![Poland: Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Katowice]()
Jun 1, 2015 | Non categorizzato
In Poland, with its population of 38 million, 90% of whom are Christian, the Muslims are a religious minority. They number 25 thousand, 0.08% of the population. Their presence presence back to the Tartars of the 14th century; then there was the immigration of the second half of the 20th century and the years after the Berlin wall. The recent day of dialogue is inserted amongst three major events in the ongoing dialogue amongst Christians and Muslims in Poland. Father Adam Was, from the Polish Catholic Bishops Conference’s Committee for non-Christian Religions, describes the event: The Day of Islam in the Catholic Church in Poland, instituted in 2000 by the Polish Catholic Bishops Conference at the request of the Mixed Council of Catholics and Muslims, is celebrated each year on June 26; also the Prayer of Peace and Justice in the World, begun in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, promoted by Polish Tartars; and finally “the unprecedented event,” as described by Mufti Nedal abu Tabaq, the “Christians Amongst Muslims in Poland,” established on May 29, 2015 and begun three years ago by the Muslim League in Poland. Fifty guests were invited to speak at the event, invited by Imam Abdul Jabbar Koubaisy, Director of the Centre and vice-president of the Muslim League in Poland: local civil authorities, representatives from the Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran Churches; representatives from the University of Silesia and from the Jewish Community of Katowice. Focolare president, Maria Voce, and co-president Jesús Morán were the guests of honour. 
”Interreligious dialogue is a necessary condition for peace in the world, and so it is a duty for Christians as well as other religious communities” (EG, 250), recalled Metropolitan of Katowice, Archbishop Wiktor Skwore, in his message that was ready by Father Tadeusz Czakański, the Metropolitan’s delegate for the dialogue with Islam. And focusing in on the theme of the meeting, he underscored how: the foundation of the entire teaching of Jesus Christ lies in merciful love towards one’s neighbour,” and he wished that this interreligious meeting in Katowice would help all “to live more deeply the mystery of God’s Mercy” and that “it would contribute to a greater openness towards one another, to more efficient cooperation on the ground in caring for the marginalised and oppressed.” Then, in her speech, Maria Voce recalled some passages of the Christian Scriptures that speak of Jesus even before his birth, highlighting his concrete love towards the human person. “It was this universal love, without reservations that has fascinated everyone who belongs to the Focolare, and it has become our rule of life,” the Focolare president noted. One of Chiara Lubich’s intuitions, which constitutes one of the fundamental points of her spirituality of unity, was the discovery of the Jesus’ commandment par excellence: ‘This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:12-13). “Loving in this way is not always easy,” Maria Voce admitted, “at times, or very often this love towards our brother or sister requires sacrifice and fatigue. . . But also here Jesus is the model: he loved to the point of giving his life for us.” In concluding, she expressed her wish that: God, “the greatest and most merciful, would help us to look upon everyone with the gaze of a brother or sister, with the measure of love that he revealed to us, so that together we can build a world that everyone is waiting for where brotherhood and true peace reign.” While speaking of Jesus Christ, Mufti Nedal Abu Tabaq, who is responsible over all the Imams in Poland, affirmed that in the Koran it is written that “Jesus is the sign”. “He was not only miraculously conceived, but he also performed miracles, cured the sick, raised the dead. Each one of us must resuscitate the light in those who suffer (. . .) We are not candles that can burn out; we are the fire that is already come forth from it, and this light is present in every human being, but we must revive it, make it emerge (. . .) in the needs, as Jesus Christ had done (. . .) This is the Jesus whom I love, whom I know, whom I praise.” Common action in favour of interreligious dialogue: the threat against the value of the family and the need, as believers, to protect it; educating children in dialogue: these were a few of the issues that were dealt with in a fraternal dialogue with Maria Voce and Jesús Morán, during the second part of the programme. The programme concluded with the Lord’s Prayer recited by Christians and the Dua recited by Muslims. There was a sign of peace, expressed in a handshake or embrace celebrating the fraternal love that was experienced in those hours amongst Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Jun 1, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
Roberto Catalano (right right) with Minoti Aram, of the Shanti Ashram in Combiatore (India), and other Hindu participants at an interreligious workshop.
“The conference is of great value,” continues Roberto Catalano. “There were speeches in the plenary session and also in parallel sessions of great theological and spiritual depth. Great human and intellectual openness, and a desire to deepen our understanding of an event like the Council from different points of view: geographical without a doubt, but especially of perspective and of content. There were speeches that sought to contextualize what happened between 1962 and 1965, and why. Others confronted the historical aspects which brought about the unfolding of the council event. But another important topic was the interpretation of all that has happened after the council and how these fifty years have not been sufficient for its fulfillment. The opinions came in succession in an atmosphere of profound listening, interest and intellectual and spiritual openness.” “Even among different opinions, the Council emerges from this period of study half a century from its conclusion, as an event that changed the Church and humanity. The prophetic dimension which characterized the documents that were promulgated at the end of the council assembly is especially striking.” And it is precisely on this dimension of prophecy which his discourse is founded, upon the role of some movements, such as the Focolare Movement and Sant’Egidio, in the actualization of Nostra Aetate. Dialogue as a duty, dialogue as a culture of meeting, dialogue as a pilgrimage and dialogue as open and emphatic thinking are just a few of the points expounded by Catalano. One day of the convention was entirely dedicated to ecumenism and to what the Council has meant for this aspect. There followed discourses by Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Orthodox, and Episcopalians: “There was also a serious tone due to missed appointments and obstacles that still remain for a true communion between the various Churches. But the most significant speech, marked by several minutes of thunderous applause within the Episcopalian National Cathedral, was that of Cardinal Walter Kasper, who, after a masterful analysis of the history and a few theological aspects of the ecumenical matter, concluded with his pragmatic but refreshing optimism; “Unity perhaps has already started!” “It is clear,” concludes Catalano, “how in these fifty years enormous steps forward have been made, and that unity will never be a ‘return’ or a unification, but a ‘communion.’“
May 31, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
While visiting Poland, Maria Voce and Jesús Moran, President and Co-President of the Focolare Movement, respectively, held a meeting on 26 May in the Mariapolis Fiore (Poland) with a group of priests and religious who were bound in various ways to the Focolare. Fr. Zdzislaw Klafka, a Redemptorist, recounted his encounter with the spirituality of unity and the positive effects in living his specific vocation in a more radical manner. «I feel so grateful to Chiara Lubich for having been God’s docile tool in bringing about in the Church, a spirituality that has helped me face the difficulties in life: When I was nominated the Superior of my congregation, I found a challenge before me. I was in Rome and before returning to Poland, I asked her to suggest a phrase of the Gospel that could enlighten my path. She answered: “No one has greater love than he who gives up his life for his friends.” I was then 29 years old and that phrase became the compass that showed me the way. In living the spirituality of unity I started to look up to my founder, St. Alphonse, in a new way. This was how I rediscovered not only my roots but the evangelical force that lies within every other charism of the Church. Someone asked me whether my adhering to the spirituality of the Focolare was not time stolen from my duties as a Redemptorist. The fact is, and I have experienced it repeatedly, that when I return from my meetings with the religious of other orders, I feel the desire to live my own choice of God even more radically.»
Fr. Zdzislaw Klafka
May 30, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
They arrived from: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Banias, Kfarbo and Tartous. Who would have ever imagined spending a week-end with the youth from all parts of Syria. Is this pure madness? The organizers asked themselves. Maybe so, but it became a reality. The number kept growing day after day, until it reached a total of 67. «This is how our adventure began,» they recounted. «We chose a safe place which all could reach, even if the trip took 10 hours. The idea was to spend three days together to live, share, pray, cry, and play, immersed in nature but with mutual love among us.» «What matters most in my life?» was the title of the week-end, a question that echoed even more in an uncertain situation like that of the young Syrians. They divided into four groups that focused on different themes: “A special bond with the Father,” “With Jesus every day,” “the Love that makes us free,” and “Love for Mary,” which they deepened with passages of the Holy Scriptures, the Popes and saints, accompanied by true stories of other youth who had preceded them along the path towards sanctity. When I arrived for the week-end I was tired of the war – confided Fatima – and I felt that life was stagnant, but then once again I experienced God’s presence in my life and his Love for us through the love of the others. Now when I undergo difficult moments, I just need to think that someone is praying for me and is trying to live in the same way, and this gives me a great inner peace. I have understood that the most important thing is to live life … loving Jesus in every neighbour.» On the first day they delve d deeper into one of the main tenets of the spirituality of unity, «God who is Love.» Tracing the story of the beginning of the Focolare in Trent during the Second World War, in the destruction of all, they traced also the reality of Syria today. «Everything passes, only God remains,» someone said, and so: «What matters most in my life?». One of them said: «Living Christianity in a radical way.» On the second day, through a discourse of Chiara Lubich to the youth in the 1970s, «Jesus the Master,» their choice of God emerged. «We even sang, danced and played in the evenings, and it made us all feel like a true family,» Murad and Lina wrote. Upon leaving, some said: «I thank Jesus for all the moments of joy and pain.» Haashim said «I experienced God’s caress once again – I feel the responsibility of bringing this grace to all around us.» Unforgettable days. «During the week-end – Samir wrote – «we made our fill of peace and serenity that have given us the strength to return to living in this dramatic situation.» And Nahda concluded – «Despite the absurdity of the war, I no longer feel alone.»
May 29, 2015 | Senza categoria
“When I can, I attend a group for retirees in my neighbourhood. I see that certain people are avoided by the ‘decent’ folks in the group, because of their scruffy appearance: alcoholics, homeless, who bide the time with a bottle as their only companion, and no one tries to involve them in the games, or the conversation. So I began learning how to play cards and bocce, in order to be able to spend time with them without any judging. At first I had to put up with their frequent reprimands. But I made an effort anyway to be friendly and disposed towards them; also to accept their language and their ramshackle way of playing. One day, Giulio, whom everyone considered the biggest vagrant, was admitted to hospital because of an alcoholic problem, but no one which hospital he was in. I did some searching and made several phone calls, but because of privacy I wasn’t given any news. In the end, I contacted the city police and they were able to track him down. I took care of him. His doctor explained his medical condition to me if I were a relative. Then I took him home, obtained his medicines and some packages of food. Silvio, another alcoholic whose driver’s license had been removed, was about to lose his job. I stepped in to help him get it back. Now he’s out of his addiction and has become the animator of a group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Ulysses was a competitive player, and he bragged about being a “priest-hater”. For two years I put up with his rather aggressive statements. Then, he developed a tumour but, proud as he was, he wouldn’t accept help from anyone. One day he asked me to take him home. This unexpected request was like an answer for me, that perhaps I had made a breakthrough and conveyed a bit of my faith to him. Gianni, the youngest one in the group, was 50 years old. He was tall as a giant and lived a very disordered life. Because of his lifestyle he was considered last in the ‘good conduct’ rankings. I stood by him until the last day of his life. His family members were surprised, and so was he. A few days before his death he squeezed my hand inside that giant fist of his, expressing his esteem and gratitude. Guido is a deaf mute; the most isolated one in the group because communicating with him is very demanding. We’ve become friends, and now he’s my partner when we play trump. One day, Giulio, the homeless man, removed a picture of Saint Padre Pio from his pocket and, in front of the whole group, said to me: “For me, you’re another Saint Padre Pio*.” From that day on everyone in the circle began calling me by that name and, despite the fact that I found it embarrassing, the name stuck. These friends now await my arrival with joy and I often find myself playing cards with my deaf mute friend against the two alcoholics. We’ve become the most famous team in the circle, and also the noisiest! Before going to the circle, I make a visit in a nearby church – something that has not escaped the attention of the group – to ask Him for the strength and guidance in loving these socially disadvantaged friends of mine.” * Padre Pio of Pietrelcina is an Italian saint renowned for his miracles.
![Poland: Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Katowice]()
May 28, 2015 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Audio of the June Word of Life
We can become slaves to what we do, getting all ‘hot and bothered’. Jesus invites us to focus on the only thing that matters: living his word as we live for him. This makes our work a creative act of love. There is much affection in repeating this name: “Martha, Martha”! The house in Bethany, near Jerusalem, was a place Jesus would stop and rest with his disciples. In the city, he was drawn into debates; he found antagonism and rejection. In Bethany, instead, he felt welcome and found peace. Martha was enterprising and active. She showed it later when her brother died and she engaged Jesus in a lengthy conversation, questioning him energetically. She was a strong woman who showed great faith. When “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe’” (Jn 11:25–27). She answered without any hesitation. At this point she was extremely busy, organizing a special welcome for the master and his disciples. She was the mistress of the house (as her name suggests: Martha means “mistress”), and so she felt responsible. She was probably preparing the evening meal for her important guest. Her sister Mary had left her all alone to do the work. Contrary to the traditions of the East, Mary did not go to the kitchen but remained with the men to listen to Jesus, sitting at his feet, just like the perfect disciple. This gave rise to the rather resentful comment by Martha: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me” (Lk 10:40). And Jesus’ affectionate, yet firm reply was:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”
Was Jesus not happy with the enterprising and generous service of Martha? Didn’t he appreciate her concrete and practical way of welcoming him, and wouldn’t he be happy to eat the food that was being prepared? Shortly after this episode, in his parables he will praise the administrators, businesspeople and employees who know how to use their talents creatively and do business with their goods (see Lk 12:42; 19:12–26). He even praises shrewdness (see Lk 16:1–8). He could not but rejoice at seeing a woman so full of initiative and capable of giving a warm and abundant welcome. What Jesus calls attention to is the state she was in, how bothered and worried she was about her work. Martha is agitated, “distracted by her many tasks” (Lk 10:40); she has lost her calm. It is no longer she who controls her work, but it is her work that has taken control and tyrannizes her. She is no longer free; she has become a slave to what she does. Doesn’t it happen also to us at times that we get lost in the thousands of things to do? We are drawn to and distracted by the internet, by messaging, by useless posts. Even when we have serious commitments to occupy us, they can make us forget to be attentive to others, to listen to people right next to us. Above all, the danger is that we lose sight of why and who we are working for. Our work and other concerns become ends in themselves. Or else we are overcome by anxiety and agitation when we face difficult situations and problems with our family, money matters, career, school and the future of our children —to such an extent that we forget the words of Jesus: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Mt 6:31–32). We too deserve Jesus’ criticism:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”
What is the only thing needed? To hear and live the words of Jesus. Before these words and before he who speaks them, we cannot put anything at all. The true way of welcoming the Lord, of making him feel at home, is to welcome what he says. This is what Mary did: forgetting everything else, she put herself at his feet and did not miss a single word. If we do that we will be guided not by our desire to be noticed or to have the first place, but only by pleasing him, by being at the service of his kingdom. Like Martha, we too are called to do “many things” for the good of others. Jesus has taught us that the Father is happy when we bear “much fruit” (see John 15:8) and that we will even do greater things than he did (see Jn 14:12). He looks therefore at our dedication, our passion in doing the work he has given us to do, our imagination, courage and resourcefulness. He wants us to do many things without getting bothered and agitated, but keeping the peace that comes from knowing we are doing God’s will. The only thing that matters therefore is to become Jesus’ disciples, letting him live in us, being attentive to what he suggests with his gentle voice that prompts us moment by moment. In this way he will be the one who guides us in every act. In doing “many things” we will not be distracted and side-tracked, because by following Jesus’ words we will be moved by love alone. In all we do, we will always do only one thing: love.
Fabio Ciardi *
*Fr Fabio Ciardi, OMI is a theologian and close collaborator of Chiara Lubich Read more on this topic: Lubich, Chiara. Here and Now: Reflections on Living the Present Moment. New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 2005. Lubich, Chiara. “A divine balance,” Essential Writings. New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 2007. Pg. 123. Next month: Word of Life for July 2015 “Take courage; I have conquered the world!” (Jn 16:33).
May 28, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
“My current parish is found in one of the neighbourhoods of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia,” says Fr Ludovit. “The city has about 4,300 inhabitants, of which 3,500 are Christians, and the numbers continue to grow. When I arrived here in July 2009, I knew my first task was to love people with the love of Jesus. Now I can say that I’m happy because a beautiful community has sprung up between people of different ages and social status, from different Slovakian cities, who have discovered a new relationship with God, not just through the Bible and prayer, but also through the community and various parish activities. They have found here the joy in the faith which is worth living for. When I first arrived, there were no young people: the government had banned the construction of new buildings, so many young couples had moved elsewhere. Furthermore, there was no program of formation in the faith for the few teens there were. I met three young people who had the desire to help me, but they were immersed in their own work and studies. At that time I invited the teens and the young people who had recently been confirmed to a barbecue. They came as a sign of respect, but they never returned. “We’ve already received Confirmation, so there’s no need to go to Mass anymore,” they told me. In this situation, I entrusted everything to Jesus. Since September 2009, I have been teaching Catechism in all of the elementary and middle school classes (about 150 children and teens). At the same time, I started a Sunday Mass for families. I tried to take advantage of every occasion to build relationships: greeting people on the street, visiting others in their home, exchanging a few words at the shops, in the office, or at school. And again: invitations to a barbecue and to play sports on the parish grounds. Little by little people began to participate. Gradually a community was forming; there were children who didn’t want to miss out, young mothers who discovered a common bond because their children were the same age, dads who invited one another to help with various odd jobs in the church or in the parish house, but also to play tennis or have a beer together. Even the mayor and some members of parliament began to participate. One day, Jesus also sent me Blanka, who is now the choir director and the leader of many events.” “Many say that ours is ‘a live parish’,” affirms Blanka. “In spite of our individual differences, we constantly search for what unites us, and we always return to the fount of unity, of love, and of forgiveness, which is Jesus. We parents try to create the practical conditions so that many activities can be carried out. Often they are to the detriment of our time, our rest or housework, but it is truly wonderful to see that everyone supports not only their own children, but all of “our” children. This is the case with Michael, an autistic boy who is now adolescent. I am very glad to see that the other teens are open towards him inviting him to join them and considering him their equal. And Michael loves them a lot and feels that they all are part of his big family.” “I am an allergist/immunologist and I work in a non-government capacity at the Pediatric University Hospital of Bratislava,” continues Dagmar. “The Pastoral Center and the parish Nursery School which were constructed have become ‘poles’ of different activities for our children, teens, and young people, of which the number is constantly growing. One day, in May 2012, Fr Ludo asked me if I were available to participate as a medical doctor at a summer camp for teens in our parish. I immediately said no. But then, I remembered the faces of the teens that I knew. In the end I said yes, and now it is already my 4th year! I have become more sensitive to the suffering of the children and to their fears for their health when they find themselves without their parents. This experience has helped me to understand the deeper significance of service to others.” “A very important meeting occurred last year in Benevento (Italy), organized by the Parish Movement,” concludes Fr Ludovit. “Our young people came away with ‘an encouragement, a spiritual strength, a closer relationship with God,’ they said, ‘and above all, the desire to live “committed to love,” because whatever we do, if it does not have love, loses its value and significance.’ For me it was a confirmation that the community had not only been born and consolidated, but that it rests on the faith of the young people. The future, therefore, is secured.”
May 27, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
Also called the City of Dialogue, Katowice – in the south of Poland, is a mining city par excellence – because it is one of the Polish municipalities that has the most numerous interreligious representatives. It boasts a Centre for Islamic Culture dedicated to prayer and education, and the Doha Centre for Dialogue and Culture dedicated primarily to dialogue, which will celebrate on 29 May, the «3rd Day of Christianity among Muslims» focused on the theme “Jesus – brother of each one of us,” as seen from the Christian and Muslim perspective. Also Maria Voce and Jesús Morán, President and Co-President of the Focolare, respectively, will participate, and who also will be travelling to Belarus and Poland to visit the communities of the Movement. In retrospect, there has been for some time now in Katowice, a network of fraternal relationships and cooperation among Christians of various Churches, Jews, Muslims, the academic world and civil institutions. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the city’s founding, the international Gen Verde band was invited to bring a message of fraternity with its music. The band has for some years now, brought to the public an educational artistic project implemented through workshops that feature onstage the youth who have attended their workshops of various disciplines: dance, singing, theatre, percussions on various instruments and even “body percussion.” About 140 boys and girls attended the workshop in Poland and contributed with their talents to the show staged with the band. But what really stirred up interest is the fact that the project also saw the participation of young Muslims, Jews and Christians of various denominations. The posters announcing the event drew the attention of so many that only six hours after the opening of the box office, the 1,450 tickets were already sold out. A Muslim girl who participated in the workshop and the show, thanked the group since she had never “felt so warmly welcomed.” This fact impressed all especially against a background of the recent terrorist acts. Upon returning from Poland, Gen Verde wrote: «We worked with 140 marvelous young people, who were the expression of an open, profound and sensitive people, forged by a faith that has been harshly tested by great suffering. They said that they experienced unity and trust that transformed them and made them fly.» «The show was held in the NOSPR, the new auditorium built over the old mines and for the first time in history, this temple of symphonic music, opened out to our rock music. Every corner of the auditorium was filled to the brim with the public that vibrated with us right from the start, in a crescendo. On hearing the first Polish words we sang (the refrain of two songs) they burst into a moving applause, and at the end of the concert, immense joy pervaded.» A little show within the show unfolded when the mayor, a representative of the Catholic community, a representative of the Jewish community and an Imam, appeared on stage in a spiritual and ideal embrace to testify to a true fraternity that was nurtured through the years. A priest remarked: “We are testimonials to something short of a miracle. If we have these young people among us as we saw today, the world will not die. With this method of dialogue you can save the world. ” The Rabbi then added; “We do not fear the future because… we are together.”
![Poland: Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Katowice]()
May 26, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
«We are a new generation that wants to take the helm of the Economy of Communion. We are well aware of our inexperience and immaturity but we are also glad to feel that this is precisely our strong point, and we do not want to stop dreaming.» Liliane Mugombozi, a journalist in Kenya, picked up the voice of a young Cameroonese among the participants of the international Economy of Communion (EoC) school, underway from 22 to 26 May at Mariapolis Piero, the Focolare town close to Nairobi, Kenya. «Upon entering that conference hall – she wrote – you could feel the energy of such a young population: vigorous, and full of expectations, hopes, aspirations and dreams that seem almost unthinkable amid all the challenges their continent is faced with.» They were students in economics, development, social sciences, entrepreneurs and followers, coming from all the Sub-Saharian regions, Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Australia. Amidst all the greetings from various parts of the world, applause broke out when they heard the message of the Dean of Cagliari University, and when Prof. Maria Del Zompo recalled the painful event of the massacre of the young students of Garissa, to remind the youth present of the importance of educational structures, and encourage them in their desire to live and diffuse the ideals of the EoC. Vittorio Pelligra, one of the teachers, presented the method, the roadmap set for these days: applied reciprocity. «It is a special school of dialogue and communication, where we can share our intuitions, doubts, projects and dreams. We are all protagonists, and are ready to give all and receive all from everyone!» 
After tracing a brief history of the EoC, its birth and growth from 1991 up to today, a question arose: Is the EoC a path for Africa? The dialogue between teachers and participants transformed the auditorium into contagious enthusiasm. «How can we influence our youth?» each one asked. «We, as the youth, are tired of being exploited by politicians as the target in their manifestos. Not only we expect new methods of relating with one another, so does the world… the EoC is one of the solutions, and we feel it.» The aspect of the challenges and resources of the continent’s youth obviously could not be overlooked: the identity crisis in globalised society, poverty, conflicts, enlarged families, the brain drain of the continent, unemployment, and education which is increasingly internationalised without considering the actual educational needs of society around us. These are just the first steps of the school, Liliane Mugomobozi remarked, «but the youth present, upon discovering the new economic categories, already foresee a better future and cannot wait to return to their countries to spread it to as many people possible.» The teachers also recounted their own life stories that had led them to make daring choices in life. A deep dialogue ensued: teachers and students sharing their dreams, frustrations, discouragement, but also small and big success stories. Topics ranged from the great themes like “climate change” to international relations. The youth coming from the mining region of Katanga (DRC), proved to be well aware of the drama that had struck them. 
And a big dream is taking shape: the young and very young people, enthusiasts of life, strongly believe in the ideal of a United World shared with many other youths from the whole world. It is nothing less than “the dream of God,” as Chiara Lubich once said precisely to the youth. It is a dream that they will not give up even when confronted by important choices in life, as has been such with the university faculty, in order to have an impact on society and to actualize in practice, and not in words, a just and dignified society for every human being. The school, to end on 26 May, will be followed by the EoC international Congress: businesses, entrepreneurs and workers will come face to face, and the ideal will turn into business practices, challenges going on in the employment world, and creative choices. Among the themes to be discussed are: creativity and communion, the culture of communion, business and employment, poverty and wealth and saying yes to an Economy of Communion. These themes will turn into workshops in politics, microfinance and poverty, and startups, involving young scholars and researchers, management, networks of entrepreneurs and the EoC in dialogue with the African cultures. Facebook Pages on the event Live streaming event: http://live.focolare.org/eoc/ on 27 May, 3.00 – 6.30 pm (Kenyan time, 2.00 – 5.30pm CET), and then morning sessions of the scheduled program 9.00am -12.30pm Kenyan time. Programma eventi
May 25, 2015 | Focolare Worldwide
Her name is Mardiana. Though short and simple, it is a name which could also pass as a surname also in documents, as often occurs in Indonesia. She is currently national Vice-President of an important multinational assurance company. The Indopost journalist, Heryanto, singled her out recently as one of the most successful women of Jakarta, in one of his interview columns. Her most interesting story centres around a key strength which is a deep spirituality, lived with simplicity and conviction ever since she encountered the Focolare Moviment as a young girl. She achieved her Degree in Economics in 1997 at Medan University (isle of Sumatra), and the following year married Mulianta, also a follower of the spirituality of unity. They wanted to form a family with deep Christian roots, and later had two wonderful children. At a certain point the assurance company Mardiana was working for closed down, but then a new opportunity came up to join Reliance Insurance, another assurance company with branches throughout the world. Often Mardiana had to go to the capital, Jakarta (isle of Java), to attend business meetings. It was a great sacrifice for her, since she wanted so much to stay with her kids. But Mulianta gave her encouragement and support, and helped in taking care of them. Following a promotion, Mulianta was offered a key position in Jakarta, which he refused to be able to remain with his wife and children, and with his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit opened his own business in Medan. Six years passed during which Mardiana’s agency reaped a good turnover resulting also in the well-being of its employees. This was when Mardiana was asked to relocate to Jakarta to assume the position of Vice-President of Reliance Insurance Indonesia. Mulianta and Mardiana reflected on the option to refuse the offer. After all, things were also going ahead in Medan. “But – they said – we must not only think of ourselves. We have to ask ourselves what mission God wants to entrust us with.” And it was precisely Mulianta who pushed Mardiana to accept, despite the fact that he had to leave his business in Medan and find a new job in Jakarta. In the first six months Mardiana continued to go on business trips in order to turn over the work to the new manager and ensure that the Medan market would not suffer any drawbacks due to the change in management. “I am really grateful to God for giving me such an incredible husband!,” Mardiana confided to the Indopost journalist – If he hadn’t encouraged me, I wouldn’t have made it,” and continued, “We have faced everything together– above all the commitment to put evangelical love into practice, which leads us to see each person as a brother to be loved. And so, we do not discriminate anyone, whatever religion they belong to, or position they cover; we are all equal. Whatever is the colour of their skin, ethnic group or religion, they are all brothers for us.” She then recounted a personal experience to the journalist. “Our domestic helper who has been with us for some time now, is Muslim. Besides being honest and hardworking, she is intelligent. So I made a proposal – which she gladly accepted – to send her to university. Many around us said: when she reaches a good position, she will leave and forget you. But love, to our mind, means giving others opportunities and thinking of their future. She will always be part of our family, and we must not think that a household helper has to remain forever as such. The same goes for our driver who has to have a better future.” The journalist, a Muslim, made a very meaningful remark in one of the two articles published on the Indopost: “For Mardiana, being branch manager of Reliance was part of God’s design, even though it is a stressful role with problems of all sorts. But she manages to handle them serenely because her life is founded on love that she learned from the spirituality of the Focolare Movement and of which she and her husband are part. Of course, though she places all her trust in God, it does not mean that she just looks on, but rather, carries out her job with great commitment, as she has always done since she was a working college student.”
