We can become slaves to what we do, getting all ‘hot and bothered’. Jesus invites us to focus on the only thing that matters: living his word as we live for him. This makes our work a creative act of love. There is much affection in repeating this name: “Martha, Martha”! The house in Bethany, near Jerusalem, was a place Jesus would stop and rest with his disciples. In the city, he was drawn into debates; he found antagonism and rejection. In Bethany, instead, he felt welcome and found peace. Martha was enterprising and active. She showed it later when her brother died and she engaged Jesus in a lengthy conversation, questioning him energetically. She was a strong woman who showed great faith. When “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe’” (Jn 11:25–27). She answered without any hesitation. At this point she was extremely busy, organizing a special welcome for the master and his disciples. She was the mistress of the house (as her name suggests: Martha means “mistress”), and so she felt responsible. She was probably preparing the evening meal for her important guest. Her sister Mary had left her all alone to do the work. Contrary to the traditions of the East, Mary did not go to the kitchen but remained with the men to listen to Jesus, sitting at his feet, just like the perfect disciple. This gave rise to the rather resentful comment by Martha: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me” (Lk 10:40). And Jesus’ affectionate, yet firm reply was:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”
Was Jesus not happy with the enterprising and generous service of Martha? Didn’t he appreciate her concrete and practical way of welcoming him, and wouldn’t he be happy to eat the food that was being prepared? Shortly after this episode, in his parables he will praise the administrators, businesspeople and employees who know how to use their talents creatively and do business with their goods (see Lk 12:42; 19:12–26). He even praises shrewdness (see Lk 16:1–8). He could not but rejoice at seeing a woman so full of initiative and capable of giving a warm and abundant welcome. What Jesus calls attention to is the state she was in, how bothered and worried she was about her work. Martha is agitated, “distracted by her many tasks” (Lk 10:40); she has lost her calm. It is no longer she who controls her work, but it is her work that has taken control and tyrannizes her. She is no longer free; she has become a slave to what she does. Doesn’t it happen also to us at times that we get lost in the thousands of things to do? We are drawn to and distracted by the internet, by messaging, by useless posts. Even when we have serious commitments to occupy us, they can make us forget to be attentive to others, to listen to people right next to us. Above all, the danger is that we lose sight of why and who we are working for. Our work and other concerns become ends in themselves. Or else we are overcome by anxiety and agitation when we face difficult situations and problems with our family, money matters, career, school and the future of our children —to such an extent that we forget the words of Jesus: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Mt 6:31–32). We too deserve Jesus’ criticism:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”
What is the only thing needed? To hear and live the words of Jesus. Before these words and before he who speaks them, we cannot put anything at all. The true way of welcoming the Lord, of making him feel at home, is to welcome what he says. This is what Mary did: forgetting everything else, she put herself at his feet and did not miss a single word. If we do that we will be guided not by our desire to be noticed or to have the first place, but only by pleasing him, by being at the service of his kingdom. Like Martha, we too are called to do “many things” for the good of others. Jesus has taught us that the Father is happy when we bear “much fruit” (see John 15:8) and that we will even do greater things than he did (see Jn 14:12). He looks therefore at our dedication, our passion in doing the work he has given us to do, our imagination, courage and resourcefulness. He wants us to do many things without getting bothered and agitated, but keeping the peace that comes from knowing we are doing God’s will. The only thing that matters therefore is to become Jesus’ disciples, letting him live in us, being attentive to what he suggests with his gentle voice that prompts us moment by moment. In this way he will be the one who guides us in every act. In doing “many things” we will not be distracted and side-tracked, because by following Jesus’ words we will be moved by love alone. In all we do, we will always do only one thing: love.
Fabio Ciardi *
*Fr Fabio Ciardi, OMI is a theologian and close collaborator of Chiara LubichRead more on this topic: Lubich, Chiara. Here and Now: Reflections on Living the Present Moment. New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 2005. Lubich, Chiara. “A divine balance,” Essential Writings. New City Press, Hyde Park, New York, 2007. Pg. 123. Next month: Word of Life for July 2015 “Take courage; I have conquered the world!” (Jn 16:33).
“My current parish is found in one of the neighbourhoods of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia,” says Fr Ludovit. “The city has about 4,300 inhabitants, of which 3,500 are Christians, and the numbers continue to grow. When I arrived here in July 2009, I knew my first task was to love people with the love of Jesus. Now I can say that I’m happy because a beautiful community has sprung up between people of different ages and social status, from different Slovakian cities, who have discovered a new relationship with God, not just through the Bible and prayer, but also through the community and various parish activities. They have found here the joy in the faith which is worth living for. When I first arrived, there were no young people: the government had banned the construction of new buildings, so many young couples had moved elsewhere. Furthermore, there was no program of formation in the faith for the few teens there were. I met three young people who had the desire to help me, but they were immersed in their own work and studies. At that time I invited the teens and the young people who had recently been confirmed to a barbecue. They came as a sign of respect, but they never returned. “We’ve already received Confirmation, so there’s no need to go to Mass anymore,” they told me. In this situation, I entrusted everything to Jesus. Since September 2009, I have been teaching Catechism in all of the elementary and middle school classes (about 150 children and teens). At the same time, I started a Sunday Mass for families. I tried to take advantage of every occasion to build relationships: greeting people on the street, visiting others in their home, exchanging a few words at the shops, in the office, or at school. And again: invitations to a barbecue and to play sports on the parish grounds. Little by little people began to participate. Gradually a community was forming; there were children who didn’t want to miss out, young mothers who discovered a common bond because their children were the same age, dads who invited one another to help with various odd jobs in the church or in the parish house, but also to play tennis or have a beer together. Even the mayor and some members of parliament began to participate. One day, Jesus also sent me Blanka, who is now the choir director and the leader of many events.” “Many say that ours is ‘a live parish’,” affirms Blanka. “In spite of our individual differences, we constantly search for what unites us, and we always return to the fount of unity, of love, and of forgiveness, which is Jesus. We parents try to create the practical conditions so that many activities can be carried out. Often they are to the detriment of our time, our rest or housework, but it is truly wonderful to see that everyone supports not only their own children, but all of “our” children. This is the case with Michael, an autistic boy who is now adolescent. I am very glad to see that the other teens are open towards him inviting him to join them and considering him their equal. And Michael loves them a lot and feels that they all are part of his big family.” “I am an allergist/immunologist and I work in a non-government capacity at the Pediatric University Hospital of Bratislava,” continues Dagmar. “The Pastoral Center and the parish Nursery School which were constructed have become ‘poles’ of different activities for our children, teens, and young people, of which the number is constantly growing. One day, in May 2012, Fr Ludo asked me if I were available to participate as a medical doctor at a summer camp for teens in our parish. I immediately said no. But then, I remembered the faces of the teens that I knew. In the end I said yes, and now it is already my 4th year! I have become more sensitive to the suffering of the children and to their fears for their health when they find themselves without their parents. This experience has helped me to understand the deeper significance of service to others.” “A very important meeting occurred last year in Benevento (Italy), organized by the Parish Movement,” concludes Fr Ludovit. “Our young people came away with ‘an encouragement, a spiritual strength, a closer relationship with God,’ they said, ‘and above all, the desire to live “committed to love,” because whatever we do, if it does not have love, loses its value and significance.’ For me it was a confirmation that the community had not only been born and consolidated, but that it rests on the faith of the young people. The future, therefore, is secured.”
Also called the City of Dialogue, Katowice – in the south of Poland, is a mining city par excellence – because it is one of the Polish municipalities that has the most numerous interreligious representatives. It boasts a Centre for Islamic Culture dedicated to prayer and education, and the Doha Centre for Dialogue and Culture dedicated primarily to dialogue, which will celebrate on 29 May, the «3rd Day of Christianity among Muslims» focused on the theme “Jesus – brother of each one of us,” as seen from the Christian and Muslim perspective. Also Maria Voce and Jesús Morán, President and Co-President of the Focolare, respectively, will participate, and who also will be travelling to Belarus and Poland to visit the communities of the Movement. In retrospect, therehas been for some time now in Katowice, a network of fraternal relationships and cooperation among Christians of various Churches, Jews, Muslims, the academic world and civil institutions. On the occasion of the150th anniversary of the city’s founding, the international Gen Verde band was invited to bring a message of fraternity with its music. The band has for some years now, brought to the public an educational artistic project implemented through workshops that feature onstage the youth who have attended their workshops of various disciplines: dance, singing, theatre, percussions on various instruments and even “body percussion.” About 140 boys and girls attended the workshop in Poland and contributed with their talents to the show staged with the band. But what really stirred up interest is the fact that the project also saw the participation of young Muslims, Jews and Christians of various denominations. The posters announcing the event drew the attention of so many that only six hours after the opening of the box office, the 1,450 tickets were already sold out. A Muslim girl who participated in the workshop and the show, thanked the group since she had never “felt so warmly welcomed.” This fact impressed all especially against a background of the recent terrorist acts. Upon returning from Poland, Gen Verde wrote: «We worked with 140 marvelous young people, who were the expression of an open, profound and sensitive people, forged by a faith that has been harshly tested by great suffering. They said that they experienced unity and trust that transformed them and made them fly.» «The show was held in the NOSPR, the new auditorium built over the old mines and for the first time in history, this temple of symphonic music, opened out to our rock music. Every corner of the auditorium was filled to the brim with the public that vibrated with us right from the start, in a crescendo. On hearing the first Polish words we sang (the refrain of two songs) they burst into a moving applause, and at the end of the concert, immense joy pervaded.» A little show within the show unfolded when the mayor, a representative of the Catholic community, a representative of the Jewish community and an Imam, appeared on stage in a spiritual and ideal embrace to testify to a true fraternity that was nurtured through the years. A priest remarked: “We are testimonials to something short of a miracle. If we have these young people among us as we saw today, the world will not die. With this method of dialogue you can save the world. ” The Rabbi then added; “We do not fear the future because… we are together.”
«We are a new generation that wants to take the helm of the Economy of Communion. We are well aware of our inexperience and immaturity but we are also glad to feel that this is precisely our strong point, and we do not want to stop dreaming.» Liliane Mugombozi, a journalist in Kenya, picked up the voice of a young Cameroonese among the participants of the international Economy of Communion (EoC) school, underway from 22 to 26 May at Mariapolis Piero, the Focolare town close to Nairobi, Kenya. «Upon entering that conference hall – she wrote – you could feel the energy of such a young population: vigorous, and full of expectations, hopes, aspirations and dreams that seem almost unthinkable amid all the challenges their continent is faced with.» They were students in economics, development, social sciences, entrepreneurs and followers, coming from all the Sub-Saharian regions, Lebanon, Egypt, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Australia. Amidst all the greetings from various parts of the world, applause broke out when they heard the message of the Dean of Cagliari University, and when Prof. Maria Del Zompo recalled the painful event of the massacre of the young students of Garissa, to remind the youth present of the importance of educational structures, and encourage them in their desire to live and diffuse the ideals of the EoC. Vittorio Pelligra, one of the teachers, presented the method, the roadmap set for these days: applied reciprocity. «It is a special school of dialogue and communication, where we can share our intuitions, doubts, projects and dreams. We are all protagonists, and are ready to give all and receive all from everyone!» After tracing a brief history of the EoC, its birth and growth from 1991 up to today, a question arose: Is the EoC a path for Africa? The dialogue between teachers and participants transformed the auditorium into contagious enthusiasm. «How can we influence our youth?» each one asked. «We, as the youth, are tired of being exploited by politicians as the target in their manifestos. Not only we expect new methods of relating with one another, so does the world… the EoC is one of the solutions, and we feel it.» The aspect of the challenges and resources of the continent’s youth obviously could not be overlooked: the identity crisis in globalised society, poverty, conflicts, enlarged families, the brain drain of the continent, unemployment, and education which is increasingly internationalised without considering the actual educational needs of society around us. These are just the first steps of the school, Liliane Mugomobozi remarked, «but the youth present, upon discovering the new economic categories, already foresee a better future and cannot wait to return to their countries to spread it to as many people possible.» The teachers also recounted their own life stories that had led them to make daring choices in life. A deep dialogue ensued: teachers and students sharing their dreams, frustrations, discouragement, but also small and big success stories. Topics ranged from the great themes like “climate change” to international relations. The youth coming from the mining region of Katanga (DRC), proved to be well aware of the drama that had struck them. And a big dream is taking shape: the young and very young people, enthusiasts of life, strongly believe in the ideal of a United World shared with many other youths from the whole world. It is nothing less than “the dream of God,” as Chiara Lubich once said precisely to the youth. It is a dream that they will not give up even when confronted by important choices in life, as has been such with the university faculty, in order to have an impact on society and to actualize in practice, and not in words, a just and dignified society for every human being. The school, to end on 26 May, will be followed by the EoC international Congress: businesses, entrepreneurs and workers will come face to face, and the ideal will turn into business practices, challenges going on in the employment world, and creative choices. Among the themes to be discussed are: creativity and communion, the culture of communion, business and employment, poverty and wealth and saying yes to an Economy of Communion. These themes will turn into workshops in politics, microfinance and poverty, and startups, involving young scholars and researchers, management, networks of entrepreneurs and the EoC in dialogue with the African cultures. Facebook Pages on the event Live streaming event: http://live.focolare.org/eoc/ on 27 May, 3.00 – 6.30 pm (Kenyan time, 2.00 – 5.30pm CET), and then morning sessions of the scheduled program 9.00am -12.30pm Kenyan time. Programma eventi
Her name is Mardiana. Though short and simple, it is a name which could also pass as a surname also in documents, as often occurs in Indonesia. She is currently national Vice-President of an important multinational assurance company. The Indopost journalist, Heryanto, singled her out recently as one of the most successful women of Jakarta, in one of his interview columns. Her most interesting story centres around a key strength which is a deep spirituality, lived with simplicity and conviction ever since she encountered the Focolare Moviment as a young girl. She achieved her Degree in Economics in 1997 at Medan University (isle of Sumatra), and the following year married Mulianta, also a follower of the spirituality of unity. They wanted to form a family with deep Christian roots, and later had two wonderful children. At a certain point the assurance company Mardiana was working for closed down, but then a new opportunity came up to join Reliance Insurance, another assurance company with branches throughout the world. Often Mardiana had to go to the capital, Jakarta (isle of Java), to attend business meetings. It was a great sacrifice for her, since she wanted so much to stay with her kids. But Mulianta gave her encouragement and support, and helped in taking care of them. Following a promotion, Mulianta was offered a key position in Jakarta, which he refused to be able to remain with his wife and children, and with his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit opened his own business in Medan. Six years passed during which Mardiana’s agency reaped a good turnover resulting also in the well-being of its employees. This was when Mardiana was asked to relocate to Jakarta to assume the position of Vice-President of Reliance Insurance Indonesia. Mulianta and Mardiana reflected on the option to refuse the offer. After all, things were also going ahead in Medan. “But – they said – we must not only think of ourselves. We have to ask ourselves what mission God wants to entrust us with.” And it was precisely Mulianta who pushed Mardiana to accept, despite the fact that he had to leave his business in Medan and find a new job in Jakarta. In the first six months Mardiana continued to go on business trips in order to turn over the work to the new manager and ensure that the Medan market would not suffer any drawbacks due to the change in management. “I am really grateful to God for giving me such an incredible husband!,” Mardiana confided to the Indopost journalist – If he hadn’t encouraged me, I wouldn’t have made it,” and continued, “We have faced everything together– above all the commitment to put evangelical love into practice, which leads us to see each person as a brother to be loved. And so, we do not discriminate anyone, whatever religion they belong to, or position they cover; we are all equal. Whatever is the colour of their skin, ethnic group or religion, they are all brothers for us.” She then recounted a personal experience to the journalist. “Our domestic helper who has been with us for some time now, is Muslim. Besides being honest and hardworking, she is intelligent. So I made a proposal – which she gladly accepted – to send her to university. Many around us said: when she reaches a good position, she will leave and forget you. But love, to our mind, means giving others opportunities and thinking of their future. She will always be part of our family, and we must not think that a household helper has to remain forever as such. The same goes for our driver who has to have a better future.” The journalist, a Muslim, made a very meaningful remark in one of the two articles published on the Indopost: “For Mardiana, being branch manager of Reliance was part of God’s design, even though it is a stressful role with problems of all sorts. But she manages to handle them serenely because her life is founded on love that she learned from the spirituality of the Focolare Movement and of which she and her husband are part. Of course, though she places all her trust in God, it does not mean that she just looks on, but rather, carries out her job with great commitment, as she has always done since she was a working college student.”
It was the evening of 7 May 1995 at the international Centre inLoppiano (Italy). A group of people of various beliefs and cultural backgrounds were having a lively discussion at dinner. They had spent the entire day together to see whether they, as Catholics and agnostics, could overcome ideological limits, dislikes and century-old prejudices and get to understand, accept and appreciate one another. These gatherings of people who spoke different languages and professed various beliefs had started already in 1978 when Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, set up the “Centre for Dialogue with People who hold No Religious Affiliations” within the scope of a more extensive experience initiated by the Focolare. The 7 May 2015 meeting in Loppiano was taken as an opportunity to take stock of this reality and a challenge to certify, face to face, if mutual esteem is really possible. Over the years, in fact, all have even become “friends,” and getting together and discussing with one another was considered not only stimulating but also very pleasant. At that dinner, however, someone was missing, one who perhaps was the most active in the group: Ugo Radica. This really special focolarino had decided to pursue an idea without notifying anybody and had gone to station himself close to the house of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Movement, who was supposed to arrive in Loppiano that evening. His patience was rewarded in the end when Chiara’s car finally came into view. Ugo approached the car, and Chiara, quite surprised, lowered the window to ask: «What are you doing here, Ugo? He firmly said: “I’m here with a group of friends of different beliefs. Why don’t you come to see us tomorrow? I think it would be very important for them to have an exchange of ideas with you personally.” Chiara accepted though unsure and a bit doubtful. She requested that the group prepare some questions for her to answer. Ugo thus returned to the group full of enthusiasm.
Chiara Lubich meets with the group in Loppiano, 7 May 1995
So the next day, 7 May 1995, Chiara Lubich spent half an hour with some of those who would later become the pillars of a really special and strong experience of dialogue between people who normally have a hard time talking to and appreciating one another. The so-called “fourth dialogue” of the Focolare Movement officially came into being during that half-hour, during which Chiara spoke to the small group about mutual respect, “non-proselytism” (an almost revolutionary concept in those times!), and mutual love that is possible between people of different beliefs and cultures. It was a new and engrossing experience to be cultivated and diffused with conviction and tenacity, given that the object of the Focolare movement is “That all may be one,” and without the agnostics, an essential and irreplaceable part of humanity would be missing.That evening, Tito, one of the friends who had turned up by chance at the last minute, phoned his wife, a genuine Catholic, and a long-time member of the Movement, to proudly announce to her that he had spoken to Chiara personally, while she in all those years still had not seen or had a glimpse of her even from afar. Twenty years later, on 7 May 2015 there was again a celebration in Loppiano. A nostalgic commemoration? Absolutely not. Armando, Morena, Tito, Dolores, Piero, Luciana, Roberto, Silvano and many more followed one another onstage to recall those moments, not only to assess the 20 years that have passed, but to also organize the next events. They are convinced, more than ever, of the importance of this type of dialogue. And unlike the moments of encounters between believers, one never knows how these “fourth dialogue” meetings can turn out. But precisely this fact is a warranty of authenticity, since each inevitably has to be fully and personally involved, ready to offer one’s ideas but also accept those of others through an intricate but fruitful exchange. This dialogue which has continued through the years, not without difficulties, has become international, and has reached many countries. Its diffusion and urgency was strongly felt as a pressing responsibility by those who attended the 2015 gathering. This lifestyle has to be actualised firstly among the members of the Movement, to be offered in turn, to all of humanity.
“Our community house is very near St Peter’s Square, in Rome. It was almost nine o’clock in the evening. Our mother superior had just stepped out for a look at the colonnade of Bernini by night with a few compatriots. My cell phone rang, and it was she. “There’s a man here, about 35 years old, who says he was robbed on the metro and lost his ID, money, and cell phone.” I went downstairs to see what could be done. Luciano, as the man called himself, told me he had arrived in Rome that same afternoon, after a twenty-seven hour bus ride. He had managed to scrape together 1,300 euros, thinking it would be enough until he could find work in Italy. I asked him if he wanted to call someone, and he gave me the phone number of his mother in his country of origin. I dialed the number and passed him the cell phone. It was getting late. I called a sister who works at the Charity organization at Termini Train Station to find out if she knew of a place where the man could spend the night, but she told me without ID it wasn’t possible. He decided to sleep outside and to go the next day to the embassy in order to return as soon as possible to his homeland. I asked him if he wanted something to eat or drink, but he was too stressed to eat. He said he still had the sandwiches he had brought for the trip. I offered to accompany him to Pius XIII Square, where many homeless people gather, to entrust him to them (there were others from his country there). Before we reached them, we met B., a homeless woman who sleeps in corners of the apartment buildings. Sometimes we bring her something to eat. I told her about Luciano, without saying, however, that times being as they were, I wasn’t sure if I should believe him. And if it were a scam? But the conviction that he was a neighbour to be loved concretely was stronger. The woman told him, “Go to the dumpster and gather a lot of cardboard, because it’s very cold at night. You can sleep here nearby; no one will harm you.” We left his luggage and went to search for cardboard, which was certainly not easy to find: in that area there are many who sleep on the pavement beneath the walls. In the meantime my superior came to meet us. With the cardboard we returned to B. and left Luciano in her care. Above all, we entrusted him to the Blessed Mother Mary and the Guardian Angels. That night I couldn’t sleep. It was very cold and humid outside. In the morning, I took him at least some warm milk and coffee. He said that because of the cold and discomfort, and the noise of traffic, he hadn’t slept at all. I went back home for Mass. The readings spoke about fasting, which means not only to abstain from food but to “share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter, and when you see the naked, to clothe them…” (Is 58: 1-9). I couldn’t go on reading it; I couldn’t answer the priest; I had a lump in my throat and tears running down my cheeks. I, who find it difficult to cry, had understood what the “gift of tears”, which Pope Francis recently spoke of, truly meant. At the end of Mass, I told my superior, “We have to see this through to the end.” Fearing a scam, she was hesitant at first, but then she agreed. Luciano was still there. He had remembered that in the inside pocket of his backpack he had his identity card. We loaded one of his bags in our shopping cart, and the other we helped him to carry. At the bus terminus we discovered that there was a bus leaving for his country that same day. We bought him the ticket. The clerk advised us to wait for the bus to depart because, he pointed out, this type of person often goes to the cash register to return the ticket and be reimbursed. We had to return home, but first we bought him breakfast. There were still two hours until departure, but we continued to trust. I embraced him and left him my cell phone number, a little money for the trip, and a bit of his country’s currency for the train home. That afternoon, someone who had heard about this story gave us a gift in the same amount we had spent. The next day, we received a grateful text message from Luciano. “Thanks for the ticket and everything. I’ve arrived home safe and sound.”
“I could go to the Dominican Republic and teach music for a couple weeks atCafe’ con LecheSchool,” I nonchalantly expressed, not ever expecting that my comment would actually be taken seriously. So be it this unexpected trip turned into one of the most fantastic experiences I’ve ever had,” says Diane Gregory,former member of the Gen Verde Performing Arts Band, and who now lives in the United States. Before I knew it, I was on the plane heading for Santo Domingo. It was a chilly morning last April 9th. With snow still on the ground, I left New York’s JFK airport heading towards the Caribbean Island that welcomed me with its warm tropical climate and turquois sea. Along the drive to the colonial zone of the city where I would be staying, I was “taking in” everything, from the beautiful seashore with its coconut trees, to the automobiles, surprised at the number of people they can fit into those vehicles and, most strongly of all, I was being struck by the many impoverished neighborhoods that we passed along the way. The morning after I arrived I was on the Guaguita (a 9-seater van that I’ve seen holding up to 23 people!) with Kathi, a young German girl who is also volunteering at the school. Our stop was the town El Café. We were told of the violence that exists but also that we need not worry for our safety since it was “assumed” that we were there to help in the school. In fact, suffering, violence, unemployment and abandonment, are common amongst many of the families. Café con Leche, one of the many social projects of the Focolare Movement, amazes us with its warmth, liveliness, color and vibrancy. The classrooms are not like the ones I was used to in the US but more creative and just perfect for these 570 students from 1st – 8th grade. And to think that twenty years ago the school had begun in a wooden building with 20 students! Now, with the help of many people there is a school building and a gym that is able to welcome students providing them with a good education and nourishing daily meal – but not only. There is an atmosphere that is difficult to describe, a harmony of relationships that provides the students a very wholesome environment in which to study and grow. The 10 days that I spent at the school were extremely dynamic. Together with Marisol Jimenez, the founding director, there was a continual flourishing of ideas that we implemented immediately in the classrooms: saxophone and piano lessons; we formed a choir; did musical games and exercises, lessons on reading music; we made our own percussion instruments; put on skits; danced and even had macramé classes. Marisol’s dream is to have a school band. They had already received the instruments from Switzerland and the students are amazing with such a desire to learn (they have a natural rhythm and so much enthusiasm) but, unfortunately, they do not have the funds to hire music teachers on an ongoing basis. We hope that will happen soon! Café con leche is no longer a place that I’ve read about and heard so much about; it has become an “experience”. Now this school, the children, the teachers and everyone here have a name, a face, a story. I left convinced that everything is possible when we “catch the moment” and give it our all.
In India, a boom in vocations to consecrated life is seen in various points of the subcontinent: Andra Pradesh, Orissa, and the North Eastern States. “The sense of faith and vision of religious life is well esteemed and the youth feel the urge to enter the novitiate to cultivate their union with the Lord,” Fr Attulli states in an interview with Unità e Carismi (Unity and Charisms) of the Città Nuova editorial group. “They aspire this primarily with experience and prayer – he continued – and they wish to dedicate themselves more to the works of charity. The example of Mother Theresa of Calcutta is strong. From her concrete experience of India, she was able to discover herself and her own vocation, through a profound life of prayer from which her new vocation sprung.” The youth who enter the novitiate come from a part of society that is unable to hide social inequality and poverty, despite the fact that the Indian subcontinent is enumerated among the new world economies. But they have not lost their spiritual dimension, and on the other hand, “Look to God for the solution”. They have found at the same time a solution in social commitment, and in fact “draw inspiration from the works of charity in which they are involved, to solve the poverty in material needs, education, etc. They start with an experience of God, which leads them to undertake apostolic works for the needy.” The Catholic Church has called this the Year of Consecrated life. What should be done to make improvements? “Within the Indian setting, “Fr Attulli explained, “the Church in general and the religious in particular can bear witness to the presence of our Lord Jesus by taking greater care of the poor, in both their spiritual and concrete needs. It is a challenge in this secularized world where we are totally intoxicated with wellbeing! The people want to rediscover God in us, detaching themselves from this addiction to wellbeing.” “Why do people stray from God? Why do they not feel the need to go towards Him? the religious asked himself. And the answer came from his own life experience. “If we stand by the poor and those in need, we discover God’s presence in them. The missionaries who live with the poor, come in contact with people who have faith, even if they need to be helped to grow in the “’culture of faith’, through catechism, prayers and the sacraments.” “In the Indian continent,” he concluded, “not only is there material poverty, but there are also existential peripheries. We are made for love and called to live a serene, peaceful and joyful life in love. Faith does not weigh on our minds, but is there to make us live with joy, not only in the life to come, but here and now. This is why our presence in the existential peripheries and with the poor is of great importance.”
At the opening session, Bishop Nunzio Galantino, Secretary General of the Italian Episcopal Conference (IEC), declared that «The spirit of the Episcopal Conference is to start from those involved,» underlining how this is also proven by the meeting which saw the participation of all the ecclesial organisations operating in the social fields. «The ecclesial congress of November will start in Prato, the ideal periphery of Florence and home to Chinese immigrants, and where the Pope is scheduled to make his pastoral visit.» In an interview, Prof. Coda summarised the objective of the two-day work session. «We want to reflect and offer our testimonial through the experiences of some dynamic groups of the Church in Italy, that are working in the frontlines of service to the poor and homeless and in creating an open dialogue in all spheres.» The preparatory meeting delved into the theme on “The Servant of the Lord and the humanity of mankind” (15-16 May), organized by the Abele Group and their magazine, “Il Regno,” with the cooperation of the Italian Catholic Action, Carits, CNCA and the Networks of Charity and the Focolare Movement. “Together with the others, Piero Coda continued, these experiences «open out to all the existential frontiers of society, as Pope Francis says.» Furthermore, «in Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis uses a beautiful expression: we must say “yes” to all the new relationships generated by Jesus. All the groups involved in this event actualise in various ways, this “yes to new relationships” with the cultural and social divides, marginalisation of all sorts, the world around us, and the home common to all Creation, precisely as an expression of this reality of relationships.»Maria Voce’s presence underlined the Focolare’s adhesion to this preparatory path which aims above all to highlight the life of those who give all their energy every day to creating this “new humanism.” «The Church breaks through the confines of the building of religious rites, and in full communion between the clergy and laity, comes closer to present day humanity,» she affirmed in her speech. This Convention «targets the start of a new season in the life and mission of the Church in Italy: not only with regard to the pressing need for “pastoral conversion” but also for the role and public conduct of Christians in facing the social, economic and political realities of our country and keeping an open attitude toward Europe and the world.» She then referred to the challenges of pluralism and the need to harmonise the multitude of diversities in the public field. «This new season stands for the transformation of the world, starting from the radical conversion of our hearts and minds in order to be ready to meet Jesus in each person. God cannot receive us alone, he wants us to go to him with our brethren… To give the Christian name of fraternity to social relationships means committing ourselves to harmonizing the weft of relationships, recognising our mutual belonging and the bonds of responsibility implied, and orienting personal and collective efforts towards the common good.» This is why «we must give a voice and dignity to those at the periphery, extend the spheres of inclusion, and heal and rebuild the frayed social fabric. It is primarily the youth who wish to give their own contribution. So many initiatives have started up locally, in the heart of numberless fragments of “fraternal” civil life!» As a confirmation of Maria Voce’s words, were the almost 200 members of the Focolare Movement attending the meeting, and involved in many ways in the ecclesial organisations, and active in various fields: interreligious dialogue, reception of immigrants, politics, culture and legality, schooling, and the real opening of worksites for the good of Italy. It is a participation which demonstrates their concrete commitment, together with many other active groups.
Audio mp3 in Italian“But God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ” (Eph. 2:4-5).“The commentary on this Word of Life, underlines two characteristics of God’s love. One is that God in His love took the initiative to love us even though we were anything but lovable (“dead through our sins”). The second is that God’s love did not only reach the point of forgiving our sins, but since His love is infinite, He brought us to share in His own life (“he brought us to life in Christ”). These words and thoughts take us back to the very beginnings of the Focolare, when God enkindled in our hearts the spark of our great ideal. In the light of this splendid Word of Life, I realize that the spark or the fire was nothing less than our sharing in Love itself, who is God. In the midst of the dreariness and desolation which surrounded us due to the war, did we find others taking the initiative to love us? Through a special gift of God, wasn’t it in fact we who were the ones lighting the flame of love in many hearts around us, urged on by the desire to see this flame ablaze in everyone? Did we choose to love those who appeared the most likeable or rather were we more attracted to the poorest of all in whom we could better recognize the countenance of Christ, and to sinners who most needed His mercy? Yes, by a divine miracle, (the kind of miracle that occurs each time a charism of the Holy Spirit pours forth in the world), our own little hearts could witness to being rich in mercy. As we know, loving our neighbours did not simply mean to make ourselves one with them to the point of bringing them to God. It meant to draw them into our revolution of love, our very ideal. We considered everyone to be a candidate for unity and so everyone could and did participate in the dynamic divine life that God had brought about at a given point in the Church’s history. That is how it was then, and so it should be today. Certainly times have changed, but it shouldn’t be difficult to admit that if the world at that time seemed like a desert because of the destruction of the war, the world today, even though the reasons may be different, shouldn’t seem to be any less of a desert. Many factors have contributed toward the levelling out of our modern society; we live in very ambiguous times. In the past society was fundamentally Christian and a clear distinction could be made between good and evil. That is not the case today. In the name of a freedom which is not true freedom, good and evil, observance and non-observance of the commandments are all put on the same level. We are living in a new kind of desert, where what has been bombed are not homes, churches, and other buildings, but moral laws, and as a result, individual consciences too. What can be done about this? Are we without weapons in our battle to bring the forgiveness and love of Christ to a world which takes so little account of the reality of sin? No, we are not without weapons. This desecrated world has a countenance for us: Jesus Forsaken, in whom the sacred and the divine are completely hidden. In every negative situation we can see a reflection of Him, God who is abandoned by God. It is in His name and in our love for Him that we will find the strength to love what today appears so despicable. With the fire of love aflame in our hearts, and like our God who always takes the initiative, we will reach out to those we meet along our way. God in us will reawaken and enlighten consciences, instil contrition, bring back hope, enflame with enthusiasm, giving a desire to many, dead as they are, to be brought to life in Christ. So, places three objectives before us: to keep the fire burning in our hearts; to be the first to love; and not to limit our love, but to love boundlessly. In this way we will bring many people to live our ideal, which is to live Christ. Only by living on this level can we be in line with what the Scriptures ask of us this month”. (…) (Chiara Lubich, Roccadi Papa,on January 3, 1985) Source: Chiara Lubich Center
“The Peace Forum was a unique experience. I enjoyed every moment of the programme. Such a meeting (. . .) makes one hope that better days are coming and that one day poverty, hunger discrimination and violence will see their end.” This is how Rasha, an English teacher at Rowad American College, describes Living Peace 2015 which was held in Cairo on May 4-6, 2015, following a three-day congress in Alexandria, Egypt that provided the young people with the necessary background knowledge. In Alexandria there were moments of sharing and mutual understanding, sharing the joys and sorrows that they brought with them from their own countries. In Cairo, there was a beautiful welcome, with festivities along the Nile on a large boat, with games, dancing and song. Then came the actual World Forum of Students for Peace. The project was promoted by New Humanity, an NGO, through the Cayrus project approved by the European Union. Various partners and sponsors from different countries adhered to the project and sent youth representatives to Egypt. For three days 1300 students and professors from more than 20 schools and 8 Egyptian universities shared testimonies of their common commitment to peace: best practices, more than 50 educational projects for peace, workshops, seminars, exhibits and artistic performances. Also present were ambassadors and diplomatic representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Pakistan, Portugal, Croatia, Mexico, Germany and Sudan. Begun in 2011 by an English teacher at El Rowad American College of Cairo, as an educational project for peace, today, Living Peace involves more than 2500 students from around the world. A main feature of the project is the way it directly engages the students and teachers in the creation of an educational peace initiative, involving a global network of people and institutions. Membership in the project enables each school to develop projects in accordance with their own possibilities, favouring the creativity of the students along with the awareness that they are contributing towards a common goal. This creates a dynamic of participation that motivates the different components of the school, reinforcing solidarity amongst students, teachers, directors and families, with repercussions in civil society. The 2015 Forum was the occasion for presenting Scholas Occurrentes, the large global network that the Pope wished to see when he was still archbishop of Buenos Aires, and that now connects more than 400,0000 schools around the world. The presence of Dominicus Rohde from Germany, President of the World Peace Forum, raised the tone of the events. Since it was the first world forum held by young people, it opened the doors to a new road. The worldwide forum on peace has awarded the Luxemburg Peace Prize to New Humanity. The prestigious Nelson Mandela Medal was consigned to Cecilia Landucci who represented the NGO in Cairo. See video:Living Peace 2015 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nugDbxgoccg&feature=youtu.be Source:ONG New Humanity, AMU e Umanità Nuova. UpdatedMay 27, 2015
“When it comes to Mary the universal Church bursts into song. In midst of greyness and boredom, her name appears, the atmosphere clears and endless lights are lit. She is the sun in which God placed his dwelling.” This is how Giordani writes of the Mother of God, singing along with the Church as he places himself amongst the many artists, theologians and holy people who have competed in portraying the virtues of the Virgin Mary: her beauty, the greatness of her role in the economy of the Salvation. His book, Maria modello perfetto, (Città Nuova, Rome, 2012) marks the conclusion of a journey: the progression of Giordani’s understanding of the mystery of Mary and of his attitude towards her. He had often written of her in articles and in the many pages of his books. He had already dedicated a previous book to her in 1944: Maria di Nazareth. But up to then, the theme was always contemplation, praise and invocation. In Maria modello perfetto there is a difference, which reveals the maturation accomplished in Giordani. There is the same contemplation, but above all imitationof Mary. The intellectual and life relationship of Giordani with the Mother of Jesus enters into a deeper dimension following his encounter with Chiara Lubich, in 1948, and with the Movement that was begun by her, popularly known as the Focolare Movement, but whose real name is Work of Mary. Right from the start, the experience of Chiara Lubich and of those who had entered into communion with her centred on the Word, especially Jesus’s prayer for unity: that spirituality had a strong “Marian stamp” that became clearer and developed further through successive stages. Some of these included: total willingness to germinate the presence of Mary in one’s personal and communitarian spiritual life; to repeat inasmuch as that is possible, the life of Mary, following her path – the Via Mariae (the Way of Mary) – as it emerges from the Gospel and Tradition; and a very distinctive choice of her as one’s Mother. This reality is what lies behind Giordani’s discourse on Mary. He offers it enriched by his cultural, theological and literary background, and with that characteristic zeal that made him a singular and enthusiastic witness of love towards the Mother of God. “Mary incarnates strength because she incarnates love: and love is stronger than death. Only in this does the desperation of the world melt away as new life is given, on this Calvary where we are all assembled by universal guilt (. . .) Poetry, science, wisdom and love become condensed in Mary, who is the refuge in desolation, loadstar in the storm and beauty in the horror. She marks out the way that leads to the Son, so that, through her, He comes more lovingly to us. We’re never alone: the Mother is there. We only need to enkindle her name in the desert night. (. . .) Every saint, every attentive Christian, is on a cross like Christ, but with the Mother beside him. In the most horrendous moment, he sees her imploring eyes, feels the unity with her, and trustingly places his soul in the hands of the Father.” The “Imitation of Mary” is presented as a valid goal for women and men, for consecrated virgins, priests and lay people, and it can have social as well as spiritual applications. “This is Mary’s hour,” Giordani writes, this hour when she wishes to live again in souls that mystically “become” her and are able to generate Jesus again in the midst of today’s people who are more and more in need of Him. Giordani sees her especially in the abysmal depths of her Desolation where she becomes the Mother of the Redeemed, the soul of those who know how to welcome her in. He sees her beginning to appear as a viable path of holiness for each one of us. Tommaso Sorgi www.iginogiordani.info
Focolare Youth and children and their many friends. Signs of persistent commitment towards peace in the whole world. A focus on some initiatives, not amongst the most crowded or those held in well-known cities, but very significant because they show that everyone, anywhere can contribute towards peace.Kinshasa, Congo. A convinced crowd of a thousand young people, Christians and Muslims demonstrated in front of civil authorities: mayors, governor, members of parliament, ambassadors. (One boy managed to invite 70 friends who took part in the activity and paid their participation fee in advance). These youngsters marched for about an hour in the chaotic city of Kinshasa until they reached Petite Flamme, the school run by the Focolare Movement and found in Ndolo. This project offers many teens the opportunity to build a future in their own country without having to emigrate. Other young people marched in the unstable east region of Bukavu, Kikwit and Goma. Damascus, Syria. Syrian children have been asked to comment on their situation and answered through social networks: “I am M., and after managing to escape from home I now live in Damascus. During the night our neighbourhood was very heavily bombarded and rockets hit some of our friends’ homes. The Focolare families did their best to find accommodation for them….Some of us lost relatives, friends, school…. But in spite of all this we believe in peace, we live for peace and pray God for peace. We visited children in an orphanage. We organized ourselves and prepared for them sweets, salted biscuits, bracelets….. We played with these children and spent a very nice day together”. Another group of 65 youngsters, coming from different parts of the country, faced the risk of a journey to spend a couple of days together: “It seemed an oasis as it was for the people of Israel who for 40 years journeyed in the desert amidst many hardships”.Cascais, Portugal. 900 young Portuguese gathered at the small town of Cascais welcomed the Syrian youth’s commitment to pray and be points of reference for peace in everyday life so as to spread love and peace around them. “They instilled strength and determination in us, helping us to give relative importance to our small difficulties and challenges”. The commissioner for youth policies encouraged them saying: “Continue to believe in what already believe. Continue to be what you are. The world needs you!”Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Through the initiative “Papelitos in the city”, positive messages were scattered everywhere: on school benches, doors, in elevators, in mailboxes, on motorcycles, cars, bicycles…. The golden rule found in sacred books and in other texts stimulated the idea: “Cheer up everybody’s day and contribute to lessen violence”. Other groups (scouts, etc.) took part in this initiative through Whatsapp and Facebook. It has also aroused conflicting ideas that reinforced the youth’s determination to “write those words with their lives”. Hamm, Germany. Catholic and Evangelical youth walked together through the city and stopped at various places of worship, including a mosque and Hindu temple.Slovakia. Slovak and Ukrainian youth and children met at a town on the border between the two countries and organized different activities. Above all, they shared the suffering of a conflict that continues to cause death and destruction. Hong Kong And Macao: The necessity of peace and its absolute priority were promoted in one of the most busy commercial places in Hong Kong, which youth chose as their meeting place.Bethlehem. Christian and Muslim children from Jerusalem, Nazareth and Haifa, who took part in this year’s edition of the relay race for peace, met at the Square of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. From there they walked to the Salesian monastery in the Cremisan Valley, where the local people protested without any violence and prevented the building of a part of the wall that separates Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Source:Press releases
Chiara Lubich, Gabri Fallacara, Frère Roger Schutz (1978).
May 12, 2015 marks the centennial of the birth of Brother Roger Schutz, founder of the Taize Community. When did you meet him for the first time? “It was August 1974, at Taizé in Burgundy where the Council of Youth was being held. Chiara Lubich asked me to attend with several French young people from our Movement. The 40,000 attendees were welcomed by large wooden signs with the word “Silence” written in various languages. It was a simple and direct way to introduce us into the atmosphere of prayer and dialogue among everybody, a ‘creative space’ as Brother Roger called it: no smoking or alcohol, only prayer and dialogue among all, trust and freedom. There were Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, Orthodox, Jews, agnostics . . . a composition that mirrored that of the brothers living with Brother Roger, who was a Reformed Calvinist. Schutz was always around. With his sweet and humble features that seemed to speak of God, he greeted each and every person. When he heard that Chiara had sent us, he held my hand and said: “I’m happy to see you here; tell Chiara that I carry her in my heart.” In another moment he said: “Give Chiara an embrace on my behalf.” The final declaration contained the strength and commitment of all to living out the Beatitudes and being ‘seed of society without classes and without privileges.” It gave us a boost to live beyond our dreams, to live in peace and harmony.” Was that the first time the Prior of Taizé met anyone from the Focolare Movement?“No. His first encounter with the Focolare was in the 1950s. He spoke of it himself in the preface to the book Méditations by Chiara Lubich, published in Paris in 1966: “It was more than ten years ago that I welcomed some young men and women to Taizé. I listened to them with tranquillity and the more I heard, the more I recognized the light of Christ in them. Who were those young people? The focolarini. Then we met again several times, not only at Taizé, but in Rome, Florence, Milan and elsewhere, and it was always the same light of Christ. One day that I was in Rome, I invited Chiara Lubich over, the one who had founded this spiritual family of focolarini. That encounter remains memorable. Then I saw Chiara often, and the transparency of this woman is always the same page of an opened Gospel. I never forget that Chiara had been chosen from among the humble, the worker, to confuse the strong, the powerful of this world. I know that through a woman like Chiara, God gives us an unparalleled instrument of unity for us Christians separated for centuries by a long and drawn out divorce.”
Chiara Lubich, Eli Folonari,
A testimony of mutual respect and esteem between the two movements, and between the two founders. . . “Those words from the preface reveal the understanding that Roger had with regards to Chiara as an instrument of unity, for the reconciliation among Christians of different denominations that he also longed for. Chiara always held him in high esteem, also offering concrete support for his work. For example, she asked a focolarino to work for one year in the organization of the Youth Council. Later we collaborated in the Together for Europe project, which Roger so much supported. The Taizé Community has always been very present in the different manifestations, and it will also be there for the one that’s being prepared in Monaco for 2016. It was the first time that Movements from different Churches agreed to grow together in the Gospel life. Since each one will include many people, this innovation has handed over to history something very significant that does not go unobserved.” Since you knew him personally, what can you tell us about Brother Roger as an ecumenical figure? “With Brother Roger a new era was inaugurated. You prayed for each other, you shared with each other. Roger Schutz leaves us a message of assurance. He began his work by gathering refugees and the suffering, putting together so many young people. During his long life – he lived to be 90, had a special death as we all know – he really experienced the Father’s love for humanity. He was the transparent reflection of this Divine Love. For him prayer was a key that allowed you to, I would almost say, unlock the mystery of God and Roger had this Divine sense of prayer, outside of time. He believed in the unity among Christians, he believed in it completely. So he set out to do with other people what could be done immediately: praying. Unity will be a gift from God.”
May 10, 2013. Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II meet at the Vatican to remember the historic appointment that took place 40 years ealier between their predecessors, Pope Paul VI and Pope Shenouda III, and their Common Declaration on the one faith that is professed by churches with different traditions. During his remarks, Pope Francis stated: “I am convinced that – under the guidance of the Holy Spirit – our persevering prayer, our dialogue and the will to build communion day by day in mutual love will allow us to take important further steps towards full unity.” During an interview Pope Tawadros II stated: “I believe in the diversity in unity. Being in a garden where all the flowers are red and of the same hight, is boring. But being in a garden where I see a pink rose, a yellow rose and a white rose; and I see trees of different heights – this diversity expresses beauty and strength. When I am sitting with you I am rich of my brothers and sisters in Christ.” Coptic focolarina, Sherin, offers her thoughts: “These are words spoken by someone who has the courage to love his brothers and sisters, to shorten the distance and time in favour of understanding and renewed sharing after years of distance, enabling the two Churches to take up a path of peace and brotherhood. It will not be possible to erase these words from memory nor from the history of ecumenism until the churches rejoice on the day of the full unity of thier children.” The 2013 visit of Pope Tawadros II had been the first, following his election. Perhaps he wished to pay a visit to the Successor of Peter, Pope Francis. It was the second historic visit of a Coptic Pope to the Pope of Rome, that helped to lessen the distance between the two Churches. “That encounter between those two great men of God is still alive in my memory as, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they continue to conduct their flock towards the one Church that will come in God’s time. The memory of their fraternal embrace and the mutual love that could be visibly seen between them fills me with immense joy. I join my sisters and brothers of both Churches in celebrating this occasion, and with enthusiasm I look towards the near future, confident in the steps that will draw us closer and closer. This is a cause of great rejoicing for the entire Church! It encourages me to live for unity even more, a possibility that had fascinated me years ago when I met the Focolare Movement where I discovered the ‘precious pearl’ of the Gospel, for which you sell everything you have. I share this life in focolare with sisters from various Churches, and this is where I experience the joy of the Risen One, a sign of what the Church will be in its full unity. Each day we pray, work, share moments of suffering as Pope Francis said when he spoke about the ecumenism of suffering, and it makes us grow in love and mutual respect, believing that on the Cross, Jesus has overcome all our divisions and filled every void. I am grateful for the many people across the world with whom I share this experience. We live and pray for this unity, that it might be experienced and lived by everyone.” Sherin, focolare, Sohag, Egypt
“The adventure of unity:” this is how Chiara Lubich and her first companions were fond of describing their choice of God as the Ideal that led them to live for the unity of the human family. Graziella De Luca was with Chiara right from the start of the Focolare Movement. It would be impossible to describe in few words the very fruitful life she lived in spreading the spirituality of unity in many so many places and hearts. “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! (Lk 12:49). Chiara had suggested this Gospel sentence to her as a goal, also because of her keen apostolic spirit that led her in great simplicity to share with parliamentarians and simple workers, the great discovery that changed her life, the encounter with God’s love. Born in Trent, Italy, on March 12, 1925, Graziella De Luca died on May 9, 2015 at 15:35, as the focolarine gathered around her were praying the Veni Creator Spiritus, writes Focolare president, Maria Voce informing the global community of Graziella’s death. She continued: “Let us thank God for her abundantly fruitful life. Let us pray for her, in the joy of imagining her already in the Bosom of the Father, with Our Lady and all those who are dear to us. Let us trustfully entrust the Work of Mary to her as it “reaches out,” certain that she will help us to set the world on fire with love”. Live streaming of the funeral: live.focolare.org/graziella
“During these hours in which we are literally bombarded with violence, war, and indifference, we wish to powerfully testify that there is another way, because there is!” This was the introduction that came from the stage of the Auditorium of Loppiano, Italy where Nino, Nahomi, Luigi and Anna had held a two hour long discussion with 1,400 young people. The 42cnd Meeting of young Italians of the Focolare was held on the 1st of May in the permanent Mariapolis of Loppiano, Italy. This year’s title was: OUTSIDE, Look, Choose, Be.” Many proposals were presented by the Young For A United World in support of a culture of fraternity, as a way of emerging from personal and social inertia and bring change to the world. Their “Fragments of Unity” Expo highlighted solidarity and social involvement, through a network of organisations which the young people run. One powerful testimony: “My name is Kareem. I’m Palestinian. I’m 23 years old with a degree in Administration. After the fall of Arafat’s government things began to be difficult for us Christians on the Garza Strip. At that time there were around 2000 of us out of a population of one and a half million. Then our numbers dwindled. Two churches were bombed. The war began in 2008. One day, a bomb exploded near me, and I was thrown to the ground. So much destruction, so many dead! I first tried to go to my father at the United Nations office because it seemed a safe place, but it wasn’t possible. It took me four hours to reach my home, having to walk over many dead bodies. My mother was in tears, because she hadn’t heard from me. We lived through 28 days of that constant tension. Then we managed to leave the Garza Strip and get into Jordan. With the people from the Focolare, experiencing such a life of fraternity, I was little by little able to overcome the powerful trauma and to believe that with love we could build a world of peace. I’ve been in Loppiano for seven months. Living with young people from so many different cultures, religions and experiences is something new for me, because we didn’t have any outside contacts in Gaza. But now, as I try to open myself and be accepting of others, I feel at home; I’ve discovered the treasure I’ve been searching for.” “After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti which caused the death of more than 220 thousand people, thousands of Haitians migrated to Brazil,” says Joao from Florianopolis, in south Brazil. “Many of them have university degrees but, since they don’t speak Portuguese, they are only able to find work as bricklayers, and are often paid very little and treated with scorn. We asked ourselves what could be done. We began by gathering clothing and foodstuffs. We felt a bit awkward, because they only spoke French and Creole, and we were unfamiliar with their culture. But our strong desire to practice the Gospel sentence: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me,” overcame all the obstacles. Little by little we got to know them and also their problems. The first was language. We began offering them Portuguese lessons with slides and music. Then we helped them to obtain their documents and enrol in free technical training courses that are offered by the government, so that they could find employment and a better life. We held cultural nights, with food, song and dance from their country. We went to the seashore and played football together. . . We have begun to build an association to take advantage of all the possible opportunities offered by institutions in favour of their full insertion into local society. Not everything has been worked out and we still have a lot of work ahead of us, but it seems that a seed of fraternity has been planted.” This has been a glimpse of the 2015 Meeting, rich with testimonies and many concrete proposals for responding to the urgent needs of many people. Meanwhile, a network of young people, associations, and organisations has already been very active for several years in Italy, operating at many levels of the social fabric, in what Pope Francis has called the existential peripheries: “We want to bring into the light this undergrowth of solidarity that is building a present and future of peace, but is not well enough known,” the young people from the Focolare explain.
Bobo Dioulasso is the second city of Burkina Faso, the closest to Bamako, capital of Mali, where some cases of Ebola had been detected. There is a dynamic social and economic relationship between the two cities, with a continual movement of people and merchandise. “We need to act urgently to reduce at best the risk of the virus reaching also Burkina – wrote the Ebola awareness team of the Focolare Movement in Bobo Dioulasso. We practically had to inform as many people as possible on the preventive measures, but the political situation in the country is such that government interventions are not always possible.” “So we decided to act on our own. Félicité is a volunteer epidemiological doctor at the Healthcare Organisation for West Africa (OOAS). Her specific role is to train the healthcare practitioners in fighting epidemic outbreaks, since she herself has worked in countries like Guinea Conakry, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Félicité immediately offered her services.” “The first thing we thought of doing was to notify the Bishop who was not in town at that time. We then went to speak to the Vicar Genera”l, Abbé Sylvestre, who assured us of the full support of the diocese, and in exhorting the clergy and faithful about the necessary precautionary measures to take. Carlo, a focolarino doctor of the dispensary of Mariapolis Victoria (Man) of the Ivory Coast, sent us some audiovisuals which we copied for the various youth and adult groups that would work for the awareness campaign. We also sent this material to a priest and a teacher in two other cities (Dedougou and Toussiana), interested in our campaign. Félicité took charge of forming groups, with the help of 15 students of the western countries of Africa sent by the OOAS, some of whom are Muslims.” “The campaign started in November 2014, but before that was already taken up during the meetings of the Focolare Movement. Campaigning was done in parishes in order to expand towards the various districts, and during a big youth meet organised by the diocese of Bobo Dioulasso itself. On Sundays we went to speak also in the churches. We spoke in a private radio broadcast, and in those of the national and also diocesan radios, in the three languages spoken: French, Dioula and Moré.” “This campaign gave us the opportunity to meet many people. When Jean-Bernard explained to his neighbours what he wanted to do in the district, everyone offered help: some attended to the amplifiers, some invited a singer to entertain, another took care of the transport of the material and others brought water to drink. At the presentation there were about 200 people. Word spread also to the neighbouring districts and Jean-Bernard had to repeat the program several times. In one of these occasions, a professional nurse offered to answer the questions of the audience. In another meeting, an expert of local tongues came and was an excellent translator. The officers of the Town Hall, who had given the permit for these meetings, expressed their gratitude for all this.» “In the meantime, we heard from Mali that the disease had been overcome. So the risk had been drastically reduced. The important thing now is to continue to comply with the preventive measures. It was a great opportunity to learn to work together for our people. We must continue.”
“The events that came about have stirred up the support of the citizens. Many leaders, religious groups and civil organisations decided to work together to clean the streets and buildings and to help in various ways, revealing the positive side of the city, though deeply offended,» Lucia, Co-Director of the Focolare Movement wrote from Washington. We all know about the people’s protests triggered in Baltimore last month, which are still ongoing, after the death of the 25-year-old Afro-American Freddie Gray while he was under arrest. Baltimore, the biggest city of Maryland with more than 600,000 inhabitants is a melting pot of ethnic groups, especially Afro-Americans. Leonie and Jennifer, two volunteers of the Focolare, live in the city centre. “The situation is still very tense, and yesterday the mayor closed the schools and the governor of the state deployed the armed forces. However, all those we know are fine.” Leonie lives close to the place of the clashes and teaches in a primary school of almost all Afro students and where there is great poverty. “On TV I saw one of my third-year elementary students participate in the sacking of buildings and properties.” “We cannot remain indifferent; we want to do something concrete, though aware that our contribution to establish true relationships between people is urgent, more than ever. Furthermore, every act of love builds new relationships that help foster fraternity between people,” wrote Marilena and Mike. “In the meantime we participate in the various moments of prayer organised by the religious authorities, starting from the Mass that Archbishop Lori will celebrate in our district, to invoke peace.” “I returned to school today,” Leonie recounts, “and tried to see my students (those who participated in the plunders) with ‘new eyes’.I contacted an Afro-American Muslim teacher who knows two black religious representatives in the school to offer our solidarity, and we agreed to work together.” Jennifer works in a company where almost all are whites. «A colleague of mine who lives close to the place where violence broke out, came to visit me today, and told me of her suffering in seeing all these events, but did not have the courage to mention it to anyone for fear of being marginalised by her colleagues. It was the occasion to tell her that we can start from ourselves and build a dialogue with all, one at a time, and in this way spread a new mentality. My colleague is not a practicing believer, but her face lit up and she told me that this is precisely what she also wants to do.” Meanwhile, the leaders of the various religious communities have started to work together for peace. “I was invited by the Imam Talib of the mosque of Washington, to give my testimony on the the 5th of May as a focolarina and the ideal that inspires us,” Lucia continued. “He wanted me to speak in a meeting open to the public, something they had organised with the District Procurator, to integrate the religious perspective as an essential dimension to subdue the violence. The event was entitled: Heal the Hurt, Heal the Heart. It seemed to be a great possibility for dialogue between religions but also an opportunity to show, more than the clashing, the richness of our society’s ethnic diversities.”
“Over the last few days inSouth Africa, there has been a lot of unrest, violence, violation of human rights… there are some South Africans who have refused to accommodate other brothers of other African nations in the country. It is difficult to see why these sparks of violence have emerged so strongly. We really need to promote tolerance towards the differences in the groups and communities everywhere. The migrants live in fear and many have already returned to their countries of origin, wrote Jacira from Johannesburg. This was the atmosphere in which the 7th death anniversary of Chiara Lubich (22/01/1920 – 14/03/2008) was held, and the seminar was entitled “Religion at the Service of Peace.” The speech of Ela Gandhi, niece of Mahatma, was very meaningful. On her many trips to Italy she had been impressed by the figure of Chiara Lubich and the spirituality of unity, as she so extensively stressed in her long speech. Among other things she also affirmed: “Upon acknowledging, like Gandhiji, that no results can be reached when people are jobless, and lack food, homes and clothing, Chiara conceived the idea of the Economy of Communion in liberty. Taking care of one another is her strong exhortation!” And further explained: “It is love for the others, in the form of mercy, love that opens hearts and hands to embrace the derelicts, the poor, those who have been marginalised from life and the repentant sinners.” “If we believe we are practicing our religion faithfully, when then is there so many battles, wars, abuse of power and sufferings perpetrated by man against man and indescribable atrocities committed by man in this world?” she asked, and strongly affirmed: “Every community of faithful must take the responsibility of correcting the erroneous interpretations of their own faith, and must not abandon their faith.” “Here in South Africa, during the apartheid period which was based on an erroneous interpretation of the Bibles,” according to Ms Ela Gandhi, “Our Christian brothers and sisters agreed with one another to produce the KairosDocument. This document affirms that “the problem in South Africa is not just that of a personal fault, it is a problem of structural injustice.” And Ms Ela Gandhi thus concluded: “Today, when the world and also our country is undergoing a high rate of violence and madness, anger and destruction, poverty and misery, we need to turn our gaze once again toward our concept of Ubuntu and see in what way each one of us can start introducing in his life, the agape, bhavana and many other similar concepts that refer to pure love so as to help create a better world.” More than ever today, to give our own contribution, the members of the Focolare in this country of such immense distances, commit themselves to reach the farthest communities to share the message of peace and unity, fruit of the Gospel lived.
“I was one of thePetite Flammechildren, and schooling gave me the chance to do something fulfilling in life,” recounted Trésor, 29, and currently a mathematics student at the National College, in a video projected during the awards ceremony held last 29 April at the Jewish Museum of Berlin. Jean Paul Ngandu Masamuna, 31, Engineer and seventh of nine children, added: “When I was a child, my father had gone to war, and my mother had nothing to bring us up with. We had to fight for survival and Petite Flamme gave me daily sustenance and the possibility to study. My friends went to Europe but every time I speak to them, they tell me that they have nothing, and being unemployed and without documents, they do not have the liberty I have, and that their dreams have not been fulfilled. I love living in Kinshasa with my Congolese people. I want to stay and work in Africa to save the lives of many people who suffer.” Petite Flamme is a scholastic organisation of the Focolare in Congo, that offers many kids the chance to build a future in their country of origin, without needing to migrate. Immigration, the need to stop the carnage at sea, the urgency for political initiatives of the international community in favour of some Sub-Saharian and mid-oriental regions, were the topics discussed during the proceedings of “The Roland Berger Human Dignity Award” in Berlin. The event was attended by: the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Romano Prodi, former President of the European Commission, and other exponents of the economic and political worlds. During the event, the “Roland Berger Foundation” operating in Germany in support of human rights and disadvantaged students awarded the 2015 prize, dedicated to the commitment to defend the life and dignity of refugees and forestall immigration issues. Among the winners, besides Petite Flamme, were two heroic women involved in helping refugees: Dr. Katrine Camilleri from Malta, who has been involved for years in giving refugees legal support, and Dr. Alganesc Fessaha, President of the NGO, “Gandhi,” who offers humanitarian assistance to African refugees. “It all sprang from an idea of Chiara Lubich – recounts Dada Diambu who, together with Odon Makela, coordinates the local project – when she launched the New Families’ “support from afar” project in order to cope with the difficult situation many children worldwide undergo. Petite Flamme was created in 1996 to offer education to the children of Ndolo, an extremely poor district of Kinshasa. The children are undernourished, and because of this the priority was to offer meals and necessary medical care. In the following years new centres were opened, and the scholastic cycle expanded the offer to adolescents and families, with classes for blind and deaf kids. Then the experience went to include “after-school under the tree” activities: 14 classes held under 14 trees due to the lack of other structures. Under constant development, the project centres located in the poor outskirts of Kinshasa then spread to Idiofa in Bandundu at 750 km from the capital, and to Kisandu in Bas-Kongo and Kikwit. The project is financed by various associations and NGOs, and by the Association for New Families onlus, that ensures education, medical care, and nutrition for 2,400 boys and girls, helping them to become free persons, since they have the possibility to be free from poverty and have the capacity to build a dignified life for themselves and the community. «During the European Union’s “Eufor” military mission tasked with safeguarding the elections in Congo in 2006 – explained Monika-Maria Wolff for years a resident in Congo – the rear admiral Henning Bess, head of the German soldiers and Vice-Captain of the mission got to know about “Petite Flamme.” Since then he has been involved, with his troops, in many huge aid campaigns. After the end of the mission the rear admiral continued with his wife, Julie Müller, to support Petite Flamme – along with the “support from afar” project of the New Families that has a network of over 350 German supporters.» The ceremony featured a round table on the outcomes of the recent special EU Summit on immigration, attended by Romano Prodi, Foreign Affairs Minister, Steinmeier, a representative of the UN’s High Commissioner for refugees, journalists and members of the various humanitarian organizations. The summit highlighted two solutions as the only ones possible for a sustainable support: that the International communities cooperate in a more compact and decisive way for peace, and support the initiatives aimed at resolving – following the example of Petite Flamme –the problem at its roots, and give the youth a chance to conduct a dignified life in their own countries without having to turn to escaping towards the north and wellbeing. Photo gallery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNo_9JOXWzo One video from the Teens for Unity in Syria shows how they are keeping hope alive in their battered country. It will be viewed by their peers in other countries, who are equally committed to bearing witness with gestures of fraternity, towards the building of a peaceful present. Teenagers from Slovakia will head to Ukraine, just outside Mucachevo: “Even though the war is underway in another part of the country,” they write, “here you feel the great economic crisis and atmosphere of hopelessness.” A small group will go to Kiev in support of their Ukrainian friends. In Bethlehem, a city of peace, Christian and Muslim teenagers from Bethlehem, Nazareth and Haifa will run together. They will take off from Nativity Square: “We’ll announce to Mayor Vera Baboun and the people we find there, our commitment to living out the Golden Rule in order to build fraternity.” In Arequipa, Peru, 2,300 metres above sea level, a chain of solidarity will be unleashed. Each teenager will take foodstuffs and school materials to two centres – one for abandoned children and the other for children with disabilities. The group from Wellington, New Zealand, will be the first to run; and Los Angeles, USA will close the event. In Malta, the race will be opened by the President of the Republic, M. Luise Coleiro Preca.Some symbolic sites along the race course include the Statue of Liberty on St Gellert Hill, in Budapest, Hungary. In Cochabamba, Bolivia, the teenagers will climb to the feet of the statue of Cristo de la Concordia where it is written: “That all may be one.” In Trelew, Argentina, a peace mural in the centre of town; and in Houston, Texas, a food collection for refugees. All the activities in the Southern Cone and Brazil promise to be colourful and have a strong social imprint. In Kaunas, Lithuania, and in Hamm, Germany, there will be interreligious events. Sponsored by Mayor Thomas Hunsteger-Petermann, the Run4Unity in Hamm will include a “Reli Rally” that will link several places of worship around the city, including a mosque and a Hindu temple. The Bahai teenagers will grab crowd’s attention with a flash mob. Together, they intend to raise contributions for a local social project that helps children from war-torn countries (www.hammer-forum.de). In Goma, Congo, Christians from different Churches and Muslim teenagers from around the city will take part. All the events will be linked by a moment of prayer for peace, the “Time-Out,” offered every day at the noon hour of the different time zones. The teenagers will join together in prayer for all teenagers who live in situations of suffering, the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal, the teens living in war zones, and those who have had to flee their homelands. Run4Unity will also be racing through the social media. With the hashtag #run4unity, all the links of peace and unity that are being built or rebuilt, can be shared with photos and videos that will be placed on the event’s website: http://www.run4unity.net/2015/.Run4Unity will take place during United World Week 2015. This year’s title is: “Discovering fraternity” as a way to promote peace at all levels of society. This year’s main event will be held in India.
With a network of organisations and a generous and concrete presence, “Fr Vilson” promotes the life and dignity of the most excluded. We asked him the significance of the Eucharist, as the source of unity, for his work in the peripheries. We offer a few excerpts of what he said. “The other day I was with a person who was living on the street, a journalist and a poet. During the course of our conversation he asked me: “What are you doing here on the streets with us?” I answered him that it had seemed a great contradiction to me that I celebrated the Mass in the cathedral every Sunday, and when I stepped out of the church building I would meet seventy to eighty people who didn’t have a roof over their heads, and they hadn’t eaten. How could I go home? My house stands on the hills of Florianópolis where the number of very poor houses is growing. My house is simple and doesn’t have a key. People come throughout the day to have a cup of coffee or eat something. We’re always adding another plate at table. That door that is always opened means to say that I am open to the neighbourhood community. There is always a place for anyone who knocks at the door. And this is a way to remember that the Eucharist “never closes,” never. He is “at our disposal” twenty four hours a day. In practical terms it means that our refrigerator has to be the refrigerator of the people; our bread, their bread; our clothes, the clothing of the poor. I have been blessed to have the tabernacle in a small chapel in my house. Going home at the end of each day means going to rest where Jesus is waiting for me in the Eucharist, and to rest my head on Him, rather than running to the t.v. or internet that can lead us to many other places. There is a sentence engraved on the paten I use for Mass. It’s the Gospel sentence from my Ordination: “I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me to drink,” all the way to the end of the text: “Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” So, every time I place the Eucharistic Bread on the paten, I see those words and they help me not to waste the day. One day a lady from the neighbourhood asked me: “Father Vilson, do you know why Jesus wanted to remain in the Eucharist? So the people wouldn’t feel the solitude and be orphans.” The Eucharist is the great human cry. “There cannot be any gap between the Table of the Eucharist on one side and the table of social justice on the other. It is with our gestures, our arms, our ways of organising that we extend the reality of Jesus in the Eucharist, and we give the world a signal of sharing and support. Guided by this conviction, with the passing of years and along with many other people, we set up a network of 340 people who receive a monthly salary; 7 organisations and one institute. 5000 boys and girls, teenagers and young people gravitate to our network of relationships each day. In order to help build bridges we decided to open an unused church right in the heart of the city, and this gave rise to a large local community with intellectuals, middle class people and business owners who are involved in our activities in a variety of ways. We celebrate Mass there every Saturday and Sunday, and, in this way we believe we create a point of encounter between periphery and center.
Along the way “Taking the same route every day, I usually come across a multitude of people. There are those who cross the street when they shouldn’t, those who honk at me for a jumpstart at the traffic light, those who try to cut in front of me… Luckily, at times I manage to remember that each one of them is a brother and so… even the most chaotic traffic becomes less complicated. It was particularly hot one day, and I noticed that a vagabond, whom I had seen many times, had fainted on the sidewalk. That was his street corner, and that piece of carton was his house. “He generally did not appear to be sick, and I had never stopped for him before, but seeing that something was wrong, even if I was late in my deliveries, I couldn’t act as if nothing had happened. My van, however, stuck in a zone of intense traffic, immediately called the attention of the local police, who from afar made signs to make a move. I mimed that I wanted to take a look at that person in trouble. They continued to urge me to go away, pointing to the booklet of fines. I thought that they themselves should have taken care of the man, but seeing their indifference, I ran into a bar to get a fresh drink for that poor man. When I returned, I caressed his cheek gently so as not to waken him suddenly. Thank God he regained consciousness but was tired and scared. I put the glass to his lips and he answered with a smile, thanking me continually. In the end, also the policemen arrived and seeing that scene, put the fines booklet back into their pockets and greeted me with a smile.” Alexander – GreeceBouncers “I alternate my studies with work as a ‘bouncer’ in a pub: not a fulfilling job at all and at times, even risky, especially when you have to deal with drunks. One month, the Word of Life invited us to be the first to love. How could I live that at my work? As a start I tried to be the first to smile and greet the clients, even if I got no response. After a week, to my great joy, I saw that people started to answer my greetings. So, it worked! And to add, if before with the more ‘difficult’ guys I would adopt harsh methods, now seeing Jesus in every person, I try to be polite, and take interest in him. In this way, in critical moments I manage to avoid brawls and calm people down. And it is in a sense, a preventive measure which furthermore earns the esteem of my clients and my boss. And if anyone asks me why I act this way, it is the occasion to speak about God who is Love. The atmosphere in the club now has changed, and resulted in attracting new clients.” M. – Polynesia
More than 120 young representatives from 25 countries: from Japan to Italy, from Korea to Colombia, from Nepal to Romania, take part in an annual event that takes place within the framework of United World Week which is celebrated around the world and gives a witness that cultural and religious differences are not an obstacle between peoples but a springboard for a more united and fraternal world. This year’s title: “Fabric, Flavour, Festival – discovering fraternity,” focuses on 360° dialogue. Fabric. Face the challenges of dialogue in order to build a more United World: discovering one’s own identity; accepting and respecting others; and having the courage to take the first step. Festival: discovering one another as brothers and sisters. Flavour. Dialogue in action: living the Goldenn Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you;” opening the way to reciprocity and sharing. Multiculturalism was the leitmotif of the days in Mumbai. Representatives from the Shanti Ashram (Hindu Movement) and the Rissho Kosei-Kai (Buddhist Movement) joined with young Christians to share moments of brotherhood and service towards Indian young people and civil community. Lawrence fromReligions for Peace says that he is here because “we need to show positive things to the world. We need to show the world that fraternity can change history.” Crisfan, a young Hindu, says that he met the Young People for a United World a few years ago: “ever since then, I have wanted to build bridges of fraternity. Religion is never an obstacle in India. Each person follows a path, but we’re all brothers and sisters.” He married a few months ago and also involved his wife in the adventure. The days were busy and intense, sharing in tragic events like that of Nepal where the earthquake produced thousands of victims. Sana and Roshan are also here in Mubmai; they have not been able to contact their families, but seem serene: “we’re sure that God is taking care of them.” Meanwhile, everybody prays. At day’s end we receive some nice news: their family are fine. They fled, but God’s love didn’t force them to wait. Maria Chiara, an Italian, tells us how she had long been hoping for such an experience. “When Christian invited me, I felt like I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by. I’m here to know other young people and to learn to live the other person’s culture as my own.” Christian is Romanian and studies at Sophia University Institute in Italy. After visiting the Holy Land (2013) and Kenya (2014), this year I decided to close my books “and find out how fraternity is lived in a different culture than my own.” Concrete brotherhood is already a living experience at this international site in India, as all sorts of activities in favour of peace are being held in many other parts of the world.
«There is much talk here about the building of a common European home. We are convinced, however, that although this endeavour is very necessary, it will not be complete unless we think of it as a part of that “global village” that is now the Earth on which we live. This idea came to me also from the concern expressed in your letter about the precarious condition of our natural environment. (…) In fact, there are increasingly alarming analyses from scientists, politicians and international commissions about our ecosystem. People everywhere are launching proposals in an effort to heal our ailing world. (…) In the final analysis, ecology represents a challenge which can be met only by changing mentalities and forming consciences. It has already been demonstrated by very competent scientific studies that neither technical nor economic resources are lacking for the improvement of our environment. Instead, what is lacking is that spiritual supplement, that new love for the human person, which makes all of us feel responsible towards all the others in a common effort to manage the resources of the earth in an intelligent, just and balanced manner.(…) This question of a just distribution of goods in the world, of helping the poorer populations, of the solidarity of the north towards the south, of the rich towards the poor, is the other side of the ecological crisis. If the immense economic resources destined to boost the war industry and a super-production that requires more and more super-consumption, not to mention the waste of goods in the wealthy countries, if these enormous resources would serve, at least in part, to help the developing countries find their dignified way towards development, how much more breathable the atmosphere would be, how many forests would be spared, how many zones would not become desert wastelands, and how many human lives would be saved! (…) And yet, without a new awareness of universal solidarity, we will never take a step forward. (…) If human beings are not at peace with God, the earth itself is not at peace. Religious people are aware of the earth’s “suffering” when human beings do not use it according to the plan of God, but only for selfishness, for an insatiable desire to possess. This selfishness and desire contaminate the environment more and before any other kind of pollution, which is nothing other than its consequence. (…) Now the disastrous consequences force us to look at reality all together, in the perspective of a united world. If we don’t face this problem all together it will not be resolved. (…) If one discovers that all creation is a gift of a Father who loves us, it will be much easier to find a harmonious relationship with nature. And if one discovers also that this gift is for all members of the human family and not only for a few, more attention and respect will be given for something that belongs to the whole of humanity, present and future». Continue Reading
No anticipating the encyclical of Pope Francis on the Creation, but great expectation for the document that will be published at the beginning of June. “The world waits to hear his teaching and what he will say in the encyclical and in his speech before the United Nations Assembly on September 25, 2015,” said Jeffrey Sachs, director of the UN agency for sustainable development (UN Sustainable Development Solutions Networks). He is also one of the promoters of the summit, along with the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences and the Religions for Peace, which has Maria Voce as one of its co-presidents. Also in attendance: were General Secretary of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, president of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, and president of the Republic of Equador Rafael Vicente Correa.
The conference brings together scientists, environmentalists, Nobel laureates, political and religious leaders to further the discussion on climate change and sustainable development in view of the encyclical on Creation. The day focused on the moral dimensions of the commitment to sustainable development. This is why the involvement of a wide diversity of religious communities seemed quite an encouraging novelty. For Maria Voce, what emerges from this summit is a “new awareness that, in order to obtain something positive, we must come together, because no one, by himself, has the recipe for getting out of these quite dramatic situations.
It reveals that the human race has within itself the ability to get out of the crisis, but it can be done if there is a synergy of all the components. What is emerging is the need for listening to each other, and acting together.”
Cardinal Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace proposed that the answers should not be merely technical, but should be based on the moral dimension and oriented towards the well-being of humankind. Technological, scientific and economic progress has introduced lifestyles that were unimaginable to our predecessors, but it also has “some dark sides and unacceptable costs.” “While global society is defined on the values of consumption and economic factors, the rich of today have grown numb in front of the cry of the poor.” “Out of the 7 billion people living the world, 3 billion are living in conditions of poverty, as an elite consumes the greatest portion of the resources.” The discussion ended on the topic of food, which will be at the centre of the Universal Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy. Turkson strongly denounced the exploitation of workers, the trafficking of human beings and the modern forms of slavery. Pope Francis deplores this “throw-away culture,” the Cardinal recalled, in the “globalisation of indifference.” “The Church is not an expert in science, technology or economy, but it is an expert in humanity. To win the challenge of sustainable development “the same conversion, personal transformation and renewal are needed that were invoked fifty years ago by Paul VI and encouraged by Pope Francis today.
“One concrete possibility is offered by a project inspired by the Eco One Project,” Maria Voce remarked during an interview. “It’s the Earth Cube. Its six sides have catchy phrases that can get us involved in supporting a healthy and sustainable planet: ‘Smile on the world!’ ‘Discover the beauty!’ It also teaches sobriety, taking only what you need as the trees do. It suggest daily actions, concrete gestures: ‘Don’t waste water.’ ‘Recycle!’ The last side says: “Now is the time!” Don’t wait until tommorrow. Simple projects such as these can help us to do what the Pope is inviting us to do.”
With the tenderness of mercy our love can give witness to the reality of God’s love. We experience what we share with others. When the Lord God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai he declared his identity as: ‘The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’ (Ex 34:6). To indicate the nature of this merciful love, the Hebrew Bible uses a word (raḥămîm) that recalls a mother’s womb, the place where life begins. By making himself known as ‘merciful’, God shows that for each thing he has made he is concerned as a mother is for her child. He cares, is near, protects, looks after his creature. The Bible uses a further term (ḥesed) to express other aspects of this love which is mercy: faithfulness, benevolence, goodness, solidarity. Mary in her Magnificat too sings of the Almighty’s mercy that is from generation to generation (see Lk 1:50). Jesus himself spoke to us of God’s love, revealing him as a ‘Father’ close and attentive to our every necessity, keen to pardon, to give all we need: ‘he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous’ (Mt 5:45). His love is truly ‘rich’ and ‘great’, as is said in the letter to the Ephesians that give us our Word of Life: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.’ What Paul says here is almost a cry of joy born of the contemplation of the extraordinary thing God has done for us. We were dead and he revived us, giving us a new life. The words begin with ‘but’, indicating a contrast with what Paul pointed out earlier. This was the tragic condition of humanity crushed beneath its wrongdoing and sins, prisoner of selfish and wicked desires, under the influence of the powers of evil, in open rebellion against God. In this situation it would have deserved God’s wrath (see Eph 2:1-3). In contrast God, instead of punishing – hence Paul’s utter amazement – gives humanity life again. God does not let himself be governed by wrath, but by mercy and by love. Jesus had already suggested that God acts like this when he told the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother who was welcomed back by his father with open arms after he had sunk into an inhuman life. It was the same with the parable of the Good Shepherd who goes in search for the lost sheep and puts it on his shoulders to bring it back home. And the same can be seen in the Good Samaritan who cares for the wounds of the man who had fallen into the hands of robbers (see Lk 15:11-32; 3-7; 10:30-37). God, a merciful father, symbolized in the parables, has not only forgiven us, but he has given us life itself in his son Jesus, that is, given us the fullness of divine life. And this leads to a hymn of gratitude: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.’ This Word of Life ought to make us feel the same joy and gratitude as Paul and the first Christian community. To each one of us, too, God shows himself ‘rich in mercy’ and of ‘great love’, ready to forgive and grant trust again. There is no situation of sin, of suffering, of solitude, where he does not make himself present, does not come alongside us to go with us on our way, does not grant us trust, the possibility of rising up and the strength to start again. At his first ‘Angelus’, on 17 March two years ago, Pope Francis started speaking about the mercy of God, a theme that has become characteristic for him. At that time he said, ‘God’s face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient… he understands us, he waits for us, he does not tire of forgiving us.’ He ended that first brief greeting with the words, ‘He is the loving Father who always pardons, who has that heart of mercy for us all. And let us too learn to be merciful to everyone.’ This points to a practical way to live the Word of Life. If God for us is rich in mercy and of great love, we too are called to be merciful towards others. If he loves those who are bad, who are his enemies, we too ought to learn how to love those who are not ‘lovable’, even our enemies. Did not Jesus tell us, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy’ (Mt 5:7)? Did he not ask us to be ‘merciful, just as your Father is merciful’ (Lk 6:36)? Paul too invites his communities, chosen and loved by God, to clothe themselves ‘with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience’ (Col 3:12). If we have believed in God’s love, we too can love in our turn with that love which makes us draw close to every situation of pain and need, that forgives all things, that protects, that knows how to look after the other person. Living in this way we will be able to give witness to God’s love and help those we meet discover that also for them God is rich in mercy and of great love. Fabio Ciardi
Forty-two professionals of eight different countries in Europe and Latin America accepted the invitation. The event which was held in the Focolare’s Lia town at the outskirts of Buenos Aires, not only hosted the seminar (9-21 March) financed by the European Union, but was also subjected to the study for the creation of a sustainable management and development model of a sustainable place to live in. To coincide with these times when we feel the urgency of questioning ourselves on the environment and promoting the quest for new technologies – with the planet’s survival at stake – the initiative was joined by the group, “Dialogue in Architecture,” a network of scholars and experts of the sector, inspired by the spirituality of the Focolare, given the actuality of the theme.
By immersing themselves in the discovery of the territory and its structures, the youth started by studying the PRESET (“Participation, Resilience and Employability through Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Training”), a study project promoted by the association Starkmacher – on the sustainability of the towns of the Focolare – and other partners such as the Fazenda da Esperança (Brazil), Fundación Unisol (Bolivia), New Humanity ((an NGO with Special Consultative Status within the Economic & Social Council of the United Nations) and Economy for tomorrow (Slovenia), and to work specifically on an integral eco-sustainable proposal for the town of Lia.
The youth participated in five thematic workshops guided by the value of fraternity as a lifestyle, and reached an integral eco-sustainable proposal (Ecocity Mariapolis) in which they involved all the inhabitants of the town, and also the youth of the district who attended for an afternoon to recount and speak of the environment.
The EcoCity Mariapolis that will implement the proposal while respecting the history of the town and carrying out concrete dialogues with its inhabitants, created during the seminar, a biogas system for one of the houses of the town, and explained the procedure to make compost, a study for the installation of a photovoltaic system, for the insulation of the constructions in order to save energy and for the replacement of bulbs with Led lights and many more. This seemed to be a step by step growth in the education on the environment. A set of didactic handouts will be prepared for the inhabitants and the visitors of the Mariapolis, to be diffused also in schools through the Web.
Also art was utilised for the efficacy of the proposal through the creation of a line of products (hair, hats, etc.) decorated with ethnic motifs and produced with ecologic material, and with a theatre performance connected to the theme.
A pleasant coincidence in those days was that the Dean of Sophia University Institute of Loppiano, Prof. Piero Coda, happened to be visiting the town and said: «I think this is not just a coincidence. Perhaps it is God’s design that is leading to something new, and creating a network of communion, work for solidarity and justice.»
Francesco from Udine gave a significant testimonial: «I work as an architect and am doing a Master’s in almost zero energy buildings. What I found most interesting in this workshop is the fact that people with diverse potentials and specializations are working together, and not only architects like us. I think this is the most enriching part for everyone: starting off with different potentials to reach a common objective which is that of sustainability, not only from the environmental but also from the economic and social points of view.»
Likewise Riccardo, an Italian architect, is convinced of the importance of working together: «I firmly believe that what I can do is but a small part, while together we could reach the objectives that will allow the entire society to exploit the resources well, and create satisfactory wellbeing for everyone including professionals. »
Some of our Nepalese friends wrote:«The situation is really bad. I myself am alive, but we have lived without a roof above our heads for days and nights. Many have died and others are dying, and many are wounded. Besides the rising number of victims according to the UNICEF estimates, 940 thousand children are at risk, and urgently need healthcare. The Focolare Movement joins the prayers for the people struck, their families, in their requests for consolation in this immense tragedy, and is making the move to gather funds. From Mumbai, where the youth of the Focolare have gathered to prepare for the United World Week – and among which there are three from Nepal – the group has launched an appeal to the Youth for a United World worldwide, to start up a support action for all the people struck by the calamity: «The United World Week – they wrote – may be an immediate occasion to concretely express our support.» Pope Francis, after praying during the Angelus for the victims of the earthquake, urging all to “give their fraternal support,” expressed in a message sent to the Apostolic Nunzio in Nepal, his own personal prayer and support for the Nepalese population. Caritas Nepal, in the meantime, has started up an action plan to face the emergency, but it needs a lot of backup. Tents and food are being distributed: the main problem at the moment is to offer a refuge, to protect the people from the cold and the rain.
Funds can be deposited directly in the Youth for a United World special bank account: SAVINGS ACCOUNT OF THE CENTRAL SECRETARIAT OF THE YOUTH FOR A UNITED WORLD (GMU) Description: EMERGENCY NEPALACCOUNT NAME: PIA ASSOCIAZIONE MASCHILE OPERA DI MARIA Via Frascati 306, Rocca di Papa, 00040 Rome, Italy BANK NAME: BANCA PROSSIMA Piazza Paolo Ferrari 10 20121 Milan Italy IBAN CODE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS: IBAN IT62 W033 5901 6001 0000 0113 348 BIC BCITITMX
First time visitors to Santa Cruz de la Sierra are met by an unexpected scene: the exuberant and inviting natural environment, an unfamiliar language, the quite diverse local culture, the poverty, simplicity and endless generosity of the people.
One group ofyoung people and families from the Focolare decided to spend Holy Week in Santa Cruz with their friends from the Nahua. Due to the great pastoral need, the local Church gave permission to certain prepared laypeople to act as extraordinary ministers at the discretion of the pastors. They share what happened:
“The sun has just appeared over the horizon and the bus clambers along the mountain roads of east Sierra Madre, carrying 43 young people and families from the Focolare. The journey promises to be long and exciting; the tiredness goes unnoticed because of the great joy. At the road’s end there are brothers and sisters from 33 families of the Nahuas community ready to celebrate Holy Week with us.
Eight hours away from the City of Mexico we are welcomed into Santa Cruz by a generous and humble folk living in the heart of the huasteca hidalgeuense (unfading flower): a humid region with high temperatures, covered with cedar, ebony and mahogany wood trees.
At one of the mission parishes we split up into seven groups and go out to be with the people, to help with the liturgical services in seven communities where the seed of the spirituality of the Focolare has been growing for several years.
The encounter is overwhelming as the life, faith and bread begin to be shared. Several testimonies of Gospel life are shared, as well as small gift items. After the celebration of the washing of the feet, one of the young people exclaims: “It’s so fantastic to feel like a Christian!” One teenager said she had attended many missions, but “with Jesus among us it’s different; indeed, He’s the one who draws people and that’s why we wanted to attend the meetings and the liturgical celebrations.”
Amongst the many personal encounters, one particularly touched us: We visit an alone and elderly man, who has been immobile for a long time. The state of his hygiene is extremely poor. We bathe him and clean his tiny room; help him to prepare for receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, and give him Holy Communion. The next day, he dies.
Following a Holy Week of intense living and after having experienced mutual giving and receiving in simplicity and generosity, the moment arrives when we must return to Mexico City. During the return trip, many of us remember the words spoken by Chiara Lubich in the Basilica of Guadalupe in 1997: “Inculturation requires an exchange of gifts.”
Seeing the enthusiasm of the young misioneros and the members of the communities we visited, there is new hope that the Misión in Santa Cruz will not remain an isolated event, but the sign of a new beginning of a process of increased giving by the Focolare in Mexico.”
“This event, like all things of God, began from a humble seed. Silvia Lubich was the daughter of a wine merchant who the economic crisis of the Second World War had reduced to being a modest city worker. He was the husband of a housewife from Trent who, as a young woman, had worked in the print shop of Cesare Battisti. They were a Catholic couple like many others from Trent: simple and direct, without a lot of pretensions. They brought four children into the world, a boy, the firstborn, and three girls. The eldest daughter, Silvia, was born on January 22, 1920. They raised them all in the Catholic faith which since her infancy had shaped Silvia in a straightforward piety. It was straightforward in the sense that it did not allow any compromises: it didn’t allow her to divide her desire between God and the world; to think about good and evil; to show one thing while hiding another. There was God, and God was everything: so one had to belong totally to Him; to do His will like a ray of sun that leaped down from heaven to rest upon earth.” So begins the Story of Light, the story of Chiara Lubich written by one of the main protagonists of the events it describes: Igino Giordani, an eminent figure in Italian politics and culture, and also co-founder of the Focolare Movement. “It is never easy for a work to become a masterpiece,” Director of the Igino Giordani Centre, Alberto Lo Presti writes in the introduction to the first installment. “What then of a book that would contend for this position with a hundred other books written by Giordani? But Story of Light never saw the light. Not only that: it remained unknown even to those who have preserved it over the years. Giordani himself had asked them to wait – whereas most authors would have preferred the opposite; that is, to be recognized especially for their best works.” “Story of Light is not based on historiographic research. It could be described as a recounting of the miraculous intervention brought about by the Holy Spirit – visible in the person and actions of Chiara Lubich – in twentieth century history. In other words, it is comprised of a series of narrative portraits in which Chiara’s biographical sketch is intertwined with God’s plan for humankind, whose ideals had been afflicted and social systems divided and devastated by world wars. This is why, in the subtle interweaving of events in Story of Light, we recognize some of the basic elements in Giordani’s own complex personality. He experienced first-hand all the main dramatic events of the twentieth century, having been wounded in the war, having undergone exclusion because of his ideas, and having had to accept exclusion from civil society. He was a man of faith who worked both in Church and culture, aware that the radical evil would be defeated by a new Christian spirit that he set out to discover. He met Chiara Lubich in September 1948 and found in her the light he had been looking for. He followed her, placing at the disposal of the Focolare founder all of his intelligence and will. He never had doubts about the strength and pre-eminence of the figure of Chiara for the Church, society, current history, and the future. Therefore, even had he have wanted to, Giordani could never have written a complete, objective, methodologically flawless story of Chiara Lubich. His human and spiritual involvement could not allow him that.” “The author had written many volumes on great spiritual figures: Catherine of Siena, Ignatius of Loyola, Magdalene of Canossa, Contardo Ferrini, Francis of Paola, Vincent de Paul, Francis de Sales, Francis of Assisi, to mention a few of his works. They formed a gallery of extraordinary people from diverse times and backgrounds. The place of honor in this rich array was assigned to Chiara Lubich, whose story Giordani called his “masterpiece.” At the age of fifty four when history called him to meet Chiara, he did not enter into the relationship without a spiritual preparation. He knew how to measure the religious greatness of an ideal, just as he had the tools for testing the spiritual size and strength of a mystical intuition. For this reason . . .it is likely that Giordani felt a paramount duty of attesting to who Chiara really was. Moreover, he took on this particular role from the first moments of his visits with Chiara and the first small group of focolarine. With his learning, he was well able to reveal the importance and newness of the figure of Chiara to the young men and women who were her followers.” “Giordani lived through difficult moments during which Chiara Lubich and the Focolare were under the magnifying glass of the Congregation of the Holy Office. From that period – the 1950s – and for many years to come, a widespread attitude of prudent discretion was maintained around the figure of Chiara. It may have been necessary to hold back any sentiments of esteem and affection for Chiara, but for Giordani there was never any doubt that the truth about her had to be put in writing and handed on. Hence, Story of Light, his masterpiece.” Introduction to Story of Light (complete text) – Published by Nuova Umanità, gennaio-marzo2015
The Movement for Politics & Policies for Unity (MPPU), an expression of the Focolare Movement in the field of politics, raises its voice concerning the drama of migration towards Europe, a voice added to that of many associations and concerned people from around the world. They write: “The plan launched by the European emergency summit after yet another tragedy in the Sicilian Channel with its high death toll, expands the operational area of Triton and of Poseidon so that the increased number of ships, due to the tripling of funding, may push beyond the 30 miles from the coasts of the European shores. These actions remain within the context of Frontex whose logic is to defend Europe’s borders, and not a comprehensive migration policy.” The PMU denounces the plan which contains a strong contradiction: “The States of the European Union have not demonstrated the same willingness to welcome migrants . And yet, as all have noted, destroying boats, although that would (perhaps) reduce the incentives for human traffickers, would certainly not save all the victims of illegal migration, nor stop the flow.” In fact, it was reported that a train has hit and killed 14 migrants who were walking along the railroad tracks. The letter continues: “Any serious politics of the European Union (and not only) in matters of migration should have quite a different perspective and distinguish three areas of action and policy. First, the signal needs to be given, to activate all institutional infrastructure, human and financial resources available in the host countries in order to launch a broad mobilization and to respond to the emergency with the appropriate tools in a manner that is immediate, practical and effective. The temporary accommodation of migrants and refugees must be evenly spread out across the territory, taking into account the facilities that are available, the composition and size of the population and the presence of local networks that can act in organized and responsible solidarity.” The appeal continues with examples of welcome and solidarity that are already in place, and says that “the Movement for Unity in Politics ensures all its manpower and political support to all those administrators who have been called at this time to make difficult and often unpopular decisions (… ) It is the duty of every public administrator, both locally, nationally and internationally, to explain the reasons for emergency measures of hospitality adopted in full respect of the rights and expectations of the political communities, but that do not excuse anyone from the human duty of responding to the immediate, basic needs of other human beings.” “Secondly, it is necessary that the European Union clarifies the fundamental misunderstanding which undermines any policy regarding the management of migratory flows. You can not call for a stronger role from Brussels institutions while at the same time not provide the European Union with the necessary skills and related human and financial resources to carry out functions that Member States, including the Mediterranean ones, did not want to share in view of full integration.” “Thirdly,” the appeal concludes, “the migrational phenomena taking place in the Mediterranean have broader political and geographical causes, involving the extended ungovernability of Libya, Somalia, and extensive regions of sub-Saharan Africa, without counting the deconstruction that is underway in regional contexts of the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq. The vast complexity of political, economic, social and cultural life in these areas would require the mobilisation of the international community, beginning with the United Nations, in order to implement a comprehensive action plan and emergency measures, overcoming oppositions and vetoes.” MPPU Appeal (complete text in Italian) www.mppu.org
Many cities have been destroyed in Syria and where there is electricity, it is only for some moments of the day. As violence intensifies, the Council of the heads of the various Christian confessions in Aleppo, launched an appeal to the international community to say, “Stop the destruction and desolation. Enough with this factory of weapons for a devastating war.” “We want to say to all those involved in this situation that we will not forgetwhat Pope Francis said at the Angelus of 1 May, and that we are one with them and continuously praying that all this intolerable brutality we are all victims of, will come to an end soon.” To repeat the words of a friend who was recently in Damascus, “We are there with you and will do all we can to help you and support you, not only with our prayers but with all the initiatives possible. I know, and we know, that you are experiencing one of the greatest sufferings also due to the cold, lack of electricity, and unemployment! We must intervene as soon as possible. We are by your side, and thank you.” In this all-out effort which occurred without delay, those who wish to contribute to the cause, can do so by depositing any amount in one of the following accounts: Description: Syria, Emergency SyriaPostal account no. 81065005 code IBAN: IT74 D076 0103 2000 0008 1065 005 code SWIFT/BIC: BPPIITRRXXXBank account no. 120434 Banca Popolare Etica – Rome Branch code IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 code SWIFT/BIC: CCRTIT2184D Made out to: Association Action for a United World (Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus) Via Frascati, 342 – 00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma, Italy)
What are the religions in today’s world? Many see them as obstacles to peace, the residue of ages past that today are the cause of violent extremism. What would the world really be more peaceful without the religions? The High-Level Thematic Debate on Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation suddenly became animated. The second day of the UN meeting offered some directives. During the opening address, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon proposed an advisory committee formed by the leaders of the world’s religions, to help the United Nations find solutions to the current conflicts, often between the followers of different religions. The plenary session that followed included testimonies from 15 religious leaders. All present agreed that religions should help to build peace, moving beyond mere tolerance to mutual acceptance, with the awareness that there are already people around the world who are already living like this in their daily lives. In her talk, Maria Voce recalled the long experience lived by the Focolare Movement: “The encounter between religions and cultures is an ongoing and fruitful experience that is not limited to tolerance, mere recognition of differences, and it goes beyond reconciliation, although that is fundamental, and it creates what could be called a new broader and shared common identity.” And this takes place in contexts that have been struck by serious crises, such as in Algeria, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and the Philippines. In response to the challenges and to the violence, she proposed an “extremism in dialogue,” that is, a dialogue requiring maximum engagement “that is risky, demanding, challenging, that aims at severing the roots of misunderstanding, fear and resentment.” Then she invited all to aim for a “a universal civilization that leads all peoples to consider themselves part of “civilization of alliance; a universal civilization which enables peoples to see themselves as part of a great happening, which is both varied and fascinating, that is humankind’s journey towards unity. She invited the UN to rethink its own calling, to reformulate its mission in order to be “an institution which truly works towards unity among nations, while respecting their strong identities.” According to Maria Voce, to say that religions are the cause of the tensions is to have a too restricted vision of the situation. What we are witnessing in many areas of the world, from the Middle East to Africa, has very little to do with religion, but has much to do with the structures marked by the culture war. From any point of view, in these cases we should not speak so much about wars of religion but more concretely, realistically and prosaically, about the religion of war. Everyone was in agreement: religions lead to peace, if not, they are instrumentalised for other ends. And so the vocation of religions is clearly stated: The Golden Rule, the foundational inspiration of all religions, which unites them, the idea of one universal human family. In the roundtable at the afternoon plenary, which was moderated by BBC’s, Laura Trevelyan, Rabbi David Rosen asked why so many young people feel drawn to extremism: “Perhaps because they are searching for their own identity, or for some meaning in life.” “You normally do not mention God at the United Nations,” Rabbi Arthur Schneier dared to remark: “How are we to deal with this problem – that the UN has to be neutral – when 5 of the 7 billion people on this earth belong to a religion?” For Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh, Sikh from Birmingham: “God is omnipresent, in each one of us, therefore you cannot say that God is not here.” Maria Voce: “You speak of God when you speak of justice, sharing all the goods of the earth, sustainable development; you speak of God when you think of what we are preparing for the future generations. This is speaking of God. It is not necessary to speak of him in the abstract.” How can we preserve the integrity of interreligious dialogue? Are the religious leaders here renouncing something by coming here to the UN to talk about resolving conflicts? “I’m not renouncing anything,” affirmed Maria Voce. “I’ve come out of love, thinking about bringing my contribution of love to humanity. I’ve felt enriched by this possibility.” She concluded with a glance towards the new generations: “Returning home, what I will do will be to support the activities of the young and the very young, because I believe in their prophetic power.” Then she gave the floor to Ermanno Perotti, a young Italian had accompanied her on her visit to the United States. The twenty five year-old, with a Master’s Degree in Development Economics, used the occasion to present the l’Atlas of Universal Fraternity, a dossier of projects that promote universal fraternity in all corners of the world. Maria Voce added: “With the hope that one day even these ‘fragments of fraternity’ can be presented to the United Nations,” and that the United Nations will gather them. With this vision it becomes clear that religions have a great opportunity, but also a great task: to build peace and respond to the challenges with “extreme dialogue” rather than closing in on their own group. Susanne Janssen, New York
To risk your own life so as to relieve the suffering of the poor. This was Maria Voce’s invitation as she spoke of the last terrible phase of the Second World War, when in 1943 “a group of young women got together in the small city of Trent in northern Italy. While their city was being bombed, those young people, who were guided by a young teacher named Chiara Lubich, and urged on by a new understanding of the radical nature of Gospel love, decided to risk their lives to relieve the suffering of the poor.”
A choice many people make today too, helping to regenerate the fabric of society: Maria Voce referred to the refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq; the slums surrounding some huge cities and the united strength of those who “introduce into the destructive cycle of conflict a commitment to regenerate the fabric of society, by doing – according to the vocabulary of this organization would say – peace-building action”. She affirmed: “Those young women decided to break the vicious circle of violence by responding with attitudes and actions which in the atmosphere of conflict might have seemed unrealistic or even irrelevant. However, they were not and they are not!”
“Today too we are experiencing very serious political, institutional, economic and social breakdown, which requires equally deep-seated responses, able to change the prevailing paradigm. It seems that conflict and violence prevail in many parts of the world, affecting innocent people, guilty only of being in disputed territory, or belonging to a particular ethnicity or adhering to a specific religion.”
The encounter between cultures forms a new identity: “In the Focolare Movement, which I have the honour to represent – Maria Voce said – the encounter between cultures and religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Traditional Religions) is an ongoing and fruitful experience not confined to tolerance or the mere recognition of diversity. It goes beyond reconciliation, essential as that is, to create, so to speak, a new identity, one that is broader, more general and shared. It is an effective dialogue which brings together people of very different beliefs, including non-religious beliefs. It spurs us to see what the real needs are and to respond together to the most difficult challenges in society, culture, economics and politics, as our commitment to a more united and socially inclusive world. This is happening in places which have been or are at present characterized by very serious crises, such as Algeria, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and the Philippines.”
The Focolare President dispensed with half measures. “If violent extremism exists – she stated – (…) our response must be similarly radical, but one that is structurally different, by which I mean “extremism in dialogue”! A dialogue which requires the highest level of engagement, which is risky, demanding, challenging and which aims to sever the roots of incomprehension, fear and bitterness.”
The civilisation of alliance: referring to the United Nations “Alliance of Civilizations”, one of the promotors of this event, Maria Voce asked “whether, nowadays, we could get closer to the roots of this new outlook and focus not only on an alliance of civilizations but on what might be called the “civilization of alliance”; a universal civilization which enables peoples to see themselves as part of a great happening, which is both varied and fascinating, that is humankind’s journey towards unity. A civilization which makes dialogue the pathway to recognizing each other as brothers and sisters, as free and equal.”
Among the many organisations represented at the debate, she mentioned New Humanity, the NGO which represents the Focolare Movement at the UN; and regarding the United Nations Organization itself she posed the question:
“Shouldn’t the United Nations Organization perhaps reconsider its own vocation, and reformulate its own fundamental mission? What does being a “United Nations” organization mean today, if not an institution which truly works towards unity among nations, while respecting their strong identities? It is certainly essential to actively maintain international security but, although security is vital, it is not necessarily the same thing as peace.
Conflicts within nations and international conflicts; the deep divisions we are aware of at world level, together with the great local and global injustices, in fact require a true conversion in the actions and choices made in the field of global governance, to put into practice the motto formulated by Chiara Lubich, and launched in this very place in 1997, “love your neighbor’s country as your own” so as to build up universal fraternity.
Chiara Lubich: “Toward a Unity of Nations and a Unity of Peoples” – United Nations Headquarters (New York), 28 May 1997
War is irreligion: “Lastly, we cannot give ground to those who attempt to describe current conflicts as “wars of religion” – Maria Voce went on. “War is by definition irreligion. Militarism, economic dominance and intolerance at all levels are causes of conflict, together with many other social and cultural factors among which religion is often only an unfortunate pretext. What we are witnessing in many areas of the world, from the Middle East to Africa, including the tragic deaths of hundreds of people fleeing wars who are shipwrecked in the Mediterranean, has very little to do with religion. From any point of view, in these cases we should not speak so much about wars of religion but more concretely, realistically and prosaically, about the religion of war.
What can be done? Quoting Chiara Lubich, Maria Voce invited the audience to have the courage to “invent peace”. “There are many signs that a new awareness may finally emerge, out of this serious international situation, of the need to work together for the common good, (…) and with the courage to ‘invent peace’. The time for ‘holy wars’ is over. War is never holy, it never has been. God does not want it. Only peace is truly holy because God himself is peace.”
She ended with reference to the Golden Rule which reflects the foundational inspiration of religions and unites them, so that they should “not [be] a tool used by other powers, even for the noblest aims; or precepts studied so as to resolve conflicts or crises, but rather a spiritual process which can be lived and becomes a community able to share and give meaning to the joys and sufferings of people today, channelling everything towards the realization of one universal human family.”
The UN headquarters with the thousands of people who work there, heads of state and other VIPs, going there would be a dream for many people. Ermanno Perotti, a 25-year-old student of economics and development is there now, but not as one of the many visitors who wander along the endless corridors with their guide. He was asked to accompany Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement who had been invited, as one of the religious leaders to speak during the High Level Debate on “Promoting Tolerance and Reconciliation: Fostering peaceful, Inclusive Societies and Countering Violent Extremism.”
The impression of Perotti is shared by many: the representative of each nation gives his or her contribution, many beautiful words and positive initiatives – but they seem almost isolated and each one appears to see this meeting as a platform to promote their own ideas. But what I find a bit hard to digest is that they don’t really listen to one another. But what does attract me is to see their efforts to fill this emptiness with true listening and dialogue. With this vision that he learnt from the life of the young people of the Focolare, he understood the attraction of taking on a commitment in politics so as to bring about truer relationships.
However, on the subject of how to prevent violence and fanaticism, almost all the speakers were in agreement, that there is no other way but dialogue among cultures. “I would love to run a school on dialogue right here at the UN” says Perotti. In fact 90% of the speakers emphasised the need for education and many spoke of the need to give women a voice and to fight against poverty.
Ermanno Perotti
Many spoke of the hope they have in young people and we have to start there. Perotti wasn’t completely happy: “It’s always adults who speak about young people, where are the young people who speak about the young people?” He thinks his generation is already prepared for a multicultural future: “I grew up with this idea. In my class there are people of 10 different nationalities and 4 religions. We can show the world how we live in a spontaneous way in our daily lives.”
Today is the high point for him, to be part of a panel at the UN. Ermanno Perotti is not worried at all: “Speaking with Maria Voce we were saying that we wanted to live these days first of all as an experience of God. Today too at the UN will be an experience of God. As some of the speakers said today. In the end everything is summed up in the Golden Rule which means love of neighbor. So going there with the President, it’s simple because you go to love, to be one body with all the young people in the world”.
How do you feel before participating in this high level debate with representatives of 193 nations?
«I am quite at peace. What is often missing in these organizations is precisely the witness of what is already happening to bring about peace. My impression is that people often feel isolated and they need to be aware that someone else is out there with them, working for the same aims as they are. With such a great ideal as the one Chiara Lubich has given us, we do not work only for reconciliation or only for social justice but these are steps on the way towards unity».
If we look at the world today some might think that religions are the bearers more of division than of peace…
«Certainly religions are not supporters of war, none of them. The word religion means bond, it’s a bond between people, how can a religion make war? War is born in the hearts of people and people, whatever religion they belong to can be good or wicked. Instead religion is often exploited under the pretext of justifying a motivation that is anything but religious and is in fact inhuman, the desire for power, overthrowing the weak, selling one’s own merchandise including arms. The root of war certainly doesn’t lie in religion but in other motivations which are basically always egoistic».
When we look at today’s conflicts, for example in the Middle East or in Nigeria, are you still optimistic that peace is possible?
«I cannot help being an optimist because Jesus is peace. And since we follow Jesus we have to believe that peace is possible. It is true that Jesus said ‘I have come to bring the sword’ which means we have to take a stand too. I think that religions can help to reawaken the conscience of humanity: peace isn’t just one good among many but without peace all the other goods are useless. We can work for peace if we do it all together, both the rich and the poor, those who have power and those who do not, people who are religious as well as those who do not identify themselves with any religion. We have to commit ourselves to building these relationships of peace in the whole human family where we are all equal and therefore we should all witness to this equality».
The initiative for this high level debate at the United Nations in New York came from the President of the General Assembly, Sam Kutesa, the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and the High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser. Today’s topic is Strategies for fostering inclusive societies. Tomorrow, leaders representing various religions will be invited to give their witness to the role played by religions in building bridges of tolerance and reconciliation.
Susanne Janssen, New York
You can follow parts of the program on live streaming of the United Nations’s TV at http://webtv.un.org/live/
With a lively gaze and gentle smile that veils some sadness, Ghada describes the tragic events taking place in the country she has chosen as her home. Ghada, what made you return to Syria?
At the age of tewenty I left my family and country to follow God. In September 2013 when I requested to return to Syria, I felt the same impetus as before. I was frightened by the thought that I might die, but what I felt more strongly was the attraction to go back and live alongside the people whom I had met years earlier, to help them feel that they were not abandoned. I was urged by a desire to share their life, their fears, their unstable daily lives, because the bombs rain down when you least expect it.
But isn’t there any warning before bombardments, so that you can take cover somewhere?
There are no sirens announcing the strikes, nor is there any strategy in place that would allow you to know when the rockets will hit. On the other hand, this is now the fifth year of war and one cannot stay barricaded forever. You can stop for a day, a month, but then even through the mortars thunder, life must go on: the children go to school and parents work to support their families. Everything goes on under absolute risk and uncertainty. I lived the same drama when I was in the focolare house in Lebanon, but here it is far worse, much more difficult. Here you breathe terror and violence on all sides.
You had already been to Syria in the past. Can you tell us about the changes you’ve seen?
When I was in the focolar in Lebanon, I visited Aleppo, Homs and Damascus because there were still many people who wished to stay in contact with the Focolare. Because of the inner depth and sensitivity of the Syrian people, many meaningful relationships were created. We shared our Christian values that are so strongly felt in this place. Despite the plurality of Churches and rites, which is so typical of this land, there was still harmony amongst all. In 1994 when it was decided to open a focolare in Aleppo, two other focolarine and I were sent to open it. I was there for 9 years. Those were years of prosperity for Syria. The country didn’t have a public debt and the PIL was constantly rising. In the evenings we young women could go out and walk around freely.
Now the storm has arrived. But the worst of it is the loss of any hope that this war can end. I return with the other focolarine, to say that we haven’t forgotten them, that Jesus has made us a family and this is why we want to take the same risks. Like everyone else, we go to work, to church, to market – without knowing whether or not we’ll return home again. We’re there because of the love that binds the community in Syria, and the community there knows that we’re ready to give our lives for them, just as they are ready to do for us. This reciprocity is truly exceptional. They compete in making sure we are well, sharing whatever they have.
You focolarine are in Damascus, such a fascinating place, with so much art and history. What is life like there today?
In the city, but also in the villages, every day is a deadly challenge. Transportation is always a mess, because of the lack of petro and constant road blocks. You know what time you leave, but you never know what time you’ll arrive. Homes are without electricity for hours, the same with water. You reach the point of exasperation. The exodus – for the people who are able to leave the country – is continually increasing. It is estimated that over six million people have migrated, in spite of the serious dangers. But religosity remains quite strong. On Good Friday all the Christians attended the Way of the Cross even though they were well aware that bombs could have exploded at any moment, and they also had their children with them. Recently, one of our youth groups spoke had a Skype call with some of their peers in Portugal. The Portuguese wanted to send things to them and were asking our young people what they needed. Even though they are in need of so many material things, they only repeated: “Pray for us, pray for peace, pray that this tailspin of hatred stops.”
Your choice to remain in Syria is a powerful and courageous one. . .
We don’t feel at all like heroes, because we are not here for personal motives. Before leaving I was able to meet Pope Francis: his encouraging words made me feel the love of the Church that draws near to this people that is undergoing such a hard trial. We also feel supported by the love of the Focolare Movement throughout the world. We need that support in order to not lose hope, powerless as we are in front of the supremecy of economic interests, and the international proliferation of weapons on the global market. We celebrate anniversaries; we create recreational moments for children and adults, in order to relieve the stress. We organise moments of spirituality; we pray together for peace. At Christmas our young people organised a concert. Three hundred people attended, including Muslims. Recently we celebrated a wedding. Two children were killed in that family and, because of mourning customs, that young woman couldn’t leave the house dressed as a bride. Therefore, she left from the focolare house, accompanied by all of us. We try to be involved in local Church projects and those of other ecclesial groups, so that we can help to wipe away a bit of suffering and deprivation amongst the people. We continue together to hope and believe, as we support every effort for the coming of peace.
In the district of Rotorua (New Zealand) the earth’s crust is only 4 km thick. Here, one can admire the magnificent spouts of geysers right in the heart of the city, steamy puddles with bubbles gushing out of the surface. The ground emits a heat that even reaches 120°C. This is where the English colonisers had tried to install Roman baths. Still today thermal activity is at the centre of the touristic prospects of Rotorua, a city immersed in the greens and surrounded by hills. On the banks of the lake with the same name, rises the Keswick Christian Camp, a summer facility. This is the where, the Focolare scheduled to meet, about 156 people from the various cities of New Zealand’s two main islands. The objective was to spend three days together, away from the daily routing, to go deeper into the spirituality of unity. Maori, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Dutch, Anglo-Saxons, Italians, Maltese, Singaporeans, Taiwanese, French, Tokelauans, Indians, Pakistanis…: an overwhelming variety of ethnic groups in a unique model of humanity. Despite such diversity, there was a family atmosphere from the start. Besides moments of spirituality and recreational activities, the programme dedicated a lot of time to getting to know one another and exchanging of experiences. The Pitcaithly family from Chistchurch, the country’s second city recounted a very moving experience of when the citywas devastated by two big earthquakes. A tragedy that united the population in a sole slogan of solidarity “Kia kaha, stay strong Christchurch!” that also stood for the Focolare’s effort to gather funds offered by people from various parts of the world. The group from Gisborne, the city that has the privilege of being the first on this earth to see the sun rise, presented the “Fish & Chips Club” project. One its aims was to gather funds for the educational activities of young people, which has been fostered for many years now by people from the various Christian Church, together with others of non-religious beliefs. Together they were able to do something useful for others. Despite the multi-features of the youth and adults, they meet once a month to reflect on the Gospel and share experiences on how they try to put it into practice. A really significant way of growing as a persons and draw strength to bring ahead the various handicraft and sports activities of a club where everyone can be oneself and where people try not to stress the differences but the values all can share . Even if New Zealandseems to be a wealth land, an Indian-Pakistani family recounted their difficulties in integrating with society. Martis, father of two kids, was working in a home for the aged and his wife Antoneta in a small butchering company. All of a sudden they both lost their jobs. The quest for a new one went on without any results, so much so that they had decided to return to their homeland. Just ten days before the expiry of their visa, from a nearby town someone managed to arrange for a job interview for Martins who thus could renew his stay permit. It was an immense joy for this family that had given a strong testimonial of God’s love which manifests itself also through the community. Theresa, on summarising the wish of the youth present said: «What we experienced these days has given us a big boost to return to our respective cities and start all over again.» Anne, an elderly Maori lady, held in high esteem by her tribe, concluded: «Aroha te mea nui o te ao Katoa»; which in her language means: «Love is the biggest gift in the world.»
“It is nearly impossible to put into words whatIgino Giordaniwas for the Focolare Movement. He was a co-founder of the Movement. Being co-founder of a Work that the Church recognises as its own involves a multiple and complex activity of grace, true and varied impulses from the Holy Spirit, as well as actions on the part of the individual that are determining for the Work. These graces often come in the form of penetrating and prolonged suffering, often as light, graces and love that are not ordinary. It is better left to the history of the Church and the spiritual movements that embellish it through the centuries, to speak about such people.
A focolarinoprays, works, and suffers in order to reach a goal: the perfection of love. Therefore, we feel it is our duty to confirm that Giordani reached this goal. In our judgement he reached the perfection of love.
He personified the name by which he was known in the Movement: “Fire” (Foco), that is, love towards God and towards neighbour, the supernatural and natural love which lies at the roots and is the summit of Christian life. He contributed in a unique way to keeping alive in our midst the reality of the Word of Life given to him when he entered the Movement: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Those who knew Igino Giordani well are all in agreement that he had lived the Beatitudes.Exceptionally ‘pure of heart,’ he offered married people from around the world the possibility of a unique consecration to God while remaining in the matrimonial state, through spiritual virginity, the effect of burning charity. This purity refined and heightened his holiest sentiments.
He was ‘poor in spirit’ with complete detachment from his possessions, but above all from himself. He was full of mercy. In his company even the most miserable sinner felt forgiven, and the poorest pauper felt like a king. One of the most remarkable characteristics was that of being a ‘peacemaker,’ especially in his life as a politician.
He came to possess that meekness that leads to possessing the earth. He won over everyone who drew near to him. Everyone felt at ease with him, even the young were able to establish a relationship with him. Especially during his last years he seemed to radiate something supernatural when he spoke.
He “hungered and thirsted for justice” and fought for it all his life. Almost immediately he was persecuted for the sake of God’s name. So many sentences of the Gospel make us think of him.
From Giordani one learns the significance of that conversion which Jesus asks for when he says that we must become like little children. He was a fine Christian apologist and apostle. When it seemed to him that he had found a font of clear water flowing from the Church, he “sold everything’ to follow Jesus and to satisfy his thirst with that water.
He suffered because of the marginalization of the laity, and he aspired with that big heart of his to bring down the dividing walls between the people living in the state of perfection and the others – whom he would jokingly add – were living in the state of imperfection. In other words, he was very sensitive to the signs of the times; indeed, he himself was a sign of the times, of these times in which the Holy Spirit calls the entire People of God to holiness.”
Audio of the June Word of Life 
The 10 days that I spent at the school were extremely dynamic. Together with Marisol Jimenez, the founding director, there was a continual flourishing of ideas that we implemented immediately in the classrooms: saxophone and piano lessons; we formed a choir; did musical games and exercises, lessons on reading music; we made our own percussion instruments; put on skits; danced and even had macramé classes. Marisol’s dream is to have a school band. They had already received the instruments from Switzerland and the students are amazing with such a desire to learn (they have a natural rhythm and so much enthusiasm) but, unfortunately, they do not have the funds to hire music teachers on an ongoing basis. We hope that will happen soon! Café con leche is no longer a place that I’ve read about and heard so much about; it has become an “experience”. Now this school, the children, the teachers and everyone here have a name, a face, a story. I left convinced that everything is possible when we “catch the moment” and give it our all.
Cascais, 
May 10, 2013. Pope Francis and Pope Tawadros II meet at the Vatican to remember the historic appointment that took place 40 years ealier between their predecessors, 
“That encounter between those two great men of God is still alive in my memory as, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they continue to conduct their flock towards the one Church that will come in God’s time. The memory of their fraternal embrace and the mutual love that could be visibly seen between them fills me with immense joy. I join my sisters and brothers of both Churches in celebrating this occasion, and with enthusiasm I look towards the near future, confident in the steps that will draw us closer and closer. This is a cause of great rejoicing for the entire Church! It encourages me to live for unity even more, a possibility that had fascinated me years ago when I met the Focolare Movement where I discovered the ‘precious pearl’ of the Gospel, for which you sell everything you have. I share this life in focolare with sisters from various Churches, and this is where I experience the joy of the Risen One, a sign of what the Church will be in its full unity. Each day we pray, work, share moments of suffering as Pope Francis said when he spoke about the ecumenism of suffering, and it makes us grow in love and mutual respect, believing that on the Cross, Jesus has overcome all our divisions and filled every void. I am grateful for the many people across the world with whom I share this experience. We live and pray for this unity, that it might be experienced and lived by everyone.” Sherin, focolare, Sohag, Egypt
“The adventure of unity:” this is how 
“During these hours in which we are literally bombarded with violence, war, and indifference, we wish to powerfully testify that there is another way, because there is!” This was the introduction that came from the stage of the Auditorium of 
Along the way “Taking the same route every day, I usually come across a multitude of people. There are those who cross the street when they shouldn’t, those who honk at me for a jumpstart at the traffic light, those who try to cut in front of me… Luckily, at times I manage to remember that each one of them is a brother and so… even the most chaotic traffic becomes less complicated. It was particularly hot one day, and I noticed that a vagabond, whom I had seen many times, had fainted on the sidewalk. That was his street corner, and that piece of carton was his house. “He generally did not appear to be sick, and I had never stopped for him before, but seeing that something was wrong, even if I was late in my deliveries, I couldn’t act as if nothing had happened. My van, however, stuck in a zone of intense traffic, immediately called the attention of the local police, who from afar made signs to make a move. I mimed that I wanted to take a look at that person in trouble. They continued to urge me to go away, pointing to the booklet of fines. I thought that they themselves should have taken care of the man, but seeing their indifference, I ran into a bar to get a fresh drink for that poor man. When I returned, I caressed his cheek gently so as not to waken him suddenly. Thank God he regained consciousness but was tired and scared. I put the glass to his lips and he answered with a smile, thanking me continually. In the end, also the policemen arrived and seeing that scene, put the fines booklet back into their pockets and greeted me with a smile.” Alexander – 
