From the end of 2013 when the brazen unrest began in Kiev, by April 2014 during the Ukrainian Revolution the situation was unchanged. The scene was being described on the front pages of all the local newspapers, but now the media no longer talks about it. But the violence continues to paralyze the population that is struggling under such dramatic living conditions. There are small Focolare communities in Ukraine, in Mukachevo, Lviv and Kiev that are trying to respond to the evil all around them. In recent months there were several trips and visits to small Focolare groups in Slovakia at the capital of Kiev and in Kharkiv in the northeast. “With the exodus of the working-age people, the elderly are left in families, perhaps with parents and children of different ages. These children are “social orphans” as descirbed by His Beatitude Svjatoslav Sevcuk, Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Chuch: “they know what a family is only from the internet and, in the future, they’ll never know how to creat a real and healthy family.” The Catholic Church stands among those who are courageously trying to provide humanitarian assistance through Caritas and Religious Institutes. Thanks also to repeated appeals from Pope Francis – the most recent on April 3rd – it has been possible to give legs to a network of assistance for the hardest hit groups that has been gratefully acknowledged by civil authorities, with meals for the poor, rehabilitation centres, homes for teenage mothers and their children born of the violence. The work of the Sisters of Don Orione is significant in this regard; they have set up a house in which to care for them. The Focolare also tries to express its closeness to the Ukrainian people with whom they are in contact through their communities in Slovakia. Recently, in May, one group from Slovakia went to the capital in Kiev to meet with families and others. “Going to the places where the revolution happened two years ago, is always moving. It’s now part of contemporary Ukrainian culture. There are the names of the people who died during the battles at Maydan Square, or the people who died in the war in eastern Ukraine (that is still waging). The people are proud of them,” they write when they return. “We had many conversations about so much pain and fear that is being carried together. . . This is how the people try to put into practice the invitation of His Beatitude Svjatoslav Sevcuk: “We are in need of families that are ‘healers’ for our families.”
Elena Vladova, Martin Uher and Stanislav Szyrokoradiuk, Bishop of Kharkiv
“At the beginning of this year Father Anton Konecny from the Focolare was transferred at the request of the Bishop of Mukachevo, Ukraine, Antal Majnek, from his diocese in Kosice to a parish in eastern Ukraine. His presence and service contributed to developing relationships both inside the parish as well as at the ecumenical level and with local civil authorities.” Elena and Martin travelled to eastern Ukraine, all the way to Kharkiv, a beautiful city with 2 million residents that was once the capital of the country before the Russian Revolution but is now showing the signs of the current unrest. Following their visit to Bishop Stavislav Szyrokoradiuk, OFM – friend of the Focolare and for the past two years Bishop of the Diocese of Kharkiv which includes all the territories where there is fighting – they realized that the “people needed to be able to count on everyone’s support, and to know that people outside the country were praying and and making sacrifices for peace in Ukraine, just as Cardinal Parolin emphasized during his recent visit to the country: “God has not forgotten you!” . Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
Unity is a divine word. If this word were ever uttered by the Lord God, and people were to apply it to all its possible applications, we would see the world suddenly come to a halt, like a film, and start again in reverse. Countless people would on the wide path to perdition would turn around in their tracks, convert to God and take the narrow path. Families torn apart by quarrels, chilled by misunderstandings and scorn and deadened by divorce would get back together again. Children would be born into an atmosphere of human and divine love, and new men and women would be forged for a more Christian tomorrow. Factories often upheld by slaves and steeped in an atmosphere of boredom if not of blasphemy, would become places of peace where everybody did their job for the good of everyone. Schools would break beyond the limits of science, making all forms of knowledge footstools for eternal contemplation learnt at school through a daily unfolding of mysteries that could be intuited from small formulae, natural laws and even numerals . . . And the parliaments would be transformed into meeting places for people who are motivated not so much by each one’s positions, but by the common good, without any deceiving of lands or countrymen. In, we’d see the world become more good. Heaven would be wondrously poured out over the earth, and the harmony of creation would be a framework for the harmony of hearts. We’d see… What a dream! It seems a dream! And yet You didn’t ask for less when you prayed: “You will be done on earth as in Heaven”.
Source: Chiara Lubich, L’unità, compiled by Donato Falmi and Floernce Gillet (Rome: Città Nuova, 2015), originally published in Chiara Lubich, Frammenti, (Rome: Città Nuova, 1963 and 1992), p. 53-54.
«Twenty-five years have passed since Chiara Lubich sowed the seed of the Economy of Communion (EoC) in Brazil in May 1991. I was a new graduate in economics then and felt that the events in Sao Paolo also concerned me. Though I had no idea how, I guessed that I was part of that story which had just begun. I know now that participation in the development of that “dream” was a decisive event in my life which would have been quite different if that prophetic encounter between a woman’s foresight and the Brazilian people had not taken place. The Berlin wall had just been demolished and in that world and time, the proposal Chiara launched to the entrepreneurs to share talents, wealth and profits to address poverty directly, echoed like a great innovation which made EoC an important economic-social novelty and on the front of the social responsibility of enterprises which were in its early years (…). The DNA of that seed enclosed a different idea of the nature of profits and, therefore, of business intended as the common good, in a global and worldwide perspective (not common in those years). The businessmen were thus involved in the solution of a social issue of inequality.
Chiara was struck by that contrast between the favelas and skyscrapers in the city of Sao Paolo, but instead of launching a social project in the outskirts of the city or fund raising, addressed her proposal to the entrepreneurs whose first aim as we know, is not the creation of profits to be donated outside the business (…). The core of the EoC, therefore, enclosed the idea that to reduce poverty and inequality, we need to reform capitalism and its main institution: the enterprise, entrepreneurship. The language and first cultural mediation of Chiara’s project were those that were available in society, the Church, the Brazilian people and the Focolare Movement. After 25 years, however, the great collective challenge facing the EoC is to try to express the discernments and heart of the 1991 event in words and categories able to speak and make itself understood in a cultural and socio-economic world which in these 25 years has radically changed. Even on the front of social responsibilities enterprises have advanced greatly with the turn of the millennium. Social business has become a varied, dynamic movement in constant growth. The so-called “sharing economy” is giving rise worldwide to very innovative experiences. The reflection on poverty and the actions to alleviate it have been enriched, thanks to the ideas and actions of economists like Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus.
At the end of the second millennium, sharing the profits of enterprises with the poor and the youth, are in themselves an innovation. But if we continue in 2016 to concretise the EoC proposal with those same formulas, the proposal would not be sufficiently attractive and would be obsolete, especially for the youth. In the radically changed social and economic world, the EoC is called to renew itself, as it is doing and has always done, having reached its “silver” wedding anniversary. And it is rightly a wedding, since each time a charism manages to incarnate itself, there is an espousal encounter between heaven and earth, and between ideal and history. Such weddings would be like that at Cana when water turned into wine because a woman saw that the people had no more wine, and with faith, had asked and obtained a miracle. Economy of Communion will continue to live and reach its 50th birthday and beyond, if there will be women and men with “new eyes,” able to see what the people of one’s time need and transform profits into food for the body and heart, like the miracle that transformed water into wine. All the best EoC!» source: Città Nuova online http://www.cittanuova.it/c/455448/L_Economia_di_comunione_ha_25_anni.html
«As my morning flight from Bologna to London, already two hours late due to earlier London storms, circled the skies for an additional 20 minutes, I realized that it would be nearly impossible to make my connecting flight. In fact, a short time later I found myself in an interminable line with hundreds of other customers who had also missed their connections. Airline phones were clogged, so even those with cell phone access were stuck. Most people could summon the patience to wait an hour — but as it become two, three and then way past dinner, the atmosphere began to grow tense. I had settled in with a good book but also began to feel anxious as I realized it would be a challenge to get in touch with the friend who was to pick me up from the airport. Especially when traveling alone, I am not usually talkative with strangers, but at that point I felt a nudge from within to look around, and to remember that the warmth and comfort of God’s presence could be with us, even in this chaotic line. I remembered I had a package of cookies in my bag, and made the first connection with the hungry college students behind me. That was enough to break the ice with everyone in our part of the line. As we began trading stories and commiserating, we also realized that we could help each other. The power from my laptop battery was just enough to charge the cell phone of the German couple who needed to call their family. And this couple was happy to watch my stuff as I scouted out a computer terminal from which I could send an email to my friend. A brief greeting in Italian to another young couple was enough to realize that they and two other couples — all on their honeymoon trips — did not understand the announcements that were being made. I translated for them so that they could navigate their options. After five and a half hours and no alternative flight arrangements yet, we received vouchers for hotel rooms and a meal, and instructions to call the airlines from the hotel. I called from an airport phone and learned that I would need to be back at the airport in just a few hours. As I curled up on an airport chair to catch a few hours of sleep, I realized that notwithstanding the external discomfort, all of these “connections” with my neighbors in the present moment had filled the evening with an unusual sense of peace. And I did make it home the next day, tired, but with a light heart». — Amy Uelmen, Bethesda, MD From Living City May 2016 – www.livingcitymagazine.com
Expectations were high for the Council that had been being prepared since 1961 when the first Pan-Orthodox conference was convened by Patriarch Athenagoras I. The title was quite meaningful: “He called all to unity” from the Pentecost Anthem of the Byzantine Rite. Driven by the need to face the challenges of the new millennium, the Orthodox Churches share a desire to move towards a more explicit collegiality and sharing, as well as to reaffirm the unity of the Orthodox Church. This Council marks a new openness: to ecumenism and interreligious dialogue; to new scientific and technological discoveries; to spending energy on the question of ecology and to the drama of immigration and the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. It opens “the horizon on the current multifaceted world”. Convoked by unanimous agreement amongst the leaders of 14 Orthodox Churches during their gathering in Chambésy, Switzerland, last January, it was marked from the start by great suffering: the physical absence of 4 of those 14 Churches. The Russian Orthodox Church has not yet made a pronouncement regarding the Council and is waiting for the reunion of the Sacred Synod in July to give an assessment of the recent event. There were also 15 observers from other Christian Churches at the Synod, who attended the opening and closing sessions. Non-Orthodox Christians from around the world were praying for this important event in the Orthodox Church: “Please pray for the Pan-Orthodox Council, I ask it of you as if it were a Council of my own Church, because it is my Church at this moment,” Maria Voce had remarked to a group of focolarini from different Churches who were gathered together in Rocca di Papa, Italy at the end of May. What many people are highlighting is not so much the final decisions – the six documents that were signed by the Patriarchs on the mission in the contemporary world, the importance of fasting, the relationship of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian world, marriage, the Orthodox diaspora and the autonomy of the Churches – but the very nature of the Synod, that is, the fact that it was held and that this encounter had finally taken place. There is also hope that the Synod may not remain an isolated event, but become an ongoing practice of the Church on its journey. On the return flight from Armenia, Pope Francis responded to a journalist’s question about how the Pope would judge the Pan-Orthodox Synod that had just concluded. The Pope answered: “A positive judgement! It was a step ahead – not a hundred percent – but a step ahead. The things they had to justify (in quotation marks), the absences, are sincere for them, they’re things that will be resolved over time.” “The mere fact that these autocephalous Churches came together in the name of Orthodoxy, (…) is extremely positive. I thank the Lord. The next time, they’ll be more. Blessed be the Lord!” And speaking to the Orthodox delegation for the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Pope Francis cited the Pan-Orthodox Council to invoke “abundant fruits for the good of the Church”. Encyclical of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church
“To those who have already given themselves to God with all their mind, heart and strength – even beyond their own strength – God asks for a second decision. The first time they chose Him, they understood that they should love God beyond all things. But if we could divide this choice into parts, we’d find that in reality it contained 30% of love for God, 30% of disgust for the mediocrity and emptiness we were living in, 15% of joy and enthusiasm for having given ourselves to such a beautiful and holy cause and, for some of us, perhaps 10% of remorse for our past sins. . . (…) In fact it’s virtually impossible that the first time we chose God our love for him was not total and complete. But since perfection is only found in love, all of those secondary motives that had helped us at first because they were wrapped in our goodwill and enthusiasm to love God, little by little, the began to resurface and disturb us. It’s natural that they resurface, because already then they were like weeds that grow together with the grain as the Gospel of Matthew tells us. They’re small defects and attachments that aren’t authentic holiness, so they don’t build the Kingdom of God but disturb us and those around us. They may not even be venial sins, but nor are they authentic love. What should we do at that point? We should make a new decision for God. We should decide that love for God should become the only reason for our life – only love. (…) At that point we have to take a qualitative leap. We have to decide to love God for God, not for what we experience, not for the fruits it brings. We decide to love God for His own sake, in response to His Love for each one of us. We decide to find our reason for living in this union with God, the reason for our everyday life. When we reach this relationship with God, we become free human beings. Whatever happens, whatever calumny, difficulty, worry, bitterness – none of it alters our peace, because we’re rooted in God. And in God we find that unity, that joy, that serenity which only God’s love can give. (…) One thing is certain: deciding for God is a decision that must always be renewed. Perhaps we’ll be called to a third choice and then others, because God’s life is always new, unfailing and filled with surprises.” Pasquale Foresi, Source: Pasquale Foresi, Colloqui, (Rome: Città Nuova Editrice, 2009).
«“Unity is possible”. Is this an absurd affirmation today, in a Europe marked by global terrorism, a multiplication of wars, migrations of biblical proportions and growing intolerance? Are we talking about a dream, a utopia? No. We are talking about an experience which several Movements and Christian communities in Europe have already been living for over 15 years, bearing witness that unity is possible. We have experienced that there is something indestructible and timeless which binds us: it is Love, God who is Love. This Love has opened our eyes and our heart to embrace the fears, tears and hopes of this continent. In all that is negative, which seems to overwhelm us, we perceive the pain that God who became man suffered on the cross and through which he showed his limitless love and gave us the hope of resurrection. Three key words characterise this event: meeting, reconciliation, future. We can meet one another because God came to meet us first through his incarnation. We can be reconciled with one another because on the cross Jesus reconciled us with God and amongst ourselves. We can walk securely towards the future because the One who conquered death is walking in our midst and is leading us towards European unity and the unity of the world, until his prayer “May they all be one” is fulfilled (John 17:21). It is worthwhile committing our lives for such for such a high goal. Together we want to ask forgiveness for the divisions of the past which caused wars and death in Europe. Together we want to bear witness to our unity while respecting the beauty and diversity of our Churches and communities. Together we want to be at the service of something new which is needed today so as to make progress once more on the European path. What we can offer – by committing our lives – is the newness of the Gospel. Before dying Jesus prayed: “Father, may they all be one”. He showed that we are all brothers and sisters, that one “single human family” is possible; that unity is possible; that unity is our destiny. We commit ourselves here, today, to be catalysts of this change, catalysts for a new vision for Europe, so as to speed up the journey towards unity by starting a profound dialogue with and for all the men and women on earth. Dialogue can happen because of the so-called “Golden Rule” which says “Do not do to others what you would not wish done to you” (Cf Lk 6:31). Basically it means to love. And if love becomes mutual it brings fraternity to its fullness among all. In universal fraternity Europe can rediscover its vocation. In the 1950s Chiara Lubich wrote “if one day all peoples were able to set themselves aside, setting aside the idea they have of their own homeland … for the sake of the mutual love among states which God asks of us, just as he asks mutual love among brothers and sisters, that day will be the start of a new era”. So let’s live for this new era! Unity is possible!». Maria Voce Together for Europe, Public Event Munich, 2 July 2016
«Dear friends in Together for Europe, coming from many Movements and Groups that belong to different Churches and Communities, I know that you are gathered in Munich. You are right; it is time to get together to face today’s problems with a true European spirit».Pope Francis says these words at the beginning of his video message to those gathered at Karlsplatz (Stachus) in Munich for the Together for Europe event. After speaking about the challenges Europe has to face, Pope Bergoglio encourages the participants «to promote the testimony of a civil society where people work togetherto fosterencounter and solidarity with the weak and the disadvantaged, to build bridges, to overcome open or latent conflicts». He concludes: “Maintain the freshness of your charisms; continue to be “Together” and extend this further! Let your homes, communities and cities be workshops of communion, friendship and fraternity, that bring people together and are open to the whole world”.
(c) MfE, Foto: Brehm
Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is also present through his video message in which, among other things, he says: «Even when temptationsuggests that we need not be together, Christians, especially, are called to demonstrate the fundamental principle of the Church, which is communion (koinonia). It is only when we share the gifts so generously and freely bestowed on us by God, that we can fully experience them ourselves”. Today’s outdoor rally “500 years of division are enough – unity is possible!”, concludes the 4th edition of Together for Europe. This recalls the 500 years of separation between the Catholic Church and the Churches of the protestant Reformation. In her speech about unity, Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement says:«It is through our commitment that we can offerthe newness of the Gospel. Before his death Jesus prayed: ‘Father, may they all be one’. He showed that we are all brothers and sisters, that one ‘single human family’ is possible, that unity is possible, that unity is our destiny. We commit ourselves here, today, to be catalysts of this change, catalysts for a new vision of Europe, so as to speed up the journey towards unity by starting a profound dialogue with and for all men and women on earth».
(c) MfE, Foto: Brehm
Gerhard Pross (CVJM Esslingen) tackles the theme “Unity in reconciled diversity” while Andrea Riccardi (St. Egidio Community) speaks about “No more walls!”. Cardinal Kurt Koch (Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Unity among Christians), Bishop Frank Otfried July (the Lutheran World Federation), the Metropolitan Serafim Joanta (the Romanian-Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe) and the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches go up together on stage and speak about “Reconciliation opens us to the future – 500 years of division are enough”. An interview about “Mission and the future” leads to a very interesting dialogue between the Evangelical Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and Cardinal Reinhard Marx. The concluding message, read by members of the steering committee and distributed to thousands of people, does not only declare that “being together in Europe is stronger than fear and selfishness”, but also expresses the commitment of those who adhere to Together for Europe to “pursue the path of reconciliation”, to “live unity in diversity”, to “meet people of different beliefs and faiths with respect, seeking dialogue with them”, and to promote “humanity and peace” in the world. 1700 leaders and members from more than 300 Communities and Movements of Together for Europe took part in the Congress held at Circus-Krone-Bau on the two days before the rally. In his opening address Martin Wagner (CVJM Munich) said: “Reconciliation will be our keyword. We have already experienced it and it will be our future. We want to share unity and work together for it, but above all, we, as Christians, want to give our support towards the challenges that Europe faces today”.
(c) MfE, Foto: Fischer
The 36 forums and round table conferences held during the Congess focused on integration and reconciliation, solidarity with the weakest, sustainibilty and environmental protection, ecumenism, Christians and Muslims in dialogue, marriage and family, economy. Experiences, ideas, projects and witnesses of faith were also shared. Many participated in the forum “the price and prize of unity” where Cardinal Walter Kasper remarked that “the effort to achieve authentic reconciliation is one of the main obstacles encountered by the Ecumenical Movement. Without forgiveness we cannot proceed with our journey together”. The need to know one another, to encounter each other and to work together was highlighted during the conference “Christians and Muslims in dialogue”. Pasquale Ferrara, the new Italian Ambassador to Algiers commented:“Dialogue is not achieved by cultures or religions but by people”.Climatic changes and ecological challenges were discussed in the forum “Towards sustainbility in Europe”. Cardinal Peter Turkson, the environmental engineer Daniele Renzi and other experts led this discussion. During the conference “What soul for Europe?” Jesús Morán, the co-president of the Focolare Movement emphasized the fact that “Europe can and must, now more than ever, offer the world the prospect of forming a culture of unity in diversity at all levels, from a personal level in everyday life to an institutional one”. It was sunset when the concluding message of Together for Europe 2016 was read on stage at Karlsplatz. The programme continued with a rock concert animated by musical bands and the creative enthusiasm of youth. Press Release – Focolare Information Service, July 2, 2016
Together for Europe Encounter, Reconciliation, Future Munich (Bavaria), 2nd July 2016There is no alternative to being together “United in diversity”. This European hope is more than ever relevant. Europe must not become a fortress and build new frontiers. There is no alternative to being together. Being together in reconciled diversity is possible. The Gospel – a source of hope Jesus Christ prayed for unity and gave his life for it. This is stated in the Gospel, which for almost 2,000 years has played a key role in the culture of Europe. Jesus Christ teaches us boundless love for all people. He shows us the path of mercy and reconciliation. We can ask forgiveness and forgive one another. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a powerful source from which we can draw hope for the future. Europe – a culture of respect and esteem The terrible experiences of two World Wars have taught us that peace is a precious gift that we must preserve. Our future must be characterised by a culture of respect and esteem for others, even for strangers. Unity is possible – Overcoming divisions We ask all Christians, especially Church leaders, to overcome the divisions. These have caused suffering, violence and injustice, and have undermined the credibility of the Gospel. As Christians we want to live together as people who are reconciled and in full communion. Our commitment We live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bear witness to it with our words and deeds. We are pursuing the path of reconciliation and working to enable our communities, Churches, peoples and cultures to live “unity in diversity”. We meet people of different beliefs and faiths with respect, seeking dialogue with them. We are committed to building up humanity and peace in the world. We have a vision for Europe being together in a way that is stronger than fear or selfishness. We place our trust in the Holy Spirit who continually renews and gives life to the world Concluding Message – Together For Europe, Munich 2016
What are the challenges for Europe today? What about social and political responsiblity toward the other continents? What contribution can Christian movements make? There were many questions at the beginning of the second day of the Congress that focused on the current situation of the European continent with its local and global challenges. “We have to move on from the Europe of the fathers and make [the Europe] of the sons [and the daughters],” exhorted president of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo. “Christians have to re-choose Europe together; we can’t do it alone. Europe can’t live for itself; it should live its Christianity in favour of the others and with the others. Now is the time for ‘spiritual humanism’ and for the life of the Churches and communities to emerge and bring their own contribution.” Gérard Testard from EFESIA in Paris accented the need for Christian action in the public sphere. We shouldn’t have heavenly citizenship on one side and earthly citizenship on the other. They need to exist together. Michael Hochschild, sociologist and professor of post-modern thought at Time-Lab of Paris, underscored the socio-political importance of spiritual Communities and Movements in Europe. But for this to be so, he said, “you need to consider yourselves and show yourselves to be a decisive force for shaping the cultural landscape.” “You need to become socio-civil Movements.” He also said that in a time of uncertainty and lack of vision, Communities like those involved in Together4Europe offer alternative models for living. “It could be the fear of the future that constrains us to do all we can so that [future] might be better,” stated Herbert Lauenroth, expert on interculturalism at the Ecumenical Centre of Ottmaring, Germany. According to his analysis the current situation in Europe arises from a reaction to fear and uncertainty that is the result of a sense of existential suffocation. Such a situation represents a challenge with the passage of time: The fear could become a learning experience. “It’s a matter of preferring what is unknown, foreign, what lies at the extreme, as a place in which to learn the faith.” Through confrontation with the depths that society is facing, we can come to realize that a new direction based on faith is possible.” “Europe is passing through the night of its values, the night of its role in the world, the night of its dreams,” Focolare president Maria Voce affirmed in her intervention. “Together4Europe seems to be precisely the entity that would be capable of inspiring individuals and associations in their efforts for a Europe that is free, reconciled, democratic, supportive and fraternal, a Europe that could be a gift to the rest of the world.” “Steffen Kern from the Evangelical Federation of Wuerttemberg, continued the reflection on Europe and Hope: “Where do we Christians place our hope? A sense of responsibility is needed and taking on the pains and shadows of our cities. In Stuttgart we opened the House of Hope that welcomes women and others who are alone to show them that God never abandons anyone.” Thomas Roemer from the YMCA in Munich made it clear that if we don’t substitute the Europe of fear with the Europe of hope, the latter risks dying off. Like the disciples, Europe is also on a boat with Jesus. “Jesus is still here in the storms; we need to have faith. He got on the boat to save us.” In the afternoon, Together for Europe opened its doors to anyone who wished to join the discussion on confronting and planning. At the roundtable on “Christians and Muslims in Dialogue” the need to know one another emerged, to meet and work together on social and cultural challenges. Pasquale Ferrara, Italian neo-ambassador to Algeria, underscored the fact that dialogue is not done by cultures or religions, but by human beings. We all need to take a bath in concreteness and realism. Imam Baztami invited everyone to an encounter with others, to get to know others. Many ideas and projects emerged from the debate between Religions philosopher Beate Beckmann-Zoeller, Dr. Thomas Amberg from the Evangelical Church and French Bishop M. Dubost. At the “Towards Sustainablity in Europe” roundtable, Cardinal Turkson, environmental engineer Daniele Renzi, Hans-Hermann Böhm and other experts took up the Pope’s invitation for serious and open debate on climate change and ecological challenges. “Science and religion should be in dialogue,” Turkson remarked, “so they can make a common contribution to society.” The roundtable on “The Mysticism of Encounter” put Europeans from the left in dialogue with theologians and philosophers from Christian Movements. “Regarding the ultimate questions of meaning, we’re closer to one another than we think,” said Walter Baier, member of the Austrian Communist Party and coordinator of the “Transform! Europe” Network. Focolare co-president Jesús Moran supported a new and inclusive form of integration for people with no religious affiliation. He concluded: “The harmony amongst us here today is a reason for much hope.” The President of the Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, spoke about encounter, reconciliation and future, three words used in the main title of the event. “It is God who has taken the first step towards us.” “And you can forgive only when you acknowledge the wrong; for this reason the negative is hard work for the heart.” Therefore Christian Movements are “called to be missionaries of reconciliation, beginning from prayer that is then translated into daily life.” Source: www.together4europe.org
«It is paradoxical that the new Europe, which arose out of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, should be tempted, through fear, to shut itself behind new fences, building new walls and fences, in the illusion of being able to stop history that is once again knocking at its doors. The single currency project was supposed to be a big new step towards political union, a great new identifying moment in which solidarity and the sharing of sovereignty, in order to achieve common objectives, were to represent the fundamental pillars. Actually two examples show us how little this has been achieved. On the one hand, the serious delays and heated debates that followed the Greek debt crisis, which greatly undermined the foundations of solidarity among the member states, even leading to speculation on Greece leaving the Euro. On the other hand there is the Brexit issue and other separatist tendencies which also test solidarity severely. Because going out of the Union is not like leaving a club, but is equivalent to, and much more like, abandoning partners with whom we no longer share the same reason for being together: the founding pact. Europe is going through the dark night of its own principles, the dark night of its dreams. In reality, a great sense of disorientation reigns in our continent because of the presence of three simultaneous crises: an unprecedented migratory crisis, together with a deep economic crisis, against the backdrop of a demographic crisis. While leaving it to others to analyse the reasons for these crises, I believe that the deeper causes of Europe’s weakness today can be found in the denial of God and of the transcendent. This is a result of the gradual emergence and spread of secular culture which wants to do away with any link with the supernatural. In the search for total freedom, Europe no longer recognizes that its culture was formed through 2,000 years of Christian tradition. Denying this means cutting its own roots and finding itself like a lifeless tree. So is everything collapsing then? Is the continent’s dream of unity being shattered? No. We are here together, as Christian movements and communities in Europe, because we believe there is something that does not collapse. It is love; God who is Love. Our movements are bearers of charisms which are certainly very different from each other and yet all are the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit is precisely the one who creates fraternity (so to speak) among the Persons of the Trinity and who unites all Christians. So the idea of fraternity originates in Heaven and is the purpose of life on earth. All of us can bear witness that we met Christ one day and let ourselves be fascinated and drawn into his Gospel. Living his words led us to change ourselves and reach out to others, building relationships of gospel love and thereby creating communities that become leaven wherever they are. We have discovered a new willingness to be open to all, crossing the boundaries between Churches, between religions, between ethnicities and cultures, in a 360-degree dialogue, until we rediscover everyone as our brothers and sisters. In this way we have found the root of our European culture once more and, on this foundation, we have tried to interpret our present times, which concern the entire planet and all humankind as never before, from the perspective of moving towards a united world. In fact, applying the ideals of peace, justice, freedom and equality today means having a universal dimension, which fraternity makes possible (read the full text)».
Martin Wagner, CVJM München and Gabriele Deutschmann, CVJM Esslingen interview evangelical-lutheran bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, and Card.Reinhard Marx (C) T4E, Foto: Haaf
“Movements can bring together a Europe that is increasingly polarised.” This was the message of Evangelical-Lutheran Heinrich Bedford-Strohm during the first morning of the Congress of Collaborators in the Ecumenical network “Together for Europe” in Munich, is said in the Together for Europe press release at the conclusion of the first day of work. Seventeen hundred participants from 200 Christian Communities and Movements from forty countries are together at Circus Krone on June 30 and July 1. “Unless we clarify the urgent questions of Europe, they will overrun us,” Gerhard Pross of the International Steering Committee declared at the beginning. “Europe has to learn to share!” Fifteen years of experience by Christian Communities and Movements in a “profound process of reconciliation to form a community in diversity has been experienced as an enrichment” to oppose the centrifugal forces in Europe with a path towards a new togetherness,” Together for Europe declares. At the press conference on June 30 in Munich, Focolare president Maria Voce called it “communion at the service of others”. “This is why,” she reiterated while recalling the 7 Yeses of 2007, “we are making concrete commitments,” in favour of life, family, creation, a solid economy, peace, personal and collective responsibility. We’ve found that there is more strength and incisiveness when we act together, overcoming our differences, borders and any other obstacle there may be. And we have found that the institutions need this, because they often find themselves all alone in facing serious problems.” “Cardinal Reinhard Marx and Bishop Heinrich and Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm gave a convincing example of their friendship and their way together. “The ecumenism of the heart promises far more for the future of the churches than we imagine,” the chairman of the Evangelical Churches in Germany stated. “We only reach the goal of unity if we are completely and utterly reconciled,” Cardinal Marx emphasised. The strength to achieve it arises from the encounter, “The other person strengthens us and helps us along the way to reconciliation.”
Press Conferenze, June, 30
In the afternoon nineteen very different forums gave the participants an opportunity to enter into dialogue with one another. These included reports on projects and the initiatives of individual communities, as well as personal testimonies of faith. A well-attended forum discussed the “stumbling blocks” in Ecumenism, to which Cardinal Kasper, former President of the Catholic Ecumenical Secretariat, made a contribution. “In experiences of learning and forgiving you are important outposts!” the expert in ecumenism stated, and held out the prospect that in the foreseeable future a declaration could be made on a consensus of doctrines between Evangelical-Lutheran and the Catholic Churches on the subject of the Church, office and an understanding of the Eucharist. As for the talk of break-up on the European continent, Maria Voce stated at the press conference: “nationalist, separatist tendencies running through Europe are a result of the fact that Europe has forgotten its values. Declarations from representatives of the Churches are not enough. There is a need for Christian life, and we feel particularly called to contribute to this.” Press Release Together for Europe
“Urged by the stances of our leaders – remember, for example, the establishment of the Day of Prayer for the Protection of Creation (Patriarch Demetrio, 1989), the Evangelical Climate Initiative (2006) and the encyclical Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis, 2015); In recognition of the debt that we, the people of ancient Christian tradition, have contracted with the poor of the Earth and future generations due to the pollution of the Biosphere, mainly caused by our irresponsible progress in the recent past centuries; Aware that the alarm for climate change may become an opportunity for a novel integral development of all people; We Christians, open to the contribution of all people regardless of their beliefs, commit ourselves in prayer and action to avoid the destruction of nature and a new world war, and endorse the following ten challenges:
To convert in projects of peace the weapons disseminated around us, especially the atomic ones
To increase research in the Biosphere science and its applications, so that they can become safer
To differentiate and recycle household and industrial waste
To intensify the use of renewable energy sources
To plan reforestation programs and forest policies at all levels (from local to international)
To strengthen ecological transports, such as electric and hydrogen based cars, and local public transport initiatives
To increasingly allocate hydrocarbons to the production of substances and materials useful for humanity rather than using them for burning
To avoid the waste of precious common goods such as water and food, ensuring a more equitable distribution
To respect other living beings, recognizing that everything is in relation in the planet
To transform our homes, our neighbourhoods and cities into places of beauty, harmony and fraternity
How?
Adhering to our leaders’ stances and promoting complying laws, such as the Paris Agreement
Promoting initiatives in accordance with the “Golden Rule” and joining the initiatives of other people, regardless of their belief
Asking for advice to our communities and cooperating with them in promoting actions to save nature and humanity
We can achieve these goals if we start now, before it is too late. In particular, we can help ensure that greenhouse gases do not exceed the safety levels, as foreseen by the Paris Agreement and recommended by the scientific community.” EcoOne (www.ecoone.org/) Civiltà dell’amore (www.civiltadellamore.org/)
Gulu in northern Uganda is now the second largest city of the country. Many immigrants and Ugandans have moved there to school and find work. Among them is Gloria Mukambonera who works in the computer field. When she arrived in 2013, she contacted the local Focolare community so that she could share her Gospel ideal of peace and unity with others. “I found a real family here” she recounts, “in which I could share my joys and sorrows. We also practice a communion of goods, following the example of the first Chrisitan communities, each person in their own way. The proceeds are used to help people in need and to care for the sick members of the community.” It is an experience that helps you to see the needs of those around you, which are many because of the war. “One day,” says Gloria, “a priest had asked us to visit the people in a parish that was 4 hours away, because – he told us – there was a conflict between tribes and we might be able to help them reconcile. He had suggested that we tell them about how we try to live the Gospel and of our experiences of peace and unity that flow from that. In particular we shared our experiences of forgiveness, of how we were helped to overcome the divisions among us by living the ‘art of loving’ that is found in the Gospel. There was quite a special meeting with all the young people of the place. We read the Word of Life and shared with them our experiences of trying to live it, and then we invited them to share. There was singing, games and mini theatrical performances. . . The dialogue that followed uncovered their desire to begin living in reconciliation with one another.” It was an opportunity to be “peacebuilders” as the bishop had invited us to be. For us it was a matter of “choosing the Gospel’s way of love for the reconstruction of the country, following the destruction caused by years of war.” Ibanda lives in Uganda’s Western Region. There is also a Focolare group there, and they strive to transform the environment around them by transforming themselves, beginning from a jail. “Our outlook and behaviour have changed radically, especially the negative view we had of the inmates,” says Sara Matziko. “The Gospel sentence: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Mt 7:12) has encouraged us to visit them and pray with them. We discovered that many of them had not received the sacraments for years. The priest from our community went with us to offer this service.” The inmates’ relatives gradually overcame their indifference, we became friends and they went with us to visit the inmates. During one of those visits I met a young man named Ambrose who, after his jail time, wanted to continue his studies. “We helped him to finish high school,” Sara recounts. “Living the Word of Life with one another improved the relationship among us and within the community. The pastor has also joined us in this process that we try to share with other parish communities. Several people from our group attended the international Economy of Communion (EoC) meeting that was held in Kenya, at Mariapolis Piero, May 2015. That helped us to carry ahead our current project.”
World of Life audio mp3Giving an amnesty to one another, forgiving one another totally and each day, we can grow in thekindness that mirrors God’s mercy to us. There is nothing more wonderful than hearing someone say to you: ‘I love you.’ When someone loves us we don’t feel alone, we walk secure, we are able also to face difficulties and critical situations. If then our being loved becomes mutual, hope and trust are reinforced, and we feel protected. We all know that children, to grow well, need to be surrounded by an environment that is full of love, and to have someone who loves them. But this is true at any age. For this reason the Word of Life invites us to be ‘kind’ to one another, which is to say to love one another, and it gives God himself as a model. It is precisely his example that reminds us that loving one another is not mere sentiment. It is an extremely concrete and demanding ‘desire for the good of the other’. In Jesus God has come close to the sick and the poor, has felt compassion for the crowds, has had mercy on sinners, and has forgiven those who crucified him. For us, too, wanting the good of others means listening to them, showing them sincere attention, sharing their joys and trials, taking care of them, walking with them along their way. The other person is never a stranger, but a brother or sister who belongs to me, who I wish to serve. The exact opposite of what happens when we see others as rivals, competitors, enemies, to the point of wanting their harm, to the point of crushing them, even eliminating them, as sadly we are told in the news happens day by day. Even though we may not go so far, don’t we also accumulate grudges, distrust, hostility or simple indifference towards persons who have hurt us or who we find unpleasant or who do not belong to our social circle? Wanting the good of one another, the Word of Life teaches us, means following the path of mercy, ready to forgive one another every time we slip up. Talking of this, Chiara Lubich tells us about the experience at the beginning of her new Christian community. In order to put Jesus’s command into practice, she and her first companions made a pact of mutual love. And yet, despite this, ‘especially in the early times it was not always easy for a group of girls to live the love radically. We were people like anyone else, even if we were sustained by a special gift of God and, among us, on our relationships, dust could gather and unity could weaken. This is what happened, for example, when we realized the shortcomings, the imperfections, of the others and we judged them, so that the current of mutual love grew cold. ‘In reaction to this situation one day we thought would make pact among us that we called the “pact of mercy”. We decided every morning to see each neighbour we met – in our focolare house, at school, at work and so on – as new, as really new, without remembering at all the other’s flaws, the other’s defects, but covering everything with love. It was a matter of meeting everyone with this complete amnesty in our hearts, with this universal pardon. It was a powerful commitment, taken by all of us together, that helped us always to be the first in loving in imitation of God who is merciful, who forgives and forgets.1 A pact of mercy! Could not this be a way of growing in kindness? Fabio Ciardi 1 Love of neighbour, Talk given to Muslim friends, Castel Gandolfo, 1 November 2002.
The outcome of the recent British referendum is one of the many symptoms of a fragmented Europe. It confirms that functional measures are not enough to convince about a common membership. This crisis calls for reflection and bold proposals. It is the right time for the Together for Europe edition, a clear, public manifestation of efforts for the renewal of the continent. It will take place in Munich from June 30 to July 2, 2016 Those familiar with Together for Europe know that this is not an event but a process towards unity in diversity that started in 1999. It involves a growing number of Movements and Communities – to date more than 300 – a confident minority, that comes from various Churches in different European countries. Through encounter and reconciliation, this process has produced its effects: communities and movements experience encounter and discover complementary; mutual trust brings change. Programme. On June 30 and July 1, 1500 leaders and collaborators will take part in a congress held at the Circus-Krone-Bau. Apart from plenary sessions, the programme consists of 36 forums and round tables. Cardinal Peter Turkson is expected to be one of the main participants. An outdoor rally, open to the public, will take place on July 2 at the central Karlsplatz (Stachus) in Munich. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Catholic Cardinals Kurt Koch and Reinhard Marx, the Evangelical Bishops Frank Otfried July and Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, the Orthodox Metropolitan Serafim Joanta are among the main speakers representing the different Churches, while Maria Voce (Focolare Movement), Gerhard Pross (YMCA Esslingen), Andrea Riccardi (Sant’Egidio), Michelle Moran (ICCRS), Walter Heidenreich (FCJG Lüdenscheid) and P. Heinrich Walter (Schoenstatt Movement) will be the speakers that come from the Movements and Communities. Youth have been offering their active, convinced and creative contribution towards this programme. Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will be present through their video messages. The programme can be followed in 7 languages through a streaming broadcast (www.together4europe.org). Topics on the agenda include integration and reconciliation, solidarity with the weakest, sustainability and environment protection, Christians and Muslims in dialogue, marriage and family and economy. These are meant to stimulate a responsibility that goes beyond Europe, because the continent “has an experience of two thousand years of Christianity with ideas, culture, life and actions that can be offer as a service to today’s world, but unfortunately this has not been recognized yet” – Maria Voce says. Munich’s edition of Together for Europeis backed up by solid moments of reflection, discussions, sharing of views and experiences. Of significant importance is the conference entitled “Europe, what identity, what values”, organized by the World Council of Churches and the Focolare Movement. During this conference, held in Geneva on April 21 of this year, Pasquale Ferrara, a diplomat and a university professor claimed that today Europe needs to generate “fruits of Christianity”, rather than speak about its Christian roots. He also said that we need to present “the ‘golden rule’, which invites us to do to others what we would like others to do unto us” because such a rule “is not only of ethical value, but it also assumes a political dimension, as it makes one reflect about the nature and character of the political community”.Together for Europe seems capable to interpret this dimension while it inspires and motivates people of different generations and communities from countries across Europe to incarnate the values of justice, encounter, reconciliation and peace in their everyday life. Thus it contributes towards building “a Europe of leadership”, as described by Pope Francis when he visited the European Parliament in November 2014 and spoke of “a Europe which contemplates the heavens and pursues lofty ideals, which cares for, defends and protects every man and woman, which bestrides the earth surely and securely; a precious point of reference for all humanity”. The Munich event is under the patronage of UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the European Commission. Source: Press Release – June 27, 2016
Jesus Forsaken Highest Expression of the Father’s Mercy Jesus Christ reveals the true face of God (see MV, 1), the image of the Father, his expression, his glory, his beauty, the beauty of his love (see Jn 14:8-9). By accomplishing the Pasqual Mystery, Jesus conquers suffering, sin and death, and transforms everything into mercy (see Rm 5:20). God became man to love,” Chiara Lubich says, “not only with Divine Love, but also with Suffering. He took upon Himself “all the sufferings of the world, all the disunity of the universe and made it all: Love, God!” Co vered in our sins, He renders the suffering, love; He translates misery into Mercy (misericordia).” In a letter from 1945 Chiara admits: “I also fall, often, always. But when I lift my gaze to Him and see Him there, incapable of revenge, since He is nailed to the cross because of His boundless love, I let myself be caressed by His Infinite Mercy and I know it’s the only thing that must win out in me. What good would it do Him to be infinitely Merciful? What good would it do Him if it were not for our sins?” And with abandon Chiara exclaims: “I would like to bear witness to the world that Jesus Forsaken has filled every void, enlightened every darkness, accompanied every loneliness, annulled every suffering and cancelled every sin.” These are a few cardinal points of Chiara Lubich’s in a nutshell seen from the standpoint of mercy which this Holy Year invites us to consider. We can’t end without a brief mention of Mary, Mother of Mercy and Mother of the Work founded by Chiara and named by her “Work of Mary”. Chiara writes: “A mother never stops loving the son when he’s bad, she never stops waiting for him if he’s far away, she never desires anything but to find him again, forgive him, take him into her arms – because a mother’s love is scented with mercy. (…) A mother’s love is by its very nature stronger than death. (…) Well, then, if this is what the love of ordinary mothers is like, imagine what the love of Mary is like, the human-Divine Mother of a boy who was God, and spiritual Mother us all ! (…) But God deposited his whole design for humanity in Mary (see Lk 1:49): In Mary he reveals all of his Mercy for humanity.” Source: Centro Chiara Lubich Part One: Mercy in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich Part Two: Chiara Lubich: Love of Neighbour & the Works of MercyComplete text by Alba Sgariglia (Italian)
“Here I learned how to dialogue with my children, and I shall surely return to know more,” remarked one of the mothers dressed in a sari. One of the fathers said, “I have decided to dedicate more time for my children.” The comments came from two of the 60 participants attending the course on parenting held at Udisha, which was entitled: “Children – the future of our nation”. After school, in the same facilities, their children are given a snack, toys and after-school activities. For some of the parents, the themes dealt with were a surprising novelty, while for others they were eye-openers to their own mistakes and the dangers and risks to which their children are exposed. But the course was not the only a promotion addressing the parents. In this 5th year of Udisha – one of the social projects of the Focolare for disadvantaged children, teens and families – there is also the opportunity to obtain a microcredit, thanks to which the economy of many families has decisively improved. Especially the women have gained access to an initial subsidy and many have been able to open small handicraft or business activities such as the production of crochet bags or selling cooked food. Already 52 mothers hold monthly group meetings to share their entrepreneurial experiences and solve some common problems together. Other successful activities this year was the prophylaxis against typhus, which was beneficial to 107 children and adults, and 72 adults and 95 kids were vaccinated against German measles. But the greatest efforts of the project addressed the kids who were involved in new activities. Independence Day on 15 August was celebrated with the flag-raising ceremony, accompanied by patriotic songs and poems. In September instead, on the occasion of the Bandra fair – one of the city’s most important events – children and parents had a field trip to the Mount Mary Basilica. Also in September, India celebrated teachers’ day and the children once again thanked their educators with a song, dance and theater performance. On 2 October, feast of the father of the nation – MahatmaGandhi – the celebration started with the thoughts of Gandhi on nonviolence and peace, and reflections on the poverty of many children living on the streets and the importance of sharing. Despite their extreme poverty, also the Udisha children wanted to share the little they had: some clothing item, a small toy, or some sweets. And discussing among themselves, they also listed many other things to share: their ideas, joy, and smiles. The Diwali (Feast of Light) is India’s most important feast that takes place for four days between October and November every year – during which the children of Udisha used all their creativity in painting terracotta vases and drawing pictures with coloured powder. It was their way of contributing to the project, mostly through a distance-financing from a nonprofit AFN organization. The intensity with which the children of Udisha absorb the “culture of giving” is really impressive. This inspiring idea is the core of the project and education they receive, and a value that is conveyed to them not only through words but through the concrete love of the volunteers onsite, and those across the ocean, whom they have never met but who care for them.
Nearly two months have gone by since Ecuador was hit by a disastrous earthquake. The Focolare Movement immediately began a fundraising effort to meet requests for basic necessities, and it set up a work group coordinated by the United World Association and the New Families NPO Association. The generous support of people from around the world arrived quickly, and we have now ready to send the first funds that will provide people of Ecuador with such things as food, sanitation and psychological support. This assistance will be directed especially to families from the Provinces of Manabi and Espmeraldes, which suffered the most damage. In partnership with the local NGO, Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio (FEPP), the first six-month phase will focus on studying the reconstruction of infrastructure and returning local production. The study will work in collaboration with the international network of architects known as “Arquitecturalimite” which specializes in designing services in contexts where there is socio-economic exclusion. On November 9 – 13, 2016, while a course on peace is being offered to young people, a series of architectural workshops will be taking place to deal with possible responses to the earthquake disaster. How you can help Source: AMU – AFN Onlus
To New Life I’m a doctor working in emergency services. One morning I got called to help an elderly man who wasn’t feeling well. He was living in the midst of a lot of disorder, crushed by the death of his only son under mysterious circumstances. When I looked at his documents I realized that during the Communist Regime he had done a lot of evil things to people. I put aside all my judgements and tried to help that suffering man in front of me who was in need of affection. Beyond it all, now, for me, he was a neighbour that Jesus was inviting me to love. He spoke to me often of his past whenever I went to visit him at the hospital. Sometimes it was hard for me to listen to him, but when I was able to tell him about my own faith, I saw hope switch on in the man: It was as if he was being born to new life.” M. U. (Czech Republic) The Contract “I’m in charge of sales at the business I work for. We were competing for the contract with a major supplier and we had all the credentials to get it: design, price appeal . . . But to get the contract we would have to pay a bribe. Another Christian and I decided not to continue with the deal even at the cost of losing a significant percentage of that month’s sales. But the following month sales exceeded projections and covered the previous deficits. For us it seemed like a confirmation that it always pays to trust God. J. P. (Panama) The Translation “I had to finish a translation before the end of the evening. It was to be used for one of the presentations at a conference. Then, the telephone rang. It was a friend telling me that he needed my help right away, and it was urgent. I assured him I would help him. Only that when I received the text of the letter he wanted me to work on, I saw that there were certain technical terms that turned out to be difficult for me to translate. Only with the help of internet and several telephone calls to specialists in his field was I able to finish the translation for him, even though it was at the cost of my own work. Still, I was at peace for having helped my friend. At that point, I telephoned the association that had assigned me the translation, to explain that I would send it them on the day after, thinking that I could stay up all night and work on it. But they replied: “You can sleep soundly. That presentation has been postponed.” T. M. (Slovak Republic)
A letter from Amman, Jordan, signed by Wael Suleiman, Director of Caritas Jordan, who oversees the arrival of refugees from Iraq, Syria and Paletsine: “Life has no sense anymore for the people in the Middle East. Darkness everywhere. Fear. Death. Hatred. Refugees. Camps. But the ideal that keeps us going, in spite of it all is the daily discovery of God who is still there, who is still Love and loves us immensely and that love is still stronger..”. This is the strong belief that keeps the Director of Caritas Jordan moving. And his faith is accompanied by action, the daily efforts of many volunteers, as well as the outside help that comes from several international projects. Among them is “HOST SPOT” proposed by New Humanity, an NGO, with associates from 9 European and Middle Eastern countries for spreading a culture of understanding and the promotion of human rights. On August 7 – August 19, 2016 a group of young people from different countries will go to volunteer at welcoming centres in Jordan. The experience will give them a face-to-face encounter with what refugees face each day. The young people are from all backgrounds and are prepared to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to engage in the production of documentaries that tell the real life stories of the refugees and promote freedom of expression. The project includes a meeting with refugees who are fleeing the Syrian and Iraqi conflict and seeking refuge in Jordan. HOST SPOT is financed by the European Community Erasmus +. The name plays on the European notion of a ‘hot spot’ as a point of arrival where refugees can be welcomed. The word “SPOT” stands for the short commercial-like television or radio spots that will be part of major television and radio programming, and the production of a major video. After Jordan, a training course is planned for Turkey in October 2016. It will offer training in journalism and storytelling for the promotion of human rights and, in particular, freedom of expression. A further course will be held in Germany in March 2017 for developing basic technical production skills for social documentaries with live filming. There will be opportunities to meet the refugees in the German refugee camps and compare different approaches and systems for welcoming them. The project that underscores encounter and reciprocity hopes to document and film the personal stories and daily life of refugees in the camps, providing the public with more information for understanding the refugees, and for informing their conscience. Info: info@new-humanity.org Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
The moment news of his illness spread, the friends of Andrea, together with the boys and adults of Appignano started to join forces with the family in the small chapel of Madonna Addolorata. Every time the number grew and intensified their prayers for the healing of Andrea. As his hospitalization extended, they asked with faith that also Andrea’s family would find strength and peace, and that Andrea would never feel alone, even when he had to face checkups and treatments and would not suffer excessively. Precisely this year his class was preparing the children and their parents for the first communion, and all together decided to postpone the event to next year, to allow Andrea to receive the sacrament with all of them. Finally Andrew returned home, and his friends, knowing that his hair had fallen due to the therapy, decided to cut their hair short to welcome him back. Meantime, Andrea, like a real trooper of serenity continued the treatments, without losing his wonderful smile. After two years, Andrea seemed to have been healed, so much so that he was able to participate in the summer training course, and subsequently, in the weekly meetings of the Diocesan Movement of the Focolare. Something new came up in 2016: the checkups revealed the need for a new round of treatments and which also this time seemed to give positive results. But precisely upon returning home from a Gen3 meeting, a serious crisis forced him to an urgent hospitalisation. Something indescribable then happened in Appignano. Thrice a week his classmates and all those of the School, together with the young friends of Federica, his sister and the many people closet o the family, started to fill the crape of Addolorata. The kids themselves led the prayers, in an amazing spiritual atmosphere of faith in God who is Love, certain that all He sent or allows to happen, always leads to the Good. A certainty that, even when Andrea, at the age of 13 left this earthly existence, his presence in the community of Appignano has never diminished. For two days there was an uninterrupted pilgrimage of kids and adults to the Addolorata chapel where – where Andrew lay – to gather round the family with wake shifts so that he was never left alone. At the funeral celebrated in the parish, the church could not contain all the people. The celebrant spoke of Andrew as a “trooper” and a “teacher of life” and in recalling the strength with which he faced his illness, underlined with amazement his deep sense of humanity, fraternity and faith which the boy managed to imbue in the entire community. At the end, the children and kids launched hundreds of white balloons in the sky, as a symbol of the certainty that Andrew is now in Heaven and their great support to the family: an event that went viral on the network. A labourer, head of a family, observed: “What impresses me most is the great number of people of various nationalities and religions. It is a real lesson also for us adults who often forget that humanity which unites us all. Andrea and his friends are our teachers of life” And a girl wrote “We prayed so hard for a miracle. And the miracle came about: a child was able to unite an entire town around him, and this is something inexpiable.” At the cemetery a girl, upon seeing a woman sobbing, went up to her and said: “Don’t cry. Andrew is now with Jesus.” Two months have passed and the prayer sessions in have continued every Wednesday, “It’s important that we do so,” one of the kids said. “We need to go ahead so that the fruits of the life of Andrew – that’s how I like to consider them– can continue to bear fruit among us.”
“Ever since the beginning of the Movement, especially because of the sad circumstances of the War, Chiara and her companions were very attentive to the poor of their city, taking them into their house, visiting them, providing them with the basic necessities and assisting them in many other ways. Through this loving exercize toward their neighbours who were in need, they later realized that their heart shouldn’t only be turned towards the poor but towards all people without making any distinctions. (…) Chiara mentions the works of mercy in several letters, which she wrote in those early days to people who had drawn near to the Movement. We present a letter she wrote to her friend Anna, inviting her to live out the works of mercy that God puts before her in every moment of the day. “Remember that at the end of life you’ll be asked for the 7+7 works of Mercy. If you did them, you did everything. And I’d like you to join us in living the present moment and, in the present moment, the work of Mercy that God requires of us. Do you study? = You instruct the ignorant. Do you tutor a classmate? = You counsel the doubting. Do you eat or give food to others? = You feed the hungry. Do you drink or give someone a drink? = You quench the thirst of the thirsty. The 14 Acts of Mercy should determine each of your actions. And each of your actions should be turned towards Jesus who should live and grow in you and in your neighbour.Mutual Love, the Pact of Mercy and Pardon Jesus’s new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (see Jn 13:34), which highlights what is specific about the interpersonal relations of Christians and the ultimate goal of mercy, is another cardinal point of the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. Mutual love lived out with an attitude of being the first to love, of free and unconditional self-giving one to the other, was what characterized the life of the first focolare. Chiara herself described its radicalness, when she spoke to a group of Muslim friends about the Pact of Mercy. (…) On other occasions Chiara reiterated the opportuneness of this practice, underscoring the value of pardoning, and describing it as a real act of freedom: “Pardon. Always pardon. Pardon is forgetting, which often means not wanting to look at reality in the face. Pardon is not weakness, that is, not taking into account a wrong for fear of the stronger one who committed it. Pardon doesn’t consist in carelessly signing on to what is wrong, or in calling good what is evil. Pardon is not indifference. Pardon is a lucid and willful decision, an act of freedom therefore, which consists in welcoming our brothers and sisters as they are, in spite of the wrong they have done, as God welcomes us sinners in spite of our defects. Pardon consists in not responding to an offence with another offence, but in doing as Paul says: ‘Never let yourselves be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ Pardon consists in opening the possibility of a new relationship with you to anyone who has done you wrong, the possiblity therefore for you and him to begin life again, to have a future in which evil will not have the last word. (…)” Chiara returns to the topic of this relationship that we should have with every brother and sister, specifying the need of starting over: “Perhaps that brother – like all of us – has commited errors, but how does God see him? What really is his condition, the truth of his state? If he’s right before God, God no longer remembers anything, He’s already cancelled everything with His blood. And we, why should we remember? Who is in the wrong in that moment? I who judge, or my brother? Me.” And so I have to move myself to seeing things from God’s eyes, in the truth and accordingly with my brother, because, if for misfortune he is not yet right with the Lord, the warmth of my love, which is Christ in me, would lead him to contrition as the sun heals and absorbs and heals many wounds. Charity is maintatined with the truth and truth is pure mercy, with which we must be clothed from head to toe so that we can call ourselves Christians. Does my brother or sister return to me? I must see him new as if nothing had happened, and begin to live with him again in the unity of Christ like at first, because there is nothing anymore. This trust of mine will keep him from other falls and I too – if I have used this measure with him – will be able to hope that God one day will judge me.” Source: Centro Chiara Lubich Part 1: Mercy in the Spirituality of Chiara LubichComplete text by Alba Sgariglia (Italian)
“On my way home,” recounts Ofelia who is from a small district of Valencia, the third largest city of Venezuela, “I saw a couple going home on foot. I slowed down and asked if they wanted a ride. Exhausted and breathless, they got into the car immediately. After getting their breath back they told me that they had awoken very early to go and buy flour and other basic foodstuffs for their kids, but the queue was so long that when their turn came, there was nothing left. Disappointed, they told themselves that the only thing they would return home with was a big headache since they had not had breakfast or lunch.” These painful and unfortunately recurring situations often go unanswered since even Ofelia had nothing to give them. Her purse was empty and she was jobless. The widespread lack of means of livelihood pushed the Focolare community in Venezuela to help one another in all ways. For example, the ladies offer one another hairstyling services and mend old clothes to give to those in need, so as to be neat and orderly despite their poverty, and testify also visibly to the evangelical love they try to live amongst them. “One day,” the head of a family recounted, “I went to buy some food, but there was nothing available and it seemed like everything had disappeared. On doing our rounds I spotted some foruro or toasted maize. We generally do not eat this, but we recalled that one of our friend’s family ate it, and I thought that it was better than nothing. In the afternoon, passing by their home, I dropped by to ask whether they had eaten lunch. The wife said “no, not even breakfast. We have no money and my husband has weakened due to hunger.” I told her that they couldn’t go to bed without eating something, and ran to take the foruro I had bought. That evening for me was really joyful since they were able to have dinner, even if only with just foruro. One day, Laura was stopped by a woman who confided her worries since she could not find the medicine for her hypertension. She herself instead managed to get the drugs through acquaintances from abroad. In times like this, it would be prudent to keep these items for oneself, also because you never know whether you will be able to procure them again. But in the Gospel Jesus said «give and you will receive, and without thinking twice, opened her bag and gave her a whole blister pack of pills. In this country’s difficult situation, the visit of Cecilia di Lascio (21-25 May) Argentinean, and regional coordinator of the Political Movement for Unity, was really timely. In Caracas, she had an interesting meeting with 75 people who wanted to commit themselves for the common good, and among whom were various young people: in the hall of the National Assembly she presented the ideal of unity to a group of people who were interested in politics, and before leaving the country held a meeting with a group of university professors on how to educate the youth according to the paradigm of fraternity in the various disciplines of knowledge and human activities. Two important events were also held in the encounter with Dr. Lombardi, of the Cecilio Acosta University, and a meeting with the RUEF (University network of studies on Fraternity) commission. All this contributed to acquiring greater comprehension of the political process taking place in the country. “We have to focus on equity, the central objective and start off from the paradigm of fraternity,” Dr Lascio affirmed in her various speeches. “In this difficult situation I firmly believe in the importance of working together for the common good.”
“When the telephone rang on Sunday morning, at the other end of the line was my husband’s son weeping: his friend had been among the victims of the massacre in Orlando. The tragedy had come right into our own home.” Kathie felt that the only possible response to such pain was love. She gathered the family: “We joined the 18:00 moment of silence that enveloped the city and the state, and then we went to Mass to pray that God would comfort the families, the wounded, my stepson and his friends.” Eva’s beauty parlour is only a few miles from the Pulse, and her colleagues knew several of the club’s customers. “I hadn’t turned on the TV and wasn’t particularly alarmed by the sound of sirens in the night, so I heard about the shooting at church where it was announced that one of our parishioners had been killed. They were our friends. What happened to them could have happened to me or to others around me. I asked myself if I had really done my best to love the people right beside me. Bullets had killed those young people, but I couldn’t make love die.”
Mourners attend a candlelight vigil in Orlando
Many testimonies arrived from Focolare members in the hours after the massacre in Orlando where, in a popular night club for the LGBT community, 49 people were shot by Omar Matee, a man with serious psychological problems who wanted to carry out an act of murder under the guise of religion. Current investigations are revealing that Islam had nearly nothing to do with the killings, and that the assassin had long been known for his belligerent and aggressive personality. “News of brutal killings like those of Sunday seem to have become an ordinary part of life, and the general tide of indifference seemed to carry me away,” Martin admits. “Why go on believing in brotherhood and love when faced with the impossible task of overturning evil? When so many of my Muslim friends were being taken by abstract thoughts such as these, I physically felt the pain and desperation that they were feeling because they were once again being labelled as terrorists. I couldn’t ignore the many hours spent in dialogue, getting to know each other, as well as the many hours spent in helping one another. I can’t and don’t want to ignore the good there is that can allow this world to become a better place.” There is a strong risk that Muslims will again be blamed of favouring great acts of violence, but the reality is altogether different, because they were the first to step up and donate blood for the many wounded and, in many cities, the night prayer during Ramadan was dedicated to the murder victims of Orlando. Sandra, Milagros and Joyce, who are less than 70 years old between them, had to admit once more that the Gospel is the only weapon that doesn’t injure others, but only one’s own egoism and pride. “It’s all so senseless what we are going through, but we can’t let ourselves be paralyzed by fear. We have to demonstrate that love, precisely because it begins small – from peace in our workplaces and with our neighbours – can change much and bring hope and forgiveness.” “On Sunday morning, when I learned of the tragic events far from my home, among people whose choices were different from mine, I thought that difference cannot divide us: They’re my brothers and sisters.” With these words Celi began her testimony, her network of prayer and communion. “The only answer to hatred and terrorism is to never stop living by this belief in love and, especially, to do it together with all the people who never stop extending God’s caress to everyone.”
“Christians in Festival” was the title chosen for a large ecumenical gathering in Nizza, France where Swiss Reformed Pastor, Martin Hoegger, was invited to give his testimony on “Christ, light of my life” and on how it led him from atheism to belief. We offer some excerpts, but the complete text in French can be found on his blog. “At the age of 18 I was asking many questions about the meaning of life. I was wondering which studies I should take up. I was quite knowledgeable in philosophy and literature, but I wasn’t searching for wisdom. I also wanted to know God. I enrolled at the school of theology in Lausanne. I was drawn to the study of religion, and I imagined I would find my way in theology. But the more I went ahead the more the questions increased. Ten months later I was an atheist. One day I went into a church and posted my rebellion on the lectern: ‘God doesn’t exist!’ I decided to give my studies, but the questions continued. Sometime later I met a friend who invited me to attend a meeting in Aix-en-Provence at a Protestant school of theology. That’s where God was waiting for me. I was touched by the fraternal atmosphere that was flowing among the people at that meeting. That night I knelt down in my bedroom, and only one word came to my lips: “Sorry”. I was surprised. To whom had I spoken that word? Deep down I knew why I had said it: At that time I was in conflict with a lot of people and had offended quite a few. When I got home, I went to them to ask ‘forgiveness’. Each time was a new experience of light: I experienced Christ waiting for me in others, especially in the most disadvantaged. So I sought contact with other Christians. Up until that day I had lived life on my own. Now, I had discovered the light of the Risen Jesus that illuminates those who gather in his name. I’ll share with you three experiences on the Word that have a strong ecumenical dimension. The School of the Word: When I was director of the Swiss Bible Society, I entered in contact with Cardinal Martini, the then archbishop of Milan. He was gathering thousands of young people to experience lectio divina. Several people involved in youth ministry from the Catholic, Reformed and Evangelical Churches in Switzerland were interested in the experience. The Cardinal invited us to launch an ecumenical School of the Word. We experienced that getting together to listen to Christ unites us at a very deep level. The Word of Life as “light for my path” (Ps 119,105). The Word of Life is put out by the Focolare Movement, which I’ve been involved with for some twenty years. It’s a Bible verse that we meditate on for one month, but especially try to live in our daily lives and share the fruits with one another. I proposed it to the parishioners in the parish where I exercise my Ministry: It renewed the parish. Celebration of the Word every first Sunday of the month at the Cathedral of Lausanne. The Community of Churches from the Canton of Vaud invited the 20 churches that belong to it. Since 2004 over a hundred such celebrations have been held there. It’s been a fine ecumenical apprenticeship in which we discover our diversity and rejoice in it. It encourages us not be afraid of our differences and to give thanks for the gifts that have been accorded to others, and which never cease to enrich us. This precious initiative has been most useful in helping us to walk together as Christians towards unity. Gathering again and again in the presence of God, to listen to his Word is to already anticipate a full communion. By prayer the Holy Spirit already unites us, and that’s why Christ is light in my life.” Maria Chiara De LorenzoBlog of Martin HoeggerAddress of His Holiness Pope Francis to the World Communion of Reformed Churches
The letter entitled Iuvenescit Ecclesia, signed by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Ludwig Müller, and by the Archbishop Secretary, Luis Ladaria, approved by Pope Francis, is addressed to the bishops of the Catholic Church and deals with the “relation between hierarchical and charismatic gifts for the life and mission of the Church.” The Letter is inserted in the Church’s journey beyond itself, in this new phase of history and is a joyful incentive for the new lay Movements and also the Focolare Movement which is an ecclesial Movement. That mutual exchange between hierarchical and charismatic gifts, which the Letter discusses, fully expresses the experience of the Focolare from its beginnings until now. The Focolare is immersed in that wave of movements raised up by the Holy Spirit for the renewal of the Church in synergy with its Bishops, as the then Cardinal Ratzinger stated in May 1998 in preparation for the 2000 Jubilee. Iuvenescit Ecclesia is a further incentive for the Focolare Movement to correspond with authenticity to the co-essentiality between hierarchical gifts and charismatic gifts that St John Paul II spoke of, in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Today, such co-essentiality seems more than ever necessary for the life and mission of the Church as it serves the human family – with its needs, wounds and demands – so that we can work for that challenging but realistic goal of building the civilization of love. Read the Vatican documentSource:Focolare Information Service
The crisis of the refugees in Europe, along with its figures, the number of deaths, and the closed frontiers, is awaiting the world’s response, as well as that of many generous people. The news from Indonesia comes as the answer of the Youth for a United World in the city of Medan, Indonesia (four million inhabitants). “We could not turn a deaf ear to the refugees camped in Greece, and we wanted to do something concrete for them. So we decided to plan our United World Week 2016 by organizing a concert to gather funds for them. It was our way of giving strong affirmation that peace is possible and starts from each of us, with concrete actions.” “We had two weeks to prepare the event, which was not much, but we thought that we would succeed if we worked hard, forgetting our fatigue and economic difficulties. To cover the organisational expenses we sang even in restaurants. But God’s Providence came to our aid and we managed to pay for the lease of a hall, part of the sound system and other items.” “When I saw all those young people in the audience – says Ika – I tried not to think of myself but of the refugees, and took courage. “From the technical viewpoint – some confessed with great simplicity – «we made so many mistakes, but the atmosphere of enthusiasm and joy of the 350 participants convinced us that it was all worth the while!” Even a choir of four singers of a Catholic University wanted to contribute to the peace concert.” “The proceeds of € 600 correspond to three or four months’ basic salary in Indonesia, which is not much, but we were so happy that we managed to give our drop of help for our brethren in difficulty.” “It was an extraordinary experience – stressed Randi – I strongly felt that the differences in religions and ethnic groups are in reality very meaningful. I hope that many hearts have been touched and start loving with concrete gestures.” “On a wall poster entitled “Let’s bridge,” the participants signed up with their commitment to build peace.”
Pastor of Mercy “To begin the Year of Mercy with a concrete gesture, I asked forgiveness of the members of my parish in case they didn’t always feel loved by me, and I invited them – those who wanted to – to come up and shake hands with me as a sign of our agreement to see each other with new eyes. A long queue was formed, and I was able to exchange a few words with every person. The next day, a parishioner who had not been there came to ask me if I would repeat the gesture because it had touched so many people in the village that it was still having lots of consequences.” (I. S. Hungary) Sharing “I’m nearly blind. The person who helps me to study had given me 1.220 shillings to buy the medicine against malaria. On the way to the pharmacy I met a poor woman who told me about her need. To help out, I gave her 200 shillings. Shortly afterwards, in front of the pharmacy I met another woman who was in dire financial straits: She didn’t have the money to buy the medicine that was necessary for her. I saw Jesus in her as well. So another 200 shillings went to her. But now I was short 400 shillings for my own medicine. Certain that God wouldn’t fail to help me in my need, I went into the pharmacy just the same. Inside I met a friend whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I shared my need with him and he insisted on giving me 500 shillings: more than what I needed.” (R. S. Tanzania) At the Public Washhouse “Many of us were washing clothes at the public washhouse when a blind man arrived with two bed linens, a shirt and a turban that needed to be washed. I asked that we make room for him. Since no one wanted to move, I turned to him and said: “Baba, give me your things. I’ll wash them.” The others began to laugh. Before going away, pleased with the washing I had done, he gave me his blessing and also a small piece of soap that he had been jealously guarding. No one laughed anymore; on the contrary, they had begun to lend things to each other and offer help to one another.” (F. R. – Pakistan) Failed divorce “It wasn’t easy to make Susanna accept my decision to ask for a divorce, especially because I intended to move to another city with the woman I had begun a new relationship with. After the initial refusal my wife’s attitude changed. I was shocked by her great dignity and didn’t understand where she was getting the energy to treat me so well in spite of my betrayal. This thought took away my peace. One day I invited her out for lunch at a restaurant: I wanted to know. With simplicity she confided to me that she had discovered God’s love through a group of several Christian friends she had met. God always loves us despite our infidelities, and He’s close to us in the hardships of life. That’s all it took to make me change my idea. Susanna and I had begun again.” (L. M. USA)
“Cochabamba is really the heart of the country, the fourth largest city of Bolivia, located in a fertile valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The journey is already preparing me to overcome my own personal mountains and take the leap of leaving behind my culture, presumptions and prejudices so that I can be sufficiently disposed to grasp the beauty of this experience where each of us wishes to be a gift for the other.” “On the morning of the 26th we visit the Old City, which has a traditional air about it and conserves many colonial images that can be found in the numerous temples and in the large villas. In the afternoon we visit the Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo for a meeting with 70 young people from different departments. Discussions of theory follow experiences that are preceded by a group exercise by Aldo Calliera who invites us to find our true north because – he says – the world has lost its compass. For us in the Economy of Communion, our north is the other person.” The 1st Conference for EoC business owners began on May 27th and I was fortunate to attend, watching and listening so that I could tell about the extraordinary event that was made up of the stories of many businesses that, day in, day out are putting their money on communion.” In his welcome speech Argentinian business owner, Ramón Cerviño, reminds us that we’ve come for an experience of communion, because communion is the true wealth of the EoC.” “The programme takes us to the very roots of the charism of unity to rediscover the origins of the EoC. Thus, we go to visit the Centro Rincón de Luz, a social project that offers academic support to children living in a very poor quarter. Their families don’t always manage to assist them in their school work. They live in small huts of one or two rooms, often under-nourished and even beaten . . . Maricruz, who is now one of the directors, was once herself one of those children. Solidarity begets more solidarity. The virtuous circle of reciprocity is key to responding to such concrete social problems.” “We also visit the Casa de los Niños. Chiara Lubich had once shared that she wished that one day all orphanages could be closed and every child enjoy the warmth and love of a family. Many people like Arístides began to follow her dream and got to work wherever and however they could, providing temporary lodging and support for the families of those children who suffer the greatest abandonment, the ones afflicted with AIDS. In the recent years, with the help of others, they’ve been able to offer dignified lodging to a hundred families. In spite of the suffering of those families, many of them HIV positive, the beauty of the little village shows that it’s possible to embrace innocent suffering and fill it with joy, games, flowers and a spirit of hope.” “In the meeting among Mexican, Paraguayan, Argentinian and Bolivian business owners we share our dreams, failures and successes. A special meeting is held on May 28th at the Gran Hotel Cochabamba, with 120 people including business owners, students, experts, officials and people interested in knowing more about a new culture for the economy. Sunday, May 29th is a day of feasting: It’s the 25th anniversary of the Economy of Communion! There is singing, dancing, local foods and much sharing.” “Thank you Bolivia for having helped me to rediscover my true north where Heaven and earth seem to mingle.” Source: Website Cono Sur
“Merciful Like the Father” is the motto chosen by Pope Francis to summarize what the Year of Mercy is all about. “In mercy,” the Bull of Indiction declares, “we find proof of how God loves us. He gives his entire self, always, freely, asking nothing in return. He comes to our aid whenever we call upon him. (…) And his help consists in helping us accept his presence and closeness to us” (MV, 14). It is this Face of Love-Mercy that fully reveals the Fatherhood of God. God is Love was the inspirational spark that lay at the origins of the charism of unity which the Holy Spirit bestowed on Chiara Lubich in our time (…) Chiara therefore does not show us a God who is far away, inaccessible and foreign to our existence, but a God with a fatherly face (…) So, everything that happens can be seen as the fulfilment of his loving plan for each one of us, as the tangible proof of his watchful care, of his closeness. “Even the very hairs of your head are all counted” (Mt 10:30). This is a fatherly love that anticipates every need, even the smallest, even filling the void left by our small and great imperfections, by our shortcomings and our sins. It is the face of the merciful Father who manifests himself and fully reveals his merciful love through the incarnate Son. Episodes from the Gospel. The magisterial documents that deal with the topic of mercy always cite the Gospel passages that best illustrate it. A classic example is the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32) (…) One day, Chiara found herself talking about this parable in front of a large crowd of young people in the Dome Church of Paderborn, Germany. It was June 12, 1999. Here is what she said to them: “The father of the prodigal son would have had many things to do: Look after the business, the employees, the family; but his main attitude is his longing for the son who had taken off. He goes to the top of the tower of his house and looks out as far as he can see. The Heavenly Father is like this: imagine if you can, dear young people, his divine, most high and dynamic Trinitarian life, how He is constantly engaged in sustaining all creation, in giving a place to those who are going up to Heaven. And yet, above it all, He does one thing especially: He waits. For whom? For us, me, all of you, especially when we find that we’re far from Him. One fine day that son, whom the earthly father loved so much, returned after having squandered everything. The father takes him into his arms and hugs him, covers him in a valuable robe, has the fatted calf prepared for a feast. What must we think? That he longs to see his son all new; he doesn’t want to remember him as he first was. And not only does the father long to forgive him, but even to forget about his past. This is his love for the son in this parable. This is the love of the Father for us in this life: He always forgives us and forgets.” Source: Centro Chiara LubichComplete text by Alba Sgariglia (Italian)
“I had to leave everything behind: my wife, two small children and my country. On the other hand, I didn’t have a choice. Being young and a teacher, I would have had to follow ISIS and spread its ideas. But since I opposed it, if I had remained there they would have murdered me.” When Mohamed reached Graz, Austria, like many other immigrants he was parked in a refugee camp, doing nothing for months and having absolutely no contact with the outside world. “We felt so isolated and depressed,” he recounts, “but then somebody did begin to show an intererst in us.” It was the localFocolare community which, through the mediation of a Syrian friend who had been living in Graz for three years, invited 40 of the Syrian refugees from the camp to to get together at a parish hall. This gave them the opportunity to present their precise needs: to learn the language and find a job. The community got to work and in a short time managed to put together a German lanugage course. Some gave money for books, one woman was able to find 15 bicycles from neighbours, which she had repaired at her own expense for the students that had to travel 10 km to attend the lessons. Others found odd jobs for them fixing up houses and doing gardening work. “We finally had something useful that we could do,” Mohamed whispered with relief. “Finally someone took us by the hand and appreciated us.” A friendship began that only deepened and became more heartfelt. It was only logical to get together, to share meals with one another and also to begin a cultural and religious dialogue. The first step was to attend the mosque together where they met many other people. Once, they were more than 400: “It was a great thing for us,” Mohamed confided. “Finally, we were able to feel like ourselves, there we could forget about what had happened to us and enter into direct contact with God. Sharing this moment with Muslims and Christians together made us feel even closer to one another.” Four Muslims attended the summer Mariapolis, which coincided with the end of Ramadan and was celebrated by all with Arab music, dancing and Syrian sweets. During those days Mohamed learned of his mother’s death. It was a moving occasion to pray together for her and to recite some Psalms that respected everyone’s feelings. Trying to understand another person’s pain is also a form of dialogue. Mohamed then asked the Authorities for permission to reunite with his family in Austria, which turned out to be very complicated. His wife went on foot 22 times for 7 hours amidst cold, hunger and danger to the border – and was promptly sent back. Once she was even locked up in prison. But she finally managed to cross. Thus the long awaited family reunion drew nearer, but it was suggested that they settle in Vienna rather than Graz. Mohamed regretfully left his friends in Graz, unaware of the warm acceptance that would also receive amongst the Focolare community in the capital, which had been notified of his arrival. The community got busy finding a place for the family to live, which was not easy due to the scarcity of housing. They thought of some women religious friends who ran a home for the elderly. In just one day there was already a positive response thanks to a reassuring conversation with the Focolare members. So, now it’s been two months that Mohamed and his family have been living with the Catholic reverend sisters, without any inconvenience for either side: the sisters, acknowledging and respecting the customs of their Muslim guests and the family dwelling in a structure with many prominent Catholic signs. This is also part of dialogue and, as Mohamed declares: “Christians and Muslims, we’re truly brothers and sisters.”
On June 4ththe Porta della Verità Garden in Viterbo, Italy, was dedicated to Chiara Lubich, to show how her message of unity amongst peoples has been welcomed by the capital city of the Province of Viterbo. It is “a message of interculturalism,” one local newspaper writes in its large coverage of the event, “that when lived out is enriching because of its call for mutual respect of diversity.” The Porta della Verità Garden is a small plot of green just inside the city walls in the historic district of the city of Viterbo. The event was attended by many young students, several costumed characters in a historical parade, as well as city authorities: Mayor Leonardo Michelini and Bishop Lino Fumagalli. The Solidarity Dice projectwas promoted by the municipal council in 2014 and conceived and carried out by the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) in collaboration with the L. Fantappiè Comprehensive Institute. “The idea behind this project was born through a trip to Trieste where saw the Solidarity Dice for the first time. We wanted it in our city because it is a concrete sign of solidarity. It was all achieved thanks to the collaboration from all sectors of the city administration,” explained Renzo Salvatori, president of ACLI in Viterbo. “Solidarity regards all of us,” Bishop Lino Fumagalli emphasized. “You can measure the growth of a society by the number of its works of solidarity. The sentences written on the sides of the dice warm the heart when they are implemented.” Some of the young participants recounted their own daily experiences with solidarity and explained what guided them in coming up with the sentences that were chosen for the Dice of Solidarity through an inter-mural competition with 120 entries. “The Dice of Solidarity is a project that gives meaning to the work of the school that begins inside the classrooms and continues after the final bell,” added Alessandro Ernestino from Fantappiè Institute. “The school is an important part of a community, capable of working on the environment together with the different associations like ACLI and the organizations of the administration. In his concluding remarks Mayor Leonardo Michelini said: “This day is a moment that enters into the history of the city. In the beginning the project didn’t seem to be doable, but the messages that the Dice of Solidarity transmits have universal value.” Sourcee: ViterboPost
“Despite all his moving around in the world, his Roman and in some sense Vatican roots, his political patrolling and social outlook, Igino Giordani never really cut the umbilical cord with his own hometown. To grasp how much he had loved his Tivoli, it’s enough to scroll through some of his writings in which he tells of the place, or to read the novel “La città murata” (The Walled City) that’s set in Tivoli. In Memorie di un cristiano ingenuo (Memoirs of a naive Christian), he paints his hometown environment with words that betray this intense relationship and, in a sense, seem to justify his own basic choices as he assigns to them their own Tiburtine character: playful and untameable, courageous and consistent, aggressive at times but motivated by love for God and wisdom. Igino Giordani was born into a family of humble origins. He more than once expressed veneration for his parents, for the dignity with which they lived their daily lives and for the Catholic faith that marked the key stages of life. In Tivoli Giordani grew personally and also intellectually. He certainly didn’t have the opportunities that some other children with fine intelligence could had. In fact, his father geared him in the direction of manual labour as a mason worker. In the meantime, still a boy, he was fascinated by religious ceremonies and the celebration of the Mass even though they were in Latin. The little Giordani began to memorize some parts and, when he was alone even at work, instead of whistling some popular tune he would recite Latin parts of the Mass. Divine Providence made use of Sor Facchini (the contractor they worked for), who realized that Igino was not cut out for the cement bucket and trowel, but for school and book. Sor Facchini decided to finance Igino’s schooling at the Seminary of Tivoli, which at that time was the best place for shaping the intellect and spiritual life of a thirteen year-old boy. He remained there until 1912 when he should have moved to the Seminary of Anagni. But Igino decided to stay in Tivoli and attend classical high school from which he graduated in 1914. It’s likely that the passion for polished and effective argument about the intellectual basis of the Catholic faith was already engraved on Giordani’s life at an early age while listening to Jesuit Father Mancini at Saint Andrew Church in Tivoli. Giordani described the priest as a “compelling and unassailable man of the faith”. He spoke of Mancini as a man if irresistible and unattackable faith. He was a combative spreader of the Gospel; for Giordani he was a true role model. In this first phase of his upbringing we can already foresee several traits that would lead Giordani to assert himself as a debater and defender of the faith. Shortly after his graduation from high school, Italy also entered the War. Igino faced Italian public life that was in the midst of a controversial debate over war and peace, as a resolute pacifist at a time when pacifist ideas were not easy to support. It is likely that thanks to the charismatic figure of Father Mancini, the solid experience of the faith in seminary and the pluralistic political ideology that was breathed in high school, Giordani – who even in those years seemed to have grown tepid from a religious point of view – had never lost the sense of love of neighbour, which led him to dismiss all forms of violence towards all human beings. A few years later he would say so himself with shining simplicity as he expressed his distaste for battle during those years of war: “When I was on watch in the trenches during the First World War thoughts of the divine commandment tortured me: ‘Fifth: Do not kill.” He had been raised in Tivoli where he had been trained in peace. And in a song written by Giordani many years later, steeped in the devastating experience of war but also of faith and hope born from the encounter with the spirituality of unity: Contempt for man and his depreciation derive from the fact that we no longer see Christ in him; and so love is substituted by hatred, which is the spirituality of the prince of death. Alberto Lo Presti See: Igino Giordani, La divina avventura (Rome: Città Nuova, 1993), p. 141.
“May glory be upon you my Lord, He who is the Adored One, the One to be adored, the Eternal One, who existed from all times, who loves us, whose Mercy and Power embrace the universe (…). You are the Adored One, Oh Lord, You are the Master who loves and forgives. Your forgiveness and Your mercy are infinite, Oh Lord, You help those who are afflicted, the Consoler in every grief, the Refuge for those whose heart is broken.” (From a prayer by Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad)
The spacious “Knowledge Sharing Centre” Hall of theJohn Paul II Catholic University of Lublin hosted a Conflicts, Dialogue and Culture of Unity Conference , June 3-4, 2016. The conference was meant to promote the transmission of knowledge through academic dialogue amongst 180 people, including scholars and professors from a variety of academic fields of the social sciences. Ninety five interactive presentations were given that included discussions, questions and answers, as well as requests for sharing research efforts. It was a gift shared amongst different specializations, but also amongst generations and geographic regions of Europe, and it was open to the challenges of the whole world. The conference that opened withJesús Morán’s presentation titled“The Culture of Unity and the great challenges of humanity today” was motivated by the 20th anniversary of the conferral of the honorary doctorate in Social Sciences to Chiara Lubich, by the Catholic University of Lublin in June 1996. The conferral speech by Professor Adam Biela explained the motivation: The charism of unity “is a concrete and practical actualization of a new vision of social, economic, political, educational structures and of religious relations. It guides, recommends, suggests, teaches and promotes unity” among people. Biela grasped in the revolutionary inspiration of Chiara Lubich that began to manifest itself in the 1940s, the elements of a new paradigm for the social sciences, which led him to coin the unprecedented term: paradigm of unity. The event, 20 years later, in Lublin was “a complex and interesting” meeting, according to Professor Italo Fiorin, president of the graduate school of Formation Science at LUMSA University in Rome, Italy. “. . . especially because of the title, which connects three words: Conflict – reflecting on the not catastrophic but problematic situation of the world that calls for a sense of responsibility. Dialogue: as the path that leads to and changes conflict into something else through positive action. Unity: as the result of a dialogue that is not expressed in reaching a single way of thinking, but of reaching a greater awareness of one’s own identity.” “For 200 to 300 years knowledge has been divided into fields,” says neuro-scientist Catherine Belzung from the University of Tours, France. “But the actual fragmentation prevents progress from being made. The time of interdisciplinary dialogue has arrived. Chiara Lubich’s thought seems to me the paradigm to keep before us when we are interested in interdisciplinary research, because it’s a Trinitarian paradigm: Each field remains distinct, but must have within it the knowledge of the other disciplines in order to be transformed and, in this way, continue the dialogue. I think that the unity and distinction model that is already being proposed in the spiritual field can be very easily transferred to the field of interdisciplinary dialogue.” Professor Marek Rembierz, pedagogue from the University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland, remarked: “It turned out very interesting for me to think on an interdisciplinary plane. And it took quite a change in mentality: modifying the language of science and culture with the language of the heart. It was a source of inspiration for the participants and could also be so for the social life of individuals. Gianvittorio Caprara, full professor of psychology and social neurosciences at Sapienza University in Rome: “Chiara Lubich had some particularly good and fertile intuitions; fertile because they inspired a work, a movement; now they inspire this conference and other research. It’s ongoing reflection that becomes inspiration. One particular discovery for me was the deep significance of the concept of fraternity, precisely in a society like ours that seriously risks not having brothers and sisters anymore. I encourage the Focolare to insist even more on the systematic research of knowledge so that the action can be even more transformative and efficacious.” “With regard to fraternity,” Fiorin says, “Professor Stefano Zamagni worked on a fascinating point in his presentation on the Economy of Communion and even referred it to politics. I believe that such a reading is also applicable to education, to inspire the education and teaching connection and to lead to important educational solutions. It’s a terrain that merits exploring, to which I intend to devote my attention.” The closing session of the conference was entrusted to Professor Biela, Daniela Ropelato, vice-president of Sophia University Institute (IUS) and Renata Simon from the International Focolare Centre in Rocca di Papa, Italy. A thought from Chiara Lubich offered some powerful guidelines to give continuity to the interdisciplinary dialogue that permeated the conference: “In order to welcome [God’s] All within you, you need to be the nothingness of Jesus Forsaken. (. . .) You have to place yourself in front of everyone in a learning position, because you really do have something to learn. And only nothingness gathers all and holds it tightly to itself in unity.” It was an encouragement that was unanimously accepted: to collaborate, with competence, wisdom and an ability to dialogue even on the academic plane.
Seongnam, South Korea, more than a million inhabitants on the southeastern outskirts of Seoul, is a growing city with the presence of large companies that further the economic development of the area in a city where there is great wealth alongside abject poverty. “In Korea there is a strong immigration of women from several Asian countries: China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, and more. They come here to marry or to escape from misery. Hence, the many multi-cultural families, most of them living in the poor areas of our city,” explains a Focolare group from Korea who were attending the OnCity international conference in Castelgandolfo, Italy. One of their greatest needs is integration. In the Multicultural Centre where some of the Focolare members work, they teach women immigrants to speak Korean, and have proposed establishing some kind of child care programme to entertain the children while their mothers learn the new language. “But at one point the government funding was removed and we couldn’t continue with our activity,” they say. “We told some friends who share our commitment in living ideals of unity and peace in our city. Each one of them gave what they could: time, skills – taking on the problems and situations of many people.” They were faced with truly painful situations: settling in a new country is not easy. For many, the Centre was a place where they could catch their breath, a place where they could share one another’s problems, especially financial problems. In 2012 we opened a small market where you could buy what you needed at a low cost. We called this small temporary project: The Mary of Nazareth Project. Many people helped us by donating clothing, toys, office supplies and linens.” What could be done with the small sum of around 353 Euros? “We decided to follow the Economy of Communion approach of distributing the profits: 1/3 for a family (a Cambodian family that our community had taken into its care until they could stand on their own); 1/3 to buy any additional things they might need; 1/3 for everyone in the group (to celebrate the birthdays of immigrants who didn’t have families with them). Finally, the Maria Market recived a donation from the government and the Centre decided to remodel the shop. But it was only reopened in 2014 after much expectation. The following year, they received a visit from the Mayor. In June 2015, with the spread of Mers in Korea, 2,900 schools were closed and 4,000 people were placed in isolation. Like many public locations the Centre also had to close. However, during the period of the shut-down, “we visited people in their homes and supported them in the little things. In the end, the Centre gave us a “Thank You” plaque. Now Maria Market is open again and always developing new ideas like mail delivery service for long distance customers. For the group running the project it continues to be “a concrete experience of answering the needs of our neediest sisters and brothers.”
The news summary will be made available on the Collegamento CH website a few days before the Internet transmission. On the same website one can find all the previous linkups in various languages, as full editions as well as individual news video clips. https://vimeo.com/170950751
“I met Bella, a Jewish woman, at a Focolare centre in Jerusalem. I had told her the story about my husband in an Israeli jail where he was tortured. She listened to me, although I noted a certain inner conflict. She was in front of a crossroads: whether to be an Israeli and therefore reject everything I was saying, or to feel compassionate toward me. At first she wasn’t able to accept me and went back to the room where we had met. I followed her and told her I was sorry that I had upset her. Bella explained to me that it wasn’t my fault, but that of the system. Then I asked if we could begin again, and she was touched. That’s how our friendship was born. A wall separates my city of Bethlehem from her city of Jerusalem, but there are no longer walls between the two of us. I pray that many Israeli can look at our friendship. Bella lives the spirit of the Focolare in the sense that we’re all children of God, and it’s only love and compassion that leads us to live together with one another. We human beings have built a wall around Bethlehem, but you cannot build anything alone. God gave us the freedom to build it, or to tear it down within us as well.” This is how Vera Baboun, the first Catholic woman mayor of Bethlehem responded to the question of whether it was possible to establish true friendship between Palestinians and Israeli. The occasion of the meeting was the7th Chiara Lubich, Manfredonia City For Universal Brotherhood Award” in March 2016. Bethlehem is a Palestinian city located in the West Bank. It has a population of 40,000 people, of which 28% are Christian and 72% Muslim. It is the city where Jesus was born, some 10 km south of Jerusalem. The Church of the Nativity is one of the oldest churches in the world. Nevertheless, “the wall also conditions our faith, because we were accustomed to visiting the original sites of Jesus’s life from the time we were children. There is a whole generation of young Palestinians that has never prayed at the Holy Sepluchre in Jerusalem,” said Vera Baboun. “We’re the Nativity capital of the world. We celebrate and offer a message of peace to the world, while peace is precisely what is missing in Bethlehem. After the 40% rate of cancellations this year we decided with the City Council to lower taxes on the tourist industry by 80%. We did it to offer them support even though it signifies a depletion of resources for the Municipality. But who supports us? Who supports our dual identity: our universal Christian identity and our Palestinian identity? But what makes you do it? “Only God’s love. I feel it very strongly. I don’t care at all about the power, the fame. Being mayor is a burden for me that costs me much. After the death of my husband and after having worked my whole life in education, I decided to take my husband’s place because he was involved politically in working for the liberation of Palestine.” You have often declared: “Will the world ever be able to live in peace as long as the city of peace is walled up?” “As long as the city of Bethlehem is walled up, there will be a wall around peace. We’re under siege. As for the world, it would be better to work at liberating peace not only for Bethlehem, but for our own sake to free ourselves from the way of evil, from using religion as a mask to cover up evil and war.” Interview byAurelio Molé for Città Nuova (see Città Nuova, No. 5, May 2016)
The international coordinator ofEcoOnecalled it “a successful experiment that has addressed a word of hope: A human being who is open to being a gift could in fact be the answer to the epochal environmental challenges that humankind finds itself facing. The meeting was held in Budapest, Hungary from May 27 until May 29 at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University and was attended by 80 representatives of environmental NGOs, university faculty, civil servants, professionals in the field of environment, and high school and university students from different countries. High-level scientific presentations were accompanied by practical experiences and transdisciplinary reflection on fields such as economics and political ethics. There were several presentations: from a 15 year-old boy to an elderly man who is dedicated to caring for the environment in the Focolare town in Holland. Three Italian students presented their experience that straddled energy-saving and the culture of giving. Erasmus, a student in Budapest, a student from Rome and a Brazilian also presented their experiences. The young man from Brazil paid for the trip by making and selling knick-knacks, and receiving a contribution from his university that made an exception in his case. Five young researchers received the Piero Pasolini Prize for the quality of their presentations, thanks to the financial support of the Economy of Communion. “Several agencies of the Focolare Movement were involved in the preparation of the event: Action for a United World, Economy of Communion, New Humanity Movement, New Humanity, Young for Unity, Movement Politics & Policy for Unity., Sophia University Institute and an excellent logistical team from the Hungarian EcoOne Group,” Fiorani affirmed.Zsusa Román, the coordinator of EcoOne in Hungary opened the event with a question: “What kind of person does it take to care for the environment?” Fiorani went on to present the features and objectives of EcoOne as: “a cultural initiative at an international level, promoted by experts, researchers and professionals that work in the environmental science sector. We share a common desire to enrich our scientific knowledge with a humanistic approach to ecological and naturalistic problems. With our partners who join us in pursuing a global sharing of the world’s goods and a close interdependence among countries, EcoOne attempts to make such principles flow into society, politics and economy inasmuch as they are also related to the topic of the environment.” Auxiliary Bishop of Esztergom, Hungary, János Székely cited the importance of “sobriety and of the gift” in line with Pope Francis’s Laudato si.A lively debate followed the presentation by Professor Miguel Panão, which focused on a new anthropological notion of the human person as someone in the act of giving himself or herself to others and to nature. The roundtable was particularly appreciated in which the social challenges that are posed by the environment were discussed from a theological, climatological, economic and political point of view, underscoring how much the environmental problem requires the contribution of many disciplines, beginning with politics which guides decisions, and the economy that sets up the models of development. Fiorani concluded saying: “The meeting isn’t an arrival point, but a point of departure. Now we have to prepare for new challenges. The next meeting will be held in Asia!” Info: EcoOne
While studying medicine in Padua, his hometown, Giorgio Marchetti, nicknamed Fede, met a student from Trent who was studying at the same university. She was one of the first young women to begin the adventure of unity with Chiara Lubich. Giorgio was diocesan director of the Catholic Action Group, but did not hesitate to confide his constant hesitancy and doubts regarding the faith and doctrine. On day, while with a friend she spoke to him about the Gospel, Giorgio objected that he already knew all those things. “Okay,” she shot back, “but do you do them?” He was blown away. From then on, he says, his search shifted “from books to life”. He decided to visit Trent to know not only first women but also the first men focolarini. While there he learned that Gino Bonadimani who was Paduan, was also studying in the same department of the university as he, and that Gino was preparing to become a focolarino.
The same call would begin to take root in Giorgio’s, even though he continued to nourish doubts about God’s existence. In the summer of 1952 during one of the first Mariapolises, he opened his soul to Chiara. With the Gospel in hand, she read to him what Jesus says to Martha in the passage about the raising of Lazarus: “I am the resurrection and the life.Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 25-26). “So,” Chiara told him, “take this as Word of Life: “Do you believe this?”. And she suggested to him that if the doubts returned, he should repeat Martha’s words: “Yes, Lord, I believe”. Everything became clear and simple during that conversation with Chiara. He was suddenly surprised to realize that he had the faith. He was soon nicknamed Fede (Faith). As soon as he graduated with full honours, Fede entered the focolare in Trent. He began work as a dentist, as he would continue to do when he was transferred to Rome. When he was drafted into the military service, he reported to Florence where he skipped breakfast each day in order to attend Mass. After a few months several of his colleagues joined him for Mass each morning. Even though he was serving in the military, he continued to assist the community that was forming in Tuscany. He did the same when he was transferred to Trapani in Sicily. Along with military service and working for the Movement, he began to study philosophy. In 1961, he moved to Recife, Brazil. From the focolare window he could see a large expanse of mocambos, very poor shacks made of metal, wood and cardboard. “I would have liked to go and live with those people,” he later said, “to do something for them, perhaps as a doctor,” rather than lay the foundations for the nascent Movement that would later produce countless social projects in Brazil and throughout the world. In 1964 he was ordained to the priesthood in Recife. At Christmas 1964 Chiara called on him to help in the building of the permanent Mariapolis in Loppiano near Florence, Italy. For Fede and the twenty young men who joined him from around the world as they prepared to enter the focolare, it was a period of “unforeseen events, progress, setbacks, but also laughter and lots of joy; and then of wisdom, prayer and contemplation.” Former head of the Section of the Focolarini from 1957, he returned to that task in 2000, a task that he carried out with dedication. He gave special attention to the married focolarini and the particular nature of their vocation. While strongly dedicated to others, Fede – with his scholarly attitude – did never failed to delve into a variety of disciplines. From 1995 he was a member of theAbba School, the Movement’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies where he offered his expertise in the field of ethics, but also philosophy and psychology. In the final years, with his health problems, a period began that Fede loved to describe as “one of the most beautiful periods of my life, so much so that I often find myself saying to Jesus: ‘I never knew that old age could be a beautiful adventure like this!” It was characterized by an “ever deeper and more intimate relationship with Jesus.” When people asked him how he was feeling, he would answer: “physically bad, but spiritually beautiful!” Fede’s legacy is certainly his unbreakable faith in God and in the charism of unity. His legacy is certainly that of a wise and efficacious builder of a work of God – the Focolare Movement, which he helped to develop and to make visible and active in the Church and in the world.
The venue chosen for the Economy of Communion’s 25th anniversary celebrations was the Philippines which has experienced centuries of economic inequality. The events began with a two-day forum at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) with 200 students and economists from different countries, and conclude with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the strengthening of solidarity between the university and the EoC. The anniversary goes back to May 29, 1991 when the idea of the EoC project was conceived by Chiara Lubich to resolve the problems of social inequality by placing people, especially the poorest people, at the centre of every economic project. The EoC project now involves more than 800 businesses around the world. The celebration then moved to Tagaytay City, at the Focolare’s permanent Mariapolis Pace where a Pan-Asian congress titled “Economy of Communion, an economy for all” was held. It provided a forum for presenting several EoC businesses from Asia like the Bangko Kabayan, a rural bank that gives micro-credit loans to more than 11,000 clients in the Batangas Province of the Philippines; the Focolare carpentry business in Manila, Philippines; a consulting firm for business development; and Kalayaan Engineering with over 2000 employees that builds air-conditioners. The Sumsimidang Group, one of the best restaurants and pastry shops in Korea, was also presented. Each of these businesses are directed by business owners whose businesses abide by the law and in accordance with sustainable development, placing the human person at the centre and freely earmarking a portion of the profits for the poor. Several economists gave presentations, including: Anouk Grevin from France, Luca Crivelli from Switzerland, Anette Pelksman-Balaoing from the Philippines, who teaches in Holland, Lorna Gold from Ireland, Luigi Bruni, international director of the EoC project, and others. Bruni suggested that for any charism to survive it has to stay faithful to the initial questions. Can businesses be instruments of communion? Can brotherhood have a place in the market? Is it possible to imagine a society without any more poor people in it? Recalling what Chiara Lubich had said when she founded the EoC, Bruni emphasized that solutions have not yet been found for the needs of the poor. Therefore the EoC must continue on its path which he sees as a calling. Bruni went on to say that Asia had been chosen as the site of the international event precisely because it has the very same segments of society that so struck Chiara when she was in Brazil in 1991. “Within fifteen years,” he observed, “Asia’s GDP will be double that of the United States and Western Europe. The future of the world therefore depends on the type of economy that will develop in Asia. Celebrating the EoC’s 25th anniversary here recognizes the significance of this type of economy in the Asian continent.” In her message given from Kenya, Maria Voce writes: “This is an economy that regards relationships amongst people that are based on mutual love for healing inequalities.” . . . “This is why, with the support and courage of Pope Francis, we need to allow ourselves to be reinfluenced by the urgency Chiara felt in building a society with each other in which the communion of goods in freedom will be realized and shared more and more.” The congress concluded with three important resolutions: (1) the establishment of an international network of business incubators to support young businesses and businesses by women; (2) the creation of an observatory on poverty to ensure that the war on poverty is always central and consistent with the spirit of the EoC; (3) the multiplication of Lab-Schools, technical, professional and business workshops that are geared towards young people. https://vimeo.com/168297829
The bi-monthly journal of the British Islamic Cultural Centre published a brief account of the recent visit to the Sophia University Institute by Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the International Institute of Islamic Studies in Qum, Iran. Dr Shomali, who currently lives in London and directs the Islamic Centre in Great Britain, is a well-known figure in the Shia world. He is very active in the field of interreligious dialogue, and thanks to him various moments of encounter between Shi’a Muslims and Benedictine Monks have been organised organised, allowing relationships of trust to be established. The visit on 26 April to Sophia is a consequence of the long and fruitful pathway which made the shared experience and academic collaboration possible in Loppiano which has this characteristic. Islam today reported the news of this visit highlighting the importance of this extraordinary growing friendship. Here are some extracts: Sophia University Institute in Loppiano (Florence, Italy) was established in honour of Chiara Lubich (founder of the Focolare Movement) in 2008 after her death. The relationship between the university and the Shi’a Scholars started long before it became a university. Hujjatul-Islam Dr Muhammad Ali Shomali’s first visit took place back in 1999. These meeting represent the foundation of a long friendship and dialogue. Discussions varied from talking about Sophia (Latin meaning Wisdom) to the future of humanity. From the discussion between the university academics and Shi’a scholars it soon became clear that they had many common ideas about unity and inter-religious dialogue that could be developed in practical projects.Dr Shomali’s recent visit to the university took place in February 2015, where he held public as well as informal meetings with staff and students. Following that meeting Dr Shomali was invited by the president of the university Professor Msgr. Coda Piero to return to the university and teach a course to MA students which was scheduled to start in 2016. The course which is based on inter-religious dialogue was for the first time to be taught by lecturers from different religious traditions in order to share similar experiences and ideas. Dr Shomali delivered his first lecture during a four-hour morning and afternoon session in April 2016. He talked about his personal involvement in inter-religious dialogue, presenting a brief summary of his twenty-year rich experience in the field of interfaith. A part of his discussion was also about Shia Islam and the foundation for dialogue according to Shia Islam. Dr Shomali further spoke about the importance of inter-religious dialogue and the future of humanity based on unity. Following this academic engagement, the plan is to have a three-day programme in July 2016 (after the month of Ramadhan). The university president Prof. Coda Piero and Dr Shomali will be discussing subjects related to unity between different faith groups, Muslim and Christians in particular and some of the ideas can be put into action in the near future. Hujjatul-Islam Dr Shomali will be taking a group of scholars in the next encounter to present the Muslim Shia perspective while Professor Coda Piero will lead the Catholic/Focolare Movement side. “The April meeting was a fruitful meeting. After many years of friendship and talk, the two groups are now ready to move into more focused, scholarly but at the same time spiritual discussion on unity and cooperation,” said Dr Shomali.
From the end of 2013 when the brazen unrest began in Kiev, by April 2014 during the Ukrainian Revolution the situation was unchanged. The scene was being described on the front pages of all the local newspapers, but now the media no longer talks about it. But the violence continues to paralyze the population that is struggling under such dramatic living conditions. There are small Focolare communities in Ukraine, in Mukachevo, Lviv and Kiev that are trying to respond to the evil all around them. In recent months there were several trips and visits to small Focolare groups in Slovakia at the capital of Kiev and in Kharkiv in the northeast. “With the exodus of the working-age people, the elderly are left in families, perhaps with parents and children of different ages. These children are “social orphans” as descirbed by His Beatitude Svjatoslav Sevcuk, Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Chuch: “they know what a family is only from the internet and, in the future, they’ll never know how to creat a real and healthy family.” The Catholic Church stands among those who are courageously trying to provide humanitarian assistance through Caritas and Religious Institutes. Thanks also to repeated appeals from Pope Francis – the most recent on April 3rd – it has been possible to give legs to a network of assistance for the hardest hit groups that has been gratefully acknowledged by civil authorities, with meals for the poor, rehabilitation centres, homes for teenage mothers and their children born of the violence. The work of the Sisters of Don Orione is significant in this regard; they have set up a house in which to care for them. The Focolare also tries to express its closeness to the Ukrainian people with whom they are in contact through their communities in Slovakia. Recently, in May, one group from Slovakia went to the capital in Kiev to meet with families and others. “Going to the places where the revolution happened two years ago, is always moving. It’s now part of contemporary Ukrainian culture. There are the names of the people who died during the battles at Maydan Square, or the people who died in the war in eastern Ukraine (that is still waging). The people are proud of them,” they write when they return. “We had many conversations about so much pain and fear that is being carried together. . . This is how the people try to put into practice the invitation of His Beatitude Svjatoslav Sevcuk: “We are in need of families that are ‘healers’ for our families.” 
![[:it]Insieme per l’Europa: l’unità è possibile[:de]Einheit ist möglich![:es]Juntos por Europa: la unidad es posible[:fr]Ensemble pour l’Europe : L’unité est possible[:pt]Juntos pela Europa: A unidade é possível](https://www.focolare.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/20160701_161752_9438MfE_Fr_Podium5_FotoFischer-e1467623076552.jpg)
Gulu in northern Uganda is now the second largest city of the country. Many immigrants and Ugandans have moved there to school and find work. Among them is Gloria Mukambonera who works in the computer field. When she arrived in 2013, she contacted the local Focolare community so that she could share her Gospel ideal of peace and unity with others. “I found a real family here” she recounts, “in which I could share my joys and sorrows. We also practice a communion of goods, following the example of the first Chrisitan communities, each person in their own way. The proceeds are used to help people in need and to care for the sick members of the community.” It is an experience that helps you to see the needs of those around you, which are many because of the war. “One day,” says Gloria, “a priest had asked us to visit the people in a parish that was 4 hours away, because – he told us – there was a conflict between tribes and we might be able to help them reconcile. He had suggested that we tell them about how we try to live the Gospel and of our experiences of peace and unity that flow from that. In particular we shared our experiences of forgiveness, of how we were helped to overcome the divisions among us by living the ‘art of loving’ that is found in the Gospel. There was quite a special meeting with all the young people of the place. We read the Word of Life and shared with them our experiences of trying to live it, and then we invited them to share. There was singing, games and mini theatrical performances. . . The dialogue that followed uncovered their desire to begin living in reconciliation with one another.” It was an opportunity to be “peacebuilders” as the bishop had invited us to be. For us it was a matter of “choosing the Gospel’s way of love for the reconstruction of the country, following the destruction caused by years of war.” 
“On my way home,” recounts Ofelia who is from a small district of Valencia, the third largest city of 
Pastor of Mercy “To begin the Year of Mercy with a concrete gesture, I asked forgiveness of the members of my parish in case they didn’t always feel loved by me, and I invited them – those who wanted to – to come up and shake hands with me as a sign of our agreement to see each other with new eyes. A long queue was formed, and I was able to exchange a few words with every person. The next day, a parishioner who had not been there came to ask me if I would repeat the gesture because it had touched so many people in the village that it was still having lots of consequences.” (I. S. 
“Cochabamba is really the heart of the country, the fourth largest city of 
Four Muslims attended the summer 
“May glory be upon you my Lord, He who is the Adored One, the One to be adored, the Eternal One, who existed from all times, who loves us, whose Mercy and Power embrace the universe (…). You are the Adored One, Oh Lord, You are the Master who loves and forgives. Your forgiveness and Your mercy are infinite, Oh Lord, You help those who are afflicted, the Consoler in every grief, the Refuge for those whose heart is broken.” (From a prayer by Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad)
The bi-monthly journal of the British Islamic Cultural Centre published a brief account of the recent visit to the Sophia University Institute by Dr Mohammad Ali Shomali, Director of the International Institute of Islamic Studies in Qum, Iran. Dr Shomali, who currently lives in London and directs the Islamic Centre in Great Britain, is a well-known figure in the Shia world. He is very active in the field of interreligious dialogue, and thanks to him various moments of encounter between Shi’a Muslims and Benedictine Monks have been organised organised, allowing relationships of trust to be established. The visit on 26 April to Sophia is a consequence of the long and fruitful pathway which made the shared experience and academic collaboration possible in Loppiano which has this characteristic.