Mar 16, 2020 | Non categorizzato
To better understand what to do for others, Jesus invites us to put ourselves in their shoes; just as He did, when, out of love for us, he took on our human nature Are you doing it for yourself or for others? I found myself in a strange situation: I prayed every day, I attended Mass regularly, I was engaged in works of charity… and yet I didn’t have a living faith. It was as if a veil was preventing me from seeing clearly. One day, as I was accompanying my grandmother to the doctor, we got into a profound discussion; knowing how strong her faith was, I told her the state of my soul. She looked me in the eye and said: “Son, everything you do, do you do it for yourself or for others?” That simple question shocked me and called for a complete change of situation! I began to reflect, noting that even acts of charity were done out of a sense of duty. Now and then, I would visit an old man. When I visited him after that encounter with my grandmother, instead of talking about paperwork or medicine, I asked him what was in his heart. He told me about the war, the comrades that had died, his wife’s illness… At the end, he thanked me for the great gift he said he had received that day. (U.R. – Argentina) Loyalty Having fallen in love with a colleague, my wife left me with four children. I could not show them my despair as this would made their suffering worse but I could not help wondering where I had gone wrong. My own faith was being tested. Now the challenge was to minimise the impact of this drama on the children and make sure that she did not feel judged by them. Sometimes I would bring her our youngest child of four years old, sometimes I would make sure she attended parent meetings with the other children’s teachers. Slowly, a situation arose in which it seemed as if the mother, despite living away from home, somehow continued to be present in the family. But when she asked for a divorce, I felt like I was back at zero. I had to take a new step with the children. It was the oldest who, seeing me sad and thoughtful one day, gave me courage by saying: “Dad, don’t worry. We’re learning to take charge of life.” (B.d.P. – Croatia) The baby grow Used to having money, clothes, luxury ever since I was a child, I gradually had to drastically reduce my expenditure after the wedding. A few days ago I received an extra sum of money from work: I immediately thought about our baby that was about to be born and the baby grow I could buy him. But then, remembering how many poor people there are in the city, I told myself that the money could be used to help some of them. For the birth of our baby I received loads of second-hand clothes as a gift. Of course, I would have liked a brand new baby grow, but the things I received out of love were much more valuable and beautiful to me. (Anita – Venezuela)
Edited by Stefania Tanesini (taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.2, march-april 2020)
Mar 14, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Jesús Morán, Co-president of the Focolare Movement, in his homily during the Mass celebrated behind closed doors and transmitted via streaming shared the following thoughts: (…) In these last few weeks, which have also been during Lent, a thought overwhelmed my soul: the vanity of all things, the insecurity of our ability to deeply understand reality, life and the course of history. In fact, it only took a virus, a non-cellular microorganism, to put in jeopardy all our great reasoning and our security, our economic plans, our political strategies; to trigger panic worldwide and highlight the woes of so-called globalization. As a newspaper headlined a few days ago, using football jargon: Coronavirus 1 – Globalization 0. That is the sad truth. When thinking about the things that have been written in recent years on the phenomenon of culture in our times, the countless analyses and counter-analyses about the evolution of history and so on, I felt dismay and an almost paralyzing sadness. But it was then that I made a formidable rediscovery: Revelation, the Word of God addressed to humanity in human words and intelligence; the thought of God expressed in human words about the depths of life and history; a breath of understanding. In fact, I think that only the Word of God can provide us with answers for the period we are living in, because it alone preserves an eternal wisdom that goes beyond the times without losing its meaning. In the light of Revelation we realize something as overwhelming as it is paradoxical: that we are living a time of grace. Wisdom! This is the right solution. This is indeed the time of wisdom, a time for wisdom; a vision of reality that moves on other tracks, which is extremely imperative and indispensable today. (…) Wisdom that leads to an understanding of reality enlightened by love and that, precisely for this reason, triggers a formidable movement of living as one family. Truly God can do prodigious things, even in the midst of evil. He defeats it with his plan of love. Chiara’s life spanned almost a century and she lived it like a river of wisdom that watered the earth. She was attentive to the events of history and did not stop at what was on the surface of things, but went into depth and looked above to draw on the thought and vision of God and from God. That is why she paid no attention to anything but His Word. Unity, in fact, is God’s plan for humanity; it is the testament of Jesus, the Incarnate Word. Now we can see how much this word, unity, because it is anchored in Revelation, goes beyond the passing events, times and eras of history. It represents a vision of meaning that involves the past, present and future. It is a prophetic perspective that can activate the best energies of men and women of all latitudes, cultures, ethnicities and social conditions. Strengthened in unity we can transform the “globalization of indifference” into the “globalization of fraternity”. The match is not over. Of one thing we are certain: God’s mercy will triumph.
Mar 13, 2020 | Non categorizzato
A message from Maria Voce, Focolare President, to the Movement’s communities around the world, for 14th March, the anniversary of the death of Chiara Lubich. Text of the message
Mar 13, 2020 | Non categorizzato
An event dedicated to one of the “founding fathers” of the Italian Constitution, a writer, journalist, politician and co-founder of the Focolare Movement, Igino Giordani. The event, promoted by the Movement’s General Archives and the Igino Giordani Centre, was the first in a series aimed at getting “to the roots” of fraternity as a political element. At a time when values such as respect, coherence, loyalty are engulfed in a misleading narrative often resulting from an artificial communication system, the aim of these talks which were the inspiration of the Focolare Movement’s General Archives and the Igino Giordani Centre is to extract certain “pearls” from the heritage safeguarded by the two centres that characterized the life of political figures who were guided by the values of fraternity typical of the charism of unity. “If everyone was like Giordani, there would be no wars, no discrimination, no hatred. This great man must be a reference point for humanity. It’s up to us now to promote his ideas”. These words spoken by Gaia, a seventh grade student, give us an idea of how relevant Giordani’s message is and what an inspiration he is for the new generations. More than 300 people met together on 15 February 2020 in the Auditorium of the International Focolare Centre in Rocca di Papa, including politicians, mayors and local administrators. The event, which was viewed via livestreaming by people all over Italy and Europe, forms part of the year marking the 100th anniversary of Chiara Lubich’s birth. During the evening Giordani’s charm clearly emerged from words spoken by those fortunate enough to have met him such as Argia Valeria Albanese who recalled: “From those meetings, even personal ones held in the garden of the Mariapolis Centre in Rocca di Papa, I was greatly inspired to make a long term commitment to a political party and its institutions. There was another phase in my life where I felt a strong relationship with Igino Giordani not so much as a teacher or someone to follow but as an older brother to whom I could open my heart in those moments of failure… The misunderstandings and often the resentment, the denigration and not managing to achieve the objectives I’d set myself, however noble and disinterested, electoral defeat, losing friends”. Pietro Rossellini who served the community of Montecatini as Councillor affirmed how he was guided by “the radical mutation of this man as he got older, considered to be the strongest defender of the Christian faith par excellence, who allowed himself be transformed by Chiara Lubich by changing his controversial verve into Fire of Love. His being was not distorted, but made more sublime, elevated.” For Patrizia Mazzola, who worked passionately as a teacher in the Ballarò and Brancaccio neighbourhoods of Palermo, “some of Giordani’s writings have changed my idea of political and social commitment and given me courage in some of my battles in favour of the least of the city”. Chiara Zanzucchi and Lucia Zurlo from the General Archives and Alberto Lo Presti from the Igino Giordani Centre observed that the desire to organise this series of events lies in a growing awareness that the Archives are alive and kicking. These meetings dedicated to “witnesses in politics” enable us to appreciate how much the charism of unity has influenced political commitment through their moral coherence and political passion, their contribution to fraternity and peace.
Gianna Sibelli
Mar 11, 2020 | Non categorizzato
A gathering entitled “Back to the future for a more humane economy” was held March 4 at the Italian embassy to the Holy See. Entrepreneurs, scholars and economists came together for a more just, inclusive and sustainable economy, in line with the upcoming “The Economy of Francis” event. “In 2000 we opened a small cosmetics company in a 60-square-meter space, with only one employee. Today we work in a building that is 7,500 square meters with 43 people working, and we produce about 100,000 pieces per day. “People are our profit and our strength.” So says Marco Piccolo, 45, an entrepreneur from Turin, Italy, who has four children and also finds time to educate young people in his parish. He and his company joined AIPEC, the Italian Association of Entrepreneurs for an Economy of Communion. The association is linked to Focolare founder Chiara Lubich’s insights of an economic model that puts people and a “culture of giving” at the heart of business. Reynaldi is a company that has bet heavily on young people and women (currently 70% of their employees and managers), as well as environmental sustainability: the company does not emit CO2, does not waste water or harm the environment. These attributes mean many large companies in northern Europe and the United States buy their products. “With entrepreneurial vision you can transform an economic system, do things well and focus on caring for the people in the company,” he says at a gathering in Rome at the Italian embassy to the Holy See called “Back to the future for a more humane economy”. The event was promoted by Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the Focolare Movement and the Italian Embassy to the Holy See. It came from an idea to offer an opportunity to reflect on today’s economic system and the need to start a global renewal so that the economy of the future will be more just, inclusive and sustainable. It is in line with the “The Economy of Francis” event called for by the Holy Father, to be held in Assisi next November. Piccolo’s company is a virtuous example of a more humane economy in action. It is an economy that, in the words of Pope Francis, “brings to life and does not kill, includes and does not exclude, takes care of creation and does not plunder it”. Reynaldi was one of the first companies in Italy to transform its legal structure from a for-profit firm to a ‘benefit company’, which means it integrates in its corporate mission, alongside its objective of profit, the goal to have a positive impact on society and the biosphere. “We take care of the people who work with us, and that’s why we don’t want working hours to be overwhelming,” says Piccolo. “We want there to be time to live for family and for people to be well.” There have been many virtuous companies or cooperatives in the wake of Piccolo’s. Take Conad, a cooperative Italian large-scale retail company, which involves Caritas offices so as not to waste food from its supermarkets, allocating it to those in need. Or when buying products from other companies, they verify whether they exploit child labour or illegal hiring. “If each of us does our part, both in our actions and by injecting wellbeing into the community, this can contribute to an overall improvement in society,” says Francesco Pugliese, CEO of Conad, who spoke at the conference. If we want to redefine economic progress for the future, we need to involve young people who know how to ask questions, speak out and find important answers. And the popes intends them to be the architects of the Economy of Francis. “We know that St. Francis of Assisi is a source of inspiration for a way of understanding the economy and finance,” says Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Councillor of State for Vatican City. “We hope that the November event will help us rediscover this. “In Assisi the young people will try to make proposals and work in 12 thematic villages, where we will try to cover all the important issues and present a proposal for each village. It is a personal commitment, but also a commitment to institutions, business and politics,” she concludes. There is certainly a need for networking, dialogue between institutions, businesses and universities to find solutions to help young people find work. As Ambassador Pietro Sebastiani reminded us: “Today’s world is more complex than it used to be, and many societies have been experiencing the scourge of youth unemployment for too long. But opportunities exist, and everyone must pursue his or her own talent.”
Lorenzo Russo
Mar 10, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Owing to the Coronavirus outbreak in many countries of the world, the International Focolare Centre at Rocca di Papa, Italy, issued a number of safety measures to prevent the spread of this contagious virus. The International Focolare Centre, located at Rocca di Papa (Rome – Italy), announced a number of preventive measures to help control the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic and have it stopped as soon as possible. These measures issued on March 9, are in accordance with the Italian Government decisions and as indicated by the Italian Bishops. They are in line with the nationwide coronavirus lockdown announced by the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, when Italy has been declared a “protected zone” from March 10 until April 3. The measures issued are the following:
- All activities organized by the International Centre at Rocca di Papa or elsewhere in Italy, scheduled to take place during March, April and May 2020 have been These include activities planned for Chiara Lubich’s Centenary (1920-2020) and other various initiatives.
- There will be no group visits to the International Centre until the end of May 2020.
- Collaborators at the International Centre cancelled visits to places in Italy and abroad scheduled to take place till the end of May 2020.
- Weekday and Sunday Mass will not be celebrated at the Centre until April 3.
- The Centre guarantees its function for essential services, while collaborators will carry out ordinary work in a remote way.
Focolare Communication Office
Mar 10, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Jesus’ teaching:“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is known as “the Golden Rule”(Mt 7,12), a universal principle found in different cultures, religions and traditions . Authentic human values, that build peace, lead to solidarity and contribute towards just personal and social relationships, are all based on this ethic of reciprocity. The hundredfold I live in a small town, where there are only a few shops, and you don’t always find what you need. One morning a poor, sick neighbour of mine knocked at my door and with a big smile on her face asked for some cooking oil. I needed the little I had for my own cooking, but I felt that I had to give it all to her. When I came to prepare lunch, I realized that I had to make do without oil, but I was happy. I was just going to handle the pot when someone knocked at my door. It was a nun; I have not seen her for quite some time because she lives far away. When I opened, she told me: “Come, I’ve something for you in the car.” And she gave me three boxes full of oil containers: a total of 54 litres. (G.V. – Burundi) If you give love… After 20 years of absence from our country, my wife and I were faced with the difficulties of settling again. At first, we felt like strangers; we had to start all over again, but we found strength in the words of the Gospel to open ourselves to others, rebuild old relationships and make new friends. As we were not young when we got married, we decided that if we would have no children, we would give the warmth of a family to those who do not have one. So we started the process of adoption. Some months ago we received the news of the arrival of Veronica and Carlos, two little siblings from Brazil. We shared their photos with our new acquaintances, and we went to Rio to pick them up. When we came back, a great welcome awaited us; a huge banner with a welcome sign for Veronica and Carlos was put up in our street, and there were lots of balloons and messages on the veranda of our house. We were also given clothes and other necessary things for these two children. How can we ever forget the great support we have received! We are more than ever convinced that if you give love, you receive love. (M.S.F. – Spain) A Conspiracy of love My mother-in-law was living alone; then she came to live with us, even though she had daughters who could welcome her. Her presence, very well accepted by my children, was an additional commitment for me, as I already had the family to look after. She suffered of some form of arteriosclerosis, that made her talk to herself without realizing that she was being heard, and she often spoke ill of me. My children laughed at this situation, even though it really hurt me. Was this the thank you for the care I was giving her? One day, when she was down with flu, our conversation at table fell on grandmother’s odd behaviour. My husband was very upset, but together we decided to live “a conspiracy of love”, which meant a greater effort to love grandma more and better. This was one of the most educational and fruitful moments in our family life.The many relatives, who often come to visit grandmother, are amazed at the atmosphere that reigns in our family. (C.S. – Italy)
Stefania Tanesini (taken from “Il Vangelo del Giorno”, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.2, March-April 2020)
Mar 9, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Practical help, community building and stories of hope from all over the world are spreading the “antivirus” of fraternity. “It is no longer ‘I’m afraid of catching this virus’ or even ‘I couldn’t care less about catching the virus.’ I need to take care of OTHER PEOPLE. I worry about you. I keep my distance for you. I wash my hands for you. I give up that trip for you. I’m not going to the concert for you. I’m not going go to the shopping centre for you. This is an opportunity to turn an emergency into a time of solidarity.” A young Italian woman from the Focolare Movement posted this message on Facebook. She is appealing for a radical change of mentality and action as her country rises to second place in the world ranking of nations affected by the Coronavirus. As this virus continues to spread, it is affecting countries across the world in a variety of different ways – health care systems, schools and the economy are in crisis in some areas. The economist, Luigino Bruni, international coordinator of the Economy of Communion wrote, “Although we understand the concerns of many leading economists at the moment, we believe that the task of “civil enterprises” does not end in merely calculating the damage and in contributing to the spread of alarm. This is the moment to demonstrate that the State is us and that corporate social responsibility is not only a marketing tool but is a genuine practice that is activated especially during times of crisis. It pays attention to common goods (health, work), practices correct communication, formulates concrete and sustainable proposals with an overall vision, initiates practical action in support of the most vulnerable people and enhances a system made up of companies, families, schools, universities, organizations and bodies that become protagonists of a new and indispensable proactive solidarity.” Bruni referred to a recent example of social responsibility. Mahmoud Ghuniem Loutfi, who works as a delivery man in Turin, Italy, bought masks for the local Red Cross out of gratitude to the city that welcomed him and which has become his home. He did not think about the impact this would have on his finances but asked himself what he could do for his community, and, therefore, also for himself. Mahmoud’s story is typical of the many examples of cooperation, sharing and solidarity we are seeing at the moment. Gloria, a young girl who knows the Focolare in Hong Kong explained how technology is helping people to stay in contact. “We try to organize meetings by videoconference so we can stay united during this special period. Also, the fact that we have to spend more time at home with our family means we have the opportunity to understand one another better and share problems more.” Caritas Lee lives in Ulsan, Korea. He told us about a fundraising activity at his university. “The goal was to raise 500,000 won (€380). Everyone was making small donations but I kept thinking about the 1595 people who had been identified as suffering from the virus at the time. Then a wonderful thing happened: a total of 46 million won (€35,360) was collected. This was donated to the diocesan hospital and the Daegu health district, the region most affected. After this initiative, other universities wanted to raise funds to help the health system. In addition, many volunteers as well as doctors and nurses began to offer their services for free in the hospitals. Another thing is that some landlords are not expecting their tenants to pay their monthly rent and some people are leaving food in front of houses for those who can’t go out.” Yopi lives right in Daegu. His house is near a hospital so you can hear ambulance sirens all the time. “At first, when I heard them, I prayed for the patients. Then I started to feel anxious. With the beginning of Lent I decided to pray the rosary every day. Slowly the anxiety has given way to peace in my heart.” Micaela Mi Hye Jeong wrote from Gumi, also in Korea. “Here we’re preparing 150 masks to be distributed where the need is most urgent. We thought that instead of getting disposable masks that pollute the environment, we could make them ourselves from washable cotton. During a time when we are frozen with fear, it’s as if my heart is beginning to feel warm again because of the opportunity to practically live what the Gospel teaches.” In Brazil, Armando, an Economy of Communion entrepreneur, has a company that supplies the health sector. “During this period, the cost of masks and disinfectant has risen by up to 500%,” he said. “I asked myself how, in this situation, I could witness to what I believe in and live for? I decided to go against market prices by selling my products at prices 50% (or more) lower than my competitors. What is more, my employees have all supported this policy.” In Italy, some young people from the Castelli Romani area have offered to go shopping in local supermarkets and provide free home delivery. “If you are over 70 years of age or have health problems and, as a precaution, you prefer to stay at home, we will take care of your shopping,” the WhatsApp message reads. “Don’t think about shopping, let’s get over this quickly.”
Civil Defence volunteers engaged in health checks at the “Milano Malpensa” airport.
Lorenzo Russo
Mar 9, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Paolo Balduzzi continues his journey looking at the story of Chiara and the Focolare. This time he goes to Rome where Chiara met Igino Giordani, the first co-founder of the Movement. With him the charism opened up to ecumenism, politics and a thousand different applications in society. https://vimeo.com/389431555
Mar 7, 2020 | Non categorizzato
400 young people, 56 countries, 16 languages, 4 days: WeGENerate! Last January, myself and Luisa (a friend of mine from Brazil) spoke with 400 Gen (young people of the Focolare Movement) in Trent, Northern Italy. We asked them a question: did they want to be the United World Generation? Did they want to be the generation who will deliver a united world by 2050. 77 years earlier, Chiara Lubich and her friends made a phrase of the Gospel ‘that all may be one’ (Jn 17:21) the aim and mission of their life. When I was at the International Gen 2 Congress ‘WeGENerate’ last month, with a group of young people the same age as Chiara was when she said this ‘Yes’ to the Gospel, I thought for the first time that this Ut Omnes prayer might be a question, rather than a simple statement of prayer. A question, because, this prayer requires an answer. A question because they are not only nice words to pray, but they challenge the reader to live the answer. A question because ‘Ut Omnes’ is a questionable subject and it’s not ‘a given’ that it’s even possible. The question that Luisa and I asked last month (do you want to be the United World Generation?) was only, then, a reformulation of the question that Chiara Lubich answered in 1943. We put a date on the end of the question to see if we, the Gen, really wanted to answer this question. Instead of answering the question with words, the Gen decided to organise. On one of the afternoons, 400 Gen from 56 countries with translation in 16 languages planned local and global actions to fight corruption, lessen inequality, stop climate change, reactivate dialogue and prevent conflict. We answered this Ut Omnes question by planning advocacy training and global formation activities to protect democracy, prevent conflict, fight corruption and stop inequality. We answered this Ut Omnes question by promoting the #CleanPlate, #GreenDay #ClearPlasticJarChallenge and CarPooling campaigns to combat environmental problems. We answered this Ut Omnes question by imagining platforms and apps to unlock dialogue; by breaking down ignorance and building relationships. Mark from Syria answered this question by affirming his intention to return to Syria and help rebuild his country. Victor answered this question by challenging himself to be a living realisation of the charism of unity in Venezuela. Joelle answered this question by promising to bring this message of unity and love back to Lebanon. Contexts which are not dissimilar to the context in which Chiara answered this question in 1943. Many people, like Mark, Joelle and Victor, will make their way to Trent this year to encounter the city that shaped Chiara Lubich. They will visit the exhibition, they will take the tour of the city, they will encounter a community of people who are living to build unity in that beautiful city. They will travel to Trent hoping to understand the roots of Chiara’s story and the story of the Focolare Movement. From my experience at this congress, if you really want to travel to the roots of the story of Chiara Lubich, you need to ask yourself the question that she answered in 1943: that all may be one? And then ask yourself, do you believe it’s possible to be one? And if yes, what am I going to do about it?
Conleth Burns
Mar 4, 2020 | Non categorizzato
We went to Great Britain a few days before Brexit, when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. We met many people, including the community of the Focolare, to see what has happened and what their hopes for the future are. https://vimeo.com/389431416
Mar 2, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Luigino Bruni, economist and scientific director of “The Economy of Francesco” said, “Postponing the event will allow us more time to prepare. Young people from all over the world are responding with a great sense of responsibility and even more commitment. The setback could be a blessing.” In agreement with the Holy Father, we are going to postpone “The Economy of Francesco” to 21 November but the work of the scientific committee and of the young people involved in the organization does not stop. On the contrary, it proceeds with great commitment and enthusiasm as we read in the press release of 1 March. The decision was taken “given the travel difficulties for the approximately two thousand young people from 115 countries who are expected to participate” and because of the corona virus. The appointment, however, has only been put back and Pope Francis will be in Assisi in November to meet the young people who, during the preceding days, will take part in workshops, discussions and dialogue regarding new approaches to various economic issues. The general focus of the meeting was outlined in the letter that on 1 May 2019 Pope Francis addressed to “young economists, entrepreneurs and business men and women all over the world”, inviting them to “re-animate” the economy – in the literal sense of giving it back a soul – to be among those who respond to the cry of the poor of the earth and do not look the other way. “This is why I would like to meet you in Assisi,” wrote the Holy Father, ”to work together to promote, through a common “pact”, a process of global change engaging not only with those who have the gift of faith but also with all people of good will, beyond the differences of creed and nationality, united by an ideal of fraternity and attentive above all to the poor and excluded.” In a post on Facebook, Prof. Luigino Bruni, scientific director of the event, thanked the Pope for the new date. “We will be more prepared,” he said. “Young people from all over the world are responding with a great sense of responsibility and even more commitment. The setback will be a blessing. We must be realistic dreamers, and therefore live through the anxieties and crises of our time. We must do everything possible not to ‘ lose anyone” of the 2000 young people who have already been selected, many of whom have already bought air tickets. I was impressed that none of the young people have complained about the postponement – they just want to continue the race. We have already held 230 “Towards Assisi” events and these extra eight months will allow us to hold another three hundred.”
Stefania Tanesini
Mar 2, 2020 | Non categorizzato
After twelve years of presidency, Prof. Piero Coda, who has led the Sophia University Institute since its foundation, passes the baton to Prof. Giuseppe Argiolas, Professor of Management at the same Institute. This is the first change of guard for the Sophia University Institute (I.U.S.), which also coincides with the attribution by the Congregation for Catholic Education of the title of “Rector” to the former Dean of the Institute. Therefore, Prof. Giuseppe Argiolas is the new Rector of Sophia. He succeeds Prof. Piero Coda who , since its foundation, has guided the Institute with wisdom and a spirit of prophecy. The election by the Academic Council of the Institute, took place on January 9th. On February 20th , 2020, the Congregation for Catholic Education, wrote a letter, appointing Prof. Giuseppe Argiolas Rector of the Sophia University Institute for a four-year term. This morning, in the Aula Magna of the Sophia University Institute, the ceremony for the inauguration of the new Rector was held. Argiolas was born in Cagliari in 1969. He has been a permanent lecturer at the I. U. Sophia since 2016, when he left his post at the University of Cagliari to dedicate himself to developing the degree course in Management and to directing the Institute’s Doctoral School. His research activity is mainly focused on topics of Corporate Social Responsibility and Organizational and Mission-Driven Business Management (see Biography). “First of all, I want to express my deep admiration for Prof. Piero Coda and a big thank you for what he has done so far – commented Prof. Argiolas – for my part, I will try to do my best to carry out the task entrusted to me, interpreting this responsibility as a service of unity”. He went on to say: “The founding phase ends and that of consolidation and development begins with the generational transition. But the charismatic dimension must remain. Sophia will continue to carry out, with creative fidelity, the mission for which it was founded by Chiara Lubich, travelling together with many companions – as Pope Francis told us – with always new “joy, vision and decision the journey just begun”. Professor Piero Coda, who leaves after twelve years of presidency, adds: “I am happy with this new stage in Sophia’s journey which begins under the expert and inspired guidance of Giuseppe Argiolas, the fruit of constant and consolidated maturation at all levels. The appointment no longer as Dean but Rector by the Congregation for Catholic Education comes unexpectedly and is welcome as a seal and further impetus. The occasion is propitious to renew with enthusiasm and joy with the Rector and with the whole academic community that pact of unity that qualifies the spirit that animates us and which is relaunched today with vigour by Pope Francis’ Global Compact on Education”. Maria Voce, Vice Grand Chancellor of the Institute and President of the Focolare Movement, expressed her wish : “I am happy to renew my congratulations to Prof. Giuseppe Argiolas, the new Rector of the Sophia University Institute. His election undoubtedly marks a change of generation and of academic scope compared to the outgoing president. I am sure that Prof. Argiolas will bring you the gift of his personal characteristics, remaining faithful to the charismatic origin of the culture of unity and updating it to respond in the best possible way to the questions of the present time”. Source: Ufficio Stampa Istituto Universitario Sophia
Mar 2, 2020 | Non categorizzato
In Aachen, Germany, the Focolare presented the Klaus Hemmerle Prize to Metropolitan Anastasios Yannoulatos of Tirana, Albania 
He is not a familiar face on newspaper front pages, this white-bearded, gentle 90 year old who received the Klaus Hemmerle Prize from the Focolare Movement on February 14 in Aachen, Germany. But Anastasios Yannoulatos, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Tirana, Albania, is a well-known and respected figure, both at the international religious and political levels, especially in Eastern Europe. In his acceptance speech, Yannoulatos said he hoped for a “peaceful coexistence in a multireligious world”, and expressed his fascination with Albert Einstein’s phrase about the power of love: “Each individual carries within them a small but powerful generator of love whose energy is waiting to be released… because love is the quintessence of life.” Yannoulatos recalled that it was this same love that encouraged Bishop Klaus Hemmerle (1929–1994) to commit tirelessly to world peace and reconciliation. One can see this same commitment in the actions and life of Metropolitan Anastasios. Bishop Helmut Dieser, current Bishop of Aachen and successor of Klaus Hemmerle, welcomed the 300 guests to the imperial cathedral of the city of Charlemagne, presenting the award in honour of this “pioneer of faith and ecumenism”. Metropolitan Augoustinos Lambardakis, president of the Orthodox Episcopal Conference in Germany spotlighted the esteem that Metropolitan Anastasios enjoys in the Orthodox world, where his words are heard despite tensions between the various autocephalous churches. Focolare president Maria Voce emphasised Metropolitan Anastasios’s tireless commitment to dialogue between Christians and Muslims in her message for the occasion, thanking him for his ability to inspire communion, brotherhood and sharing. Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, paid tribute to Metropolitan Anastasios. He retraced his path from Greece through Africa to Albania, where Yannoulatos showed how “interreligious dialogue and missionary commitment did not have to be in conflict”. The cardinal also emphasised how Yannoulatos has been carefully committed to rebuilding and reinvigorating the Orthodox Church in Albania since 1992, helping to reduce strong tensions in the Balkans. Every two years the Focolare Movement in Germany honours key individuals in the field of dialogue between churches, religions and ideological beliefs with the Klaus Hemmerle Prize. Previous winners include the former president of the World Lutheran Federation, Bishop Emeritus Christian Krause (2006); Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I (2008); Muslim doctor Noorjehan Abdul Majid of Mozambique (2016); and German Rabbi Henry Brandt of Augsburg, Germany (2018).
Andrea Fleming
Feb 29, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The “Chiara Lubich City World” exhibition has been inaugurated in the Holy City, the first of the exhibitions outside Italy to be opened. It includes a section dedicated to Chiara Lubich’s visit to the Holy Land in 1956. “I didn’t think Jerusalem and its Holy Sites would affect my soul like that (…) every stone said a word, much more than a word, so that, in the end, my soul was all bathed and entirely filled with the presence of Jesus” . Chiara Lubich’s diary expressed her profound experience during the only journey she made to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, in 1956. Several black and white photographs and a video journal recall that journey, but the greatest testimony is the active presence of the community of the Focolare Movement in this city, which on February 29th, 2020, inaugurated the “Chiara Lubich City World” exhibition housed in the Curia of the Custody of the Holy Land. The exhibition is open until March 14th, 2020. The exhibition reproduces the one currently open to the public at The Tunnels Gallery at Piedicastello in Trent (Italy), curated by the Chiara Lubich Centre in collaboration with the Trentino Historical Museum Foundation. It is the first of the international sections of the Chiara Lubich City World exhibition, which will also be held in Mexico City, Sydney, Mumbai, San Paolo, Algiers and Nairobi in the year dedicated to the centenary of Chiara Lubich’s birth. Jerusalem’s primacy is symbolic as the city-cradle of the three great monotheistic religions, and home to many peoples. The community of the Focolare Movement has been here since 1977 with the mandate to contribute to the fulfilment of the unity for which, in this very land, Jesus prayed to the Father. The Jerusalem exhibition reflects the original while being someone reduced and adapted. It conveys significant moments in the life of the founder of the Focolare Movement, her thought and work, through documents, handwritten texts and photographic material. But this edition has its own specific characteristics, available only to those who visit it here: a section dedicated to the relationship between the founder of the Focolare Movement and Jerusalem, as Claudio Maina, jointly responsible for the Focolare Movement in the Holy Land, explained. “We wanted to bring this exhibition to Jerusalem to make Chiara’s life, spirituality and work better known, but also to bear witness to her relationship with this city. Actually, Chiara only came to Jerusalem once, just for a few days. But from that visit a story began that continues today. Indeed, here in the Holy Land, there are people who have welcomed Chiara’s spirituality and are living it”. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to Chiara’s great dream for this city so deeply marked by divisions and historical wounds: to create a centre of spirituality, study, dialogue and formation to unity. “It’s a dream, an intuition that gradually took shape – said Terese Soudah – in the project for the International Centre for Unity and Peace, a project that we have been working on for years and that, despite many difficulties, is progressing and we hope to be able to conclude soon”. Dignitaries attending the inauguration included the Nuncio and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the representative of the Latin Patriarchate, Father Stéphane Milovitch, director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Custody of the Holy Land, as well as Christian, Jewish and Muslim friends, who make up the Focolare family in the Holy Land. Due to the Coronavirus emergency, the Italian delegation was unable to attend, but sent video contributions. In this way, the President of the Autonomous Province of Trent, Maurizio Fugatti, wished every success to the exhibition; to bring to the world the message that Chiara Lubich gave to the Trentino Region and to Italy. The Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Patton, expressed his hope that, through this exhibition, Chiara’s spirituality would remind this troubled land of the value of unity, the fruit of Jesus’ prayer, which is still so relevant today. In a video-message, Anna Maria Rossi and Giuliano Ruzzier, curators of the exhibition in Trent, along with Maurizio Gentilini, presented the exhibition itinerary: “We created a project that isn’t limited to the city of Trent, but, as happened in Chiara’s life, can reach the ends of the earth, encompassing all five continents”. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Nuncio, Archbishop Girelli, recalled the extreme relevance of Chiara’s message: “Here in Jerusalem, we could invert the words of the exhibition’s title and call it: “Chiara Lubich World City”, because this exhibition has come from the world to the city par excellence, the Holy City, the city of unity, of fraternity, of dialogue among religions and among peoples”.
By Stefania Tanesini
Feb 29, 2020 | Non categorizzato
On 5 February 2020, Juan Carlos Duque, a Colombian focolarino died in an accident in the Fiore Centre in Lima, Peru where he lived in the focolare. A few days earlier, in preparation for the priesthood, he had been ordained a deacon during a joyful community celebration. We bring you a letter of farewell written by Gustavo Clariá, who lived with him in the focolare. Dearest Juan Carlos, Just as I had done so many other times, I asked you to help me. Even though I had the password, I couldn’t get into my e mail account to answer some messages. It was lunch time but, as always, you took on my problem and solved it in your usual speedy way. Lunch was no different from any other day: we talked about some serious matters but there was also a lot of joking and laughter. Your laugh was unmistakable; you were happy when we were altogether. At the end of the meal, you were the first to stand up and collect the dishes. And then you left in a hurry to go to “your” Fiore Centre. You wanted to adjust the large water tank which had been unused for some time. I, on the other hand, went to rest. After a few minutes, my mobile rang. It was Pacho: “Juan Carlos has had a serious accident … he made a false move on the roof and fell down … he died instantly …”. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Everything in me was refusing to believe what my ears were hearing. I only managed to say, “My God”, “My God”, “My God”, “My God” … I don’t know how many times I repeated it and I continued to do so, in silence, while Mario and I ran to the nearby Fiore Centre. When we arrived, we couldn’t believe what we saw. That moment, 3.15 pm on 5th February, changed our lives. Nothing was as it had been before before and we had to accept reality. You know, I went to the chapel three times. I was confused and asking for some explanation, “Why has this happened?”, “We have given our lives to follow you – and you – whose side are you on…?” Silence. The third time you answered me, “You still have so much to lose.” I came out almost feeling humiliated because I realized that I was far away from where you, Juan Carlos, had arrived. We thought that you were preparing for the priesthood… in reality you were preparing for the most important meeting in life. As the hours went by and we continued to ask “help my unbelief,” that tragic fall that we had seen with our own limited vision, was gradually transformed, with the eyes of faith, into a masterful “flight” upwards. Yes, friend and brother, it wasn’t a fall, it was a Flight. You had already told us at your ordination to the diaconate on 25th January. You reminded us of Philip Neri, that wonderful saint from Tuscany who, when he was appointed monsignor, threw his hat in the air, exclaiming, “Paradise, Paradise.” He was not interested in the title, only the encounter with God … And that is where you are now, together with those who have gone before you. Goodbye, dear Juan Carlos till God wants us to gather again, altogether, never to be parted. We will miss your joy, your laughter, your cooking – arepas and salted chicken – your readiness to help and your concern for each one of us. We will miss your ability to solve problems and to “make life exciting”, your transparency and radicalness as a simple focolarino, a friend of Jesus. You remain a beacon of light that accompanies and guides us always.
Gustavo E. Clariá
Feb 28, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Circulating the gifts embodied in different religious families is good for the health of the Church, a process favoured by the spirituality of unity of Chiara Lubich. A Church which ‘Goes Forth’, a ‘field hospital’. Pope Francis has used many different ways to express how he’d like to see the Church today. A church capable of warming the hearts of the faithful, healing their wounds and going out towards ‘existential peripheries’. To be able to respond well to the demands of today’s fragmented and wounded world, the Church must surely draw on all the talents and strengths it contains. This is particularly true in the case of its charisms, those ‘forces for renewal’ born in the Church throughout its history in response to precise circumstances and events, which then took permanent shape in a host of religious families. But how should they turn to each other, find ways of being together, of acting in a united way, when the Holy Spirit created them all distinct?! A convention entitled “Charisms in communion: the prophecy of Chiara Lubich”, 8-9 February at the Mariapolis Centre, Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, aimed to demonstrate some of the tools which Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity can offer to achieve this end. The 400 participants included members of religious orders, consecrated men and women, and Catholic laity, together with some members of the Orthodox Churches. Representing 100 different religious families and 33 countries, they engaged in dialogue and benefitted from the different perspectives which emerge when placing in communion their own identities, and in so doing, recognizing a more beautiful, gift-laden, attractive Church. According to Focolare President, Maria Voce, in her address, the title of the meeting “stimulates us to listen and live as reciprocal gifts, because by offering the richness of each specific charism, we experience authentic sharing (…) to give to the world a credible face of the Church”. Cardinal João Braz De Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life affirmed, “when consecrated men and women come into contact with the Focolare Movement, they are helped and incentivized to value the originality of their own charism, to renew relationships of fraternity within their own Institutes, to appreciate and love other charisms as their own”. The two day meeting produced a dynamic environment for discovering how these treasures within the Church can become ever more beautiful and fruitful, in announcing the Gospel and in enhancing the credibility of the Church. The presence of around fifty lay members of various religious families made a significant contribution in this context. “The charisms are a source of joy and express the beauty of the Church,” explained Padre Fabio Ciardi, Oblate of Mary Immaculate and theologian of consecrated life. “They make you exclaim, ‘How beautiful this is!’” “When I was a novice, I heard Chiara encourage us to ‘love the other congregation as our own’,” recalled canon lawyer Sr Tiziana Merletti, of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. “And I understood that unity really is a fundamental value.” “We no longer talk about adapting the indispensable contribution of charismatic realities to the mission of the Church, but rather of circulating the gifts of all for the benefit of all (…) to discern the most suitable ways of serving the proclamation of the Gospel” asserted Piero Coda, President of Sophia University Institute, Loppiano. “We have to arrive at a radical conversion,” he added, “to reach the point of loving the other, their charism, their religious family, more than our own charism and religious family. Only in this way can the Church truly be charismatic and missionary!”
Lorenzo Russo
Feb 26, 2020 | Non categorizzato
In a letter dated 1 February, Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, convened the next General Assembly of the Focolare Movement which will begin on 31 August 2020. What is it? Who will take part in the Assembly? What must it do? What is happening in preparation? https://vimeo.com/389431349 The Act of Convocation in pdf format
Feb 24, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Maria Voce was one of the speakers at the International Conference of pastoral care of the elderly, “The Richness of Many Years of Life” To cultivate dialogue between generations and establish a relationship of mutual love between youths and adults, we need to realize that the other person, in all his diversity, is a gift for me. And we also need to build fraternal relationships based on authentic listening, that puts aside stereotypes and prejudices and opens new pathways. This was the core of the message offered by Maria Voce, the Focolare president, when she was invited to be one of the speakers who addressed the first International Conference of pastoral care for the elderly. This conference, that took place at the Augustinianum in Rome from 29 to 31 January, was promoted by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. In the presence of an audience of about 550 experts and pastoral workers from 60 countries, Maria Voce proposed a reflection on dialogue between generations. She said that in today’s current situation, one can notice that there is “an atmosphere of new understanding between generations” that reigns on a global level. She quoted the example of peaceful demonstrations that recently mobilized both young and old who joined forces to express their ideas and ask for a renewed commitment towards “common good, human rights, solidarity and peace”. The young people have been the promoters of a message of rebirth, while the more mature, driven by the enthusiasm of the younger ones, have chosen to share its challenges and commitment. When speaking about the outcome of this allegiance between generations, Maria Voce quoted Chiara Lubich, the Focolare founder. Lubich related: “I would not hesitate to define as Trinitarian the relationship we had with young people from the very start. In our generation of adults we perceived all the weight, the value of incarnation and concreteness, while in the young generation we saw ideality, authenticity, revolutionary power and certainty of victory. The first generation seemed to us to be like the Father, while in the second generation there seemed to be the beauty and splendour of the Son, the Word of the Father. And between the two there was a relationship of mutual love, almost a current of the Holy Spirit that gives a great witness to the world”. The Focolare President traced out various pathways that lead to this allegiance between generations. First of all, she underlined the need for deep listening, which means having “minds and hearts free from prejudices and stereotypes”. Then she spoke about the necessity of abandoning fixed concepts that depict the adult as boring and stuck to the past, and underestimate and judge the young person negatively. Finally, she highlighted the great importance of being open to new schemes to be able to overcome difficulties together. Maria Voce concluded by re-proposing the image of the Church offered by a young man during the Synod dedicated to them: “The Church is like a canoe, in which the elderly help to keep its course by interpreting the position of the stars and the youth row hard while imagining what awaits them further ahead”.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Feb 22, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare Movement recommends adopting scrupulously the precautionary and safety measures stipulated by the health authorities of each country Following the detection of cases of Coronavirus infection (COVID-19) also in Italy, the International Centre of the Focolare Movement, having its headquarters in Italy and being the organizer and venue of events attended by people from many countries, invites the great Focolare family around the world to handle this health emergency with the required caution and with a great sense of responsibility in view both of personal health and the common good. In particular, the Focolare Movement recommends adopting scrupulously the precautionary and safety measures stipulated by the health authorities of each country and carefully following the relevant communications. With regard to events organized at the International Centre, the Centre itself is in close contact with the local health and civil authorities to follow developments and take the necessary measures. The International Centre recommends doing the same with regard to large events in other countries. However, what remains valid is the invitation made by Maria Voce (Emmaus) on 1st February, to have – precisely as a worldwide Focolare family – an unconditional love for everyone, a love “that makes no differences between people, and is fearless. Because even a person who can give you the infection is still your brother or sister and you must take care of him or her”.
Feb 22, 2020 | Non categorizzato
With a statement of March 1, the Organizing Committee of “The Economy of Francesco” has postponed the event to November. The Side Event, scheduled in Perugia for the end of March, will be postponed from 20 to 22 November. Why a parallel event? When dealing with “appointments with history”, the mission in question needs to be supported in some way! Behind the CVs of the young people who responded enthusiastically to the Pope’s invitation there are not only brilliant profiles, innovative research and projects, but also the clear aim to redesign theory and practice of the economic system, working to reverse world trends, together. And this represents a global challenge much too serious and important for us to remain mere passive spectators. Hence, the parallel meeting that will take place in Perugia from 20 to 20 November 2020 is an opportunity for all those who cannot participate directly in “The Economy of Francesco” (due to issues of age and logistics) but still wish to be part of this new process, closely following and supporting the work carried out by the under-35 gathered in Assisi. We will maintain the same structure scheduled for March, reprogramming the meeting, in support of the work of young people, from Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2020 (from the night of Thursday, November 19 to lunch on Sunday, November 22): registrations are open again, to proceed in the best possible way with the organization of the work and continue on our path with the energy and responsibility placed so far. Promoted by the Economy of Communion, the Side Event is essentially a space open to anyone who believes in the need for a different economy: an inclusive place, functioning as a spokesperson for multiple realities. In the awareness that the current economy often fails, since it can work well for some, but clearly does not work at all for (many) others, while also threatening the social and environmental ecosystem, we will dialogue between young and old, between different cultures and backgrounds, experiencing the event through 3 generative dimensions: feeling-conceiving-acting. By alternating plenary moments with parallel / group sessions, we want to testify how important it is to let networks flourish, while learning from past failures and converting ideas into action. Under the guidance of a group of facilitators (similarly to what will happen in Assisi) and with the contribution of some important keynote speakers, which the young people in the Franciscan city will work simultaneously on 12 macro-themes, focusing on some contrasting key concepts, such as wealth / poverty and more. As in the case with Assisi, the wish is that these days spent in Perugia will serve to bring together visions, desires, skills and commitment: both on an individual as well as a collective scale. Yes, because, more than profit, the economy is really about vocation and if you believe in something alternative, you need to make your voice heard, empowering it, by putting it in relation to the ideas of others. In order for it to turn into actual collaboration, thereby creating a spirit of community. A community capable of creating real impact, by starting a necessary process: this is the aim of the Economy of Francesco in Assisi, and this is the cause that the event in Perugia aims to sustain. But in order to achieve this objective, it is not enough to merely make words like ethics and sustainability become fashionable, taking a real step of discontinuity, while breaking away from what is currently the dominant line of thought, will also be required. The Economy of Francesco will leave its mark thanks to its youthful nature, but it will be surrounded by a heterogeneous chorus of voices strengthening its opening of the passage, fertilizing this terrain of change together.
By Francesca Giglio
source www.edc-online.org Download flyer (1.06 MB) For further information: edcperugia2020@gmail.com For registration requests: https://www.umbriasi.it/pacchetto/side/
Feb 21, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Kevin and Trish Bourke live in Myrtleford, a small rural town of 3,500 in the state of Victoria. He is a volunteer firefighter. They tell of the damage caused by the disastrous fires that still continue, but of many episodes of courage and solidarity as well. The recent fires have been devastating. Our small district has lost over 102,000 hectares of national park, pine plantation forests and fertile farmlands to fire. We have also lost livestock and stock feed, but we are fortunate as we have only lost one house and no human lives. The fires have impacted every state and territory within Australia. They started in August 2019 and are still burning. The height of the flames has reached 40 metres, fanned by winds up to 100 kilometres per hour. As I write this account on 30 January 2020, large fires are still threatening a number of areas, including the southern borders of Canberra, Australia’s capital city. So far, the fires have burned in excess of 19 million hectares (nearly two-thirds the total area of Italy). The current number of lives lost is 35, thousands of houses, businesses, stock and native wildlife have perished. Yet the human spirit endures. People demonstrated an endless desire to help those impacted in any way they could. Many, especially those based in major cities, often stated that they felt somewhat helpless, as they couldn’t work out what they could do from a distance, as most of the fires were burning in rural locations. But people did help. Sometimes it was just by offering support through social media. Some made donations, and there was an extensive range in between. We were fortunate to be able to witness the good from the fire front. We saw people consoling others, sometimes when they just needed someone to listen to their story. Emergency services came to the fire effected areas, often from a distance, in some cases thousands of kilometres away, to help fight the fires. Most were volunteers, often incurring financial losses to assist us. Some firefighters came from across the seas. Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand were represented. The Army, Navy and Airforce have all provided troops and equipment, some fighting fires, and others ensuring water, food, health facilities and emergency accommodation were supplied and of a high standard. Relief agencies, including St. Vincent de Paul, Red Cross and Salvation Army, received donations from international musicians, actors, sports people and regular Australian citizens. To date this fund is AUD$500 million. Some farmers from areas that were not impacted provided stock feed to others who had lost their supply. In one instance a large group of farmers drove over 3,000 kilometres to deliver 140 semi-trailer loads of hay to fire-affected farmers. All of the hay was donated. The value of the hay was in excess of AUD$1 million. Neighbours checked on each other to ensure they were safe and well. Elderly and those with young families were offered additional support to make sure they were able to evacuate if the need arose. In some instances, the elderly needed to evacuate just to escape the smoke that drifted over the valley. They had respiratory difficulties and eyes that stung due to excessive exposure to hazardous smoke. People showed genuine concern for each other in so many ways. We loaned our trailer to a property owner who wanted to re-locate stock. As we were located in a zone that was blocked from traffic, the rubbish collection ceased – and our trailer was being used. So the neighbours collected ours, and many bins from the neighbourhood, and took them to the transfer station. Families donated food and clothing to those who had to evacuate without time to pack; others accommodated those who required shelter. Horse transport operators from outside the region provided free cartage of horses to safer locations. Businesses in nearby towns provided free emergency accommodation. On one of the days that I was fighting fires, a volunteer went to buy food for everyone’s midday meal. A couple waiting to be served in the shop realized that the food was for the firefighters and paid the entire amount: AUD$600. We didn’t even know who they were. Grandparents have appeared at the station advising that their grandchildren had asked them to provide their Christmas money to the firefighters to help them ‘stop the fires’. We sent the children a card and photo saying thanks. We have some new friends. This country has witnessed so much suffering through natural disaster. In most cases the fires were ignited by lightning reaching a parched landscape. No one was to blame, yet the memories will stay with many for a lifetime. It is often said that it is how you react to situation that defines us. We are happy to report that people reacted with love and compassion, and that too will be remembered for a lifetime.
Kevin and Trish Bourke
Feb 19, 2020 | Non categorizzato
President Mattarella took part in the “Trent meets Chiara” event at the Mariapolis Centre in Cadine. https://vimeo.com/389431100
Feb 17, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The international conference entitled “A Charism at the Service of the Church and Humanity” showed interesting perspectives for the Church. The participants, 7 Cardinals and 137 Bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement from 50 countries, gathered first at Trento and then at Loppiano It was a symbolic and solemn scene on the sanctuary of the Theotokós of Loppiano, that is, in a church dedicated to Mary, Mother of God. Surrounded by the inhabitants of this little town of the Focolare Movement who represented the people of God, a large assembly of Cardinals and Bishops declared to each other that they lived fraternal love according to the commandment of Jesus, ready to share each other’s joys and sorrows, to love the community of the other as their own, in short, to love each other to the point of giving their lives for one another. This solemn “pact”, formulated on Tuesday, February 11th, was the culmination of an international conference entitled “A Charism at the Service of the Church and Humanity” which gathered 7 Cardinals and 137 Bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement, representing 50 countries, first at Trento and then at Loppiano. 
Never before has participation in this annual conference been so numerous, due also to the fact that the meeting took place in the year of the Centenary of Chiara Lubich’s birth. The programme reflected the motto chosen for the Centenary: “Celebrate to meet”. The first part of the conference, which took place in Trento, the birthplace of the founder of the Focolare Movement, was in fact dedicated primarily to the celebration of this event: the visit to the exhibition “Chiara Lubich City World” at the Galleries of Trento; the greeting of the authorities at the headquarters of the Autonomous Province of Trento; the Eucharistic celebration in the Cathedral of the city and the artistic re-enactment “From the Tridentine Council to Tridentine Chiara ” held in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the Council was held and in which Chiara Lubich received her baptism. Celebratory moments that were not characterized by the simple nostalgic memory of a historical figure, but opened our eyes to the relevance of Chiara’s charism, such as its global, ecclesial and ecumenical dimension. This was strongly underlined by a long message from Pope Francis, who warmly welcomed this conference expressing “gratitude to God for the gift of the charism of unity through the witness and teaching (…) of Chiara Lubich”. The Pope’s invitation to the Bishops, to “always put themselves back in the school of the Holy Spirit” and to live the main points of Chiara Lubich’s spirituality, was achieved in the second part of the programme held in the International Focolare Little Town in Loppiano near Florence. The context of a small community of 800 inhabitants, who see in Jesus’ commandment of mutual love the law of their living together, stimulated the prelates to do the same. The scenes of communion and sharing were moving, beginning with the small things: mutual help, deep listening, attentive reception of the requests, needs and ideas of each one. True “ministers” at the service of one another. 
Against the background of a profound and rich analysis of the historical context in which Chiara Lubich lived and worked, presented by Andrea Riccardi of the Sant’Egidio Community, the ecclesial dimensions that flow from Chiara’s charism were deepened: a Church that becomes dialogue; the ‘mysticism of us’ that is achieved in a Church-communion; the ecumenical dimension; the different formation paths offered by the Focolare Movement to deepen and spread these dimensions. The lived experiences of Bishops from all over the world illustrated the possibility of achieving this in their personal life and in their service to the Church. “It was not a matter of looking back,” an African bishop emphasised at the conclusion of the conference, “but an overture, that is, a beginning and an opening to the future. The “pact” that the Bishops made in Loppiano, in the Church of the Mother of God, had been signed, in the very same place, by Pope Francis together with the inhabitants of the Little Town during his visit to Loppiano. It is a pact, signed with the support of the People of God who implement it and continually draw strength from it, which can also be for the Bishops a beginning, a starting point, an overture which makes one glimpse the playing of new notes on the path of dialogue, of new harmonies on the path of communion of the Church of the future.
Joachim Schwind – Anna Lisa Innocenti
Feb 14, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Jesus taught us with his life the reason for service and for choosing the last place. It is the best way to transform apparent defeat into a victory which is neither selfish nor short-lived, but shared and lasting. Alcoholic Having both experienced the tragic effects of alcohol in our families, my boyfriend and I decided to make a pact. He promised me his commitment. Everything went well for a few years. However, suspicions surfaced from time to time: money missing from our account, a delay that couldn’t be justified… The real tragedy was not discovering that he had always been an alcoholic but that we, his wife and children, had not been able to get him out of that situation. I felt humiliated. I spoke to my parish priest about it. He recognized the seriousness of a deception that had been going on for years but he asked me if, for the children’s sake, I was ready to start again, but not alone. The community would support me. With what at times demanded heroic strength, I stayed with my husband. I was able to convince him to agree to seek help and supported him in his alcohol withdrawal crises. Two years have passed. The family has suffered a lot from these tumultuous times, but my children and I have gained new strength. Everyday life has become a wonderful gift. (J.K. – Romania) Refugees We lost everything in the Rwandan war: our home and several relations. From Kigali we moved back to my native town but later had to leave there and go to a refugee camp. We took just a few things with us, including clothes for the baby I was expecting. There were thousands of desperate, destitute people in the camp. After a number of nuns arrived in the camp, I volunteered to help with first aid. I was entrusted with providing social care but we had no money, nothing to give to the refugees. Among a group of orphans there was a seven-year-old boy who was separated from his family. His mother eventually found him after many days’ walk but was totally exhausted when she arrived at the camp. All I had was 300 francs, the equivalent of about a dollar: it was a fortune. I really needed it myself but she needed it more than me. I gave it to her convinced that God would think of my family too. With the money she was able to buy food and a small hut. Shortly afterwards, I met my elder sister, who had spent three days looking for us in the camp: she brought me 1,000 francs. (C.E. – Rwanda) Scars It wasn’t easy knowing how to treat Martha, our fourth daughter, who had been entrusted to us by the juvenile court. She totally rejected the suffering she had experienced following an incident that had left scars on her body, which she hid from everyone as marks of disgrace. Only with the patient love, dialogue and collaboration by everyone in the family was she able to overcome that trauma and discover and appreciate her talents. So, little by little, this difficult child was reconciled with her own body and the environment around her. We were so relieved to see the love of life growing in her. Gradually, with time, we were also able to share with her the value of pain. One day, as soon as she arrived home, Marta told us about a companion who looked shocked when she noticed her scars; but, instead of feeling hurt, she rolled up her sleeve to show the marks more clearly, and explained how she got them. At that point her companion apologized and since then they became good friends. (O.N. – ltaly)
Edited by Stefania Tanesini (taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.1, gennaio-febbraio 2020)
Feb 12, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Few weeks before the global event that will bring together thousands of young economists with Pope Francis, we met the team organising the event. What are they hoping for? That the world will change direction. https://vimeo.com/389431214
Feb 10, 2020 | Non categorizzato
An evening in the Italian capital was dedicated to Focolare’s founder and her close relationship with Rome, where she 20 years ago became an honorary citizen. The book Conversations: via telephone link-up was also released. January 22 is an important day for Rome, not only because it is Chiara Lubich’s birthday – she was born in 1920, and her centenary is being celebrated this year – but also because on January 22, 2000, in the midst of the Jubilee Year, the then Mayor of Rome Francesco Rutelli decided to give her honorary citizenship. On that occasion Chiara pointed out that the name of Rome (“Roma”), read in reverse, is “amor” or “love”. Since then her vision of a capital invaded by evangelical love, through what was later called “Roma-Amor”, launched a new phase for the Focolare community in Rome, with greater witness and commitment to the city. Twenty years later, this year on January 22 an evening was dedicated to Chiara in her memory. “In my opinion there is an element of Chiara’s experience that connects with the experience of St. Paul, with both of them becoming citizens of Rome,” said Rutelli. “Chiara mentioned St. Paul several times, and this link between the two has an extraordinary strength and symbolism. “And Chiara, since January 22, 2000, committed to dedicating herself to Rome in a better and more complete way, embodying mutual love everywhere. What could be more beautiful than to make these words ours, today?” During the course of the evening there was also an in-depth look at the book Conversations: via telephone link-up by Michel Vandeleene, which contains 300 spiritual thoughts from Chiara. These were texts that she communicated, connecting regularly by conference call initially from Switzerland (which is why it is called the “CH” link-up) with the most important centres of the Focolare Movement scattered throughout the five continents. It was also an opportunity to hear news and about events in the life of the movement throughout the world. “We find ourselves at the source of a sort of personal and collective diary, in which Chiara’s experience is linked to the life of the members of the movement,” said Professor Maria Intrieri, professor of ancient history at the University of Calabria in Italy. “There are two types: the great story of Chiara and her work in the Church, and with the Church in the streets of the world, but there is also the micro-history, the small experiences, the meetings she has at the Focolare’s international headquarters, her travels, or a letter that comes to her from a child. Chiara did it to be more and more a single family.” “We realize that these two terms – conversation and connection – share deep roots: to be in the same place and to be linked together,” said Professor Cristiana Freni, professor of the philosophy of language at Salesian University. “This is what Chiara wanted to do back in 1980: to make people feel members of the same family and establish profound ontological ties through the link-up.” Michel Vandeleene stressed the importance of the language used in Chiara’s spiritual thoughts. “A person’s vocabulary reflects her soul, and when you see Chiara’s vocabulary you see an open, joyful, evangelical, determined person. Even how someone’s words are used helps us understand so much about her. She uses the word “sweetness” to refer to union with God, or the loving presence of God in our midst. Editing this compilation, I was struck by Chiara’s vision of Christianity: a positive, fascinating spirituality that cannot but be attractive.” Director Marco Aleotti explained what the link-up is today. “Since Chiara’s death, we asked ourselves: what will happen to the link-up? We continue to produce it every two months, and anyone can connect with it through the web. The feedback afterwards from the live broadcast,” he concludes, “shows that many people continue to have the same experience of being one family, just like the link-ups with Chiara.”
Lorenzo Russo
Feb 8, 2020 | Non categorizzato
A message from Pope Francis and a greeting from Focolare President, Maria Voce opened a conference of 7 Cardinals and 137 Catholic Bishops, friends of the Focolare from 50 different countries. The meeting in Trento, Northern Italy is entitled “A Charism at the service of the Church and humanity”. “It’s good for Bishops too always to go back to the school of the Holy Spirit”. This encouragement from Pope Francis on 8 February opened the international conference “A Charism at the service of the Church and humanity” in Trento. Taking part are 7 Cardinals and 137 Catholic bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement, representing 50 countries. In this centenary year of Chiara Lubich’s birth, the meeting explores the significance and contribution of the Focolare charism of unity at the service of the Church and of humanity. On 6 February a delegation of conference participants had an audience with Pope Francis, who exclaimed, “You’ve brought me joy, go ahead!” The Pope’s full message to the conference was read by Cardinal Francis X. Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok. Pope Francis affirmed charismatic gifts like that of the Focolare spirituality are “co-essential, together with hierarchical gifts, in the mission of the Church”. He continued, “the charism of unity is one of these graces for our time, which is experiencing a change of epoch and calls for a simple, radical, spiritual and pastoral reform that brings the Church back to the ever new and relevant source that is the Gospel of Jesus”. Pope Francis went on to encourage the Bishops present to live the cardinal points of Chiara Lubich’s spirituality: commitment to unity, preferential choice of the crucified Jesus as their existential compass, making yourself one “starting from the least, from the excluded, from the discarded, to bring them light, joy and peace”, openness “to a dialogue of charity and truth with every man and every woman, of all cultures, religious traditions, and ideal convictions, to build up, in meeting with them, the new civilization of love.”, to listen like Mary from whom “we learn that what matters and what remains is love” and who teaches us how to bring Christ to the world today, Christ “who lives Risen among those who are one in his Name (cf. Mt 18:20)”. Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, sent a video message in which she underlined the fact that this spirituality aims to be, as proposed by the conference title, “at the service of the Church and of humanity”. In an era in which “We know that there are challenges for the Church all over the world, we are called to a new inculturation of the Gospel of Jesus,” affirmed the Focolare President. “An inculturation which treasures the experience of the past but knows how to express it anew, prophetically, in our times. For this reason we must also open up and discover the power for renewal inherent in many of the new charisms present in the Church today.” Maria Voce continued, “ the reality of Bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement ” – affirmed the Focolare President – wants to promote “ a lifestyle of fellowship and communion with Jesus in the midst among Catholic bishops from all over the world – and then also among bishops of various Churches. Such a lifestyle contributes to making collegiality ever more effective and affective”. The program continued with an afternoon visit to the “Chiara Lubich city world” exhibition in the Galleria Bianca of Piedicastello, in Trento. The bishops then attended a performance of “From the Tridentine Council to Tridentine Chiara”, a special artistic event at the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. From there, the bishops proceeded to Cadine Mariapolis Center for the celebration of Mass, presided by the Archbishop of Trento, Mons. Lauro Tisi. On Sunday 9 February they were welcomed by the Archbishop of Trento to the city’s Cathedral to celebrate the 10am Mass, presided by Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij. This was streamed live on TV2000 and via the website www.centenariolubichtrento.it . It was followed by an official reception hosted by the Presidents of the Provincial Council Walter Kaswalder, of the Provincial Administration Maurizio Fugatti, and the Mayor of Trento Alessandro Andreatta. From 10-12 February, the conference moves to Loppiano, near Florence, Italy, the little town of the Focolare Movement. In collaboration with the “Evangelii Gaudium Center” of Sophia University Institute based in Loppiano, there will be sessions on a range of current issues facing the Church and society today, involving reports, round-table discussions and dialogue. Topics include: “The Church and its currrent challenges” with historian and founder of the Sant’Egidio community Andrea Riccardi, “The Church becomes dialogue” focussing on the four dimensions of the life of the Church (kerygma, communion, dialogue e prophecy). With Cardinals and Bishops from so many different parts of the world, the input promises to be wide-ranging and dynamic. Here is the text of the message of Pope Francis Here is the text of the video message of Maria Voce
For more information contact: Focolare Communication Office: ufficio.comunicazione@focolare.org Anna Lisa Innocenti – +39 338 3944209
Feb 7, 2020 | Non categorizzato
For thousands of people, although the emergency is not over, life is slowly returning to normal after the eruption of the Taal volcano in the Philippines on January 12th 2020, which caused serious damage to the surrounding areas. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the alert level 4 has been lowered to level 3 and the danger zone has been reduced from 14 to 7 km from the crater. The Focolare community is using all possible means to provide for the needs of those displaced by the disaster: more than 300,000 people were forced to evacuate. 
Purisa Plaras, focolarina and co-director of “Mariapolis Pace”, the Focolare’s little town in Tagaytay, says: “A few days after the eruption of the Taal volcano, we returned to Tagaytay to check on the situation of our community and share everything with the different families living around our Centre, which is located within the danger zone, within 14 kilometres of the volcano. Concerned about their basic needs, we distributed food and water to the families. One of our young Focolare members shares: “It is not easy to deal with this situation. It is heartbreaking and I couldn’t help crying. I cannot explain how I feel right now, but deep down I know that God loves us immensely, embracing together the face of Jesus Crucified and Abandoned in this situation. I will be strong here, to serve Jesus also in others”. Randy Debarbo, the focolarino responsible for the territory around Mariapolis Pace, says: “On Sunday, January 12th , as we were returning home from a meeting, we noticed the bad smell of sulphur in the air. It started raining but there was something strange. The rainwater was staining our umbrellas and clothes. Then we realized it was volcanic ash mixed with rain coming down like mud! When we woke up the next morning, we no longer recognized what was around us. Everything was grey as if we were colour blind. We saw the massive devastation caused by the eruption of the Taal volcano. The public school near the centre of the Focolare became a temporary shelter and transit centre for about 500 people coming from the lakeside villages close to the volcano. Faced with such devastation, a voice inside me spoke aloud: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat…”. This concern for Jesus in those who are in need led him to remain in Tagaytay together with other focolarini. Randy continued, “Together with the other focolarini, we travelled by truck for about 20 kilometers from Tagaytay to buy water to distribute to some families who were still in Tagaytay. It was very moving to see the families momentarily relieved of their worries, the children were happy to receive even a bucket of water. With a doctor from Tagaytay, we decided to visit the families around us to try to meet their medical needs. Arriving at one place, the people from that neighborhood were all along the street, waiting and asking for food. Instead of just visiting one home, we were able to offer a free medical checkup to those who were waiting for food. We put together the small amounts of money we had in our pockets and personally bought medicines for those in urgent need of medical care”. In addition to the generous help from the families of the Movement in the Philippines, the Movement around the world is supporting, with prayers and financial contributions , Mariapolis Pace which is at the service of the work of the Focolare Movement in Asia.
Jonas Lardizabal
Feb 5, 2020 | Senza categoria
- Date of Death: 06/02/2020
- Branch of belonging: Bishop
- Nation: Italy
Feb 5, 2020 | Non categorizzato
An ongoing collaboration between young performers from Montecatini (Florence) and Bethelehem. In places torn apart by armed conflict propelled by economic and military pressures, the peoples afflicted can be victims of mutual prejudice as much as everything else. These prejudices foster hostilities among the civil populations, but they can also be dissolved by meeting on “neutral territory”, on a cultural and social, as well as geographic level. There is territory where the human spirit can open up to authentic connections to experience freedom from hatred and fears, and find new approaches to reconciliation. This is the space occupied by the “Harmony among Peoples” project promoted by the Armonia Dancelab Cultural Association (*), using dance as a meeting place for peace. It is the social outreach of the Laboratorio Accademico Danza, based in Montecatini Terme, near Florence, Italy, founded by its artistic director, Antonella Lombardo. We asked her how the Association came about. 
“After teaching dance for 20 years, I realised that young people seem to approach this discipline solely as a means to obtain personal success. I wanted to allow them to experience how dance can give meaning to life, independent of how “successful” or not their careers may be, how dance can contribute to improving other people’s lives and can actually sow seeds of peace. This desire led to the idea of international “campus” events first at at Montecatini, then in Bethlehem in the Holy Land.” Tell us how it happened. “We began by inviting young dance students from different parts of the world to stay with us in Italy, in order to share with them a vision of art which embraces the capacity to unite people from different social, political, ethnic and religious backgrounds, because it speaks a universal language. Inviting Palestinian and Israeli youngsters, we came into contact with the Custodia Terrae Sanctae and the John Paul II Foundation, who six years ago invited us to Bethlehem and Jerusalem to run an ‘arts campus’ for children living in refugee camps in the Palestinian territories.” What happens in a “campus”? “In our campus the young people have to work hard! They start at 9:00 in the morning right through to 18:00 in the evening, experiencing various styles of dance. Sharing a house together with the Italian students, they prepare the evening meals together and enjoy celebrating together. They all work on a choreography called Peace Dance which shows how, for example, Israeli and Palestinian youth, who live in a daily context of conflict, are able to create a climate of harmony in their personal relationships and onstage. This is true for participants from all countries, who bring their own artistic sensitivities and culture to the campus.” How was your experience in Bethlehem? “When we arrived, we found children with almost no knowledge of art. Some of them had never even seen a felt-tipped pen before. Our two week campus represented for them – prisoners in the open air – a space of freedom, a way to travel in their minds beyond the terrible wall separating them from the Israelis. Our teachers are Palestinian and Israeli young people who have attended our campus in Italy. The experience of the past six years has proved so fruitful that the Custodia Terrae Sanctae has asked us to open a permanent school in Bethlehem, which we hope will be possible next year.” When is the next Italian campus and how can someone take part? “It will take place in Montecatini from 27 August to 5 September 2020. Young people will attend from different parts of the world, including Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Israel. It’s designed for young people who are hoping to become professional artists and who share the idea that art can be a universal instrument of harmony among peoples. In that way, we hope each one of them can promote this change of mentality wherever they go on to work, in theatres, schools, art centres etc. Those interested can contact info@dancelab.it.” These campus events are part of a broader project, the Festival of Harmony among Peoples, promoted by the Association … “The Festival has been running for 15 years. This year it takes place in Tuscany, supported by the entire Val di Nievole region and cities including Florence, Assisi and Palermo. It involves a series of linked events, launching on 14 March in the imposing “Salone dei 500” in Florence’s famous Palazzo Vecchio. The date marks the anniversary of the death of Focolare foundress Chiara Lubich and the program will acknowledge her contribution to bringing harmony in the world. It also commemorates 20 years since she was awarded honorary citizenship of Florence, and the 100th anniversary of her birth.” Other forthcoming events? “Throughout the year we’re running programs in schools to develop a piece of work on the theme of disarmament. Our hope is to enable the voice of young people to reach the heads of state of countries involved in the production and trade of arms, to try to put a dent in them. Another program which is proving very popular with youth uses music as a moment of reflection the theme of ‘encounter’. Other cultural gatherings and inter-cultural meals are planned for Montecatini and Palermo.” The Festival and the campus are all offered free to participants. This is surely a big challenge… “From the start I wanted to keep this experience distinct from the usual dance programs delivered by schools for profit. The children come to us not only to study dance but because they have chosen to live for peace and to be bridge-builders of peace.”
Claudia Di Lorenzi
(*)https://www.festivalarmonia.org/
Feb 3, 2020 | Non categorizzato
We are often immersed in a culture than regards aggression as the key to success. This aggression can be expressed in a variety of ways. In contrast, the Gospel presents us with a paradox. We can look on our weaknesses, our limits and our fragility as the starting point in relating to God and in participating with him in the greatest of challenges – the unity of the entire human family. Recession Because of the economic crisis in our country, work was decreasing and our income was growing smaller and smaller. Our customers were no longer sending orders. At home, we reduced our expenses and tried to live on less. I began to spend more time with the children so that the situation would not affect them too much and I even learned to fall asleep at night in spite of knowing we were in debt. I began to pray again and to believe very firmly in the words of the Gospel that say, “Give and it will be given to you.” We experienced the truth of this almost every day. We did everything we could to increase our income – we collected newspapers, cartons, cans and glass bottles to sell. Even the children went to sell bags of sweets. Many people came to us to ask for food and we often gave away the only thing we had left. One day my wife gave a kilo of rice to someone and the very same evening, we received two kilos of lentils. A neighbour of ours left a car outside the front door and said, “Use it for now and pay me for it when you can.” This meant that we could take our third daughter who has Down’s syndrome for the treatment she needed. (M.T. – Chile) Growing as parents We had noticed that our son was changing and behaving in a different way. One day, I very delicately asked him if anything was wrong. He confided in me that he was using drugs. I told my husband and neither of us slept a wink that night. We felt helpless and thought we had failed as parents. Joao sometimes brought friends home and their behaviour made us suffer too. My husband and I realised that we had to make a choice and we decided to love and serve those boys. To support our son, we cancelled our holiday so that he would not be alone. At the same time, the certainty that love would win began to grow in us. One day Joao told us that he wanted to continue living in our family home and asked if we could help his friends too. A new life began. Although we had no formation or training other than living the Gospel, we founded a support group in our city for the families of drug addicts. It is called Families Anonymous. This group has helped many young people recover from drug addiction. (O.P. – Portugal) Refugees We heard that a young Albanian refugee was looking for accommodation and so we helped him in his search and, temporarily, let him stay in our house. Our relatives did not agree with what we were doing and created lots of problems. They even said that we were being naïve. Maybe because the relationship with them was so strained, we found a very deep unity and strength as a couple and this helped us to persevere. After a short time, we found a suitable flat to rent and a local craftsman we know decided to hire an Albanian worker. We went to the refugee detention centre together to fill out the necessary documentation. The centre made a big impact on us all – hundreds of people were waiting for accommodation. We felt powerless but eventually our craftsman friend decided to hire not one but three Albanians. One of them was a minor so he personally provided foster care. It only took a few months for the three young people to find permanent work and become integrated into the community where we have tried to involve as many people as possible to make them feel part of a big family. (H.E. – Italy) Confirmation My fiancée, Giorgia, wants to get married in a church. To do so, we both need a confirmation certificate. I don’t have one so I have joined a confirmation preparation class. At first, it all seemed simple but when I found myself listening to catechism lessons with boys a lot younger than me, it seemed too much and I wanted to give up. Giorgia, however, didn’t change her mind, she’s convinced of the value of the sacrament of marriage. There seemed to be a block in our relationship and we postponed the date of the wedding. There were months of hard work and questions to face. I’m trained to see the Church as an outdated institution and there I was, begging for a certificate. What made me angry was that for Giorgia this was not a formality but a way of setting up the family. Our relationship began to break down but, just at that point, my mother was involved in an accident and was left paralyzed. Giorgia went to visit her every day and my mother found that she was not only a friend but that her presence helped her to calmly face her situation. I understood that Giorgia has deep motives to make her act that way. Every doubt in me disappeared: no matter what it costs, she is the woman with whom I want to share my life. (M.A. – Italy)
Edited by Stefania Tanesini (taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.1, gennaio-febbraio 2020)
Jan 29, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Since 2014, there has been a community of focolarini living in the “Morro della Croce”. They share the simple and poor life of this teeming favela in Florianópolis. Vilson Groh, who has been living there for over 30 years, says: “This is an expression of Chiara’s desire to have focolares also on the peripheries of the world. https://vimeo.com/378511750
Jan 27, 2020 | Non categorizzato
“We give no greater glory to God than when we make an effort to accept our neighbour, because it is then that we lay the foundations for communion, and nothing gives so much glory to God as true unity between people. Unity attracts the presence of Jesus in our midst, and his presence transforms everything.” (Chiara Lubich) At boarding school At the boarding school where I lived at Prague, I would often see the cleaning lady. Having been polite with her, I noticed that she cleaned the room I was sharing with a Bulgarian more often and frequently waxed the floor. I didn’t know how to thank her and, having a expresso machine, one time I thought of offering a good coffee to her. She didn’t say a thing, but later she confessed that for her, being used to Turkish coffee, it was too strong. We began a dialogue about the habits of different cultures, and we ended up talking about faith as well. She told me that as a child she had gone to church, but then, during the Communist period, she had stayed away. In the days that followed, if I was at school, she stopped by after she finished cleaning, usually with a lot of questions about Christian life. One day she confided, “This work has always been humiliating for me, but since I got to know about this other perspective, I feel like I’ve found my lost childhood and understood the meaning of life.” T. M., Slovakia With new eyes My wife and I had come to a crossroads: I only saw her defects and she only saw mine. The arguments had become more intense, and it seemed that anything that happened, even things with the kids, kept feeding this war. One day, as I brought my youngest daughter to school, I heard: “You know Daddy, the religion teacher explained to us that forgiveness is like a pair of eyeglasses that lets us see with new eyes.” This phrase from a child left me uneasy. I thought about it all day. In the evening, coming back home, I had the idea to go to the florist and buy as many roses as years we had been married. My wife initially reacted badly (yet another blunder?), but then seeing how happy our children were, especially the youngest, she changed her attitude. That evening, after long silences, something changed. It was the beginning of a new way. It really seemed to me that I had new eyes, and I saw my wife and our children as I never had before. J. B., Spain Business temptation We found ourselves in great need of a huge sum of money to cover a certain debt. That morning a client came by, aiming to buy six machines. After our business was done, he proposed that we glue a famous brand sticker on the product. Taken by surprise, although we knew that this was common practice in our market, we were caught between a rock and a hard place: we risked losing that huge deal, but I didn’t feel like we should accept the offer. After talking to my husband about it, we understood clearly that we could not give in and betray our conscience as Christians. The client looked at us, surprised. When he asked if we were Catholic, we said yes. His face relaxed. “Today I learned what it means to be loyal to one’s faith. Don’t worry, I’ll still buy from you. You have taught me something really important. I was Christian too, but seeing how everyone else does in business, I let myself be taken by temptation. From now on, I’ll never do it again.” G. A., Nigeria Work for two During a course for vendors of sandwiches and drinks on trains, I asked if the unsold goods could be distributed to the homeless. This did not fit with the image of the company, so I was not hired. Disappointed, but certain that God would meet me halfway, I found work in a restaurant kitchen. I got to know about dramatic situations of hunger, misery, loneliness. One day the boss announced that the kitchen only needed one labourer. There was only me and a Muslim man who I was friends with. When I answered that I wanted him to stay, because he had a family, the boss replied that he had chosen me. Although I was grateful, I repeated what I thought. He said: “For the first time, I feel urged by a young man like you to review my decision.” The next day, looking again at the business’s finances, he decided that we could both keep working. D., England Not just guests For an entire year we had a girl from Brazil in our home who had come to Italy as part of a cultural exchange. Julia, however, was not able to settle in our family, and we, thinking she was just a guest, did not do much to help. When we realised and started treating her as one of our daughters, things changed: she felt loved, and little by little she bonded with us like a daughter with her sisters. Julia became one of us, to the point that, feeling the need to go deeper into the beauty of the Christian family, she asked us to prepare for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and communion, which she hadn’t received in her country, despite being 17 years old. Her parents came from Brazil for the occasion, and we had a great party that included the entire community. Today the connection with Julia continues. We continue to be “Mom” and “Dad” every time we see each other online or we write. A., Italy
Edited by Stefania Tanesini (taken from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.1, gennaio-febbraio 2020)
Jan 25, 2020 | Non categorizzato
“One can be very strong even though one is meek and open to others’ good reasons “, or rather, “only in this way can one be truly strong”: this is the teaching of Chiara Lubich in the words of Mattarella, who takes up Maria Voce’s invitation to “dialogue to the extreme”.
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
© Domenico Salmaso – CSC Audiovisivi
Jan 24, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Directed by Giacomo Campiotti, shooting will begin next spring and will take place in Rome and in Trento, her hometown. “The strength of a someone like Chiara today is to make us look at the other person as a possibility, a gift, a bearer of a seed of truth to be valued and loved, however distant the other person may be. Universal fraternity as a premise for dialogue and peace”. We read in the press release in which Luca Barbareschi, producer for Eliseo Fiction, and Rai Fiction say they are “proud” to announce that a TV movie about Chiara Lubich will be made for Italian television. Directed by Giacomo Campiotti, shooting will start next spring and will take place in Rome and in Trento, her hometown. The press release goes on to explain that “Chiara is very young when, in the years of the Second World War, she feels called to build a better world, a more united world. From that time on she set sherself the goal of building bridges between people , whatever their race, nation or religious faith. The strength of a someone like Chiara today is to make us look at the other person as a possibility, a gift, a bearer of a seed of truth to be valued and loved, however distant the other person may be. Universal fraternity as a premise for dialogue and peace. Chiara’s message does not belong only to the Catholic world, she has contributed to raising the profile of women and their role even , and above all , outside the ecclesiastical institution.
By the editorial staff of focolare.org
Jan 24, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The international exhibition dedicated to the person and charism of Chiara Lubich is being inaugurated on December 7th 2019. This is the first multimedia exhibition ever made about her. Giuseppe Ferrandi, director of the Trentino Historical Museum and Anna Maria Rossi, one of the curators, tell the story of its origins, the process and the innovations. https://vimeo.com/378511637
Jan 21, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Chiara Lubich, the Founder of the Focolare Movement was born in Trent on January 22, 1920. President Maria Voce’s words on the 100th anniversary of her birth. In a world where “particularisms and divisions emerge continuously and where new barriers and frontiers are being built ”, Chiara Lubich’s message of unity is “ of great current importance”. This is the focal point of the video message, Maria Voce, President of the Focolare sends today on the 100th anniverary of Chiara Lubich’s birth. https://vimeo.com/385943084 text of the message
Jan 20, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated every year. In the northern hemisphere it is held from 18th-25th January, in the southern hemisphere from the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost. The motto for 2020, chosen by Christians of various Churches in Malta, is taken from the Acts of the Apostles “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2) On this occasion we present an extract from the talk given by Chiara Lubich on the 27th October 2002 in the Protestant Cathedral Church of St Peter, in Geneva, Switzerland. Love! What a great need there is for love in the world! And in us Christians! All together we Christians of various Churches number more than a billion people. Such a large number should be quite visible. But unfortunately we are so divided that many do not see us, nor do they see Jesus through us. He said that the world would recognize us as his own and, through us, would recognize him, by our reciprocal love, by unity: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). So our uniform, our distinctive characteristic was supposed to be reciprocal love, unity. And this was supposed to be the characteristic of his Church. But we didn’t maintain full visible communion, and we still don’t have it now. Therefore, we are convinced that the Churches as such must also love one another with this love. And we strive to work in this direction. How often do the Churches seem to have forgotten the testament of Jesus, scandalizing the world with their divisions, while they should have been winning it for him! If we look over our 2,000 year history, and in particular at the history of the second millennium, we cannot help but see that it has often been a series of misunderstandings, quarrels and conflicts that in many places have torn the seamless tunic of Christ that is his Church. Certainly, this was caused by circumstances, whether historical, cultural, political, geographical or social…. But it was also caused by the fact that among us there was a lack of this unifying characteristic typical of us: love. That is why today, as we seek to make up for so much wrongdoing, and to draw new strength for a fresh start, we must put all our confidence in this evangelical love. If we spread love and mutual love among the Churches, this love will lead the each of the Churches, different from one another as they are, to become a gift for the others. Dear brothers and sisters, we have understood the point: our present times ask each one of us for love; they call for unity, fellowship and solidarity. And the Churches are called to recompose the unity that has been torn apart for centuries. This is the most important of all reforms, which heaven is asking of us. It is the first step that we need to take towards becoming one family with all people in the world. The world will believe if we are united. Jesus said so: “That they may all be one… so that the world may believe” (Jn 17:21). God wants this! Believe me! He says it again and again and cries out for it through the present-day circumstances which he permits. May he give us the grace, if not to see all this accomplished, at least to prepare for its coming.
Chiara Lubich
Taken from: Il dialogo è vita (Città Nuova 2007, pp 16-33)
Jan 17, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare Movement alongside the many who have suffered loss and damage: “The life and needs of the person is at the center of our efforts. Listening, welcoming, sharing is what engages us at this time. But a great effort will be needed to plan the reconstruction”. Solidarity continues with the victims of the earthquake that struck Albania on November 26th , 2019, resulting in 52 deaths, over 2,000 injured and considerable damage to structures. Almost two months since the earthquake, fundraising initiatives, commemorative events and aid interventions in the territory are engaging institutions, ecclesial and welfare realities. Once the emergency was over, all efforts are now directed to promoting the coordination of those working on the ground to plan and start the reconstruction. In the midst of current uncertainty, great comfort comes from feeling part of a family an extended network of people that ensures support and proximity. This is what lies at the heart of the Focolare’s active commitment. We heard from Fabio Fiorelli, a focolarino who lives and works in one of the centers of Tirana. Since the night of the earthquake, what initiatives has the Movement been able to carry out in support of the people affected? “Some of us have linked up with the national and diocesan Caritas by collaborating to prepare clothes and blankets for those who are homeless, and by going to the temporary shelters to listen to the people and play with the children. At the suggestion of the families belonging to the Movement, on December 21st we prepared an afternoon of Christmas celebration for the youngest children – and others – with songs, games, a ‘living’ crib and gifts from Santa Claus: a moment of serenity and communion so as to move forward. In addition, in Durazzo, a psychologist from the Movement, whose own house was damaged, collaborates with a team that reaches outlying villages that were very affected by the earthquake, where people live in tents and lack primary necessities. On a very practical level, a list has been compiled of the families of the Movement whose homes have been seriously damaged, our engineers have carried out inspections and cost analyses for repairs. What other activities are you planning? “A “project” has been drawn up with objectives and strategies to be undertaken in synergy with the United World Association (AMU), which is part of the Movement, and we are waiting for it to be implemented. Immediately after the earthquake, during the emergency phase, Marcella Ioele, responsible for one of the Focolare centres in Tirana, together with others, reached Durazzo and the surrounding areas to give out help ,working with Caritas and the local Church and to give support to the victims. We asked her what experiences moved her , and the others with her, as they talked with displaced people: “A young woman told me that when the tremors began, her brother, who was at home with the family, instinctively ran away to get out of the building, but immediately came back to take care of them. This gesture helped her to understand that in these moments she must not think only of herself but of those close to her. Another girl wanted to take action to help those in trouble, but having to assist her elderly mother she couldn’t leave. But – she told us – she could listen to and comfort the many who passed by, and she was happy because she felt she was giving her contribution in this way”. How do people feel today? “On the one hand people have to take responsibility for what collapsed , having authorized the construction of unsafe buildings and it is also clear that there is a lack of preparation for managing emergency situations. On the other hand, the solidarity shown in the initial phase by other countries raises the hope that a better Albania can start again from here. To see peoples working together , who until yesterday were separated by ancient hatreds, was a sign of hope. There is great gratitude especially towards the people of Kosovo came forward in a very significant way, almost as if they wanted to reciprocate the love they had received when they were here during the emergency in Kosovo. Some of them came to take families to their homes. The earthquake,” a young man told me, “brought us closer together than ever before. Others told us they could see the presence of God even in this reality of pain”.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Jan 15, 2020 | Non categorizzato
“Jesus has shown us that love means welcoming the other person as they are, in the same way as He has accepted each one of us. Welcome the other person, with their own style, their own ideas, even their own defects, their diversity. (…) Make space for them within us, removing every prejudice, preconceived judgement and instinctive rejection”. (Chiara Lubich) The “Village of misery” The residents of this slum area situated along swampy river banks, often have no alternative but to leave their children alone at home during the day while they are out struggling to earn a living. A while ago, following torrential rain, the swollen river entered many of the dwellings, and unfortunately a baby, only a few months old, was swept away. We live in a residential area not far from this area. Shocked to hear of this tragedy, we tried to find a way to respond and encouraged friends and relatives of the family to get involved. We found a suitable place, and hired rooms to start a crèche where parents could safely leave their children during the day. Nearby we also launched a nursery school for the older ones, so they didn’t remain out on the streets. This initiative is bearing fruit: new relationships are being forged between those who work there and the families; there is a sharing of goods, time and services. Gradually another dream is also taking shape: to offer better alternative accommodation to those families living in the “Village of misery”. Using a system focused based on self-help, this year we have built and inaugurated the first new houses. (S.J.B. – Argentina) Political convictions In our office it was impossible not to speak about politics. Impossible not to experience the huge divisions between our different points of view. I got so tired of this daily tension which kept increasing every time someone would proclaim “truths” that others could not accept, I decided that rather than trying to change the office, I had better change myself. So I set myself the challenge to try to understand what was pushing one or other of my colleagues to defend a certain position. This attitude of mine provoked a certain curiosity, especially after they had attacked me personally as a “conservative Catholic bigot”! It’s true to say that prayer helped me, but also my parish community encouraged me to have more charity. One day my most virulent “enemy” said to me, “I don’t know where to attack you any more! I see that you’re happy. Your freedom confuses me!” Without too many formal explanations, a constructive friendship has been established which is now helping our other colleagues to engage in a more understanding attitude with one another, even while we retain our own convictions. (F.H.-Hungary) Thieves inside my home I opened the door to them because they looked like nice young men. Instead, they demanded my money, and began opening drawers and cupboards while one of them held my arm tightly behind my back. I was too terrified even to cry out. When they left I collapsed on the floor in shock. They could have shown some pity for my age. Then I managed to go out onto my balcony and cry for help, though the thieves were long gone by then. My neighbours came but all they could do was to help me tidy up as I tried to see what had been taken. What could I do? That day I felt as if all the misery of loneliness and old age had fallen upon me. I couldn’t get to sleep that night. I kept reliving the events of the day. They had seemed such nice young men, they could have been my grandchildren. Why had they acted like this? I managed to find some peace within myself when I decided to pray for them and for their own mothers. And I thanked God that I was still alive. (Z.G.-Italy) Don’t deny life I met a neighbour I hadn’t seen for many years, since we moved away from the area. I almost didn’t recognise her because she looked much older than her years. I could tell she really wanted to talk and open her heart to share what she had lived through since we had last met. “It all began one day,” she told me, “when I decided to have an abortion because I thought it would solve the problems my husband and I were having at the time. Far from it, in fact he blamed me for not giving him a son and then left me for another woman, leaving me to struggle alone to bring up our two teenage daughters. Time passed, and one of my daughters confessed to me that she was pregnant. Her boyfriend had given her an ultimatum: abort the child or he would leave her. I confided in her what I had never told anyone before, and pleaded with her not to deny life, as I had done. Seeing my tears, it was my daughter who comforted me. She later explained that seeing my grief made her decide to keep her baby. And so it was. The father did not leave her. They are together with their beautiful daughter who is also my own consolation”. (S.d.G.-Malta)
collated by Stefania Tanesini (from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VI, n.1, gennaio-febbraio 2020)
Jan 14, 2020 | Non categorizzato
News has spread worldwide of the eruption of the Taal volcano, which began on January 12, just a few kilometers away from the Focolare Mariapolis Pace in Tagaytay on the Philippine island of Luzon. Thanks to social media photos of the houses and streets covered with ash and mud have reached everywhere, as well as first-hand accounts of the many who in these days are leaving the tourist region of Tagaytay, about 60 Km from the capital Manila. The Philippine authorities have called for the total evacuation of about 500,000 people following the alert issued by the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Philippines (PHILVOLCS). An explosive eruption is feared. “It’s like walking through a ghost town – comments a girl on Facebook, describing Tagaytay, her city: everything is one colour: grey; there is no electricity or water and earthquake tremors are frequent”. Mariapolis Pace of the Focolare Movement is about 30 km from the Taal volcano ; it was inaugurated in 1982 with a distinct role in dialogue between people of different religions and this morning we reached Ding Dalisay and Chun Boc Tay, responsible for the Focolare Movement in the Philippines, to get news about its inhabitants; they assured us that the evacuation of its inhabitants has almost been completed. “Almost all the focolarine have left; the priests and seminarians have been transferred to the San Carlos Seminary and the 7 Gen – the Focolare youth – are now in Manila. Some of the focolarini are with their families and while others have remained in their respective focolares, our families are quite well and some have moved. We are distributing food and water for the needy and we are making arrangements to house displaced people if necessary. It is difficult to communicate because we cannot recharge our mobile phones and we cannot use computers. Yesterday we celebrated mass and dined together by candlelight. We try to merit the presence of Jesus in our midst”. Ding then recounts the extraordinary resilience of the Filipino people, visible in normal gestures that become heroic in extreme situations like this: “It is incredible the creativity of the poorest people who, even though they have nothing, invent unexpected resources at the service of those who need them more than they do. We have seen a disabled man who has put a table at the side of the road to hand out soot masks for free; or the owner of a small restaurant who has displayed a sign that says: ‘Those who need a meal can enter without paying’; or a gentleman who offers to clean the ashes from every car that’s moving in the area with his water pump”. The Focolare community in and around Tagaytay thanks everyone in the world for their prayers, messages and for the many phone calls. We continue to follow the situation and to give news about it especially through the social networks of the Focolare Movement.
Stefania Tanesini
Jan 11, 2020 | Non categorizzato
How does the life of a focolare pan out in daily life? We went to Stockholm, Sweden, where we accompanied the focolarine at home, at work and in various activities with the Focolare community. https://vimeo.com/378511957
Jan 10, 2020 | Non categorizzato
The immediate establishment of a high-level trilateral committee between special representatives of the United States, the European Union and Iran, with a mandate to re-establish dialogue between the USA and Iran. The appeal by the Movement for politics and policies for unity and New Humanity of the Focolare Movement. The Movement promoting Politics and Policies for Unity expresses its grave concern at the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States. The institutions of international politics, together with non-governmental organizations, have a special responsibility to act at the service of peace and rights peoples’ rights. Only steadfast international dialogue and diplomacy, in a spirit of hope, can take genuine steps towards peace. We are facing one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. There must be a way to resolve it, shown by human values and willing hearts. “We no longer see people’s faces, those who suffer, are limited, tormented and ultimately slaughtered on battlefields”: these are the words of Hon. Igino Giordani in a heartfelt speech to the Italian Parliament. We are called to see, to rediscover the face of every person, to say no to war, to every act of war. To achieve peace, however, tireless diplomacy and negotiation are needed, because war and terrorism represent complete defeat for humankind. This is why we urgently call for the establishment of a high-level trilateral committee between special representatives of the United States, the European Union and Iran, with a mandate to re-establish meaningful dialogue and ultimately achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict. Mario Bruno Marco Desalvo President – Mppu Movement New Humanity NGO contact: Mario Bruno +39 334 998 0260 Text as pdf
Jan 6, 2020 | Non categorizzato
76 years after that December 7th 1943, Paolo Balduzzi takes us to Trent to visit some of the significant places of those early days of Chiara and the Focolare community. Today, the city from which everything began is bringing into its civil and social fabric signs and practices derived from a mentality of fraternity that from that city has reached the ends of the earth. https://vimeo.com/378511451
Jan 3, 2020 | Non categorizzato
On 30 August 2019, one of the last sunlit days of summer, Albert Dreston left us. The focolarino, professor and theologian also played a lead role – for generations – with football at Loppiano, the Focolare’s international centre in Italy where he lived for 52 years. Even during his earliest years, life was never simple. He was born in Rhineland in 1939, and at the age of six he lost his father in World War II. Despite the pain and amid the tears, he made his first great discovery of God. “Suddenly,” he recalled, “there was a strength and a voice inside me, as if God were telling me, ‘You are no orphan; I am your father’. From that moment on, I never missed my father, and I never ever felt alone again.” At a young age he had to have a lung removed, and it seemed he would not live for long. As often happens, however, what someone who could lose everything does is to take a step toward a great “treasure” they have discovered. That is exactly what happened in 1957 at Münster when, in a meeting with some focolarini, he was touched by “Jesus in the midst, the fruit of reciprocal love”. His life started upon the path of the Ideal, which would help him live through the tribulations and physical difficulties with a new awareness. The next year Fr. Foresi and Chiara agreed that he would start his life in focolare. A few years later, it would be Fr. Foresi yet again to tell him that, once he had finished his Old Testament studies, he would go to teach at Loppiano, the first permanent Mariapolis. It was in 1967, when Albert was 28 and his physical condition had improved, that sports at Loppiano became an essential way to get to know, share and relate to others. In that framework, a new era started for him – he became the young trainer among young people from all over the world. Throughout his years of service at Loppiano, he never stopped being a resource for others. He taught both in class and on the field, with the dedication of a football enthusiast, the intelligence of a teacher and the love of a focolarino. You could not really say that he was a star player of the beautiful game, a great goal scorer. He was more than that. In recent years, having seen 75 springs, it could happen that he did not feel up to playing. Yet you would find him there, 30 minutes early, to gather the players and set up the same field that in a few months will be named after him. He was truly much more than that, a champion of perfect timing – in a single game he could be groundskeeper, coach, referee, linesman, sweeper and overall sports director. There was always a team to build, and he always managed to select a pair of good defenders, whether they be African, Brazilian or Asian. Albert Dreston was Loppiano football. He was a true captain, a teammate to everyone, even when on the opposing team. He was a genuine legend. To speak his name today is to open the great book of the Focolare Movement, which is rich with wonderful people and precious lives. It is to dwell on a chapter of someone who, in quite different ways, knew how to give of their time to help others. In recent years the question came up of whether he could keep playing, whether it was the time to have a farewell game, hang up his boots and close his story in style. Someone took courage and whispered it to him respectfully. Yet all of us who tried were kidding ourselves. Albert, headstrong with German consistency, responded, “I will go straight from the sports field to potter’s field.” And so it was, kind of. He bid us farewell on a Friday. As usual, this was perfect timing: for the last call at the match vigil, to form teams and continue without delay… on the Elysian fields. Enjoy football heaven, captain… and thank you!
Andrea Cardinali
Jan 1, 2020 | Non categorizzato
Chiara emphasised a number of times how working to establish relationships of peace throughout the world is something revolutionary. The new decade is set to begin, which also marks 100 years since the birth of Focolare’s founder. “Do you know who the peacemakers are that Jesus speaks about?” With these words Chiara opened her comments on Word of Life for February 1981. Once again today, for the International Day of Peace, these words are aimed at us more than ever. Those who make peace create and establish connections, smoothing out tensions, Chiara explains. Doing so we will discover that there are infinite opportunities to be true peacemakers. https://vimeo.com/333055787
Dec 30, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The relationship built with Focolare members and communities worldwide is one of the most beautiful experiences for us who work at focolare.org. We take the opportunity of this Christmas Season to thank all those who send us news, and thus allow the life of the charism of unity to inspire many. An email we received from Fr. Domenico De Martino, a 36 year old priest from Naples, who is a missionary in Burkina Faso, has really been a great gift. It has brought us closer to people who live in a part of the world where peace, dignity and religious freedom are seriously threatened and where the use of telecommunications is extremely low. Violence by extremist groups, that hit Burkina Faso during the past five years, caused hundreds of deaths, a wave of kidnappings and the closure of many schools and churches. It has also led to a massive and continuous displacement of people who moved from the affected regions to the capital and other large urban centres. According to the latest information by the UN, 486,360 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were registered at the beginning of October, more than twice the number displaced in July. Numbers continue to grow steadily, and there are even reports of one million IDPs. 
Fr. Domenico, a member of the Missionary Community of Villaregia , came to know the Focolare Movement at the age of 12, when he came across the Word of Life, a monthly commentary on the Scriptures in the spirit of the charism of unity. Chiara Lubich started this commentary more than 40 years ago, and Domenico came to know about it during his visits to the missionaries. He related: “When I was 17 years old, I wrote to Chiara Lubich and asked her for a Word from the Gospel that could be a light to guide me in my life. I also wanted to share with her all about my vocation. I still treasure her answer to my letter; I keep it in my Bible and every now and then I read it again. She indicated words from St John’s Gospel: ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him’ (Jn 14:23). I always try to go deeper into these very stong and demanding words, to find the meaning of my life. I was ordained priest in 2012 after a year’s experience in Lima, Peru”. For the last two years, Fr. Domenico has been doing missioniary work in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. He is involved in a number of projects that aim at integral human promotion. He told us: “Burkina Faso literally means ‘the land of upright people’; family and a sense of community are among the most treasured values of the Burkinabé people. Most of the 160 students, who attend the school we have started to promote literacy, are girls and young mothers who had no opportunity to study before. We have also set up a project to help women start small businesses to make ends meet. Many present their projects to ask for our support but it is not always easy to choose. The Gospel and the desire to be part of this people guide us in our choices. In recent months, schools in the capital city have started to function again, but unfortunately, it is not the same for schools in other parts of the country. Terrorist groups burnt many schools in the North, North-East and North-West of the country, and at the end of the last scholastic year several teachers were killed. “The tactics used by the bandits or terrorists are always the same; they arrive in the villages, take everything – cattle and crops – empty the small shops, and then they look for teachers and tell them that if they don’t leave, they will be the next victims unless they teach Arabic or what they call ‘the true religion’. I had the opportunity to talk to some teachers, who despite this desperate situation still have to report to work because the state obliges them to do so, but there is great fear. Our area is quiet, but we try to be close to our people and share in their fears and anxieties. Last September, 40 soldiers lost their lives during an attack on a military base. Among them, there were 3 of our young parishioners. We were particularly close to one of them, who was the eldest son of a family we know quite well. When we went to visit this family to offer our condolences, we met the grief-stricken widow and her two sons, and it was extremely difficult to understand why so much hatred and horror. Jean, the soldier’s father, who always tells me: ‘You priests are God’s sign for us; we can ask you everything because you give us God’s word, his comfort and his will’, was also there. This time, I could only shake his weak hand without uttering a word, and make him feel that God is near”. In this serious situation of great instability, one perceives a sign of hope in the communion that continues to grow among different Christian churches and people of other religions, especially Muslims. They get together and unite in prayers for peace. Fr. Domenico spoke about another sign of peace when he related about a project to help with the payment of school fees. To date, 96 children have benefited from it. “We were shocked when we found out that many children do not have a birth certificate; it seems as if they do not exist at all. We encounter various complex situations that require our attention and assistence. It is amazing to discover that placing God at the centre of our activities leads us to deeper understanding and better organization, because we look at the person as a whole. We are trying to get organized about birth certificates, and this will allow us to give back dignity to the children of our neighbourhoods”. It was evident that Fr. Domenico had so many other things to relate. His words full of love for the Burkinabé people brought us closer to this country. He concluded: “Communion helps us to be Church in the real sense of the word; we actually know what is happening around us and we become fully committed to help all God’s children who suffer and are in need”.
Stefania Tanesini
Dec 28, 2019 | Non categorizzato
A non-profit organization that has been operating in the Italian capital for thirteen years. It collects surplus or unsold food, prepares 250 meals a day for the poor and, simultaneously, works to promote social inclusion. 
Over-buying food and consequent wastage are modern-day plagues that affect society in many parts of the world. However, there are also people who, silently, collect food that would otherwise be thrown away and give it to people who are most in need. They do so not only to offer immediate help to people who are hungry but also as a practical means of accompanying people as they rebuild their lives. This is what RomaAmor does. This is a non-profit organization that was founded by Dino Impagliazzo in Rome in response to the invitation of Chiara Lubich, who in 2000, receiving the honorary citizenship of the city, asked others to cooperate in bringing a “revolution of love” to the capital. For 13 years RomaAmor has been offering 250 meals a day to the homeless people around the Tuscolana and Ostiense railway stations and in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Dino is now 90 years old: serving others still fills him with joy. “There are sometimes many difficulties in helping others,” he explains, “you have to make sacrifices but then you feel a great joy for having done something worthwhile. Christ taught us that the essence of Christianity is to love God and our neighbour, and Chiara Lubich invites us to live for universal brotherhood: this is the foundation of our service to the poor.” Dino received the International Carthage Award in 2018 for his longstanding service to the community because “his work increases public awareness and provides formation thus contributing to the ethical dimension of the city.” The project also “provides valid alternatives to the value attributed to people and material goods.” The following is taken from an interview with Dino. How did RomaAmor begin? It began almost by chance. I started on my own by preparing a sandwich for a poor person I used to meet at the station, and gradually I thought of involving as many people as possible in doing something similar – my wife, people living in my block of flats or from my neighbourhood. We have always regarded our neighbours as our brothers and sisters irrespective of whether they were poor, healthy or sick or in trouble. We try to treat them as members of our family For Food Day 2019, the Pope stressed the need for a return to sobriety in lifestyle and he spoke about the importance of cultivating healthy relationships with ourselves, our brothers and sisters and the whole of the created world… It’s essential that we make this choice. You cannot reason in any other way if you are a Christian and know that each person is your brother or sister because Jesus has told you this very clearly: as a consequence, you live not only for yourself but in relation to others. You cannot think in any other way if know that among us there are people who are healthy and well placed and others who are sick and struggling. You must always be ready to help and do so with joy. The “culture of waste” tends to dominate our society; you choose to serve the poor and needy and so you are going against the tide of public opinion… This aspect of what we do is important, but we don’t just collect the food on its date of expiry, cook it and bring it to people in need. We also try to create relationships with them. That way we do more than just feed them. We try to adapt the meals to the people we help: children, the elderly, women, the sick have different needs, and for our Muslim guests we prepare meals without using pork. Our goal is also to promote inclusion: I invite volunteers to try to establish a close relationship with at least some of these people. When they offer the meal, I ask them to bring two trays, one for the person in need and one for themselves so they can sit down and eat together. Is the group important? It’s fundamental, we do everything as a team – decide the menu, cook and share tasks. One of us looks to see if there are sick people, someone else is busy in maintaining the link with the local authorities and we encourage one another. We spend a lot of time together: we start cooking in the afternoon, we finish at eight o’clock in the evening and then we go out for two hours. We share everything, both the joys and the difficulties. Have any of the people you have helped become volunteers? They certainly have! One third of the volunteers are foreigners who are living in reception centres and are waiting to be recognised as political refugees. Some of them are referred to us by social services. There are also the seminarians sent by the dioceses. We are from different backgrounds but all work for the same purpose. What attracts young people to RomaAmor? There are lots of young people who are volunteers – in fact, the number increases steadily. They come and are so happy that next time they bring their friends.
Dec 26, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Partnership agreement signed between FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) and New Humanity, the international NGO of the Focolare Movement. Objective: to continue to work together to defeat world hunger by 2030.
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano.
Stefania Tanesini
