“When the conflict in Syria began, seeing that the future didn’t promise anything good, I thought it would be more prudent to leave the country. This idea was strengthened by a job offer in Lebanon. So I secured tickets and began to ready my family for the journey. But many doubts began to crop up inside me. Was it right to go and seek a better future for the family, or was it be better to remain in the country that I loved, to help my people? Talking it over with my wife, I realized that she was more inclined to stay, but she left it up to me. The only thing that mattered to her was that we keep the family together. I felt confused and upset until, one day – I was at church – I clearly felt that our place was here in Aleppo sharing the fate of our people. We are a diverse population made of many ethnic groups, different religions and confessions, but we’ve always lived together in harmony. We’re generous enough to accommodate Palestinians, Lebanese and Iraqis in recent decades, despite the embargo, offering them equal rights and job opportunities. We decided to stay. I worked on my own and earned good money. But after the bloody events that began to devastate the country, my shop was robbed and then destroyed. Nevertheless, there have still been many occasions give assistance through the Centre for the Deaf which my wife and I started to take care of. Later we also began collaboration with other humanitarian organisations to provide – with the help of Providence that has always reached out to us with miraculous assistance – basic necessities to more than 1,500 families. In these five years of war, due to the random bombings in our neighbourhoods, we saw so many families lose their loved ones and so many people left permanently disabled. One day, the driver at the Centre for the Deaf lost his wife and daughter when they were hit by mortar while walking down the street with the family. He was also seriously injured and taken to hospital in a state of shock. I was able to talk about his serious situation with a priest and when the bishop heard of it, he offered to take charge of the funeral for his wife and daughter. For my part, I began to look for money to pay for the Dad’s surgery. Seeing so many people taking an interest him the hospital lowered the costs and some doctors refused to accept payment for their service. So, not only were we able to cover all the expenses, but we had enough money left over to pay for the follow-up treatments that the driver would need. Another time I received a telephone call from a Muslim who works in the church we attend. He was asking me to help him find a house he could live in. He had seen armed rebels entering his district and was worried about his three daughters. After many attempts we finally managed to find a home for them. Once he moved into the new house, he realised he needed a gas cylinder, but could not find one. Then he called me: ‘I ask for this help from you,’ he remarked, ‘because you’re my brother, aren’t you?’ And I answered: “Of course, we are brothers.” Since the recent ceasefire we have experienced a period of apparent calm, although you hear rumblings from time to time that keep us awake at night. Regarding my activities, it’s impossible to even think about beginning them again until the weapons are silenced. The Focolare community is there to support us in the midst of our dangerous situation, along with God’s love that never abandons us. In front of every problem we never feel alone. We continue to experience peace in giving to others, a peace that remains a challenge because it is a gift that must be reconquered each day.”
Athens, Greece. Of the 53 thousand refugees living in the Greek islands, 4,500 are in the camp at Piraeus. It is an “informal” camp totally supported by volunteers. Twenty three year-old Elena Fanciulli is amongst the volunteers who visit the place regularly. She belongs to Pope John XXIII Association and has been living in Athens since December after she finished her studies in Sciences for Peace. The young Italian has been watching the situation as it rapidly evolves. “When I came to Piraeus for the first time my job was to wait for the boat, to welcome the refugees and give them some food. They would disembark and be rushed to the buses that would take them to Idomeni and the other border camps. Greece wasn’t their final destination. Ever since the borders were closed in March, Piraeus has been a hell on earth. There aren’t enough toilets, no showers, barefoot children in men’s clothing and trying to walk in men’s trousers . . . Food is the latest problem. It often runs out. Since Piraeus is an “informal” camp there isn’t any coordination and it’s likely that much of the food donated by Athenian citizens is lost. Everything you see in Piraeus has been donated. Despite the fact that it’s such a living hell, there are some people who are trying to bring a bit of Heaven.” What lies ahead for the 4,725 people that have been stranded in Piraeus for over a month? “The number of refugees has to be reduced to zero. We’re on the threshold of the tourist season and the refugees will be sent to other open-air camps, so that the port area can be vacated and the cruise ships can arrive. The refugees will encounter more stalling. Greece runs the risk of becoming one huge open-air refugee camp. Here, there are mainly Syrians, but also Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians and, in the prisons of Athens, there are Moroccans and Algerians who typically arrive without documents and are mostly economic migrants.” Besides John XXIII Association, there is also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Mensajeros de la Paz, Red Cross, Pampeiraiki and the Focolare who distribute aid and entertain the children. “Sometimes, all you need is a crayon and a sheet of paper, a balloon and a hula-hoop to raise their morale,” Elena explains. “But,” she reiterates, “the operation is carried out as a network, and no one is in charge. Associations and churches come to work here because it’s especially here in these informal camps that there is more need.” The associations meet every week with the UNHCR to coordinate. Updated information about arrivals and distribution of refugees can be found on their website. And whenever possible, technical and legal support is accompanied by spiritual and human support. “Once a month we meet with the other Catholic Associations at the Jesuits’ Kentro Arrupe. We plan but also pray and encourage one another. We also feel the pain and need a listening ear so that we can let it out. We let out our fears, our thoughts about the future, how we can improve things. If a volunteer gets fed up, then no one will eat, no one will be clothed . . . Volunteering has to be in place, but it shouldn’t be the only resource.” “These are depressed human beings here, shoeless and without any light in their eyes. It’s only thanks to the humanity of so many Greeks that we are able to carry on. Doctors can be found – for free – up to three o’clock in the morning. This is their outlook at the bottom of Europe where so many people are doing whatever they can to help.” What led you to do this? “After graduation I felt it was time to put into practice what I had learned. I decided to leave [Italy]. A friend recommended Pope John XXIII. I was just in time for the missions course that prepared us to stay at the camp and deal with our emotions and, after the interview, I set off. I had asked to be sent to a place that would turn my life upside down and where my studies would be affirmed. I’d been thinking about Latin America, but they recommended Greece because that was the eye of the storm. Now I’m here doing whatever I can, at times with my knees to the ground, since I’m no one politically speaking, but I can do at least something, and I do it with many tears in the evening before going to sleep. I know I’m only a drop in the ocean. And perhaps I am in need of the poor, of this encounter with another.” Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
After the two Synods on the family, Amoris Laetitia finally announces the ideas of the Pope, this Pope. He is the Pope of mercy, who gathers the approval of those who declare to have “closed” their relations with the Church, or who do not profess any faith. The recent exhortation, set out in over 100 pages, really responds to the expectations of those who hoped in change – very evident on the pastoral level. The doctrinal one has remained unchanged – also for those most bound to tradition. It is a reaching out to all, also to those who find themselves in a so-called “irregular” position. For Pope Francis “no family is a perfect reality and packaged once and for always, but requires a gradual growth of its own capacity to love” (AL 325), as if it aims to remove the tendency to distinguish between ”regulars” and “irregulars” and wants to underline that nobody is condemned and excluded beyond repair. The most significant opening of Amoris Laetitia is certainly intended for the divorced who have remarried, which provides a path of growth in the capacity for discernment, accompanied by pastors or as also cited, by “lay persons who live in the service of the Lord” (AL 312) aware that they are called to “form consciences, and not replace them” (AL 37). It is a path which in certain cases, as stated in the 351st note of the exhortation, could lead also to access to the sacraments, since, the Pope underpins that the Eucharist “is not an award for the perfect, but a generous balm and a nutriment for the weak.” But if the media’s attention is caught precisely by these ‘openings’ to the remarried, it is 4 and 5 (on the beauty of the family that draws inspiration from the Trinitarian design and nurtures on that charity St. Paul spoke about in Cor 1,13) that its merit goes beyond. The centrality of the life of the couples is presented here as never before: “It is the direct encounter face to face with a “thou” who reflects God’s love and is man’s best possession, or as the spouse of the Canticle of Canticles exclaims in a stupendous profession of love in reciprocity: ‘My beloved is mine and I am his. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” (AL 12-13). «…we often present marriage in such a way that its unitive meaning, call to grow in love and ideal of mutual assistance are overshadowed by an almost exclusive insistence on the duty of procreation.» (AL 36). We need a healthy dose of self-criticism, in our attempt to valorize the eros imbued in creatures, showing marriage in its concrete reality as a “mixture of joys and struggles, tensions and repose, suffering and liberations, satisfactions and longings, and annoyances and pleasures. » (Al 126). Every moment of daily life is highlighted, overcoming the contrast between sacred and profane, and between solemn and unimportant events, since nothing is secondary in the eyes of love and faith. The Pope also takes into account the longer life spans and the initial decision of the spouses that has to be daily renewed» (AL 163), in a continual regeneration and change as each progresses along the path of personal growth and development: «There is no guarantee that we will feel the same way all through life. Yet if a couple can come up with a shared and lasting project, they can love one another and live as one until death do them part, enjoying an enriching intimacy.» (AL 163). Thank you Pope Francis! We really needed the loving care of the Church which continues to present to spouses the high ideal and model of the Trinitarian harmony which has never been reached, and also for the fraternal hand of the Church which stands by all of us, without rejecting anyone.
“Scholars estimate that from 3000 BC, populations from the Southeast Asian continent arrived here. Among them were also the Guaranì people, composed of many ethnic groups that through the centuries spread to the Caribbean up to the southernmost tip of the continent,” explained Diana Durán, a Paraguayan sociologist and scholar of the aborigines of America. The meeting with a small community of the Avà Guaranì and Mbya ethnic groups came about two years ago, when a big flood of the Paraguay river forced the indigenous group of 33 families (115 members) to abandon the unsteady settlement on the banks of the river where they used to live by gathering wastes from the dumpsite nearby. “At the start we tried to help them with clothing, food, medicine, and healthcare, like the hospitalisation of a diabetic patient, intervening with one of them who had gunshot wounds, renting mobile toilettes when they were sent away to a desert area, or when, after a storm we collected tents and drinking water… and yet we saw that these actions were still insufficient. They needed a piece of land, that could give them shelter and security.“After a long search, a suitable lot was found: 5.5 hectares at 4.5 km from the city of Ita, with a school and medical dispensary close by. All was surrounded by greens and above all, with the possibility to cultivate a community orchard for their self-support and the space to build a facility for educational courses. The challenge now is to find the finances to buy the land. “We knocked on many doors – Diana recounts. A qualified person helped us to obtain the juridical status as an Indigenous Community, so they would be entitled ownership of the property. Furthermore, a friend of the Mennonite Community offered to advance the payment of the land, which seemed impossible for us to do. We undertook, with our Avà friends, to pay back the money by instalment.” “God has looked on us with special love», the head of the community, Bernardo Benítez, said. It was a God who they regard as the “First and Foremost God,” whose main command is mutual love. He is present in the daily acts and gave this land, a sacred place to protect and where we can build fraternal relationships. “Standing by the Yary Mirì community also means suffering – Dian affirmed – due to the discrimination they suffer because of ancestral prejudices, and the misery they live in. But it is a joy to acknowledge and share the community and solidarity values they have conserved through the centuries, besides the love and trust that has been established between us and them. Today we are not alone but have the support of many friends, two associations linked to the Focolare (Unipar and Yvy Porà) that support the development of the community orchard), two bishops, some officers from financial institutions, two Mennonite Christians and the Indigeneous Pastoral. We obtained four scholarships in Educational Sciences for their leader and three youths. They themselves chose that faculty ‘because our people need education,’ they said.” “I am now writing a book on the history of their community – Diana Durán concluded – not only as a denunciation and to give a voice to those who have no say, but as an obligation to them for what they have suffered and what we owe to them. I consider it a step towards universal brotherhood, our Ideal.”
“I come from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Erzegovina, where for centuries, Bosnian Muslims, Croatian Catholics, Orthodox Serbs, Jews, Romani ethnic groups and others have lived alongside one another. The war of the 1990s that wanted to convince us that it is impossible to live together, only wrought thousands of victims, a million refugees, and devastation of cities, religious buildings and historical monuments. In our condominium there were Croatians, Serbs, and Bosnian Muslims, but we shared everything we had with one another, up to the last cigarette, the little oil, flour, coffee and also the pain of death. My husband who was working as an amateur radio technician in the State institutions, had installed a radio station to connect the people who, for months, due to the interruption of telephone lines, knew nothing about their loved ones. When the conflict ended, I started to get involved in politics, in the Social Democratic Party and became a candidate for the post of municipal councilor. The consequences of the war were terrible. In that period, a mayor from Sarayevo received an invitation to participate in the meeting “Together for Europe” in Stuttgart, and delegated me since he couldn’t go. It was then that I was introduced to the Focolare Movement, the people who live to bring unity to humanity. You may well imagine what this meant for me, coming from a war experience. On returning home I felt a great urge to live and fight to diffuse the ideals I had just met. Now, after 20 years, in our city we are still mourning our dead, and rebuilding what was destroyed, but we are also building bridges between people. We do this together, without hatred. And precisely in these days Sarajevo is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the end of the siege of the city, which lasted 1,425 days during which 12,000 civilians were killed, out of which 1,500 were children. The city’s wounds have now healed and it has regained its long lost spirit. The bells ring and prayer arising from the minarets of the mosques echo in the squares. Since I am an agnostic, I found myself involved in the dialogue started by Chiara Lubich with people who have no religious beliefs. I try to weave this network of communion and mutual comprehension in my city, with the Muslim cities nearby, and with the Catholics – for example, during the visit of Pope Francis, and with the people of various beliefs. Today in Sarajevo there is a group of young people, also of different faiths and cultures, who are also trying to diffuse the culture of dialogue.
Zdravka Gutic sharing her testimony at the convention in April 2016.
For some years now, we have been carrying out various activities, and we thought of founding an association to transmit universal values to the young generations. In 2014 during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of WWI, the international group, Gen Rosso, held some workshops for the youth of various European countries. Last year we cooperated with five other associations of the Region with objectives similar to ours: seven days of seminars and workshops on the theme of ethnic minorities, setting out concrete projects. This year we plan to work with the unemployed youth. Our wish is that Sarajevo, after the tragedy of the last years, will become a city that is able to tell positive stories, where the people build, step by step a reconciled humanity, whether or not they profess a faith, or are of various nationalities.” Personal testimony shared at the conference entitled “OnCity: Networks of light to inhabit the planet“, Castel Gandolfo, Rome, 1-3 April 2016.
The line is long and quite boring. People of all ages from many parts of the world are patiently waiting for lunch as they share their thoughts and opinions about the morning. The first session of the OnCity – Networks of lights to inhabit the planet Conference has just concluded. The conference took place on April 1-3, 2016 and really showed the many lights that have been lit up in our cities. “Rather than dwelling on an analysis of the darkness,” says Lucia Fronza Crepaz who is the moderator, “we’ve decided to turn our attention to the dawn, to the rising sun.” OnCity is organised by the New Humanity Movement, Youth For a United World, and the United World Project which are Focolare agencies actively engaged in building a more united and fraternal world at the social level, amongst young and old and through support and development projects. Certainly the current news stories constantly cry out to us : bombings, terrorism, new forms of marginalisation and poverty, piecemeal wars. Our cities are experiencing problems and contradictions in front of our very eyes. But there are also very positive and well-established experiences which confirm that it is possible to work, to hope, to believe in a more supportive and fraternal city that would be more liveable for everyone. With this awareness the organisers set out to create a three-day event in which the nearly 900 participants would be given the opportunity to experience a new kind of city life with one another, that could be taken back to their home environments. It was an opportunity to examine the topics of solidarity and fraternity in order to be be able to interpret the changes we see taking place in the cities where we live, and to learn a lifestyle based on dialogue. OnCity played out in three plenary sessions, thematic seminars and a good 32 work groups which were useful for coming to an understanding of their ability to be active, creative and responsible citizens. Forty six presentations were squeezed into those days with the purpose of valuing and appreciating the networks that already exist and encouraging new ones where needed: starting up “cells of brotherhood” wherever we are. Source:Città Nuova online
Organised by: Psychology and Communion Topic: “Psychology’s contribution to dialogue” Participants: 50-60 young psychologists from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Europe. (Scholarships available for young students) Info: info@psy-com.orgwww.psy-com.org
Organised by: Sportmeet and the Krizevci Kinesiology Association (a local association of physical education teachers from Croatia and Serbia). Participants: 50 teachers, young students and other professionals (Scholarships available for young students) Info: info@sportmeet.orgwww.sportmeet.org
Organised by: Communion and Law The summer school dedicated mainly to law students and young professionals between the ages of 20 and 35, will provide an opportunity to be in direct contact with Sicily’s natural environment and the wave of refugees. The summer school is part of an ongoing process involving a group of young people and is meant to be a follow-up to the 2015 “Environment and Rights” conference held in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, in November 2015. Programme Info: info@comunionediritto.orgwww.comunionediritto.org
Organised by: Medicine, Dialogue, Communion Participants: bio-medical students and young professionals (Scholarships available for young students) Info: segr.med@focolare.orgwww.mdc-net.org
Organised by: VARCO Cultural Association with support from Clarté and Dialogues in Architecture Participants: 20-30 adults and 30 young people (Scholarships available for young students) Info: segr.architettura@focolare.org segr.arte@focolare.org www.clarte.orgwww.dialoghinarchitettura.org
Breakfast Dialogue with Cardinal Tagle opens 2016 World Interfaith Harmony Week. Photo: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
“Love, Mercy and Compassion as Wellsprings of Peace and Hope” was the central theme of the World Interfaith Harmony Week 2016 (1- 7 February). The event acquired a special significance in the Philippines due to the support given by Card. Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila. In fact, it was the Cardinal who commenced the week-long celebration by hosting a breakfast dialogue with various religious leaders, key government officials and the diplomatic corps. It was an occasion for different religions to come together and know each other, and engage in dialogue. From this perspective of sharing, through forums and round table discussions, various topics were reflected on during the week, including climate change. For many of the participants in this program – of which the Focolare was tasked with coordinating the preparation of the interfaith aspect – it was getting to know the many facets and arduous challenges that this problem presents. They expressed a great interest in the proposals regarding the role that governments, but also each one of us, can play to safeguard the environment. A joint symposium on Mary in the Bible and Mariam in Quran also proved to be quite interesting. The unanimous conclusion: Mary, woman of love, mercy and compassion, is a mother for all Christians and Muslims. Another significant event saw the attendance of 80 cancer patients and survivors. The opening remarks were based on the spirituality of Chiara Lubich. At theFo Guang Shan Mabuhay Buddhist Temple the awards ceremony of a digital poster-making contest took place. It was organized with the Buddhist International Association – Manila, on the theme “Creating Peace and Hope through Acts of Goodness”.
At Sulyap ng Pag-asa Housing Project
An activity was also organized in Quezon City, Metro Manila, where, for some years now, Sulyap ng Pag-asa (Glimpse of Hope) is found. It is a housing project of the Focolare undertaken for the purpose of providing housing to homeless families. Here some 90 Christian and Muslim children spent an exciting afternoon together, with songs, dances and games which helped them understand how to build fraternity despite differences in culture and religion. The culminating activity of the week-long celebration was the Festival of Harmony held in a big shopping mall in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. It attracted an extraordinary participation indeed. Cardinal Tagle and the participants in the breakfast dialogue were joined by other institutional dignitaries, by people who had participated in the various events during the week, by ordinary people. After highlighting mutual cooperation between the government and the religious sectors in promoting religious freedom, dialogue and peace, the program continued with musical numbers from the youth and children of various faith groups. A young member of the Focolare introduced a choreography and said: “To attain love, mercy and compassion as wellsprings of peace, there is the need to overcome diversities, … and to be united for peace and harmony.” With other children of different religions, a girl was chosen to speak in the name of the Roman Catholic Church. She said: “To me, peace is harmony and love. When God created the world, everything was fine. There was balance and harmony with the plants and animals. When man came, it was okay for a while until he became greedy. He cut down trees, flattened mountains and now cement is everywhere! Animals became extinct. There is no more balance and harmony. I dream of harmony in nature. I dream of no war.” Cardinal Tagle’s concluding remarks were an emotional one. Clearly touched and grateful to the children who spoke, he cited all the various talks making the different subjects his own.
“While realizing that the foundation of the Gospel is charity… we did not immediately understand how to live it, nor with whom, nor to what degree we were to put it into practice. At the beginning, due mainly to the distressing circumstances of the war, we directed our love toward the poor. We were convinced that in those gaunt and, at times, repulsive faces, we could make out the face of the Lord. It was a real training. We were not accustomed to loving supernaturally. At most, we cared about our relatives or our friends in a spirit of warm respect or in a purely natural and healthy friendship. Now, under the impulse of grace, trusting in God and in his Providence which cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, we addressed our attention to all the poor of the city. We invited them to our houses, to eat at our table… (…) When we could not receive them in our home, we arranged to meet them somewhere, and we gave them whatever we had managed to put together. We visited them in their dismal shacks and we comforted them and offered them medicines. The poor were truly the object of our love because for them and through them we could love Jesus. They became the concern also of those who had been attracted by our common ideal. As the community grew around the initial nucleus of the focolarine, the possibilities of helping, of assisting whoever suffered grew. And it was quite a sight to see tons of food, clothing and medicine arrive; it was an unusual abundance which, considering that we were in the last years of the war, clearly made the special intervention of divine Providence obvious to anyone. (…) These are small events which happen to whoever, being a follower of Jesus, experiences ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ (Mt 7:7). Nevertheless, they never ceased to amaze us. At the same time, we were encouraged by other extraordinary events experienced by our great brothers and sisters who had preceded us and who also knew—at a time when they were not yet saints—the difficulties encountered in the ascent to God, in the process of thawing the hardened human personality by the fire of Divine Love. Hadn’t Saint Catherine, in her love for the poor, given to one her mantle and to another the cross on her rosary? And hadn’t Jesus appeared to her in a vision the following nights to thank her for the gifts she had given to him in the poor? And didn’t St. Francis give away his cloak to the poor some thirty times? Surely, then, it was no great sacrifice for us to take off our gloves in the winter and offer them to somebody who needed to beg for hours out in the cold just to survive (…) Yet, in spite of everyone’s great generosity (…) it became clear that perhaps this was not the immediate goal for which the Lord had urged us to love in a concrete way. It was only later that we seemed to understand the Lord had urged us in this direction also for an intention of his own: it is in love and through the practice of love that one can better comprehend the things of heaven, and that God can more easily enlighten our souls. It was probably because of this concrete love that later on we understood that we didn’t have to turn only towards the poor but towards everyone indiscriminately. No doubt there were people who needed to be fed, to be given drink, to be clothed, but also those who needed to be educated, advised, put up with, or who were in need of our prayers…. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy opened up before us. Furthermore, they were the precise questions that the Judge of our lives would ask in order to decide our eternity. This thought immersed us in adoration considering the infinite love of Jesus who had revealed them to us when he came on earth so as to make it easier for us to get into heaven. (…) God was not asking us only to love the poor, but each and every neighbour, whoever they were, as we love ourselves. So if we came across someone who was weeping, we tried to weep with him and their cross was lightened. If someone rejoiced we rejoiced with them, and the joy was all the greater. ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’ (Rom 12:15).” Chiara Lubich, May they all be one, New City Press, NY, 1984, pp.44-48.
The centre of the 2016 United World Week will be Ecuador where interculturalism, peace and unity in diversity will be celebrated. Events will include opportunities to know and be enriched by the diversity of ethnic cultures in the country. The title of the event is: “LINK CULTURES – Un Camino para la Paz (A Path For Peace), and the overriding theme will be interculturalism that translates into dialogue with different ethnic cultures and recognises their dignity which makes us equals. The event will involve young people from many South American and European countries. Ecuador is strategically situated in the middle of the world. It has a population of some 15 million people and is divided into four main regions: the coastal lowlands, La Sierra, the East and the Galapagos Islands. The country is internationally known for the huge biodiversity, as well as for the multiculturalism of the population. Since 2008 the Ecuadoran Constitution has included interculturalism and multi-nationality and the defence of these characteristic features of the country, as well as the defence and promotion of “Sumak kawsay” (in the indigenous kichwa language, ‘good living’ in harmony with nature) and the rights of nature. UWW 2016 will have two parts. It will begin with a “traveling school” (May 1 – May 6) during which young people will visit several regions of Ecuador to have a living experience of interculturalism in the midst of different communities of the country. They will live and work amongst the local people, becoming more deeply acquainted with life in the South American land. The young people will choose between: Costa-La Sierra and Oriente-La Sierra. The former includes the provinces of Esmeraldas and Imbabura where the young people will have direct contact with the Gualapuro, Agato and Peguche communities. The latter includes the provinces of Pastaza, Tungurahua and Bolicar where they will meet the Shiwacocha, Kisapincha, Salasaka and Bolivar communities. Each stop is meant to be an opportunity to build relationships at different levels: with nature, with others and with themselves. Thus, the young people and the local people will be protagonists of real, true laboratories of community living in which they will be able to share, to learn, to experience and to become living witnesses to an exchange of gifts amongst different cultures. The second part (May 7) will be a Festival For Peace in the tourist region known as The Middle of the World, an Ecuadoran icon that is internationally famous. It will be a large event that will engage young people from many cultures, faiths and walks of life. The goal is to highlight fraternity in an intercultural context and to commit to living peace and unity in respect for differences, through the practice of the Golden Rule that invites us to “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The Young For Unity in Ecuador is also promoting two contests, one for music and another for photography. They have high dreams of beginning a permanent Peace School. Simultaneous events will take place in other cities of the world during United World Week 2016, which will be led by the young peacemakers. Information:info@mundounido2016.comOfficial website:www.mundounido2016.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmnzghp0ghg&feature=youtu.be This year, the annual event promoted by the youth of the Focolare, which aims to involve the greatest number of people and institutions in the journey towards peace, will be centered in Quito, Ecuador. Intercultural dialogue will be the theme of the youth meeting to be held at the so-called “Other end of the world,” where one foot can be set on the aurora borealis hemisphere and the other on the austral hemisphere. Days of dialogue will ensue among youth of different cultures, along with working and sharing groups, and community tourism surrounded by verdant nature. All the information on the Ecuador programme can be found on www.mundounido2016.com.“Link Cultures – un camino para la paz” is the title that all the fraternal initiatives will have in common, to be held simultaneously throughout the world, uniting generations and cultures in a sole workshop, and can be traced through the hashtag #4peace.Some historical data. May ’95, the Genfest – a big world event of the Youth for a United World – ended with the launching of the United World Week (UWW): to contribute to the building of peaceful relationships of coexistence among different cultures and peoples, while respecting the identity of each community. A proposal to the public or private, national and international institutions, to highlight and uphold the initiatives that promote unity at every level, the UWW is an integral part of the United World Project.Twenty years after that historic event: a multitude of initiatives of the youth, adolescents and adults, were launched in these editions of the UWW that progressively became known to the general public, the mass media, and institutions worldwide. At all points of the planet, people were strongly attracted to the aim of convincing the world that “this is the time for brotherhood.” In 2010, a global link-up from Hungary paved the way to the UWW. In the 2011 edition the global streaming instead started from the small town of Sassello (Italy), hometown of Chiara Luce Badano, a young member of the Focolare who died in 1990 and was beatified in 2010. The UWW of 2012 preceded the Genfest held in Budapest (12,000 youth in the Sports Arena and 500,000 in a live streaming through the social networks). In 2013 the event was broadcasted from Jerusalem: 120 youth of 25 countries, Muslims, Christians and Jews, lived a strong experience of fraternity, which became a lifelong action plan for the country’s future. The “focus” of the United World Week 2014 was Nairobi, with the reciprocity construction site, “Sharing with Africa,” and the UWW 2015 entitled “Fabric, Flavour, Festival – discovering fraternity” that developed the theme of dialogue at all latitudes. The central event was enlivened by the Youth for a United World of Mumbay, India with the youth of the Hindu Shanti Ashram movement, an ulterior sign of how these events unite different peoples and religions. Run4Unity – Another novelty for this year is the involvement of the children: the world sports event Run4Unity, a relay race for peace which in the previous editions saw the participation of thousands of adolescents, from now on will be held annually as part of the United World Week. Run4Unity 2016 will take place on 8 May. The Youth for a United World hope that this international and travelling expo, now on its 20th year, will be recognised by the UN. The initiatives to be carried out throughout the year, and on which the United World Week will spotlight, are contained in the United World Project platform.
Nasri studied in Milan (Italy), to then specialise in Urban Sciences in Venice. Upon returning to his homeland 20 years ago, he was introduced to the Focolare Movement. According to him, this meeting changed his life. He now has three daughters who are 17, 15 and 13 years old. We met him on the occasion of the international OnCity, on public heritage assets (Castel Gandolfo 1-3 April).What challenges do you have to face daily in your homeland? “I work in the constructions sector. For political reasons we have a hard time renewing the 1970 town planning schemes. To open a new road or modify a route, we need permits, but the Israeli military authorities refuse to issue them.”Is it really possible to “love your enemy?” “It is not easy to be a real Christian in Palestine. In this sector the real enemy is the Israeli military authority, not the Jews! I respect the Jewish religion because we are all brothers, sons of God. But how can I love an Israeli soldier who kills me? And destroys our cities? Who occupies our territory? How can I live Christianity? I tried to discuss this with other Christians. I understood that if we are unable to love, we can at least try not to hate, and slowly, love will come. I stuck the words “do not hate” in my mind and heart and started to live them in my world. They have often been of help, for example, in smiling at a soldier, especially at the check point, since unfortunately, we Palestinians cannot move around freely. We are surrounded, like in a prison. Once, a captain asked me why I had smiled at him, though I was a Palestinian Arab. I answered: Jesus said “we have to love everyone,” and I love you. He was impressed, and did not know what to say. He let me pass without checking me too much! Love exists, also in the heart of the Israeli occupiers as in the heart of every human being on earth. I do not blame them, because they are soldiers and have to obey orders. We leave the conflicts to the governments, and we as peoples can live together. But the youth find this difficult to accept, especially today where through the internet they see how the world is outside Palestine.” How do you manage with the Focolare Movement in the Holy Land? “I am a volunteer and active in the New Families. We promote activities in the various churches with the Christian Community in Bethlehem. I am a Greek-Orthodox and my wife is Catholic. We go to those in need: the elderly, abandoned children or the mentally ill who need to be loved. We try to do our best…” Are there Jews among those who are in contact with the Movement? “Many Jewish families are friends of ours. We hold meetings together. One of my daughters plays soccer. Through the Peres Center for Peace her team, along with the Israeli team, was invited by the Real Madrid. This was her first contact with Jewish peers, and it was a new experience. When she returned she said: «All the Jewish players are my friends.» We keep in touch also with many Muslim families: in Palestine, 99% are Muslim, and 1% is Christian. As members of the Focolare Movement, we have a very good relationship with the Muslims and also the Jews. This proves that it is possible to live together.” If you could give a m”ssage to the world, what do you desire most for your land? «Please remember us. There are Christian Palestinians who are suffering. We once formed 10% of the population, but the emigration of Christian Families has increased a lot. I fear that one day, there will not even be a Christian. Help us to solve this Palestinian problem. If peace is created in the Middle East, there will be peace for the whole world. We know what God’s will is, but we also need the will of human beings. It is a strategic point, rich in spirituality. We only need unity. If unity exists among these three religions, the Middle East would be in peace and be a model. This is the only message I want to give: let us live the words of Jesus to create peace and love, because we really need it.” Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
It will begin with a “Traveling school” (May 1 – May 6) during which young people will visit several regions of Ecuador to have a living experience of interculturalism in the midst of different communities of the country. They will live and work amongst the local people, becoming more deeply acquainted with life in the South American land. The young people will choose between: Costa-La Sierra and Oriente-La Sierra. The former includes the provinces of Esmeraldas and Imbabura where the young people will have direct contact with the Gualapuro, Agato and Peguche communities. The latter includes the provinces of Pastaza, Tungurahua and Bolicar where they will meet the Shiwacocha, Kisapincha, Salasaka and Bolivar communities. Each stop is meant to be an opportunity to build relationships at different levels: with nature, with others and with themselves. Thus, the young people and the local people will be protagonists of real, true laboratories of community living in which they will be able to share, to learn, to experience and to become living witnesses to an exchange of gifts amongst different cultures. The second part (May 7) will be a Festival For Peace in the tourist region known as The Middle of the World, an Ecuadoran icon that is internationally famous. It will be a large event that will engage young people from many cultures, faiths and walks of life. The goal is to highlight fraternity in an intercultural context and to commit to living peace and unity in respect for differences, through the practice of the Golden Rule that invites us to “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” The Young For Unity in Ecuador is also promoting two contests, one for music and another for photography. They have high dreams of beginning a permanent Peace School. Information:info@mundounido2016.comOfficial website:www.mundounido2016.com
“The violence has also touched my life. In such a difficult context, the desire to rebuild my country has turned into a real passion that grows more and more each day. It was that desire which led me to attend Sophia University Institute (IUS) in Italy. I had heard of the school when I was back in my own country. The manner in which they approach diversity at Sophia helps me to deal with the diversity of Burundi, and here I realised that I shouldn’t wait until I finish my studies to contribute something.” That was how the young man began his work for peace. “I am able to meet a lot of my fellow countrymen and women, and every time I try to express my belief in the spirit of brotherhood, using the skills I acquired from my studies which allow me to dialogue value the positive I find in other people. This attitude of mine drew the attention of several people with differing opinions on the situation in Burundi. They included members of the opposition, members of the party that’s in power and also members of civil society. When it’s my turn to say something, I never talk about my political affiliation but express what I feel in my heart, referring to what the Pope has also said: ‘volence is never a pathway of peace.’ Once, for example, I highlighted the fact that there were representatives from the government amongst us and that the plan that time was to end our discussion drinking a beer together as a sign of reconciliation, which is the custom in our culture. I added that here, far from the conflict, we sit side by side and even though we are having a heated argument, we greet one another as friends both when we arrive and when we say goodbye. But in Bujumbura they are killing one anothe . . . So, I suggested: Why not share our testimony with everyone? Why not tell our countrymen back home that dialogue and argument are possible without killing anyone? We’ve shown that dialogue is possible, I added.” “After that comment I thought that I hadn’t been understood and that they would have thought I was a dreamer living in nowhere land.” But instead to his great surpprise, they had taken him very seriously. “We met again with twenty experts on the situation in Burundi. There were representatives from the different interest groups, and the goal was to discuss possible models for an inclusive dialogue amongst government, opposition, civil society, armed groups, and so on, in view of bringing peace to the country. It turned out to be an important opportunity for listening, useful for expressing together with serenity several proposals that could be made to the government.” “I could see that the experience at Sophia produces fruits that go beyond us,” he concluded. I’m convinced more than ever that we can bring the light of the Gospel to the many difficult situations that our countries are going through. I hope to continue making my small contribution to building peace, not only in Burundi, but in the whole world.”.
“March 22cnd will be forever marked by the cowardly attacks in the airport and in the metro in Brussels. They were actions of people who were not able to see love of neighbour as a priority in life, precisely during the days of Easter, a feast that proclaims: Love conquers all. It’s been a week in which feelings of deep hatred and a sense that God is requiring us to love every neighbour. That’s certainly not easy in moments like these. It’s in our nature to find perptrator. That’s what’s happening here in Belgium. We wonder where we went wrong and who was responsible for the radicalisation of that human being. It was also a week filled with novel questions for me. It’s been like constantly writing little letters to God and running every day to the mailbox to see if He’s answered them yet. It’s even worse when my own friends wonder why I still defend Muslims: ‘It’s all because of them,’ they say. ‘We should send them home. Why give to the refugees, and then they do away with us?’ I came to realize that I had to keep on doing the same exercise over and over again: to put myself in the skin of my friends who perhaps have not had the good fortune of experiencing God so near to them. Perhaps they haven’t realised that He is the only one that can give the answer: an answer of Love. They feel the fear that pushes them to prefer security and their own future. My effort was to show them the other side of the story: ‘Those people (the terrorists) aren’t Muslims. Islam embodies values that spread love. But when you try to do that, you are always met with resisitence. The wound is still fresh. I was hoping that I’d be able to bring enough healing to the wounds, but a complete cure will take time. This Good Friday I returned to my house weary and fed up with caring for “the wounds”. I can well imagine that it must have been a very hard week for the people who were on the front lines, caring for the wounded in body and in spirit. It is said that the young people of today don’t dare to express their faith. We no longer dare to talk about the things we believe in for fear of being cast from society. We no longer dare to do what we believe should be done. Perhaps it’s not fear of expressing ourselves, but tiredness because believing in Christian ideals is a tiring venture. The faith of Belgium is so exceptional and should muster up the strength to uphold its values. The young people choose to stop believing in order to avoid criticism. And this made me understand once more the strength of the ideal of peace and unity that Chiara Lubich taught us. It’s a sort of “cafe” for our weariness. It helps us to smile when we’re presented with cynical questions from our friends. These become opportunities for sharing our message . . . that’s the reason I follow Jesus! I’d like to ask God for more fire than I had before, a fire that lights candles in the hearts of young people. Candles that will enable us to look at one another in a positive light instead of criticising each other, so that the downward spiral will become an upward spiral and the faith will become a celebration rather than a preoccupation. A place where each of us can find the key to build a world in which attacks like those of March 22nd never happen again.”
During the last visit to Taungoo, one of the regions where the Long Distance Support Project in Myanmar was launched, “we came to realise how many kids on Long Distance Support are now walking on their own,” writes the representative of AfnOnlus in Myanmar, Myanmar Vivienne Arpon. The visit by the local staff of Long Distance Support to the families of the children being supported was an opportunity to bring some concrete love and to better understand the difficulties they were facing. Marta had been abandoned by her husband when the children, Justin and Joseph, were small. Through the project she found the strength she needed to raise her family. When he finished school Justin won a scholarship in culinary arts at an Institute in Yangon, and Joseph became personnel assistant at a fabrics company. Philip and Anna’s family had been living in a slum in poor hygienic conditions. Long Distance Support has enabled them to live in a decent house and have a more dignified life. Although Philip is still studying, his parents have generously committed to support those who are worse off than they. “What gives us joy,” says Vienne, “is to notice how the improvement in the physical living conditions of these families has led to human and spiritual growth.” Since 2006 the project has expanded in response to requests for help from Eric, the Burmese coordinator. Thanks to the intervention of other NGOs it was possible to build a new school in Yenanchaung, the Magway region and find teachers and qualified personnel. The school children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS or abandonment. Many of these teenagers have been able to find good jobs now, so that in addition to being financially independent they can even contribute something to their families. “We’re pretty confident,” Vivienne writes speaking to supporters, “that the future of these children is assured, not only because they can study, but because they felt the love from your side, which assures them. For all this, thank you very much for the sacrifices you have made. In fact, it is not always easy to live solidarity, but when you take into consideration those who are living in worse conditions than yours it can redimension your own needs and wants and can lead to a more sober lifestyle, perhaps even a freer life for yourself. One family from Messina, Italy writes of how their experience with long distance support with AFNonlus is enrichment for them that has opened them to the whole world. The boy they were supporting has grown up and, thanks to the support he received through the programme, is now working. Nevertheless, there are many other children living in conditions of need and the Sicilian family, in spite of the financial problems that everyone is going through, didn’t turn their backs on them. They decided to continue contributing their support: “With four children it isn’t easy to make ends meet. In spite of the uncertainty, we believe in this project and are very happy to offer some concrete help to people who are worse off than we are . . . in this case, little Vincenzo from Myanmar.” The Myanmar project extends through a territory which, due to environmental conditions and historic reasons was never developed adequately. Many families and children are victims of malnutrition and illness, such as malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. With the support from contributors, the project is giving hope to people, offering a different future to the new generations and contributing to the human development of the population. For more information: The Focolare has been in the Asian world since 1966. Recent cultural and interreligious events have remembered those years: 50 anni di storia.
“When the family suffers, society suffers,” said one of the participants going straight to the heart of the main message of the event: “The Family And Peace. Tools For Peace In The Family: 5 Secrets.” Similar events were held in 8 cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Congo, Brazaville, with a massive attendance on March 13th. The organisers report 1000 people in Kinshasa, 500 in Goma, 600 in Lubumbashi and 1,500 in Kikwit. There were another 110 in Bukuvu, 83 in Uvira not counting the Masses celebrated in other locations, inlcuding 14 in Congo Brazzaville. In Lolo 170 adults with 40 children “celebrated” – because thoughought Congo as in other African countries it is the feast of “Mamma Chiara,” as she is affectionately known on that continent. “With its spirituality of unity the Focolare Movement hoped to create synergy by providing opportunities for sharing and exchange with structures of the local Church that serve the family,” writes Martine from Kinshasa. “Friends from the Church of Christ in Congo and from the Muslim community also participated. The event raised enthusiasm and joy, and we met several times to prepare it together: some sharing their testimonies, some singing and dancing – very group wished to contribute something to the day.” The event was also covered in the media, on television and in the newspapers: L’Observatuer, Le Phare, Le Potentiel, Le Congolais, to mention a few. In Kikwit the Muslim radio also covered the event! The “5 Secrets” are actually elements from the charism of unity applied to family life: the pact of mercy (forgiveness between family members); communion of the experiences of living the Word of God; communion of souls; and fraternal correction. Finally, conversations with people who can assist the family along its way if their are problems. “These secrets,” they write, “barely revealed, are already helping several families to rediscover their peace and harmony.” During his thank you address, Abdourahamane Diallo from UNESCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stated: “I would like to offer my congratulations to the organisers of this day in favour of peace in the family. We at UNESCO also think that we need to lift up the defense of peace through education, dialogue, tolerance and culture. I render homage to the family because that is where education begins. I thank you for this work you are doing.” “At this meeting I discovered a reality of God to which we are called to live together, doing all we can so that it continues,” declared Imam of Kikwit. “We all have one only God, the One who sent the Angel to Mary to announce the glad tidings.” The person in charge of Comunità Vie Nouvelle: “I’m glad to have discovered the 5 secrets for building peace in the family. This evening I telephoned my son who is having family problems, to share all of this with him. I needed this theme!” “This experience with the local Church,” Martine concludes, “and with our Protestant and Muslim friends with whom we continue to grow the relationship, has been a step forward towards Mamma Chiara’s and our dream of unity.”
A conference for mathematicians “A couple of my colleagues also attended a conference with their small son. After supper they took turns putting him to sleep and were never able to spend an evening together. I sensed that things weren’t going well between them and wondered what I could do to help. I suggested that one evening I could stay up with the boy, since he knew me quite well. The following day my colleague thanked me: Ever since the little one was born, he told me, they’d never had a moment just for them, and that evening was very important.” M.Z. – PolandMy neighbour is another me “I study art at university. Shocked by the suffering of so many Syrian families, I thought of organising an art exhibit with some friends. We could use the money we earned from selling our artwork to help those families. We called the exhibit: ‘My neighbour is another me. Break down the walls of indifference’.” One of the main pieces was a wall made of tiles. Each visitor could take one tile home as a reminder that we’re all connected and invited in our daily lives to do something for people who are suffering. There were a lot of problems involved in organising the exhibit. At one point I was really tired, but thinking about the suffering of the Syrians I found new energy to carry on. The art sale brought in 4000 dollars that will be donated in full to several Syrian families.” J.T. – USAThe goodnight kiss “Once again, that night Papa had dumped all the day’s stress on Mamma. Without a reply, she went to iron in the kitchen as he read in the living room. A wall had been built between them. Feeling the atmosphere growing heavier and heavier, my brothers and I went to our rooms. But I couldn’t fall asleep. A sentence kept coming to my mind: “Where there is no love, put love and you’ll draw out love.” Overcoming my human pride, I got up and went into the kitchen. “Good night, Papa,” and I gave him a kiss. Then, “Good night, Mamma” and gave her a kiss. They looked at each other and the wall between them collapsed. I went back to bed happy.” G.M. – SwitzerlandOne small act of love “I’m a Franciscan. After giving the last hoe I had to a poor person I said to Jesus: “Okay, now you take care of it!” I heard on the radio that a whole party of hoes were arriving. I asked an NGO to make me one of the beneficiaries: I received 200 hoes along with machetes and sacks of seed that I distributed. Many people from the place ask me for help: Members of a Protestant sect from Kimbangisti and even a witch doctor. He invited me to his home and, offering me 5 litres of palm wine, he thanked me for all that I do for his people. All because of one small act of love. . .” G.B. – Angola
Paray-le-Monial, a city in the Burgundy region is not far from other places with a rich spiritual heritage, like Cluny and Taizé, and embodies the artistic heritage of the places of worship it boasts of (this is where Cluny and Cistercian architecture originated), set along the “roads of Romanic culture,” leading to Santiago di Compostela. Furthermore, Jesus appeared here to Saint Margherita Maria Alacoque and this gave rise to the spirituality of the Sacred Heart. The participation of 14 Movements and new Communities, with over 70 members of various ages and experiences, was driven by a fraternal friendship and the desire to broaden their knowledge. Thus a meeting entitled, “Communion and mercy – Experiences and challenges,” was set for 3 – 6 March. Also the bishop of Le Mans, Bishop Yves Le Saux was present. The choice of the place was triggered by the invitation of the Community of Emmanuele since it was here where an important historical phase of the community began in 1975, and which then diffused worldwide. Some of the participants had already attendedlast year’s event held near Florence, in Loppiano, while some were there for the first time. “Unity is lived like a polyhedron “– Pope Francis had said to the Catholic Fraternity in 2014. It invites us to marvel at what we are. In his welcoming speech, Laurent Landete, head of the Emmanuele Comunity, stressed that “Through a spirit of wonder, we contemplate the profiles of your communities.” Mercy is the name of God, the Pope affirmed when he opened the Jubilee Year, and this was the framework which each of the 14 communities placed as the setting of their projects and testimonials. For the Arche group, the aim is to heal the wounds of disability. The Community has to become a place of forgiveness: and though fragile and vulnerable, we can experience the Father’s mercy. The Pope John XXIII Association targeted sharing with the poor and learning forgiveness. For the Speranza, New Horizons families and the Cenacle Community, it means going into the depths of addiction and existential fragility to bring the resurrection, mercy and reconciliation with oneself and the world. All this may appear to be mere social actions, but upon listening to their experiences, a profound spirituality ensued, and they became striking examples of the pedagogy of the Gospel. For the Canção Nova Community, mercy means using the means of communication to be able to bring the good news to all of humanity. Unity for the Focolare is the renewal of its choice to stand in every moment, side by side with each person we meet, with the inevitable alternation of light and shadows. Love for our brother and the “pact of mercy” are the practices that help reach this goal. The Catholic Shalom Community instead targeted mercy as a mission, in unforeseen situations such as that of the Carnival of Rio. The Community of the Beatitudes chose to share the path in identifying and expressing its ecclesiastic features in its Statutes, and the Regnum Christi Community focused on sharing the Church’s goals and fraternal friendship in Christ as referral points of light. The current events gave a strong imprint on the relationships that ensued during the meeting. The Emmanuele Community shared its interreligious dialogue initiatives, especially with the Muslims. This was an important fact, considering the serious attacks that came about in the country. Also the Sant’Egidio Community stressed the importance of peace, the acquisition of a vision of a world that discovers brotherhood as its innermost being. The Chemin Neuf Community stressed that sharing strengthens communion, and makes us experience the extraordinary mercy of the Father who is unity: the source of their mission. “Diverse charisms in the kaleidoscope of the testimonials, appeared like God’s Love reaching out to humanity today”, declared Lina Ciampi who participated on behalf of the Focolare. There was a strong desire in everyone to meet again, and the determination to keep in touch and pray for one another. A pact of benevolence among us, concluded the meeting.
“Dialogue is a true sign of the times, but it also represents something that we need to deepen in all senses. In the wake of John Paul II and of other contemporary thinkers, Chiara Lubich had described out times, at least in the West, with the image of a “cultural night”, not a permanent night, but a night which, according to Lubich, hid a light, a hope. We could therefore say that within the cultural night, which is also a “night of dialogue,” a light is hidden, namely the possibility of all of us together elaborating a new culture of dialogue. To do this – in my opinion – the first step is to rediscover that it is so rooted in human nature that in every culture we can find what I would call the “ sources of dialogue.” These sources are contained in the great Scriptures and are basically two: the source that rises from the religious experience and the source that rises from the philosophical research of humanity. In this line we should have to talk about Biblical, Koranic, Vedic, Buddhist sources, and so on. Last century in the West a real dialogical thinking developed from Jewish and Chrisitan roots. I draw particularly on the latter to offer you several principles of an anthropolgy of dialogue. First. Dialogue “is written in human nature” to the point that you could say that it is the very definition of man. Second. Through dialogue “every person is completed by the gift of the other;” that is, we need one another in order to be ourselves. In dialogue I give to the other my otherness, my diversity. Third. Each dialogue “is always a personal encounter.” Therefore, it is not a matter of words or of thoughts, but of giving our being. Dialogue is not mere conversation or discussion, but something that touches the interlocutors more deeply. Fourth. Dialogue requires “silence and listening.” This is decisive, because silence is important not only for right speech, but also for right thinking. As one proverb says: “When you talk, let your words be better than your silence” (Dionysius the Areopagite). Fifth. True dialogue “constitutes something existential” because we risk our selves, our vision of things, our identity. At times we feel that we lose our cultural identity, but it’s only a passage because, in reality, our identity is immensely enriched in its opening. We should have an “open identity.” (Fabris). This means knowing who we are: but also being convinced that “when I understand with someone else . . . I know even better “who I am”. Some further principles. Authentic dialogue “has to do with the truth” and is a deepening of the truth. For the ancient Greeks dialogue was the method for reaching the truth. This means that truth is always in need of being completed; no one posesses the truth, only she [the truth] posesses it. So we are not dealing with relativity of truth, but of “relationality of the truth” (Baccarini). “Relative truth” means to say that each one has his truth that is true only for himself. “Relational truth” means that each one takes part and puts in common with the others his sharing in the [one] truth, which is true for everyone. Our way of reaching the truth and how we share in the truth is different. This is why dialogue is important: to enrich us with the different perspectives. Through relationship each one discovers new aspects of the truth as if they were his own. As Raimond Panikkar says: From a window you see the whole landscape, but not totally. It is what we said earlier: We need to understand diversity as a gift and not as a danger. One of the great paradoxes of today is that in this globalised world we are fearful of diversity, of the other. Dialogue also “requires strong will.” Love for the truth leads me to seek her and desire her, and therefore I put myself in dialogue. Two final principles. “Diaolgue is only possible among true people,” and only love makes us true. In other words, love prepares people for dialogue by making them true [persons]. What makes the talk fertile is the holiness of the one that speaks and the holiness of the one that listens. This then is the full scope of the dialogue’s responsibility: it requires true persons and makes the persons more true. In conclusion: the culture of dialogue “knows only one law, which is reciprocity.” This dynamic of going and returning is essential for there to be true dialogue. Finally, today there is much talk about interculturalism. I think that true interculturalism is possible if we begin to live this culture of dialogue. No one ever said that dialogue would be easy. It requires something that today is difficult to pronounce: sacrifice. It requires men and women “mature for death” (Maria Zambrano), that is dying to oneself to live in the other.” Jesús Morán , University of Mumbai, February 5, 2016.
Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan, in the north east Punjab Province. “For some time schools and universities have been protected like fortresses, as well as churches and mosques that have armed guards. A public park could never have been guarded in such a way. It is shocking that most of the victims are children and families, many of them celebrating the feast of Easter,” they write from the Focolare community in Lahore. It was 19:00 local time, March 27th, when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park. Pope Francis called it a “cowardly and senseless” crime as he recalled Easter in Pakisatn that was “bloodied by a detestable attack that slaughtered so many innocents” including 29 children and many women. “Along with everyone else,” they continue from Lahore, “we want to once again embrace this face of Jesus Forsaken so that he might transform this great suffering into new momentum to love, new light to illuminate minds and strengthen all people of good will. We’re praying for all the victims, the wounded and the families, that hatred will not beget hatred.” “I was on my way to the park with my grandkids, and at one point I felt like I had to go home again,” says one friend who was saved from the massacre. “Our relatives were there at the moment of the explosion, but none of them were harmed. One of them was an 18 year old boy who tried to help a child who later died in his arms.” “I invite us all to pray to the Lord for the many victims and their loved ones,” the Pope went on to say, appealing to “civil authorities and all members of society” in Pakistan “that they would make every effort to return peace and serenity to the population and, in particular, to the religious minorities that are most vulnerable.” “The sacred dignity with which they suffer the pain is striking,” the people of Lahore testify, “and how much solidarity has been shown. The wounded were driven in private cars, without fear or hesitation, to nearby hospitals. The hospital staff worked without stopping. The appeal for blood donations was immediately answered by long queues at hospitals. The suffering that people have been going through for some time now and seemed to have reached its limit, has produced a new attitude, new hope that is expressed in small gestures that demonstrate a common wish: Peace.” “In many places people are out on the streets with lit candles. The protests were carried out peacefully. In many newspapers around the world there is talk about attacks on Christians and perhaps that’s true, but here it seems to us like an attack against humanity which is the same thing. The victims are Christians and Muslims. The gestures of solidarity from abroad have been very well received, such as the offing of the lights on the Eiffel Tower. They did help Pakistan to feel that it wasn’t all alone in suffering this very painful and absurd tragedy.” Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
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Protecting minors is a civic obligation which is also finds it fulfilment in the utmost respect for human rights. It is an obligation, therefore, but one that is loaded with foresight, precisely because of the inestimable value it represents for the new generations. Upon reviewing the various articles of the El Salvador law which entered into force in 2011, the novelty stands out, with respect to the previous law which only highlighted the cases where this is missing, such as situations regarding survival, disability and abandonment. This new norm which refers to the guidelines of international laws provides for the protection of all children from their conception up to the age of 18, ensuring adequate opportunities for integral development and a life that reflects the standards of human dignity. As in many countries, also in El Salvador social phenomena that endanger these principles abound, precisely due to the typical vulnerability to which infants and adolescents are exposed. And as in any other place on the planet, also here the population is called to collaborate actively with the institutions to safeguard every human right, but especially those rights every child in the world is entitled to. In 2014, a Document drawn up by the Focolare “for the promotion of the wellbeing and protection of minors” had aroused in the Movement worldwide, a renewed awareness of this responsibility. Also due to this initiative, the El Salvadorean community of the Focolare is now giving its valid contribution to a widespread knowledge of children’s rights and of how we must act to promote their integral development and the psycho-physical-spiritual wellbeing of minors, while also denouncing certain hidden and subtle practices with which parents and educators involuntarily damage their harmonious growth. This action of the Focolare found support in the local Catholic Church which in turn encourages the associations to adopt all the means possible to help forestall any action that may infringe these rights. The Focolare’s training programme provides for a reading of the law in the light of evangelical love, in the perspective of concurring to form new generations that are increasingly aware and free to make their independent choices for values in life. This programme also includes the recent “ Up2meProject” created by the Focolare and adjusted to the various development phases. It is enthusiastic work carried out by adults, youth, adolescents and children, to open a dialogue on various themes that are ever more actual today.
Why are these words of Jesus so dear to us and why do they come back time and again in the Words of Life we choose each month? Perhaps it’s because they are the heart of the Gospel. They are what the Lord will ask us when in the end we find ourselves in front of him. On these words will hinge the most important exam of our lives; and we can get ready for it every single day. The Lord will ask whether we have given food and drink to whoever was hungry and thirsty, whether we have welcomed the stranger, whether we have clothed the naked, visited the sick and the prisoner… It is a question of little acts, which yet have the value of eternity. Nothing is small if done for love, if done for him. Jesus indeed did not just come close to the poor and marginalized; he healed the sick and comforted the suffering. But he loved them with a preferential love, to the point of calling them members of his family, of identifying himself with them in a mysterious solidarity. Today too Jesus is still present in whoever suffers injustice and violence, in whoever is looking for work or living in a risky situation, in whoever is forced to leave his or her homeland because of war. How many people are in pain around us for all sorts of other reasons and call out, even without words, for our help! They are Jesus who asks for concrete love, a love capable of inventing new ‘works of mercy’ in keeping with new needs. No one is excluded. If a person who is old or sick is Jesus, how can we not seek what could give the necessary relief? If I teach my language to an immigrant child, I teach Jesus. If I help my mother clean the house, I help Jesus. If I bring hope to a prisoner or consolation to someone who is afflicted or forgiveness to someone who has hurt me, I build a relationship with Jesus. And every time the fruit will be not only giving joy to the other person, but I too will feel a great joy. By giving we receive, we sense an inner fullness, we feel happy because, even though we do not know it, we have met Jesus. The other person, as Chiara Lubich wrote, is the archway we pass under to reach God. This is how she recalls the impact of this Word of Life from the first moments of her experience: The whole of our old way of thinking about our neighbours and loving them collapsed. If Christ was in some way in everyone, we could not discriminate, we could not have preferences. Our human notions that classified others were thrown up into the air: compatriot or foreigner, old or young, good-looking or ugly, nice or nasty, rich or poor, Christ was behind each one, Christ was in each one. And in reality each brother or sister was ‘another Christ’…. Living like this we realized that our neighbour was for us the path to God. Or rather, our brother or sister was like an archway that we had to go under to meet God. We experienced this from the earliest days. What union with God in the evening, when we prayed, or when we recollected ourselves after having loved him all day in our brothers and sisters! Who gave us that consolation, that inner union that was so new, so heavenly, if not Christ who lived the ‘give, and it will be given to you’ (Lk 6:38)of his Gospel? We had loved him all day in our brothers and sisters and here he was now loving us.’1 Fabio Ciardi 1 Chiara Lubich Scritti spirituali, vol. 4, (Rom3, 1995), 204-5.
“At the age of 19 I left my home in Abruzzi, Italy, to study aerospace engineering in Pisa. It was an exhausting but satisfying journey. In 5 years I finished the specialisation with honours and an internship in Germany that enriched my skill set even more. All of it thanks to the sacrifice and support of my family. After graduation I was anxious to find my place in the work world. But I had to deal with youth unemployment, which is 40% in our country, and with companies that at best offer only fixed-term contracts or consulting positions with quarterly or even semi-annual salaries. After a few months spent sending my resume in vain, I started thinking that maybe I had to apply to other areas of the industry. Or emigrate. But quite unexpectedly I received an offer from a company that represents Italy in the major European Consortium manufacturer of missiles and defence technologies. The idea of a real job in a major company like that was very tempting. After a successful telephone call I was invited to an interview with the technical staff. The environment was youthful and stimulating, serious and quite professional. Designing missiles didn’t really reflect my principles, but inside me I cradled the hope that I would be offered a job that wouldn’t involve me in the manufacturing of weapons. The interview went well. Just a week later, I was asked to sign a contract, it being understood that this was a job directly related to the production of missiles. I felt like my back was against the wall. On one side was a steady job with a permanent contract, a very good salary and possibility of a career. On the other side was my belief as a citizen, but first of all as a man committed to building a non-violent society based on respect for human rights, social justice, a correct balance amongst human needs, the natural environment and the use of resources. I’ve always believed in a society where the ambitions of a few don’t trample on the dignity and economic success of others, that they don’t make me forget that I am a human being. Things were further complicated by my colleagues from school who were pushing me to accept regardless of my moralizing, reaffirming their indisputable thesis that a 25 year old graduate cannot afford these days to refuse such a job with so many benefits. With a thousand arguments they were trying to put me in front of reality telling me how lucky I was and … irresponsible! Not least of all with this work I could relieve my family of their commitment and be able to support myself. Something else besides my conscience played a decisive role: the people who are closest to me, the family, my girlfriend and the Youth For A United World that I grew up with. They helped to mature in me the idea – which became clearer and clearer – that in order to build a supportive and non-violent society, you need to act concretely, paying personally and giving witness. This was my opportunity to do that. I told the company that I couldn’t accept their offer, clearly explaining my reasons. Naturally, it wasn’t an easy decision, especially since I didn’t have any other offers. But I didn’t let that stop me. I continued with my job search and in a few weeks I received other offers that led me to where I am now happily satisfied with my job as a civil aerospace engineer.” Source:Città NuovaSee also: Arms? No, thank you.
“Last March 13, the Ivory Coast and the entire world learned to their surprise that the seaside city of Grand-Bassam had been hard struck by unknown assailants and that it was difficult to know the number of victims,” write Jeanne Kabanga and Damase Djato from the Focolare in Abidjan. “One can imagine the slaughter with all the people that go there every week to rest on the shore in front of the hotel they call the star of the south. It is a place visited mostly by tourists of every provenance. Grand-Bassam had been the first capital of the Ivory Coasts and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.”
Msgr Joseph Spiteri
On the same day, 180 people were together in Abidjan to underscore the timeliness of the message of Chiara Lubich who had been awarded the UNESCO Peace Education Prize in 196, and had died on March 18, 2008. Amongst the guests were the Apostolic Nunzio in the Ivory Coast, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri and Imam Diaria. Every year, at his invitation, the Focolare community takes part in the celebration of the Maouloud ( birthday of the Prophet). “From their words – and proceeding from the Chiara’s invitation to the political deciders to live the art of loving as a true therapy for out times – we rediscovered our common duty to exert ourselves with fidelity to love without distinction, to not get lost in fundamentalism, but to cultivate hope and mercy.” “Our tendency, instead,” the Nunzio pointed out, “is to put judgement before mercy,” whereas “if Muslim and Christians love one another,” the Imam insisted, “the world would be saved.” Young people at the event told of their efforts to collect signatures for peace: After they had carefully prepared quotes from Ghandi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Chiara Lubich and the Dalai Lama, they distributed them on the streets. “It wasn’t easy to approach the adults and present our project,” What moved everyone the most, were the testimonies of the little children because they were so concrete and showed their commitment in being “messengers of peace” in their own environments. “One day, at home,” Marie Lucie recounted, “my youngest sister hadn’t washed the dishes. So, at lunchtime we couldn’t eat. I had told her to do them, but she didn’t want to. I said to myself, if I washed them I would be doing an action of peace. That’s what I did, and we ate.” “At school,” Prince reported, “some of my friends were making fun of another boy who seemed weaker, insulting and beating. Another boy and I decided to intervene, speaking to them, telling them about the ideals of peace that we believe in and asking them to let him be.” They stopped and are now friends.” Within such a context, the presentation of the Economy of Communion which, in the Ivory Coast has already made some moves and turned out to be a possible antidote to the poverty and misery: small actions like Firmin’s teaching activity a quarter of Abidjan. And the signature campaign for peace brought out the personal commitment of each person. “It was only when we got home,” Jeanne and Damase continue, “that we learned from the television news about the attack in Grand-Bassam. After a day of listening to talk about peace and experiencing peace, we feel a clear call to be workers of peace, putting into practice what we learned and, above all, living peace within and amongst ourselves in order to give it to the people around us. It seems to us that this is the only way we will be able to give our contribution to defuse terrorism and every sort of hatred.”
“A providential circumstance led me to examining in depth the reality of Jesus who, after his abandonment and death on the cross, rose from the dead. Not only, but I had the opportunity to meditate intensely with my mind and heart on many details of Jesus’ resurrection and on his life after the resurrection. I was dumbfounded (this is the exact word) at the majesty, the magnificence that emanated from this divine event, by the uniqueness of the risen Lord, by this supernatural fact which, as far as I know, is unique in the world. For this reason, I cannot help but highlight it again this time. … The resurrection is what most characterizes Christianity, what distinguishes Jesus, its founder. The fact that he is risen! Risen from the dead! Not in the way that others rose, like Lazarus, for instance, who then, when his time came, died. Jesus is risen never to die again. He continues to live, also as a man, in heaven, in the heart of the Trinity. Five hundred people saw him! And he certainly wasn’t a ghost. It was him, really him. He told Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (Jn 20:27). He ate with his disciples; he spoke with them; he stayed with them for as long as forty days. He had renounced his infinite greatness out of love for us and he had made himself small, a man among men, like one of us. … In rising from the dead, he broke, he surpassed, all the laws of nature, of the entire cosmos and, by doing so, he showed that he is greater than all that exists, greater than all that he created, greater than all that can be imagined. Consequently, even if we have just an intuition of this truth, we cannot help but see him as God. We cannot help but do as Thomas did and fall down on our knees in adoration before him, confessing in all sincerity: “My Lord and my God.” … And I saw with new eyes what he did during those fabulous new days on earth. After an angel came down from heaven, overturned the stone of his sepulchre and announced his resurrection, the risen Lord appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, the former sinner, because he had become man for sinners. Then we find him walking along the road to Emmaus. Great and immense as he was, he becomes the first exegete and explains the Scriptures to the two disciples. Then we see him as the founder of his Church, laying his hands on his disciples to give them the Holy Spirit; we hear him saying extraordinary words to Peter whom he places as the head of his Church. Then he sends the disciples into the world to announce the Gospel, the new Kingdom he founded in the name of the Most Holy Trinity from where he descended and to where, with his coming ascension, he will return. … And, because he is risen, the words he said to us before his death acquire unique brilliance and express indisputable truths. First and foremost, the words announcing the fact that we too will rise. I knew it and believed it before, because I am a Christian. But now I am doubly sure: I will rise, we will rise. …” Chiara Lubich, In unità verso il Padre, Città Nuova editrice, Roma 2004, p.102-105
“The tragic mystery of the death on the Cross, when even Heaven and earth darken in horror and tremble, was poured forth upon the poor women beneath that gibbet.” The Father had abandoned the Son; the Son had abandoned the Mother: Everything crumbled into horror and darkness. Only that woman remained standing, and she was entrusted with abandoned Humankind. Our destiny was in Her hands just as it was on that peaceful day when She spoke her first fiat. When the Father turned his gaze on those horrific hills that had become the pivot point of the universe, He saw Humankind clinging to that woman, under the gory and bloody sacrifice of the man-God. “Martyr, and more than a martyr,” says Saint Bernard. Beneath the Cross, Mary. We can truly say that Jesus somehow needed Her not only to be born, but also to die. She was there in that moment on the Cross when, abandoned by every person on earth, He felt abandoned by the Father in Heaven. Therefore, at the foot of the Cross he turned to the Mother: the Mother who had never deserted Him and who had triumphed over nature so as not to fall in that trial under which any woman would have crumbled. As Goethe seems to sense in Faust, on Calvary Mary and Jesus were joined in a “single suffering.” Then, when the Son had died, the Mother continued to suffer. The dead Jesus was placed upon her lap: more helpless than when He had been a child. A dead God on His Mother’s lap! Right then, yes, she was queen. Since Jesus recapitulated humanity, [He] was all humanity of all times – guarded on the lap of Mary, who in that desolation appears as the Mother and Queen of the human family that walks the paths of sorrow. Her greatness was equal with Her anguish. But as we see, Her regality was nothing but a primacy in suffering: the only way for her to be the closest one, immediately next to the Crucifix. If you think about Mary’s torment beneath the Cross, about the pain of the Mother upon the destruction of Her Son, willing victim of the sins of the world and of all the sufferings of all humankind, you can sense the immensity of the tragedy she endured, a cosmic tragedy. And you can measure our narrowness when we dedicate to her only a few sentences, a few brief prayers, a few gritty words . . . It seems to us a waste of time to meditate on, to weep over [it]: and we risk Eternity. Since inserting yourself into that suffering is to include yourself in the Redemption. Let’s take our place with her beneath the Cross, choosing the role of a victim over that of an executioner, embracing suffering over the charm of wealth, the Cross over vice: so that we can then be with Mary in bearing on [our] lap, the bloodless body of Jesus, the Mystical Body that persecutions bleed to death. Always, during the hours when the Church is being executed and Christ suffers in Christians, you see Her again, Mary gathering the lacerated body to Her bosom. And since Christ recapitulates Humanity, he identified with Humanity, so that the Church appears as Mary herself who gathers in the peoples in the midst of wars.” Igino Giordani, Maria modello perfetto, (Rome: Città Nuova, 2001), p.124-129.
At the beginning of the 1970s the world was already interconnected through “the irreversible encounters between peoples and civilisations the world over, that had been made possible through a veritable explosion of means of communication and massive technological development”. While highlighting the positive in all this, Chiara Lubich warned those young people that “today not everyone is well prepared for this encounter”, which was often destabilising because people realised their way of thinking was not the only one. She invited the young people not to confuse absolute values, those linked to what is Eternal, with their own mental structures. As people’s certainties were shattered, Chiara offered them a model to follow, a key that would open the doors to building a new world. “We may wonder how to live in this terrible present day when a mysterious earthquake seems to shake-up the noblest of values, like enormous skyscrapers that crumble and crash into one another. Is there a practical answer …, a sure means we can rely on so as to contribute to generating the world of the future? “Is there a type of global-person who has felt within them this terrible earthquake which threatens to destroy everything that was thought untouchable up to now? Is there someone who almost believed that absolute truth itself was leaving him to his own destiny, throwing him into the greatest confusion? Is there a global person who was able to overcome this terrible trial, paying for a new world which he found anew within himself and which he generated for others? Yes, such a person exists. But it is easy to understand this person couldn’t be merely a human being, but had to be the Human being: it’s Jesus forsaken. “His humanity, which was perfect, yet weak and subject to suffering and death, is the symbol of every human structure, which, within its limits has been able, throughout the centuries, to give humankind something unlimited, such as the truth. “On the cross, close to his physical death, and to his abandonment, which was his mystical death, Jesus experienced the destruction of all his humanity, of his being man; of his bodily structure, so to speak. At that moment, the Father mysteriously allowed that Jesus doubted even God’s presence within him, as though it had vanished. This is why he cried out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46). “But since he is God, precisely in this cry, Jesus had the strength to overcome this infinite suffering. By so doing He gave his weak, mortal flesh the power of immortality, bringing his risen body into the heart of the immortal Trinity. Moreover, with this extraordinary act of accepting the most frightening destruction ever known to heaven or on earth, Jesus gave humankind the possibility of rising again in the next life, with the resurrection of the body, and rising again in this life with a spiritual resurrection – when we love Jesus Forsaken – from any death or destruction in which people might find themselves. “Jesus Forsaken … is the reliable leader for all young people in this century. When he is loved he offers those who follow him the spirit of truth, in the same way as he made the Holy Spirit descend upon the apostles after his death.” Chiara affirmed that “by following him they will find the strength not to fear any situation, but to face it with confidence. It is a confidence which knows that every human truth and the Truth itself, which is the Kingdom of Heaven, can find, also with their help, new mental structures on a worldwide level.” And she ended: “It is up to you to welcome him into your hearts like the most precious pearl that you can receive; for your spiritual life, for the peoples you represent here; but above all for that new world which must see all people united; for the new world which will be home not only to many peoples, but to the people of God”. Source: Chiara Lubich, Colloqui con i gen 1970-74, Citta’ Nuova, ed, 1999, pp 73-83.
“I’ve never been so close to the site of a terrorist attack. Nowadays we are somewhat accustomed to seeing such catastrophes everyday on the news but passing in front of the metro station only a few minutes before and thinking that it was so close by and not knowing exactly what to do is quite another thing. I’m a firm believer that a united world is possible. Through my commitment in New Humanity, but mostly through the small daily actions, I try to live and act in a spirit of fraternity that is also expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But, as the news came and the howling of sirens intensified outside my window, I was blown away. Okay, it was all so close by, but still what could I do? Stay put and respond to all the messages from friends and relatives who were asking for news? Should I take to the streets and go to help who knows who and how? Should I keep working as if nothing had occurred? It was surreal, and I found myself disoriented and helpless. It also made me question the meaning of it all. What could have moved them to push some young people like me to hate to the point of being ready to sacrifice their lives in order to kill so many defenseless passengers, chosen at random and pressed into a packed metro car? I wondered what crime I would had committed that I should have to die with them. I could not find any satisfactory answers in any of the theories I had learned at university in political science class. What did give me some light was the memory of the previous evening spent with several youth who are engaged in living the same commitment as me, and during that evening we had promised another time to be instruments of brotherhood and dialogue for the people around us. Trying to put aside my confusion, I realized that, in those moments, it was (almost) as if I was experiencing the war in my own skin, all the more reason to be a peacemaker beginning with the people who were with me at the moment. Colleagues, friends and acquaintances… in spite of the terror and shock, I slowly began to realize that I was not the only one to think so. Everybody – each in their own way we’re dealing with their emotions – none of them found words of hate for what had happened, but everyone was convinced that dialogue was the only way possible to respond to such insane acts. The words spoken by Chiara Lubich, founder of New Humanity and the Focolare Movement, when she was awarded the UNESCO Peace Education Prize in December 1996, seemed truer to me than ever. “Anybody who would like to clear today’s mountains of hatred and violence finds themselves in front of an immense and weighty task. But what is impossible to millions of isolated and divided individuals, seems possible once they make mutual love, mutual understanding and unity the essential activity of their life.”
“The orientation of the Gospel of St. John, and also the others, converge in the phrase which has lately taken on a deep and infinite meaning for me: “That they all be one, as you Father are in me and I in you, so that the world may believe.” (John 17,21). This is how we should live. […] These are the coordinates of the unity that is particularly dear to me: unity in our parishes, unity in the various services and ministries, unity between the clergy and the laity, and between presbyteries. Unity becomes credible only if it demonstrates that we are not the patrons, but that only He is the Lord. This unity in the context of priestly ministry is something I particularly hold dear. Likewise I must mention unity of the Church, unity with those who are outside the confines of our Roman-Catholic Church, unity among all those who identify themselves with faith in the only God, the Living God and, therefore, with the Jews and Muslims. That unity between the Church and society is where one does not run parallel to or contrast with the other, but where the Church and society enter into a mutual relationship, bringing to light that unity which God gives for leavening society, with that leaven which makes man free. It is unity that makes man fully man, since he can become man in the full sense only where God has the right to be fully God, and thus can endow us with all He wishes to give us. And He wants to give us nothing less than His intimate mystery: Trinitarian unity. But this is not a simple plan, since we do not progress much only with plans. Instead it has to become life […]. Also I have to start living this unity. It is due to this that I trust the fact that all of you dear brothers and sisters can help me, and that we can do so mutually.” Bishop Klaus Hemmerle Cited from: W. Hagemann, Klaus Hemmerle. Innamorato della Parola di Dio. (In love with the Word of God), Città Nuova ed., Roma 2013, pp. 337-338
“Looking at this profoundly wounded world, unity and peace might seem just a dream.
May the power of the Risen Lord, who overcame death, every death, forever, strengthen in us the boldness to believe, hope and act so that fraternity may become the norm for shared living between different cultures and peoples.
I wish you all a Happy Easter, with the Risen Jesus in our midst!”
In a statement titled “God weeps with us in Brussels” the Focolare Movement states: “The terrible attacks on the morning of Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the Zaventem airport and the Maelbeck metro station in the heart of the European district of Brussels have caused deep dismay. We share in the pain of all those families who have lost loved ones and we support them with our prayers. We also offer prayers for all who suffer violence in so many parts of the world, and for those who commit such insane acts that are incompatible with peace.” In the face of such absurdity a question can rise in our hearts: “My God, have you abandoned us?” May Christ’s Passion, which we will commemorate on Good Friday, help us to believe that every suffering is an echo of Jesus’s cry of abandonment on the Cross. May the Resurrection give us cause to hope for the dawning of a better world. The March 22nd attacks are an eloquent signal that invite us to double our efforts for the triumph of peace which is a fruit of solidarity and fraternity.We propose meeting daily at midday for a TIME-OUT: a moment of silence or of prayer for peace.Source:Focolari Belgio online Read more:I was there on that Tuesday morning in Brussels
Faced with the increasingly untenable situation of widespread armed conflict, large fringes of civil society continue to make noise in an effort to curb the actions of governments that with their choices support arms trafficking, which is identified as one of the causes that prevents resolutions to the conflicts. The Political Movement for Unity has long been engaged on this issue. Through its Città Nuova, the Political Movement for Unity and especially its schools on participation in politics, it continues to expose the involvement of Italy in the production of war. The country, in fact home to strategic military bases, continues to produce high-tech weapons that also arrive in Middle Eastern countries, as reported by Città Nuova. Bombs are transited from the ports of Sardegna destined for Saudi Arabia, a country interested in the Syrian conflict and driving a coalition committed to the war in Yemen, with thousands of victims and condemned by the UN. What to do then? A year of work accompanied by experts of international geopolitics, led to the drafting of an appeal made of concrete demands, presented to the deputies and senators available: • Respect for 185/90 Law, concerning the “export control, import and transit of military goods.” In particular, it asks for the termination of exportation and transiting on the national territory to direct weapons to countries in conflict or who are committing serious human rights violations. • The allocation of funds for the conversion of the military industry into civil purposes, with reference to the provisions in Art.1 paragraph 3 of the 185/90 Law. • Transparency and control of banking transactions related to imports, exports and the transit of arms. To these were also added the request for the insertion of the themes of integration and welcome in the political agenda, and the investment of more resources in international cooperation. The youth promoters of the March 16th Meeting are well aware of the powers that be and the apparent judgment, even benevolent, of naivety that accompanies their concerns, but, as they say: “We believe we have a responsibility, due precisely to the ideals that motivate us, and therefore we cannot be silent or passive as we look at the world around us. We work in our daily lives to build fraternity and that is where we begin from in engaging governors.” The reflection in Parliament was enriched by the contributions of Pasquale Ferrara, diplomat and university professor Interrnational Relations; Shahrzad Houshmand, Islamic theologian who teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University; Michele Zanzucchi, director of Città Nuova; and Professor Maurizio Simoncelli, co-founder of the Institute of International Disarmament Archival Research. At the root is the spirituality of Chiara Lubich, who saw the horrors of World War II in her own city of Trent, Italy, and throughout her life, through dialogue with people of different faiths and cultures, sowed seeds of peaceful coexistence. Chiara, just 28 year old, had also set foot in the Italian Parliament when she met Igino Giordani in 1948. “The hope is that young people can have an impact on the political agenda, as citizens of the present and the future”, says Silvio Minnetti, chairman of the Political Movement for Unity in Italy (MPPU). “Young people are asking us questions, challenging, demanding, and and those of us where are in political field want to welcome them, becoming directly engaged in their voting choices, but also by initiating a serious reflection in order to give substance to the answers.” In an attempt To affect the political agenda even more, the Political Movement for Unity in Italy is planning to organize a mutual listening and sharing workshop to be held in the Seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies in the coming months, to discuss the young people’s Appeal. It will include the participation of parliamentarians, experts, young people and representatives of the Italian government. See also:Build peace each day (Full text of the Appeal in Italian)
“It is the most beautiful and moving concert I have ever attended.” “Your music soothes the soul.” “I can no longer be indifferent to the world around me: I have to do something.” These are some of the impressions with which the audience expressed their enthusiasm for “On the other side,” the latest concert of the international band Gen Verde, given in Hong Kong, Macao and four cities of Taiwan (Haulien, Taipei, Kaoshiung and Taichung).Gen Verde is an international all-women band with members from 14 countries and four continents. They cover all the roles: authors, composers, musicians, dancers, lighting, video and sound technicians, management, etc. In theatres and stadiums filled to the brim with enthusiastic audiences, these women offer a programme interwoven with their own life stories, portrayed through music and drama, through which they give voice to their ideal of unity, presented as the key elements urging humanity to move towards universal brotherhood. Various pieces, complete with choreographies, unfolded to the rhythm of an engaging style of pop-rock music of various shades which all went to underpin this theme, while the backdrop projected significant key words, graphics and images of great historical impact. Since some pieces were presented in the local languages, the message came through loud and clear. In addition, in the days preceding the concerts, in three of these cities, the band involved the high school and university students in the“Start Now” project with the support of the local Focolare community. The universal language of music and the arts led the youth to undertake a dialogue beyond their differences, to build the show “together.” The fact was that, in every piece, participation and enthusiasm were so vital, that the workshop participants gave the same commitment as the artists in launching their message. For Gen Verde, meeting the Asian youth was important, to see that also at this latitude, the expectations of the new generations are to share their experiences and move away from stereotyped images and give a mark of trust and altruism to their lives. “Many of them – a member of the group said – confided their difficulty in living in an extremely competitive society where they are always under pressure to excel. At the same time they demonstrated great sensitivity to the themes of the environment, peace and universal brotherhood, and dialogue with all.” “You have given us hope, courage, energy and enthusiasm,” one of them wrote to Gen Verde. And a girl said: “In all sectors we are pushed to be top of the class: instead we learned from you that we must follow our conscience and be true to ourselves.” A businessman said: “Looking at the young people this evening I would say, with youth like this, Hong Kong is saved!” After the rioting that a few days earlier had traumatized the city, the concert re-lit the fire of hope in him. To live for a united world wherever we are. This is the message that remains in the hearts of those who meet Gen Verde, whatever culture or creed they profess, because in each of them is imbued the conviction that together comes the strength to make the world a better place. See Photo gallery Hong Kong and Photo gallery Taipei
March 5, 2016, Brescia, Italy At the Catholic University: “Paul VI And Chiara Lubich, The Prophecy Of A Church That Makes Itself Dialogue Conference,” organised in collaboration with Paul VI Institute in continuation of the “Make Dialogue Days” held in Castel Gandolfo during November 2014. Among the presenters: Archbishop Vincenzo Zani, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education; Lucia Albignente, who is in charge of the historical sector of the Chiara Lubich Centre; Father Angelo Maffeis, president of Paul VI Institute; Franco Monaco, politician and journalist; Alberto Lo Presti, professor of Political Theory at Sophia University Institute. March 6, 2016, Vicenza, Italy “Beyond The Borders Interreligious Conference” at Centro A. Onisto – Borgo S. Lucia, 51. Speakers: Emeritus Bishop of Aleppo, Armando Bortolaso; Imam of the Islamich community of Veneto, Dr Kamel Layachi and Rita Moussallem from the Focolare’s Centre for Interreligious Dialogue. The event will conclude with a flashmob in Piazza dei Signori. March 6, 2016, Olomouc, Czech Republic At the Catholic Chancery, a Cultural programme on the figure of Chiara Lubich as a sower of peace, followed by the celebration of the Mass by Archbishop Jan Graubner in cathedral. March 8, 2016, Ischia, Italy At the island’s Multi-Purpose Auditorium, 19:30, an evening programme on Work & Neigborhood. Civil engineer, Patience Mollè Lobè and business owner, Antonio Diana will be among the presenters. The moderator will be Carlo Cefaloni, Città Nuova journalist and expert on workplace dynamics. March 11, 2016, Caserta, Italy Music, testimonies and theater, at the Reggia di Caserta, 19:30, a reflection on the life and thought of Chiara Lubich titled: “The great attraction of the modern time”. Through the collaboration of the Diocese and the Directors of the Reggia. March 11, 2016, Rosario, Argentina A meeting at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) will reflect on the influence of the charism of unity on education. Presenters include: Dr Nieves Tapia, Coordinator of the Latin American Centre for Service Learning (CLAYSS). March 11-12, 2016, Fontem, Cameroon Workshop with music, drawing, poetry and theatre on “Chiara and Peace” for the students of 20 schools that belong to the Peace Education Project. Awards for the best pieces and for significant gestures of peace by the students themselves. The event will also be attended by civil authorities, traditional and religious authorities. March 12, 2016, Garden Grove, USA At Christ Cathedral, Garden Grove, holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Kevin William Vann, from the Diocese of Orange. In the afternoon, at the Academy Gym, a meeting on multiculturalism with representatives from various religions and ethnicities. March 12, 2016, Caracas, Venezuela Presentation of Chiara Lubich as a builder of dialogue and peace, who was awarded the 1996 UNESCO Peace Prize. The event will take place at the Institute For Religious Education (ITER) with people from different Churches. March 12, 2016, Brasilia, Brazil At the Paulist University (UNIP), at 15:30, 1996 UNESCO Peace Prize to Chiara Lubich. Followed by three moments of reflection: building peace in our personal relationships; in the dialogue amongst churches and religions and, in collaboration with the Institute of Immigration and Human Rights (IMDH), with mirgrants and refugees. Entrance fee: 1 kg of food for Haitian immigrants. March 12, 2016, Todi, Italy Tenth anniversary of the conferment of honorary citizenship on Chiara Lubich, at 15:30, in the Council Hall: “A Humanised Economy”, which will reflect on the Economy of Communion Project that was conceived by Chiara Lubich. Besides the Mayor of the city, interventions will be made by the President of the Region of Umbria, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, Dr Giuseppe Argiolas and two business owners: Andrea Cruciani and Antonio Baldaccini. March 12, 2016, Castel Gandolfo, Italy At the Mariapolis Centre (Via de La Salle), 17:30, a programme of reflection on “The Culture Of Dialogue As A Means Of Peace.” The invitation is extended to ecclesiastical and civil leaders, and to the general public. Besides numerous testimonies, the keynote address will be given by Focolare president, Maria Voce. March 12, 2016, Manfredonia, Italy The 7th Edition of the Manfrodian Chiara Lubich Brotherhood Prize. In attendance: Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem and Pasquale Ferrara, diplomat and Secretary General of the European University Institute of Florence. InfoMarch 12, 2016, Milan, Italy “Me Through You” Event, highlighting how the search for peace brings us closer to others and to our true self. The event will take place in three half-hour sections, each in a different location and at different times so that everyone can attend all the sections: at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose; Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Institute; Gonzaga Institute. InfoMarch 12, 2016, Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzergovina An Open Day at the School of Theology dedicated to Chiara Lubich: “The Message of Dialogue and Peace.” Participants include people of Christian confessions, other faiths and people with no religious affiliation. Archbishop of Sarajevo, Cardinal Vinko Pujic, will celebrate Mass in cathedral. March 12, 2016, Genoa, Italy In the Minor Council Hall of the Piazza Ducale, a discussion on the Encyclical Letter Laudato si’ during a programme titled: “Religions Dialogue For Peace And the Environment.” Presenters will include: President of the Islamic Community of Genoa, Huseim salah; Chief Rabbi of Genoa, Giuseppe Momigliano; Buddhist monk, Gnanathilaka Mahauswewe; environmental engineer, Andrea Ponta; from the Focolare’s Centre for Interreligious Dialogue, Roberto Catalano March 12, 2016, Milan, Italy “Me Through You” Event, highlighting how the search for peace brings us closer to others and to our true self. The event will take place in three half-hour sections, each in a different location and at different times so that everyone can attend all the sections: at the Basilica of Saint Ambrose; Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Institute; Gonzaga Institute. InfoMarch 12, 1016, Solingen, Germany At Zentrum Frieden Mariapolis Centre, “Living together in diversity”. The German Movement for Unity in Politics invites everyone to a roundtable with politicians and city administrators. It will be followed by a discussion on the integration of refugees. March 13, 2016, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo The city Mayor will the event at the Jesuit School where, in the presence of civil and religious authorities, a reflection on Peace and the Light of the Charism of Unity will be held. An event under the same title will be held the same day in Goma, Lubumbashi and in 16 cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo March 13, 2016, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo In the Great Hall of the Catholic University, in the presence of religious leaders from different Churches and religions, the academic and diplomatic world, a discussion on Chiara as Woman of Peace. An intervention will be given by the UNESCO representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. March 13, 2016, San Salvador, El Salvador Roundtable on “Peace that is born from dialogue” at the Università F. Gavidia, in the auditorium of Edificio E, 9:00 – 12:00 March 13, 2016, Lisbon, Portugal At the Franciscan Cultural Centre, a roundtable on ‘Chiara and Peace’ with members of the National Peace and Justice Commission, Dr Pedro Vaz Patto, President, Dr Graça Franco and António Marujo, journalists. March 13, 2016, Melbourne, Australia At the Mariapolis Centre, a celebration titled “Build peace in your own environment” , including testimonies on welcoming refugees. Presentation of Mark Ruse’s documentary film: “Politics for unity: making a world of difference”. Those in attendance include: Vicar General of the Diocese, Msgr Greg Bennet and leaders of ecclesial movements operating in Australia.March 13, 2016, Bujumbura, Burundi At Scheppen High School ofNyakabiga : “Merciful Like The Heavenly Father, Building Peace.” Presenters include: the Archbishop of Bujumbura, Evariste Ngoyagoye. March 13, 2016, Vung Tau, Vietnam Annual Mariapolis in Vietnam, in the presence of the Bishop, Joseph Tran Văn Toan, who will celebrate the Mass. The programme will also include the presentation of a documentary film on Chiara Lubich: Story, Charism, Culture. March 14, 2016, Houston, USA “Unity In Diversity” Interreligious Conference at 19:00 in the St. Thomas University, preceeded by the celebration of Catholic Mass in St. Basil Chapel by the Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Joseph Anthony Fiorenza. Presenters include: Cardinal Fiorenza; Imam Qasim Ahmed from the Islamic Institute; Rabbi Steve Morgen from the Beth Yeshurun Congregation; Therese Lee from the Focolare Movement. InfoMarch 14, 2016, Manila, Philippines During the 50th anniversary celebration of the arrival of the Focolare in Asia, at De La Salle University, a symposium title: “The Charism Of Unity, A Timeless Legacy.” Numerous religious and civil leaders will present the reflections on Chiara Lubich’s contribution to the unity among Churches, religions, in society, an on Gospel reciprocity as a lifestyle that creates brotherhood. March 14, 2016, Rome, Italy At the Shrine of Our Lady of the Divine Love, at 18:30, Mass celebrated by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life. InfoMarch 14, 2016, Trent, Italy At the Demarchi Foundation, presenation of the book by I. Pedrini: “L’altro Novecento: nella testimonianza di Duccia Calderari.” Duccia’s biography, one of the first witness who followed Lubich in the birth of the Focolare, gives the opportunity to: Monica Ronchini, researcher; Giuseppe Ferrandi, Director of the History Museum of Trent; and Lucia Fronza Crepaz, ex-parliamentarian – to reflect on Chiara as a builder of peace. March 14, 2016, Havana, Cuba At Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Cultural Centre, a presentation of the figure of Chiara and peace, in the presence of Apostolic Nunzio, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua. Follwed by a concert by the Ars Longa Ancient Music Group. March 14, 2016, Verona, Italy At the Palazzo Gran Guardia: presentation of the “Chiara Lubich For A Culture Of Peace Brotherhood Prize, in the presence of Muslim theologian, Sharharzad Houshmand; Professor at the University of Padua, Giuseppe Milan; journalist Aurora Niosia March 16, 2016, Rome, Italy At the Chamber of Deputies, presentation of a manifesto with concrete proposals for peace, disarmament and industrial conversion.To receive it in Parliament, Youth for a United World who, with the Movement for Unity in Politics and participating schools, promoted the project, along with several deputies, the President of the Chamber, Boldrini and Exterior Minister, Gentiloni. March 16, 2016, Seville, Spain At the Metropolitan Seminary, Dr Manual Palma, vice director of the Theological Union of Seville, will speak on Jesus, Prince of Peace in the Spirituality of Chiara Lubich. Followed by a discussion on peace in Islam to be held by Imam Allah Bashar from the King Abdul Aziz Al Saud Mosque of Marbella, Malaga). He will also talk about his relationship with Chiara Lubich. March 18-20, 2016, Milan, Italy At the Fieramilanocity, during the international fair, an exposition on the Economy of Communion, presenting Lubich’s message of peace that continues to reach today’s world. InfoMarch 19, 2016, Perth, Australia At Northbridge Square, screening of a video clip on “Peace” produced by young people, and a signature campaign appealing for peace #Signup4peace.
“I’ve been running the family business for more than 40 years,” says Livio from the Italian Province of Cuneo (Italy). “Along with me there is my wife, our 4 children and my sister. Along with our 28 employees we deal in galvanic treatment of dumbells, tanks, motorcycles, mufflers, automobile parts, fitness equipment, and so on. The chrome coating is good for appearance, but most of all for preventing rust. For several years now our business has been applying the values of the Economy of Communion, a project which joins the need to generate profit with the aspiration to help the needy and put people at the centre of things. This goes for employees, between shareholders, with clients, providers and competitors. Following a long period of almost constant growth, we were unexpectedly hit by the serious crisis that still affects many companies like ours. Of course, we’re not going to give up, and we continue to do all we can to find new clientele – and we never stop believing in this new way of understanding the economy. In 2014 we welcomed three members of an important German automotive group who were potential customers. After the technical presentation of the company by our children and other collaborators, seeing that the visitors were so impressed and so curious we spoke to them about the Economy of Communion and its growth throughout the world. We also told them about the AIEC in Europe and AIPEC in Italy (of which I’m the president): two business owners associations whose members run their businesses inspired by the “culture of giving”. Eventually, while proposing an interesting job offer they remarked: ‘We’re surprised that despite the fact that your production company has such limited forces, you were able to create a galvanic process which is actually quite complex’. The processing systems and many years of hard work certainly had something to do with it, but also the stories of some of our experiences during the lull periods when we didn’t have much business and hired several migrants and two young people who were in the midst of serious problems, and of everyone’s commitment to live in a relationship of brotherhood also outside working hours. We think that another factor was our way of giving priority to relationships in a healthy detachment from wanting to do business at any cost.”“I’m director of a mechanical manufacturing company,” says Enrica from Turin, Italy. “We also have 28 employees. My father, whom I soon began to work for, conveyed to me the values of sharing, the spirit of sacrifce and the commitment to always improve. In the year 2000 orders were reduced to a minimum, but no one was fired and, at Christmas, because of the lack of liquidity it was decided that we would pay the Christmas Bonuses from our own pockets. In 2003 we got a foreign job offer. My father and I jumped on it, involving and empowering all the employees. We worked very much to gain the trust of banks, suppliers, clientele and establishing compactness. Three months later, we were overwhelmed by the crisis and by my father’s sudden illness. Thanks be to God, I was able to count on the support of many people and, after a year and a half of temporary layoffs, all the employees returned to the business. But I was tired and opressed by it all. At that point I came to know about AIPEC, which was established in 2012, and about these business owners who I felt close to because of their working style and their ‘culture of giving’. That’s how I began to attend their meetings, comparing myself to them and to various social categories. I felt welcomed, encouraged, instructed – to the point that I recently accepted a position in directing AIPEC. Together with the others who were elected, I continue to discover the beauty and the responsibility involved in run a business in which you do your best to maintain a stable economy and at the same time share in relationships, take a listening position and offer concrete support. Because a gift given bears fruit, and it is fruit that lasts.”
“What we wish to do today is not so much remember as to review together, after 20 years, the content and method which Chiara outlined at UNESCO on the 17th December 1996 on a subject which is more than ever relevant to international relations, education for peace. On that occasion UNESCO conferred on the founder of the Focolare Movement a special prize awarded to those whose work contributes to creating pathways and conditions whereby peace may become something real.” Maria Voce, the President of the Focolare, recalled that event in her talk given on 12th March at Castel Gandolfo, during the afternoon dedicated to Chiara Lubich and peace, in the presence of ambassadors and leading figures in the worlds of culture and Christian unity. “Looking at that occasion again today, it seems more than ever relevant: what could be more important than education to reach this kind of goal? Current affairs, what we see before us day after day, portray images of a peace that has been violated and often scorned. It seems almost as though, from the daily life of individuals right up to international level, “living in peace” is not part of what the generations living in the Third Millennium do. Yet how often do we appeal for peace or try to reconnect the broken strands of relationships among individuals, peoples and states? We cannot deny that we find it easier to put up barriers, perhaps thinking we are defending ourselves, instead of working to build unity in relations, among ideas, in politics, in economics and between religious viewpoints. Hence peace escapes us and is ever more distant. At UNESCO Headquarters, Chiara Lubich put forward a methodfor education to peace, the spirituality of unity, which is a new lifestyle that can overcome divisions among individuals, communities and peoples and so can help restore or consolidate peace. This spirituality is lived by people from very different backgrounds and experiences: Christians of different Churches, believers of different religions and people of different cultures. All of them are motivated by wanting to enable humankind become one single family; all know they must face problems and situations that arise daily at every level and in every field; all are directed towards being – at least wherever they are – and I quote Chiara “seeds of a new people, of a world at peace, with greater solidarity especially towards the least and the poorest; to be seeds of a more united world” (Chiara Lubich’s talk at UNESCO, 17.12.1996) in which it will be possible not only to call one another brothers and sisters but truly be so. If this is the method, what is the secret of its success? It is a secret which Chiara herself defined as the art of loving, which is “It means being the first to love, without expecting the other person to love us in return. It means knowing how to ‘make ourselves one’ with others, that is, to identify with their burdens, their thoughts, their sufferings, their joys. But, if this love of neighbour is lived out by more than one person, it becomes mutual. (Ibid.). Reciprocity: it is a word which carries much weight in international relations but is often limited to ensuring a truce in conflicts, not in preventing them or resolving them. Those who have responsibility and key roles in the international community know very well how difficult negotiations can be and how many obstacles are encountered before reaching agreements that satisfy all parties. To consider love as a negotiating tool in regard to the great objective of peace would allow us to feel part of one family, to live an authentic dimension of fraternity without restricting it merely to coexistence or forced shared living, but enabling fraternity to be open to the needs of the weakest and the poorest, of those who are excluded from political engagement or from a type of economics whose only law is profit. We need to love, then,and work for others and with others; so as to help overcome the barriers posed by conflicting interests, by a show of power, by inequality in levels of development, or lack of access to the market or technology. When speaking about peace education we find ourselves facing the great challenge of applying a method, that of unity as the fruit of mutual love, in the fragmented context currently enveloping almost all spheres of our daily life. Chiara Lubich was aware of this and for this reason offered the Representatives of Member States at UNESCO almost the key for a step change, a good practice, in the language used in international relations. In fact she said: «Nothing good, useful, or fruitful can be accomplished in the world without accepting troubles, suffering, in a word, without the cross.” (Ibid.).Commitment to peace is difficult to achieve if we are not ready to set aside our certainties and our comfort, so as to set out on new and unexplored paths; becoming creative without improvising; hearing to the voices of those who call for peace and identifying places where it can actually be achieved. … Twenty years ago, speaking at UNESCO, Chiara pointed out that love was “the most powerful instrument that can give humanity its highest dignity: that of feeling not so much that we are a collection of peoples, alongside one another and often in conflict with one another, but instead that we are one single people.” Today too even though we face many recurring difficulties, this is the ideal we wish to achieve through everyone’s contribution.”
“In such a fractured and divided Venezuela we want to live the Gospel radically, wherever we work, or study, to build bridges of unity and peace. In the town council for example, there are 3 people who live the spirituality of unity, one belonging to the Government’s party and 2 in the opposing parties, and yet they respect and help one another.” One of them Ophelia, of the Focolare community speaks about a marginal district of the city of Valencia called Colinas de Guacamaya “A friend of mine asked me to accompany her to the doctor’s – she said and so the long waiting line started for the medicine: an old man in search of his treatment for diabetes, another asking for headache pills, a boy at the drug store asking for a painkiller. Just one pill, but he didn’t have enough money to pay for it.” But Ofelia had a bag of medicine in her car which she always brings along with her, with medicines that arrived from “Divine Providence”, as she herself recounts, and could offer them for free to all those who were there. The looks on their faces were of incredulity and gratitude. Betty and Orlando have 4 kids and they transferred to the “Little Cloud” Mariapolis Centre,in the district of Junquito, close to Caracas. “To serve those in need– Betty recounts –, we had lost touch with some members of the community so we organized the social pastoral. We wanted to respond to the need of food, clothing and homes for some families of the parish. So with the help of the town council, we managed to build a house fit to host a poor elderly man.” “The current social crisis, with the high in security indices the country is beset with, opened our hearts even more to the needs of the families in our community who live in fear of even losing their lives. We found out about a boy’s father who was in serious conditions due to a gunshot wound. in his head. We rushed to the hospital where he was admitted at the intensive care and died a few days later. We are now continuing to give our concrete love, with care and attention to protect the mother and son, whom we took in with us.” “Upon the request of the parish priest – María Carolina of the Junquito community recounts – we went to a rural zone that can be reached only by jeep. The Florida community were waiting for us, and in need of so many material things, and up to a few months earlier did not even have electricity. A community of sacrificed people, dedicated to farming and who walk kilometres to go to Mass once a month. An experience that involved all of us and which started up a communion of goods: from all over clothes, medicine, toys, shoes, food arrived… with trucks filled to the brim with goods but above all, hope, and love for this community. Even if difficulties are not missing, upon our arrival the people came out of their homes, running to meet us with applause, immediately imbuing a family atmosphere!.” The community of Puerto Ayacucho, in the State of Amazzona, is a border zone, inhabited by aborigine communities. They were beset with serious problems: the presence of guerillas, the exploitation of gold, a high rate of single mothers. It had just undergone a painful experience with the death of a boy, Felipe, a member of the Focolare, who had been killed two months earlier by gunshots. This is a frequent event in Venezuela, especially in this region. He had died to save the life of his brother who was wanted by the guerilla. Juan,his best friend, told us that «Felipe had set an appointment to enrol in the catechism class, but he died the day before… Together we had planned a lot for the future.» Felipe’s death had left a mark in this community: a new commitment to live to build peace, give new horizons and hope especially to the youth.
The flow of refugees has not stopped for months. They are living in a state of emergency on the islands of Lesbo, Kos, in Athens and in Idomeni. There are many secular and religious associations – Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant – and the NGOs that have never ceased to be there with help and assistance for these suffering people. The local community of the Focolare Movement, although small, both in Athens and in Salonica (Greece) has opened its arms and heart collaborating with several associations, including Caritas, The Pope John XXIII Community and others. “Particularly in Athens,” they write, “we went to several refugee camps that are opened and closed according to the influx of arrivals. We have involved friends and colleagues in a food and clothing collection campaign to distribute to the different welcoming centres. From Salonica every week a group from the Focolare community in collaboration with Caritas, travels to the outskirts of Macedonia with relief and emergency aid.” “I went with some of my friends and colleagues from work to one camp where between 500 and 1000 people arrive each day,’ writes Mariangela from the focolare in Athens. “We help with the distribution of the meals, the sorting and mending clothing and play with the many, many children. We’d want to be able to say something to them, to share their burdens, but the language prevents us. The only way for us to communicate is with a smile, a caress and concrete deeds. In the end you feel like you’re able break through. It all seems so little in this sea of desperation, but we try to give at least one drop of love.” Maristella Tsamatropoulou, works on the National Greek Caritas Team: “The current refugee crisis doesn’t but expand the landscape of assistance that Caritas already began, to alleviate the Greek socio-economic crisis.” She explains, “It’s a matter of humanitarian aid that sees to the distribution of meals, of basic needs, both on the islands where the mass gatherings require it. . . but then the hospitality in hotels where there are the very important child care workers with their programmes for children, psychologists and the possibility to bathe. The different programmes that are structured and supported through foreign financing would never be able to carry out their work without the chain of solidarity that involves the efforts of so many volunteers on the front lines and on the back lines (the ones who make the appeals and collect the items).” At a pastry shop bar in Syros, the owners have involved their customers in gestures of solidarity such as collecting medicines, clothing and food, along with “A coffee waiting. . .” deal that allows you to leave a coffee for someone who is unable to pay. At Christmas, 235 people arrived! Some bread shops have begun “a loaf of bread waiting” in their businesses. “We’re so struck by the generosity and solidarity of the people,” they write from the Focolare community. “In spite of the serious financial crisis, the Greek people are pulling out all of their fraternal power, towards the poorest, finding unexpected energy and crativity to lift up so many people. It’s a true lesson in being human!”
Thousands of refugees with hopes of crossing the Greek border live under tents in mud. The “mirage” is to reach Europe. Dolores Poletto is Croation. She works twice a week with Caritas Macedonia and lives in the focolare community in Skopje. She reports what she saw along the border. “I was at the refugee camp in Gevgelija, Macedonia with some colleagues from Caritas. It was an informal visit. On the other side of the border was a sea of people. We also crossed the border between Greece and Macedonia.” Closed Borders. The humanitarian crisis that refugees are enduring in Greece, Macedonia and Serbia is the result of the closing of border crossings along the Balkans migration route. On March 9, Slovenian authorities closed the border. Croatia has also announced that it will close its border and Serbia immediately announced the same. According to the most recent data – but the numbers are estimates – there are now some 14 thousand refugees at the Macedonian border. In Greece there are more than 34 thousand. Idomeni is like a funnel. The same thing is happening here that we have seen happening for months in Calais at the French border on the English Channel. The migrants arrive after having crossed through Greece and the Aegean on overloaded boats. “A multitude of people,” Dolores says. “They arrive in very poor condition . . . We’re on the border where before they crossed into Macedonia. People want to be as close as possible, so curtains have been put up behind the railway station.” Along with the mud, there is also the cold. “The daytime temperature is comfortable, rising as high as 18 degrees (C), but in the evening it drops to 2-3 degrees.” Living conditions in the camp deteriorate daily. Along with the cold, food is scarce and hygienic conditions are appalling. Many stand in line waiting for food,” Dolores says. “It’s hard to describe what their psychological state is like under such conditions. Many say that they’re from Syria. All of them would like to go to Germany, Austria . . . They have only one question for us: “When will the border open?” They’re prepared to do anything, so long as they reach their goal . . . ready even to die. “You know, I just heard news of 3 refugees who starved to death trying to cross illegally between Macedonia and Greece. This is so sad.” Caritas has been on the scene since the beginning, along with many other NGOs. “They’re waiting, hoping to cross the border,” Dolores explains. “That’s why they don’t want to move to more suitable camps. It’s difficult to help them.” The border police are here ensuring that no one crosses the border, in accordance with agreements made with Europe. When faced with this “impasse . . . you feel completely helpless.” Dolores has been deeply affected by this experience on the border. “We can stay with them on the Cross; I’m not able to forget those images. There are quite a few journalists there. I spoke with several of them and returned home to watch the news reports on TV. I said that if I had watched them without having visited that place, they would only have only been another series of daily news reports, but now after having touched it with my own hands, it feels more like a live wound on humanity’s body.” Source: SIR
“I started to give a hand, Annette, a GermanFocolarina recounts, “in December 2014. The cold had already set in and there was urgent need for blankets. In trying to find out more, a member of the RomAmoR ONLUS proposed: “More than blankets we need you to come and give us a hand.” The week after I was already at the Ostia station. It was a really moving experience. On approaching those people I discovered that oddly enough, they were the ones to welcome me! I realised that this is not an uncomfortable category of people to avoid, but persons who wish to relate with others, and are capable of imbuing human warmth. After a while also the volunteers came with a hot dinner and the anonymous, cold and bleak station, warmed up. ” Annette has changed since then. The first nights she couldn’t sleep thinking of Giovanni, Stefan, Mohamed who did not have a warm bed like hers. She started to review her wardrobe, to see if there was still something else she could share, despite the fact that in the Focolare community already tries to live only with the essentials. But above all, she continued going to the station every Monday. One evening, looking at the notebook that listed the requests of the homeless, she saw that a man needed a pair of shoes. Since there were none in the house she remembered Chiara Lubich’s experience during the war, when she asked Jesus present in the poor, for a pair of shoes. “So I did the same thing and in two weeks ten pairs of shoes arrived!”
When autumn set in, there again was need for blankets. In November, two friends from Rome celebrated their birthdays so they thought of asking blankets as gifts. Many did arrive, but they were not enough. Since she could not give away what they had at home, Annette again asked Jesus, so that He in the poor could get some warmth. «In a matter of a few days, she said – a theological Centre that was moving house sent 4 huge sacks containing 30 blankets and ten camp mattresses. Not to mention the blankets gathered by other volunteers.” This sharing spirit spread like oil puddle. A colleague’s neighbour who had lost faith in any type of social activity, donated warm clothing and also got a friend involved. “But even more than these interventions of Providence–Annette confided – is the experience we make. These are people who have no food, no roof over their heads, but who slowly acquire dignity, since they are clean and better dressed and because together we are living a fraternal relationship. I always try to help the others sincerely, disposing of myself as a small instrument of God’s love. And they give me the chance to testify to the Gospel “on the road,” sharing with people from all over the world the most varied ideas and opinions. In this reciprocity, things change, the face of the city is transformed and one can perceive this love concretely… even if only through a hot dinner. At Christmas we received a special gift: two friends of the station came to celebrate with us in the Focolare, to everyone’s great joy. “
An event entitled, “Earth Village. Living the City Together. Rome in Mariapolis,” will take place in the heart of Italy’s capital in the parks and gardens of Villa Borghese. The event is sponsored by Earth Day Italia and the Focolare Movement of Rome. The celebration of the 46th edition of the international Earth Day will inaugurate the event, which this year assumes greater relevance as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has chosen April 22nd as the date on which the historic Paris Agreement on climate, COP21, officially opens for signing, with the participation of nations worldwide. In light of the Encyclical Laudato Si’, in which Pope Francis invites everyone to care for our common home, and in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy, “Earth Village – Rome in Mariapolis” aims to rediscover Rome’s unique vocation of universal brotherhood. The idea is to create a temporary village within the city, with the involvement of numerous initiatives which daily work to make the capital a better place in which to live, where each citizen or tourist, no matter their age, social class or culture, can experience their own irreplaceable contribution to the life of the city. The goal of the event is to create bridges of dialogue among diversities—center and periphery, young people and adults, Romans and citizens “in transit”— to demonstrate the innumerable social initiatives in favour of the human person present in Rome, because finding common ground amidst diversity is possible, and solidarity is a universal value. Living the City Together will unfold throughout four days of activities—workshops, laboratories, seminars, exchanges of good practice, artistic performances, debates, games, reflections or simply sharing of time and experiences—all geared towards increasing mutual respect, knowledge, and acceptance. For more information about the event:www.villaggioperlaterra.it
“While realizing that the foundation of the Gospel is charity… we did not immediately understand how to live it, nor with whom, nor to what degree we were to put it into practice. At the beginning, due mainly to the distressing circumstances of the war, we directed our love toward the poor. We were convinced that in those gaunt and, at times, repulsive faces, we could make out the face of the Lord. It was a real training. We were not accustomed to loving supernaturally. At most, we cared about our relatives or our friends in a spirit of warm respect or in a purely natural and healthy friendship. Now, under the impulse of grace, trusting in God and in his Providence which cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, we addressed our attention to all the poor of the city. We invited them to our houses, to eat at our table… (…) When we could not receive them in our home, we arranged to meet them somewhere, and we gave them whatever we had managed to put together. We visited them in their dismal shacks and we comforted them and offered them medicines. The poor were truly the object of our love because for them and through them we could love Jesus. They became the concern also of those who had been attracted by our common ideal. As the community grew around the initial nucleus of the focolarine, the possibilities of helping, of assisting whoever suffered grew. And it was quite a sight to see tons of food, clothing and medicine arrive; it was an unusual abundance which, considering that we were in the last years of the war, clearly made the special intervention of divine Providence obvious to anyone. (…) These are small events which happen to whoever, being a follower of Jesus, experiences ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ (Mt 7:7). Nevertheless, they never ceased to amaze us. At the same time, we were encouraged by other extraordinary events experienced by our great brothers and sisters who had preceded us and who also knew—at a time when they were not yet saints—the difficulties encountered in the ascent to God, in the process of thawing the hardened human personality by the fire of Divine Love. Hadn’t Saint Catherine, in her love for the poor, given to one her mantle and to another the cross on her rosary? And hadn’t Jesus appeared to her in a vision the following nights to thank her for the gifts she had given to him in the poor? And didn’t St. Francis give away his cloak to the poor some thirty times? Surely, then, it was no great sacrifice for us to take off our gloves in the winter and offer them to somebody who needed to beg for hours out in the cold just to survive (…) Yet, in spite of everyone’s great generosity (…) it became clear that perhaps this was not the immediate goal for which the Lord had urged us to love in a concrete way. It was only later that we seemed to understand the Lord had urged us in this direction also for an intention of his own: it is in love and through the practice of love that one can better comprehend the things of heaven, and that God can more easily enlighten our souls. It was probably because of this concrete love that later on we understood that we didn’t have to turn only towards the poor but towards everyone indiscriminately. No doubt there were people who needed to be fed, to be given drink, to be clothed, but also those who needed to be educated, advised, put up with, or who were in need of our prayers…. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy opened up before us. Furthermore, they were the precise questions that the Judge of our lives would ask in order to decide our eternity. This thought immersed us in adoration considering the infinite love of Jesus who had revealed them to us when he came on earth so as to make it easier for us to get into heaven. (…) God was not asking us only to love the poor, but each and every neighbour, whoever they were, as we love ourselves. So if we came across someone who was weeping, we tried to weep with him and their cross was lightened. If someone rejoiced we rejoiced with them, and the joy was all the greater. ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’ (Rom 12:15).” 
“I’ve never been so close to the site of a terrorist attack. Nowadays we are somewhat accustomed to seeing such catastrophes everyday on the news but passing in front of the metro station only a few minutes before and thinking that it was so close by and not knowing exactly what to do is quite another thing. I’m a firm believer that a united world is possible. Through my commitment in New Humanity, but mostly through the small daily actions, I try to live and act in a spirit of fraternity that is also expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But, as the news came and the howling of sirens intensified outside my window, I was blown away. Okay, it was all so close by, but still what could I do? Stay put and respond to all the messages from friends and relatives who were asking for news? Should I take to the streets and go to help who knows who and how? Should I keep working as if nothing had occurred? It was surreal, and I found myself disoriented and helpless. It also made me question the meaning of it all. What could have moved them to push some young people like me to hate to the point of being ready to sacrifice their lives in order to kill so many defenseless passengers, chosen at random and pressed into a packed metro car? I wondered what crime I would had committed that I should have to die with them. I could not find any satisfactory answers in any of the theories I had learned at university in political science class. What did give me some light was the memory of the previous evening spent with several youth who are engaged in living the same commitment as me, and during that evening we had promised another time to be instruments of brotherhood and dialogue for the people around us. Trying to put aside my confusion, I realized that, in those moments, it was (almost) as if I was experiencing the war in my own skin, all the more reason to be a peacemaker beginning with the people who were with me at the moment. Colleagues, friends and acquaintances… in spite of the terror and shock, I slowly began to realize that I was not the only one to think so. Everybody – each in their own way we’re dealing with their emotions – none of them found words of hate for what had happened, but everyone was convinced that dialogue was the only way possible to respond to such insane acts. The words spoken by 
“What we wish to do today is not so much remember as to review together, after 20 years, the content and method which Chiara outlined at UNESCO on the 17th December 1996 on a subject which is more than ever relevant to international relations, education for peace. On that occasion UNESCO conferred on the founder of the Focolare Movement a special prize awarded to those whose work contributes to creating pathways and conditions whereby peace may become something real.” Maria Voce, the President of the Focolare, recalled that event in her talk given on 12th March at Castel Gandolfo, during 
This spirituality is lived by people from very different backgrounds and experiences: Christians of different Churches, believers of different religions and people of different cultures. All of them are motivated by wanting to enable humankind become one single family; all know they must face problems and situations that arise daily at every level and in every field; all are directed towards being – at least wherever they are – and I quote Chiara “seeds of a new people, of a world at peace, with greater solidarity especially towards the least and the poorest; to be seeds of a more united world” (Chiara Lubich’s talk at UNESCO, 17.12.1996) in which it will be possible not only to call one another brothers and sisters but truly be so. If this is the method, what is the secret of its success? It is a secret which Chiara herself defined as the art of loving, which is “It means being the first to love, without expecting the other person to love us in return. It means knowing how to ‘make ourselves one’ with others, that is, to identify with their burdens, their thoughts, their sufferings, their joys. But, if this love of neighbour is lived out by more than one person, it becomes mutual. (Ibid.). Reciprocity: it is a word which carries much weight in international relations but is often limited to ensuring a truce in conflicts, not in preventing them or resolving them. Those who have responsibility and key roles in the international community know very well how difficult negotiations can be and how many obstacles are encountered before reaching agreements that satisfy all parties. To consider love as a negotiating tool in regard to the great objective of peace would allow us to feel part of one family, to live an authentic dimension of fraternity without restricting it merely to coexistence or forced shared living, but enabling fraternity to be open to the needs of the weakest and the poorest, of those who are excluded from political engagement or from a type of economics whose only law is profit. We need to love, then, and work for others and with others; so as to help overcome the barriers posed by conflicting interests, by a show of power, by inequality in levels of development, or lack of access to the market or technology. When speaking about peace education we find ourselves facing the great challenge of applying a method, that of unity as the fruit of mutual love, in the fragmented context currently enveloping almost all spheres of our daily life. Chiara Lubich was aware of this and for this reason offered the Representatives of Member States at UNESCO almost the key for a step change, a good practice, in the language used in international relations. In fact she said: «Nothing good, useful, or fruitful can be accomplished in the world without accepting troubles, suffering, in a word, without the cross.” (Ibid.). Commitment to peace is difficult to achieve if we are not ready to set aside our certainties and our comfort, so as to set out on new and unexplored paths; becoming creative without improvising; hearing to the voices of those who call for peace and identifying places where it can actually be achieved. … Twenty years ago, speaking at UNESCO, Chiara pointed out that love was “the most powerful instrument that can give humanity its highest dignity: that of feeling not so much that we are a collection of peoples, alongside one another and often in conflict with one another, but instead that we are one single people.” Today too even though we face many recurring difficulties, this is the ideal we wish to achieve through everyone’s contribution.”
