Kinshasa

Feb 20, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Bujumbura

Feb 20, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Siberia

Feb 20, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Moscow

Feb 20, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Wallis

Feb 19, 2011 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Con i sindaci e i politici dei Territori Palestinesi[:de]Mit Lokalpolitikern der besetzten palästinensichen Gebiete[:es]Con los alcaldes y los políticos de los Territorios Palestinos[:fr]Avec les maires et politiques des Territoires Palestiniens[:pt]Com os prefeitos e os políticos dos Territórios Palestinos

Feb 19, 2011 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Palestina: una terra dove vale la pena vivere[:de]Palästina, wie es der Dichter beschreibt[:es]Palestina, una tierra donde vale la pena vivir[:fr]La Palestine, une terre où ça vaut la peine de vivre.[:pt]Palestina, uma terra onde vale a pena viver[:zh]「一個值得生活的地方！

Feb 19, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Haifa: an evening with friends of the Focolare

Feb 18, 2011 | Non categorizzato

“In Jerusalem the houses, schools, public transport, entertainment venues, and residential areas are separated: for Arabs and for Jews. It is really difficult to live in such an environment.” “I am a European girl. Just from the way I dress you immediately know I am an Orthodox Jew. In our city this is not always seen positively. I don’t know a single Arabic phrase and I’ve been brought up to avoid situations where I could get caught up among groups of Palestinians.” These words from speaker N and J, both young people from Jerusalem, the first an Arab Christian and the second Jewish, describe the scenario in Jerusalem. They live near one another, and struggle to thrive as they feel the tension in the air in this city which is ‘holy’ for all. These two young people were participants in the meeting which was held recently at the Castra Gallery, in a commercial centre on the outskirts of south Haifa: about 100 people came to this humble, simple meeting. Jews, Christians and Muslims came from Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and other places in Galilee. The meeting was with Maria Voce, and the title: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together” (Psalm 133). Many people spoke and shared the rich and varied lives they are living and working through. For a number of years in Haifa, Jews and Christians have met monthly to deepen their understanding of the Sacred Scriptures of their respective traditions. They listen to one another and try to understand the others point of view, without falling into syncretism – mixing beliefs. This attitude brings ‘a real and sincere friendship, which continues to grow’, to the point that a month between meetings seems much too long! An Arab girl spoke about a project which works to weave friendships and real relationships between students belonging to the 3 religions. ‘The most beautiful moments we have lived together have been the visits we made to the sacred places of the three religions: The Wailing Wall, the Holy Sepulchre and the Mosque. This experience changed my life.’ Other experiences centred on the crisis in Gaza, 3 years ago, when Jews, Christians and Muslims met to pray for peace. This was unique in the whole of Israel. It was very moving understanding the great courage it took to go completely against the current of thought that surrounded them. There were examples too of everyday life, listening to one another making a real discovery of people different to oneself. As a young Jewish girl put it people have wagered on peace: “It is written in the Mishna that God does not find any instrument that can hold his blessing other than Peace. Only with real peace will we obtain all the blessings that the Father in Heaven wants to give to His children.’ Maria Voce was clearly moved as she thanked those who had spoken. It is true what Chiara Lubich said, ‘nothing is small if it is done for love.’ In fact, it’s something great, because here we are speaking about moving the mountain of prejudice. This is the small ‘big’ miracle of the evening in Haifa. The President of the Focolare underlined the prophetic dimension of what was being lived during the crisis in Gaza: “This is an experience based on God and on his will, and shared suffering: the most precious thing in the eyes of God. This will bring lasting fruit, of that I’m certain’. She emphasised how this is an important contribution towards history: ‘These experiences may be small but they are necessary for the picture of peace to be completed’. She then recounted how she had, on this visit, met people from all the religions who were real brothers and sisters. She quoted Scripture ‘Blessed are the people who have God as their Lord’. The evening finished with a shared supper to which everyone brought a contribution, there were both Arab and Kosher dishes. It was not possible to distinguish who was a Jew, and Arab or a Muslim. What a young Muslim girl said was so true: “Now I look at other people beyond their faith. We are still a small group, but we are committed to involving many other friends”. From Roberto Catalano

[:it]Svizzera: musulmani e cristiani in dialogo[:de]Schweiz: Muslime und Christen im Gespräch[:es]Suiza: musulmanes y cristianos en diálogo[:fr]Suisse : musulmans et chrétiens en dialogue[:pt]Suíça: muçulmanos e cristãos em diálogo[:zh]瑞士：回教徒與基督徒的對談

Feb 17, 2011 | Non categorizzato

At Emmaus with Monsignor Marcuzzo

Feb 17, 2011 | Non categorizzato

On the morning of 16 February, the delegation from the Focolare Movement  spent the morning at the site of Emmaus, 27 km from Jerusalem, on the plain toward the capital of Tel Aviv. This is one of three sites with the same name, that have brought us the famous scene from the last passage of Luke’s Gospel. After the crucifixion, two of Jesus’ disciples were walking along the road as they recalled the sorrowful events of those days, when they met a stranger who began to explain the Scriptures to them, and filling their hearts with peace. At the “breaking of the bread,” the Gospel tells us, the eyes of the disciples were opened and they recognized the man as the Risen Jesus.

Maria Voce was received in audience by Bishop Marcuzzo, auxiliary bishop of the Latins, presiding over the See of Emmaus-Nicopolis. The bishop confided to Maria Voce and the delegation from the Focolare that this See was chosen for him because of various reasons. It is one of the twelve Christian diocese that existed in the first centuries in the Holy Land; it is the place that leads all Christians to the point in which everything began again after the death of Jesus and, not least of all, it was where, when he was still a young priest, he had witnessed the destruction of the village of Emamus in 1967 after the Six Day War.

The president of the Focolare also shared a fact with the bishop that concerned her personally. As many know, she is often called Emmaus within the Movement. “Chiara herself gave me this name in 1964. She had spoken to a group of young focolarinas about Jesus among us, which is the actualization of Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them,” if we live the new commandment of mutual love. In my enthusiasm I wrote to Chiara telling her that I wanted to spend my life in realizing this phrase. And so she gave me the name, Emmaus, since those disciples had lived and experienced the presence of Jesus among them.” 

The meeting was rich in meaning, in a place that stands out in such a singulare way in the history of the first Jerusalem communities. The Mass which was celebrated by Bishop Marcuzzo and Giancarlo Faletti, co-president of the Movement, was a moment of deep communion with valuable insights about the fruits of Christ’s presence in the heart of the community.

The charism of Chiara Lubich, which is strongly centered on the presence of Jesus among those united in his name, came into light precisely here in these places where it historically and physically took place.

By Roberto Catalano

With representatives from various Christian Churches in the Holy Land

Feb 17, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Patriarch Mons. Foud Twal set the tone of the appointments that Maria Voce had in her diary for her visit to Jerusalem which began on 11^th February: He expresses his view, “The concerns of the people are our concerns. It’s as if the ascent to Calvary has never ended here in the Holy Land”. We must not become discouraged. “Hope never dies. For example, I notice recently that there are 100 or more associations that bring together Jews, Christians and Muslims in this region. People want dialogue. I also see that little by little, perhaps because of the many sufferings, we begin to speak of ‘neighbours’ rather than ‘enemies’”. Maria Voce joined in: “If a drop of love enters within instinctive self-defence, another step can be taken, and one can go ahead”, without falling into despair. The Patriarch concluded; “This is the speciality we Christians have, to sow love and go ahead”. This same background of suffering and came through in the conversation that the president had with Bishop Munib Younan, President of the World Lutheran Federation: “I see in people a strong temptation to be concerned only with material goods. But no, here we have need of God.” And he explained further: “We need a deep spirituality, for our children and for ourselves, a spirituality that is deeply evangelical”. Maria Voce understood the spirituality the Bishop hopes for would naturally be ecumenical. At the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchate, Maria Voce spent time with Bishop Aris Shirvanian. “We must be united so as to defend the Christian Church – he said -, but we cannot say that there specific problems foe we Armenians, we continue to live to keep up our faith, our heritage”. Maria Voce underlined the greatness of this vocation. “Yes – continued the Bishop – we need to defend ourselves, but even more we need to build ‘bridges’ between the Churches, bridges between religions, bridges between peoples.” There was a very warm Lebanese welcome at the Holy Land residence of the Marionite Archbishopric, a community of about ten thousand faithful, above all in Galilee, with Bishop Mons. Paul Nabil Sayah. This Marionite Bishop underlined the importance of the pastoral aspect and actions of the Christian churches in the Holy Land, especially with and for families: “There is never enough space for education, which is a real priority for us. With good education you can hope to reach peace”. The desire to co-operate was also confirmed by Maria Voce. Finally, an important meeting with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem: His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, who received Maria Voce and her collaborators. The historical difficulties between the Christian churches in the Holy Land are well known. The climate has certainly improved, and now one can speak of a ‘real ecumenism’ even though there are still difficulties. In the conversation between the Patriarch and the president of the Focolare there was a common desire to ‘raise the tone of the discussions’, anchoring, Theophilos III emphasised, into ‘the unity of Christians “in Christ”, in His love’. Maria Voce explained what ‘unity’ means for the focolarini, “the unity Jesus asked of His Church”. From Michele Zanzucchi The full Italian version of this report can be found on Citta Nuova site: http://www.cittanuova.it/contenuto.php?TipoContenuto=web&idContenuto=31501

With Rabbi Kronish: Peace now! Peace afterwards!

Feb 17, 2011 | Non categorizzato

I have been in Jerusalem since yesterday. Maria Voce’s busy schedule has also included appointments with some people from Jewish and Muslim traditions. These meetings are a re-affirmation of the commitment to dialogue at all levels. Today the first of these encounters was held with Rabbi Ron Kronish, founder and director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council of Israel (ICCI). We met at 15:00 with Rabbi Ron Kronish who refers to himself as old friend of the Focolare. ICCI office (http://english.icci.org.il/) is located in a neighborhood not far from the center of Jerusalem, on the old road to Bethlehem, which is still very crowded and bustling with life. The ICCI was founded in 1991, on the evening before the outbreak of the first Gulf war. It was 16 January and everyone in Israel was wearing gas masks; there was an atmosphere of fear because of the coming war. In Ratisbonne, the center that we visited this morning, some men of dialogue gathered who, in spite of the war, had decided that the world needs peace. The center works on different levels, but primarily for youth and women. Its goal is to train people for peace. They try to create a basic mentality which has at its basis the awareness that there are conflicts – here Kronish referred especially to the conflict between Israeli and Palestinians – and these conflicts are not easily resolved, but we can, nevertheless, continue to work for the peace of tomorrow. Their slogan isn’t so much “Peace now!” but “Peace later!” For this reason, young people especially, need to be engaged in recognizing the other, listening to the other, discovering the other and, in the end, seeing the other not as an enemy, but as a neighbor to be accepted with his or her diversity. The experiences of the twenty years of these courses which have been taking place within Israel with Muslim, Jewish, and Christian teens and young adults, have been fruitful and enriching. Only 5% of those who enroll choose not to finish the course, while all the others reach the end. This is a sign of the interest and commitment, but also a source of hope because by now thousands have benefited from this new vision. In speaking to Maria Voce, Ron Kronish doesn’t hide the fact that the world has changed since 1991. Peace seemed near, it seemed already possible. Today it is much farther away. We need to be aware of this, but never lose hope. Maria Voce talked about the Focolare’s involvement in the field of formation and of the similarity of ideas and methodology that we share with the ICCI. Kronish asked that our collaboration continue and that we especially carry it out among young adults and teenagers. Roberto Catalano (extract from Italian magazine, Città Nuova: www.cittanuova.it )

Bishops: God is near

Feb 16, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Benedict XVI greeted them joyfully during the audience of 9 February: “I am glad for the opportunity you have been offered to compare ecclesial experiences from different areas of the world, and I hope these days of prayer and reflection bear many abundant fruits for your communities.”

Their reflections were conducted within “the light of the charism of Chiara Lubich,” as Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, moderator of the gathering, said in his opening remarks, “which is in deep harmony with the charism of the bishop.” He went on to say: “It’s a matter of knowing how to accept the Love of God who wants the good of humankind as He draws near to every human person.”

“The spirituality of communion, an echo of the Second Vatican Council which is all centered on the Church as a mystery of communion. . . is brought forward in a charismatic way by the Focolare Movement,” underscored Cardinal Marc Oullet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

Before the challenges that the Church is facing today especially in lands with ancient Christian traditions, but also in many other parts of the world, the bishops wanted to give voice to the answers the Holy Spirit has generated in recent years, like the communion and the collaboration between new and ancient charisms, the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the dialogue with the so-called secular culture.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, highlighted the passage from a multicultural society to an intercultural one which integrates the diverse cultures and faiths, as is shown by the launching of the recent “Court of the Gentiles,” a phrase coined by Benedict XVI in reference to the dialogue between faith and culture. The roundtable discussion which preceded Cardinal Ravasi’s presentation related the various dynamics present in modern society, seen from the perspective of the economy (Dr Stefano Zamagni), of mysticism (Father Fabio Ciardi), of social relations (Dr Vera Araujo) and international relations (Dr Vincenzo Buonomo).

Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement focused her presentation on God’s Plans in the Thought of Chiara Lubich, which was in line with the theme of the gathering.

At the conclusion of the meeting, 25 bishops went for two days to the international Focolare town of Loppiano, near Florence, which, with its 900 inhabitants witnesses that society can be guided by the Gospel. Among other places, they visited Sophia University Institute which is already in its third year of interdisciplinary courses.

1956: I saw the Holy Land

Feb 15, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Dome of the Rock – (…) As I beheld the city from the bright blue coastline near to the hills that are dotted with thousands of houses, as our plane soared out over the water so that we could catch a first glimpse of the Palestine hills, I didn’t believe that Jerusalem and the Holy Places were going to make such a deep impression on my mind.

My stay in Palestine lasted seven days.

I don’t recall the schedule of our visits, but the places are deeply impressed in my mind: Bethpage, the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, the stone steps of Jesus’ testament, Gethsemane, the Antonia Fortress where Pilate stood Jesus before the people and said: “Behold the man!” the site of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin; the site of the ascension enclosed in a small kiosk; then there was Bethany and the road that leads from Jerusalem to Jericho, which is mentioned in the parable of the Good Samaritan; Bethlehem. . . a long list of such sweet names that neither life nor death will ever erase. At evening’s fall, raising my eyes to the sky, there were stars dripping light, skies that we never even dream of here in Italy, and I felt a strange and logical affinity between that firmament and those holy places.    (…)

An old road to Jerusalem, an uphill climb, perhaps three meters wide, echoing the cries of merchants who are selling their goods on the left and on the right. People elbowing each other as they come and go, dressed in the most varied types of eastern designs.

You keep climbing and, as you pass through this bazaar – this is what the local people call it – you now and then come upon a doorway that you’re not sure belongs to the house or to a chapel: “Here is a station of the Cross, here’s the third station, here’s the fourth. . . Here is where Jesus met his Mother, here is where he met Simon of Cirene. . .” It was the road of the Via Crucis, the path that Jesus followed.

A few meters higher we are informed: “We’ve reached the sepulcher. Here in this church, held up with these powerful unsightly beams is the most sacred place imaginable: Calvary and the sepulcher.”

There was a living sense of pain in my soul, almost fear or dismay.

We went inside and filed up a narrow, narrow staircase whose marble had been worn down by the millions of pilgrims who’ve climbed it. And we found ourselves before an altar where the Greek Orthodox and Armenians could celebrate.

A guide showed us a rock that could be seen through a glass window, a hole, and then he told us: “The cross was planted in this hole.”

Inadvertently, without saying a word, we all went to our knees.

It was a moment of deep recollection for me.

The cross was planted in that hole… the first cross.

If there hadn’t been this first cross, my life and the life of millions of Christians who follow Jesus by carrying their cross, the millions of sufferings, the pain of millions, would not have had a name, they would not have had any meaning. Jesus raised upon the cross like a criminal, gave meaning and value to the sea of anguish which touches and, at times, submerges humanity, and often every individual.

I didn’t say anything to Jesus in that moment. The perforated stone had spoken.

I only had to add like an ecstatic child: “Here, Jesus, I want to plant, once more, my own cross, our crosses, the crosses of all those who know you and all those who don’t.”

Extracts from Essential Writings, “The Attraction of Modern Times”, by Chiara Lubich.

Visit to the Holy Land

Feb 14, 2011 | Non categorizzato

It was a gathering of some representatives of the ecclesial movements and new communities present in Jerusalem. Here where the Universal Story had a new beginning, and also the small “sacred story” of each group concerning its place and its individual way.

Some hundred people were present in a hall of the Curia in the Custody of the Holy Land, just behind the New Gate.

Chemin Neuf, the Community of the Beatitudes and the Emmanuel Community of France; Cançao nova, the Sons of Mary, the Obra de Maria and Shalom Communityfrom Brazil; Regnum Christi from Mexico; John XXIII Association, Communion and Liberation and the Focolare from Italy (with international dimensions) told of their adventure with simplicity, each of them very original and yet quite similar to one another. Almost all of them shared common approaches: providing hospitality; meeting pilgrims; working to making the treasures of the Holy Land known (also at an ecumenical and interreligious level), and promoting tourism to the holy sites. Numerous movements and communities specialize in the field of evangelization through the media. There were also many examples of communities who worked together.

Like everything in Christianity, this meeting in Jerusalem  was not noteworthy for its numerical dimensions, but but for its qualitative dimensions. It was the quality of relationships which was the highlight. “Perhaps one task of the movements and new communities is to bring to the Catholic Church and more generally to all of Christianity, the only primacy found in the Gospel, the primacy of love,” explained a young woman from the Chemin Neuf Community.

Some movements have been present on location in the Holy Land for years, others for just a few months. The joy and fellowship was what made everyone take note at this meeting that was begun by Maria Voce with the simple sharing of her activities.

In the course of a frank dialogue with those present, Maria Voce explained the meaning of the dialogue between movements and new communities: “I find myself before people and groups who desire to witness that mutual love which constructs the Church.”

In particular, responding to a question from a representative from Communion and Liberation, she said: “Certainly, following the Vigil of Pentecost 1998,” in Saint Peter’s Square, in answer to the call of John Paul II, “we felt linked, united to the Pope’s appeal as he invoked the Holy Spirit. From that time on, Chiara Lubich noticed in the Pope a desire that the movements be in communion among themselves.” To favor “that charismatic, marian presence which is “coessential” to the petrine dimension.” And so, since then,  “wherever you find the Focolare Movement, you meet this desire for unity between movements and new communities.” Each with its own charism, “which complements the charism of the others. Communion isn’t uniformity. . .  If (each of) our charisms is the most beautiful one, then, in the end, the Church is more beautiful, because the charisms are gifts that are to be submitted to reciprocity.”

“How can you live ecumenical and interreligious dialogue in the Holy Land?” asked one young Brazilian woman. “Dialogue is a lifestyle,” Maria Voce responded, “more than a thing that you “do”. It means placing yourself before another person out of love.” Loving without interests, always, being the first, both with other Christians and with the faithful of other religions. “For us, dialogue has always meant a dialogue between people, not between ideologies or religions. . . Because there is love in every person on earth.” Besides, “Unity comes from God, who only asks people to love each other.”

By Michele Zanzucchi

Adelaide

Feb 11, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Info – Tonga

Feb 11, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Info – East Timor

Feb 11, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Hobart

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Christchurch

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Lower Hutt

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Canberra

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Dunedin

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Hastings

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Kiribati

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Nauru

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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Nadi

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

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[:it]Le vie dell’unità[:de]Eine Ökumene des Lebens[:fr]Un œcuménisme fait de vie[:pt]Um ecumenismo feito de vida[:zh]還有一種以生活為基礎的大公合一運動

Feb 10, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Mariapolis Peace

Feb 9, 2011 | Non categorizzato

The little towns, through the life style they promote, can offer new ideas for life in bigger towns and cities. They are models of a new kind of society, whose law is mutual love, the law of the Gospel, with the full communion of cultural spiritual and material goods that this entails. Through the life that circulates, their outreach in the world has remained constant. Each year they have thousands of visitors.   “This place is really nice; maybe we can build our Mariapolis Center here!” Touring Tagaytay in May 1966, Cengia and Silvio had just discovered a spot on top of the hill overlooking Taal Lake. And so… they prayed: “Jesus if it is according to your will, we’d like to ask you for this piece of land for the Mariapolis Center.” Then they took a small medal of our Lady and buried it underground. It was a custom followed in many other parts of the world. Read more

Wellington

Feb 5, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Sydney

Feb 5, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Melbourne

Feb 5, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Intercontinental Meeting of Bishops

Feb 5, 2011 | Non categorizzato

[:it]Comunione e Diritto a Santo Domingo [:de]„Gemeinschaft und Recht“ in Santo Domingo[:es]Comunión y Derecho en Santo Domingo [:fr]Communion et droit à Saint-Domingue [:pt]Comunhão e Direito em Santo Domingo[:zh]在聖多明哥共和國舉行『共融與法律』的聚會

Feb 2, 2011 | Non categorizzato

Perth

Feb 2, 2011 | Non categorizzato