The huge multitude of Christians should be quite visible. But they are so divided that many peopledon’t notice them and so don’t see Jesus through them. Unity is the only sure way to proclaim God’s mighty acts. When the Lord acts, he does mighty things. As soon as he had created the universe he saw it was ‘good’ (Gen1:25). Indeed, after creating the man and the woman, and entrusting the whole of creation to them, he saw it was ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31). But the act of God that exceeds all else was done by Jesus. In his death and resurrection he created a new world and a new people. It is a people to whom Jesus has given the life of Heaven, a genuine fraternity, in mutual welcome, in sharing with one another and in self-giving. Peter’s letter helped the first Christians realize that God’s love had made them ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Pet. 2:9; see also the whole passage vv. 9-10). If, like the first Christians, we were to become fully aware of what we are, of how much God’s mercy has done in us, among us and around us, we would be amazed. We would not be able to contain our joy and we would feel we want to share with others the need to ‘proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord’. But it is difficult, or virtually impossible, to give witness effectively to the beauty of the new kind of relations in society that Jesus brought about, if we stay isolated from one another. It is normal, therefore, that Peter’s invitation is addressed to the whole people. We cannot show ourselves as argumentative and partisan, or even merely indifferent to one another, and then proclaim that ‘the Lord has created a new people, and has freed us from egoism, from hatred and rancour, giving us mutual love as the law that makes us one heart and one soul…’ Among the Christian people there are indeed differences in our ways of thinking, our traditions and cultures, but these diversities are to be welcomed with respect, recognizing the beauty of this huge variety and aware that unity is not uniformity. This is the journey we will follow during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (celebrated in the northern hemisphere on 18-25 January) and throughout the year. The Word of Life invites us among our different Churches and communities to try to get to know one another better, to tell one another of the marvellous works of the Lord. In this way we will be able to ‘proclaim’ these works credibly, giving witness that we are one precisely in our diversity and that we support each another concretely. Chiara Lubich encouraged us with great energy to follow this path:Love is the greatest power on earth: it unleashes the peaceful Christian revolution around those who live it, so that today people can repeat what the early Christians said centuries ago: ‘We were born only yesterday and we have already spread all over the world.’ Love! What a great need there is for love in the world! And in us, Christians! (Tertullian,The Apology, 37:7) All together we Christians of various Churches number more than a billion people. Such a multitude should be quite visible. But 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 mutual love, by unity: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35). Our world today asks each one of us for love; it asks for unity, communion, solidarity. And it also calls upon the Churches to recompose the unity that has been torn for centuries.’
Already in 2004, getting to know each other, establishing dialogue and intensifying the spirit of communion were the objectives that had pushed the Orthodox Faculty of Theology of University Babeş – Bolyai of Cluj-Napoca and the members of the Focolare Movement to start a fruitful spiritual exchange of ideas and experiences. With time, this relationship was enriched by an ecumenical course that led to a dialogue at a theological level especially in recent years. In the common desire to bring Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity to Orthodox theology, this year both parties agreed to foster joint activities between the Romanian Faculty and the Sophia University Institute (SUI) in Loppiano (Florence), in a Symposium between the two academic institutions in Cluj-Napoca from 26 to 28 November. The symposium was opened by the Metropolitan of Cluj-Napoca, Andrei Andreicut who conveyed encouraging words for the precious effort to reach this deep communion. Also present was Bishop Vasile Somesanul, who has been a protagonist for many years in this undertaking. The lessons were entrusted to SUI professors on the part of the Movement, among whom was the Institute’s Rector, Piero Coda. On the Orthodox side, was the Dean of the Faculty, Fr Vasile Stanciu, with three qualified professors of three of the theological faculties in Romania, Cluj, Sibiu and Alba Iulia. Some lessons like those on ecumenism and the sacred scriptures were jointly expounded. The various papers focused on the theme of the Holy Spirit, as expressed in the Symposium’s title: St Basil the Great’s theological writings on the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in creation. All felt that “the presence of the Holy Spirit was tangible, and evidenced not only in the luminosity of the papers presented, but also in the communion with God that everyone experienced”. One of the participants said, “We all felt that an encounter was possible since there was the real intent to give of oneself,” while another participant underlined “the great harmony that reigned, and the joy of being able to share the wealth of our single churches”. In the days before the Symposium lessons were given by Piero Coda at the Orthodox Faculty of Theology especially students of the Faculty itself, and also those of the Roman-Catholic, Greek-Catholic and Evangelical faculties of the University. During the week in the town of Sibiu an event focused on the debate on the future of Europe, organised by the Ecumenical Centre of Sibiu, at which among the main speakers were Professor Piero Coda and the writer, Andrei Pleşu, an outstanding Romanian academic. The Symposium was also the occasion to plan future projects and in this regard intense collaboration was foreseen. The next academic year will see an exchange of professors between the Orthodox Faculty and SUI. Prospects are for a joint seminar in Sophia in the first half of 2017.
“I’m dictating this letter since I can’t move my hand anymore, but my head thinks and prays for all of you as you come into my mind with your joys, your sorrows and your difficulties.” This is the beginning of a Christmas letter of Dori’s from a few days ago. It is addressed to her “Dearest friends,” people she had met over the course of her life and now tried to reach around the world. Doriana Zamboni, known simply as “Dori”, was born in Trent, Italy, in 1926. She met Chiara Lubich when she was a very young and rebellious student in upper secondary school and was taking Philosophy lessons from Chiara. That was in 1943, the beginning of a spiritual adventure that would lead to the birth of the Focolare Movement. “Jesus and Our Lady will help you through my prayers too,” the letter continues. “And even if I don’t know your needs, I place them inside Her heart so that she keep faithful your love towards Jesus abandoned on the Cross.” That faithfulness had marked the life of Dori. Indeed, she was the person to whom Chiara first confided her intuition that Jesus greatest suffering was His abandonment on the Cross, and it quickly become the secret and cornerstone of Chiara’s life and the life of those who followed her path. “Remain in my love” (Jn 15:9) was the Word of Life that Chiara had suggested to her as a guide for her life because it seemed to reflect who Dori was. She travelled the world to spread the ideal of unity: 1956 in France; 1965 in England; 1971 in Belgium. In all of these places, together with the focolares, she opened new paths on the ecumenical journey and in the dialogue with other cultures. She accompanied thousands of people on their spiritual journey. From 1976 the Focolare foundress entrusted to her the Branch of the Volunteers of God, lay people actively engaged in the midst of society, and the New Humanity Movement. In 1956 she was a member of the team that began Città Nuova and was therefore amongst the pioneers of the publishing house and magazine of the Focolare Movement. Dori continued to encourage and support the work of publication up until the last days of her life. “Wherever you are, remember me,” her letter continues, “because my health is failing and I would like it to be in many of your prayers to help me make the climb. . . I feel you all very close to me, desirous to help me to bear and suffer whatever God may send to me.”. Thus, enveloped in the love and prayers of those who had assisted her until the end she passed away peacefully on the morning of December 26th. Focolare president Maria Voce announced her death to the Movement while expressing her gratitude for Dori’s life and inviting everyone to join in prayer. The funeral will be held at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, on Monday, December 28th at 10:30 am (Italian time).
Nine business owners have enrolled in an EoC course in the small Central American country of Guatemala, a land with a strong indigeneous ancestry and sharp social contrasts.They have been delving into the fundamentals of the project on a monthly basis and examining experiences that are currently underway in other parts of the world. “The basic text,” course director, Sandra Macario, explains, “is Il prezzo della gratuità (Bruni), but we often have Skype link-ups with other EoC business owners in Mexico City and other Latin American countries.” An Open Day was held on November 26th for people who might be interested in an End-of-the-Year Breakfast which is customary in this area of the world with its traditional beans and corn dishes. The breakfast was attended by forty people. Maria Luisa Altamirano from Mexico was the guest of honour, who presented her experience as a business owner and responded to questions from the audience. Besides course members, Brazilian business owner, Ismael Yos, who attended the same course in Brazil, also spoke. The testimony of Guatamalen architect, Jose Mario Contreras, was exceptionally moving. He does not always have steady work, so he depends on a pool of workers whom he can call when he needs them. They know that work is scarce and realise that when they are not working for him, they must find whatever work can be found. At times workers are urgently needed, such as the time they had to restructure and fit out a Dyalisis Centre. Due to a cancellation of a contract with another company and susequent suspension of service, it became even more pressing. They were in need of builders to restructure the building and engineers to operate machinery. Contreras presented his bid, and all voted in favour, except for the delivery time which was reduced by half or else forfiet the job. It was an impossible problem. The last card he had to play was dialoging with the workers. Dialogue was a concept that Contreras had been implementing for some time, and he had introduced it as one of the foundations of his work activity, a lifestyle that has proven to be efficacious at such critical times. His proposal to the workers of working double shifts was unanimously accepted, not only because they did not want to lose out on the job, but because they trusted him and one another. Contrary to all technical predictions the job was finished on time, and the patients who were waiting recieved treatment on the date that had previously been agreed on. On another occasion Contreras had received a telephone call from one of his employees. It was early in the morning, too early to disturb the boss. But it was serious: his small daughter was ill and in urgent need of a certain medication that was too costly for the employee. Contreras listened to him like a brother: “For now I’ll begin to pray for your daughter,” he told him. “As soon as the bank opens, I’ll send you the money you need.” Contreras had the feeling that his company “had become a family.”
«If I should have to leave this world today and you were to ask me for a single word, one last word that sums up our Ideal, I would say – certain of being perfectly understood – ‘Be a family’. Are there among you those who are suffering spiritual or moral trials? Understand them as a mother and more than a mother would, enlighten them with your words or example. Do not leave them alone; indeed, surround them with the warmth of a family. Are there among you those who are suffering physically? They should be your preference. Suffer with them. Seek to understand their sufferings in depth. Share with them the fruits of your apostolic endeavors so that they may realize that they, more than others, contributed to its success. Are there those who are dying? Imagine yourself in their place and do all that you would want others to do to you, to the very last instant. Are there those who are happy because of a particular achievement or for any other reason? Share in their happiness, so that their consolation may not be saddened and their heart closed, but that the joy may be of all.
Play this video in the original language (Italian)
“Are some people leaving? Let them go, but first fill their heart with this one heritage: a sense of the family, so that they may bring it to their future destination. Never put any kind of activity– neither spiritual, nor apostolic – before the spirit of being a family with the brothers or sisters with whom you live. And wherever you go to bring the ideal of Christ, […] you can do nothing better than to seek to create with discretion, with prudence, but with determination, the spirit of a family. It is a humble spirit, it wants the good of the others, it is not proud… in short, it is charity, true, complete charity. In conclusion, if I should have to leave you, I would have Jesus in me repeat to you: ‘Love one another… so that all may be one‘». Chiara Lubich (La dottrina spirituale – Città Nuova Ed. pp.92-93)
“I wish everyone a Christmas characterised by sharing, remembering Pope Francis’ words: justice, solidarity and a simple lifestyle.
Justice means seeking out those who suffer and those without basic needs, not as a category of people to be helped, but brothers and sisters to be loved.
Solidarity means not being afraid to open our hearts, empty our pockets, our purses and wallets, so as to live as one family.
A simple lifestyle means not spoiling the things that belong to everyone, starting with the beauty of creation.
I hope for this and I trust in the grace of Christmas!
This is a time when we can all live mercy. God believes in us and puts a spark of His own love into every heart. Christmas can then become something beautiful for everyone.
Christmas will be beautiful if it is a Christmas of love.”
“The life of each day varies, because the danger varies. On some days nothing happens, and you could even forget that there was a war. On other days you could be on your way to work and get hit by stray bullets, or walk into a battle, or under falling bombs in the middle of a civilian area,” Pascal reports. He has been living in a focolare in Syria for several years. How are we preparing for Christmas? In Aleppo, Kafarbou and Damascus our communities are focusing mostly on the children, because in spite of the fact that it’s such a celebrated feast in Syria, families are finding it hard to experience the joy of Christmas. Therefore, the young people have done a lot of projects to raise funds which, joined to the donations that have come in from outside, has allowed them to expand their project of giving back the meaning of Christmas to the children and their families. In Aleppo, for example, there will be a feast for around 70 families; in Kafarbou they will visit houses in small groups, with food and gifts. In Damascus, where there are more possibilities, they’ve organised a Christmas concert and, in the meantime, will visit families with food, gifts, songs and games. . .” And in recent months with the escalation of violence, have you focolarini ever reconsidered your decision to stay in Syria? “No, never. The focolare’s presence is so important! There mere presence even without doing anything. It’s a sign that the Movement around the world is with them, with the Syrian people. I don’t know how to explain it. . . We’re not obliged to stay; we can leave. We’ve shared so many hardships with them over these years that they feel like we belong to the them, and we feel that they belong to us. Our reasons aren’t rational but affective, a matter of the heart. There’s no rational reason for staying in Aleppo. The Syrian families that stay do it because of their connection to the land, to their people, because everything else says: get out! Here, everything is disappearing, day by day there is less and less of a future for your children. I saw some remain out of a choice of love, to give witness. For example, some remained so that a school for deaf children could continue. Living for others gives you the meaning to life, it gives meaning to your existence.”
Bonhoeffer was among the first to criticise the Third Reich and was in the United States when the Second World War broke out. He returned to his homeland to suffer with his people. Conscious of the risk, he faced it in a spirit of freedom and with a strong sense of justice. A theologian and Lutheran pastor, he died at a concentration camp in Flossenbürg on April 9, 1945 after being condemned for his opposition to the Nazi regime. We remember him with some of his thoughts on mercy published in “La fragilità del male, raccolta di scritti inediti”. “Each day the Christian community sings: ‘I have received mercy.’ I have obtained this gift even when I closed my heart to God: when I took up the path of sin; when I loved my faults more than God; when I encountered misery and suffering in exchange for what I had done; when I was lost and was not able to find the path of return. Therefore, it was the word of the Lord that came out to meet me. Therefore, I understood: He loves me. Jesus has found me: he was near to me, only Him. He gave me comfort, forgave all my errors and did not find me guilty of evil. When I was his enemy and did not respect his commandments, he treated me like a friend. When I did him wrong, he returned to me only goodness. He did not condemn me for my misdeeds, but unceasingly sought me out and without rancour. He suffered for me and died for me. He put up with everything for me. He won me. The Father had found his son again. We think of all these things when we intone that song. I can hardly fathom why the Lord loves me in this way, why I am so dear to him. I cannot understand how he managed to and wanted to win my heart with his love, all I can say is: ‘I have received mercy.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer,La fragilità del male, raccolta di scritti inediti (Piemme, 2015)
https://vimeo.com/140678777 A child recounted: «I only knew about Santa Claus, but nobody has ever told me the real story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus!» Another child said, «Oh yes, people have forgotten, but we can remind them about it! Still another added «All the other kids in the world have already started!» These are the gen4 boys and girls “who love everybody the way Jesus does and want to show everyone that He is the greatest gift of all!” They learnt this from Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, who had urged them to “Let Jesus be born in your midst with your love, so that it will always be Christmas! […] We can offer Jesus in our midst to the whole world, and bring this love and joy to the streets, schools, and to the big and small… everywhere!” Years ago at Christmas, while walking through the streets of Zurich, Switzerland, Chiara had seen the shop windows adorned with lights and toys, and snow on the trees, Santa Claus… and had asked herself: But where is Jesus? He was not there. And so she wrote: «This wealthy world has taken Christmas for itself, but has dislodged Jesus.» «What does it mean to ”dislodge?”» A child asked. It means that Jesus has no place to go to, like when he was born and there was no room for him anywhere.» It was then that Chiara told us «So we must welcome him, and celebrate his coming! We, gen4 around the world, wish to do this and invite everyone to do the same.». Then came the idea of making a statue of Baby Jesus and nativity scenes to offer to those who do not know or do not remember that at Christmas, Jesus is more important than buying gifts. «We want to recall that Christmas is the feast of Jesus. And we tell people: do you want to bring him home with you? Some answer no, some keep walking on and do not even stop, but others stop and so we give these little statues of Jesus, or the nativity scenes we have made. We do this in the main squares of the big cities and in the shopping centers; we even give it to our mayors and go to the homes for the aged. We attract attention with our stands and concerts, and organise Christmas parties for many children. It is like a wave of happiness that overwhelms us all with happiness and brings the “celebrated Guest” back as the central point of Christmas.» On Sunday, 20 December, St. Peter’s Square will celebrate the Children’s Jubilee and Pope Francis will bless the statues of Baby Jesus. On the same day, the TV programme Sua Immagine (Rai Channel 1 at 10.30), will be dedicated to children, and will broadcast the reportage on the project “They Have dislodged Jesus.”
The 11th edition of the School of Inculturation will be held in Kenya at the Mariapolis Piero, from 17 to 23 May 2016. Maria Voce and Jesús Morán will also attend. In May 2016 the “Mariapolis Piero” in Kenya, close to Nairobi – will host the 11th edition of the School of Inculturation, a reality which Chiara Lubich prophetically foresaw. The 250 or more delegates from Sub-Saharian Africa will focus on the theme, “The African Family,” and will reflect on the relationships of “man-woman” in their roles and responsibilities in family life, and the challenge of educating towards values. It will be held as part of the Pan-African meeting of the continent’s New Families. The national commission will present the speeches and dissertations that will trace the roots of the cultures, to be demonstrated through the concrete experiences of men and women who have embraced the charism of unity. There are great expectations and a particular joy in knowing that Maria Voce and Jesús Morán, President and Co-President, respectively, will attend together with some central councilors. Further details to be announced.
Nine business owners have enrolled in an EoC course in the small Central American country of Guatemala, a land with a strong indigeneous ancestry and sharp social contrasts.They have been delving into the fundamentals of the project on a monthly basis and examining experiences that are currently underway in other parts of the world. “The basic text,” course director, Sandra Macario, explains, “is Il prezzo della gratuità (Bruni), but we often have Skype link-ups with other EoC business owners in Mexico City and other Latin American countries.” An Open Day was held on November 26th for people who might be interested in an End-of-the-Year Breakfast which is customary in this area of the world with its traditional beans and corn dishes. The breakfast was attended by forty people. Maria Luisa Altamirano from Mexico was the guest of honour, who presented her experience as a business owner and responded to questions from the audience. Besides course members, Brazilian business owner, Ismael Yos, who attended the same course in Brazil, also spoke. The testimony of Guatamalen architect, Jose Mario Contreras, was exceptionally moving. He does not always have steady work, so he depends on a pool of workers whom he can call when he needs them. They know that work is scarce and realise that when they are not working for him, they must find whatever work can be found. At times workers are urgently needed, such as the time they had to restructure and fit out a Dyalisis Centre. Due to a cancellation of a contract with another company and susequent suspension of service, it became even more pressing. They were in need of builders to restructure the building and engineers to operate machinery. Contreras presented his bid, and all voted in favour, except for the delivery time which was reduced by half or else forfiet the job. It was an impossible problem. The last card he had to play was dialoging with the workers. Dialogue was a concept that Contreras had been implementing for some time, and he had introduced it as one of the foundations of his work activity, a lifestyle that has proven to be efficacious at such critical times. His proposal to the workers of working double shifts was unanimously accepted, not only because they did not want to lose out on the job, but because they trusted him and one another. Contrary to all technical predictions the job was finished on time, and the patients who were waiting recieved treatment on the date that had previously been agreed on. On another occasion Contreras had received a telephone call from one of his employees. It was early in the morning, too early to disturb the boss. But it was serious: his small daughter was ill and in urgent need of a certain medication that was too costly for the employee. Contreras listened to him like a brother: “For now I’ll begin to pray for your daughter,” he told him. “As soon as the bank opens, I’ll send you the money you need.” Contreras had the feeling that his company “had become a family.” 
