Jul 20, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Catholic and Orthodox Church representatives gathered for a conference on the theme of integral ecology, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Istanbul, Turkey—Representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, along with other members of civil society, gathered June 8–11, 2022 for the Halki Summit, a conference focused on the theme of integral ecology. Now in its fifth year, the event was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in collaboration, for the first time, with Sophia University Institute. It was held over four days in which academics, theologians and leaders, alongside students and activists, debated, seeking new solutions to enact green changes in their spheres of influence. Its inspiration came from the prophetic vision of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, also known as the “Green Patriarch” precisely because of his sensitivity to ecological issues. What were the outcomes of this summit?
Laura Salerno
To learn more, watch the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ6ZGgiT7YU
Jul 19, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Service-learning consists of applying classroom learning and getting to learn things that one cannot always learn in class. Clayss, based in Argentina, has built networks and alliances with educational institutions world-wide. A twenty years journey in the field of education is not a short one at all. CLAYSS, the Latin American Centre for service-learning started in Buenos Aires in 2002. It started as ‘a crazy dream’ in the midst of an economic and social crisis, and it has extended its activities not only to other Latin American countries but also to countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. This wide network, built together with various educational institutions, involves all age groups, from kindergarten to university. CLAYSS is marking its first twenty years of life by 20 conferences organized in 20 different cities. We met Nieves Tapia, its founder and director, at the LUMSA University in Rome.. Professor Tapia explained: “Service-learning combines theory and practice. It gives both children and young university students the opportunity to learn by applying classroom learning while being of service to others”.. An International Service-Learning Conference will be held in Buenos Aires at the end of August, and preparations are being made for another conference, scheduled to take place in Rome in October. About a hundred Catholic universties are expected to participate. In fact, Nieves Tapia explained that, “Uniservitate is a global programme that promotes service-learning in Catholic higher education”. And she added:: “Its objective is to generate a systemic change through the institutionalisation of service-learning as a tool that enables higher education institutions achieve their mission of offering an integral education to the new generations and involving them in an active commitment to the challenges of our time”.. Uniservitate’s global network is present in 26 countries in the 5 continents through partnerships with more than 30 universities and educational institutions.
Carlos Mana
Our interview. Activate English subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzFTDiOJhJQ
Jul 18, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The ‘holy journey’ that Chiara Lubich proposes to us is not to be made in solitude and detached from the world. It is a journey for everyone without differentiating between age, social status, and life choices. The method is to focus on love of neighbour and mutual love that will help us ‘forget’ the world. … We are called to remain in the midst of the world and to reach God through our neighbour, which means through love for our neighbour and through reciprocal love. It is by taking the commitment to undertake this unique and evangelical journey that we will discover, as if by magic, that our soul has been enriched by all these virtues. We need to have contempt for the world and there is no better contempt for something than completely disregarding it, forgetting about it, ignoring it. If we are all focused on others, on loving our neighbours, we don’t pay any attention to the world, we forget about it and therefore, we have contempt for it – even though this doesn’t dispense us from our duty to reject its suggestions whenever they assail us. We need to grow in virtue. But it’s by loving that we achieve this. Isn’t it written: “I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding [with love].”[1] If by loving our neighbours we run along the path of fulfilling God’s commandments, it means we are making progress. We need love for sacrifice. But loving others truly means sacrificing ourselves so as to be dedicated to the service of our neighbour. Christian love, even though it is a source of great joy, is synonymous with sacrifice. We need to be fervent in doing penance. It is in a life of love that we find the main and the best type of penance. We need self-denial. Love of others always implies self-denial. Lastly, we need to know how to bear with difficulties. Aren’t so many difficulties in the world caused by living with other people? We need to learn how to bear with everyone and love them out of love for Jesus Forsaken. By doing so we will overcome many obstacles in life. Yes, by loving our neighbour we can find an excellent way to transform our lives into a ‘holy journey.’
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, in Conversazioni, [Telephone conversations] Città Nuova, 2019, p. 262/3) [1] Ps 119:32.
Jul 14, 2022 | Non categorizzato
From 17 to 19 June, the representatives of local entities representing the Focolare Movement around the world met to reconsider their role and share good practices and challenges at various levels. How is the Focolare structured juridically at a local level? How are the little towns, businesses and social actions in the different countries where the movement exists regulated and linked to the spirit of fraternity that animates them? In the past, someone once said that the Focolare Movement is not a complicated reality, but a complex one; a complexity that has evolved over almost 80 years of history and as a consequence of communities spreading around the world. There are currently around 2 million members and adherents in 182 countries. For this data to be correctly interpreted, it has to be recorded at the local level, and this is where the complexity arises because of the wide variety of forms of association that reflect the Movement’s activities at a regional level. In technical terms they are called ‘entities’ and allow for an association of people to exist and operate in a given territory or country. From 17 to 19 June, representatives of the local entities representing the Focolare Movement around the world met at the Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo (Rome, Italy), some in person, others via video link, to reconsider their role and share good practices and challenges at various levels. Markus Alig, Focolare councillor for Western Europe for the aspect of economy and work, clearly expressed the need to take stock: “working together and sharing ideas for restoring works and structures, increasing transparency and making Focolare members of the different communities aware of projects in the pipeline and how things are going”. Starting from Chiara Lubich’s vision of work, Geneviève Sanze and Ruperto Battiston, responsible for the aspect of economy and work in the Movement, highlighted how central work is in the thought and life of the Focolare. They underlined the importance of entities that run little towns or social actions in which focolarini, people of various vocations and those who are not part of the Movement work together. This topical theme was also emphasized by the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, which last April organised the annual meeting of Moderators of Associations of the Faithful, Ecclesial Movements and New Communities, on the theme “Working conditions within the Associations. A service according to justice and charity”. The entities: at the service of the life of the Focolare around the world Of the 180 participants, some recounted the history and the current “state of play” of activities born under the aegis of their respective entities, such as Simon Petre Okello from Uganda, who spoke about NASSO, Namugongo Social Services Organization Ltd, an organisation founded in 1999 by members of the movement to promote socio-educational and health activities inspired by the principles of fraternity. Over the years, three supporting ‘arms’ have developed: a health centre, a nutritional centre and a socio-economic centre. The organisation has thus enabled numerous activities to be developed over the years: continuous educational support from primary school to university; courses in therapeutic nutrition for children and parents; dental, radiology and maternity workshops; and assistance to patients before and after treatment. Social activities also include commitment to the environment in partnership with organisations in different countries. Kit Roble, who is responsible for the Focolare entity in the Philippines, described a pathway, still in progress, towards greater involvement and participation on the part of the board of directors in decision-making processes. This includes the involvement of qualified external consultants in the near future. A path that has highlighted the need for greater mutual listening and common discernment in facing the various challenges. Renata Dias, a lawyer in the USA, also spoke of a pathway that has led to distinguishing the entities that own the buildings from those that carry out the activities of the Movement, for a correct distinction of responsibilities, in a path of sharing and transparency. The experts: between faithfulness to the charism and looking to the future Among the experts who spoke was Prof. Patrick Valdrini, former Rector of the Catholic University of Paris, who illustrated the relevance of associative experiences that are born from ecclesiastical charisms, their place in the Code of Canon Law and possible new perspectives. A speech that highlighted the spiritual roots of the juridical structures needed for movements and lay aggregations to function properly: “Every charism belongs to the Church,” explained Prof. Valdrini, “it is inspired by the Holy Spirit and for the charism to be offered to people, institutions need to be created that enable the charism to spread and also protect its original spirit”. The last day of the meeting was dedicated to the constellation of associations born from the Focolare spirituality that promote the ideal of a United World. Professor Luigino Bruni recalled how these associations cannot lose sight of their link with Chiara Lubich’s charism, from which they start to find their specific way of incarnating it. Anne Claire Motte, a French lawyer and canonist now living in the Ivory Coast, chose the word “covenant” to express the path that must be followed with respect to the different orders, listening, mutual appreciating and giving utmost respect for people. They parted with a renewed commitment to “building networks” so as to go ahead together seeking inspiration from each other.
Stefania Tanesini
Jul 13, 2022 | Non categorizzato
On 4 June 2022, the Gen 4 Global Kids Meeting, (the worldwide meeting of the children of the Focolare Movement) was held. Its title was “Bring love into the world and peace will come”. It was a festive day of sharing and joy in which the little children renewed their commitment to a better world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uyRKmn2kAw
Jul 12, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Opening our home to Jesus, as Martha and Mary did in the Gospel, and freeing our hearts from worries in order to listen. Living the Word, putting it into practice in every day life, can offer many a precious opportunity to “choose the better part”. Solidarity A few days ago, Elisa, whose daughter I teach catechism to, asked me to contribute to a collection of food and clothing being sent through some Ukrainian women to their wartorn country. I spread the word, and the response was immediate. To Elisa’s astonishment, in only two days we put together over two tonnes of packages containing food and clothes. Then it was my own turn to be astonished. In my thank you message to all those who’d joined in this action, I mentioned I was also transferring a sum of money to a priest I know who has stayed in Ukraine. And several them contacted me immediately with offers to add their own contributions! In less than a day, I’d received 1,000 Euro. I was overwhelmed as I thanked them. One of the young people involved commented, “Don’t you remember the miracle of the loaves and fishes?”. My only conclusion, “Lord, increase my faith”. (Carmela – Italy) A children’s game – good for adults too When my children were small I invented a game in which they’d put a sweet or candy in a basket every time they did an act of love. Now they’re grown up with their own families. Recently my oldest son told me how that game has remained part of his life. He decided to put a sweet or candy in a little bowl every time he managed to overcome an obstacle in his relationship with his wife, when he held back his temper, or welcomed his wife’s idea even when he didn’t agree with it, or went to do something himself he thought she should have done, and when he listened attentively to her instead of jumping to conclusions and judging her. Eventually his wife noticed his mysterious brief disappearances from the room and got curious. When he explained, she was moved by his effort to keep their love alive and decided to join in the game. This marked a new phase in their family life and eventually the children joined in too. That simple game for children became important for the grown ups too. (F.Z. – France) Here to serve In our roles at the Ministry for Youth, we strive to work with a real spirit of family. This makes two contrasting demands on us: firstly, not to allow all the national political issues, emergencies and problems to prevent us from building personal relationships with everyone; while at the same time never forgetting that we are there to serve this section of society which has been entrusted to us. This means to keep as our number one priority our service to young people, especially those most in need, taking great care with the management of public funds when organizing any action from our department, making sure not to spend anything unncecessarily, to manage our human resources well, based on high levels of professionalism rather than political cronyism or nepotism, strictly avoiding any abuse of the public administration office for particular or personal interests. Just as in a natural family, life in the political sphere is composed of occasions large and small to choose and start again to love and serve our people. (N.T. – Argentina)
Collated by Grazia Berretta
(from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, anno VIII, n.2, luglio-agosto2022)
Jul 12, 2022 | Non categorizzato
On June 8, 2022, Margaret Karram and Jesús Moran, along with some members of the Focolare Movement, were received in an audience by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The meeting, which was held at the Fener, headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, focused on the productive friendship between the movement and the patriarchate. This began 55 years ago with Chiara Lubich’s visit to Bartholomew’s beloved predecessor, Patriarch Athenagoras, and the shared path taken to work together for the unity of Christians and all peoples on Earth.
Maria Grazia Berretta
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y2cV4qLtC4
Jul 11, 2022 | Non categorizzato
The Word we have chosen to live by during the month of July 2022, taken from Luke’s Gospel, says: “There is need of only one thing.,. We know only too well how much need there is for charity nowadays, as there was in Jesus’ time. We need love of neighbour, love for everyone, without excluding anyone. God who is Love. Believing in God’s love, responding to his love by loving; these attitudes are urgently needed today. People today are awaiting these two essential things. Without them, the world risks being like a train running out of control and coming off the tracks. Discovering, or rather rediscovering, that God is Love is the greatest adventure for people today. In the encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, [His Church] Pope Paul VI stated: “We are convinced that charity should today assume its rightful, foremost position in the scale of religious and moral values, and not just in theory, but in the practice of the Christian life. And this applies not only to the charity we show toward God, … but also to the charity which we in turn should lavish on … the whole human race. Charity is the key to everything. It sets all to rights. There is nothing which charity cannot achieve and renew. Who is there among us who does not realize this? And since we realize it, is not this the time to put it into practice?”
Chiara Lubich
(Lubich, Chiara., “Scritti spirituali /2, L’essenziale di oggi, [Spiritual writings/2 The essential for today] Città Nuova, 1978, p. 160)
Jul 6, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Peace is a choice. This is the message conveyed by ‘We Choose Peace’ (© Gen Verde), the new track by Gen Verde. The international band explain its origins together with Naya, one of the young people who took part in the video clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAUIeJe0SEE&t=101s
Jul 5, 2022 | Non categorizzato
Since 2017, in lands confiscated from the mafia in San Vito dei Normanni (Puglia- Italy), “XFARM Agricoltura Prossima” has hosted training camps organized by “Libera”, a network of Associations, involved in a commitment against the mafia and in favour of social justice. This year, some young people from the Focolare Movement took part. 
You see them handling the red earth of Puglia, in southern Italy, you observe them knead it with straw, you watch them shape the material to create something ecologically sustainable. And you think that what they are doing also has the force of a metaphor. They are aged 13-17 years old. They met in San Vito dei Normanni, in Brindisi, to contribute to the rebirth of an asset confiscated from the mafia gangs. They are mostly children of this land caressed by the sun and at this time of year, invaded by tourists. But they also come from Piedmont and Lombardy, where some people think that the mafia is only something to do with southern Italy. Not these young people. They came down here to Upper Salento to spend part of their holiday in a different way and to make a contribution to change. There are twenty of them, full of the energy and fun-loving, typical of their age. They’re spending 4 days here, protagonists in a project organized for them by Libera and the Focolare Movement. 
For a few hours a day, they work in the fields of social cooperatives that manage 50 hectares of olive groves and other structures taken from the “bosses”. And in their genuine commitment, you can perceive a desire to get their hands dirty, to roll up their sleeves, to actively bring something new, even in a land marked by the arrogance of the mafia. “This is our land, given back to the community”, they seem to say, as they work with clay, sand and silts to build wooden structures designed for a society in which everything can be circular. To guide them, the young people of the “Ex Fadda” urban laboratory and the “XFarm” project, a handful of enthusiasts of civil economy, active citizenship, and good practices in agriculture who after various experiences around the world found themselves here, in the land where the United Sacred Crown once ruled, to experience a new model of coexistence, to try to realize the dream of communities actively involved in regenerative processes. A utopia created here, a stone’s throw from the wild beauty of Torre Guaceto (Brindisi, Italy), thanks also to the “strength of the We”. Many different associations, secular and Catholic, trade union forces such as the Italian General Confederation of Labour, contribute to provide a common ground wherein to engage with the construction of a more united society, more attentive to preserving the environment and to working for social justice. “Memory is hope, commitment, it is something that characterizes us and pushes us not to repeat the mistakes of the past”, say the children, when the “E! State Liberi” project managers encourage them to reflect on that concept so central to the history of the network of associations created by Don Luigi Ciotti. Memory that becomes alive with the touching testimony of the Fazios, a couple whose son Michael, the same age as the listeners, was killed at the age of sixteen in the alleys of Bari Vecchia because he ended up in the middle of a settlement of accounts between gangs with which he had nothing to do. “Io stoc do”, “I’m here”, Lella says today, as she proudly did before to the wives of the mafia bosses who thought that after the murder they would leave the neighbourhood and the city. They remained, to obtain justice, to identify and then grant forgiveness to those who killed Michael, but also to try to offer a different future to that region of Italy, stained with the innocent blood of their son. “We are here”, repeat those fresh faces who today work in the fields, taking a stand to remind us that a better world is still possible. Just start by taking some land and try to do something worthwhile with it. One mother, when her son returned home after the camp, said, “I saw a light, a brightness in his eyes that I have never seen before. He told me that he had never experienced anything like this before”.
Gianni Bianco
