cry out our love, to proclaim it, together with angels and saints: “Holy, Holy, Holy”. Let us express our praise with our lips and with our hearts. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to revive those daily prayers that have this as their object. And let us also give glory to him with our entire being. (. . . ) Let us praise him beyond nature or in the depths of our hearts. Above all, let us live dead to ourselves and alive to the will of God, to love toward our neighbors. As Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity said, we are also a “praise of his glory”. In this way we’ll anticipate Heaven a bit, and God will be repaid for the indifference of so many hearts who live in today’s world. Chiara Lubich, Rocca di Papa (Rome) 22 January 1987