Igino Giordani was a forerunner of ecumenism. His sensitivity to ecumenical issues began when in 1927, he embarked on a ship for the USA to study Library Science on behalf of the Vatican. It was there that he discovered that he still was unfamiliar with the various Christian denominations and was deeply struck by their religiosity. In many previous writings, Giordani affirmed that ecumenical dialogue draws inspiration from the model of Trinitarian relationships, because all are set on the same level of love. Communion calls all to dialogue, and in the same measure, all are called to give of themselves to create unity. “In the past, discussions were undertaken to eliminate divisions; today the preferred method is respectful confrontation of ideas, and the effort to reach a convergence and reconciliation. The concept today is that unity is not static but dynamic, and grows in quantity and quality. Dialogue thus marks an innovative “historic turning point,” overcoming controversies, disagreements, excommunication, and likewise sets the grounds for comprehension, approach to the truth and virtues of the others. Dialogue, through which advocates of one or more churches get together, is neither propagandistic nor academic. Possessing the truth does not hinder the inexorable penetration of the mysteries or the real progress of the dogmas which are to be studied in depth, and reinterpreted. “Ecumenical dialogue does not arise from the doctrinal differences between the two (or more) churches, but from unity which already exists among them, from a common heritage. The psychological atmosphere is kindness, or rather, charity. In the words of Maritain: “Perfect charity towards one’s neighbour and perfect fidelity to the truth are not only compatible but refer to one another.” For the prophetic mission of the People of God, the Christian has to convey the truths he possesses and allow the other to convey the truths he holds. For such a prophetic mission, the Christian must not limit dialogue to the theological aspect (making it a task for experts). Unity is not only a technical and theological issue, it is a question of charity. «The interlocutors have to treat each other as peers, and with reciprocal esteem, no insinuations or sly tricks, and no offensive words. This equality does not signify confusion or adjustment of doctrines. It implies for both, awareness of belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ. They have to accept pluralism, recognising every legitimate diversity. What unites the faithful is stronger than what divides them (Gaudium et Spes, 92). Otherwise, dialogue is reduced to an alternated monologue. All Christians are called to practice dialogue which can be enhanced by every encounter (work, tourism, studies, etc.). No fences can be allowed between one confession and the other: but all doors should be opened to reach an encounter and dialogue. The job is long and tedious, but God wants this from us.”
“We wanted to give a testimonial of an experience which has transformed us, and that took place on 11-13 December 2015. On this occasion some members of the Jewish Bet-El Community and the inhabitants of the Focolare town, prayed for one another,” wrote the Argentinean Rabbi, Silvina Chemen and Carlos Becaría and Nanni Espinosa of Mariapolis Lia. A special Shabbath. “We started by gathering bread for the rit,” Silvina recounted, “then we participated and shared this moment in which the Hanuka candles were lit, and we recalled the historical pact celebrated byChiaraLubichand the Jews of Buenos Aires in 1998. Under the trees, we sang together and waited for the sunset to receive the stars that announced the arrival of the Shabbath. And then hand in hand, we entered the hall which was transformed into a synagogue for the occasion. Together we prayed the Shabbath vespers, and shared the Saturday morning prayer and the reading of the Torah scroll. It was a sacred moment.” Sharing and dialogue. “In the afternoon, there was an equally important event for the Jews –Carlos narrates – which consisted of a preparation for the mass. We had anticipated their request to participate and thus fixed the schedule. During the prayer of the faithful, one special prayer was for peace and dialogue among us (Bet-El Community and the Focolare) we all were deeply moved. This feeling of unity continued all afternoon in a workshop on dialogue, with the participation of all the Christian youth who attend the town’s school. We shared our queries, doubts, expectations on dialogue and our various traditions, with liberty and depth. We concluded by decorating the Christmas tree on which we also hung our secret wishes.” End of the Shabbath. “Then we all gathered in the open air, Nanni continued – to each light our candles until a circle of light was formed. Then the sound of the Shofar horn, as the Bible explains, accompanied the rite since it was another sacred moment.” We did not only pray, but also shared artistic talents in «an evening filled with joy and harmony, where once again Chiara Lubich’s presence was felt through a painting whichSofia of the Bet-El Community offered as a gift to the town. She had also participated in the meeting last year, and felt personally addressed by the message and the figure of Chiara,» Carlos added. On Sunday there was a tour of the town. “After having reflected on some aspects of the history and the spirituality of the Movement – Nanni said – they visited the various sectors of the town and the day ended in the Vittorio Sabbione Auditorium. A new depth and God’s presence among us were felt in the reading of the First Testament. Those of us who remained in the Mariapolis felt that something had changed in us, and those who returned to Buenos Aires departed with the joy of the discovery of new brothers and sisters. And this was confirmed in the impression of one Jewish participant: ‘It is my third time here in Mariapolis Lia. Every time I left it was with the desire to return. Today instead, I feel part of this experience, and this town is now part of me as I am part of it.’ Next year’s schedule has been set!” Gustavo Clariá
Last 8 January, the presentation of the Italian edition of the book by the Chinese scholar who has worked on this topic for years and is now terminating his Research Doctorate program at the SUI, could not go unobserved due to the location of the presentation – the Vatican Radio Headquarters in Rome. The speeches of the guests aroused great interest and among the guests were: Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Press Office Director of the Holy See, and of the Vatican Radio, Agostino Giovagnoli, the historian, and Gianni Valente, Vatican expert. But what especially was underlined in the numerous articles released subsequently in the media and network was the theme on the development of Christianity in China, and Chiaretto Yan’s vision in the book, “The Gospel Beyond the Great Wall. Challenges and perspectives of Christianity in China” (Emi 2015), which interpreted the progress of the relationships with the Holy See in the light of fidelity and openness to dialogue. This interpretation was also confirmed by Fr. Lombardi in recalling some very significant expressions of Pope Francis, who publicly stressed on several occasions “his desire to go to China,” saying that “we can freely say that dialogue is being pursued with the authorities” to find solutions to issues that are still open, and that “there is a great desire to make progress.” A substantial continuity of perspectives is evident in the actions of the last three Popes, from John Paul II to Francis. Among the cues offered by Bishop Celli was an episode he personally experienced, which conveys more than the many affirmations on the deep attention and participation with which John Paul II had always supported the life of Christians in China. “He was already confined to the wheelchair when he said to me: ‘Do you think I will be able to go to China?” Bishop Celli further affirmed that “Dialogue is not easy – but the pathway is absolutely that of going ahead.” The historian, Agostino Giovagnoli, underlined “the novelty in continuity” consisting in the more liberal approach of Francis in speaking about China. “The Chinese perceive his determination in wanting to change the relationships between China and the Holy See – he observed. This is a source of security that sweeps away the uncertainties of the past.” Also the journalist, Gianni Valente listed a series of recent openings. Chiaretto Yan’s study highlights the transition of various phases, which along with unforeseeable and at times dramatic hitches, reopened old wounds, but also evidenced a progressive slackening of the tensions and the perception of dialogue that is maturing also because of the better means of direct communication after the blackout that had marked the years of persecution. Over the last 20 years, the most felt request has been that of putting an end to the gaps between the various ecclesial communities, in the name of a “sole Church and more communities.” Dating back to 2007 is Benedict XVI’s historical letter to the Chinese Catholics, a top magisterial declaration that requested to end the internal and external conflicts to enhance dialogue. Pope Francis’s full recognition of this document again confirms the intent to pursue this path. “The Challenge the Church is facing – concluded Chiaretto Yan in answering a journalist’s question – remains the same: testifying to unity while remaining distinct. This perspective may also mean giving support to the life of various ecclesial communities within the same solid experience of communion.” Source: www.iu-sophia.org
Maria Voce, the president of the Focolare Movement and Jesús Morán, Co-president, will be in India from January 15 to February 10, 2016. Following the trail left by Chiara Lubich in 2001 and 2003, they will visit the Focolare communities in various parts of the country. They are expected to visit New Delhi, Bangalore, Trichy, Coimbatore and Mumbai. The dimension of interreligious dialogue, started by the founder of the Focolare Movement, will be the highlight of their program during these weeks.
“I love swimming and automobiles; the minute I recover I will get my license. I have a sister whom I love and my elder brother is my model. I listen to almost all types of music, especially techno. I’d love to have a dog… I never used to read but now I find it very interesting, also because it makes time go faster in the hospital .” One evening at the cinema with his sister, he felt pain in a tooth. He would never have imagined that it was the first symptom of something serious. In the following days his left cheek got swollen and he could hardly open his mouth. «It hurt a lot, but instead of going to the dentist, I tried to treat it myself with packs and cream. Nothing helped and it got worse. In the end I went to the dentist who was shocked and immediately sent me to a surgeon who had me hospitalised. I was surprised but did not worry too much, thinking that I could go home in a few days.» The analyses, however, showed that something was wrong in his blood. He was transferred to another ward, and then to another clinic. In the end the diagnosis was severe: leukemia.“I didn’t know anything about this disease,” Nikola recounted, “I could not imagine that I had to undergo chemotherapy and that the treatment would be long. I started the first chemo sessions and I felt as if I was losing my mind. My brain was full of the darkest thoughts. I started to doubt the existence of God and asked myself why this was happening to me. What had I done wrong, or perhaps He had abandoned me? I sought the answer and understood that thisillness is a message of God for me. I experienced His presence in a stronger way, He was always by my side and I felt that he wanted something from me, and wondered what it could be. All sorts of things came to mind. Perhaps I had to give myself totally to the others? The disease roused me from an empty life that was moving before my eyes, it made me change my vision of the world and now I see things in a more serene way. One of the things I did was to stop smoking, and I am really proud of this! Here in the hospital I met really nice people and a pair of good friends. One sunny day I opened the window and saw a girl walk by. I looked at her and she smiled at me warmly. Later I discovered that she was a nurse. I understood then that happiness lies in the small signs of care, like this. A boy told me: all that is mine is yours. No one has ever said such a thing to me. I felt a great joy.” “I was lucky, because I was found to be compatible with my brothers for the stem cell transplant. This shortens the treatment time and the probability of a relapse. I am so grateful for all the prayers and messages coming from all over the world through Facebook. In the hospital we keep one another company, and when we are with a group of young people, time flies. Then I have a good brother who left me his PC! So I can watch films, surf the internet… I spent a lot of time in prayer. The conditions we are living in are not easy, but we will get used to it…”. When asked what he would like to say to his peers, Nikola answered: “I would say: learn from the past, go ahead and plan for the future, but most of all, live the present moment. This is what I have learned. Be aware that true happiness can be reached with small signs of attention and do not worry for tomorrow, because when you learn to do this, you will feel much better. When you get negative thoughts, substitute them with positive ones. Do this every time and with time they will disappear. Love those you encounter and always be grateful for all you have.” Fonte: Novi Svet 1-2. / 2015
“A society is good when the last and smallest member of society will have the opportunity to produce and earn sufficiently for a decent and dignified living.” This was the ideal of the philosophy which in 1986 pushed Dr Aram and his wife, Minoti, and a group of Gandhian friends, to start up the Shanti Ashram of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Literacy, development of the conditions of women, healthcare, environmental politics, battle against poverty, leadership programs for the youth and projects for children, are the actions promoted by the Ashram, of which the Bala Shanti project is part, and which was created in 1991 to help the very poor children in the surrounding villages. In 2013, Mrs Minoti wrote: “Tagore, the much loved poet and Nobel Prize awardee said: ‘Every boy and girl is a harbinger of the message that God still has not lost hope in man.’ It is in this context that I see the work for our children: to be able to serve one of the most precious gifts of God to humanity.” Initially the Bala Shanti project aimed to offernutrition, education and healthcare to a small group of children from the ages of 3 to 5. Today the project helps thousands of children in 17 villages, who are in turn directly involved with their families in the battle against poverty, stirring up a proactive social participation.
In 2002, after the first contacts with the Focolare and the two visits of Chiara Lubich in India, the “Support from a Distance” program of the New Families Movement began a new and ongoing partnership with the Bala Shanti project, in support of hundreds of children. One of the programs of the Bala Shanti – the Children’s Parliament, was created in 2006, and is composed of former students of the project: over 800 children and adolescents from 6 to 18 who meet regularly to lay down the action themes that involve them directly, such as the promotion of hygiene, continuing education, social participation and community service. Another renowned initiative is that of the Children’s Bank, created by children for children. This initiative was launched in May 2013 with the aim of teaching children the value of savings and financial planning for their own education, besides donating a part of their savings to help children who are poorer than them. In 2015 over 1,500 children, small savers, participated in the project. This year the 25th anniversary of the Bala Shanti project is being celebrated with joy in view of the positive results achieved. More information: Bala Shanti Project
“Villa delle Querce was said to be a clinic where people went to die. I knew nothing about this since I was only a 15-year-old boy happily biking around the neighbourhood. Places such as these were kept a secret. But I was curious to find out what went on in there. From the outside it seemed to me as if there were old people walking on trees. In actual fact it was the 7th floor of a psychiatric hospital which was hidden by the trees but which had a balcony around which the patients would often walk. I entered the place out of curiosity, but I was immediately assaulted by five elderly people who started shouting at me. I saw a young man in a wheelchair and with the excuse of visiting him, they let me pass. Among this motley group of patients there was also a highly respected man called Gianni with whom I struck up a friendship. Gianni immediately spoke to me of his illness which he had contracted at the age of 24. Up until then he’d had a career in the navy as well as in the cinema. He had to give up the beautiful girls and the lavish lifestyle; now there was only solitude and the fear of a slow death. He asked me to bring him some poison so as to commit suicide. I returned to see him a week later and at that point he could no longer speak. He had thrown himself down from the 7th floor with his wheelchair, but after a flight of stairs it had stopped. Consequently he was confined to bed. My only answer to his desperation was to tell him to believe that God loved him and I saw this grace had touched his heart when his eyes suddenly started to shine like the sea reflecting the sun. He started to laugh heartily and our conversation continued only through the movement of his eyebrows which I was able to interpret. I asked the questions or made suggestions and he answered with his eyebrows or with a fantastic smile. I started to take to him all sorts of visitors, like for instance a rebellious girl whom he transformed into a perfect nurse through his good humour. Another girl, through contact with him, overcame her own self-hatred because of her body image. Her life changed completely. Other visitors included atheists, religious people and missionaries. He connected with each one of them and this prolonged his life. There was one episode when the medical staff had almost given up on him after an operation only to see him revive and give one of his beautiful smiles. I have a great photo of Gianni with Pope Paul VI who had asked him for prayers. Now that they are together in heaven, they are a source of strength for us, and help us to smile even in pain.” (Fr Marco S. – Italy)
Hermine Schmölz, an Austrian, recounted: “About ten years ago, I realised I had to do something for the integration of Muslim immigrants, especially the women who we are still not very acquainted with, although they have lived and worked here for years now.” He spoke about this with a member of the parish. Even his friends were enthusiastic about it and together they proposed their project to the parish priest and asked him to provide a venue to begin the project. From then on, it has been a really exhilarating adventure for both the Muslim women taking part in the initiative, and the team members who delineated the program: a Lutheran lady, three Muslim women, one of whom declared that she did not have any religious beliefs and three Catholics who are Focolare members. They felt that the immediate focus should be on what the women were really interested in. It was not easy given their difficulties in expressing themselves in the new language. So the organisers tried to make each one feel at ease, creating a cordial and serene atmosphere. “We always publish the date of the meetings on the journal,” Hermine specified, “and so the group continuously expanded. We try to expound on a different and interesting topic every time: inviting different speakers – politicians, educational experts, social workers, an obstetrician, a doctor – asking them to dedicate more time also to dialogue with the women who are encouraged to speak up and express their ideas. The children have a special programme in another room, so they may from a tender age, see the importance of intercultural relationships. Every meeting ends with a buffet to which the Muslim women themselves contribute. Other activities are field trips and get-together activities. As an interreligious group, every Christmas we bring gifts to the homeless, involving the ladies in establishing relationships with people of other cultures. And as in a game, for every person contacted we add a pearl onto a necklace, and in the end we try to guess how many pearls have been added. We also have the great fortune to communicate with and get new ideas from the Focolare members of other countries, who are doing similar intercultural projects. The ladies show their appreciation for this type of reciprocal dialogue and integration, and also their husbands are happy about it.” The Focolare of New York wrote: “On 20 December – we were invited to the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem – which Chiara Lubich visited in 1997 – to speak at the Seerah Conference.” This is an annual retreat to reflect on the life and teachings of the Prophet and Imam, W.D. Mohammed, a leader of the Afro-American Muslims. The warm reception given to the two guests invited by Imam Pasha and 200 other people was a tangible sign that the seed of dialogue sowed many years ago, continues to bear fruits. It is thus not surprising that the theme precisely chosen for that day was unity, traced through the thoughts of Imam W.D. and Chiara. The retreat ended with a brief video of Chiara Lubich, followed by a round of warm applause that seemed to express everyone’s commitment to that unity she proposed.
The first Focolare had an actual experience which was an application of this “being the first to love”. It was not always easy for a group of girls to live love radically, especially at the beginning. We were like other people, even though we were sustained by a special gift from God. Dust could settle on us as well, on our rapport with one another, and our unity could wilt. That happened for example upon discovering others’ faults and imperfections. When there was judgment, the flow of reciprocal love got cold. One day, we thought of making a pact among us to counter this situation. We called it the “pact of mercy”. We decided to see our neighbor in a very new way when we met him or her each morning (in the Focolare, at school, at work…), really forgetting their imperfections, their defects, covering everything with love. This meant approaching everyone with this complete amnesty in our heart, with this universal forgiveness. Everyone took this strong commitment together. It helped us to always be the first to love, imitating our merciful God who forgives and forgets. We are now sure that the Movement would not even have made it from Trent to Rovereto if it were not for this daily pact of forgiveness. Practically, the Movement would not have had the energy needed to spread. Chiara Lubich, Love of neighbor, to the Muslim friends of the Focolare Movement, Castel Gandolfo, 1st November 2002 (excerpt).
The members of the only Focolare Centre in Bulgaria, M. Lucia, Majda, Julia and Ildiko, from Italy, Slovenia, Germany and Romania, recounted: “Just before Christmas we went to Gostilya, a village to the north of Bulgaria, to visit friends who have been coming to the Mariapolis in Sofia over the last years. We wanted to show our gratitude and warmth by visiting them in their homes.” “We did not expect to find an almost deserted village,” they added. In fact, out of the 1,500 inhabitants at the start of the 1990s, the population now counts only about a hundred people due to the strong migratory phenomenon. There were about 20 young people. The school, nursery, library and other public facilities have been closed. The Catholic Church reopened three years ago, and the elderly deacon who was ordained lives the spirituality of unity.“We had prepared a bingo game with gifts for all and a chalk statue of Baby Jesus produced by children. We couldn’t imagine how much joy this would create: they were so grateful that someone had thought of going to visit them. A family that lived 30 km away also came and so did others who travelled three hours by car. The Mayor brought us on a “sightseeing” tour of the village.” “They vied with one another to give us something: a poor and sickly elderly lady who could not come to the meeting, baked sweet bread for breakfast. Before leaving, we dropped in on her to say thanks and give her a statue of Baby Jesus. She was moved, and listened to our Christmas carols at her doorstep. We also received a huge chicken for Christmas lunch, along with jars of honey and other preserved foods, which they specified to be “ecologically pure.” After Gostilya, we went to the extreme outskirts of the Bulgarian capital. In Sofia, on 24 December, the focolarine visited a Romani family with seven children, their friends for years now and who they try to help as much as possible. Majda had prepared them to receive the sacrament of Baptism, and another stood as godmother. To stress their love and esteem, the mother called the last child Majda, despite the fact that it is a Slovenian name and thus inexistent in Bulgaria. Julia, who instead works in a German school, spoke about this family to her colleagues who then donated clothes, foodstuffs and toys. “So we were able to prepare personalized gifts for each one – they said. A teacher asked them to take along her three children aged 8, 11 and 13 years, so they could see another reality, other than their own environment. Strengthened by such solidarity, we left for Botunetz, the name of the district where this family lives. We bought a small Christmas tree, so we could decorate it together. The mother had cleaned the house and dressed the children well, but there was so much humidity, cold and moulds. We passed a few hours with them, decorating the tree, singing Christmas carols, colouring drawings of the nativity scene, and unwrapping gifts. Everyone was happy and there was a real Christmas atmosphere. ” The same can be said of the traditional Christmas Mass in the jailhouse of Sofia, where a group of the Focolare Movement goes every year together with the Sisters of Charity of Mother Theresa, and for the festivities in a pensioners’ club. They said that this Christmas was one of sharing, in the name of joy, sobriety and solidarity. Maria Chiara De Lorenzo
The traditional date for the celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the northern hemisphere is from January 18th to 25th. In the southern hemisphere, where January is during the summer holidays, the churches celebrate the Week of Prayer on other dates, for example during the time of Pentecost. Here you can find the texts prepared by a mixed working group from Latvia, nominated by the Catholic Church and by the Ecumenical Council of Churches. The Christian churches invite all to “find opportunities throughout the year in which to express the level of communion already accomplished and to pray together for the full unity which is the desire of Christ himself,” according to Jesus’ prayer to the Father: “so that all may be one” (Jn 17). The Focolare Movement throughout the world is committed to fostering and supporting the various local events planned for the celebration of the week of prayer, through direct testimonies of ecumenical life among its members. The phrase chosen for the Week of Prayer 2016 also inspired the Word of Life for the month of January: “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord” (cfr 1 Pt 2:9).
“Fifty exhausted young Africans arrived in our city. After many days at sea, the Italian flag came into sight. They had fled Lybia, some from the religious conflicts between Christians and Islamist fundamentalists, some from the overly exploited territories. They amassed on the seashores, beaten, robbed and constrained to take to the sea on crowded boats. After a stop at Lampedusa, they were spread out over several Italian towns. One of those towns was ours, Pomigliano d’Arco, in the Province of Naples. The oldest was thirty-six, and the youngest eighteen. We young people from San Felice Parish in Pincis ran out to visit them. They didn’t even know us, yet they welcomed us offering us places to sit, and they listened to our words. We had nothing to offer them other than our love. That meeting changed our life. The parish and the quarter adopted them. We got to work, many volunteers from different parish communities, but also many others who are doing as much as they can. The first thing to be done was to collect clothing. The children arrived shoeless and only with the clothes on their backs. We quickly began Italian lessons, organized cultural exchanges in view of gaining citizenship, while not overlooking their spiritual needs. We were very struck to see how the Catholics held on to their Bibles, robbed of everything else, they managed to salvage what they held most dear. They have much to teach us: when everything is lacking, faith in God can never be lacking. The Sunday liturgy, transformed into a trilingual Mass – with Italian, English and French – concluded amidst dance and applause to the rhythm of the bongos. Their singing and dancing not only conveyed their joy, but also made us live it with them as an image of the Resurrection. The Muslims received a visit from the Imam. Young people from Catholic Action organised a prayer vigil: blacks and whites, Catholics and Muslims, a tangible sign of peace amongst peoples and religions! One journalist from the area observed: “Anyone who follows their situation is inevitably overwhelmed by their honesty, values, neighbourliness, their dramatic stories that suddenly dampen even the most solid barrage of prejudice and transform ‘sterile’ solidarity for the needy into fraternal concern and loving closeness.” Such demonstrate show the contagious power of Love.” (Ilaria and Salvatore, Focolare Parish Movement, Pomigliano d’Arco, Italy) Source: Chiara Favotti: “Una buona notizia, gente che crede gente che muove” (Rome: Città Nuova).
Salvator noster natus est! Our best wishes for a Holy Christmas to all the Christians celebrating the birth of the Saviour on 7 January. MERRY CHRISTMAS BUON NATALE РОЖДЕСТВО ХРИСТОВO ΚΑΛΆ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΎΓΕΝΝΑ عيد ميلاد سعيد!
The star was not deceived when it called those distant ones to walk towards the God who was near to them. The star was not deceived when it showed the desert path, humbler and harder. The star was not deceived when it halted over the house of humble folk: there the great future was born. Your heart was not deceived when it took up the path in search of the unkown. Your heart was not deceived, when it did not give in to meaningless impatience. Your heart was not deceived, when it knelt before the Boy. Klaus Hemmerle: Dio Si È Fatto Bambino (Rome: Città Nuova, 2007) p.11.
There is a festive atmosphere in Reșița, Romania, a Municipality located on the border with Serbia, population around 90,000. The first young people began to arrive yesterday evening from Italy, Catholic youth who were welcomed at an official ceremony in the most ancient Orthodox church in the city, and they were offered hospitality in the homes of their Romanian peers. Today the Orthodox youth arrive: some by bus, some by car and some on foot. The Municipal Administration held a moment of greeting before the party moved on to Băile Herculane, a tourist town in the southwest of the country where an ecumenical camp will be held. The vice-mayor was pleased and expressed congratulations for the experience of twinning between the Romanian Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Roman Catholic parish of Santa Maria de Borgo in Pesaro, Italy, which has been established for eight years. This was followed by presentations with Italian and Romanian young people. The dominant feeling was certainly the joy of discovering one another as brothers and sisters united in the same Christian faith. This common bond was even more invigorated by their shared goal of building a more united world, and of deepening their own unity through a genuine and sincere exchange during their days at the camp. They are not only Catholics. Gabor, for example, is a Calvinist and others are Evangelicals. But here there are only Christians, accompanied by the wise and caring guides from their parishes. The choice of Resita was not a random one. It is located in the region of Banat that has had a decades-long calling to tolerance and openness. Eighteen different ethnicities live there and belong to several different Christian Churches. Anna attended becuase she believes in the unity amongst Christians and wants to make her own contribution so that it happens as soon as possible. Joseph studies medicine, but at the end of Medical school he wants to pursue the priesthood. Emil wants to be a film director. Matteo does not know what he will study or do in life. He only knows that he wants to be part of this project of building unity at every level. They do not know what the future will be, but they believe in their common ideal. Days of sharing and deep friendship await them based on the same love that each of them has for Jesus and for “his dream” that all be one. In China the project is focused on peace and fraternity. There, the trailblazers are also young people, but they intend to involve people of all ages. Their proposal: Give up a meal, a snack or something else on the 11th day of each month from November until April. Give the money that was saved to the poor. The money can be sent via “red pocket” on the social network. To help remember they have supplied bus identity cards with card-holders stamped with theYouth for a United World logo and six thumbs-up to be coloured every time you participate in the the project. To their great surprise, a large number of “red pockets” arrived in just a few short hours accompanied by messages of gratitude and encouragement. It was like a grapevine that spread peace, generosity and commitment. Up until now 844 euros have been collected, a small amount, but rich in meaning with the messages that accompanied the donations. In China, Novemeber 11th was a day dedicated to the unmarried and to shopping. Some gave up a snack, others a more substantial meal. One girl wrote: “I didn’t find anything to buy, because everything was very expensive. Then, I was glad to hear about your project and I’m pleased to offer this small contribution for someone in need.” Gustavo Clariá
The message of Pope Francis in this Jubilee Year of Mercy urges us more than ever to live the immense gift of Peace. It is a strong plea that shakes our conscience and invites us to convert ourselves. Peace and Mercy: two inseparable elements for coexistence among people and with all Creation, and two words which we have become more aware of today, now that they are absent. A piece of the papal message brought me back to my homeland. It is really moving for me – an Arab-Catholic of Palestinian origin – to study Jesus’ behaviour following the motto, “Overcome indifference and achieve Peace.” In retracing those places, I can affirm that He lived as a Person and narrated divine parables taken from daily life. Sad to say, still today in my homeland, Peace is still not fully known, even if it is where the three great monotheistic religions were founded. Eight million people live in the State of Israel and four million in the Palestinian Territories. In these two localities the Christians make up 2% of the population, and belong to various churches: the Catholic, Orthodox, Armenian, Syriac-Orthodox, Coptic, Lutheran and other churches. It is a tiny land but a vast one for its multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-confessional dimensions, and one that suffered many invasions, conquests and conflicts that still continue today. The possibility for peaceful coexistence is still a path to be traced, even if here and there, efforts have been made to find a just and enduring political solution. Fear and mutual distrust have raised walls of division between one and the other part of the population, and above all, hostility and diffidence in the hearts of people, which are difficult to demolish. The Pope’s words struck me deeply: “At individual and community level, indifference towards one’s neighbour results from indifference towards God, and assumes the aspect of inertia and non-commitment, that nurtures the prolonging of situations of injustice and serious social imbalance, which in turn may lead to conflicts or, in every case, generate a climate of dissatisfaction that risks turning into violence and insecurity, sooner or later.” In the years I have lived in Jerusalem, together with many others I tried to diffuse the spirit of true and sincere dialogue between the Arabs and Jews, through friendship and affection which only human relationships can instate. In fact, it is not so effective to speak of peace, only in a political sense, if we do not first build relationships with people. Our efforts gave rise to moments of encounter between the youth and families, protagonists of the two parties that effected concrete actions of pacification, solidarity, and mutual respect. “Overcome indifference and achieve Peace” is a message that brings new hope to our hearts. The Pope admonishes by saying: “Some prefer not to seek peace or information, and live in their wellbeing and comfort, turning a deaf ear to humanity’s cry of pain. We have become almost unaware of and unable to feel compassion for others and their dramatic lives. We do not care about them, as if what is happening to them is not our responsibility.” Pope Francis’s message gives us a new impulse towards real change. May 2016 see us all firmly and assuredly involved at various levels, in creating justice and working for peace which is a gift of God, entrusted to all men and women of the world. It is up to each of us to achieve this goal.
In his introduction to Bruni’s new book entitled, “Creative Destruction,” Marco Tarquinio, Director of the Catholic newspaper wrote: «Bruni was well aware that this line of thought would lead him to the confines separating the human and the inhuman and regrettably, also beyond, to the complex organisations prevalently driven by material objectives. He perfectly knew that in writing about these issues, i.e., about “production” and “marketing” organisations and thus, of the creativity of relationships and employment, he would eventually have to focus on the organisations driven by ideals and other aspirations of the human spirit,» bringing both fields «to face the same challenge of renewal without losing their roots and driving spirit.» Published by New City Press, the book is a collection of selected articles published in 2015 on Avvenire, taken from the series, “The midwives of Egypt,” and “Regenerations.” In the book’s last chapter entitled, “The periphery is where we learn to resurrect,” Bruni comes to the conclusion of his work and the challenges resulting from his reflection which took him some months to delineate. He introduces his proposals with a phrase of the German poet, Friedrich Hölderlin: “God created man the way the sea created the continents: through withdrawal.” Here are some passages which in a way introduce us to the book proper: «A movement that with time has turned into an organisation can undergo a charismatic renewal, if in some marginal zone of the “Kingdom” some creative minorities start reconstituting the conditions needed to revive the same miracle of the charism’s first foundation: the same enthusiasm, joy, and the same fruits. The true process that brings this very same minority to become the majority is called reform. […] It is a decisive process that has to be undertaken unhurriedly, and should involve and activate the dynamic settings of creativity, going out to them “at the confines of the empire.” All this is certainly and firstly, a gift (charis), but also signifies wise organisation, and deep, spiritual, prophetic, and transformative intelligence. […] Many new “evangelisations” come about upon recounting the good news, and we are able to feel it come alive in us, in a new and diverse manner. This is how a new-ancient love story is reborn – a new eros, new desires, new generativity, and new children. […] The charism may thus flourish again and resume its encounter with people in the streets, forgetting its own organisations so as to tend to the wounds and sufferings of the men and woman today, especially of the poorer ones, […] creatively interpreting their own mission in the present time.»
“On April 21, 1964, Chiara Lubich wrote in her diary: “I dreamed of a focolare amongst the mocambos, built like a mocambo because our houses should be like the ones around them, and our house is the place through which we carry out our main apostolate.” Although it would years, the dream came true. A year ago, Brazilians, Lucival, Helson, Keles; Estimable, a Haitan; and Fabrizio from Italy left their house in the capital at Florianopolis, to move to go and live in the morro, one of the many existential peripheries of the world. “How is it going” we asked them. “We mainly try to become inserted in the new environment. Keles works at the Marist school that is very important in the fields of education and social life for the children and teenagers. Lucival, who works at the Fazenda da Esperança, a rehabilitation community for young drug addicts is now involved in the Associação de Moradores “Alto da Caieira, which is an organisation for the protection of the people who live in the morro.” We know that it’s not always easy to be accepted by the people of the favelas. These five young men are trying, with the help of Father Vilson Groh who has been serving in the morro for more than thirty years. “The ideas come by being with the people. That’s what we’ve been doing every Thursday for a couple of months. Every Wednesday men recite the Rosary in a different house, which is a pretty common practice in Brazil. There aren’t large numbers – maybe 10 to 12 people – but is a seed that’s been planted. And it’s already bearing fruits, in the sense that we see it little by little increasing our knowledge and trust of one another, both them towards us and us towards them. A communitarian sense of responsibility is growing, the feeling that the needs of the others are our own needs.” Could you give us some examples? “There was one man who was dependent on alcohol and slept at the dump. Fr Vilson spoke with the community, which then put him on a path of recovery. They literally rebuilt his dwelling, a wood shack, and they furnished it with a stove; someone else brought a bed, a refrigerator, and so on. Two weeks ago there he was, standing amongst the 15 teenagers who were being Confirmed; and last Thursday the Mass was celebrated at his house. We also learnt of the inhuman conditions that a certain woman was living in. Here again, the community got to work in helping her out. They themselves distribute to those in need whatever they are able to procure for them: food and clothing.” And as a sign that relationships really are becoming deeper, they recounted that last Friday twenty people visited the focolare for the confraternização, a Christmas celebration where everyone brings something to share. Also here at the morro, we didn’t only eat food like the famous Brazilian churrasco meat, but we also celebrated Jesus who once again deigned to be born as at Bethlehem in the poverty of a favela.”
The huge multitude of Christians should be quite visible. But they are so divided that many peopledon’t notice them and so don’t see Jesus through them. Unity is the only sure way to proclaim God’s mighty acts. When the Lord acts, he does mighty things. As soon as he had created the universe he saw it was ‘good’ (Gen1:25). Indeed, after creating the man and the woman, and entrusting the whole of creation to them, he saw it was ‘very good’ (Gen 1:31). But the act of God that exceeds all else was done by Jesus. In his death and resurrection he created a new world and a new people. It is a people to whom Jesus has given the life of Heaven, a genuine fraternity, in mutual welcome, in sharing with one another and in self-giving. Peter’s letter helped the first Christians realize that God’s love had made them ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Pet. 2:9; see also the whole passage vv. 9-10). If, like the first Christians, we were to become fully aware of what we are, of how much God’s mercy has done in us, among us and around us, we would be amazed. We would not be able to contain our joy and we would feel we want to share with others the need to ‘proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord’. But it is difficult, or virtually impossible, to give witness effectively to the beauty of the new kind of relations in society that Jesus brought about, if we stay isolated from one another. It is normal, therefore, that Peter’s invitation is addressed to the whole people. We cannot show ourselves as argumentative and partisan, or even merely indifferent to one another, and then proclaim that ‘the Lord has created a new people, and has freed us from egoism, from hatred and rancour, giving us mutual love as the law that makes us one heart and one soul…’ Among the Christian people there are indeed differences in our ways of thinking, our traditions and cultures, but these diversities are to be welcomed with respect, recognizing the beauty of this huge variety and aware that unity is not uniformity. This is the journey we will follow during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (celebrated in the northern hemisphere on 18-25 January) and throughout the year. The Word of Life invites us among our different Churches and communities to try to get to know one another better, to tell one another of the marvellous works of the Lord. In this way we will be able to ‘proclaim’ these works credibly, giving witness that we are one precisely in our diversity and that we support each another concretely. Chiara Lubich encouraged us with great energy to follow this path:Love is the greatest power on earth: it unleashes the peaceful Christian revolution around those who live it, so that today people can repeat what the early Christians said centuries ago: ‘We were born only yesterday and we have already spread all over the world.’ Love! What a great need there is for love in the world! And in us, Christians! (Tertullian,The Apology, 37:7) All together we Christians of various Churches number more than a billion people. Such a multitude should be quite visible. But we are so divided that many do not see us, nor do they see Jesus through us. He said that the world would recognize us as his own and, through us, would recognize him, by our mutual love, by unity: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’ (Jn 13:35). Our world today asks each one of us for love; it asks for unity, communion, solidarity. And it also calls upon the Churches to recompose the unity that has been torn for centuries.’
Already in 2004, getting to know each other, establishing dialogue and intensifying the spirit of communion were the objectives that had pushed the Orthodox Faculty of Theology of University Babeş – Bolyai of Cluj-Napoca and the members of the Focolare Movement to start a fruitful spiritual exchange of ideas and experiences. With time, this relationship was enriched by an ecumenical course that led to a dialogue at a theological level especially in recent years. In the common desire to bring Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity to Orthodox theology, this year both parties agreed to foster joint activities between the Romanian Faculty and the Sophia University Institute (SUI) in Loppiano (Florence), in a Symposium between the two academic institutions in Cluj-Napoca from 26 to 28 November. The symposium was opened by the Metropolitan of Cluj-Napoca, Andrei Andreicut who conveyed encouraging words for the precious effort to reach this deep communion. Also present was Bishop Vasile Somesanul, who has been a protagonist for many years in this undertaking. The lessons were entrusted to SUI professors on the part of the Movement, among whom was the Institute’s Rector, Piero Coda. On the Orthodox side, was the Dean of the Faculty, Fr Vasile Stanciu, with three qualified professors of three of the theological faculties in Romania, Cluj, Sibiu and Alba Iulia. Some lessons like those on ecumenism and the sacred scriptures were jointly expounded. The various papers focused on the theme of the Holy Spirit, as expressed in the Symposium’s title: St Basil the Great’s theological writings on the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in creation. All felt that “the presence of the Holy Spirit was tangible, and evidenced not only in the luminosity of the papers presented, but also in the communion with God that everyone experienced”. One of the participants said, “We all felt that an encounter was possible since there was the real intent to give of oneself,” while another participant underlined “the great harmony that reigned, and the joy of being able to share the wealth of our single churches”. In the days before the Symposium lessons were given by Piero Coda at the Orthodox Faculty of Theology especially students of the Faculty itself, and also those of the Roman-Catholic, Greek-Catholic and Evangelical faculties of the University. During the week in the town of Sibiu an event focused on the debate on the future of Europe, organised by the Ecumenical Centre of Sibiu, at which among the main speakers were Professor Piero Coda and the writer, Andrei Pleşu, an outstanding Romanian academic. The Symposium was also the occasion to plan future projects and in this regard intense collaboration was foreseen. The next academic year will see an exchange of professors between the Orthodox Faculty and SUI. Prospects are for a joint seminar in Sophia in the first half of 2017.
“I’m dictating this letter since I can’t move my hand anymore, but my head thinks and prays for all of you as you come into my mind with your joys, your sorrows and your difficulties.” This is the beginning of a Christmas letter of Dori’s from a few days ago. It is addressed to her “Dearest friends,” people she had met over the course of her life and now tried to reach around the world. Doriana Zamboni, known simply as “Dori”, was born in Trent, Italy, in 1926. She met Chiara Lubich when she was a very young and rebellious student in upper secondary school and was taking Philosophy lessons from Chiara. That was in 1943, the beginning of a spiritual adventure that would lead to the birth of the Focolare Movement. “Jesus and Our Lady will help you through my prayers too,” the letter continues. “And even if I don’t know your needs, I place them inside Her heart so that she keep faithful your love towards Jesus abandoned on the Cross.” That faithfulness had marked the life of Dori. Indeed, she was the person to whom Chiara first confided her intuition that Jesus greatest suffering was His abandonment on the Cross, and it quickly become the secret and cornerstone of Chiara’s life and the life of those who followed her path. “Remain in my love” (Jn 15:9) was the Word of Life that Chiara had suggested to her as a guide for her life because it seemed to reflect who Dori was. She travelled the world to spread the ideal of unity: 1956 in France; 1965 in England; 1971 in Belgium. In all of these places, together with the focolares, she opened new paths on the ecumenical journey and in the dialogue with other cultures. She accompanied thousands of people on their spiritual journey. From 1976 the Focolare foundress entrusted to her the Branch of the Volunteers of God, lay people actively engaged in the midst of society, and the New Humanity Movement. In 1956 she was a member of the team that began Città Nuova and was therefore amongst the pioneers of the publishing house and magazine of the Focolare Movement. Dori continued to encourage and support the work of publication up until the last days of her life. “Wherever you are, remember me,” her letter continues, “because my health is failing and I would like it to be in many of your prayers to help me make the climb. . . I feel you all very close to me, desirous to help me to bear and suffer whatever God may send to me.”. Thus, enveloped in the love and prayers of those who had assisted her until the end she passed away peacefully on the morning of December 26th. Focolare president Maria Voce announced her death to the Movement while expressing her gratitude for Dori’s life and inviting everyone to join in prayer. The funeral will be held at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo, Rome, on Monday, December 28th at 10:30 am (Italian time).
Nine business owners have enrolled in an EoC course in the small Central American country of Guatemala, a land with a strong indigeneous ancestry and sharp social contrasts.They have been delving into the fundamentals of the project on a monthly basis and examining experiences that are currently underway in other parts of the world. “The basic text,” course director, Sandra Macario, explains, “is Il prezzo della gratuità (Bruni), but we often have Skype link-ups with other EoC business owners in Mexico City and other Latin American countries.” An Open Day was held on November 26th for people who might be interested in an End-of-the-Year Breakfast which is customary in this area of the world with its traditional beans and corn dishes. The breakfast was attended by forty people. Maria Luisa Altamirano from Mexico was the guest of honour, who presented her experience as a business owner and responded to questions from the audience. Besides course members, Brazilian business owner, Ismael Yos, who attended the same course in Brazil, also spoke. The testimony of Guatamalen architect, Jose Mario Contreras, was exceptionally moving. He does not always have steady work, so he depends on a pool of workers whom he can call when he needs them. They know that work is scarce and realise that when they are not working for him, they must find whatever work can be found. At times workers are urgently needed, such as the time they had to restructure and fit out a Dyalisis Centre. Due to a cancellation of a contract with another company and susequent suspension of service, it became even more pressing. They were in need of builders to restructure the building and engineers to operate machinery. Contreras presented his bid, and all voted in favour, except for the delivery time which was reduced by half or else forfiet the job. It was an impossible problem. The last card he had to play was dialoging with the workers. Dialogue was a concept that Contreras had been implementing for some time, and he had introduced it as one of the foundations of his work activity, a lifestyle that has proven to be efficacious at such critical times. His proposal to the workers of working double shifts was unanimously accepted, not only because they did not want to lose out on the job, but because they trusted him and one another. Contrary to all technical predictions the job was finished on time, and the patients who were waiting recieved treatment on the date that had previously been agreed on. On another occasion Contreras had received a telephone call from one of his employees. It was early in the morning, too early to disturb the boss. But it was serious: his small daughter was ill and in urgent need of a certain medication that was too costly for the employee. Contreras listened to him like a brother: “For now I’ll begin to pray for your daughter,” he told him. “As soon as the bank opens, I’ll send you the money you need.” Contreras had the feeling that his company “had become a family.”
«If I should have to leave this world today and you were to ask me for a single word, one last word that sums up our Ideal, I would say – certain of being perfectly understood – ‘Be a family’. Are there among you those who are suffering spiritual or moral trials? Understand them as a mother and more than a mother would, enlighten them with your words or example. Do not leave them alone; indeed, surround them with the warmth of a family. Are there among you those who are suffering physically? They should be your preference. Suffer with them. Seek to understand their sufferings in depth. Share with them the fruits of your apostolic endeavors so that they may realize that they, more than others, contributed to its success. Are there those who are dying? Imagine yourself in their place and do all that you would want others to do to you, to the very last instant. Are there those who are happy because of a particular achievement or for any other reason? Share in their happiness, so that their consolation may not be saddened and their heart closed, but that the joy may be of all.
Play this video in the original language (Italian)
“Are some people leaving? Let them go, but first fill their heart with this one heritage: a sense of the family, so that they may bring it to their future destination. Never put any kind of activity– neither spiritual, nor apostolic – before the spirit of being a family with the brothers or sisters with whom you live. And wherever you go to bring the ideal of Christ, […] you can do nothing better than to seek to create with discretion, with prudence, but with determination, the spirit of a family. It is a humble spirit, it wants the good of the others, it is not proud… in short, it is charity, true, complete charity. In conclusion, if I should have to leave you, I would have Jesus in me repeat to you: ‘Love one another… so that all may be one‘». Chiara Lubich (La dottrina spirituale – Città Nuova Ed. pp.92-93)
“I wish everyone a Christmas characterised by sharing, remembering Pope Francis’ words: justice, solidarity and a simple lifestyle.
Justice means seeking out those who suffer and those without basic needs, not as a category of people to be helped, but brothers and sisters to be loved.
Solidarity means not being afraid to open our hearts, empty our pockets, our purses and wallets, so as to live as one family.
A simple lifestyle means not spoiling the things that belong to everyone, starting with the beauty of creation.
I hope for this and I trust in the grace of Christmas!
This is a time when we can all live mercy. God believes in us and puts a spark of His own love into every heart. Christmas can then become something beautiful for everyone.
Christmas will be beautiful if it is a Christmas of love.”
“The life of each day varies, because the danger varies. On some days nothing happens, and you could even forget that there was a war. On other days you could be on your way to work and get hit by stray bullets, or walk into a battle, or under falling bombs in the middle of a civilian area,” Pascal reports. He has been living in a focolare in Syria for several years. How are we preparing for Christmas? In Aleppo, Kafarbou and Damascus our communities are focusing mostly on the children, because in spite of the fact that it’s such a celebrated feast in Syria, families are finding it hard to experience the joy of Christmas. Therefore, the young people have done a lot of projects to raise funds which, joined to the donations that have come in from outside, has allowed them to expand their project of giving back the meaning of Christmas to the children and their families. In Aleppo, for example, there will be a feast for around 70 families; in Kafarbou they will visit houses in small groups, with food and gifts. In Damascus, where there are more possibilities, they’ve organised a Christmas concert and, in the meantime, will visit families with food, gifts, songs and games. . .” And in recent months with the escalation of violence, have you focolarini ever reconsidered your decision to stay in Syria? “No, never. The focolare’s presence is so important! There mere presence even without doing anything. It’s a sign that the Movement around the world is with them, with the Syrian people. I don’t know how to explain it. . . We’re not obliged to stay; we can leave. We’ve shared so many hardships with them over these years that they feel like we belong to the them, and we feel that they belong to us. Our reasons aren’t rational but affective, a matter of the heart. There’s no rational reason for staying in Aleppo. The Syrian families that stay do it because of their connection to the land, to their people, because everything else says: get out! Here, everything is disappearing, day by day there is less and less of a future for your children. I saw some remain out of a choice of love, to give witness. For example, some remained so that a school for deaf children could continue. Living for others gives you the meaning to life, it gives meaning to your existence.”
Bonhoeffer was among the first to criticise the Third Reich and was in the United States when the Second World War broke out. He returned to his homeland to suffer with his people. Conscious of the risk, he faced it in a spirit of freedom and with a strong sense of justice. A theologian and Lutheran pastor, he died at a concentration camp in Flossenbürg on April 9, 1945 after being condemned for his opposition to the Nazi regime. We remember him with some of his thoughts on mercy published in “La fragilità del male, raccolta di scritti inediti”. “Each day the Christian community sings: ‘I have received mercy.’ I have obtained this gift even when I closed my heart to God: when I took up the path of sin; when I loved my faults more than God; when I encountered misery and suffering in exchange for what I had done; when I was lost and was not able to find the path of return. Therefore, it was the word of the Lord that came out to meet me. Therefore, I understood: He loves me. Jesus has found me: he was near to me, only Him. He gave me comfort, forgave all my errors and did not find me guilty of evil. When I was his enemy and did not respect his commandments, he treated me like a friend. When I did him wrong, he returned to me only goodness. He did not condemn me for my misdeeds, but unceasingly sought me out and without rancour. He suffered for me and died for me. He put up with everything for me. He won me. The Father had found his son again. We think of all these things when we intone that song. I can hardly fathom why the Lord loves me in this way, why I am so dear to him. I cannot understand how he managed to and wanted to win my heart with his love, all I can say is: ‘I have received mercy.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer,La fragilità del male, raccolta di scritti inediti (Piemme, 2015)
https://vimeo.com/140678777 A child recounted: «I only knew about Santa Claus, but nobody has ever told me the real story of Christmas, the birth of Jesus!» Another child said, «Oh yes, people have forgotten, but we can remind them about it! Still another added «All the other kids in the world have already started!» These are the gen4 boys and girls “who love everybody the way Jesus does and want to show everyone that He is the greatest gift of all!” They learnt this from Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, who had urged them to “Let Jesus be born in your midst with your love, so that it will always be Christmas! […] We can offer Jesus in our midst to the whole world, and bring this love and joy to the streets, schools, and to the big and small… everywhere!” Years ago at Christmas, while walking through the streets of Zurich, Switzerland, Chiara had seen the shop windows adorned with lights and toys, and snow on the trees, Santa Claus… and had asked herself: But where is Jesus? He was not there. And so she wrote: «This wealthy world has taken Christmas for itself, but has dislodged Jesus.» «What does it mean to ”dislodge?”» A child asked. It means that Jesus has no place to go to, like when he was born and there was no room for him anywhere.» It was then that Chiara told us «So we must welcome him, and celebrate his coming! We, gen4 around the world, wish to do this and invite everyone to do the same.». Then came the idea of making a statue of Baby Jesus and nativity scenes to offer to those who do not know or do not remember that at Christmas, Jesus is more important than buying gifts. «We want to recall that Christmas is the feast of Jesus. And we tell people: do you want to bring him home with you? Some answer no, some keep walking on and do not even stop, but others stop and so we give these little statues of Jesus, or the nativity scenes we have made. We do this in the main squares of the big cities and in the shopping centers; we even give it to our mayors and go to the homes for the aged. We attract attention with our stands and concerts, and organise Christmas parties for many children. It is like a wave of happiness that overwhelms us all with happiness and brings the “celebrated Guest” back as the central point of Christmas.» On Sunday, 20 December, St. Peter’s Square will celebrate the Children’s Jubilee and Pope Francis will bless the statues of Baby Jesus. On the same day, the TV programme Sua Immagine (Rai Channel 1 at 10.30), will be dedicated to children, and will broadcast the reportage on the project “They Have dislodged Jesus.”
The 11th edition of the School of Inculturation will be held in Kenya at the Mariapolis Piero, from 17 to 23 May 2016. Maria Voce and Jesús Morán will also attend. In May 2016 the “Mariapolis Piero” in Kenya, close to Nairobi – will host the 11th edition of the School of Inculturation, a reality which Chiara Lubich prophetically foresaw. The 250 or more delegates from Sub-Saharian Africa will focus on the theme, “The African Family,” and will reflect on the relationships of “man-woman” in their roles and responsibilities in family life, and the challenge of educating towards values. It will be held as part of the Pan-African meeting of the continent’s New Families. The national commission will present the speeches and dissertations that will trace the roots of the cultures, to be demonstrated through the concrete experiences of men and women who have embraced the charism of unity. There are great expectations and a particular joy in knowing that Maria Voce and Jesús Morán, President and Co-President, respectively, will attend together with some central councilors. Further details to be announced.
This year, the usual appointment promoted by the youth of the Focolare and aims to involve the greatest number of people and institutions in their journey towards fraternity, will be cantered in Quito, Ecuador. The theme of inculturality, with a manifestation of the youth at the so-called “Other half of the world,” where one can enter with one foot in the boreal hemisphere and the other in the austral hemisphere. There will be days of dialogue among young people of different cultures, through work sessions, sharing and community tourism in a setting of exuberant nature. Complete information on the Ecuador programme is given on the site, www.munodunido2016.com. “Link Cultures – un camino para la paz” is the title that expresses the core of all the fraternity initiatives that will ensure simultaneously throughout the world, uniting generations and cultures in a unique workshop and can be traced through the hashtag #4peace. Run4Unity – Another novelty this year is the involvement of the kids: the wold sports event, Run4Unity, the world relay race for peace which in the previous editions saw the participation of thousands of teens, which will be held annually from now on, and will be inserted in the United World Week. The La Run4Unity 2016 will take place next 8 May. The Youth for a United World hope that this on-the-road International Expo, now running on its 20th anniversary be also recognised by the UN. The initiatives that come about during the year, and on which the United World Week focuses its spotlight, are all part of the United World Project.
From 11 am to 12 noon in all the time zones, children throughout the world will run for peace (a stretch of the itinerary will be done on foot or by bike, roller skates, and canoe) with an extraordinary passing of the baton, from the cities situated in a preceding time zone to another. How? Through a phone call, or text message or at least “ideally linking up” with the others. 12 noon is the Time-Out, a minute of silence or prayer for peace. The day on which the Run4unity will be held will be called “World Day of the Golden Rule”: upon putting it into practice and promoting it, we will silently but effectively build Peace and a more united world. The web sitehttp://www.run4unity.net is the tool which will highlight the world demonstration, in continual connection with social media, to allow all the boys and girls to be active in building and spreading the Event. There have been four international editions of this project: in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2015. The R4U event is really quite unique since it links kids throughout the world, and who in a time span of 24 hours, from one time zone to the other, undertake to achieve a sole objective: unity of the human family. This explains the great interest of the mass media, and civil, religious and political authorities. Run4Unity is part of the activities of the United World Week and United World Project. Info: http://www.run4unity.net/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYR8R-_Rg_M
“Unity”, the basic point of the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, will be deepened during this meeting, with experiences of people from various cities, where the spirituality lived by many has affected the life of those regions. This is the case of the community of Szeged, Hungary, or Loppiano, in Valdarno, Tuscany and again on ecumenism in Great Britain, and the social field in Brazil. One of the many themes to be discussed is the aspect of communications as a tool used to reach unity; dialogue especially in the ecumenical and interreligious field, and the Focolare Movement’s commitment for peace. The great majority of those participating will be from Italy but also from France, Hungary, Greece and England. For information and bookings: info@focolare.orgwww.centromariapoli.org
«Unity» the basic point of the spirituality of the Focolare Movement, will be deepened during this meeting, with experiences of people from various cities, where the spirituality lived by many has affected the life of those regions. This is the case of the community of Szeged, Hungary, or Loppiano, in Valdarno, Tuscany and again on ecumenism in Great Britain, and the social field in Brazil. One of the many themes to be discussed is the aspect of communications as a tool used to reach unity; dialogue especially in the ecumenical and interreligious field, and the Focolare Movement’s commitment for peace. The great majority of those participating will be from Italy but also from France, Hungary, Greece and England. Another congress on the same themes will be held from 3- 5 March. Info: info@focolare.orgwww.centromariapoli.org
About 60 Bishops from all over the word will meet in Castel Gandolfo to go deeper in mutual communion, and share and reflect on the theme of «unity,» the element which is central to the charism of the Focolare. For those who are interested, the program will continue up to the 28th with a visit to the international town of Loppiano.
Taking stock 10 years from the World Summit on the Information Society (Tunis, 2004): building an information society that is focused on the human person; inclusive and oriented towards development; finding adequate forms of funding equitable development of communications infrastructures; identifying common mechanisms and the effective management of the Internet. How far have we come in the past 10 years? This was the question the General Assembly of the United Nations tried to answer at the Meeting dedicated to the WSIS+10 on the information society, at the United Nations General Headquarters, December 15-16, in New York. The work of evaluating was complex, with contributions from many analysts. It concluded with a final document that was unanimously adopted by the delegations of different countries. We spoke with Cesare Borin, who attended the forum with the New Humanity delegation, an NGO of the Focolare Movement.“Ever since WISIS 2003 in Geneva, and Tunis in 2005, the work of the United Nations has adopted a more open approach open to collaboration amongst a variety of players including members of civil society, such as New Humanity, the private sector, governments and international organisations. Already in Tunis we were part of a large group from NetOne that collaborated in experimental projects by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Alcatel. In the years that followed, we took part in several Internet Governance Forum (IGF) events always on behalf of New Humanity, and we established contacts with a number of people.”
With Mr Fadi Chehade, President of ICANN (centre), a non profit organisation which administers the assignation of top level domains on the Internet.
And now? What is the contribution of New Humanity to the specific topics that were discussed? ”There were six of us on the delegation: myself, a Brazilian, Maria Luiza Bigati; a Mexican, Maria del Rocio Ortega, both computer engineers; Betsy Dugas from the United States, who is also a computer engineer; Joe Klock and Anne Marie Cottone from the Permanent Representation of New Humanity at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.” In the preceding months, New Humanity had submitted its own contribution to the final document. The document is the result of a mediation process that examined important current issues of today such as terrorism, protecting human rights, protecting individual freedom. Comparing and contrasting a wide variety of sensibilities that each country emphasizes, and finding a common shared point signifies a great and important result. The WSIS has become a place of dialogue, no matter how strenuous, that can enable us to come up with new forms of ‘governance’.” The International New Humanity NGO has worked on community capacity building projects for over ten years, in the poorest communities of Africa’s Sub-Sahara region, in Asia and in Latin America. . . “Access to information has become one of the basic human rights of our age. Access is just as important as the basic rights of health and education. In our projects the main objective has always been to fully engage the local community, to say that the principles we talk about are not just wishful thinking.”
“Bel tempo si spera”, [Hoping for good times] is a programme broadcast by the Catholic Television Company TV2000. The programme on 14th December focused on subjects concerning the Jubilee, taking the viewers on a journey to several Cathedrals in the world, on the day after the opening of their Holy Doors. Maria Voce was in the studio, at the invitation of the presenter Lucia Ascione. Between one stage and another of this symbolic tour a dialogue took place on various subjects, starting with the meaning of the Jubilee. Maria Voce said, “The Year of Mercy gives us new courage to believe that God is Love. Now, when it seems that everything has become relative, we need to go back to what really matters, to believe in Love”. Later on, she added: “Unfortunately, modern culture speaks of anger, revenge, rights that have been trampled on, things that lead to sadness and despondency. We want to bring trust, forgiveness and mutual love. We want to look at the world as one family, the family of God’s children. And God is mercy, God is love.” “I like to recall – she went on – that the Pope did not open “the” Holy Door” but many holy doors. Pope Francis has said even the door of a prison cell can be a Holy Door. The door is a sign of the merciful love of the Father who is waiting for us all to come home, no-one excluded.” Lucia Ascione referred to Pope Francis’ words at the Angelus the previous day concerning the Focolare’s dialogue with Muslims. Maria Voce affirmed, “This harmonious encounter between people of different faiths that we experience did not happen yesterday, but has been built up day by day, over the years and in many places, through friendships; respecting difference.” Ascione insisted: “If it is so simple for you, why is it so hard for the world?” Maria Voce: “The Pope has said that unfortunately there is much self-interest. Instead we need to learn how to go beyond ourselves and be ready to welcome others, even if they are different. It is a love that we learn by loving, going towards others. Certainly, differences can make us fearful, that is true for everyone. It is a fear that can only be overcome with love. Taking up arms is of no use.” The presenter asked “You went to the United Nations and spoke there. What did you say to them? “I said that we need to convert ourselves, but not superficially. I said we must not see dialogue as one of many ways but as the only real way forward. It is difficult to accept this viewpoint because the “scandal of the cross” has not been understood. Mercy makes us do the part that the other should do, as Jesus did who died for each one of us.” Maria Voce explained “It is the experience that we have on a daily basis with those who knock on our doors. Recently 170 unaccompanied minors stayed in our little town in Holland and were made welcome”. Recalling the words of the press release that Maria Voce had issued after the Paris attacks, Ms Ascione asked: “What did you mean when you said we should ask ourselves whether everything that could have been done to avoid such violent reactions had been done?” “Very often we are affected by things that happen nearby, forgetting those that happen in other places where the horror of war is lived every day. We have communities in those places and we know that it is still possible to build something positive. We have doctors who don’t check to see whether a wounded person is a Christian or a Muslim; people who make their wells available to others when water is scarce, regardless of the religion they practice. Maybe we don’t know how to ask ourselves the right questions. That is why we questioned ourselves first of all. Perhaps we did not follow through with these things in the past. Being able to make an examination of conscience can open us up to hope. Seeing those who suffer, who are poor, we must not be afraid to open our hearts. We must not be afraid to empty our pockets and our wallets, to live simply and with respect for creation, seeing other people as brothers and sisters, part of the same family.”
Education is one of the most important challenges the Nigerian schooling system has to face, and where at times Nigerian society has to deal with aggressive behavior and religious traditions that imbue fear and a sense of helplessness in the face of evil. “One day,” Christiane recounts, ” a mother stopped bringing her daughter to school because we had asked the parents to cut the hair of the children who were about to start the first year of nursery school. She said that someone who was believed to be in contact with spirits had told her that her daughter would die if she cut her hair. And this explained why the child no longer went to school.” Christiane who is of German origin, had worked for many years in the youth section of the Focolare. Through support from a distance project of the New Families association, today she still works with children in Igbariam, a village 40 km away from Onithsa city, south-east of Nigeria, and where the “Fraternity School” is established. The project started in 1995 as a result of the efforts of a group of the Focolare, which started in the 1980s a human promotion process to offer concrete development opportunities through deep relationships with the local people and respect for local traditions. “Through concrete acts of love for some children, an after-school club was formed, which later, slowly turned into a nursery and then an elementary school. Starting from the nursery school, the endeavour is to give the children a global education, preparing them to face the many challenges of this great nation.” Instituted in 2006, today the school counts 223 students, with 75 in the nursery and 148 in the primary school. With time, also the parents became involved in an educational and social project which avails of an educational method based on human values, a teaching style that believes in and respects the dignity of the child as a person. Attention is paid particularly to the smaller ones, just as the Gospel says, offering new tools for global human growth. For example, the “dice of love” is used, with which students and teachers live their daily commitment to peace and solidarity. It is also a novelty since in many Nigerian schools, physical punishment is considered a necessary practice in the educational process. The idea in force is “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” and it is not easy to change this mentality. However, in an interview with the newly instituted “New City Nigeria,” Mrs. Akwobi of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, affirmed that “current psychological studies have demonstrated that the negative effects of these corrective measures surpass the positive ones and that the children often become tense and aggressive with physical punishments. They are unable to empathise with the teachers and transfer this rejection to the subjects they teach.” Mrs Akwobi went on to say: “Instead, it is important that they are able to develop awareness in choosing the good and not only to avoid punishment. The teacher should behave as one who always has something to learn, because teaching is a two-way process. Listening to others, patience, and comprehension have a positive effect on the children and their learning abilities. Furthermore, adopting nonviolent measures in school relationships helps to also reduce the rate of violence in society. These educational principles are being implemented in the Fraternity School in Nigeria.” Christiane concluded by saying: “Here, many people leave to look for a better life in Europe. Our job aims at helping people to build a liveable experience in their own countries. Thank you for whatever help you can give! You cannot imagine how much it is helping us to proceed with social works, spread a new culture, and contribute to the development of this country based on Christian love.” Solidarity at a distance:http://www.afnonlus.org/
“Carry on! Carry on with courage along the road of dialogue and brotherhood, because we are all children of God!” Pope Francis forcefully told the hundred people from the Focolare and several Italian Muslim communities at the end of the December 13th Angelus. They had come together to testify to their common journey that has been underway for many years, “Christians and Muslims Together in Building Peace,” as the banner they held read on Saint Peter’s Square. There were imams with their communities from Rome, Trieste, Teramo, and Catania, young women and teenagers from the Mosque of Centocelle in Rome, families and children, scholars and journalists. There was also a delegation from the Buddhist, Risho Kosei Kai Movement, and representatives from Religions for Peace and from other religions. From the festive atmosphere on Saint Peter’s Square, the group of 400 people moved to the seat of the Augustinianum which is just a few hundred metres from the colonnade surrounding Saint Peter’s Square. The lunch they shared provided a setting for some jovial interaction that everyone was looking forward to; there was a prayer room for Muslims; Mass for Catholics – such an unusual event that it was widely covered in the press.
From left: Imam Maher Akkad, Antonio Olivero, Michele Zanzucchi, father Egidio Canil
Legal expert on religious freedom, Vincenzo Buonomo, professor of International Law at the Pontifical Lateran University, kicked off the afternoon with a geopolitical overview: “war is the only answer that Europe has been able to give to terrorist action,” he affirmed, “while other tools exist – negotiation, accords between countries in the region, dialogue – all of these are of course more demanding but without doubt also more efficacious in the mid and long term.” There was an equally incisive declaration by Imam of Catania, Abdelhafid Kheit, (directional member of the [Union of Islamic Communities of Italy] (UCOIL) who had just walked through the Holy Door of Mercy with several Christian friends: “Not everyone thinks that diversity is an enrichment, but it is the Lord God who made us different, otherwise we would be one community.” Italian Catholic Associations called for an investment in peace education, as a response to the clear challenge of dialogue. This is the direction in which the Spirit of Assisi is blowing, which was made present by Egidio Canil, Franciscan from the Sacred Convent, who exhorted everyone to: “cross through the armies again today – like Francis at the time of the Crusades, to encounter the Sultan – and bring peace.”Then there was the actual experience: Imams and Christian from Italian cities gave their live witnesses. The imam from Centocelle, Mohamed Ben Mohamed, relies heavily on the witness of young people – many of them present – to bring forward the war against evil;” Cenap Aydin, director of the Tevere Institute, joyfully exclaimed “Today even the Pope joined us!” This was followed by experiences from Centro La Pira in Florence which, since 1978, has been a place of fraternal welcome for people from other countries, and of encounter amongst different cultures. The community of Trieste was described by Imam Naher Akkad; the “Different but ONE” project, begun 20 years earlier and spread throughout Abruzzi, was presented by Imam Mustapha Batzami; and from the community of Catania where dialogue between Muslims and Christians has been lived out for some time in after-school programmes in Mosques; meetings amongst families that led to two large-scale public events, which were presented by an imam and Giusy Brogna who is in charge of the Focolare’s interreligious dialogue in Italy.
Amjad Zedan, a Syrian student from Sophia University Institute
The presence of Amjad Zedan, a young Syrian student from Sophia University Institute, and Pascal Bedros, a Lebanese resident of Aleppo, brought to the hall, amidst the coldness of the war, that thread of hope of those who believe that “despite it being almost too late, the situation could still change,” and warning to the West that has not understood how dangerous the stakes would be. The pact of closeness and collaboration that was signed by the Focolare Movement and by the Muslim Communities in Italy marked the conclusion of the event, and was a commitment to be lived out in everyday life, a responsibility “so that no one will give up in situations where life together is difficult, but that everyone would work for the “irrevocable rejection of violence” and in favour of religion that is a “source of social cohesion and of peace.”
It is impressive to discover that not only is there no exploitation and unfair competition, but also no play on interest rates. These entrepreneurs, like those who have signed up for an Economy of Communion (EoC) – about a thousand throughout the world – pursue the objective of profits that ensure vitality and continuity to their businesses, and wish to live the ”culture of giving” according to the finalities of the project itself: to help the formation and education of the young generations towards this new mentality. Thus they freely and concretely place a part of their turnover at the service of the project. Socoro and Gomes, Brazilians live in Taguantinga City, in the Federal District. They already had six children when he lost his job because he was an alcoholic. To maintain the family, she worked as a household helper, but earned very little. Left by themselves, the children became so disoriented to the point that the eldest, an adolescent, got involved in drugs. The Focolare came to their aid and offered the boy a job in the Fazenda da Esperança, a rehab community inspired by the spirituality of the Focolare.The family also had to shoulder serious housing problems, since their house was not only a makeshift one but also too small for such a big family. They also risked losing the house since they had stopped paying the person who had given them a loan. They presented this problem to the EoC Commission of their region. After a careful analysis, they were offered a loan to cover the late payments, to be paid back according to their capacity to do so. Meanwhile, Gomes started a small business with gas bottles, but because of his alcoholism was unable to keep up with it. Those were really difficult times for them. In addition to their serious economic difficulties, there were squabbles and lack of dialogue. Amid all this, Gomes suffered a heart attack. Unexpectedly, Socoro was offered a permanent job, as a household helper to a Cardinal, who employed her with a regular contract and a just salary. One day when he went to visit the family, he had an important chat with Gomes, who decided to give up his addiction and change his lifestyle. Later on the EoC Commission also visited them to verify their housing situation, and on that occasion offered to insert them in the Habitaçao project within the EoC framework, which provides for the restructuring or renovation of houses for extremely poor families. «When I was told about this– confided Socoro – I was really moved. I had the sensation that God himself was giving us this possibility.» The renovation work was mostly done by members of the Focolare community, some of them worked from 5.30 am to 7 pm. Now the house has a living room, bathroom, master’s bedroom and one for the boys and another for the girls. Living in a house with these requisites helps its inhabitants to regain their personal dignity. Gomes is completely rehabilitated, and has become another person altogether. The couple’s older daughters are now in university, thanks to a scholarship. «Seeing our daughters so committed to their studies– says Gomes – made me also feel the urge to enroll in a course for adults to obtain a diploma.» Even though he had not studied for 38 years, it was a challenge he wanted to meet. In the class, he learned to overcome his shame for being the oldest among the students. His kindness helped him to achieve his goal. When the results of the exams for the Bank of Brasilia and the Ministry of Tourism were given, he managed to classify among the top 200 and was employed in the bank as a clerk.
“The Magnificat” Stained Glass Window, Community of Taizé
At the centre of the Magnificat,which gathers momentum from the prophets with the promise of salvation, there is a mention of Divine Mercy that could seem like a rhetorical addition. It seems to me that the reference to the mercy of the Father, at the centre of Mary’s song, is of capital importance and contains the concise explanation for all the exuberant divine facts that give unheard of beauty and steady immediacy to the poetic outburst of the fifteen year old girl who carried and grew Jesus in her womb. In the first part, Mary exalts “the Almighty who has done great things” to His “servant” so that all generations shall call her blessed. God had done the miracle of the Incarnation of the Word, through a poor and humble girl from an obscure village of Israel; an act that will lead to the salvation of humanity of all times. Thus she observes: “His name is holy – and his mercy extends from generation to generation …”. Redemption originates in an act of compassion by the Heavenly Father towards his children. If He accomplished that prodigy of love, which only a God could accomplish, of his Son being born of a woman of the people and have him die for the sake of the people, it is all due to an act of mercy, a miracle of mercy that is love raised to its peak. This demands that we pardon our brother not only seven times, but up to seventy times seven time; that is, always, all the way to infinity; that we love him to the point of giving up our life for him. God “has helped his servant, Israel – ever mindful of his mercy. . .” Everything in the divine government everything leads back to mercy. This will be clarified and confirmed in the demeanour of Jesus – out of love for whom Mary speaks – when He will feed the crowds and cure the sick; when he will drive the sellers from the Temple and raise his voice against the Pharisees and the proud. The Magnificat is the anthem of the Christian revolution. But its most revolutionary aspect lies in its origin: mercy. This is why it does not destroy, but creates; because love for God and man does not produce anything else but good. The Magnificat gives the directives of the evolutionary process, mutation and rebirth, in which the Gospel ideal is translated socially and politically, as well as spiritually; a mutation that originates in love and is embodied in mercy. There is a new urgent need for such an ideal today. Ideologies and protests, guerrilla warfare and revolt are breaking out everywhere. They call for greater and beautiful aspirations while they introduce hateful programs of destruction. Mary teaches how to orient and construct this revolution. She is a woman, the Mother of God, who teaches both with word and life: the life of the Mother of Mercy. Her example is worth even more today, as it revalues femininity.Mary teaches us the path of mercy. By now the absurdity and uselessness of wars is acknowledge, that is, hatred, and the need for rational systems focused on dialogue, negotiation and, above all, of intervention and gifts from those who have, in favour of those who have not. We can see it: sending arms and money to help this or that population serves only to increase the conflicts in which people suffer, agonise and die; and to plant seeds of hatred against the very givers. The perspective of that young woman, who sang her Magnificat, the method of mercy, amongst the poor, is the perspective of the divine and human intelligence, the only one capable of resolving the problem of a world threatened by the ultimate definitive catastrophe, provoked by the stupidity of hatred and the drug of suicide. To have peace and wellbeing again, we need to take care of the material and moral wounds of those who suffer, from whatever side of the ocean, in Europe and in Asia, in America and in Africa, using a compassion that is the fruit of understanding; a charity that was not grow weak, but abolishes injustices and selfishness, to transform coexistence into community, and nations into a family. Jesus, the Son of Mary wants it to be so, as Mary his Mother assures. Igino Giordani, in Mater Ecclesiae, 4, 1970. www.iginogiordani.info
Doing business today is no easy “business.” Especially in Caserta, a region of southern Italy known as the “land of fire” because of its toxic waste dumps. Yet, it is a “splendid land,” said Bishop D’Alise during the visit of Pope Francis – that has become a dumping ground of waste. The unemployment takes your breath away and steals away the hope of upcoming generations.” An interview with Antonio Diana, president of Erreplast, a local waste recycling industry: How did it happen that you found yourself at the head of a business like yours? On June 26, 1985, my father, Mario Diana, a business owner, became an innocent victim of the camorra, leaving our family at a crossroads: to seek a future in more peaceful territories, or continue to bear witness that the social, moral and cultural rebirth of this region is possible. Along with many honest people, after thirty years we can say that we have also contributed in some modest way to restoring hope to the youth and to the territories of this province.” But really, can you run a business in an ethical manner in a context that is so problematic, and in such a critical sector as waste? “You can, provided you don’t comply with the common practices of staying on the market while falling into comprimises. Even though the risk of appearing folly, it is concrete. At present, the group consists of 5 businesses, more than 160 people, a volume of deals amounting to 40 million Euros, 5 industiral collection and recycling plants fore recycling and waste packaging of more than 80,000 tons per year.”
Antonio Diana (Photo Sergio Siano)
“We know that in your programmes besides the ongoing innovation in work practices, particular attention is given to the environment, sustainability. . . “In June 2013 we created a Foundation named after my father, whose goal is to promote projects in favour of the environment and of the local region, appreciation of botht the national and local historical and artistical culture, and the education of young people with projects carried out in collaboration with universities.” How can you manage to stay afloat despite the competitiveness? “We know that the so-called black market, counterfeiting, money lender loans and corruption interfere with the mechanisims of the market and disrupt competition. Those who act illegally do have advantages when it comes to competition, but they never generate a healthy industrial system, which is the backbone of advanced societies. But, whereas illegal behavour in the long run dulls the ability to grow skill and creativity, the best practices of legality lead to flexibility and efficiency that lead to improvement in the quality of processes and products. Long-term projects, regular hiring and paying, avoiding waste, disposing of waste properly – all this allows the business to be competitive in the real market economy.” You you say a few words about human resources? “I’ve always tried to create a workplace that combines economic results with the advancement of society. I’m convinced that a business needs to discover that it is essentially a community of flesh –and-blood people, people who give meaning to what they do when they recognise the contribution they are giving to society. And this is achieved by acknowledging and appreciating the dignity of each person’s work, through transparency and sharing of the projects.”
In 2015, in conjunction with the Synod on the Family, the activities certainly could not have gone by without some exclusive event organised by the Focolare families that are very active in South Korea. In this time of crisis in family relationships, in the Chong Hasang Education Center of Seoul, and simultaneously in Pohang, the 2-4 October weekend was dedicated to a ”School of forgiveness for couples” held for 120 couples. In the end, the couples all agreed on the need for true dialogue between spouses. “Instead of burying pettiness and hurt feelings – a couple said – we have to face the situation with courage, discuss it, and ask and receive pardon.” It was a dialogue we experimented on and which they now believe to be essential to renew, and be able to communicate to each other, the things they are unable to say. Also the people involved in the parish – 119 of them from all the dioceses of South Korea – had their moment of growth. Accompanied by 18 priests and five religious, on 26 October they reflected on the ”Parish, home of friendship, school of communion.” It was a day lived in the spirituality of unity to contribute to the quality of service to the parish, in full communion of the laity amongst themselves and with the priests, beyond all differences in roles, age, and viewpoints. The testimonials confirmed that misunderstanding and conflicts can be overcome through mutual charity, and unity be reached through reconciliation. All of this was to the benefit of the parish community. “A day at the cafe for Nepal.” Objective: to raise funds for Ramjung where there had been that terrible earthquake last April. This was the invitation launched by the Youth for a united world on Saturday, 5 September, in a bar in Seoul. The key moment was the video-connection with three other Asian cities, Katmandu, Mumbai and precisely India, from which came the story of those who managed to send aid to Nepal: doing part-time jobs, and organizing dinners and concerts. One of them was Natasha who despite being jobless donated 5,000 rupees, and after that experienced the gospel’s hundredfold: three days later she was hired by a company. It has now become a tradition. In a dining hall reserved for the deputies of the Korean parliament, the Focolare held, for those who wished to attend, the monthly SocialForum for unity that reached its 32nd edition on 17 September. In that session they presented the “RainbowDream Project,” an educational, recreational program for schools that started out from an integral vision of the person (white, as the colour of light) intercepting the seven main educational aspects (corresponding to the seven colours of the rainbow). Each colour was matched with a behavioural attitude which in turn embraced multifaceted dimensions, while keeping a unitary focus that adjusts to the specific situations the student has to face. The project also provided a community reading session of a phrase from the Gospel at the start of each month, which alternated with the sharing of concrete experiences on this phrase, broadcasted on radio. This project has been ongoing in the Maegoe High School of Chungbuk since 2009. At that time, someone who was worried about the new assignment as Dean, had suggested to Fr. Matteo Park to introduce the spirituality of unity in the school syllabus. Saturday, 28 November saw the launch of the “Bring carbon” Project of the Youth for a united world. Carbon and fuel were donated to the elderly abandoned people living alone, to heat up their homes. But it is just an excuse to touch base, and to arouse awareness in the youth. “Open the taps – one of them surprisingly wrote – and there is abundant hot water running; press a button and the heater warms up the whole house, and you can stretch out under a comforter and watch TV. This was what I used to consider as an ordinary winter day. And I thought that it was but natural for everyone … but now I know that there is someone next to me who needs my love…..”
All of us here are involved in helping refugees to integrate in our coundry,” they write from Germany. “Some of us give German lessons, some provide lodging, some give of their time to be with the refugees. We are currently waiting for the arrival of 9 unaccompanied minors from Syria and Afghanistan. They’ll live for six months at our centre in Ottmaring where they will be assisted by social workers from the city.” “Here in Dallas,” they write from Texas, “we held a peace march to raise funds for Syrian refugees.” “In Houston “We got together for a day of team building. With games, work groups, and so forth we learned how to be a team. On November 22 we held an interreligious prayer for peace. It was attended by Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Christians. The Archbishop also joined us.” From California they tell us that the benefit dinner for refugees from the Middle East included a hundred people from different cultures and Churches. After praying for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Beirut and Paris, some young people presented several of their projects for refugees, from around the world, which are connected to the United World Project, an international platform for providing visibility to small and large-scale projects. Everyone agreed that through dialogue everyone can sow hope in their own corners of the world. A benefit dinner will also be held in San Francisco in December. “From October 30th, at Centro Luminosa in Spain, a community prayer service will be held every Saturday evening, animated by different groups of people each time: youth, families, priests. . .) It will be the starting point for becoming more actively involved in concrete efforts for peace. There was a very energetic response from Bahia Blanca, Argentina, following the November 20th event in the Square. The idea was to invite everyone – absolutely everyone – to learn more about building peace. The launching of the event which was covered by a local radio station, was then broadcast on social media. At 19:30 the Square began to be covered in colour and music. Banners, posters and fliers offered ideas on how to resolve conflicts through dialogue and thus generate peace: giving a smile, discussing without shouting, doing to others what you would have done to you, and so on. On stage there were songs, brief presentations and dances (one choir offered to sing because of an invitation on Facebook.) “The experience of today is only a first step, which confirms that when you are together small things become powerful. And so it is urgent that we get moving beginning with our daily life.” In Parana, Argentina, the local community organised two ecumenical evenings of prayer for peace and for the persecuted because of their faith, animated by members of the different Churches with whom they are in contact. With testimonies of refugees and the families that took them in, besides the heartfelt prayer, they wanted to give visibility to the amount of road we have already covered in learning about, welcoming and including others. From Tokyo, Japan, they report a large sum of money that was gathered at the “Syrian Cafe” (a place for encounter and dialogue), which will be sent to Damascus. And we add that in Asunción, Paraguay, on December 18-20 there will be a camp for peace, organised by Teens for Unity, one of the junior sections of the Focolare.
A new gate has been opened at Hope Park, Liverpool, to replace the tall walls that have historically separated the colleges of Hope University , England. The new architectural structure joins two university schools, one Roman Catholic and the other Anglican, which comprise the first and only ecumenical university of Europe. The exhibition, which was inaugurated on 28 September, was organised by the Ave Arts Centre in Loppiano. The seven artists who work there aim to express, through their artwork, the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood which inspired Chiara Lubich. The partnership with the art studio was born from a visit by Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Dr. Phillay to the Internationanl Centre of Loppiano for a conference at Sophia University Institute. At the dedication ceremony of the New Gate, the Vice-Chancellor explained the inspiration for the shape and design of the gate which stems from the tradition of the Maori people in New Zealand, whose villages had “Waharoa,” an open gate that became a symbol of the village and a sign of openness and welcome to guests and visitors. “In the same way,” continued Dr. Phillay, “this new gate marks the entrance for students and professors into the ‘community of life’ of Hope University, focused – in accordance with the orientation of Cardinal John Henry Newman, towards a wholisitc cultural and human formation, capable of ‘accepting the value of one’s own academic discipline within the context of all the others.” Nunzia Bertali, from the Italian Consulate, officially inaugurated the New Gate by cutting the ribbon. She said: “What a great occasion and privilege to be asked to inaugurate the New Gate. I can only be proud of this link between England and Italy. It is a fantastic idea and great opportunity to link the two countries.” Watch the video. New Gate, inspiration at the service of unity Sculptress Erika Ivacson from the Ave Centre, described the New Gate in this way: “It is an arch, a bridge that is born from the encounter between two similar yet distinct elements. In the language of sculpture the two distinct forms have reached a harmony and a unity in diversity. Passing through the New Gate, anyone should find themself in a fulfilling experience that points to something greater, to belonging and identity. The Biblical texts inserted on the interior of the sculpture echo the message. And as the plaque at the side of the sculpture states: May passing through this gate each day be a living affirmation of the ecumenical foundations of this univeristy.
The Solar kitchen project for Mont-Organisé (Haiti) «was conceived due to the desire to help Haiti counter its social and environmental crisis related to deforestation, through the introduction of kitchens powered by solar energy. This device is based on solar energy concentration that generates thermal energy from the sunlight passed through a lens. The energy is amassed in a thermal “battery” that can withhold the heat for 20 hours, thus enabling cooking to be done also at night. The materials chosen to make the kitchens are sustainable and biodegradable, and the device obviously does not require fuel, explained the report drafted in view of the climate conference in Paris (30 November – 11 December 2015). It is dedicated to a series of excellent experiences in the Italian electrical supply chain to produce or optimise energy without emissions. The project, in fact, was singled out from the “100 Italian energy stories” of Enel and the Symbola Foundation. The Solar Kitchens project for Mont-Organisé (Haiti) was presented last 4 July at the Expo 2015 in Milan by AFNonlus, in collaboration with the National Microcredit Agency, the Federico II University of the Agricultural Dept. of Naples, Tesla IA Ltd. and PACNE ONG. It has now landed in the World Climate Conference (Cop21) of Paris, where political leaders and experts of 190 countries are involved in delineating a programme that can save the planet. «The climate challenge which from 30 November to 11 December will see the world gathered in Paris for the COP21, does not only regard the environment,» the Report underlined, but «is a geopolitical, technological, economic and social challenge. It is a challenge for the future, which we can overcome if we firmly undertake a green economy, and clean and efficient energy.” Enel and Symbola recount a new course consisting of innovation and quality, and research and competitiveness in the search for the ”100 Italian Energy Stories.” It is a programme for sustainable energy undertaken in our country [Italy] by enterprises, research agencies and associations.» AFNonlus (Association of Action for New Families non-profit org.) was inspired by the principles of the Focolare Movement which has been operating for over 30 years in 50 countries to support the disadvantaged families and children through projects of cooperation for development.
The Indiction of the Jubilee of Mercy has taken the word “mercy” far beyond Vatican walls, and to the ears of the secular world it can sound outdated and laden with religious significance. The nonbeliever tends from the start to not accept the mystical meanings with which this word is usually invested, especially now as it is raised to disturbing centrality in worldly society. The nonbeliever finds synonyms, or presumed synonyms, that would allow the word to be taken beyond the borders of Christianity: pity, compassion, empathy . . . in a growing confusion that the online dictionaries are not able to reduce. The first impulse is to identify it with “pity,” the sentiment of people with “compassion,” of people who emotionally perceives the sufferings of others as their own and would like to alleviate them (and, by the way, in Christianity the term “pity” is close to the term “mercy”.) Well, then, why not “empathy” which is not a feeling but an ability to fully understand the state of soul of others, to place oneself in someone else’s shoes especially after the discovery by neurosurgeons on the mirror neurons that tends to confirm that empathy does not have its origins in intellectual effort but in the genetic code of the species? Words such as pity, mercy compassion, like all respectable words, will have their positive and negative meanings. Just think of the derogatory meaning of phrases such as: “I feel pity for you;” or “I pity you;” “He needs to be pitied.” What about the misericorde weapon that was used in medie-val times to deliver the death stroke, the “mercy stroke”? You will say that “mercy” is compassion, yes, but “active” compassion that is substantiated by action, by works. And it may be that it represents a fundamental concept, which is key to the Christian life, as the Dr. Cardinal W. Kasper underscores. Well, then you would need to distinguish between a Christian mercy and a secular mercy based on humanitarian values which, while they march side by side and intertwine, nevertheless belong to two different orders that are to be re-spected in their nature. Therefore, it is not a matter of contrasting secular good works with Christian good works, but of “searching for that hidden harmony that brings relief to the world;” and harmony – like dialogue – “is not given in homogeneity, but it lives in diversity. . .” Mario Frontini
Igino Giordani was a forerunner of ecumenism. His sensitivity to ecumenical issues began when in 1927, he embarked on a ship for the USA to study Library Science on behalf of the Vatican. It was there that he discovered that he still was unfamiliar with the various Christian denominations and was deeply struck by their religiosity. In many previous writings, Giordani affirmed that ecumenical dialogue draws inspiration from the model of Trinitarian relationships, because all are set on the same level of love. Communion calls all to dialogue, and in the same measure, all are called to give of themselves to create unity. “In the past, discussions were undertaken to eliminate divisions; today the preferred method is respectful confrontation of ideas, and the effort to reach a convergence and reconciliation. The concept today is that unity is not static but dynamic, and grows in quantity and quality. Dialogue thus marks an innovative “historic turning point,” overcoming controversies, disagreements, excommunication, and likewise sets the grounds for comprehension, approach to the truth and virtues of the others. Dialogue, through which advocates of one or more churches get together, is neither propagandistic nor academic. Possessing the truth does not hinder the inexorable penetration of the mysteries or the real progress of the dogmas which are to be studied in depth, and reinterpreted. 
“Ecumenical dialogue does not arise from the doctrinal differences between the two (or more) churches, but from unity which already exists among them, from a common heritage. The psychological atmosphere is kindness, or rather, charity. In the words of Maritain: “Perfect charity towards one’s neighbour and perfect fidelity to the truth are not only compatible but refer to one another.” For the prophetic mission of the People of God, the Christian has to convey the truths he possesses and allow the other to convey the truths he holds. For such a prophetic mission, the Christian must not limit dialogue to the theological aspect (making it a task for experts). Unity is not only a technical and theological issue, it is a question of charity. «The interlocutors have to treat each other as peers, and with reciprocal esteem, no insinuations or sly tricks, and no offensive words. This equality does not signify confusion or adjustment of doctrines. It implies for both, awareness of belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ. They have to accept pluralism, recognising every legitimate diversity. What unites the faithful is stronger than what divides them (Gaudium et Spes, 92). Otherwise, dialogue is reduced to an alternated monologue. All Christians are called to practice dialogue which can be enhanced by every encounter (work, tourism, studies, etc.). No fences can be allowed between one confession and the other: but all doors should be opened to reach an encounter and dialogue. The job is long and tedious, but God wants this from us.”
“We wanted to give a testimonial of an experience which has transformed us, and that took place on 11-13 December 2015. On this occasion some members of the Jewish Bet-El Community and the inhabitants of the Focolare town, prayed for one another,” wrote the Argentinean Rabbi, Silvina Chemen and Carlos Becaría and Nanni Espinosa of Mariapolis Lia. A special Shabbath. “We started by gathering bread for the rit,” Silvina recounted, “then we participated and shared this moment in which the Hanuka candles were lit, and we recalled the historical pact celebrated by 
“A society is good when the last and smallest member of society will have the opportunity to produce and earn sufficiently for a decent and dignified living.” This was the ideal of the philosophy which in 1986 pushed Dr Aram and his wife, Minoti, and a group of Gandhian friends, to start up the Shanti Ashram of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Literacy, development of the conditions of women, healthcare, environmental politics, battle against poverty, leadership programs for the youth and projects for children, are the actions promoted by the Ashram, of which the Bala Shanti project is part, and which was created in 1991 to help the very poor children in the surrounding villages. In 2013, Mrs Minoti wrote: “Tagore, the much loved poet and Nobel Prize awardee said: ‘Every boy and girl is a harbinger of the message that God still has not lost hope in man.’ It is in this context that I see the work for our children: to be able to serve one of the most precious gifts of God to humanity.” Initially the Bala Shanti project aimed to offer nutrition, education and healthcare to a small group of children from the ages of 3 to 5. Today the project helps thousands of children in 17 villages, who are in turn directly involved with their families in the battle against poverty, stirring up a proactive social participation. 
The members of the only Focolare Centre in Bulgaria, M. Lucia, Majda, Julia and Ildiko, from Italy, Slovenia, Germany and Romania, recounted: “Just before Christmas we went to Gostilya, a village to the north of Bulgaria, to visit friends who have been coming to the 
“We had prepared a bingo game with gifts for all and a chalk 
Nine business owners have enrolled in an EoC course in the small Central American country of Guatemala, a land with a strong indigeneous ancestry and sharp social contrasts.They have been delving into the fundamentals of the project on a monthly basis and examining experiences that are currently underway in other parts of the world. “The basic text,” course director, Sandra Macario, explains, “is Il prezzo della gratuità (Bruni), but we often have Skype link-ups with other EoC business owners in Mexico City and other Latin American countries.” An Open Day was held on November 26th for people who might be interested in an End-of-the-Year Breakfast which is customary in this area of the world with its traditional beans and corn dishes. The breakfast was attended by forty people. Maria Luisa Altamirano from Mexico was the guest of honour, who presented her experience as a business owner and responded to questions from the audience. Besides course members, Brazilian business owner, Ismael Yos, who attended the same course in Brazil, also spoke. The testimony of Guatamalen architect, Jose Mario Contreras, was exceptionally moving. He does not always have steady work, so he depends on a pool of workers whom he can call when he needs them. They know that work is scarce and realise that when they are not working for him, they must find whatever work can be found. At times workers are urgently needed, such as the time they had to restructure and fit out a Dyalisis Centre. Due to a cancellation of a contract with another company and susequent suspension of service, it became even more pressing. They were in need of builders to restructure the building and engineers to operate machinery. Contreras presented his bid, and all voted in favour, except for the delivery time which was reduced by half or else forfiet the job. It was an impossible problem. The last card he had to play was dialoging with the workers. Dialogue was a concept that Contreras had been implementing for some time, and he had introduced it as one of the foundations of his work activity, a lifestyle that has proven to be efficacious at such critical times. His proposal to the workers of working double shifts was unanimously accepted, not only because they did not want to lose out on the job, but because they trusted him and one another. Contrary to all technical predictions the job was finished on time, and the patients who were waiting recieved treatment on the date that had previously been agreed on. On another occasion Contreras had received a telephone call from one of his employees. It was early in the morning, too early to disturb the boss. But it was serious: his small daughter was ill and in urgent need of a certain medication that was too costly for the employee. Contreras listened to him like a brother: “For now I’ll begin to pray for your daughter,” he told him. “As soon as the bank opens, I’ll send you the money you need.” Contreras had the feeling that his company “had become a family.” 
It is also a novelty since in many Nigerian schools, physical punishment is considered a necessary practice in the educational process. The idea in force is “Spare the rod and spoil the child,” and it is not easy to change this mentality. However, in an interview with the newly instituted “New City Nigeria,” Mrs. Akwobi of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, affirmed that “current psychological studies have demonstrated that the negative effects of these corrective measures surpass the positive ones and that the children often become tense and aggressive with physical punishments. They are unable to empathise with the teachers and transfer this rejection to the subjects they teach.” Mrs Akwobi went on to say: “Instead, it is important that they are able to develop awareness in choosing the good and not only to avoid punishment. The teacher should behave as one who always has something to learn, because teaching is a two-way process. Listening to others, patience, and comprehension have a positive effect on the children and their learning abilities. Furthermore, adopting nonviolent measures in school relationships helps to also reduce the rate of violence in society. These educational principles are being implemented in the Fraternity School in Nigeria.” Christiane concluded by saying: “Here, many people leave to look for a better life in Europe. Our job aims at helping people to build a liveable experience in their own countries. Thank you for whatever help you can give! You cannot imagine how much it is helping us to proceed with social works, spread a new culture, and contribute to the development of this country based on Christian love.” Solidarity at a distance: 
