Apr 16, 2019 | Non categorizzato
In preparation for what would have been Chiara Lubich’s 100th birthday in January next year, a delegation from the Focolare founders’ home region of Trentino, north Italy, visited the Movement’s international centre near Rome on 16 April. “We’re not here to ‘commemorate’ Chiara Lubich, or to turn her into some kind of monument, or consign her to history. That’s not what’s needed. We’re here to relive her message, link in with her legacy and communicate with her charism today”. With these words, Alessandro Andreatta, Mayor of the city of Trent, explained the reason behind the visit of a delegation from the Trentino region, on 16 April, to the Focolare Movement’s international centre at Rocca di Papa, near Rome, in the lead-up to the celebrations of the centenary of Chiara’s birth in 2020. The delegation included the President of the Autonomous Province of Trento Maurizio Fugatti, the President of the Primiero local community administration Roberto Pradel, the Director of the Trentino Historical Museum Foundation Giuseppe Ferrandi and Maurizio Gentilini, archivist and historian at the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and author of a new biography of Chiara Lubich to be published in 2020. They were welcomed by Focolare President Maria Voce, Co-President Jesús Morán and other focolare members from different countries, together with the leaders of several local councils in the Castelli Romani area, where Chiara lived for over fifty years. The visit was an important occasion in which to consolidate the friendship and collaboration between the city of Trent, the Trentino community and the Focolare Movement. A host of events are being organised to mark the centenary year both in the city of Trent and the Primiero Valley, as well as in many other towns and cities around the world. The celebrations begin on 7 December 2019 with the inauguration of a multimedia exhibition entitled “Chiara Lubich: City-World”, a collaborative venture between of the Chiara Lubich Centre and the Trentino Historical Museum Foundation. “Through this initiative, we hope many people will get to know Chiara and her ideas,” explained Alba Sgariglia, co-director of the Chiara Lubich Centre, “as well as her spirituality, her work and her profile as a tireless promoter of a culture of unity and fraternity among peoples”. According to Giuseppe Ferrandi, organising the exhibition has been a rewarding if complex cultural challenge. “We’re trying to take the extraordinary legacy of Chiara Lubich’s life and words, and transform it into a format within the limits of our exhibition space but without limiting the communication of the content. As our title suggests, the idea of the ‘city’ is central to Chiara’s thinking and writing. For her, the city is a place where debate occurs enabling it to relate directly to the rest of the world. In this way, we are encouraged not to stay confined within the local but to open up”. Part of the exhibition will take place in the Primiero Valley where, from the 1940s onwards, Chiara Lubich and a small group of companions used to go every summer. Every year more people joined them, until several thousand people from all over the world were gathering there to share in the experience of a life centred on fraternity. After Trent and Primiero, the exhibition will be hosted by nine capital cities outside Europe. In each location, it will be further shaped by the culture of the place, in a vision opening up to the rest of the world. Throughout 2020, visitors are expected to come to Trent from all over the globe. There will be a series of national and international conventions and events taking place in the Trentino area and in other Focolare centres across all continents. The President of the Autonomous Province of Trent spoke of their pride at “Being here, today, to express this unity of intent. Trentino is a land of thoroughfares, of borders: Chiara Lubich knew what these characteristics meant and how to communicate with them. Back in June 2001, Chiara spoke to the people of Trent about fraternity from the point of view of the city. Her attitude was to respect all the different stakeholders who form a community, and she knew how to listen to them all. This is the way to interpret the interests and needs of the people for the best outcome”. In her concluding remarks, Maria Voce underlined the value of Chiara Lubich’s attention to the life of the city. “She was in the Primiero Valley when she understood God wanted her to go back to the city of Trent. Throughout her life, in cities around the world – a number of which acknowledged her as an honorary citizen – she experienced a strong sense of engagement which came from identifying particular problems and sufferings, embracing them and introducing seeds of life and love there”.
Stefania Tanesini
Apr 15, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Continuous and long blackouts throughout the whole country paralyse basic services and business activities thus making life for people very difficult. A humanitarian drama is leading to deep social divisions. Rosa and Óscar Contreras, a family that belongs to the Focolare community relate how they manage to brave this desperate situation with faith and courage and continue to give their share towards universal brotherhood. Rosa related:“The situation continues to get worse. A few weeks ago, 105 hours of power cuts crippled our city, especially commercial and financial activities. To make matters worse, we lack also constant public services such as water supply, waste collection, telephone and internet services And then, national backouts continue to hit the country….” “In spite of everything we feel that life must go on”, Oscar said. Then he continued to explain, “We have reopened our factory, which produces wooden and acrylic goods and resumed our work. It is a great challenge to keep the business going when sales have really dropped, but we are try our best to comply with the commitment we have with suppliers and employees, without running the risk of bankruptcy. We aim at being creative and open to constant strategical change to be able to react against hyperinflation and complex fiscal policies. This led to a total change in the wage structure of our employees; we try to find new ways to improve their income, to encourage greater motivation and achieve better results. In the meantime unexpected circumstances do crop up. Until some time ago we were able to travel to visit people and be close to them, but presently we cannot do this anymore because our car has been damaged and we cannot afford the expense to repair it, besides being a long process because of power cuts. Meanwhile, our savings are running out, but God’s Providence does not abandon us; recently we have managed to buy a few necessary things to keep us going”. “We have never realized that there are so many unimaginable opportunities to live the Gospel radically”, continued Rosa. “Every day we come across so many relatives and neighbours who are in need and are desperate, that we are obliged to be attentive and share the little we have. Each time we ask what Mary, Joseph and Jesus would have done if they were instead of us. We are pleased to see that many of our neighbours have started to be more friendly. We think that this is the result of initiatives we have carried out very silently to help others and create relationships”. Oscar confided:“However, we must admit that we are really physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted, but still we are certain that the Holy Spirit is with us and that, through us, He can fill others with the joy and hope we seek to transmit. Last week, even though we had no electricity, we thought of meeting some young people from the Movement to share experiences and reflections, and watch a film together. Many say that these difficult times are a favourable opportunity to generate more communion within the families. The absence of mobile phones, TV, schools, work and other commitments is providing space for more dialogue within family circles and for addressing questions that were never dealt with before. Many come together to pray and they share what they have with others. It is interesting to note the change of attitude when people come to purchase or get something; they do not only think about its use for their own family, but they also think about its usefulness for others”.
edited by Anna Lisa Innocenti
Apr 13, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Hearing from those who live there gives hope for the most contested city on earth; a different vision from the one in the news. https://vimeo.com/319521993
Apr 11, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Roberto Catalano of the Focolare Movement’s Centre for Inter-religious Dialogue offered his insights into the context and geo-political events leading to the drawing up of the historic DOCUMENT ON HUMAN FRATERNITY FOR WORLD PEACE AND LIVING TOGETHER, co-signed by Pope Francis and The Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi on 4th February this year. How can we possibly identify universal fraternity as a primary objective of today’s humanity? Are we not in an age dominated by digital bubbles, with ever more divisive personal and collective boundaries, and new forms of economic protectionism and so on? However, the declaration signed in Abu Dhabi by Pope Francis and the Imam of al-Azhar places the values of fraternity at the heart of the geo-political and media agenda. With a clear and practical approach, the declaration proposes fraternity as the guiding objective, not only for the Christian and Muslim religions, but for the entire human family. Roberto Catalano outlined the steps leading up to this important document which is being recognized as a foundation step in dialogue towards world peace. How significant is the declaration signed by Pope Francis and Imam al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi on 4 February this year? This document on fraternity represents a significant milestone and the text will remain as a reference point for the future. It’s impossible not to see how profoundly innovative it is. Once more we find ourselves before one of Pope Francis’ “absolute firsts”! Never before in the history of the Church has a pope co-signed a shared document with the leader of another religion. This document was signed in a very precise context, a meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and of al-Azhar, characterized by a mutual embrace, talks, and even walking hand in hand. The agreed text addresses not only religious leaders or interested parties but all believers and in fact everyone in the world. The United Arab Emirates can be seen as a cross section of the globalized world: the Arabian Peninsula is the heart of Islam, but there are a growing number of workers from other countries and cultures…. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the venue for the signing of this declaration, is on the Southern Coast of the Persian Gulf. All the Gulf States are significant due to their economic and geo-political status. In only a few decades, their oil reserves have permitted a dizzying rate of progress, facilitated also by workers from countries such as the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Arabian Peninsula is the heart of Islam, but it also presents a true Muslim mosaic. Saudi Arabia dominates the region, as the image of Sunni Islam which identifies with Wahhabism, which on the international level supports the Salafi movement. Within this context, there is the emerging phenomenon of new Christian communities. Whereas the traditional apostolic Christian Churches of the Middle East continue to live through dramatic events which often cause them to flee the region, the area of the Emirates is becoming populated with a new set of Christians, a real cross-section of today’s Christianity. The majority of these Christians are from the Philippines and India, but also from other parts of the Middle East. We are living in a period of globalization, and the Church in the Emirates is a striking example of this. During Pope Francis’ recent visit to Morocco, the 800th anniversary of the meeting between St Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil was celebrated. It seems this pope has embarked upon something of a “pilgrimage of peace”. Absolutely. And the Abu Dhabi declaration fits in with this anniversary, as a sign of the desire to be a “brother who seeks peace with his brothers” and “to be instruments of peace”. The Second Vatican Council Declaration Nostra Aetate states that “in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems” and so the Council strove to urge “all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve, as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind, social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom”. In 2006, a passage from Benedict XVI’s Regensburg lecture sparked controversy in the Muslim world. Many took offence at the quotation, even though it referred not to the Quran but to the relationship between faith and reason, and between religion and violence. It led to a period of stormy relationships, during which the University of al-Azhar cut off contact with the Vatican. In the years that followed, with great patience and diplomacy, these relationships have been rebuilt, in the spirit of Evangelii Gaudium, which after defining inter-religious dialogue as a “duty for Christians as well as other religious communities” (EG 250), affirmed the importance of Christian-Muslim relations. Finally, in May 2016 Imam al-Tayeb came to the Vatican. On his arrival, he made a significant comment: “We are taking up the way of dialogue once more and we hope it will be better than before”. The invitation and welcome was soon reciprocated. In 2017, the Imam invited the Pope to Cairo for an International Peace Conference. On that occasion the Pope strongly affirmed: “Peace alone is holy and no act of violence can be perpetrated in the name of God, for it would profane his Name”. He went on to propose three basic areas which, if properly linked, can “assist in this dialogue: the duty to respect one’s own identity and that of others, the courage to accept differences, and sincerity of intentions.” From then on, a deep spiritual understanding has grown between the two religious leaders.
Interview by Stefania Tanesini
Apr 9, 2019 | Non categorizzato
A Foundation set up in Colombia to help children who are forced to fight or work on coca plantations “We would like to create a safe haven where poor children can experience dignity, realize their dreams and grow up in an environment that promotes a mentality of peace and justice”. These were the objectives of Fr. Rito Julio Alvarez, a priest from the Ventimiglia-Sanremo diocese, when he set up the Oasis of Love and Peace Foundation in 2006, in the Catatumbo region of northeast Colombia. 
This NGO was set up in one of the poorest areas of the region where Fr. Rito was born and lived for twenty years. It aims at offering an opportunity that safeguards children in this country from being recruited by the rebels or forced to work on coca plantations. This idea matured from Fr. Rito’s personal experience, that can be read on the Foundation’s website http://www.oasisdeamorypaz.org/ – “He came to know about the guerrillas when he was a child. Very often these illegal revolutionary groups came to the village and tried to persuade children to join them. Some of his companions, even 11 or 12 years old, were enticed by the offer of these rebels, joined them and died in clashes with the regular army.This is what happened to his childhood friend who was killed at the age of 14. Nothing was known, not even about his abandoned body”. He relates: “In the 90’s, the peasants in the territory were made to believe that planting Coca would change their lives, but instead the situation got worse. In 1999, paramilitary groups came into the scene and great massacres ensued”. Rito Julio Alvarez became priest in 2000. From Italy he followed his people’s suffering owing to the war that broke out because of the control of the coca plantations, that involved paramilitary groups, government armed groups and guerrillas. In a few years, in a territory of 250,000 inhabitants there were about 13,000 deaths. Even his family members had to be evacuated and many of his friends were killed. 
The need to help these people was great. Together with his relatives at Catatumbo, he decided to set up a home for child soldiers and for those who came from the coca plantations. He recalls: “We started in 2007, in a small shack where we welcomed the first 10 boys. We had no money but we had a lot of goodwill. We prepared their beds; my sister was a mother to them and she saw to their food. My mother lent me cutlery, dishes, pots and blankets. This is how we started this adventure”. Today, the Foundation handles two projects that comprise the breeding of fish and livestock and banana and coffee plantations. Hundreds of children have been welcomed by the Foundation; some of these have become educators and NGO managers. One of them, whose relative was a drug trafficker in the area, is involved in politics. “I am so pleased when the Foundation welcomes those children whom I have seen harvesting coca leaves with their sore hands”, says Fr. Rito very emotionally, “and here they grow up and live in an environment of peace; they feel safe and can think of a different future. All this encourages me to look ahead without fear. My trust in the Lord assures me that this work can proceed”.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Apr 7, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Amine Mohammed Sahnouni, a young Algerian sociologist, sees education as a process. “We need to give the children more responsibility, trust in them and guide them so that their leadership abilities develop from an early age.” “Children are the pillar of our work, and we dedicate ourselves to them with the aim of helping them grow up strong, since they are the future.” For an education conference promoted by the Focolare Movement in Italy on 2 March, Amine Mohammed Sahnouni, a young Algerian sociologist, spoke of her commitment to education that benefits young people. To build a better world, she said, we need to start with the children. Amine, you said that in order to get results it is important to have a vision, long-term objectives, and if possible, share them with others. What is your vision for the field of education? I believe that we sociologists are doctors for society, and as such we need to go into the field and take on social phenomenon of all kinds. With that perspective, my vision is to “make the world a better place,” not only for us, but for future generations. We all can do this, but only if we start by changing ourselves, even by starting with the small things. If we hope to build a more just society, it’s essential that we dedicate ourselves to training young people. What are the main resources, competencies and methods you propose? My parents always encourage, support and guide me. Ever since I was young, they gave me a sense of responsibility. I still remember the words of my father: “Amine, make us proud of you.” He was always saying to put “Allah,” “God,” in the first place in everything I do; only by doing so would I be able to be a successful person. So to me the first pillar of education is family. There are also various competencies to work on: we need to give the children more responsibility, trust in them and guide them so that their leadership abilities develop from an early age. We need to give them our trust, support and use positive words in a way that they can develop their self-esteem, hopes and objectives. We need to encourage critical thinking in children and teach them to share their opinions in front of others. All these competencies can be acquired by working in the field, through exchange programs where they meet young people from different countries, and by changing traditional teaching methods to make learning easy and enjoyable. Religious leaders, institutions and non-profit organisations call for safeguarding the environment, but their efforts are not enough. Meanwhile it is said that the young Swede Greta Thunberg, who called for young people marching in all of Europe, may be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Does this mean that we need young people to awaken the old? I truly admire the courage and determination of that girl, who, despite being quite young, is completely aware of environmental issues, and this is extremely rare today, even among adults. This great “battler” is sending a strong message to the world, and I have a lot of respect for her. We all need to take inspiration from her example. I believe, in fact, that great victories begin from the small things. Getting on a bicycle and crossing Algeria from the Moroccan to the Tunisian border seems a way to inspire commitment for the environment. Can you tell us how it went? We were a group of friends, passionate and motivated, hoping to inspire young people. Since 2012 our philosophy has been: if you want lasting change, start by changing yourself. In time our goals expanded, and we decided to take up a new challenge: cycling across Algeria from east to west over 15 days. It was a project aimed at raising awareness for safeguarding the environment, promoting the values of citizenship, and educating through sports. My two friends, Elhadi and Naim, and I created a video about our activity, and in just one week the video spread so quickly that people started to contact us offering their help. We received so much support during the trip itself in August 2017, and the results were incredible: two million followers on social media and television. We collaborated with more than 15 associations, children’s organisations and cycling clubs. We felt “Allah,” “God” with us each day and we asked him for courage, support and strength to complete our mission. It was a spiritual experience, and we received prayers from many Algerians and support from our families. Just in two weeks we were able to spark other awareness campaigns, and after the initiative many people followed along our same path.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Apr 4, 2019 | Non categorizzato
At the end of March, the Emergency Coordination Section of the Focolare Movement took action to help the communities affected by the flood in south-eastern Africa, in particular a mission to Dombe. Ildo who is responsible for this mission, sent us this message: “Here we have four houses of rehabilitation, an agricultural school and a day center, which have been completely submerged in water. We have lost everything: furniture, documents, animals, tractors. We are now housed in our small hospital, which was saved along with the church, the nuns’ house and the college. We are taking care of 1,300 people housed in two schools. We are in great need – especially of tents, food, blankets, and simple boats to cross the river. Many people have died in the area surrounding our mission, especially children. There are many more deaths than have been reported. When the water level dropped, bodies were found hanging from the trees. Yesterday I found a desperate young man on the street, who didn’t know where to go, looking for who knows who. When he told me his story I couldn’t stop myself, I just took him with me to the mission to live with us. “The waters rose suddenly,” he told me. “I took my eight-month-old baby, my wife and my two brothers and we climbed a tree. Suddenly the tree fell down and one by one I saw them being dragged away by the water. The only reason I was saved was because I was hanging on to the tree trunk. I was in the water for 30 hours – just three miles from my house.” His name is Silvestre and he is 22 years old. We hear stories like this all the time. We will stay here, determined to help these people who were already suffering before the flood. Something tells me that something great, something really good is going to happen to us. We ask you to pray so that we have enough health and strength to carry on this mission that God has entrusted to us. A big hug from all of us!” Those who wish to can contribute in the following ways: Action for a United World ONLUS (AMU) IBAN: IT58 S050 1803 2000 0001 1204 344 Banca Popolare Etica BIC: CCRTIT2T Emergency Mozambique Or: Action for New Families ONLUS (AFN) IBAN: IT55 K033 5901 6001 0000 0001 060 at Banca Prossima SWIFT / BIC code: BCITITMX Emergency Mozambique
Apr 2, 2019 | Non categorizzato
With his profound knowledge of Asia, where he lived for almost 30 years, learning to speak several languages, Silvio Daneo who died recently, has given a unique contribution to the inter-religious dialogue of the Focolare Movement and beyond. His later years were dedicated to helping the lonely and those on the margins of society. He is buried in the cemetery at Loppiano, Italy. “It’s not easy to capture in a few lines a life as intense and full of adventure as Silvio’s. In one of his recent books, he reflected that he had lived seven lives! all “in a continual discovery of the divine treasure in each person in every encounter”. With these words, Focolare President Maria Voce recalled Silvio Daneo. He spent his life spreading the spirituality of unity in many different countries in North America and Asia: USA, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Pakistan and later Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. He embarked on the first of these journeys in 1962, at just 21 years of age. His destination, the United States, where together with two other focolarini, he launched the Movement’s first men’s centre in North America. Four years later he flew to another continent, this time to the Philippines, with Guido Mirto (also known in Focolare circles as “Cengia”). Over the course of many years in Asia, Silvio contributed to the beginnings of Focolare communities in many countries. He demonstrated unconditional love for people, he had an open mind and heart, and was totally dedicated to the wellbeing of each person he met. He would help everyone he could in a spirit of true generosity, which led people to experience and recognise divine love through his practical way of serving in the things of daily life. He was less for giving talks and more for giving practical assistance. For example, a young member of the Focolare Movement was once going to a Buddhist temple to be ordained. Silvio accompanied him, sleeping on the ground for days on end, eating whatever was offered to him by the monks, in sweltering tropical heat, under constant attack from mosquitoes. This act marked the beginnings of the movement’s inter-religious dialogue in Thailand. Silvio’s contribution was fundamental in introducing the Focolare to the country’s Buddhist monks. In 1995, he organized the first meeting between Phra Mahathongrattanathavorn and Focolare foundress Chiara Lubich, keeping in touch with developments for as long as his health permitted. Silvio knew Muslims, Hindus, Parsi, Gurus, and he knew how to identify with the good in the heart of each person he met. Silvio did a lot for me too. To him I owe the openness I find within myself towards the other great religions, and the experience of not noticing the barriers when with someone whose beliefs are different from my own. Silvio wrote in one of his books, “Again and again I must acknowledge how in every Asian country I’ve lived in – wherever I’ve tried to assimilate the culture and traditions of the place – I’ve found myself enriched by the knowledge of the various religious traditions. I’ve had many real opportunities to get to know people in the practice of very differing faiths, and from the witness of their lives, of their prayer, meditation, their coherence, dedication to others, and honesty in their daily action, I’ve gained a fascination to get to know the content of the doctrines taught by the different religions”. In Vietnam, back in 1990, I worked with Silvio on opening up a trading enterprise, which proved surprisingly successful. I also remember one particular day when we were in Bangkok, Thailand. We could not believe our eyes as we saw him down on his knees in the street outside our house. He was treating the bleeding knees of the workers who were building the road, disinfecting their wounds and applying bandages. Nothing like this had ever been seen before, and those labourers were touched to the heart. A few days later, these same workers set themselves to build a ramp linking our house to the new road, and they refused any payment! Silvio spent time with bishops, priests, Imams, Rabbis and monks, often greeting them in their own language, to their obvious delight. “Should it ever cross anyone’s mind to praise me – Silvio wrote in the introduction to his last book – they would, however unknowingly, be committing an error. I am convinced, at least I hope I am, that I’ve been nothing other than an instrument, and all too often a less than docile one at that! … All the merit and acknowledgement is due to Him, to God, the only One capable of achieving such great things”. Silvio spent his later years in Rome, and even though his health was compromised, his commitment to live life wholeheartedly never was. He dedicated his time to prisoners, to those experiencing loneliness and different forms of abandonment, collecting food and other useful goods on their behalf. About a year ago I met him when I was accompanying a group of Thai Buddhist monks to Rome. With that unmistakable smile of his, Silvio greeted us all, and his luminous countenance conveyed a sense of how he had been purified by his illness. This encounter left me with the conviction that life signifies this: to reach the end well, conserving what really counts, knowing ever more powerfully how to transform every suffering that comes our way into Love.
Luigi Butori
Mar 31, 2019 | Non categorizzato
“What is important to God is that we are human beings and that we live in mutual love.” Interview with Claude Gamble, pioneer of the Focolare Movement in Morocco. After his apostolic journey to the United Arab Emirates, Pope Francis himself said that his trip to Morocco was another important occasion “to further develop interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding among the faithful of both religions”. Claude Gamble, who was there at the beginning of the first Focolare communities in Morocco, offers us a few brief glimpses into his experiences… What are the challenges for Christians in Morocco today? The challenge is to build bridges. Today we are going through a phase of extremism that involves everyone, Christians and Muslims. In poor neighborhoods it is very dangerous because people are being radicalized into following extreme ideas. For example, a few times in Tangiers, while we were going to mass with a group of people who share the spirit of the Focolare, stones were thrown at us in order to intimidate people outside the church. But we believe in universal brotherhood. We have to bear witness to it. It might take a long while for some people to accept our offer of friendship. In Algeria, where I lived, I found many examples of brotherhood. Every time I went to visit a family I felt at home. They were all Muslims but we were brothers. Friendship is the antidote to extremism. What is important to God is that we are all human beings and that we live mutual love between us. What can we expect from this journey on the pathway to dialogue? Dialogue is not the search for those who have the truth, because God alone has the truth. I believe that the Pope, as a representative of the Catholic Church, can show how he lives as a Christian. This is his experience and, as such, it is not something to refute or argue against. Especially since it is clear that he comes in peace. The beauty of the Arab way of being is their hospitality. Therefore they will welcome the Pope as a dear brother. The meeting between the Pope and the King is an invitation to go ahead together for the good of all humanity. In the Focolare Movement we talk about dialogue but also about “communion”. Living in communion means that I can speak as a Christian, and you can speak as a Muslim, but it is by sharing experiences that we can live together. This is something that can only be done at the level of personal relationships – because dialogue has to be one to one, face to face. How can people of different faiths and beliefs feel as if they are brothers and sisters? At the human level it is necessary to value what we have in common. In the Koran all the suras, except one, begin with the phrase, “In the name of God, the Merciful.” With the word mercy a Muslim comes very close to what we mean by love. So with Muslims we can share the word mercy, which comes from the term rahma which means the mother’s womb, the cradle of life. And God, who is mercy, reminds us of the love of a mother who takes care of her child. It’s the same with the Hebrew word rehem, which has the same semantic root as rahma, and also refers to the mother’s womb. So for the Jews, too, the mercy of God means that we must have the love of a mother for the others. For atheists it is the same: an atheist who believes in humanity, believes in motherly love for others. It was 800 years ago that St. Francis met the Sultan al-Kāmil as a sign of peace. St Francis then sent the first friars to Morocco. Since then the presence of the Franciscans in that country has always been met with great respect. It was in Morocco that the Friars Minor let them be put into prison in order to give courage to the other prisoners. Two of them were martyred. Recently the Vicar General of Tangiers rediscovered more than 160 letters in the Spanish and Moroccan libraries that had been written between the Franciscans and the Sultans of Morocco. In these letters the Sultans expressed appreciation for the work done by the Franciscans and thus a deep respect for the Catholic Church. The current King of Morocco has asked for the book in which these letters are collected in order to learn about this ancient relationship. Ultimately, what common ground can there be between Christians and Muslims? What we do have in common is God. Here is my answer to those who say that we do not have the same God. It’s like in a family where there are several children. When disciplining his first child, the father may have been fairly tough or severe. The last child may perhaps have been treated like the favorite. If you asked both of these children to describe their father, the first might describe the father as someone who inspired fear, while the second might only give examples of the father’s love. They are both describing the same father, but they have each seen him from different angles.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Mar 28, 2019 | Non categorizzato
After the first international meeting for those in the Movement responsible for the protection of minors, Focolare President Maria Voce and Co-president, Jesús Morán, have written to all the members of the Movement on the Focolare’s commitment in this field. “We invite all of you to commit very responsibly to this very important aim of promoting the wellbeing and protection of minors.” Focolare President Maria Voce and Co-president Jesús Morán addressed these words in their letter, sent on 27th March, to all the members of the Focolare Movement in the world after the first international meeting of those in the Movement who are responsible for the protection of minors. (See letter attached) The meeting, held from 14th – 17th March at Castel Gandolfo (Rome), was attended by 162 participants from 38 countries and all continents. It was an opportunity to take stock of the Focolare’s commitment to the wellbeing and protection of every person. This commitment has always existed in the Movement and can be seen in the many training events, initiatives and projects organised all over the world to promote child and adolescent wellbeing. Guidelines and commissions for the protection of minors In April 2014 the Movement adopted “Guidelines for the Promotion of the Wellbeing and the Protection of Minors” and in 2015 a Central Commission for the Promotion of the Wellbeing and the Protection of Minors (CO.BE.TU (in Italian)) was established. Around the world, local commissions have been created in various countries or there are well qualified people responsible for this role. Their task is “to protect, but also to promote formation activities for our members, especially those who work with minors.” The commissions also have the task of receiving reports of alleged abuse and undertaking a process of verification within the Movement. Maria Voce and Jesús Morán explain in the letter that over the years about 20 reports have been received and they communicate that, “It deeply pains us to recognise that, also in our own large family of the Focolare, some cases of abuse regarding minors caused by people who belong to the Movement, or by people who have taken part in meetings organised by us, have occurred. Most of these episodes occurred in the remote past (even over 20 years ago), but unfortunately some have occurred in the recent past. Consecrated members of the Movement were also involved in these.” The President and Co-president affirm with deep gratitude that the establishment of the Central Commission and the local commissions has helped not only to facilitate the reporting of alleged cases of abuse, but also “to understand how to do justice to the victims, how to accompany them and their families and what provisions to make within the Movement regarding the authors of the abuses, in addition of course to the judicial procedures envisaged by the laws of the respective countries.” Zero tolerance Maria Voce and Jesús Morán re-affirmed the Movement’s zero tolerance approach to any form of violence, abuse, mistreatment or bullying, carried out directly on through the Web, towards any person, with particular attention to minors and vulnerable adults. They go on to explain that, “This means reporting to the local commissions and to the Central Commission every suspicion of abuse or violence.” They consider it to be “a real temptation if anyone thinks of not reporting cases for the good of the Movement, to avoid scandal or protect someone’s good name.” In particular they add that, “Every single case represents a deep purification for the Movement. We accept it with humility and deep compassion for those who – perhaps through our lack of attention – have undergone indescribable traumas.” It is a worldwide commitment, not limited only to the members of the Focolare Movement and that, as Maria Voce and Jesús Morán observe in their conclusion to the letter, should be ever more open to the whole of humankind: “We cannot fail to make our own the cry of pain of all the children and teenagers in the world. … It is part of our vocation to go towards them. That is why we must be on the front line in defending those who are weaker, wherever they are victims of any kind of violence or abuse.” Letter Maria Voce and Jesús Morán -Protection of Minors.EN
Mar 28, 2019 | Non categorizzato
‘Europe time to dialogue’ is an initiative of the Focolare Movement, designed to contribute to the debate leading up to the forthcoming European Parliamentary elections. You can find the page on Facebook. The choice of a social network like Facebook is significant. According to experts, recent important elections have been influenced by increased activity on social media by groups attempting to sway results – often with motives that are incompatible with democratic principles. This is why we need to become a presence on social media if we want to promote themes related to the common good, inclusion, participation and solidarity. ‘The Europe time to dialogue’ campaign will offer arguments for a more fraternal and a more cohesive Europe in these times marked by the widespread rise of new social egoisms, neo-sovereignties and nationalisms. The culture of unity that springs from the charism lived by the members of the Focolare Movement needs to be at the service of policies that encourage and promote efforts to collaborate, to share and to bring people together. After all, Chiara Lubich and Igino Giordani are included among the great proponents of a united Europe. They consistently held that a united Europe should be a promoter of world peace and global distribution of goods. In reference to “The United States of Europe for the United States of the World,” Igino Giordani, in writings dating from the 1920s, and Chiara Lubich, in the numerous instances in which she spoke to politicians from all over the world, both gave clear pictures of the European Continent’s destiny. This is why the posts in Europe: time to dialogue will have two aspects to them. They will include a message from the past, that is, a quote about a united Europe and its universal mission from leading figures such as Chiara Lubich, Igino Giordani, Pasquale Foresi, Alcide De Gasperi, Konrad Adenauer, Robert Schuman, Paul-Henri Spaak, Jean Monnet and others. They will also include commentary on current events in the light of the teachings of these leading figures. To follow us, just find Europe time to dialogue on Facebook. You can leave a comment or a reflection and then share the posts with your friends.
Alberto Lo Presti
Mar 26, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Anna Maria, Jessica and Talat: testimony to friendship among people from the three monotheistic religions. When the walls of distrust and prejudice fall down, you experience that it’s possible to look to the future with courage and hope. https://vimeo.com/319522327
Mar 24, 2019 | Non categorizzato
An interview with the Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, present at the Edu x Edu Conference: “We need to rebuild the bond between the one to be educated and the educator”. In an ever-changing world, it is not always feasible to find definitive solutions for certain issues. Yet, it is always necessary to be updated, to put right, to reinterpret and above all to look for solutions for the unsocial situations that grip those engaged in education today. The Church has always, but particularly in recent years, emphasised the pressing need of attention to educational emergency, considered as one of the greatest anthropological challenges we have to face in our times. Pope Francis continues to insist on this challenge because it is the root, the cause of flourishing social inequalities. Very often this is underestimated by politics, and so treated with total indifference. Msgr.Vincenzo Zani, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, shared his views about this at the round table on “The vitality of dreams: giving a soul to education” during the international conference held recently at Castel Gandolfo, “EduxEdu”, “Be educated to educate – growing together in a relationship that educates”. This project was launched in 2016, and there are about 400 educators, young people and teachers from the Focolare Communities in different countries that participate in it. This year’s initiative was organized by the Focolare Movement together with LUMSA University, Sophia University Institute, AMU (United World Association), EdU (Education and Unity) and AFN (New Families). 
Msgr. Zani’s speech focussed mainly on the generation gap, the split between cultures, values and ideals, provoked even by the digital revolution, an extraordinary potential but often disorientating. The infosphere era, the developments in information and communication technologies are causing a change in answers to fundamental questions. In the face of such a scenario, what does Pope Francis propose? If we look at the past, we realise that education was a community task, a relational sharing. Networking, a 365 degrees dialogue among all educational agencies are key remedies that can contribute to overcome this challenge. In fact, to educate is not to remain fixed in one’s own securities, and it is neither abbandoning oneself only to challenges, but it is holding on to values and confronting one’s own views with other realities. Msgr. Zani emphasised that one of these dimensions is transcendency, the relationship with God. We are invited to build relationships, to be of service to others, to propose a kind of knowledge which is not selective but relational, one which tends to include, to re-establish the basic principles for an “educational pact”. This pact has to allot the space needed by those responsible for all educational, social activity to build a harmonious relationship among family, school, educational and civil institutions and culture. Thus, if we want to be able to answer to the challenge launched by the Pope, we definitely need to re-establish this alliance. It is precisely to relaunch the commitment towards rebuilding this educational pact that Pope Francis has entrusted the Congregation for Catholic Education with the task of promoting an international event that will be held in Rome on October 4, 2019. Msgr. Zani said: “We need to accompany men and women of the third millennium, especially the young ones, to discover the principle of fraternity, that underlies the whole reality. The significance of this principle is becoming more evident owing to planetary interdependence and the common destiny of mankind. The Pope will be proposing a “Magna charta” of principles and objectives signed by him and by others in authority that represent various vital and institutional sectors in the world. It is intended as a commitment to be accomplished through concrete projects at all levels in the field of education. Rebuilding the educational pact at a global level, educating towards universal brotherhood, means recomposing the state of social relationships damaged by individual selfishness and collective greed, while focusing on mutual respect and love to transform and improve personal and social life. Pope Francis insists that if we want to change the world we need to change education”.
Patrizia Mazzola
Mar 22, 2019 | Non categorizzato
New relationships can be built in families or at workplaces by sharing what we have and what we are. A change of gift Our wedding anniversary was approaching, and our children were preparing a surprise for us.We have been married for 46 years and we have five children.Two days before celebrating our wedding anniversary, my husband and I were given tickets for a holiday in a hotel which our children paid for us. We were thrilled by this. However, a few minutes later the telephone rang: it was a lady I know, who sounded very sad when she shared the news that a seriously ill person needed an urgent operation but had no money to pay for it. The amount needed was precisely that of the tickets for our holiday. We didn’t think twice about giving up our holiday to help this person. The surgery took place on the same day of our anniversary. It was a success and this person is now doing well. (A. – Angola) Doing my best to keep the business going I work in the administration of a healthcare facility that in recent years has been facing financial problems. The working relationship between the managing directors has been quite a difficult one, and no one bothered to listen when I drew attention and suggested reviewing the company’s accounts. One day I felt I could no longer remain silent when faced with such mismanagement and the exorbitant fees paid to various professionals employed by our company. I spoke to one of the partners with whom I have a very trustworthy relationship and we agreed about asking for serious professional advice. This led to some small improvement, and my head of department, who was adamant about closing down the business, decided to keep it going for another year of trial. The first financial tests revealed that we employed more staff than what we could afford, so it was decided to dismiss one employee and give part-time work to another. I proposed reduced hours of work for everyone rather than losing one’s job. My proposal was accepted. There are still a number of problems, but I try to make myself available even from home to listen to everyone, to share with my colleagues their uncertainties and fears, especially the fear of losing their job. (R. G. – Italia) I started from the block of flats where I live “One Saturday afternoon I went down to the entrance hall of the block of flats where I live and placed carefully on a small table all the things that I managed to collect from my room”, related G. who is 7 years old. Some days before, G. looked for comics, magazines and shells she collected because she wanted to set up a stall to sell things to her neighbours. She continued: “I have also written a small note inviting families who live in the same block of flats to give me some of their precious time and visit my stall. For about two hours I welcomed my visitors to the stall and explained to them that the money from my sale would go towards helping some of the poorest children who are my age”. Many bought various items and she managed to collect quite a good sum of money which was contributed towards a solidarity project. (G.- Italia)
Mar 22, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Focolare communities are among those struck by cyclone and floods in South East Africa Last week Cyclone Idai hit South East Africa bringing devastating floods to central Mozambique, as well as neighbouring countries. We are in contact with Focolare members living around Beira and Chimoio, including a team who run a mission for around 500 people. It comprises a hospital, a school, two colleges and the Fazenda da Esperança rehabilitation centre. At the moment, the entire mission compound is completely under water, cut off without drinking water, light or access to food. Fortunately none of the residents were killed by the cyclone, but many in the surrounding areas have died. Caritas and the local authorities are working to reach such isolated areas to supply food and other essentials. But an even greater challenge is about to emerge once the waters subside. According to Beira’s Bishop Dalla Zuanna: “We’ll have to start rebuilding when the emergency lights have been switched off.” The Focolare Movement’s international Emergency Coordination team has mobilized to gather funds and to support the local population as it struggles to recover. Contributions can be made through one of the following: Azione per un Mondo Unito ONLUS (AMU) IBAN: IT58 S050 1803 2000 0001 1204 344 Banca Popolare Etica BIC: CCRTIT2T Emergenza Mozambico Or: Azione per Famiglie Nuove ONLUS (AFN) IBAN: IT55 K033 5901 6001 0000 0001 060 presso Banca Prossima Codice SWIFT/BIC: BCITITMX Emergenza Mozambico
Mar 20, 2019 | Non categorizzato
That your child has a behavioural disorder is not what any parent wants to hear. But, as this family has discovered, it can be a catalyst to deeper listening and to accompany your child with perseverance and self-giving. ‘Growth through living our child’s difficulties together as a family.’ This is the approach taken by Natalija and Damijan Obadic from Slovenia, married for 14 years with four children. Their youngest, Lovro, now aged six, was diagnosed three years ago with Attention Deficit Disorder. He was offered drugs and the standard treatments as the only options. However his parents are experiencing the effective contribution which relationships can make to his care, enabling his treatment to be more effective. This approach sometimes throws up surprising solutions. But there is no quick-fix. Every day is a fresh challenge. The unity of the family members and their union with God is what sustains their daily efforts. Natalija, how did you react to the news that your child suffers from Attention Deficiency? I’m a teacher, so I immediately thought of the children I’ve worked with who had this disorder and the many problems they faced. Immediately, that same day, Damijan and I understood that the best way of loving Lovro in his condition was for one of us to leave our job. We had a mortgage to repay and only modest salaries, so it was going to be a sacrifice. But we knew that helping to meet Lovro’s needs would require a lot of love, time and energy. It was hard, and risky for our family situation, but at the same time we were sure that God’s love for us would sustain us. What is this experience with Lovro teaching you? We’ve learned how to listen to him very attentively. When you ask him to do something, you have to check if he has really understood what you’ve said, then follow him as he does it and keep directing him back to what he’s meant to be doing. If not, he will constantly revert to playing. For him to complete a task is equivalent to climbing a high mountain. It appears too steep to him, so he rebels and refuses to do it. Sometimes, it will lead to a crisis, with uncontrollable shouting, throwing things around, kicking and punching. In these moments, calmly and gently you need to find the way to redirect him to what he’s supposed to be doing. We’ve learnt that our love for one another gives us the capacity to help him, and that our love for Lovro guides us to understand what to do for him. How do you deal with the difficulties of daily life? We pray with him every day, asking for the strength for him to overcome his difficulties. He’s aware he has this disorder, so that is a big step towards dealing with it. We rely on the love among us to help us follow the specialist’s directives well. Most of all, we’ve understood that Lovro must feel our unconditional love for him at all times. Your other children are involved in taking “special care” of Lovro. What is their relationship like? We’ve spoken with our other children about Lovro’s needs, what we can expect from him and how to keep on helping him in the right way. Because it’s such an all-consuming commitment, we decided to take turns on different days of the week. We encourage the children not to “take pity” when they ask Lovro to complete a task, because they have to help him learn that he has duties which must be finished. They really are helping him. We began to see a difference after just three months. One evening we told him to put on his pyjamas and then come to sit down at the table. For the first time ever, he actually did so without getting distracted at all. That called for a real celebration!
Interview by Claudia Di Lorenzi
Mar 19, 2019 | Non categorizzato
We are God’s children and can be like Him by loving, welcoming and knowing how to wait for the other as He does In the bank I work in a bank and have always tried to be someone who builds and maintains unity between my colleagues, so it really hurt me one day to discover that one of my colleagues was using me to make his boss look bad. In church that evening I promised myself I would chase away every negative thought towards this colleague and welcome him as I always had. Later on, he announced his resignation having found another job. As he said goodbye he thanked me for having always been a friend to him. I really hadn’t expected this but was happy to know that my efforts had not been wasted. (F.S – Switzerland) A mature faith My husband’s memory is getting worse every day and he is finding it more and more difficult to do things. I too am finding it difficult to bend over and pick things up. There must be more to life than this I thought. When I heard Pope Francis talking to young people about the elderly, my hope was restored and had a new strength to deal with the difficulties of ageing and illness. I had always rejected faith as a remedy for every difficulty. It has taken me a lifetime to arrive at a more mature faith. (F.Z. – Poland) Two precious hours It was my turn to volunteer in the hospital today, but it was raining, and I was tired. Basically, I’m 62 years old and suffer from arthritis but thinking of all the sick people in hospital I decided to go anyway. When I arrived at the hospital, I met a patient who was depressed, undressed, paralyzed with no one to look after him. I spent two hours with him and really tried to give my life for him. And to think how useless I was feeling yesterday when I looked back on my day! (M – Italy) Alone When my husband died after just 4 years of marriage, I asked myself – how will manage to bring up my children alone? I found the answer in the Word of God, the Father of all. I just needed to live it. I experienced it so often, especially as the children got older and the problems started to become more complicated – deciding which school to go to, friends, leisure activities … There are moments when I feel the same desolation as so many other people who like me are bringing up a family on their own but as I continue to believe in the love of God, I feel great peace again which enables me to start a new dialogue with my children and discuss even the most delicate subjects. (I.C. – Italy)
Mar 17, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The story of Marco Bertolini, a social and health educator in the province of Rome. “Even teachers have something to learn from students. It is possible to convert difficulties into opportunities.” Diagnosed when he was still young, polio did not turn out to be Marco Bertolini’s prison from which to scream out his anger at the world. Instead it became an opportunity to reflect on the richness of life and the potential within his “condition” to help many “problem” children discover their beauty and human dignity. Meeting young people from the Focolare came at a decisive moment for him. Today Marco, 59, husband and father of two, works as a social and health educator in a small hamlet in a suburb of Rome. We met with him at the recent EduxEdu education conference at the Mariapolis Center in Castelgandolfo (Italy). Marco, your story is about a difficulty transformed into an opportunity. What brought on this development? Ever since a child, I was all too aware of how different I was physically. While my sisters and friends lived at home with their families, I boarded at school. This made me angry at those who I felt were luckier than I was. I sought out conflict and tested my parents to see if they truly loved me. Then there was a turning point when I was 20. I was searching for some meaning to give to my life when I met young people from Focolare who lived the Gospel, were united and respected each other. In my small hamlet in the suburbs of Rome I had been up to all sorts of things and did not have a good reputation, yet they accepted me as I was. This made me feel like a person, and they did not look at my defects. They explained to me that they tried to love their neighbour, like the Gospel says. I was sceptical at first, thinking that the Gospel may be a good thing, but in life you need to fight for what you want. And yet, little by little, they showed me that living the Gospel is possible and can change your life. How did you become a teacher? At first I studied theology. I discovered a relationship with God and wondered whether I was called to be a priest. I entered the seminary and got involved in a number of services they offered. In Rome I collaborated with Caritas, and at the centre I mostly took care of the homeless. There I understood that my path in life was social work. I felt particularly strongly about the kids. I wanted to share with them the gift that I had received with I met the Focolare young people, so that they too could discover the deep value of life. I left the seminary and started my studies in social work and education. The approach to “problem children” seems to always be to “contain” them. Yet it’s challenging to understand the hurt that they carry – how do you take it on? Children should not be contained but listened to and understood. The approach I use is the same that God did with me: he accepted me just as I was. And so before anything else, I take them in as they are, with their language, without wanting to change anything about them, but understanding that it’s an opportunity to care for them. I begin from my experience with God and from what they’re feeling. The kids can be helped when they buy in to an idea to live differently. It’s a bit like establishing an “educative pact” with them. Can you tell us a related experience of yours? For years I’ve been part of a team that organises a working camp called “Stop’n’Go”, where teens are given an opportunity to train in the spirituality of unity. I remember a teen mother aged 19 who had a painful story. Her attitude alternated between that of an adult and a child. We asked ourselves if her presence there would be productive for her and the others. We decided to make a deal with her: she could take a turn going out with one of us adults if she respected the rules of the camp and participated in the activities. She accepted, and there was some competition among the team as to who could make her feel most welcome and not judged. I experienced how even teachers have something to learn from students. It is possible to convert difficulties into opportunities.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Mar 15, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Exploring six themes in six years, starting with the field of “economy, work and communion” The idea of a united world is a most challenging goal, but not an impossible one if approached from many different angles. This is the mindset of the new generations of the Focolare Movement. Chiara Lubich encouraged them to embark upon the many “pathways” which could lead to a more united world, deepening their knowledge along the way in order to achieve this ambitious objective. Taking inspiration from her, they have launched what has become known as “Pathways for a United World”: a six-year rolling program exploring and acting on six big issues, one each year. Over the coming months, this platform will share life experiences on the first of these themes: economy, work and communion. 
Giving away what we don’t need – When we got married, we decided as a couple every year to share with others anything we owned that we were not using. In fact, we started doing this even when preparing our wedding and we received many gifts, including financial help. Together, we decided to make a donation to support children in need in East Timor, through an organization run by the priest who married us. We were astonished to see how, once having given this money away, afterwards we received exactly ten times the amount we had given! Also we have made a commitment every year to give a part of our income to contribute to the “communion of goods” lived by the members of the Focolare Movement. This time, the very same morning that I transferred the money, I received a gift of a beautiful coat. It’s stylish, exactly to my taste … and my measure! (S. & C. Italy) A child’s empty pocket – G. is five years old and lives in Aleppo, Syria. When she heard that a group of Focolare young people were going to visit and take food to a convent which cares for old people, she wanted to be part of it. However, the day before the visit, she fell ill and had to go to the doctor. During the appointment, she told the doctor all about the plan and asked her: “Doctor, tomorrow with my family, I want to go and visit the home for old people. I’ve already shared all the pocket money I had saved. Can I go?” The doctor replied, “Yes, you are well enough to go. But I will also give you back your medical fee, because I too want to take part in your initiative!” (G. Syria) Mobilizing a community – Many people I know are struggling to manage even the basic necessities. I felt I had to respond in some way. But how? I started talking about this problem with my colleagues at work, and spontaneously many of them began sharing. They gave me lots of items which I then distributed to families in need. As word spread, more things were given to me, so I needed more space and some help! One couple offered me the use of a shop. Another colleague – actually someone with very different ideas and beliefs to my own – joined with two more friends to offer their time to the initiative. One month later, the “Community Bazaar” was launched, in the presence of the Head of Social Services and several Regional Councillors. We soon found ourselves forming a network with the city’s social institutions, and were able to draw up a mailing list to link up people who have something to give with people who have a specific need. Since then, we find ourselves welcoming collaborators and contributions of all kinds, both from individuals and businesses. The Bazaar has also turned into a hub for people looking to find a way to be useful in society. One day I asked one of my colleagues to accompany me because I needed to go and find a washing machine urgently for a social laundry project. Afterwards she told me, “This is the first time I end the year doing something for others. And I feel so happy. Thank you for letting me know about this initiative!” (M.D.A.R. – Portugal)
Mar 15, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The teens for unity of the Focolare Movement and the members of Prophetic Economy support «FridaysForFuture», the global initiative for environmental protection promoted by Greta Thunberg This morning in the garden of the international headquarters of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa (Italy), Focolare President Maria Voce and co president Jesús Morán planted a tree (live facebook of the event) in support of the international initiative #FridaysForFuture promoted by Greta Thunberg. Greta is a sixteen year old from Sweden who has recently become a symbol of environmental activism. The world first began to notice Greta when she decided to go on strike from attending school every Friday morning at the beginning of the Northern Hemisphere’s school year last September. Her strategy was to sit in front of the Stockholm Parliament with her home made sign that said “School Strike for Climate.” She went there to protest against the failure of political leaders to take a position on what is happening to the environment. Then in late January, in the town of Davos in Switzerland, Greta became the focus of the world’s media when she spoke in front of the world’s business leaders, political leaders, economists, celebrities and journalists at the World Economic Forum. “You are destroying my future! I don’t want you to hope, I want to see you in panic,” she told them. The Teens for the Unity of the Focolare Movement, together with the groups involved in Prophetic Economy, have decided to join the international initiative scheduled for today, Friday March 15th 2019. Their goal is to demand that international conventions to safeguard the planet are respected, and that world leaders stop just talking and start acting decisively. “The positions taken by many politicians show that the top-down approach is not enough,” explains Luca Fiorani, the coordinator of EcoOne, the international Focolare network for those who work in the fields of ecology and sustainability. The UN’s major international climate conferences demonstrate how difficult it is to make decisions together about how to combat global warming. So this is where the bottom-up approaches come into play – where the people put pressure on those in power to make effective decisions to avoid climate change. These initiatives of the young people are vitally important because they are the ones who will suffer the most from the effects of climate change in the future. That’s why it’s important that these young people act globally – so they can stir up the consciences of everyone around the world. If we don’t act now, within 20 or 30 years it may be too late. Pope Francis often reminds us of this. His 2019 message for Lent is focused on ecological conversion. He encourages us to pray, fast and give alms, but always with care for creation in mind. So, too, the commitment of the Focolare children and young people to reach the “Zero Hunger” goal heads in the same direction as Greta Thunberg’s initiative.
Lorenzo Russo
Mar 14, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Eleven years after the death of the foundress of the Focolare Movement events are taking place all over the world to remember her. In Rome, Cardinal Rylko celebrated a Mass in the presence of Maria Voce and Jesús Morán attended by many of Chiara’s “people” as well as many civil and religious authorities and friends of the Focolare. She was the initiator of new ways of living the Christian life, a woman with a profound “Marian” identity who had consecrated herself totally to God which is why God entrusted her with a gift for the Church and the world: the charism of unity. These, in brief, are the cornerstones of the life of Chiara and the Focolare Movement which Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko – former Secretary and President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity – highlighted at the Mass which was celebrated on 14 March in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome’s oldest Marian shrine, on the occasion of the eleventh anniversary of Chiara Lubich’s death. 
As well as the President of the Focolare Maria Voce, the Co-President Jesús Morán and a large group of “Chiara’s people “, civil and religious representatives from the diplomatic world and various Christian movements were present. It was a varied assembly which seemed to embrace humanity just as Chiara did. “How often did you hear Chiara say these words”, recalled Cardinal Rylko, “what counts is love. It is love that makes the world move forward, so if someone also has a mission to carry out it is all the more fruitful the more it is imbued with love”. “The challenges we face today collectively and as individuals are no less significant than those Chiara had to face when she started out”, said a girl who has just got to know the Focolare. Nothing is more relevant than her message of unity today and her vision of a world which with its diversity and its contradictions can go ahead united even in the midst of polarizations that seem to be tearing our relationships apart. In the words of Cardinal Rylko, one could sense the fraternal friendship he shared for many years 
with the foundress of the Focolare – “We travelled a long stretch of road together” – and his deep awareness of the gift that God had given her. “In the life of a Movement, it is very important to remember its origins,” he stressed. “Just as water is always clearer at the source, the beginning of a charism always presents itself in all of its fascinating beauty and newness. This is how the Movement can better discover its identity. Your most profound identity is contained in the very name of your Movement: the Work of Mary. A special presence of Mary has accompanied you right from the start. This Marian dimension characterizes the whole of your missionary commitment in the world. Pope Francis often speaks of a ‘Marian style of evangelization’ as the one best suited to our times”. He then defined the Focolare people as a “new generation” of men and women, young people and new families who are all in love with the love of God and the ideal of unity. At the end of the celebration, as she thanked all those present, Maria Voce announced that the year dedicated to the centenary of the birth of Chiara Lubich would begin on 7 December. In fact, 2020 will be marked by numerous initiatives and events of various kinds aimed at “celebrating and encountering” Chiara, as the motto of the centenary goes. As the President of the Focolare said, “We would like to celebrate the wave of new and universal life that the charism of unity has brought to our own personal stories and those of many peoples and cultures. We want to do this by giving as many people as possible all over the world the opportunity to ‘meet’ Chiara today so as to get to know her as a person and rediscover the relevance of her charism and the vision she had of the world as a family of brothers and sisters. It is a vision which goes against the current in this age of resurgent individualism and sovereignty. I am sure that a personal and collective encounter with Chiara will continue to inspire people, ideas and projects animated by the spirit of unity.” Celebrations will begin in Chiara’s hometown of Trent, on 7 December this year with the inauguration of a large multimedia exhibition dedicated to Chiara which will also be replicated in various capitals around the world. Groups of people will be visiting Trent throughout the year to learn more about Chiara and her spiritual heritage. During the year, in and around Rome there will be various events giving people the chance to discover the life and work of Chiara in everyday life from the house where she lived to the chapel at the Centre of the Movement where she was laid to rest.
Stefania Tanesini
Mar 13, 2019 | Non categorizzato
We have to admit that eleven years after her death, and as we approach the centenary of her birth in 2020, Chiara Lubich is someone yet to be fully discovered. The best way to reach into the depths of her soul and understand the abundance of light, joy, and fruits that characterised her life, is to see her as she herself wished to be remembered: “the spouse of Jesus forsaken”, the spouse of Jesus on the cross who felt forsaken even by God. Chiara herself said this in one of the monthly conference calls in which she gathered together the focolare communities around the world as one global family. “I would like to be remembered solely as the spouse of Jesus forsaken” . She added: “The fact that it might be possible to define my life in this way (may God help me!) seemed wonderful to me, even though it is so high and even though it is still ‘what I must become’. Yet I perceived it as my vocation”. History and the Church will decide whether Chiara was right and if she reached this goal, but many signs tell us that her “marriage with Jesus forsaken” was the golden thread woven through her entire life and that gave it meaning.
Watercolor by Annemarie Baumgarten
Michel Vandeleene
Mar 11, 2019 | Non categorizzato
A whole town and its Mayor responded to the tragedy of a mother killed by her husband by mobilizing to take care of the children and inventing “Citizens’ Adoption”. It was an act that made the Italian town a winner of the 2019 Chiara Lubich Prize for Fraternity. Alghero is a small town in Sardinia with historical Catalan roots. Here the tragic news of the murder of Michela Fiori, a forty-year-old mother of two children who was killed by her husband, set in motion the generosity and solidarity of an entire community, together with its Mayor, Mario Bruno. In the aftermath of Michela’s death, the Mayor’s phone never stopped ringing. Everyone wanted to do something for her children: from the school bus driver who said he would accompany them to school to the manager of a club that offered to organize their birthday parties. “On Christmas Day I saw the city embrace the children – the Mayor explained. About four thousand people went in procession to Michela’s house. There I felt I had to make a promise: ‘I will take care of your children’. Then it became, ‘We will take care of your children’.” Generosity on the part of so many people led to the idea whereby the Mayor established a “Citizens’ Adoption”. It was an administrative act that, besides expressing solidarity, put the tragic phenomenon of femicide in the spotlight. The “Citizens’ Adoption” means that the 44,000 inhabitants of the town will take care of the two children through a support fund. It will be possible to make donations until the boys are twenty years old, or twenty-six if they decide to go to university. The first donation was from the town council, followed by over 300 citizens. The boys, who now live with their grandmother in Genoa, as decided by the Juvenile Court, appreciate this beautiful gesture. They thanked the Mayor with the simplicity that only children have: they drew a picture of a heart with the name of the Mayor written on it and words that deeply touched the community: “Thank you for everything.” A story of this kind could not go unnoticed by the Jury of the Chiara Lubich Prize for Fraternity. The award is given to local councils that develop effective and concrete projects or community initiatives promoting solidarity. And this is why Alghero won the tenth annual prize. But … the story continues. On 7 April 2019, the Mayor of Alghero will be in Turin, in northern Italy, to keep a promise he made. A few days after the tragedy the elder boy [aged 12] said to the Mayor: “Mum promised to take me to the football match at the stadium on my birthday, April 7th. Now that she’s gone, who will take me?” Mario Bruno’s immediate answer was “I will”. And so it will be. In fact, Giovanni Malagò, president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, has already phoned the Mayor assuring him that he will provide tickets for the Juventus-Milan match. The boys will also be able to see their favourite player, Ronaldo, who has said he will be available to meet them. Of course, for the children, the Mayor is just their friend Mario. Once a shop assistant asked for their documents when he was making a payment and they exclaimed, “But doesn’t she know you’re the Mayor”?
Paolo De Maina
Mar 10, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Mercy is a love that fills the heart. It can then be poured out for others in society around us, whether neighbours or strangers. Traveling companion I was in prison for 19 months, guilty of having added elements to the wines I was marketing. Inside, however, with the help of a priest and some people who would come and volunteer, I was able to reflect and discover a different God than the one I had been taught about. I faced this trial with a renewed soul and began to experience true freedom, which is within and comes from loving our neighbour. The relationship with my wife changed and I was even reconciled with my in-laws. Not just that: I felt ready to forgive my partner, who was also responsible for perpetuating the fraud. Now that I have served my time, even if the future looks full of uncertainty, I know that God the Father is my traveling companion. (Javier, Argentina) Words of light My wife and I were alternating between outbursts and endless silences, with both of us hurting, as well as our children. Even though some friends tried to help, each of us remained firm in our position, and it seemed the marriage was ending. Blinded by anger, I had gotten to the point of thinking that it would be better to leave or even end it for good. Luckily, in that hell, some of the words that had once enlightened me came to mind: words of forgiveness, of love. As a Christian I was truly off track! During a good half of a sleepless night spent fighting back my pride, I woke my wife to ask her to help me humbly remember the happy moments that we had shared. We embraced and asked each other for forgiveness. (A husband in Africa) Rain One evening I felt quite tired and I would have liked to say to the kids to go to their rooms to say their prayers on their own, since I wanted to go to bed right away. But John, our oldest son, proposed that we say the rosary together to ask for rain – it had not rained for some time and our corn and potato crops were at risk. So we prayed together. To my surprise, that same night it started to rain and continued through the afternoon the following day. (B. M., Uganda) In the hospital An extremely poor woman, a mother who had been in the hospital for many months, needed help to eat, but the staff could not do this as well as all their other work. We let all our parish friends know, and one at a time we went to help her. Despite the situation seeming endless, she improved a bit, began responding to medicines and smiled. When the person she shared a room with died, in their will they left her a small sum to help her family. Love is contagious… (C. C., Spain)
Mar 8, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Peace can be built in a thousand different ways. Sometimes you also need places in which to meet – a place for dialogue, spirituality, study and formation. The Focolare’s project for Jerusalem. https://vimeo.com/319521770
Mar 7, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Located on the border between the Jewish and Arab sections of Jerusalem, it will be a place of spirituality, study, dialogue and formation for the Holy City and for the whole world. A French historian once wrote that Jerusalem does not belong to Jerusalem, because it is a city of the world, a city where people of the whole world meet, again and again, face to face, to confront each other and to challenge each other. It is a place where some seek to practise peaceful cohabitation – while others seek war, where some strive to spread a sense of common belonging – while others try to spread hatred. In fact, it is easy to give in to the temptation to see only what the almost daily news reports tell us about the Holy City – about the violence between the Jews and the Palestinians and the unending struggle of the Christians… But is this all there is to Jerusalem? Is there still room for hope and for the prophetic role this city has for the entire world? Chiara Lubich was always convinced that there is room for hope. She went to the Holy Land for the first time in 1956 and among the holy places she visited, there was one in particular that moved her. It’s called the “Scaletta,” and it refers to the ancient Roman white stone steps, just outside the walls of the old city, next to the church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. According to tradition, Jesus walked along those steps in the evening after the Last Supper, on his way to the garden of Gethsemane. Also according to tradition, it was on those very stones that he uttered his prayer for unity: “Father that all may be one…” Here is how Chiara Lubich described the strong impression this place had on her. In her diary she wrote: “It was here that their Teacher, whose hour of death was drawing near, prayed to the Father. His heart was full of tenderness for his disciples, who had, yes, been chosen by Heaven, but who were still weak and without understanding. Jesus prayed to the Father in his own name and in the name of all those for whom he had come and for whom he was ready to die: “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one” (Jn 17:11 NRSV). There he called upon the Father to make us his children, even though we were far from him through our own fault, and to make us brothers and sisters, in the strongest unity, that which is divine.”[1] From that moment, it was Chiara’s desire that a centre for dialogue and unity could one day be born on this tiny piece of land. In the 1980’s there came an important turn of events. A plot of land adjacent to the Roman steps became available. Slowly the project advanced and approval was granted in 2016. Recently the excavations for the building works have been carried out. The future “Centre for Unity and Peace” received a precise mandate from Chiara: it is to be a place of spirituality, study, dialogue and formation. It is to be a place open to people of different ages, cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. It must foster encounters and opportunities to learn about others and so promote authentic relationships. Another decisive moment came in February 2019, when Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, placed a small medal of Our Lady into the soil as an important initial sign for the construction of this centre. The project is to be a multi-purpose structure, suitable for hosting events and initiatives of various kinds at both local and international levels. It is now possible to contribute in various ways to support the construction of the centre. Click here for all the necessary information.
Stefania Tanesini
[1] Chiara Lubich, Scritti Spirituali/1: L’attrattiva del tempo moderno, Citta Nuova Editrice, p.172-179
Mar 5, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Pierre-Andre Blanc’s death has been defined “a mystery” and “a shock” by many people. Pierre was a Swiss focolarino who died after a period of deep depression. Those who knew him, however, are sure that he found peace in that God-Love to whom he gave convincing witness in many different situations. “Your departure, Pierre-André, was too sudden for us. But your word of life, taken from the book of Isaiah (43:1) ‘I have called you by name: you are mine’ gives us an intuition of the love with which we think God welcomed you into paradise.” These words concluded the address given by Denise Roth and Markus Näf, jointly responsible for the focolare town of Montet, Switzerland, at Pierre-André Blanc’s funeral. They summarized the conflicting feelings of many of those present: on the one hand, an indescribable perplexity about his death and, on the other, trust and, indeed, the certainty that he has found true life. Fifth of six children, Pierre-André was born on April 2 1962 in Sion, Switzerland and grew up in Ayent, a small village in the Valais. His family was always very loving. He trained as a specialist educator and later completed theological studies. In 1980, he went to the Genfest in Rome, an international youth event organised by the Focolare Movement and it was there that he first came into contact with the spirituality of the Movement. He was impressed “by the quality of the relationships between people and by the joy that was evident on their faces” as he would later write. When he returned home, he began to allow the words of the gospel to impact upon his everyday life. He had been accustomed to “meeting” God when he was skiing during retreats in the mountains but he then discovered a new way of relating to God as he loved the people around him in concrete and practical ways. While attending a workshop on social issues, he suddenly and unexpectedly found himself in front of someone who spoke of his total donation to God. In Pierre-André a question arose: what if God were to call me to live like this person? He later wrote, “My fears of following God in a totalitarian way were not able to withstand his intervention in my life. I simply tried to show commitment in living the gospel and God did the rest. I understood how much he wanted my happiness and, above all, that in his eyes, I had enormous value. It seemed obvious to say yes to Jesus, to follow him where I felt he was calling me – to the focolare.” In 1989, he began his formation and preparation for a life of donation to God in the focolare. Those who knew him at this time describe him as sensitive to everything that “spoke” of God. They say that was able to grasp the essential in what was happening around him and in other people. At the end of the time of formation, Pierre-André entered the focolare in Geneva, Switzerland, and in 2006 he moved to the little town of Montet. For many years he made a valuable contribution to the life of the focolare community there, assisting other people in a variety of ways but always with generosity, practicality and discretion. In the professional field, he worked as an educator, first with children with physical disabilities and then with young people with learning difficulties. He always showed a deep capacity to be close to other people who were suffering. He had a fine sense of humour and, in everything he did, Pierre-André gave unreservedly of himself. At the end of May 2018, he showed the first symptoms of depression. He immediately received medical help but, after a month, he had to be admitted to a clinic. At a certain point he was able to return to Montet at weekends. In October 2018, he left the clinic and returned to the focolare whilst remaining under the care of a specialist doctor. At this time, the other focolarini were especially attentive to him, supporting and accompanying him during this phase of life. He was continuously in donation to others and it seemed that his condition was beginning to improve. However, in the end the disease was stronger and on November 28 it ended his life in a very sudden way. In spite of the shock, Pierre-André’s funeral was an expression of great gratitude from everyone for his life and for the delicate love he showed until the very end.
Joachim Schwind
Mar 4, 2019 | Non categorizzato
This focolare little town in Switzerland has two schools for young people: one for the formation and training of focolarini and the other for young people who wish to deepen their understanding and experience of the spirituality of unity. Dialogue and exchange between generations and cultures are distinguishing features of life in Montet. Michael, a boy from Mali, described life in this little focolare town as follows, “It is a community that works together – body and soul – to show to the whole of humanity that diversity is not a fault or failure but a grace from God to unite the world.” He was a part of a group of thirty young people from thirteen different countries who followed a year long course of human, spiritual and professional formation. Gospel teachings and Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity underpinned this time of study, work and communitarian life during which people experienced that it is possible to build deep relationships with people of different ages, cultures, traditions and ways of thinking. 
Montet began in 1981 and is situated in a peaceful location, surrounded by green hills and three beautiful lakes, Bienne, Morat and Neuchatel. It is extremely international: its population of about one hundred people comes from thirty-five different countries. About half are young people who stay for a year and the other half are adults who live there permanently and guarantee the continuity of the life of the little town. It is a meeting place for people from five continents, coming from different cultures, religions, Christian Churches and of all generations. It was in Switzerland in the 1960’s that Chiara Lubich first began to envisage and understand what would eventually become the focolare little towns. There are now twenty- five in the world and they are places of witness to the unity of the entire human family. “In Einsiedeln, looking down from the hillside at the basilica and the surrounding area, I understood that the Movement should have a town but that it should not have an abbey and guesthouses but should be made up of homes, work places, and schools like ordinary towns.” There are two formation schools for young people in Montet. One is for the focolarini who are preparing for consecrated life and the other is for young people who want to spend a year living in community and are searching for their vocation. Alejandro from Cuba said, “Being at the school in Montet with people from so many different countries is like the confirmation that, irrespective of our diversity, a united world is possible if we all want it. It means learning from each other every day and trying to build unity with love. It’s a marvellous adventure.” Andre from Brazil explained, “In the little town, young people can study ethics, sociology, theology, intercultural dialogue and deepen their understanding of the spirituality of unity. This study can form the basis of their attitudes in the work they do now but is also a preparation for professional life. It will help them show responsibility and consistency in all areas of society in the future.” He continued, “In addition, thanks to the respect between generations, you understand that no one is superior to anyone else but you are actually responsible for one another. As a consequence, older people become younger in their outlook on life and younger people become more responsible.” For Gloria from Argentina, the intercultural aspect – namely, dialogue, exchange and cultural enrichment – is the distinctive feature of the little town. “We have had to learn to do something really important with our diversity. It was difficult because it seemed that we couldn’t understand one another but by loving we came to a solution regarding practical matters and we understood one another in transcendent things. Living with other people has enabled me to discover the best in them but also what is really good in my own culture. I’ve discovered how important other people are in my life and I think we shouldn’t be afraid to open up and discover their ‘world.’” In Montet “there are the answers to the questions we ask every day” said Ivona from Serbia. The little town is “a gift from God.” And as Larissa left for Brazil, she said, “It is a multicultural, multigenerational family.”
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Mar 3, 2019 | Non categorizzato
A Summer School offers its contribution through researchers and lecturers from nine American and European countries. Equality is one of the basic principles of democratic societies. Yet, discrimination persists in many countries of the world. We spoke about this with Paula Luengo Kanacri, a pyschologist and lecturer at the Catholic University of Chile, a scholar at the Research Centre for Conflict and Social Cohesion. You have been involved in the social exclusion issue for a number of years. What led you to become so interested? I would say it has been the history of my people and my own personal story. Chile is a country of 
great contrasts: substantial economic growth and considerable inequality. Then, my mother came from a rich family while my father’s family was a poor. I have experienced the pain of inequality. I studied pyschology, and when I met the youth of the Focolare Movement, I started to embrace the idea that a different world is possible. After my graduation, I began to nurture an interest in prosocial behaviour and empathy; both are a support to social inclusion. An experience with the homeless, in Rome, left a strong impact on me. I have touched the pain of many who are marginalized, not only through invisible situations but also through others that are made to be invisible. To understand the mechanisms that favour inclusion or deny it, one needs to look into its different perspectives, disciplines and lines of thought. This is what we tried to propose during the Summer School recently held in Chile. The theme was: “Human development for all: social sciences in dialogue for an inclusive society”. How did the idea of a Summer School come about? Student movements in Chile, active since 2011, managed to obtain a historical reform through which the most disadvantaged students are today granted free university education. But a more creative effort is also required from academics. The idea of the Summer School originated from the fact that I participate in “Psychology & Communion” and “Social One”, international networks of researchers and scholars in the fields of psychology and sociology, inspired by Chiara Lubich. The Research Centre for Conflict and Social Cohesion (COES) and the Catholic University of Chile supported the idea. Who participted? And how was it? 
The school brought together 67 young people and 21 professors involved in 8 different social subjects; they came from 9 American and European countries. Four Chilean civil society organizations participated as well. The four research lines we dealt with were: inclusion and fairness, inclusion and migration, inclusion and inequality, inclusion and violation of rights. We offered 8 workshops on survey techniques regarding the study on inclusion from a unitary point of view. Dialogue with civil society proved to be a very important item on our programme. More than half of our young participants presented research projects. We wanted the Summer School itself to be an experience of social inclusion, capable of initiating a dialogue that is scientifically oriented and that goes beyond polarization.The people who participated had different ideas and orientations, even politically. We tried to ensure that the different topics were not discussed polemically or in a polarized way; but we aimed at being together on the common path to social inclusion, thus leaving no space for discrimination and segregation of gender, race, ethnicity and class. An inclusive society needs responses that integrate the individual level with the micro, meso and macro social levels. During our next Summer School we would like to discuss the environment issue from the inclusion point of view.
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Mar 1, 2019 | Non categorizzato
“A life for unity”: with this headline, the Schönstatt Movement announced the death of Fr Michael Johannes Marmann, their former Superior General, on the evening of 26 February 2019, at the age of 81. He has long been a key figure for this apostolic movement which had its beginnings in Germany in 1912. Michael Johannes Marmann was born in 1937 in Berlin, Germany, the oldest of three brothers. He studied Philosophy and Theology and was ordained in 1963 in Cologne. He then continued his studies in Tubinga and Ratisbona. Interestingly, in 1973 he completed his doctorate under the tutelage of a certain Professor Josef Ratzinger, who never lost contact with his student, even after becoming Pope Benedict. They continued to meet every year – often in recent years at the Focolare Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo – to discuss current theological issues. At the time of his priestly ordination, Fr Marmann learned about the Schönstatt Movement and its founder, Fr Josef Kentenich, who at that time was living in exile in Milwaukee (USA) at the request of the ecclesial authorities. After a personal meeting with him, Fr Marmann decided to enter the Secular Institute of Schönstatt Fathers. He was appointed as a spiritual director for youth, and was later involved in pastoral work for priests, families and mothers. From 1983 to 1991 he was responsible for the Movement in Germany. In 1990 the Schönstatt Fathers elected him as their Superior General and Moderator of the Presiding Council. Fr Marmann’s service in these roles was characterized by his great openness to dialogue and his dedication to the quality of relationships both within the Movement and beyond. His commitment to strengthening the unity of the large and varied work founded by Fr Kentenich, led him naturally towards increased communion with other Movements, firstly within the Church in Germany and then most notably as part of the “Together for Europe” network. He was at the heart of those deep friendships and the spiritual unity which developed between representatives of different movements, including Helmut Niklas of YMCA in Munich, Germany, Andrea Riccardi of the Sant’Egidio Community and, of course Chiara Lubich. In her message of condolence, Maria Voce, Focolare Movement President, recalled the “significant steps on this journey”. One of these was the Alliance of love affirmed by Chiara Lubich, Andrea Riccardi and Fr Marmann in 1999 at the Schönstatt Shrine in front of Fr Kentenich’s tomb. Maria Voce said she was certain that “Mary, Mother Thrice Admirable, will have accompanied Fr Marmann to the joyful encounter with Christ in his reign of peace”.
Joachim Schwind
Feb 28, 2019 | Non categorizzato
In our personal and social lives we can find ourselves in an atmosphere of growing hostility and competition. As Christians we can go against this current by initiating attempts to rebuild damaged or broken relationships. Separation After two years of marriage, our daughter and her husband decided to separate. We welcomed her back into our home. In moments of tension we tried to keep calm. With forgiveness and understanding in our hearts, we tried to maintain a relationship of openness towards her and towards her husband. We especially tried not to make judgments about anyone. After three months of continuous listening, discreet help and many prayers, they got back together – with new awareness, trust and hope. (M.L. – Malta) As a sign of forgiveness I thought I had always done my duty as a Christian, as mayor of my town and as a father. When, however, my 33-year-old son, the father of two young children, was killed during a robbery, I rebelled against God. Why had all this happened? Later, I started on a journey of true conversion, during which I understood that God himself had given his Son out of love for us. Five years later the trial began. In the courtroom I avoided even looking at the defendants. Unexpectedly, I met the eyes of the youngest of the killers. I approached him. I held out my hand to shake his, as a sign of forgiveness. (C.S. – Italy) New atmosphere in the department I am the manager of a company department and at the end of the year I have to do annual reviews of my employees. One employee had not given me much information for her evaluation, so I asked her to come in for an interview. Thanks to this, I discovered that I knew hardly anything about her. This meeting opened my eyes. It prompted me to change things, to promote various initiatives to show that we appreciate our employees – by celebrating their birthdays, and by organising parties with their families. Not only has the atmosphere in the department improved, but the output has also increased. (M.T. – Hungary) The ball We have two very lively children. One morning I saw Nathan crying and Claire holding his ball. I immediately took it and gave it back to him. Nathan stopped crying, but Claire started to cry. So I took her aside to explain to her that Jesus taught us to love and to share. Even though she is still a child, she understood and let her little brother keep the ball. There have been many situations in which I was just about to punish her, but instead I managed to find love and patience within me. Now she is always ready to help me. (J.N.J. – Philippines)
Feb 26, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The image of a country saturated by political and ideological conflicts, widely portrayed in Brazilian media in general, tends to hide the reality of those who act for the common good. Through dialogue and tangible acts of solidarity, they are able to take on diverging opinions. Though marked by strong political and ideological polarization, Brazil is silently growing seeds of a society that is renewed and open to dialogue, solidarity, and moving towards building relationships of fraternity. This is occurring in political spheres, as well as in civil and cultural ones as well. After having covered ventures put forward by various organisations, religious or not, to promote political reflection built on dialogue – a response to the growing question of the new culture of participatory democracy – we now want to put the spotlight on the commitment of many in the field of solidarity and volunteering. Typically, political action is guided by a sense of solidarity with those who suffer. In 2016, the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro began delaying its paying public servants’ salaries. Beyond the struggles in court and the numerous political protests against such measures, a network of solidarity has arisen since then supporting those workers and their families, who suffered the most because of the situation. These gestures, both by individuals and groups, multiplied throughout the state. To help the families in difficulty, an array of organisations mobilised to collect funds, make food baskets, buy medicines and cover other elementary needs. The archdiocese and other Catholic dioceses of Rio de Janeiro, like other churches and Christian communities, worked in collaboration with Muspe, the Movimento Unficado dos Servidores Publicos Estaduais. A similar situation saw close to 40 Brazilian civil and religious agencies work together to take in refugees, mostly from Venezuela. Some of these agencies carried out emergency actions (providing food, medicine, medical and psychological help), while others helped refugees obtain Brazilian residency by preparing the necessary documentation, Portugese language courses, housing and employment. These agencies were especially active in the border region between the two countries, as well as other areas where refugee families were sent in an attempt to offer them better housing and employment opportunities. Projects of this type reflect the hopes of many Brazilians to continually reach those most in need of help. Perhaps it is this urge that supports the data from the “Other Forms of Work” survey, which was carried out in 2017 and recently published by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). According to the study, 7.4 million people volunteered that year, the equivalent of 4.4% of the 14-and-older population. The researchers define “volunteer” as any non-obligatory work that is carried out at least an hour a week, without receiving any compensation or benefit in exchange, by people who do not live in the same family and are not their family. According to this research, volunteers in Brazil are typically women who, in addition to their volunteer work, have their professional and domestic work as well. Another example that comes from the Focolare Movement is Milonga, a programme that joins non-governmental organisations, who carry out social work in seven towns, with young people who want to combine their training with volunteering, giving their time and talent. As of October 2018, 75 volunteers with the project have worked in 19 organisations in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay, Kenya and Jordan. “I learned that the essence of life is not having, but being. Sometimes we are full of many things, but what truly counts are those things that remain for eternity in the present moment,” said Rarison Gomes, 30, originally from Manaus. The experience of volunteering coincides with young people taking up key roles, a trend that is growing among Brazilian teens who hope to progress from political deliberation to action. One significant example is the experience of the Coletivo Juventude Campo Cidade, which began more than 10 years ago with a conversation among friends in the small town of Poço Redondo, in the state of Sergipe in Northeast Brazil. Some of these young people were already active in social movements in an area called Alto Sertão Sergipano. Spurred on by the election of 2008, these young people decided to create a political training programme for other young people in the area. Despite being without funds and having little support, the group organised a course with 11 steps that lasts a year and a half. At the beginning of the project there was clear awareness: what was needed was training and getting to know the situation in order to take on social action in the region. “There was this feeling of wanting to change society, and this grew at every stage of the course,” says Damião Rodrigues Souza, part of the group who came up with the idea. At the end of the first course, the young people concluded that the experience they had begun there needed to continue, based on three pillars: training, organisation, effort. The last of these pillars took shape within a series of projects that produced effective results. The course was included on a campus of a public federal university in the region. The young people themselves built a public theatre that can hold 200 people at Poço Redondo. The federal government donated a previously unused piece of land to be used by the young people to grow organic products. These and many other examples of dialogue and political participation are isolated and spread throughout Brazil’s more than 8 million square kilometres. But just like other tangible actions that build a more just and fraternal society, they bear witness to a picture that is much healthier than the simple political polarization that the greater part of Brazilian society is being led by. For those playing a key role in these actions, hope lies in their conviction that the examples and the real results are able to attract “followers” and to give strength to their role. It will be fundamental to unite people and favour the common good, beyond any political or ideological divide.
Luís Henrique Marques
Feb 26, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The image of Brazil in the world today, partly thanks to the media, risks being a country saturated by political and ideological disagreements. Luís Henrique Marques, editor-in-chief at Cidade Nova magazine, shows us around Brazilian society, uncovering an often-unknown truth: many there act in favour of the common good. Going by what the commercial media broadcast each day, Brazil seems immersed in political and ideological polarization, much like other areas around the globe. But what the mainstream media does not show is that the situation in Brazil is not just made up of political or ideological conflicts. The quiet actions of many “pioneers” of this still-young, inexperienced democracy show that there is the potential to make political relationships a space to dialogue and a place to build up its citizenry. Cidade Nova magazine is one of the channels committed to covering this unknown side of the Brazilian situation, which is still a bit new and limited to isolated facts. Yet altogether, it shows a Brazil beyond the political and ideological divide. Space for dialogue To start we need to recognise that despite the crisis created by polarized positions in the political and ideological debate, many experts tend to see Brazil hopefully and optimistically. The main reason for this is that many Brazilian citizens are interested in understanding and discussing political questions and those relating to governing. They are convinced they need to take on their roles as citizens, fully knowing and participating when it comes to “public stuff”. “Dialogue groups”, as they’re called, have increased and multiplied. They have been promoted by parishes or Catholic pastoral groups, groups from other Christian churches and other religions (including ecumenical and interfaith projects), nongovernmental organisations, collectives and other organisations in civil society. The goal is to promote political reflection through dialogue and an exchange of experiences. This particularly increased during the second half of 2018, following the election cycle. These are small “islands”, yet they reflect the potential of Brazil’s citizens to participate in democracy. This is definitely the case for Focolare groups throughout the various areas of Brazil. Driven by a specific issue, young people and adults of various religious and political beliefs, and from a number of social backgrounds, began a discussion on the current political situation, its hurdles and possibilities. Many of these meetings went beyond the discussion about the electoral process and opened up to practical actions promoting politics that favour the local community. The “Citizenship School”, also promoted by Focolare, is an online course whose topics respond to the wider questions of a new culture of participatory democracy. The first block of lessons covers the subject of dialogue (focolares.org.br/escoladecidadania). Another project – the “Pact for Democracy” – came out of a collaboration between various civil organisations in Brazil, including the for Movement for Politics and Policies for Unity. It began with the aim to support pluralism, tolerance and coexistence in diversity throughout society, and works in three directions. Firstly, it reaffirms dialogue as a virtuous comparison of ideas. Secondly, it defends fair elections so that they can effectively represent citizens and restore the foundations of trust and validity to the political context. Thirdly, it aims to establish wide political reform at the end of the electoral process. Finally, the traditional “fraternity campaign”, which is promoted annually by the Brazilian bishops conference during Lent, has become a space to dialogue and promote real action in parish communities concerning religious, cultural, social, economic and political issues in Brazilian society. This year, the campaign proposes the faithful reflect on the theme of “public politics and fraternity”. (continues)
Luís Henrique Marques
Feb 24, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The project “Why fai il bullo?”(Why are you a bully?) aims at training teenagers help their peers deal with this phenomenon. Teenagers are trained to understand bullying, to prevent it and also to be upstanders in bullying situations. 
Bullying is repeated aggressive behaviour through which school-aged children intimidate and abuse their peers. This is a widespread phenomenon among teenagers, both on a personal level and also through cyberbullying.It involves the bullies, the victims and groups of friends,who are often either frightened or become accomplices. What can be done? A project set up by the bNet Association, a branch of “Rete Progetto Pace” (Peace Network Project),which is an international network of schools, bodies and associations that collaborate to promote a culture of peace, aims at training children and empowering them against bullying. Marco Provenzale, president of the Association spoke to us about this project. – What does the project “Why fai il bullo?” consist of? Bullying is the product of conflict, and we believe that the best way to stop it is to make children understand its origin, and give them the necessary tools to understand conflicts and solve them through the support they give one another. At the core of this project one finds the “Peer Mediation Group”, set up in each school. The students in this group are trained to manage and resolve conflicts. Lessons and role-plays help them acquire well-developed skills not only to solve conflicts, but also to prevent them. They are trained to detect potentially damaging situations in their daily school life in order to address them before these degenerate into more serious ones. The group also offers a mediation service through techniques and rules agreed upon by each school. We deal with students aged between 11 and 15 years. This European project was set up in 2015 after some associations answered the call to “Join Forces to Combat Cyberbullying in Schools”. It can also be implemented in other countries. 
-Does the project also include parallel activities? Yes it does; it offers monthly training sessions and organizes annual events, amongst which is an intercultural and humanitarian journey. Training sessions for teachers and parents are also being planned. We consider the joint effort of the association, school and families as one of the added values of this initiative. -This project is promoted by bNET Association, a branch of “Rete Progetto Pace”. What are the objectives of this network? For almost thirty years, “Rete Progetto Pace” has been contributing to an integral education for children. It promotes collaboration between schools and associations, at a local and international level; it studies young people’s views on current issues and promotes experiences of voluntary work. The project also encourages artistic and expressive talents, leadership skills and and technical skills in postive use of the media. Further information may be found on: www.reteprogettopace.it or by writing to: direttivo@reteprogettopace.it.
Anna Lisa Innocenti
Feb 20, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Full of good sense and good humor, Klaus Purkott knew better than most the value of listening to others. A man of few words, throughout his life Klaus Purkott forged relationships through his exceptional capacity to listen deeply. He helped and accompanied countless people, wherever he was, and lived to fulfilment his dedication to God as a Focolarino. For more than twenty years he worked as a legal practitioner around Berlin’s Civil Court, where he was well known for accepting the cases of people who could not afford legal fees. He was held in high esteem by clients and colleagues alike for his ability to resolve even the most problematic cases, often in surprising and unconventional ways! He was always particularly happy to get involved in those situations which seemed impossible to solve. Klaus attributed this preferential love for those people who found themselves in real trouble to his communist upbringing. He was born on 31 December 1936, in Upper Silesia, a largely German-speaking region which became part of Poland at the end of the Second World War. Undeterred by his congenital blindness (his eyes had only about 5 per cent vision), Klaus, after completing his high school education, went on to university to study Marxist philosophy. His father, a basket-maker, had been one of the founders of the Polish Communist Party, and like him, the young Klaus hoped to find the truth of life in Communism. But, as Klaus later explained, “Through my blindness, God soon made me understand how ineffective all my efforts were, and He prepared me to meet Him”. Klaus found a particular light in the figure of Jesus on the cross, who while experiencing the greatest interior darkness, entrusted himself to the Father. This discovery which he made in meeting the Focolare spirituality, transformed his life and led to a new and radical life choice: as a consecrated Focolarino, living his life for others. Apart from in his professional role, Klaus lived his vocation in many other environments: accompanying the many people who turned to him for help, support or advice; offering the benefit of his deep Biblical knowledge through talks and articles; personally sharing his experiences of life. He had that rare combination of a wide-ranging cultural knowledge together with a clarity of expression and a ready sense of humour which he employed so effectively to reduce tensions! In 1999, Klaus had retired from his legal work, and was called to Ottmaring, the ecumenical Focolare village in Germany. His moral authority was immediately recognized by the citizens there. “He was a real senior brother to us,” some of the Focolarini recalled. “He knew how to build relationships, and was someone you could trust.” Remembering Klaus, people say: he was so well-balanced, full of good common sense, so sincere. People sensed his deep relationship with God. In 2008 Klaus returned to Berlin. Then just over two years ago, he suffered a serious accident and the extent of his injuries meant he had to move to a nursing home. This was a new environment for him to witness to living the Word of God. And it was not long before a “Word of Life” group formed around him. Here, he is remembered for his exceptional way of living in the present moment. Not least on January 18, 2019, when he quietly and unexpectedly passed to the next life, during his afternoon nap.
Joachim Schwind
Feb 19, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Small things can change society around us The condominium A very tense situation arose in my condominium after one of my neighbours, who hadn’t been at the last residents’ meeting, sent everyone a formal notice complaining about work carried out on the building which he considered to be illegal. To clear up the situation, I tried to convince the administrator to hold another meeting. Finally, after a lot of trouble, a meeting was held, and the issue was resolved. Since then the situation has really changed. This neighbour is on good terms with everyone and there is a better atmosphere in the condominium. (Alessandra – Italy) My grandfather My grandfather has come to live with us because he has a problem with his eyes and needs a check-up every month. One day, while we were at the doctor’s, I opened my handbag and realised I had left my purse at home. Not knowing how I would pay for the appointment, I entrusted myself to God. Just as I was leaving, the doctor took me aside and said, “There is no charge this time”. He also offered me some free medicine samples. I understood that God does not abandon me if I do things out of love. (Arze – Lebanon) The parcel One day a parcel was delivered to the halls of residence where I live containing jams, conserves and various items of clothing. My parents hadn’t told me they were going to send me a parcel like this. Together with other students who also try to live the Gospel, we decided to give everything to the students we felt needed it most. A few days later, in the porter’s lodge, I overheard a student asking about a parcel that had been sent to him. I suddenly realised the mistake what had gone wrong and that it was because our surnames are nearly the same. I told him everything and we really laughed together. When I told my family what had happened they sent me a parcel for him that was even bigger. That day a real friendship began between us. (C.d.F. – Czech Republic) The supermarket trolleys When I had finished my shopping in the supermarket and was putting back my trolley, I noticed some plastic gloves and vegetable bags in the other trolleys that hadn’t been used. I decided I could take them out and put them in the recycling bin. A little act of love for the next customers. (Annalisa – Switzerland)
Edited by Chiara Favotti
Feb 17, 2019 | Non categorizzato
During the End Poverty Week, many members of the New Youth Movement are taking part in practical activities and campaigns promoting social equality. “The tendency today is towards a slowdown in the reduction of extreme poverty and an increase in the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few. There are a few who have too much, and too many who have too little. Many do not have food to eat and live hand to mouth, while there are a few who are drowning in the superfluous. This perverse current of inequality is disastrous for the future of humanity.” These words sent by Pope Francis last week to the International Fund for Agricultural Development are an accurate description of the struggle against poverty in the world today. The figures quoted in the 2018 United Nations’ report on poverty paint a very grim picture. 821 million people in the world suffered from hunger in 2017, 6 million more people than in the previous year; one person in every ten lives in a situation of extreme poverty with less than $1.25 per day to live on. However, poverty could be overcome if decisive action were taken. What are the causes? Conflict, disease, drought and unemployment. As part of the “Pathways of Economy, Work and Communion” project, members of the New Youth Movement have designated 17 – 23 February, the End Poverty Week, as a time to raise awareness of the problem of poverty. This initiative is part of the United World Project and will consist of actions to overcome inequality and poverty in local areas and education sessions promoting greater understanding of consumerism and the importance of ethical investment and finance. Andres Piccinini, an Argentinian spokesperson for the New Youth Movement said, “We dream of a world in which no one is in need and everyone has the possibility to develop their full potential – in the human, spiritual, economic and professional sense.” There is a formation programme for the people who would like to become more involved. A series of meetings will take place at Polo Lionello Bonfanti, Loppiano, Italy, entitled Economia, Lavoro e Comunione – Economy, Work and Communion. The proposal – to promote and support small initiatives either personally or with others that influence public opinion. The method – to act and then share the experience on social media at #Pathways4unitedworld, #pathway2018, #endpoverty, #unitedworldproject or by writing to Giovani per un Mondo Unito on Facebook or Instagram.
Patrizia Mazzola
Feb 16, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Two days of visits for the General Council of the Focolare to the holy sites – from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem to the Cenacle, from the Garden of Olives to Calvary. Highlights included meetings with local leaders to delve into issues of great relevance for the Holy Land.
Rabbi Ron Kronish and the emeritus Lutheran bishop, Munib Younan.
Joachim Schwind
Feb 15, 2019 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare’s General Council, on retreat in the Holy Land, has just finished three days’ work on the communion of goods, the new generations and the 2020 General Assembly. 
“Jesus, who was buried here and rose from the dead, wants to live in our midst so that we can bring his presence throughout the world.” Those are the words of Jesús Morán, Co-President of the Focolare Movement, after celebrating Mass for the General Council in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Everyone rose at dawn to be able to enter that extraordinary place – one that seems deeply connected with their week-long retreat in the Holy Land. Standing before the tomb left empty by the Risen Jesus, they too posed questions about the future, just as the disciples must have done. Where is the Risen Lord leading the Focolare Movement today? Where should the Movement focus its strength, energy and resources? 
These questions permeated discussions on the three key subjects addressed in Jerusalem. Concerning the “communion of goods, economy and work”, the General Council noted that in all the various parts of the Movement there is a great desire to go back to the radical life of the early days and live the communion of goods with new consistency and commitment. Ways in which this could be enabled concretely were discussed. Consideration of the new generations of the Focolare Movement, the second main subject, was enriched by evaluating the Genfest held last year in Manila and the recent World Youth Day in Panama. Those two events highlighted the great potential of young people and teenagers. This is also seen in their work for the “Pathways for a United World” project and their commitment to “Zero Hunger” by 2030. Thought was given on how to give continuity to individual initiatives. 
The third subject was preparations for the upcoming General Assembly in 2020. The General Council studied ways in which the Assembly can reflect the various vocations within the Movement and their geographical and cultural diversity. They also discussed how to reconcile the need for continuity and the need for innovation that characterise the Movement at present. A commission will shortly be formed to organise the Assembly and their work will be based on these two areas. While the retreat may seem to be made up of questions without answers, that was not the case. While it was agreed not to draw up a statement or guidelines, what came to light is the journey being travelled now, the fruit of the Movement’s life throughout the world. Posing questions about the journey; being challenged by the issues of the day and seeking answers; drawing on the past to look to the future: all this can yield unexpected effects. All this can enable us to meet the Risen Lord on unexpected roads, just as happened to the two disciples who, leaving the empty tomb behind them, set off towards Emmaus.
Joachim Schwind
Feb 14, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Esther is Maori and Tom is of Irish and Scottish descent. Their story turns on its head the principle that there can be no real communication between very different cultures. Son of an Irish mother and a Scottish father, Tom was 26 years old when he arrived in New Zealand. While the Maori people were the first inhabitants of New Zealand, after numerous successive waves of migration it has become a multicultural country. Tom arrived with one of the low-cost flights that the British and New Zealand governments offered to young people willing to stay for at least two years overseas. Esther, on the other hand, is Maori and the oldest of 13 children. The two of them met at a disco and it was love at first sight. “I never noticed that we came from two different cultures,” Tom remembers. “And I didn’t really think about the fact that he was white,” Esther adds. “When I saw her I simply fell in love,” says Tom. The complications came later, when they announced to their families that they wanted to get married. His mother reminded him that he would not be able to take her to England because she isn’t white. Even Esther’s grandmother was not quite sure about Tom. She had already chosen another man for Esther, as she had done before for her own daughter, Esther’s mother. The traditions in the Maori community are strong and difficult to disregard. However, after the initial shock, Tom’s parents learnt to love their Maori daughter-in-law and Tom was welcomed into Esther’s large family. By mutual consent, the children were baptised and educated in the Catholic Church – where Esther belonged and where Tom felt the desire to belong. The first contact with the Focolare took place in 1982 through Father Durning, a Scottish priest who was Tom’s catechist and a missionary to the Maori community. Having been invited to spend a weekend with the women focolarine, Esther and Tom set off with their children. They felt a bit of trepidation… “I was trying to read the Bible – Tom recalls – but I got nothing out of it. Instead, I was struck by a phrase that one of them had said: “Try to see the presence of Jesus in whoever passes you by.” I said to her that if she knew my job at the railways, she would have agreed with me that it just wasn’t possible! I explained that it was such a difficult environment – but she insisted. So I did try it, and my faith became stronger. I had found what I was looking for – a way of living my faith in my daily life.” At their first Mariapolis Esther and Tom found themselves listening to people who shared personal experiences and events “interpreted” in the light of the Gospel – and these stories struck a chord with them. But theirs was not a simple story to tell because Tom had started drinking, a habit that had begun at work. Tom explains what happened next. “One evening, while I was about to have a beer, Esther asked me what I was doing. I understood that I could not continue to live like this; I had a wife and four children. Alcoholism was destroying our family, so I decided I had to stop.” But the life of a family like theirs is never boring and as soon as one challenge was over, another one immediately presented itself. And that’s what happened – after an accident, Tom was forced to leave his job and they decided to swap roles. “Esther went to work and I stayed home to look after the children,” says Tom. “I had to learn to do many things as well as the difficult ‘art’ of loving at home. To our friends, our choice seemed totally against the current. We can’t say that everything went smoothly, but even with our ups and downs, we always found ourselves united. Even when we have different points of view, or when I get fixed on an idea, I remember that Chiara Lubich taught us to always be the first to love, to apologize and never to lose the courage to keep on loving.” As Esther says, “For 46 years the spirituality of unity has become our daily lifestyle. I understand that God has given us a beautiful life. He has set us high goals and given us the faithfulness we need to reach them. So, for now, we keep going ahead.”
Gustavo E. Clariá
Feb 13, 2019 | Non categorizzato
At times the closest relationships turn out to be the most difficult ones. Such was the experience of Miso Kuleif and her father. “I have always had a difficult relationship with my father. Neither I nor the rest of the family have ever managed to get along well with him, and because of this we suffered a lot. Yet, there was a precise moment in my life when I discovered that my father really loves me and that I love him too”. Miso Kuleif, a 24 year old young girl, introduced her experience with these words. She was born in Jordan, but has been living in Italy with her family for more than twenty years. Miso’s father suffered from health problems for quite a long time, but the situation was at its worst about three years ago when he ugently needed liver transplant surgery. He chose to have the operation done in Jordan, as there, unlike Italy, the donor can be alive. “The problem was to find a donor”, Miso continued, “and therefore to find someone willing to undergo compatibility checks. When I got to know this, it did not take much to decide. I left with my father to undergo the necessary tests”. “From where did I get this strength? I have been living the spirituality of unity for some years and this helped” – she explained. “I met the Focolari in my hometown through the Diocesan Movement that promotes the spirituality of unity in many dioceses and parishes. During our meetings, we have often spoken about loving others as the Gospel teaches and about being ready to give our life to others. Now I couldn’t back out. If we have the chance to save a life, we cannot refrain from doing it”. Miso left Italy; she interrupted her university studies without knowing when she would be back. Her experience in Jordan was quite tough. “I was there alone, surrounded by a family to whom I did not seem to belong. If I had to undergo surgery, I could not have the comfort of the ones I wanted to be near”. But she moved on. Tests proved that Miso’s organ was not compatible with her father’s. After a short while a donor was found; it was her father’s brother, the only one who accepted to do the necessary checks. “It took me quite a while to metabolize this experience. Thanks also to members of the Movement who were quite close to me, I realized that I love my father, even though it is difficult for me to admit it. It is easier to hate someone, but it is much more harmful. The real problem was not the situation itself, but the way I dealt with it. I learned that we can always be happy, and this depends on us. The Gospel says: “Freely you have received, freely give”. Now I know how important these words are. If my life were different, maybe it would have been simpler, but I would not be the one I am today”.
Feb 12, 2019 | Non categorizzato
‘We have to work together and have the courage to make things work.’ Loris Rossetto spoke with conviction at the recent ‘Co-Governance, Mutual Responsibility in Cities Today’ where he recounted the story of ‘Bella Calabria’ a hostel which is operating from a building confiscated from the Mafia. ‘Sometimes we mistakenly tell ourselves ‘nothing ever changes’ or, ‘it’s better not to take the risk’. However, when we roll up our sleeves and work as a team, you get results.’ This is the experience of Loris Rossetto and his wife, who, having left Calabria in the 1990’s to live in Venice and then Trent. On returning to their home region in 2005, they set up activities in buildings confiscated from the N’drangheta, as the Mafia is known there. Having experienced efficient ways of working up north, they wanted to combine the warmth, natural resources and culture of the south and develop, ‘A unique kind of tourism, characterised by the welcome and friendship that is typically Calabrian. Their goal was to promote the economic growth of the region, but above all to create friendships with people from other countries. They wanted to encourage the local population to work for the common good, without breaking the law, and to believe that the rejuvenation of the area was possible. The facts speak for themselves. In Calabria there are 35 local Councils that the state has taken out of the hands of the Mafia, including the regional capital. Half the drugs entering Italy pass through the region. But as the Rossetto’s experience showed, the scourge of the Mafia will not triumph for those who have the courage to promote a new way of relating to each other. ‘We started off by founding ‘Friends of the German Language,’ explained Loris, ‘wanting to promote exchanges between our town and German speaking countries. The first project was the creation of a meeting centre. Then we had the idea of opening the ’Bella Calabria’ hostel in a reclaimed building in Cutro, a village in Crotone province. On the 11thApril 2015 the building was opened. “We created a programme of classes,” continued Loris, “48 hours at the hostel with the motto ‘a happy person is one who respects the rules’. It was subtitled, ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.’ They absorbed this idea and understood that to work as part of a team is good thing. The students learn foreign languages through simulation and dialogue in those languages.” But the first stages in this adventure were a steep learning curve. And it wasn’t because the couple didn’t understand what they had to do regarding finance or tourism. In the summer water is scarce. They have to store water in tanks, but it is never enough. However, luckily, the following year a Council was elected that really wanted to support and help them, and now they have better water distribution. The couple saw this as a sign from heaven to encourage them to keep going. And so bit by bit the project continued to grow. People came from the north of Italy as well as guests from Europe, a hockey team from Hamm, a class from Dresden and the German Red Cross. Everyone experienced the warmth of Calabrian hospitality and the local people, who were at first nonplussed, became interested in the project. “The people of Cutro have responded amazingly,” observed Loris, “Quite often a surprised tourist told us they had gone into a bar and were offered a coffee or a neighbour brought them fresh fruit. Our guests are so struck by all this that they fall in love with the place and the hostel, and those who come once, often return. We understand we’re on the right track. We are going to open a second hostel at Crotone, and have put forward a project which involves 3 parks: at Cropani Marina we want to teach driver’s education using mini-cars. We’ll offer a mountain biking course in Isola and a course in botany in Ciro. There are still problems with these projects, but it will work out in the end.” The common denominator is strong motivation and an invitation: ‘Never stop dreaming; stand with your feet on the ground and look up to heavens if you want to love and improve your own environment.’
Claudia Di Lorenzi
Feb 11, 2019 | Non categorizzato
“Together for a new Africa” is an innovative leadership course for young leaders from across Africa. Over 100 participants attended from 13 different nations. “Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.” This famous Allan T. Armstrong quote sums up the spirit of the leadership course for over 100 young leaders from 12 nations of East Africa as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo which took place in January at the Focolare “Mariapoli Piero” centre near Nairobi. It is the first in a series of Summer Schools under the ambitious title of “Together for a new Africa”. One of the pioneers of this course is Burundian Melchior Nsavyimana, a lecturer in political studies and currently Coordinator at the Institute for Regional Integration at the Catholic University of East Africa. He described the aim of the first course as “to explore and experience an idea of leadership which is both rooted in the values of the African continent and also able to respond to today’s challenges; leadership which acts in a ‘communitarian’ way, which builds community, using the instruments and language of universal fraternity. If this is something which will affect our future, it deserves our commitment now. And we turn to the fundamentals of the culture of unity”. The effectiveness of this endeavor is facilitated by the close collaboration of a network of interested bodies: Sophia University Institute, The Politics for Unity Movement, the New Humanity NGO, with the cooperation of UNESCO and support from Caritas and Missio. The idea was first born as an initiative of an international group of African students attending the Sophia University Institute, in Loppiano, Italy. Together they decided to make a joint commitment to work for a new Africa, starting from the transformation and cultural renewal of its leadership. Twenty lecturers from East Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Sophia Institute delivered the first sessions in a three-year interdisciplinary and intercultural program covering themes such as responsible citizenship, leadership, a ‘culture of fraternity’, in order to tackle head-on the difficulties facing this continent. “The journey has just begun,” announces the program’s website [togetherforanewafrica.org]. “Africa (particularly Eastern Africa) is undergoing a very complex series of demographic, political, social and cultural changes. One of the effects of these changes is the increase of uncertainty they produce. Young people often lack the tools required to understand the changes in progress, and remain passive in the face of the conflicting demands of politicians, armed groups, multinationals etc. Having analyzed this context, we African graduates of Sophia University Institute, understood our responsibility as African young people to define actively with fellow youth the Africa we want in future as it is proposed by African Union Agenda 2063. The contribution of our initiative is to offer African young people an integral training on responsible leadership and create a network among them for acting together for the Africa they want.”
edited by Stefania Tanesini
Feb 11, 2019 | Non categorizzato
This year the Focolare Movement’s General Council has chosen a significant venue for its annual retreat: the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. The Ecumenical Institute at Tantur, located on the border between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, is an oasis of hospitality and fellowship. It welcomes anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the complex reality of Jerusalem, with its many cultures, peoples, religions and Christian traditions. That is why it is a suitable location for the annual retreat of the General Council of the Focolare Movement, being held there from 10-17th February. Friederike Koller and Angel Bartol, the central delegates of the Movement and organisers of the retreat, said this meeting embraces past, present and future. “A journey to the Holy Land is always a pilgrimage that calls on us to look to the past, to the historical foundations of the Christian faith and its roots in Judaism. Regarding the present, we will address one of the principle themes of the year 2019, which is the aspect of the ‘communion of goods, economy and work’. The intention is to reclaim within the Movement as a whole a radical Gospel lifestyle concerning the communion of goods, including material goods. Then, on the basis of an alternative lifestyle imbued with the charism of unity, we will seek answers to the economic challenges that present themselves today. We will also look to the future, considering two important subjects: work for and with the new generations, and preparations for the General Assembly in 2020.” Angel Bartol emphasised the importance of thoroughly applying the chosen working method, considering there are 62 participants at the meeting. “Whether we work in plenary or in small groups, we are always on pilgrimage. We feel we are continuously journeying with Jesus who wants to be present, living and active in our midst. This is possible when each one of us is ready to offer our point of view without being attached to it”. Friederike Koller added, “In this way we too can make a small contribution towards peace, which the Word of Life for this month encourages us to pursue and that the world, and especially this city, need so much.”
Joachim Schwind
Link: Focolare President Maria Voce’s greeting as the group left for Jerusalem
Feb 10, 2019 | Non categorizzato
On the 2019 World Day of the Sick we share a short reflection by Chiara Lubich on illness and the Focolare Movement’s communities where sick people are living. You know that the whole of our Christian life is revolutionary. It completely changes our way of thinking and goes against the flow. Now, looking at how sick people are considered in the world, we see that in some ways they are considered differently from healthy people, as if they were a separate category, especially if their illness is long term or incurable. Today’s society does not understand the value of suffering. It wants to forget about both suffering and death and so it marginalises the sick. This is something seriously anti-Christian because, of all marginalised people, Jesus Christ on the cross would really be number one. So these particular communities where sick people are living are of course like the others, but they are also special because of the fruit they bear and the witness they give to the world of what suffering means to a Christian. Suffering is a gift God gives to a person. These are not only words said to console ourselves or console the sick. All those who are not well are truly loved by God in a special way, because they are more like his Son. (Chiara Lubich, Perchè mi hai abbandonato?, 1997, pp.108-109)
Feb 8, 2019 | Non categorizzato
A mild-mannered yet decisive man, profoundly convinced that the Gospel is one of the most revolutionary books ever written containing the power to change the world, Marco Aquini lived all his life for this. He left us a month ago, on 4 January. Meeting Marco left its mark. He was one of those rare people whose gaze reached right inside you and touched your heart. A man of few words, he would approach any problem you had with a gentle, practical approach. Any advice he gave was never imposed on you, rather it served to help you draw out solutions from within yourself. Marco was born in 1958 in Udine, Italy. He was one of the first young people to get to know the Focolare Movement in the Friuli region, where the people are known for being serious, industrious and self-disciplined. From a young age he experienced the hard blows that life can bring when his father was killed in a serious accident. But his encounter with the spirituality of the Focolare Movement proved to be a turning point in his life. In 1978, during a summer program with the Gen (the young people of the Focolare Movement), Marco discerned the calling to give himself to God as a Focolarino. At the same time, together with others, he responded to Chiara Lubich’s invitation to sign a pledge to remain faithful to God to the end of his life, which has become known in the Focolare Movement as the “Pact to be faithful right to the end”. On that occasion, Marco wrote to Chiara, “Before I got to know the ‘Ideal’ (the Focolare spirituality), I was closed within my own gilded world. Living the Ideal, I’m now coming out of myself. I go back home conscious of having the powerful potential to change the world in which I live”. From his early years as a Focolarino, his contribution was always whole-hearted and passionate, firstly in Germany, then back in Italy at the Movement’s Centre, where he was involved in establishing two organizations to assist those most in need and to promote peace: AMU (‘Associazione Mondo Unito’/ ‘United World Association’), and ‘New Humanity’ the Focolare’s NGO accredited to the United Nations. For many years he served as counsellor for the aspect of “Communion of Goods, Economy and Work” at the Focolare’s international centre, and was for some years co-responsible for the Youth for a United World movement. From 2000 he sat beside Chiara and Eli to read news stories in the regular “Link Up” video conference calls with the whole family of the Focolare Movement worldwide. Another personal tragedy was to profoundly affect Marco’s life: the unexplained disappearance of his sister, Chiara, who had long endured fragile health. Together with his mother, he suffered greatly as the search continued until, sadly, her body was found. Even in this situation, Marco managed to hold on to his belief in the love of God, which gave him the strength to support his family. Later, together with his mother, Franca, Marco helped to set up a day centre, named after his sister, to provide support and social integration for people with physical and psychological disabilities, as part of the “Associazione Insieme Si Può” / “Together We Can Association”, which Marco never ceased to accompany, even at a distance. In Rome, at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinus in Urbe, he was Visiting Lecturer on courses in International Cooperation for Development and Sociology of Development. Most recently, he joined the team of Città Nuova, bringing his economic expertise to the administration of the Focolare magazine. Throughout his life, he never failed to find ways to love the weakest and suffering neighbours, including regularly offering the benefit of his skills and experience to a Caritas outreach group near Rome. In November 2018, he communicated to his friends the discovery of a life-threatening illness. He faced this new step on the journey with a renewed choice of God, and despite being in great pain, he also expressed finding great joy. Maria Voce in her telegram to the worldwide Focolare community, chose to emphasize his vocation as a Focolarino, as well as his sober, honest and straight forward nature which was expressed so well in the Gospel phrase Chiara offered for him to live: Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’ (Mt 5:37), and how he lived his illness in such an extraordinary manner. The last phase of Marco’s life left those around him speechless as they witnessed the rapid unstoppable deterioration of his health over two months, until he reached the heavenly goal on the morning of 4 January. His funeral was attended by people of all kinds, all linked to him in different ways and all somehow “roped together” with him to climb, no longer his beloved high mountains, but the highs and lows of this life, accompanied by his luminous and authentic example.
Patrizia Mazzola
Feb 8, 2019 | Non categorizzato
What do Medellín, Katowice and Kingersheim have in common? Despite their cultural distance, what connects them is their social and civil planning. They are located on two different continents and in three distant cultural areas. Medellin, Colombia; Katowice, Poland; and Kingersheim, France are cities that have risen to the challenge of putting the common good at the center in a most authentic way, and not just as the sum of private interests. Administrations and citizens have worked to find a way to break through the ego, poverty and isolation to recognize each other as brothers and sisters. Those playing a lead role in this field are Federico Restrepo, Danuta Kaminska and Jo Spiegel, who told their stories, which were different but with similar themes, at the “Co- Governance, Co-Responsibility in Cities Today” conference. The first story was told by Federico Restrepo, an engineer who is already a director at EPM, or Medellín Public Enterprise. Together with other friends, he did not give up in the face of the inevitability of the situation, which seemed beyond his strength. Medellín, a city that counts almost 3 million residents, like many South American cities was showing a strong tendency for growth in urban areas to the detriment of the rural population. 
“There are people in some areas of Medellín who try to build their own cities in the suburbs,” says Restrepo. For some years a pilot experience to carry out urban integration projects was started in neighborhoods that were started due to forced migration. Immigration, which has been increasing in Colombia partly due to the crisis in Venezuela, cannot be solved by building walls. “We have the responsibility,” he continues” to build relationships between cities to be able to resolve these social issues that our society is going through.” But it’s not just a question of urban planning – there are other challenges that have emerged to rediscover the heart of the city and make it beat. 
The experience that Danuta Kaminska tells links the Americas and Europe. A public administrator at the Upper Silesia Council, in Poland, she presents everyday stories that are extraordinary at the same time. They tell of citizens of Katowice welcoming migrants, mostly from the Ukraine. Just in the past year their number reached 700,000. “In order to start the shared governance of our city, we understood that we needed to support our citizens. We have been collaborating with religious communities and nonprofit organizations to help them assimilate, such as supporting the Jewish and Muslim communities.” Katowice, which has 2 million inhabitants, underwent profound changes these past years, transforming itself from an industrial city to a UNESCO site, and hosting the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24). For cities to be a transformational space, for democracy to be fraternal, engagement and spirituality need to be nurtured. This means public servants who become facilitators of decision-making. Jo Spiegel, who is the mayor of Kingersheim, a French town with close to 13,000 residents, continues to spend all her strength bringing back a multifaceted approach to her city, where different cultures and generations can coexist. “Twenty years ago,” says the mayor, “we founded an ecosystem of participatory democracy, starting a “citizens house” – a privileged place where citizens and politicians learn to live together.” More than 40 projects have been completed, such as revising the local urban plan, planning parental leave, and creating a space for Muslims to worship. “Fraternity cannot be delegated, it cannot be decreed. It’s inside us, it’s between us. You build it.”
Patrizia Mazzola
Feb 6, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Members of the music group share their experience of visiting Great Britain, Luxembourg and then Panama for the World Youth Day. They are now on tour in Cuba, Guatemala and El Salvador. Your most recent album “From the inside outside” expresses a very positive attitude towards other people. It seems to be saying that everyone can find a light within themselves which can be shared with others. Is that right? 
Adriana: Nowadays we often hear that society is passing through a cultural night, so to speak, and that “darkness” and division are very evident. We want the message of this album to be an invitation to draw out and rekindle the hope that is often hidden beneath ashes inside many of us. The album has evolved from the experiences we have had with thousands of young people during our tours. Thanks to the “Start Now” project which consists of a series of workshops and a final concert, we have the opportunity to live in close contact with the new generations. We are aware of the challenges that they face but also of the fact that they are wonderful people. Sometimes we share our experience with them but not as adults who have worked out all the answers. Often we look at the challenges with them, try to face up to them and to find a solution. They often say, “Nothing will have changed when I go back home but I will deal with the situation in a different way.” Do you think that music, singing and dance are means of relating to young people? Sally: This is a particular characteristic of performing arts: they create dialogue and openness. The results are often really surprising. In a school where we were running a project, there was a student who suffered from selective mutism; that is, she had decided not to speak any more. When she signed up for the singing workshop we really wondered what she would do. The first day she didn’t open her mouth at all, the second day she just thanked us but the third day she offered to sing a harmony. She went home and, in tears, told her mother that she had found her voice again. The teachers were really moved and said, “This is really unbelievable. She always used to be on her own and now she is beginning to speak to other students…..” This is just one example; there would be so many more to share. The song “Not in my name” focuses on the relationship between Muslims and Christians. How did that begin? Adriana: We wanted to show solidarity with our Muslim friends and emphasise the values that we have in common. We knew that many of them were suffering because a mistaken image of Islam was becoming widespread and because the very heart of their religion is different from what was being portrayed in the media. The actual process of creating the song was an experience of dialogue. We were inspired by the words of Doctor Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the International Institute for Islamic Studies in Qum, Iran, who we had met in Loppiano. He had said that we are all like little drops that reflect the face of God and that together we can be an ocean of love. When he read the words of the song, he said that he felt totally expressed by them. We worked with Rassim Bouaballah, a Muslim member of the Focolare in the musical arrangement. He played the violin for the recording. 
Now you are in Central America and have taken part in the World Youth Day. How is this trip going? Alessandra: In Panama, in the cities of Chitre and Colon, we worked with young people to hold concerts for the thousands of pilgrims at the World Youth Day. Being on stage with these young people made us both experience and say to others that together we can hope. We also had an unforgettable experience at the Women’s Prison in Panama City. Life is very difficult for these women but they listened so attentively: they often applauded spontaneously and cried when they heard the songs. At the end, many of them told us that they felt that it was as if we had all experienced the same things; they felt that together we can begin again and look to the future even in a place where this could seem impossible. It was seeing that God’s mercy can work in our lives irrespective of the circumstances.
a cura di Anna Lisa Innocenti
Feb 5, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Do something yourself to heal broken relationships in your city The beating Since the battle against drug trafficking started in Mexico, there have been many victims, not always because of criminal violence. Some time ago, I was on my way home from school when a young guy asked me for a cigarette. Just then, some policemen arrived and they searched us. Then they started beating the other guy and insulting him, leaving him injured and bleeding in the middle of the road. I had witnessed this without being able to do anything, but then I helped him get up and gave him the few coins I had in my pocket. He thanked me and said, ‘This money means my family will have a meal today.’ (Abraham, Mexico) The exchange of letters In our young people’s catechism class, we studied the Works of Mercy. To put them into practice we thought of writing to women in prison. I outlined the project to the Prison Governor who did not agree at first. However, later, when he had consulted other staff, he saw it was a good idea and could help the women. So, the project was approved and the young people got to work preparing drawings and letters to send to the prisoners. (Prisca, Switzerland) Bazar I knew a few poor families and wanted to help them. In the office a colleague asked me if I was interested in some good quality clothing she no longer needed and toys that belonged to her children who were now grown up. I told her about my desire to help the families and she decided to get others involved. Very soon we had gathered so much stuff in a garage that we either gave away or sold at a bazaar. With the proceeds we have been able to help a lot of families in difficulty. After this experience another colleague who is often very grumpy said we couldn’t stop there so we keep looking around to see who else we can help. (R.A.R. – Brazil)
Edited by Chiara Favotti
Feb 4, 2019 | Non categorizzato
Many humanitarian projects seek to alleviate the difficulties populations have to face. Since 2012, even the Focolare Movement has been offering its support and assistance through the non-profit organizations AMU and AFN. High currency devaluation, a continuous increase in the cost of living together with a constant decline in public services, are only a few of the problems that mark the social and civil state of affairs in Syria after seven years of war. The effects of this war are becoming more and more unbearable. Those who lost their jobs have been forced to spend all their savings in order to survive and pay for medical care, in a country where doctors, teachers and many other professionals have been constrained to emigrate abroad. But, as reported by those responsible for projects carried out in Syria by the Focolare community, through the non-profit organizations AMU and AFN, “marvellous values such as solidarity, hospitality, generosity and fraternity” flourish in this extremely arduous situation. “God is with us; He sustains us and encourages us”, they affirm. The “Emergency Syria” project supports more than 200 displaced families from Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Kafarbo and other coastal localities. These are visited regularly by teams of volunteers, who at various moments, such as births, birthdays and particular phases of school life, have never failed to support them, always respecting their sensitivity and dignity. Through this project, families have been helped with payments of school expenses and with buying necessary appliances, food and blankets. But what they appreciate most is the fact that they feel accompanied in this difficult phase of their life. 
For the last six years activities have been programmed and carried out in the fields of health care, education and family income support; recently other programmes have been added, especially in the field of vocational training and education. “This commitment emerges not only from wanting to meet the urgent material needs of the people supported, but also from wanting to offer work opportunities to many others, especially to young people, who would otherwise be unemployed because of the country’s current situation”. Last year, in Dueilaa, there were more than 90 children who attended after school activities and this gave excellent results. The centre remained open even during the summer months and it could cater for an intake of 115 children. “Some mothers tell us that their children opt to come to the centre even when they are sick or when there is some other family programme”. “A Generation of hope” is the name of another centre located at Homs.The students who attend this centre have successfully passed their school exams. Here, the possibility of psychological support is also offered to both children and parents. “We target mainly the traumas suffered because of war, and this helps to restore confidence and to find solutions for their many problems”. Just over two years ago, at this same place, and also at Kafarbo, a health care project has been set up. More than a hundred people, who needed special medical care, have already benefitted from this project. “We try to collaborate with other organizations to be able to help the patients even when the cost of treatment or surgery exceeds our means”.
Chiara Favotti
