Mumbai: Dr Shantilal Somaiya e Chiara Lubich
Focolare in Hungary
Please note: The geolocalisation feature on this website – which displays cities and towns where Focolare centres are present – is only meant to be a guide. The markers on the map do not necessarily point to a specific address and they must not be relied on for navigational purposes.
Spagna: visita di Maria Voce
Argentina, prima “Summer School” Economia di Comunione
Cardinal Rylko visits the focolarini
“I am here not on official business, but urged by a need of the heart. I am here to extend to all of you a heartfelt thanks, in the name of the Church, for what you are: a great hope of the Church of today and tomorrow.” Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, addressed these affectionate words to the 1,200 men and women focolarini who were attending the fourth and last annual retreat for focolarini. They were there from Europe and the continents.
Cardinal Rylko underscored that “the charism which the Holy Spirit gave to Chiara is for the Church, and it is a treasure that must be guarded and protected, but especially lived,” which is precisely the best way, said the prelate, of protecting it, “living it all the way to the bottom, with passion, enthusiasm, and gratitude,” he reiterated. Recalling, then, the Apostolic Letter “Novo Millennio Ineuente,” in which John Paul II proposes the “spirituality of communion” to everyone, he added: “Whenever you speak of communion you touch the central nerve of the charism of unity.”
He therefore invited the focolarini who had gathered together for those few days to “live again in our day the gift of communion, which is your very strength.” He highlighted the particular task that is awaiting the Movement today: to freely offer this gift which was freely given, to this world that is broken and divided by hatred. Hence the importance of cultivating “a profound communion with the universal Church and, in particular, with the person of the successor of Peter, the Pope.” He recalled the words spoken by Benedict XVI, in 2006 to the Movements: “. . . I ask you to be even more collaborators in universal apostolic ministry of the Pope, opening the doors to Christ.”
Aware that “you take these words as the programme of your life with a missionary zeal that touches the ends of the earth,” Cardinal Rylko concluded by underscoring that the communion with the universal Church is a concrete fact. It means “being participants in the major challenges facing the Church at the present time,” particularly mentioning the intolerance and persecution of Christians in various countries of the world.
After lunch, which took place in a peaceful family atmosphere, the Cardinal – who was celebrating 15 years of his episcopal ordination – wanted to go to the chapel of the Movement’s Centre in Rocca di Papa to visit Chiara Lubich’s tomb. He also visited the house where she lived for over 40 years, and then went to the Chiara Lubich Centre, which houses the founder’s archival legacy. They were solemn moments imbued with vivid memories
“Marilen” Centre for Unity – Oceania
A snippet of history By 1982, every continent except ours, had its own mini-city, its own Centre for Unity. So it was in that year that we started to search for the best place for a Centre for Unity for the whole of Oceania. We narrowed the search area down to a 1.5 hour’s drive radius from Melbourne and all our friends searched high and low for a property that was: beautiful, affordable, close to Melbourne and the airport, easily reached by interstate visitors, where the local council regulations could accommodate development, where there would be space for the Australian and New Zealand (and Islander) soul to sing. In short: location, location, location … We looked east to Gippsland, south-west to Geelong, north to central Victoria and to the West (the Lion Park!). But no place quite fitted every requirement. Then in March 1986, one of the pioneers of the Focolare, Marilen Holzhauser, died. At a home Mass in the Focolare, offered for her, we asked Marilen to help us find a property. Then, as is often the case, the unexpected happened in an unplanned and almost miraculous way. The December 1986 newsletter tells the story: ‘On the Anzac weekend, we had a New Humanity seminar in Healesville, together with Margaret Linard and Giuseppe Arsì (Scinti),and there we experienced a very great unity. At our Sunday Mass and services, we prayed for a Center for Unity. After Mass, we went to say hello to Fr Gerald Loughnan, then parish priest of Healesville, an old friend whom we hadn’t seen for some time. Father had 100 acres of land in Greendale (in country Victoria), which he had thoughts of subdividing and selling. We felt that Marilen in heaven had listened to our prayers and was pointing the way. Margaret Linard vividly recalls how it all unfolded: “I said, ‘Father, do you still have that block of land? You don’t want to sell it do you?’ He said, ‘Well, I have the land but I want to retire there.’ After Mass the next day, Father Loughnan came rushing towards us with his vestments flapping in the wind. He hadn’t even bothered to take them off and he said, ‘About that land. I’ve been thinking about it. I think I will sell it. Do you still want to buy it?” Fr Loughnan decided to keep ten acres for himself and sell us the rest. So how much was asked for the property? Exactly what we had in the bank through the generosity of everyone who shared the search and the dream! An invitation was sent to all those who had been involved in the search for a property over the previous two or three years to come and see the land. Whoever was sceptical when they heard that the land had no power, no town water, no telephones and so on, were soon won over when they saw the place. The magic of Marilen was beginning to weave its design.
Press releases 2010
[:it]Scritto inedito di Igino Giordani sulla nonviolenza[:es]Escrito inédito de Igino Giordani sobre la no-violencia
[:it]Maria Voce da Bartolomeo I: incontro d’unità
In Istanbul to strengthen dialogue among believers
In one of the few breaks granted by the rain, the president of the Focolare offered the following prayer at the tombs of the patriarchs Athenagoras I and Dimitrios I: “Eternal Father, hasten our steps towards full communion between the Catholic and the Orthodox Church. (. . .) “We entrust to you each one of them who knew Chiara Lubich so well, and the continuation of the ecumenical journey.” Maria Voce was accompanied by a group of focolarini from Istanbul, in the tiny cemetery of Balikli, situated within the Orthodox Shrine of Mary Source of Life. 
After the important audience with Patriarch Bartholomew I(the reason for the trip), the president’s stay in the historic city continued with other meetings, such as the one with Father Luigi Iannitto, a 91 year old Conventual Franciscan who had encountered the charism of unity in 1949 and, in the seventies, had gathered together the first group of those who began to live the spirituality of the Focolare in this land. In an atmosphere of deep friendship there was also a meeting with a group of Muslims in Istanbul who for many years have been in close collaboration with the Movement. 
Bishop Louis Pelatre, Apostolic Vicar of the Latin Church in Istanbul, welcomed Maria Voce warmly. They have known each other since the eighties, when both lived in Istanbul. They wasted no time, immediately jumping on to the big issues, beginning with the dialogues and their great importance. “They are the new frontier; we can’t close ourselves” the prelate emphasised, as he expressed great appreciation for the work that the Orthodox Patriarch is carrying forward in ecumenical dialogue and in the dialogue with Muslims. Finally, he thanked Maria Voce warmly “for having not only maintained two focolares in Istanbul, but for also having renewed them with the arrival of two young focolarini.” Regarding living in frontier situations, Bishop Pelatre reported that to those who from time to time asked him what he was doing in Turkey, given the small number of faithful there, he always answers: “It’s not fair to say there is nothing to do, but rather we should figure out how to do.” On the same street which is named after Bishop Roncalli, since the future Pope XXIII was nuncio here at the turn of the forties, there is the seat of the Apostolic Nuncio, where the meeting with Archbishop Antonio Lucibello took place. He began by extending warm Calabrian greetings, due to their common origins, and then there was the visit to Pope Roncalli’s study. 
Next they had private discussions about the relationship with Islam. “A dialogue that is more cultural rather than interreligious,” he stressed. He showed profound esteem for Bartholemew I and his untiring ecumenical efforts and for his efforts with Islam. Maria Voce then returned to visit some of the symbolic sites of the city, from the Blue Mosque to the Islamic Art Museum. At Hagia Sophia – first a basilica, then a mosque, now a museum – she admitted, “I can’t hold back the emotion, despite the crowd: this is a place that immediately links you to Heaven. I felt like asking God’s forgiveness for the disunity that’s been created between the churches.” Before returning to Rome, there was an evening together with the all the Focolare community in Istanbul. There were remembrances of old times, deep sharing and listening and lots of loud laughter. “We really feel that you are one of us,” someone told Maria Voce as they said goodbye. To which she replied: “Then consider your president Turkish!”
Focolare Maghreb
Focolare Terra Santa
2010 Pontificate Medal Award to Gen Verde
[:it]Dossier: il 2° anniversario di Chiara
Press Kit
Christmas Greetings 2010
God loved us to the point of making himself one with us.
He opened up our hearts according to the measure of his heart in order to make us capable of bringing about an outpouring of love and peace in the world.
This is my prayer and my wish for each one of you this Christmas.
Maria Voce (Emmaus)
Igino Giordani – Brief Biography
Born 1894 into a poor, profoundly Catholic family in Tivoli, Igino Giordani’s parents could not guarantee regular schooling and worked in manual labour. But the young Igino was noted for his intelligence, and a rich gentleman for whom he worked, impressed by his acumen paid for him to study at the seminary, not to become a priest but to be one of the most brilliant diplomats at that time. As he finished his studies the First World War broke out and he went to the trenches. He never fired a shot against his enemies, because Christianity forbade murder. As a result of this brave choice he was gravely wounded. Whilst he was in the military hospitals he graduated in Literature and Philosophy. He married in 1920. He and his wife Mya had 4 children, and he began working for the newly formed Italian Christian political party, founded by Luigi Sturzo. The Fascist regime destroyed freedom and rights, and even Igino was persecuted. From this period there remain some of his famous writings denouncing fascist violence. On returning to Italy from a journey to the United States he became the director of part of the Vatican Library. From there he also directed the journal ‘Fides’, which was known in Catholic environments throughout the world. It was through them that the re-birth of a post-fascism Catholic political party came about, Christian Democracy. He was elected to Parliament in the first elections after the Second World War. 1948 was the decisive year of his life: he was 54, and a man established in politics and culture. He met Chiara Lubich, a young woman aged 28, in whom he found extraordinary spiritual inspiration. He adhered fully to the Focolare Movement and at Chiara’s side he took on an important role building the Movement and deepening its social doctrine, to the point of often being designated by Chiara as co-founder. Of special note, the deep spiritual relationship with Chiara was the start of the intense mystical period known as “Paradise ‘49”. From then Chiara clearly saw through Giordani’s life confirmation that the ideal of unity was made for all, and was a gift for the whole of humanity. Igino was the first married focolarino of the Focolare Movement. Due to some courageous political decisions (pacifism and unity in spite of the ideological differences, or because of them), in Parliament, he became considered as a Christian Democrat out of step, and as a result was not re-elected. This was the time to dedicate himself more to the Focolare Movement, to contribute to the debate in the Church taking ahead themes that would be understood in the Second Vatican Council (above all concerning the mission of the laity). He became the director of the newly created ‘Citta Nuova’ (1959) magazine, and from 1961 became a director of Centro Uno, a body within the Focolare Movement working within ecumenism. In 1965 he was nominated president of the international institute Mystici Corporis in Loppiano. After the death of his wife and with the agreement of his children, he lived the last seven years of his life in a “Focolare”. He left this earth on 18th April 1980. The process towards his canonisation has begun. Introduction to the Bibliography Igino Giordani was an intellectual difficult to label: we cannot describe him as a political thinker or journalist, or studier of ancient Christian literature, or a writer about the lives of saints or history, in the hope of being able to sufficiently express his talents. He was driven by a great passion and was spurred into public life through a wide range of interests. It is said that “for him writing was life”, therefore an understanding of the figure of Giordani could (almost) easily come through analysis of his writings. There are about 100 books and more than 4,000 newspaper articles. NEW ENGLISH PUBLICATION A Soul on Fire: a profile of Igino Giordani (1894-1980) The story of Giordani’s personal journey to God Paperback: 144 pages Language: English (translation by Margaret Linard, Australia) Publisher: Centro Igino Giordani, Focolare Movement. ISBN-13: 978-0975025215 Copies available from Centro Igino Giordani, email
Tveit: nutrire sogni di pace per l’unità delle Chiese
“We are called to use our spirituality for the sake of all humanity, . . . . to nurture their own dreams of peace. . . .”. These were the final words of the Secretary General of the
World Council of Churches in Geneva, the Reverend Olav Fyske Tveit, at the conclusion of his visit that had a markedly familial character, to the Focolare’s international Centre in Rocca di Papa, Italy.
Shortly before, following a presentation of the Movement, Doctor Olav Fykse Tveit noted the “commitment of your heart,” “a very strong care for individuals,” “a strong connection . . . . between personal commitment and the very wide global commitment.
“. . . . that is, in many ways, what the ecumenical Movement is all about”. Making reference to the Ecumenical Council of Churches, he mentioned the path of brotherhood in which 349 Churches in 110 countries are engaged in discovering “how we can move in new directions together”.
The Secretary General was accompanied by a delegation of directors from various departments of the World Council of Churches, and was welcomed by the president of the Focolare, Maria Voce, the co-president Giancarlo Faletti, members of Centro Uno, the secretariat for ecumenical dialogue, and some members of the General Council. In her welcome address, Maria Voce recalled the decades-long relationship of deep friendship between the World Council of Churches and the Focolare Movement. Recalling her first visit to the headquarters in Geneva in 2009, Maria Voce reiterated the commitment to continue the legacy of Chiara Lubich, who had established the first contacts in 1967. “We stand beside the World Council of Churches – she said – in advancing the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood.
The occasion for the visit was the visit of the Reverend Olav Fykse Tveit to the Vatican, where, for the first time, he was received in audience by Benedict XVI, and met Cardinal Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. He had other meetings in Rome with the Methodist community, the Waldensian Church, and the Community of Sant’ Edigio.
A social question to resolve
“At bottom of the contemporary social crisis lies a powerful need of unification.” With these prophetic words, in 1954, Igino Giordani points to the daily practice of mutual love as the master way towards the reconstruction of the social fabric.
«There is a social question to resolve, because there is the question of the charity that must be put into action. Charity is the sentiment through which another person can be seen as a brother. Indeed, in the human person you see God by way of image, almost a mystical God, raised on high by the Redemption.
They talk about people abandoning the churches. But this could also be a consequence of a charity that was not enacted, of the brotherhood that remained only in missals, of the image of God that was obscured by a practical atheism. Where love is lacking, it is the case to ask whether it was the people who abandoned the churches or the churches that abandoned the people.
I speak of churches, not the Church, which is the People of God and can never abandon itself. Though they distanced themselves from the poor, the Church can never distance itself from itself, a people of paupers, to which the rich also belong, if they become poor in spirit by turning the use of their wealth into a service of charity.
At times, where Christians have forgotten their neighbour, allowing the faith to cake in the sarcophagus of their egos, detached from good works and, in this way, asphyxiated – their weaker, younger brothers, not feeling the love, lose the sense of God who is Love and loves to incarnate charity in the works of men who, by their social service, become the auctioneers and carriers of God. “You have charity, you have the Trinity,” said the great Augustine.
The brothers didn’t love each other, the fabric became worn, and they were detached».
I. Giordani, Il Fratello, 1954
“Il Fratello”, of which this page is an excerpt, is being republished in the Opere Vive series of Citta Nuova Publishing.
Seoul
Nigeria Focolare Centre
Christopher’s smile was enough to transform people’s lives
“Christopher’s life reminds me of Chiara Luce’s life,” says Francisco from Panama, who attended the rite of Beatification of the young Italian woman. And he adds: “They were both young people, simple, with normal lives. But they searched for God in everything. Two young persons who gave God to everyone who met them and, with a smile, transformed their lives.”
Christopher Amaya was born in Costa Rica. He was only a year old when, in 1994, his family moved to Panama. His parents separated when he was still a child and, notwithstanding the pain, he becamse a reference point for the both of them. After coming to know the spirituality of the Focolare, and understanding how behind every pain there is a presence of Jesus in that moment of maximum suffering when He cries out the abandonment, Christopher realized that this painful situation in his family was “his” particular face of Jesus Forsaken.
He met the Focolare through Project Give, at his school. He soon became one of the leaders of the project that promotes a culture of giving and values of peace and solidarity. He began to insert himself among the Gen3. them he came to know about Chiara Lubich, the foundress of the Focolare Movement. He established a personal relationship with her, considering her as his mother and friend, someone he could trust for understanding the truth.
One day, during a difficult time for the family, he confided to someone: “My mother Chiara taught me to forgive and to really love my relatives”. He often spoke of his life and of his choices with the other Gen, because he felt that with them he could experience the presence of Jesus, according to His promise: “Where two or more are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). During one of these conversations he shared how God was calling him to a vocation that involved a total choice of God, even though he didn’t yet know what it was.
Christopher was actively involved in his parish and in the final months he set out to unite the various youth groups. Many of his peers recall him as a bridge-builder between parish groups, so that there could be unity among.
This year he was chosen as a member of the honour guard, a privilege granted only to the finest students in the school. On national holidays they wear a tri-coloured sash and carry the Panama flag. Christopher was murdered before he had the chance to march, but his friends wanted him to be there just the same, by marching with his photo with a sash and anti-violence slogan.
Sharlin, a next-door neighbour who was at his side during those last moments, affirms: “I can bear witness to his ‘Yes’ to God and assure you that he loved Him to the last moment; because, who among us, with a wound in his chest, would have turned to his mother to say: ‘Stay calm, don’t be frightened’?”
At his funeral messages arrived from all over the world. His mother remarked: “I’m happy, because I’m finding out how good my son was and that what he sowed will continue to grow in all those who will follow the example of his life.”.
December 2010
When Mary asked the angel at the annunciation, "How can this be?" the answer she heard was, "Nothing will be impossible for God," and to confirm it, she was given the example of Elizabeth who in her old age had conceived a son. Mary believed and she became the Mother of the Lord. God is all powerful and is frequently called by this name in the Scriptures, especially when expressing the power he has of blessing, of judging, of directing the course of events, and of achieving his plans.
There is only one limit to the omnipotence of God: the freedom he gave human beings who can either oppose his will and thus become powerless, or choose what they are called to: to share God's own power.
"Nothing will be impossible for God."
These words open us up to an unlimited confidence in the love of God the Father, because if God exists and his being is Love, what logically follows is that we can have complete trust in him. In his power are all graces: temporal and spiritual, possible and impossible. And he gives them to those who ask and also to those who do not ask because, as the Gospel says, the Father “makes his sun rise on the bad and the good” (Mt 5:45). What he does ask of all of us is to act the way he does, to have the same universal love, supported by the faith that:
“Nothing will be impossible for God.”
How should we put these words into practice? At one time or another we all face difficult, painful situations both in our personal lives and in our relationships with others. We sometimes feel helpless because we realize we have attachments to things and to people that enslave us and from whose chains we would like to be freed. Often too we find ourselves up against walls of indifference and selfishness and we feel discouraged in the face of events that seem to be more than we can handle.
In these moments, the Word of Life can pick us up. Jesus lets us experience our own limitations, not to discourage us, but to help us understand more deeply that “Nothing will be impossible for God,” and to prepare us to experience the extraordinary power of his grace, which is manifested precisely when we see that we cannot manage on our own.
"Nothing will be impossible for God."
If we remind ourselves of this word of God in the most critical moments, we will experience its energy, for it brings us to participate, in a certain way, in the very omnipotence of God. There is, however, one condition: we must align ourselves with God's will and try to show to others the love that has been put into our hearts. By doing so, we will be in unison with God's all-powerful love for everyone. This will contribute to fulfilling his plans for every person and for all of humanity.
There is a special moment that enables us to live this Word of Life and to experience all its effectiveness. It is in prayer.
Jesus said that he will grant us whatever we ask the Father in his name. Let’s try then to ask him for what is most important to us now, firmly believing that for him nothing is impossible: solutions to desperate cases, peace in the world, cures to grave illnesses, peace and unity in family and social conflicts.
Moreover, if we ask united with others, in the full accord of mutual love, then it is Jesus himself in our midst who prays to the Father and, according to his promise, we will obtain what we ask for. One day, with this faith in the omnipotence of God and in his love, we prayed for a friend who had an x-ray that revealed a tumor. We asked that the tumor would not be there when the x-ray was taken again. And that’s exactly what happened. A boundless trust that makes us feel we are in the arms of a Father for whom everything is possible, should be our constant virtue. This doesn’t mean that we will always obtain what we ask for. God’s omnipotence is that of a Father and he always uses it only for the good of his children, whether they realize it or not. What’s important is that we remain aware that nothing is impossible for God. Then we will experience a peace we have never known before.
Chiara Lubich
From Ascoli to Catamarca, the Chiara Lubich Prize for Universal Brotherhood
The Umbria, Veneto and Sicily regions of Italy hosted the second edition prize-winners of the Chiara Lubich Fraternity Award. Their gaze extended over the whole world with an international award given to the city of Catamarca and its fight against crime, with a special mention of the town of Pollica.
The award ceremony was held in the presence of civil and religious authorities, numerous mayors and citizens. There were awards for the Commune of Massa Martana, together with the Communes of Deruta, Notefalco and Spoleto, for the City Project in the region of Umbria; the Commune of Marsala, for a network development project between citizens, and, in third place the project of three communes of Berice vicentino, Castegnero, Longare and Nanto, with its new association for developing modes of intervention for environmental emergencies and for poverty.
Daniela Ropelato, professor of Social Sciences at Sophia Institute and representative of the international Mppu, gave an important presentation on “Participation, city, fraternity”. Very timely topics, but difficult to actualize. Ideas included such things as: listening to the demands of young people; finding a balance between individual rights and the common good, participatory management of the territory; the responsibility of politicians and citizens.
In the previous edition the award was given to the host city, Ascoli, for its “I love my city” project. And it was precisely the Hall Council of the medieval town hall to host the second annual meeting of the Cities for Fraternity meeting which was sponsoring the project. The association, created in 2008, brings together seventy municipalities of Italy who are inspired by the idea of brotherhood for the political agenda.
This year’s novelty: the giving of a special award to the Commune of Pollica, in respectful homage to Angelo Vassalo, its “mayor martyr who gave his life for his people”; and an international award to the city of Catamarca (Argentina), for its commitment in the area of educating the most marginalised sections of society, through educational support projects in the region. The assembly of the Cities for Fraternity Association also promoted the idea of “regional” action, through periodic meetings for cities of the same region, with the goal of coordinating and rendering more efficacious their activity for the region.
From Ascoli to Catamarca, or from the Apennines to the Andes, since the travertine city is surrounded by the Apennine Mountains and Catamarca rises from the foot of the Andes of Argentina’s northwest. All of them are cities linked by an ideal thread, by the values of fraternity proposed by Chiara Lubich for political action, “the love of loves,” as she liked to call it.
The international award was a clear sign of openness to the world, with the conviction of the associated communes that – after having taken effective action in response to the needs of their own regions, they return to the words of Chaira Lubich: “one city is not enough’ and to her ideal of universal brotherhood.
South Korea, have confidence
The facts are known. In recent days North Korea has inexplicably shelled Yeonpyeong Island, close to the maritime border with South Korea, leading to 4 deaths among military and civilians, and Seoul has in turn responded by firing artillery shells toward the North.
“Life in the streets, seems to run normally, but in reality the country is on the alert,” writes President of the PMU, Mark Fatuzzo, who in these days of tension is in South Korea for a series of meetings and public events. The government employees have been ordered to remain in their offices, political parties have called for permanent “security committees” and there was a special session of Parliament, during which a strong condemnation was issued for the act of aggression.
Right up till the last moment it seemed that the public events scheduled in Seoul by the Korean PMU would have to be cancelled. But things took a positive turn and it was possible to do everything as planned.
Everything began on November 24th with the National Centre for the PMU which includes parliamentarians among its members, three of whom were present. “It was an important event,” says Fatuzzo, “lasting about three hours with intense dialogue in which everyone participated.” As can be imagined, based on recent events, discussions were centered on trust. Can there actually be some form of concrete fraternity between North and South Korea? How will fraternity be explained using the categories of dialogue, reconciliation, forgiveness, and of overcoming historical and present conflicts? Everyone was confident that this is the road to follow, supported by the awareness that the entire PMU worldwide is living with them these moments of painful suspension. There was also some feasting for the admission of a new young member of the PMU Centre: Emilia Heo who studied International Relations in Geneva and now works in Japan.
November 25th was the day for two other meetings at the headquarters of the Korean parliament. The first, with the Political Forum for Unity, a group for parliamentary research, consisting of some 30 Members of both the majority and opposition parties, and of different religious and cultural orientations – Christians of various denominations, Buddhists, Won-Buddhist, Confucians, Taoists – or without any religious reference.
This was followed by a public seminar entitled “The politics that people like” with 150 people in attendance, including twenty members of the three major parties: The Grand National Party, the ruling United Democratic Party and the Progressive Liberty Party, from the opposition. A strong presence of young people and representatives from the media was also quite significant. Both the introductory statements and the round table discussions supported by three deputies, two academics and a young student, as well as the ensuing debate, gave a view of politics that opened people’s hearts to hope, even in the midst of the current suspension and crisis.
Closing Ceremonies for the first class in the School for Formation in Politics are scheduled for Saturday, the 27th of November.
Focolare Centre
[:it]Famiglia, soggetto di evangelizzazione
Fraternity in society
The “Volunteers” are the main animators of the New Humanity Movement (a social expression of the Focolare in society). They are men and women who are on the front lines in living the words of the Gospel into the most diverse social, cultural, economic and political environments, offering answers to the practical challenges posed by modern society.
They have done various projects: from the personal daily involvement of each one of them within the work environment, in the family, in education, to larger inititatives that involve entire communities, all geared towards improving life in our cities and the civil fabric of society.
From 18 to 21 November, the 500 participants will have the opportunity to delve more deeply into particular aspects of the spirituality of unity, in order to then hopefully begin a fruitful dialogue on identifying the values proposed by the Ideal of fraternity in the field of social action.
There will be time for discussion on the social doctrine of the Church as well as testimonies of people from around the world.
An address by Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, is scheduled for 19 November. There wil be a question and answer session with her which will have a particular focus on what the priorities should be for the Movement’s social involvement in different parts of the world.
Un laboratorio, una fucina di pensiero
Applying the law
“I’m 34 years old, Brazilian and married with two children. I work for the very poor by helping them to defend their basic rights.” This is how Anisio Caixeta Junior, a young adherent of the Focolare Movement and public defender introduces himself – as one of those workers foreseen by Brazilian law to ensure that those who do not have the financial means will also able to have a public defence. One quickly realizes that aside from carrying out his task with professionalism, Anisio is also animated by high ideals: “From when I was a child I’ve always been an ardent adherent of Chiara Lubich’s ideal of unity and I’ve always tried to offer help to my neighbours freely, and I found it fulfilled me.” Now I continue doing the same thing in my professional career. Chiara’s ideal of unity helps me to remember before each hearing that there before me is not so much a bureaucratic proceeding, but a human person to be respected and loved. And it’s not only a question of moral conviction: “Anisio points out that in law history, in addition to the primary basic rights of life and property, there are also other rights, such as liberty and equality which emerged from the French Revolution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights highlighted again another stronghold: the spirit of fraternity, which is therefore not merely help for the needy, but a stronghold which the very Constitution explicitly promotes and protects. Therefore, when I am driven to act by this ideal of fraternity, I am really applying a fundamental rule of my Constitution! » Anisio has many experiences each day by “simply applying the law”. He especially enjoys sharing this one: «One day, standing by a traffic light with one of my colleagues, a boy came up to us asking for some money. But imagine his surprise when we responded: “But we can do much more than just give you a bit of change! If you don’t have a family we can help you into a social programme just for that, even if you’re living on the streets without money. These are basic rights that the State must provide since they’re guaranteed by our Constitution. And it’s my job to help people into these programmes!”» Are public defenders heroes? Anisio is of a different opinion: “I certainly don’t think that I’m changing the world with the work I do. But at the same time, I’m very fascinated by the idea that even a glass of water is not given in vain and I’m convinced that such a simple gesture as this can contribute to creating that new world, dedicated to fraternity, which can certainly be supported by the law, but must begin with ourselves!”
[:it]Dal “Club del Dare” al Paradiso[:es]Del “Club del Dar” al Paraíso[:fr]Du « club du don » au Paradis[:pt]Do “Clube do Dar” para o Paraíso[:zh]從『給予小組』進入天堂
EOC’s New Business Park
On Saturday, 6 November, a Portuguese business park of the Economy of Communion (EOC) opened its dorrs in the Focolare town in Abrigada-Alenquer.
Two-hundred-fifty persons were present, among them the Mayor of Alenquer, a few deputies, businessmen and economists. Professor Luigino Bruni, an economist, and businessman Alberto Ferrucci from the Central Commission of the EOC spoke, during their speeches, of the importance of the business park of the EOC in a Focolare town (presently there are 35 such towns on five continents), as a testimony to a new economic culture, which is capable of bringing down the walls of capitalism and the individualism of our times.
Economist and Professor Manuela Silva underlined the vital importance of this, highlighting the prophetic vision of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare, concerning the Economy of Communion. “When it is applied – she added – it is destined to be a far-reaching light, like a beacon in the darkness of today’s society.” Therefore she challenged everyone to remain faithful to Chiara’s original intuition concerning the Economy of Communion.
Several businessmen who belong to the project shared the story of this business park’s construction, beginning in 2004, involving the efforts of many in the realization of this dream. They were gestures of generosity, small ones and large ones, sufferings, spiritual and material losses, the “living stones” for this “cathedral”, as someone defined the new business park which is destined to give testimony to God in the world of economy.
At the moment, three businesses have moved into the Giosi Guella Business Park and many others have joined the project and are spread thoughout the country though connected to the Park. They are small and medium-sized for profit businesses which, with the ideals of the Economy of Communion, are working for the common good.
At the conclusion of the programme there was a link-up via internet with the Lionello Bonfanti Business Park in Loppiano, Italy, which provided a wider dimension to the event. Someone recalled a phrase from Chiara Lubich regarding the Italian Business Park: “A light in the midst of darkness, even if it’s only small, will be seen from afar.” It came as an encouragement to stand up to the challenge.
The Mayor of Alenquer, Jorge Riso, presided over the inauguration. In his brief speech he thanked the Movement and the Focolare town of Arco-Iris for the positive contribution they make in the area not only through the Physical Therapy Centre, but also through their relationships with the local population. “This business park – he said – is a privilege for the Commune of Alenquer. It is a project that extends beyond the limits of our local territory.”
“Jesus Magazine” publishes insert on the Focolare
The dossier traces the stages in the historical journey of the Focolare, the life of the focolarini today, social involvement, and faith in daily life. Compiled by Vittoria Prisciandaro, the insert opens with the words: “Giving voice to the grassroots and to the Movement’s president, Maria Voce”. Jesus Magazine which was founded in 1979, now publishes 37 thousand copies. The November issue will come with an attachment – the first in a series of audio books – dedicated, for this occasion, to Chiara Lubich. The anthology called “Love conquers all” contains thoughts of Chiara Lubich, recited by Italian actors. “Focolare. Ideal of fraternity”. In the 32 pages dedicated to the Focolare – besides historical sites and stages and factual examples of daily Gospel living – there are also questions directed at the president and co-president of the Movement. Questions regarding the place of priests and bishops in the Movement were put to Giancarlo Faletti. Questions regarding ecclesial movements, education, inculturation, justice and reform, interfaith dialogue and the multiethnic society were directed to Maria Voce, “Emmaus, the lawyer-theologian who now holds the position that was once occupied by Chiara Lubich.” An online interview (in Italian) with Maria Voce can be found on the Jesus Magazine website: http://www.stpauls.it/jesus/default.htm.
November 2010
Jesus begins his preaching with the Sermon on the Mount. On a hill near Lake Tiberius, not far from Capernaum, Jesus sat down, as was customary for teachers, and described to the crowds what it means for a human being to be blessed. The word for beatitude, ‘blessed’, had been heard throughout the Old Testament. It spoke of the exaltation of the one who, in the widest variety of ways, fulfilled the Word of the Lord.
The beatitudes of Jesus were partly an echo of the ones the disciples already knew. But for the first time they heard that not only were the pure in heart worthy of going up the hill of the Lord, as the psalmist sang (Ps. 24:4), but they could even see God. What kind of purity could be so sublime as to deserve so much? Jesus would explain it several times during the course of his preaching. Let’s try to follow him so we can draw from the source of true purity.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
First of all, Jesus points out the very best way to be purified: “You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.” (Jn 15: 3) His Word, more than the practice of religious rites, is what purifies our inner self. The Word of Jesus is not like human words. Christ is present in his Word, as he is present, in a different way, in the Eucharist. Through his Word Christ enters within us and, provided we allow him to act, he makes us free from sin and therefore pure in heart.
Thus purity is the fruit of living the Word, of living all the Words of Jesus which free us from our so-called attachments, which we inevitably fall into if our hearts are not in God and in his teachings. These can be attachments to things, to people, to ourselves. But if our heart is focused on God alone, all the rest falls away.
To succeed in doing this, it can be useful at different times during the day to say to Jesus, to God: “You, Lord, are my only good!” (see Ps. 16: 2) Let’s try to say it often, especially when various attachments seek to pull our heart towards those images, feelings and passions that can blur our vision of what is good and take away our freedom.
Are we inclined to look at certain types of posters or television programmes? Let’s stop and say to him: “You, Lord, are my only good” and this will be the first step that will take us beyond self, by re-declaring our love for God. In this way we will grow in purity.
Do we realise sometimes that someone, or something we do, has got in the way, like an obstacle, between us and God, spoiling our relationship with him? That is the moment to say to him: “You, Lord, are my only good.” It will help us purify our intentions and regain inner freedom.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Living the Word makes us free and pure because the Word is love. It is love, with its divine fire, that purifies our intentions and the whole of our inner self, because our ‘heart’, according to the Bible, is the deepest seat of our intelligence and our will.
But there is a type of love that Jesus commands us to practise and that enables us to live this beatitude. It is mutual love, being ready to give our life for others, following the example of Jesus. This love creates a current, an exchange, an atmosphere characterised above all by transparency and purity, because of the presence of God who alone can create a pure heart in us (see Ps. 50:12). It is by living mutual love that the Word acts with its purifying and sanctifying effects.
As isolated individuals we are incapable of resisting the world’s temptations for long, but in mutual love there is a healthy environment that can protect purity and all other aspects of a true Christian life.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
So, then, the fruit of this constantly re-acquired purity is that we can ‘see’ God, which means we can understand his work in our lives and in history, hear his voice in our hearts, and recognise him where he is: in the poor, in the Eucharist, in his Word, in our communion with others, in the Church.
It is a foretaste of the presence of God which already begins in this life, as we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7), until the time when, ‘we will see face to face’ (1 Cor. 13:12) forever.
Chiara Lubich
[:it]Assisi e lo Spirito[:es]Asís y el Espíritu[:fr]Assise et l’Esprit Saint[:pt]Assis e o Espírito[:zh]『共同經歷手足情誼』
“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon”
“The Chiara Luce Badano phenomenon” is what television host Rosario Carello called the events surrounding the beatification last 25th September of the young woman from Sassello. She said this during the 10th October airing of “In His Image” on Italy’s Rai Uno.
“The phenomenon isn’t so much her, though she certainly lived in an extraordinary way,” says Maria Voce, President of the Focolare, but rather the global phenomenon that was triggered by her exemplary life, but within the normality of a young woman of today.
The Pope proposed her as a model of holiness for youths everwhere, inviting them to become more acquainted with her: “. . . A short life, but a stupendous message. Nineteen years full of life and of faith. Two years, the last two, of suffering also, lived in the faith and in the joy that was born from her heart that was so full of God . . . A grace of God – the Pope contiued – with the help of human collaboration.” He remembered her parents especially, her parish community, the Focolare Movement, which she belonged to.
The evening of 25 September, Paul VI Hall was exploding with with joy and a desire for holiness witnessed by thousands of youths both inside and outside the hall, who expressed themselves with songs and dances, choreography, photos, and life experiences. All of them wanted to say something about her, like a group of teenagers from Latin America: “Chiara Luce is a model for young people. She succeeded in overcoming so many obstacles and became holy. She’s a great example for all of us.” And some youths from Lebanon: “Chiara Luce tells us that we can follow her example with our life. Holiness is not far away from us young people.” An African girls remarked: For me, the most beautiful moment of today was the beatification. It was the first time I’ve ever particpated in one and it was very moving.” A young Italian girl summarized the day in this way: “Now I understand that in order to become saints, you need to always love.” “Holiness for us young people – says a youth speaking for a group from India – appears very difficult nowadays, but if we try to follow in her footsteps it will be a wonderful experience.” And finally the enthusiastic Mexicans: “It was so powerful to know about Chiara Luce’s life and this event was very beautiful. With her example to help us, we’re sure we’ll succeed in moving ahead on a path of holiness.”
But who is this young woman, this new Blessed named Chiara? How do you explain this “phenomenon” of a young girl born in a little town in Italy called Sassello, who has become the “saint of the young people?”
“What I find striking in her – an Italian teenage boy confides – is that she made ordinary life into an extraordinary adventure.”
Four-hundred of these young people who came from everywhere in the world, stayed behind in Italy for another several days in order to delve more deeply into the spirituality of unity whith which Chiara Luce reached the altars.
The “desire for holiness” among young people: This is the phenomenon that her beatification has highlighted in a world that seems to have its mind on anything but this.
[:es]La nueva comunicación nace a partir de lo que hemos vivido[:fr]«La nouvelle communication s’établit à partir de notre vécu»[:it]«La nuova comunicazione nasce dal nostro vissuto»[:pt]«A nova comunicação nasce do nosso viver»[:zh]「新的溝通方式是從我們落實的生活中衍生出來！」
[:it]1939 – La Casetta
Muslims and Christians in Italy
The meeting sponsored by the Focolare and the Islamic communities in Italy aims to bring together Christians and Muslims who in recent years have met in different parts of Italy thanks to the experience of dialogue that was inspired by Chiara Lubich’s spirituality of communion. Collaboration has begun in various parts of the peninsula, such as Trent, Verona, Treviso, Padua, Trieste, Rovigo, Turin, Milan, Genoa, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Florence, Rome, Teramo. Inspired by the desire to reach out to others as the Golden Rule suggests, projects have often developed and partnerships that are providing models of integration in these areas. The 31 October date is in tune with Islamic-Christian friendship Day that is celebrated all over Italy on October 27 and it would like to be a moment of reflection on the experience till now. The program, prepared by an organizing committee made up of Christians and Muslims, includes meetings and discussions both of the Qur’an and the Gospel, life experiences, and a panel discussion on the challenges of dialogue, interspersed with artistic interludes performed by Muslim and Christian groups, and a presentation of the host town of Loppiano Religious and civil authorities are expected to be in attendance.
Love, the charism of charisms
“I was struck by the joyful atmosphere of mutual acceptance. Compared to 2000, when Chiara Lubich met just one religious family, the Franciscans, this day was a genuine development of the dialogue between the old and new charisms, because of the involvement of many other religious communities, movements and new communities, as well as the influential presence of many superiors.” This was the impression of one Franciscan who attended the “Charisms in Communion” event that took place on 23 October in Assisi, Italy. Ten years after that historic encounter, things have gone forward, considering that not only were several orders of Franciscans and members of the Focolare Movement together this time, but also numerous representatives of the Claretian Fathers, the White Fathers, Salesians, Benedictines, charismatics, members of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Neocatechumenals and dozens of other orders and communities. The meeting began with the Mass presided by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and it was concelebrated by bishops, Ministers General, Provincials, and many priests. In his opening remarks, Bishop Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi, invited everyone to rediscover “love, the charism of charisms” mindful that “the treasures of one are the treasures of all”. “An exposition of the Fruits of the Spirit,” is how Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, described the gathering. In her speech she outlined the stages along this journey of communion, beginning with Pentecost ’98 which was a fundamental moment for the new movements. “On that occasion – Voce recalled – Chiara Lubich, made a promise to the Pope: ‘We want to assure you, Your Holiness, that since our specific charism is unity, we will strive with all our strength to help implement it to the full.” Two years after that promise, “Chiara goes one step further – continued Voce -: communion with religious families that have been born from religious charisms that are not so new. And she laid the first stone of this dialogue-communion between religious families as expressions of the charismatic Church right here, at the tomb of Saint Francis, 26 October 2000. “Finally, she said” the Holy Spirit has guided everyone towards a communitarian way which reveals the Church as a united family of brothers united by the one Father. ” The testimonials highlighted this relationship of communion and of strong and specific answers to problems, disunity and wounds of the most varied sort. Like the testimony given by Sister Viviana Ballarin, national President of USMI (Union of General Superiors) concerning various religious communities in Kabul: “Poor, and with nothing, alongside the weak. Yet there I saw the early Church in which Jesus was really the center of everything. ” The joyous gathering was concluded with the solemn signing of a pact of communion and love for one another, by dozens of representatives of old and new charisms, and with the explosion of the Youth Fest in the evening. On the square in front of the basilica, a musical recital narrated the story of Chiara Luce Badano, the eighteen year old Sassello girl who was recently beatified by the Pope and indicated by him as a model for all young people. She, too, the fruit of a charism, that of Chiara Lubich, which she lived in her family and in the parish community of her home town.
First Vietnamese bishop moving toward sainthood
Many have come to know the human story of the Vietnamese Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who lived in prison for more than thirteen years. Many were encouraged by his heroic witness of faith and have personally experienced the love, forged in the crucible of testing, of this great contemporary personality.
On 22 October, the Process of Beatification was begun for him only 8 years after his death.
Born in 1928 in Vietnam, into a family with ancient Christian roots, he was ordained a priest in 1953 and, in 1964, became rector of the Seminary of Hue. On 13 April 1967, Pope Paul VI appointed him the first Vietnamese bishop of Nha Trang. He chose as his motto “Gaudium et Spes” because he wanted to be an apostle of joy and peace.
A man of rich and deep spirituality, he found great inspiration in his personal life and his pastoral mission in the encounter, in 1974, with Chiara Lubich and her spirituality of unity.
In 1975 he was arrested and imprisoned by the Communist government. He was never tried and convicted. He spent well over thirteen years in prison, nine of which in isolation.
His choice of Jesus crucified and abandoned, a cardinal point of the spirituality of unity, as the One to love and imitate, gave him the strength to be a heroic witness of hope and love, always, in an indescribable way during the long dark years of imprisonment. Years later, in July 2001 in front of 1,300 priests gathered at Castel Gandolfo, he would state that “having found Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity is what saved me in those long years.”
His many writings contain real jewels of authentic evangelical spirituality, illustrated with the many experiences that shine as a way of holiness for anyone who meets this great witness of our time.
This is an experience told personally by Cardinal Van Thuân:
“One night in prison, from the depths of my heart, I heard a voice asking me, ‘Why do you ever torment yourself like this? You must make the distinction between God and the works of God. All you’ve done and still want to do – pastoral visits, training of seminarians, nuns and members of religious orders, building schools, evangelizing non-Christians – this is excellent work, it’s the work of God but it’s not God! If He asks you to leave everything and to entrust it all into His hands, then do it and trust Him. God will do things infinitely better than you: He’ll entrust the work to others more capable than you. You have only to choose God and not his works!’ It was a light that totally changed my way of thinking.
When the Communists made me go down into the hold of a ship, the Hai-Phong, crammed together with another 1,500 prisoners to transport us to the North, I told myself: ‘This is my cathedral, this is the people that God entrusts to me that I might care for them, here is my mission: to ensure the presence of God among these people, among these miserable, desperate brothers of mine. His will is that I be here. I accept His will ‘. From that moment on a new peace has filled my heart which has never left me and never did in all those thirteen years.”
Author of numerous books – some published by New City Press – a tireless preacher, a witness to a heroic faith and boundless love, Cardinal Van Thuân will be remembered for his great efforts in preparing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church and for the last intense years of his life which were spent guiding the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
Family members and friends of Cardinal Van Thuân arrived
from all over the world in order to attend the ceremony.
Impegnati nella cultura dell’unità
The 2010-11 academic year began on 18 October for Sophia University Institute (IUS) in Loppiano. An original academic institution which draws its inspiration from the spirituality of Chiara Lubich and combines training and research with a way of life consistent with the ideal of unity in diversity.
The ceremony was attended by numerous personalities from the cultural, political and Italian ecclesial community. Bishop Betori, Chancellor of the IUS, said in his speech that “today more than ever it is necessary to seek the truth with passion, which, to be accepted and communicated not only requires intellectual honesty, but the involvement of the whole the person.”
The words of President Piero Coda underscore how at Loppiano intentions are always followed by action. The 54 students in the Master’s Degree program and the 7 enrolled in the Doctoral program, come from 26 different countries. In confirmatin of its intercultural and interdisciplinary openness, starting this year there will be a student from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and another of the Buddhist faith.
Many agreements with other universities in Italy and abroad were begun this past year. Also, the first batch of students graduated with the title of Master of Science in Fundamentals and Perspectives of a Culture of Unity, in two areas: philosophical-theological and 
political-economic. The president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce, congratulated the new graduates, highlighting how they were “committed, personally and together to enter into and outline the prospects for a culture of unity in many fields of knowledge. Her words stressed another feature of the IUS: everyone – faculty, students and the entire staff contribute to the training project of Sophia, in an intense atmosphere of dialogue, while respecting their respective areas of knowledge and responsibility.
During the inauguration the Sophia Foundation was presented whose aim is to support the growth and development of the institute through the granting of awards, scholarships and funding for cultural and educational projects. Sophia University Institute is also planning to expand its curriculum to include courses in Pedagogy and Musicology. Finally, another challenge concerns IUS publications. This year Universitas Magazine series and Sophia Magazine will accompanied by For-Courses and the Sophia Library series, the latter dedicated to publication of the classics of the culture of unity.
A charism for the Middle East
On Sunday, 17 October, in a “family atmosphere”, a meeting was organized for participants of the Synod for the Middle East (10-24 October) whose theme is “The Catholic Church in the Middle East: Communion and Witness”. The goal was to understand more deeply the charism of Chiara Lubich which is expressed in the spirituality of communion and to learn of the 40-year experience of the Focolare in Middle Eastern countries.
Twenty Bishops and other members of the Synod were in attendance at the gathering. They were welcomed by the Rev. Antonio Borges, delegate of the Focolare Movement in the Middle East and His Eminence, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, who shared a reflection on his experiences regarding “The bishop and communion with the presbyterate”.
The Synod Fathers listened with particular interest to the story of the Movement’s diffusion in the Middle East which was shared by Nadine Chehab (Turkey), the life of the Movement in the local Church which was shared by the Maronite Bishop Simon Atallah (Lebanon), and the ecumenical experience shared by Fadia Haddad. Between the lines, images flowed by of the life and activity of the Movement in these lands.
The meeting concluded with the blessing given by the Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alessandria, His Beatitude Antonios Naguib, Rapporteur to the General Synod. He commented that there was much talk about communion at the Synod, “exactly what you are doing also here”. He pointed out that it is likewise important to underscore the importance of love as the basis of communion, for it is only the communion which is lived out in love, in unity, which can transmit God-Love.
In late afternoon, the particpants of the meeting went to the Basilica of Our Lady’s in Trastevere where the Community of Sant’Egidio held a solemn Service of Prayer for Peace.
Lawyer and Client
On 14 October 2010 the conference room at the Appeals Tribunal welcomed a conference organized by Communion and Law, which was entitled “Comparing European and North American systems: the client-attorney relationship.”
The initiative, which was inserted among the events of ethics training, has been approved by the Council of the Bar of Rome.
Some 150 legal practitioners, lawyers, judges, and students were in attendance at the three-hour meeting conducted by Lawyer Carlo Fusco, who also shared the mission statement of Communion and law.
n a presentation entitled “The Role of the Lawyer’s Conscience in Client Counseling: A North American Perspective,” Professor Uelmen reflected: “Participating for the past several years in discussions about the role of conscience and personal faith in professional life, my sense is that following one’s own conscience, and learning how to express one’s own convictions with sincerity, has made lawyers more, not less, sensitive to the complexities inherent in questions of identity, power dynamics and social context.”
The talk by Attorney Giuseppe Sbarra, on “Mediation” and “civil mediation” was greatly appreciated. It presented mediation as a way of overcoming the culture of conflict by recognizing in it an element of social cohesion.
In the final report presented by Attorney Maria Giovanna Rigatelli from the Central Commission of Communion and Law, he described his experience of many years in an international network of lawyers for the training of practitioners. Lawyer Rigatelli gave voice to the experiences of practitioners from different parts of the world, first steps, accompanied by theoretical insights which show how to implement “fraternity” even in the legal field that can start giving shape to a new culture of law.
Educazione: un atto d’amore
[:it]’Carismi in comunione’ ad Assisi
Stories of reconcilliation
“The Work of Mary (Focolare Movement) has been in the Middle East since 1967. It is rooted in the local culture, in deep communion with the universal Church and with the local churches, under the blessing and care of the Patricarchs and of the local Bishops. There are some 15,000 Catholic members and adherents from various rites.
Striving for continual re-evangelization through living contact with the Word of God, members of the Work of Mary strive to face the suffering and challenges of the Middle East in the light of the Word. Following the teachings of the Church, its members commit themselves to giving witness to the Gospel in the midst of the society in which they live.
The spirituality of communion that is lived in the Work of Mary leads its members to experience the Risen Lord in the midst of His People, instilling courage within them in front of the numberless challenges they face.
Many families, tempted by emigration, strengthened by the support of the community, have decided to remain in their country and, together with others, help to build a better future.
Jesus, crucified and abandoned, inexhaustible font of love and of new life, is the answer, the way, and indispensible means for spreading the culture of the Resurrection.
Numerous Orthodox brothers and sisters share in the spirituality of the Work of Mary with their Catholic brothers and sisters. Inserted within their own churches and powerfully bound by the charity of Christ, they live and work together for the realization of Jesus’ Testament: “that all be one” (John 17:21).
With a few Muslim and Hebrew freinds there is a profound dialogue of life and of religious experience, living and working together for peace and for universal fraternity.”
Congress for students and professionals in the field of biomedics
Medicine Congress
“I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.” (from the Hippocratic Oath)
A congress for students and young professionals in the field of biomedics.
Rome, 23 – 24 October 2010
Venue: Aula Vito – Policlinico A. Gemelli
Official web site: http://www.mdc-youthcongress.org/mdc-youthcongress/Home.html
What the congress aims to achieve:
– Students and young health professionals debating about relational and ethical issues which are part of their everyday study and work.
– Looking for a way of thinking and doing which helps to face these new challenges.
– A dialogue and sharing of experiences, according to a style based on brotherhood
“I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.” This extract from the Hippocratic Oath is the theme for the congress for students and young professionals in the field of biomedics.