Oct 5, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“We worked hard. For three years we listened to thousands of people, especially the young people that we met at home or on tour. We composed music and wrote lyrics, but above all strived to live out the meaning of our words: putting ourselves in the game, taking risks, welcoming both the ugly and beautiful in humanity. We can’t wait to go to Great Britain. The one talking is Sally McAllister, Gen Verde’s manager, Irish by birth and English by adoption: “I’ve lived in London for more than 30 years and learnt to know and love the people. So it is with much joy that we are accepting the invitation to return there.” The Focolare has been in Great Britain since 1963, spread throughout many cities of the United Kingdom, and its members are Roman Catholic, Anglican and faithful of the Free Churches. There are also Muslims and Sikhs who, in their own way, are true witnesses of a living unity that is at times lived out painstakingly in daily life. “Why did they invite us,” Sally asks. “The Focolare communities arranged the entire tour:a group of twenty young people and adults, families that are spread throughout the United Kingdom. We dreamed it up and organised it together. They told us that they wanted to open hearts and hands, to recompose relationships, overcome hatreds and distrust: to encounter the people and share the gift of communion in diversity.” “That took courage, and I must say that these people have a good dose of it! We’ll have 12 engagements with a total of 7 “Start Now” shows, 5 acoustic concerts and several other encounters.” Listening to Sally’s words one realises that they are only the tip of the iceberg and that Gen Verde’s musical tour in the United Kingdom is capable of touching a chord with the people. “We’ll go on stage in complex places like London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxford, Liverpool, Portsmouth and Cardiff,” Sally explained, “with a social and cultural fabric that has been defined as post-Christian and disintegrating, but where ecumenical and interreligious dimensions are still strong. Through the music, words and choreography we will describe the life amongst us and many other parts of the world: a life of communion, fraternity, sacrifice and reciprocity. We would like to show the ‘much more’ that is already there but not being spotlighted by British society; what is being done for others but risks remaining hidden behind media titles that often broadcast exclusion, defensiveness and fear.” In London, Gen Verde will also meet young people from the Islamic Centre, invited by Imam Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali. “Let us focus on the values that unite us and and work together.” Judging by the passion that Sally is putting into this, it is obvious that young people will have the place of honour during this tour: “They are the thermometer of society, they often live in the darkest depths and it is no mystery that even Great Britain, like other European countries, violence and suicides are very much on the rise amongst people under 30. The new show that will go on stage in Great Britain will also include some new pieces “On the Other Side,” their latest released album. “It is geared towards young people and its themes are universal. It presents a journey in four parts: We begin with the challenges, the deep ones, the ones that make you look into yourself. Then comes the question: Is it even possible to overcome them? Finally, there is the invitation to go out and build the present and the future together, and this part is called “No frontiers,” because together we can make the difference.” See official Focolare website for news and events: www.focolare.org/gb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llkkHKzywrM
Oct 4, 2015 | Non categorizzato
October 4 will open the much-awaited Synod on the family, following the extraordinary, preparatory one held last year. Also this time, the Pope wanted to prepare for the Synod with a prayer vigil “to pray that the Holy Spirit will enlighten the Synod Fathers in their challenging task.” So on the evening of 3 October everyone was there: married couples, children, engaged couples, grandfathers, mothers, aunts, cousins, religious, single people……. will come to gather around Pope Francis. Many of them will come from faraway places, but will all be protagonists precisely because from the start, each felt involved in the reflections prepared by the two synodal sessions. It had never occurred, in fact, that upon proclaiming a Synod, the pope would want a double, popular consultation almost as if to say that the walls of the synod assembly hall had to be widened to be able to listen to those who live family lives or those who even anonymously, make sure that the family avails of all the support rightly due to it, inasmuch as it is the legacy of creation. 
Each of the participants was holding a burning torch: many small fires that together will brighten the horizons of all the families, and of those which follow every day with renewed vigor, the trail of their original design, as of those immersed in darkness and no longer believe in love. Many torches will signify that the ‘till death do us part’ in Christ is possible, and that the grace of the sacrament of marriage heals every incapacity to love and gives spouses a splendid treasure: the presence of Jesus in their homes. The prayer vigil was also animated by songs – offered by various bands among which those of the Focolare – along with testimonies of families which are a different type of prayer, but likewise important and sacred. All these also highlight the beauty of the family, which often arises from a tiresome daily routine, imbued with gratuity, tenderness, and forgiveness which alone can give true joy. Testimonials to the sharing of life paths make all see that the family represents a gift to the world and a precious way of announcing the Gospel. 
“May the Synod acknowledge, esteem, and proclaim all that is beautiful, good and holy about that experience,” the Holy Father prayed. “May it embrace situations of vulnerability and hardship: war, illness, grief, wounded relationships and brokenness, which create distress, resentment and separation.” The Pope continued, “Let us pray for a Synod which, more than speaking about the family, can learn from the family, readily acknowledging its dignity, its strength and its value, despite all its problems and difficulties.” He also expressed the desire that what is offered is “a Church which is a mother, ever capable of giving and nourishing life, accompanying it with devotion, tenderness, and moral strength. For unless we can unite compassion with justice, we will end up being needlessly severe and deeply unjust.” 
Maria Voce, who touched on the stories of those families who have decided to walk with the Resurrected Christ in their midst, affirmed that also they, like the disciples of Emmaus, “felt their hearts burn with the typical joy that the presence of Christ gives, experiencing the gifts of unity with God and among themselves, light, courage, missionary drive and furthermore”, the Focolare Presidente stated, “Jesus himself, will speak to the hearts of those they meet, and revive hope in them.” “The Pope,” continued Maria Voce, “spurs on the families to take the initiative in bringing this gift to the community. We want to accept this challenge, too, and do so in cooperation with our parishes and all the other movements and associations, especially in hosting the refugees who knock on the doors of our hearts. The Christian families have been entrusted with the task of human coexistence healed by mercy. They can show humanity the tenderness and force of God’s love and in this way, the Pope said, every day write a page of sacred history, not the one written only in books, but that which will remain forever in the heart of the Father.”
Oct 3, 2015 | Non categorizzato
Peace is the result of fraternity amongst the peoples, solidarity with the weakest, mutual respect. This is how a more just world is built, this is how war is set aside war as a barbaric undertaking that belongs to a dark period of human history. Giordani knew war: he had taken part in the first world war. He received a medal after he had been seriously wounded on the Austrian front. But it is not only the horror of blood and death that should put aside war as a means of solving international problems. War can be seen as something quite natural to those impoverished minds that imagine humankind as a machine in thirst of power, ready to launch out against any enemy to satisfy its dreams of power. Yet, there is nothing natural about inflicitng suffering, misery and death. Wars never produce wins, only defeats. As history teaches, and Giordani reminds us: the great problems that all wars leave behind are far more distressing than the ones that meant to be resolved by engaging in conflict. This is why he suggest that we put aside our arms and military sentiments, and prepare a peaceful order. Moreover, for those who believe that human beings are God’s children any offence against a neighbour should be kept far from us. How can one love God by making attempts against the life of His children? A half century has gone by since Giordani wrote these texts, which are taken from L’inutilità della guerra (“The uselessness of War)”, but they could have been written for our own times that are threatened by such dangerous conflicts. “War is large scale murder dressed up as some sort of sacred cult, like the sacrifices of the firstborn to the god, Baal.The purpose of those sacrifices was to instill terror with their rhetoric and the interests that were behind them. Once humankind makes some spiritual progress, war will also be filed away along cruel pagan rituals, superstitions, wizadry and barbarity. War is to humanity what illness is to health, sin to the soul: it is slaughter and destruction, infection of body and soul, individual and collectivity.” “History confirms Christian reasoning, since the construction of weapons produces nothing but fear, mistrust and war. Those that say ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’ are false realists. You only need to open a book of history to see what the accumulation of arms and amunition leads to. Peace is difficult, but Christians are not naive: we want peace, not illusion. Peace is never going to just fall from Heaven all ready and nice. Peace is a patient process that we must carry out together. Peace is obtained with peace.” “Only the fearful defend war. War is made because of fear. The fearful resort to insult and shooting, because of an instinct to be free. It takes courage – rational courage – to reach lasting peace.” Alberto Lo Presti L’inutilità della guerra, Città Nuova ( 2003) p. 7; 71-72; 83.
Oct 2, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“Hosting the extraordinary in the ordinary things, training one’s perception to see the growth of the tree: without prophets, life would be a place of pessimism and not of hope which unites us.” In brief, this was what the economist, Luigino Bruni, said at the National Congress of the EoC networks during the 6th edition of LoppianoLab, attended by more than 2,000 participants from all over the country, and also others. Economy of Conmunion as a model to start with. “Only by regenerating relationships can we overcome fear and relaunch the economy: today, while mistrust and pessimism are holding back the relaunching of the economy in Europe and the Western world, we dare to look at the economy with the eyes of the African youth. – Bruni began – If we want to contribute to the rebirth of the economy, we have to regenerate the territories, families, relationships and rediscover and practice the civic virtues”. Not by chance, the title chosen was “Beyond fear. The culture of dialogue, active citizenship, civic economy,” for the 2015 edition of LoppianoLab, promoted by the Città Nuova Publishers, the Polo Lionello Bonfanti-Economy of Communion (EoC), Sophia University Institute (SUI) and the Loppiano International Centre (FI). Obviously there was a pressing call to the economic sector that involves about 200 businesses in Italy and 800 throughout the world, to adhere to and focus on man and his relational dimension in all their economic dealings, by practicing an Economy of Communion. Dreaming of Africa. The workshop often referred to the EoC’s international congress held last May in Nairobi, the vitality of which was discussed by Geneviéve Sanze, an economist from Central Africa. In her continent, as of today, there are about 30 businesses that have joined the project which gave life to a network of support for the youth by the EoC entrepreneurs. People at times think that “Economy is a science of wealth: and believe that you have to go to the big cities to practice it, but with EoC, it has become the science of communion – she affirmed. Exchange of ideas, dialogue, and fraternity: in Nairobi we saw that every person brings a certain wealth within him that is all-inclusiveness and uniqueness, in the same way as the creative entrepreneur tries to enrich his ambience and his territory without catering to standards that are remote and far from the attention of the outskirts in need. And a totally new way of facing the topic of economy at international levels is to start from Africa, but even more so when considering the contribution Africa can give, rather than receive, thus giving trust and new drive to the Africans themselves, to empower their opportunities in their own countries.” Africa is a young continent, as testified to by Gloria and Melchiot, two African students enrolled in the Sophia University Institute in Loppiano: “Allowing the African youth to have their dreams signifies avoiding the phenomenon of immigration: so why don’t we open businesses in Africa, so that they can find jobs there?” Anouk Grevin, Economist (University of Nantes and Sophia University Institute), announced that “Two business projects have started up in Nairobi. The Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) in Cameroon has announced the institution of a Degree in the Economy of Communion, and the start in 2017 of the project incubator, “Siobhan,” to support the birth of new businesses in Africa. The second project dedicated to François Neveux, French pioneer of the EoC, will bring together entrepreneurs from all over the world, and create a network of economic support and project design, addressing especially young entrepreneurs.” Source: Città Nuova
Oct 1, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
Photo © Renato Araujo
Photo © Andrea Re
Sep 30, 2015 | Non categorizzato
From 5:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m., testimonies by the ecclesial movements, among whom Maria Voce of the Focolare Movement.
This initiative is a people’s response to the Holy Father’s multiple appeals for prayer for the family and for the work of the Synod Fathers. Among the testimonies expected, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will be those of the representatives of ecclesial movements, among whom Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, Kiko Argüello, initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way, Julián Carrón, president of Communion and Liberation, Salvatore Martinez, president of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit Movement, and Matteo Truffelli, president of the Italian Catholic Action.
Prayer Vigil Booklet General Information
Sep 30, 2015 | Non categorizzato
https://www.change.org/p/sign-up-for-a-global-petition-for-peace-now Confronted with the humanitarian drama of the refugees, the Focolare’s Youth for Unity step into action on many fronts, mobilising and appealing to international organisations, while joining in the efforts of the entire Movement.
- Reduce public funding of weapons
- Work at the root level of inequality, to counter misery
- Revise current models of governance
- Adopt a model of organised legality in opposition to criminality
- Guarantee universal primary education
These are the five main points of the appeal made by the young people of the Focolare’s Youth for a United World (YUW) to national parliaments, the European Parliament, the National Commissions of UNESCO and the United Nations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7WN06PMiU
Sep 30, 2015 | Non categorizzato
From 5:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m., testimonies by the ecclesial movements, among whom Maria Voce of the Focolare Movement.
This initiative is a people’s response to the Holy Father’s multiple appeals for prayer for the family and for the work of the Synod Fathers. Among the testimonies expected, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will be those of the representatives of ecclesial movements, among whom Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, Kiko Argüello, initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way, Julián Carrón, president of Communion and Liberation, Salvatore Martinez, president of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit Movement, and Matteo Truffelli, president of the Italian Catholic Action.
Prayer Vigil Booklet General Information
Sep 30, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“One day we were closing, when at 4:30 p.m. a mother with a baby about 8 months old arrived for a blood sample withdrawal.” Aline M. is a nurse and a biologist in the university clinic of Kinshasa. In the Congo/DRC, the birth rate is very high, as is the mortality rate and the infant mortality rate. Life expectancy at birth and the average age of the population are both very low. “My colleagues had already closed the registration books and wanted to leave. But the words of the Gospel, which say to love one’s neighbour as oneself, came to my mind: ‘I have to welcome even this mother,’ I thought. I took a blood sample from the little one, and as I was finishing, the mother said to me with a firm voice, ‘God bless you, ma’am!” 
I was just able to convince a colleague from the blood blank to take this last emergency, when another serious problem presented itself. It was already 5:00 p.m. There was a mother in tears, who could not pay for health insurance, with 4-year-old child in her arms, afflicted by severe anemia. My colleague decidedly told me that it was no longer possible to accept anyone. ‘Otherwise I’ll lose my job,’ she exclaimed. I was moved by this suffering. I took a sheet of paper and attested in writing that I was responsible for the cost of the blood transfusion for this child. My colleague then accepted, and immediately gave the child the transfusion, saving his life. The child’s mother said to me: ‘God will return you the money. I am sure of it!’ Returning home, I asked myself: ‘Why is it that I met two mothers with such suffering children right at closing time?’ I read the Word of Life, a sentence from the Gospel, and I found comfort. The next week, I received an invitation from my health service. From among my colleagues I was chosen for a 3-day professional training course. The financial contribution given to me for my participation was $150 US dollars! There was God’s answer. For having paid $25 US dollars for the blood transfusion, I received two blessings plus this amount which now allows me to also pay the scholastic fees for my children.” A.M. – Kinshasa, Congo/DRC
Sep 29, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“Start Now!” That is, start here and now, to build authentic relationships and to generate trust. It is an invitation worth its weight in gold, you might say, and it was the title Gen Verde chose for the concert/workshop brought to the stage of the Tágas Tér Festival, on September 25th in Szeged, Hungary. The protagonists in these eight workshops, along with the artists, were 120 teens from two high schools, one of which is a professional institute frequented by many students who have difficult family situations. “Tágas Tér, which literally means, ‘open space,’” explains one of the organizers, “is in fact a big ecumenical meeting which exposes the network of hundreds of activities in the world for civic solidarity. Szeged is 15 km from the Hungarian border with Serbia, and therefore, many people were present at the concert who experience the passage of thousands of immigrants daily, with the sea of questions and sorrow that comes along with it. 
“On the Other Side”: During the concert, many songs were heard from “On the Other Side,” the latest album by Gen Verde, released less than a month ago. But what is “the other side”? is a spontaneous question many ask themselves. “It’s the person I have in front of me, the person who thinks differently than I; the person I don’t admire or even like,” explains Adriana Garcia, the group’s bass player from Mexico. A powerful show, engaging and at the same time capable of questioning positions, opinions and lifestyles as someone has said. Because what emerges from the music and the lyrics is the certainty that the solution to a broken world, divided by walls, comes from understanding the richness inherent in diversity. Among the eleven songs on the album there is the story of the difficult progress of an entire people in the piece “Voz de la Verdad,” about the Salvadorian bishop, Oscar Romero, or the very current and relevant song about the division of the two Koreas, built on K-pop melodies, almost as if to say that even among young Koreans the wound has not yet healed. “They are stories that do not permit us to fall into indifference,” comments one girl, “or to forget our brothers and sisters from whom we are separated by a border. We have felt strongly called even to give our lives for justice.” “Needless to say, the most powerful moment of the concert was the song “Chi piange per te,” (“Who cries for you”) a sweet lullaby dedicated to a baby girl entombed in the waters of the Sicilian Canal, perhaps because of the situation our country is living now with the immigration issue,” confided a friend who works with the media. And a Pastor of the Reformed Church, Gábor Czagány, one of the organizers of the Festival, stated: “What struck me the most were the faces of the young people from the schools that took part in the workshops. There was joy, participation, commitment. You could intuit the weight of the experience they had had: seven days that left their mark. Now it’s up to us to keep all this from getting lost or going to waste.” Young people offer hope for unity—Alessandra Pasquale, actress and singer in Gen Verde, is eager to clarify: “Our job is not to go on stage, sing, show off and then depart: we cannot exclude the building of authentic relationships with people, or exclude feeling what the people who come to our concerts experience, in what waters the teens with whom we do the workshops navigate.” It is for this reason that the video-interviews of the young participants of the workshops are projected before the beginning of the concert at Szeged, and were an integral part of the show, because these young people had in fact helped build it. Here are a few words from the teens: “The project, ‘Start Now!’ opened my eyes: it taught me not to judge foreigners. And this takes work: it takes tenacity and trust.” “I learned how we should pay attention to one another.” “I understood the importance of keeping a community together and that to be a family, humanity needs the collaboration of each one of us.” “I am very happy that my school participated in the project, “Start Now!” with the other school. In the beginning we didn’t know each other; it took time, but then we earned each other’s trust and now I can say that we move as a single person, we are absolutely happy.”
