To lose everything and to dream again
https://vimeo.com/140815700 Copyright 2015 © CSC Audiovisivi – All rights reserved
Multiplying Spaces of Encounter and Communion
In the face of the dramatic events that took place in Paris and in many other parts of the world, “the Focolare Movement, while it weeps with those who weep, continues to believe in the path of dialogue, of acceptance and of respect for the other, whoever that may be and from whatever provenance, religious belief, and ethnicity,” Focolare president Maria Voce stated on the day after the attacks in the French capital. The Focolare, together with those with different responsibilities who work for peace even at personal risk, renews its commitment to intensify and multiply acts and gestures of reconciliation, spaces for dialogue and communion, opportunities for encounter and sharing at all levels and in all parts of the world to embrace the cry of humanity and transform it into new hope.” 
A variety of personal and collective initiatives are currently underway. In France, there was the woman from Paris who paid a visit to a Moroccan store owner and to an Algerian pharmacist to renew their friendship; the couple from Vendée who support local associations that welcome immigrants, involved in the Islamic-Christian Friends Group (GAIC) in Mulhouse; in Alsace, which has intensified its involvement in the Interreligious Week that is taking place in November; a parish priest from the Paris suburb, who wrote a common declaration of peace with Muslims from his quarter; the active participation in the interreligious festival Vivre ensemble à Cannes that was awarded the Chiara Lubich Fraternity Prize; the shared organizing of the 2cnd edition of “Muslims and Christians together with Mary” planned for April 2, 2016 at the Basilica of Longpont, Essone. In Italy, everyone is being invited to get out and meet the Muslim world that lives on Italian soil, striving to build bridges, to create relationships, to work together in concrete projects for peace. In some cities these relationships have been in place for quite a while and have already borne the fruits of brotherhood. 
In Great Britain a prayer chain was begun for the victims of the tragedy, asking God to make them “instruments for bringing unity into their local environments.” In Ireland an evening event was held to acquaint people with the Syrian culture in view of welcoming the refugees. In Switzerland Muslim and Christian women meet every two months to share their faith. In Lugano there was an intense sharing with Imam Samir Jelassi. In Meiningen, Austria, a few days before the attack, 150 people gathered with Cenap Aydin, Director of the Tevere Institute in Rome, Italy, and Dr. Siebenrock from the University of Innsbruck, from a study group of Muslim theologians from Iran, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey, and with Catholic theologians. In Augsburg, Germany, there was the “7 On the Dot – Augsburg Prays For Peace,” every evening at seven o’clock in one of the largest churches in the city – once in the Catholic church, once in the Lutheran church. One refugee, one expert or representative from an NGO would describe the situation of a country under siege. There was also a peace march in Loppiano, Italy and a public rally in Bahia Blanca Square in Argentina without national flags or party banners. In California a benefit dinner was held to gather funds in support of refugees, preceded by a moment of prayer for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut, and a presentation of the United World Project. On November 14th in Honduras there was a peace march organized by the Focolare Movement in solidarity with Syria which gathered people from several youth movements with a message of unity and dialogue. Luigi Butori writes from Asia: “I think of the dead from the daily attacks in southern Thailand, of the Rohingya refugees. I think of the Muslim friends at the mosque in Chiang Mai. I think of Mae Sot where refugees continue to arrive from Myanmar in search of a better life.”
“Dieu pleure avec nous” © Michel Pochet
Diwali: the Festival of Lights
During the Ashwayuja month, which usually falls between October and November, India is clothed in celebration and light. It’s Diwali, a tradition that goes back to the ancient legend of King Rama who after 14 years of exile in the forest, returned to the city of Ayodhya where he was welcomed by a parade (avali) of lights (dipa) in his honour. Hence the name: Dipawali or Diwali.This year it was celebrated during 10-15 November. The festivities begin with a good house cleaning while many small lamps are positioned in several points of the dwelling – entrances, window sills, lounges – and in the darkness of the night the whole city is transformed into a dreamlike fairyland scene. The light symbolises knowledge and inner awareness. But like a kaleidoscope, the meanings intersect and are magnified: knowledge conquers ignorance; interiority brings peace. Good conquers evil; light triumphs over shadows of darkness, and it unleashes the life force. People look forward to the feast all year. On the third day – the actual Diwali – people put on new clothes, adorn themselves with wreathes of flowers and glittering jewelry. They exchange gifts with relatives and friends, especially sweets and homemade snacks. Everyone attends the religious services in honour of Laskshmi, the goddess of wellbeing. In an atmosphere of peace, they carry leaves, coins and religious images, chanting Vedic mantras to receive her blessing. Then there are the games: cards, especially rummy, mimes, dances, treasure hunts and fireworks. Diwali is not only a Hindu feast. It is a cultural and social event that involves the whole country, with some variations depending on the region and its dominant religion. It is celebrated by Muslims, Buddhists and Christians. For five days the Focolare houses in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and the 13 educational centres that are connected to them, are covered in light. The centres serve 1,500 children and teenagers, most of them Hindu who, thanks to financial support from a distance are provided with an education, a daily hot meal and health care (www.afnonlus.org). The Diwali rituals reveal the great sensitivity of the Indian people the way it values the family, friendship, harmony of life and respect for the natural environment. It is significant that for Diwali, you buy impersonal objects, but you give gifts that have been made by your own hands. It is also significant that along with prayers, fruits of the earth are offered as an expression of gratitude towards Nature and its gifts. This custom is echoed in Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato si’. It was precisely that document and the inseparable link between living in harmony with creation and with others, that inspired the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to send the Deepavali Message from Pope Francis to the nearly billion followers of the Sanatan Dhama (what Westerners call Hinduism). Pope Francis’s Message shares the wish that: “we Hindus and Christians, together with people of all religious traditions and good will, always foster a culture which promotes human ecology.” The Message also expresses a wish that “together, we consciously give ourselves to protecting nature, defending the poor, and building networks of respect and fraternity” (Laudato Si, 201). This will anticipate “the growth of the tree of peace” for those who wish to prepare themselves well for the feast of Christmas.
A voice from Islam: strengthening the bonds of friendship
“The tragic news of the horrendous terrorist attacks in the French capital has filled us with profound sorrow. Our thoughts, solidarity and prayers go to the victims, the wounded and their families, to their loved ones and to the French people.” With these words of condolence, Mustafa Cenap Aydin, director of the Tevere Centre for Dialogue in Rome expressed his dismay over recent terrorist attacks in France. He went on: “I unite myself to the message of the learned Muslim scholar, writer and educational activist M. Fethullah Gülen: ‘Every terrorist act from whomever it comes, is a heavy blow to the peace and tranquility of all humanity. These vile acts of terrorism are attacks not only against the French people, but also against the universal values of human brotherhood’.” “We will never grow tired of condemning all those who feed violence, hatred and fear by reproachfully abusing a religion, an ideology, for cruel and inhuman goals.” Gülen, who inspires millions with his message of love and compassion, invites everyone to join him in prayer that God would lead “all of humanity to a world of peace and tranquility” and “to act in solidarity against every form of terrorism; to become involved in the realisation of universal peace”. “We shall respond to these ‘inhuman‘ acts,” Mustafa Cenap Aydin concluded, “by reinforcing even more the spirit of unity and brotherhood. These attacks cannot but convince us even more of the importance of dialogue, conciliation and brotherhood; and to increase our commitment to spreading it. We are obviously convinced that peace will prevail. Let us call upon and appeal to one and all, to unite with us in this effort.” Source: Città Nuova in Italian
The Time For Reconciled Diversity
Home of Lutherans in Rome, the Christ Church welcomed Pope Francis on Sunday, November 15. Before Francis, John Paul II was the first Pontiff to enter a Lutheran Church and, in 2010, Benedict XVI was the second. “Our 500-member community is relatively small, all of us on the front lines in the field of ecumenism. We are active as a parish at various levels in the cit, but also in our own family, with colleagues at work, with neighbours or, like me someone who has lived in a Focolare community for more than thirty years,” says Heike Vesper. She was there on Sunday along with Catholic women focolarini who often accompany her to the Sunday liturgy. Heike called the Bishop of Rome an “evangelical Pope”, a pastor who focused his remarks that day on our common witness to Jesus Christ, “both in Lutheran expressions and in Roman Catholic expressions” on the importance of life and not so much interpretation. He spoke from his heart as he confided to us what he likes: to visit the sick and the incarcerated. The meeting and the prayer service with the Pope was new in its kind, you could say that it was a lesson on what should be of importance among Christians of different Churches: dialogue and deep listening, mutual trust, sincere and truthful answers, common prayer and listening to the Gospel.” Jens-Martin Kruse, Pastor of the Evanglical Lutheran Church, gave a warm welcome while remembering the victims of the Paris attacks: “Let us trust that Jesus has conquered the world and therefore not allow ourselves to be conditioned by fear.” “My brother Pastor mentioned the tragic events in Paris,” the Pope remarked. “Even God’s name is being used to close hearts.” “Pope Francis’s freedom and sincerity was very touching,” writes Heike. “He gave his answers from the perspective of a fellow pilgrim on the same road as the listeners. He stressed the importance of following one’s conscience, of living for the neighbour; and that with faith, that is with love, all the walls will crumble.” The fraternal tone of the dialogue created a family atmosphere that was “more and more deep and encouraging.” Three questions were posed to Pope Francis: What does it mean to be Pope? What is the duty of Christians towards the needy? What must be done so that we can celebrate the Eucharist together, the Lord’s Supper, when husband and wife belong to different Churches? “Those who find themselves in this situation,” Heike explained, “suffer from the division even more. It was not easy for the Pope to answer, in fact, in spite of the steps that have already been taken, theological questions remain open concerning the Magisterium, the vision of the Church, that are still an impediment to a common celebration. The Pope mentions a few possible paths for sharing the Lord’s Supper. He referred to the Gospel, to Saint Paul: “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph 4:5). He invited everyone to listen to his or her own conscience, to give more importance to life, to the common journey – more than to the different interpretations. His words instilled hope and peace. Even the gift he brought had a prophetic dimension: a chalice and paten for the celebration of the Eucharist.” The Gospel of the day was the Final Judgement (Mt 23) that reminds us that we will be judged on our love for the poor and needy. The Pope brought to the attention of those who say “our books say one thing and yours say another,” the words of a Lutheran idea: “There’s the hour of reconciled diversity.” And he concluded saying: “Today we ask the grace of this diversity reconciled in the Lord, the reconciliation of that God who came amongst us to serve and not to be served.”
Religions for Peace: from fear to trust
The Assembly was held on 28-31 October 2015 at the Mariapolis Centre in Castel Gandolfo (Rome, Italy).
“From fear to trust” read the title of the convention which was attended by about fifty young people and 150 adults, among whom some leading figures of the different religious traditions. The moments for sharing the so-called good practices by protagonists from different European countries were particularly effective. The work done in plenary sessions and workshops sought to respond to the challenges that the European continent faces today, both in view of the throngs of migrants, and the growth of personal and group sentiments of racist nature. Particular attention was given to the role of the media and to its negative manipulation of public opinion, increasing fears, to the detriment of the positive elements which already exist and which do not make the news. From the presentation of the young people, a multiethnic, multicultural and multi-religious cross-section of Europe emerged which is not just a futuristic projection but already a reality. The youths also expressed their commitment to work towards building constructive relationships between people of different traditions. From these four days of work, an updated role has emerged for Religions for Peace in Europe, in which the organization, now active for several decades, is called to coordinate and to work in collaboration and by networking with other agencies actively involved in the fields of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, and in the fields of welcoming and integration. A commitment which not only conveys “our fraternal support to the families and friends of the innocent victims and the entire French people, through affectionate remembrance and prayer” which is renewed in the desire to “proceed with our joint actions for justice and peace.” See also: Protagonists in building a world of peace – opening speech of Maria Voce, President of the Focolare
Why Paris?
“This is a horrific and frightening moment. But we are also surprised at the international impact, by all the public support, and we feel responsible for responding appropriately.” Muriel Fleury is the director of the Focolare’s French magazine, Nouvelle Cité and this was her answer to Radio inBlu’s question about why such events could take place in France where the process of integration is older than in any other European country. She responded: “Although in the past we were successful at integrating other peoples, it seems that in recent years we have fallen a bit behind. We want multiculturalism, in the sense of welcoming other, but without taking their cultures into account, their values that are quite different from our own. Therefore, all the places that lend themselves to dialogue, true encounter, true cultural and religious sharing need to be developed. Our failure to have an authentic encounter has led to today’s tragic situation.” Paul Wirth, a member of the Focolare engaged in interreligious dialogue, remarked: “I belong to an Islamic-Christian Friendship Group (GAIC) in France. Every year we hold a week of meetings (the most recent beginning on November 12). We feel that it is very important to make everyone aware, so that people will make a distinction between authentic Muslims and those who claim to be Muslims but project hatred.” Speaking of the reaction of Muslim friends to attacks on Friday evening, he said: “There are many Muslim associations that have put out press releases condemning the attacks as barbaric, intolerable; they want to be close to the victims and their families. Just today I saw that many Muslim associations spoke of this as a horrible moment, and we Christians believe that these tragic events do not affect the relations of fraternal love that have been established amongst us [Christians and Muslims].” In her analysis, Muriel Fleury, director of Nouvelle Cité, pointed to other causes of the unease: “For economic reasons it seems that we have completely abandoned entire quarters of the city where even the police are at risk if they go into them. And our refusal to take care of these young foreigners, to not provide them some wholesome activity to keep them busy, to not be near to them, has led some of them to join radical pseudo-religious groups that have taken them away, many of them, and now we see the results.” From where do we begin, then, to mend such a complex fabric? “The problem,” says Fleury, “is that we are in France where, unfortunately, a spiritual void has been created. This French secularism has led to a denial of the spiritual dimension of a human being. Now we must take a new path, to develop the culture of encounter, of living together. Religions will be one of these paths, religions that are able to work with one another – even with the Republic. There are already signals in this direction that try to find solutions that include every voice from every religion.”
Together for Europe
© Thomas Mandl
More information about “Together for Europe” can be found at: www.together4europe.org
The initiative “Together for Europe” is an international network of about 300 christian movements and communities from all over Europe. It originated in 1999 and connects evangelical, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Christians as well as members of free churches and new communities. 70 communities constitute the group “Friends of Together for Europe”.
Congo: rappers for peace
“Just try to imagine 2,000 kids rapping in unison: “Peace! Peace! War is death, peace is love.“ https://vimeo.com/148206731 And to think that all this has been happening for decades in a country torn apart by armed conflicts, the victims of which are mostly children. Now you don’t need to dream – Martine recounts – because all this really happened last 7 November in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.” The art of loving for peace was, in fact, the title of the day meeting which the children of the Focolare Movement in Kinshasa held with the schools of the Petite Flamme social project which had thought of organizing an event to say: no to war and yes to peace and love, and involving their friends and other 20 schools of the city in this undertaking. On Saturday morning, under a dark sky that seemed to forecast rain but which later cleared out to a burning sun, a storm of children invaded the playgrounds of the main Petite Flamme School. Songs, dances, poems and sketches then unfolded to shout to the world that Peace is love, war is death. Also the various civil authorities, diplomats and ecclesial figures who sat in the audience were overcome with enthusiasm, along with the representatives of the Italian and German Embassies, the coordinator of the evangelical schools of Kinshasa, and about 300 children, not to mention the coordinator of the Catholic schools. 
“Upon casting the Dice of love and explaining its significance – continued Martine – the children demonstrated that “peace starts with ourselves.” And the many dices that brightened the stage were them solemnly delivered in the end to every school present, as a sign of a path and commitment to peace which all had initiated together. The 22 Evangelical school directors that we involved in this initiative, expressed their enthusiasm and desire to continue working with us in these types of activities. The children were the real protagonists in the preparatory activities right from the start, with their capacity to involve everyone in the rehearsals of the songs and presentations, and the courage with which they announced and presented the meeting in a TV transmission… It was all so full of joy, enthusiasm and serious work, not to mention that even God showed his benediction through his Divine Providence! In addition there was our communion of goods and presents from parents and embassies, and even a bank sponsored the event and financed the building of the stage and sound system! The event was then broadcasted on the national TV channel, the same one that had launched the initiatives some days earlier. And we, aged 0 to 99, lived this wonderful day for peace. What remained in the depth of our hearts after seeing the joy on the faces of these children? Hope. An unwavering hope. Because the future is in good hands.”
Walking in the will of God bears fruit in unity
“There is an infinite number of rays, all coming from the same sun: a single will, particular for each person. The closer the rays come to the sun, the closer they come to one another. “We too . . . the closer we come to God, by doing the will of God more and more perfectly, the closer we come to one another. “Until we are all one!” (Chiara Lubich, L’unità, Città Nuova, Roma 2015, a cura di D. Falmi e F. Gillet, p. 48-49).
Paris: New Responsibilities for Peacebuilders
“In the face of the dramatic events that took place in Paris last night, in addition to those in many other areas of the world, we stand in mourning with those who have lost loved ones and with those who believe that the unity of the human family is possible. As we stand in dismay and in the firm condemnation of such acts against human life, a question becomes very clear: have we taken every step and every action possible to build the necessary conditions for preventing violence and terrorist acts – including the encouragement of equality, of more solidarity, more communion of goods? In the face of events that appear perverse, it is obvious that there is no single answer. But it is also obvious that an uncontrolled reaction to violence will not deter those who want to destroy the life forces of peoples and their aspiration to coexist in peace. 
The conviction that the world can walk towards unity, and overcome confrontation and armed violence, remains alive in the spirit and in the actions of those who have love for every person and the future of the human family at heart, and want to bring it about through political action, through the right use of economy, and the rule of law. The Focolare Movement, while it weeps with those who weep, continues to believe in the path of dialogue, of acceptance and of respect for the other, whoever that may be and from whatever background, religious belief, and ethnicity. Therefore, together with all those working for peace, in various posts of responsibility and often at risk to themselves, the Focolare renews its commitment to intensify and multiply acts and gestures of reconciliation, opportunities for dialogue and communion, for encounter and sharing at all levels and in all parts of the world, so as to embrace the cry of humanity and transform it into new hope.”
The Church in Italy and the Courage to Be Human
The Fifth National Ecclesial Convention in Florence, Italy, (November 9-13), Foto: Cristian Gennari/Siciliani
Pope Francis having lunch at the soup kithen. Photo: Ansa
Gospel into Action: live the mutual gift of self.
That evening with friends I have some very close friends, most of them agnostics, with whom I had never explicitly spoken about my spiritual life. This had always left me with a certain sense of incompleteness. One evening we were taking a walk. Passing a church, I felt a strong desire to enter for a moment and greet Jesus. Being in the company of the others, this action seemed out of place, but I wanted to follow the impulse. During my brief visit in the church, I felt I had to say to Jesus: “Stay with me, because I am with you.” Shortly thereafter, at dinner, I felt I had to “reveal” myself to the others, but I didn’t know where to start! But then they spontaneously began to confront the topic of faith. It was a beautiful moment of communion. They expressed their perplexities to me, and words that even I hadn’t expected came out of my mouth. And all of this with mutual respect! Nothing of the kind could ever have happened if there hadn’t been that profound relationship between us. S. – Italy Sensitivity I am a nurse in the radiology department. In the corridors some patients wait their turn in their beds. One of them, with her arms bandaged, had been left uncovered. I greeted her, and with tact I covered her with the sheet. Years passed. One day, at a book presentation, a very elegant lady approached me: “I thank you for that day when you respected my dignity.” I almost didn’t recognize her. She continued: “It is when we suffer that we need even more to be respected as men and women. Thank you, because your service hasn’t made you insensitive.” E.M. – Hungary The embrace Seated at the desk of the charity center where I work, I was listening to a refugee whose appearance and clothing betrayed a past full of suffering. He was desperate because, having long been without work, he would be evicted from his lodging within a few days for not having paid the rent. I asked him, as I do with many like him, if he had friends here in the city who could help him. His reaction was unexpected: he burst into convulsive sobs, repeating: “I’m alone, alone! I have no one!” I was speechless, overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness. Then, on impulse, I got up and went to embrace him. Slowly, he calmed down. He got up too, and with a tranquil tone of voice he said, “Now I know I am no longer alone,” and he made to leave, as if that simple brotherly gesture were enough to give him hope again. At that point I stopped him to show him how to procure himself clothing, make use of the Caritas dining hall and also a bed in our dormitory. By the time we separated, he was completely serene S. – Italy
Migration: A signal from Malta
European Union and African nation leaders present at the Valletta Summit on Migration (Malta, 11-12 November 2015)
In one centre they held English classes; provided useful information about Malta; and simply spent time with the migrants. In another centre that welcomed families, they provided child care and tried to meet the basic needs of the little ones. Later, when they received permission, the Volunteers also went into the detention centres, Anna recounted: “The refugees were in rooms with bunk beds, even twelve per room, and there was not enough room for everyone. At first they were shocked, but seeing that we only wanted to befriend them, they overcame their mistrust. From English lessons we also moved on to more enjoyable moments with music and dance; and the guards remarked that they had never seen them so happy.” The young people of the Focolare Movement also became involved, inviting the refugees to events for teenagers such as the Run4Unity; and to the Mariapolis for a few days of meetings with Focolare friends and sympathisers. “Our project is beginning to gain visibility,” Anna concluded, “and we were asked to present our experience to the other Ecclesial Movements.”
Environment and Human Rights
Environment and Human Rights: A very topical issue only a few months after Laudato Si’, the Encyclical of Pope Francis on the environment, and on the vigil of the COP 21, the United Nations Conference in Paris on climate change. How was the idea born? “We have been working on this project for two years, which happens to fall at an extremely favourable moment for focusing on the environment. The Congress titled “Environment and ‘Rights’ Between Responsibility and Participation”, was born from the shared experience of a judge involved for many years in the court cases that arose from the tragic consequences and serious harm caused by the irresponsible use of the natural resources. Cognizant of the far reach of the Communion and Law network that extends to all parts of the world, he thought it could be a means of sharing and giving visibility to the problems and difficulties of the most distant and forgotten regions of the world. The idea was born of doing something that would bring a positive global response.” The programme indicates a heavy involvement of young people. What was the background process? “It was all the result of the encounter between European and African young people that took place during the March 2014 International Seminar at Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Those young people studied the theme of the environment in the perspective of responsibility and participation, and they committed themselves to continue their research up until the Congress that is scheduled for November 13-15, 2015.” Those attending will come from 4 continents, representing 21 countries. Therefore, there will be an international perspective from which to examine the laws that are in force in the environmental field, but to what end? “We would like to highlight the concept of relatedness that is inherent to being human. Our relatedness to others, in a relationship of care and attention demands responsibility in our relations both with other people and with nature. If we live in this way, those relationships will enable us to also gather the relationships of Love that underpin Creation. Another goal is to reinforce the concept of participation in legislative activity. During the congress we will evaluate a proposal of popular law that moves in that direction. The proposal comes from a Sicilian regional law concerning the territory of Pachino, which reveals the contrast between ‘legislative procedure’ and ‘participatory power’. Actually, communication with the interested parties is fundamental so that they can evaluate the current legislative and regulatory proposals.” “Moreover, we would like to give a voice to near and distant lands that are also different from one another, often forgotten or in the spotlight only because of dramatic situations, like the Central African Republic, for example. The discussion will not only be theoretical but will include stories and testimonies: on-going investigations into the damage to the environment because of irregularities, ‘halts’, the powers that be in the state apparatus, the problem of deforestation and desertification in Sub-Saharan Africa.” It is also a meeting with an interdisciplinary approach. Amongst the participants is EcoOne, for example, which is a network of researches in the field of Ecology and the Environment that shows the years of attention given to the environment by the Focolare. . .
“Scholars in ecology, environmental physics, but also economists, educationists, political scientists, architects will also join us. With them particularly during the roundtable on Sunday morning, our reflection will shift to the prospect of a unitary vision that could reconcile the terms: people and nature. During the last session, there will be an address by Focolare president, Maria Voce who was one of the initiators of Communion and Law, the network of scholars and law workers that was begun in 2001 because of an intuition of Chiara Lubich. In a nutshell, Communion and Law promotes and accompanies a variety of initiatives for elaborating and spreading a new culture founded upon relatedness as a juridcal category, but also key in the relations amongst law workers. Press releases
Solidarity with the Central African Republic
The Molu family
From Congo: the stories of two women
The bar and restaurant run by Émerence Kibimbwa Zolakio
Along the Gocciadoro Way
“Chiara was pointing out the stars to me along the Gocciadoro Way. I dont’recall her words. Come to think of it, it seems like she was telling me that we had to step out of our little world in order to soar in a much vaster world.” This is how Giosi Guella records her first encounters with Chiara Lubich in the spring of 1944 in Trent. Gioccadoro Way is the street where Chiara lived with her family before the bombardment of May 13, 1944 when the family home was left uninhabitable. It is also the name of the woods – now a city park – that lapped Tentino’s chief town, and it remains one of the symbolic sites of the Focolare Movement in the city where the Movement began. This is the story behind the title of the book about her life beside the Focolare’s foundress with whom she shared moments of light and of trial that accompanied the birth and the development of this new spiritual family in the Church. Amongst the first group that joined Chiara Lubich, Giosi Guella stood out for her simplicity, sincerity and concreteness. She was already living with Chiara Lubich in the autumn of 1944 at the small flat at piazza Cappuccini 2. That is where the first cell of the Focolare Movement began to form. In all the places she lived, Giosi embraced and lightened the sufferings of others, offered insightful advice, helped to find homes, employment and trust. She was the impulse for the consolidation of many focolare communities, seeing to it that joys and sorrows were shared amongst all, challenges and victories, unexpected donations that were then used to respond to requests for help. Everything contributed to the “capital of God’ that was being formed, composed of material goods, but also of needs. Giosi was the generous adminstrator of that capital. Because of her eye for the least amongst the community she was well suited to setting up the communion of goods of the first group in Trent, beginning in 1948. The communion of goods was a practice which then spread thoughout the Focolare Movement around the world. It was inspired by the early Christian communities who put their goods in common so that no one amongst them would be in need. Afterwards, as the Movement spread to other countries and different kinds of social action became necessary, Giosi continued to follow those developments. She also accompanied the early stages of the Economy of Communion project that was launched by Chiara Lubich in Brazil (1991). A biography has now been published, twenty years after her death. It is certainly not an exhastuve account, drawing upon a few writings and recorded speeches. Actually, she was not very fond of writing; she preferred to be “doing”. These pages are therefore quite precious, extraordinarily frank and disarmingly simple. I entrusted myself to those writings, on the edge between news and history, letting her speak. When the recount was interrupted, I was able to interview several people who had shared the journey of a Work of God with her, a Work “written in Heaven” that gradually unfolded on earth, following mysterious and up until then unexplored paths. Their testimonies permitted me to trace several passage of this simple, “too simple” life yet strongly interwoven with that of the Focolare to which Giosi had given all of herself, with her own particular touch. Caterina Ruggiu Lungo la via Gocciadoro, Città Nuova editrice
A double salary
There has never been so much talk about labour rights as in our times; and there has never been so much worker abuse as in our times. They have provided the crowds for the rallies and the piles for all the massacres, and the flesh for all the reprisals. Those that do survive are often left homeless on the streets, without family. Once again, we are called to bounce back, to reconquer death: to do what Peter the fisherman did, who said to the Master: “We have been hard at it all night, but have not caught anything; but at your word I will cast the nets.” At the word of Jesus, with hope, after a night of blood and ruin, we need to begin again. And the Father will reward our trust. All of us are engaged in this great enterprise, both labourer and intellectual, of repairing the great social wreck, with courage and responsibility. Let us never look back and never be afraid. Behind us stand the exploiters, the tyrants that have burned our homes and jammed our freedoms, the demigods that have waged war: they are the executioners and gravediggers. We are moving forward, even with the cross on our shoulders, towards the Redemption that means freedom: freedom from every evil, and therefore from the need of fear.” (Igino Giordani, Fides, June 1951) “You strip work of its value when you disassociate the economic value from the spiritual value. When God came amongst us He did so as a worker amongst workers. For thirty years He performed manual labour to help the people within the circle of his family and neighbours. Then, for three years, He did spiritual work whose fruits have benefited the human family of every age. Work is innate to us humans and as necessary to life as eating and breathing. Forcing a human being to be idle is like forcing a bird not to fly. With the advent of the Redeemer – a manual labourer who was God – labour and fatigue became the divinely manufactured ordinary means of sanctification. Anyone who works in accordance with the order of God, bearing with the fatigue out of love for God, becomes holy. The work in the fields, in the office or in the Church has the same value as prayer does. The salary is also doubled. On the human level, you are paid for the economic value produced by your handiwork and genius; on the divine level, you are paid for the merits of your patience, asceticism and detachment. As you build you bear with the fatigue, transforming it into the raw material of redemption, and you also build another stretch of the road to your eternal destiny. The prodigal son began his recovery when he began to work, just as he had begun his deterioration when he began to be idle. The real exploitation of work and of the worker comes about in proportion to the materialistic pretence of denying participation of the spirit in the works of the hand or of the mind: pulling apart the divine and the human, the spirit and the corporal, the moral and the economic, Our Father in Heaven the daily bread that needs to be served to us every day on earth. A person does not only live on bread for the stomach, but is also in need of nourishment for the soul. Pressing someone into a merely economic existence is like feeding only half of him while destroying him by starving the other half. The God Man saw and always sees the divine and the human not only one or the other, but both. Since the fishermen and their guests have not caught a single fish during an entire night of hard effort, and since the norm Jesus follows is ‘whoever does not work, does not eat,’ He invites them and their hungry families to go back to work, to recast the nets into the waters of the lake. God continually invites us not to be discouraged, not to despair but to get back to work again, always in His name. Like a human person, society also needs both works so that it can breathe with both lungs and live healthy and free. If not, it languishes, since it suffers either from bodily hunger or from spiritual hunger: one hunger brings the other. If there is no Father in Heaven, the bread on earth also becomes scarce because, without Him, the labourers are no longer brothers and sisters. They fight and steal, as happened and continues to happen to many of our immigrants who are opposed and rejected by other workers.” (Igino Giordani La Via, 1952)
JerusalemExpo2015
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Document “Nostra Aetate” Music, art, dance and live demonstration of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities in Jerusalem. Live streaming of the event Website: http://www.jerusalemexpo2015.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NostraAetateJerusalem/
“Together for Europe: Encounter, Reconciliation, Future”
The event will include a Conference (June 30-July 1, 2016) and a public outdoor rally on the following day (July 2, 2016) that will send a strong message of hope. Through testimonies, prayers and songs, the event would like to show that unity is possible and that reconciliation is the door to unity in diversity. This has been the experience of the Communities and Movements from many Churches who participate in Together for Europe for more than 15 years. Unity is possible. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ can overcome the divisions amongst individuals, populations, parties, cultures and even Churches and non-denominational groups. The Seven Yeses offers a summary of the commitments of Together for Europe 2016. Event Program
Japan, 70 years after the war
“On August 22, 1944, I lost my only sister in the Tsushima Maru naval disaster.” The passenger ship was sunk by an American submarine. More than 1,400 civilians lost their lives, including 700 children. “Up until the day of her death at the age of 96, my mother continued to say: “The war ate her on me. . .” Mrs Toshiko Tsuhako spoke from the bottom of her heart as she recounted her story to us. Her city, on Okinawa Island, had been the theatre of the only land battle in Japan through the months of April, May and June 1945, leaving 150,000 dead. “I was just an innocent child when I found myself thrown into the tragic experience of war, in contact with painful wounds that it inflicts on the bodies and the spirits of people. The war ended when I was 12 years old. My mother had a fragile constitution and, since I was the only daughter now, I devoted all my strength to trying to support and alleviate her afflictions. At the age of 16 I met the Christian faith and received the grace of Baptism.” As an adult she came into contact with the Focolare spirituality: “I was quite surprised when I heard that the foundress, Chiara Lubich, had come to understand, in the midst of the Second World War, that God loves us immensely and that we are all brothers and sisters who aspire to a united world, because this coincided exactly with the great dream that I carried inside me from when I was a young teenager.” “Although I was aware that everything that happens is in God’s hands, countless times I would wonder: ‘Why are there still such cruel and painful wars?’, while I continued on dreaming of a ‘global Family’ where the people live mutual gratitude and communion.” “I think that God is in need of our collaboration in building a truly peaceful world. It is true that we should cultivate hearts that love their own lands, but more than anything we should cultivate sensitive souls that devote themselves to the good of others, souls that know how to love.” “On this anniversary of the termination of the war,” Toshiko testifies, “I renew my trust in God and my commitment to continue along the path of peacebuilding.”
Nostra Aetate opens the Christian world’s horizons
On 28 October 1965 at the conclusion of the historical assembly of bishops of the Catholic Church, the Council Fathers promulgated Nostra Aetate, the shortest document ever to be issued by the council’s working sessions. Half a century has passed since then, and the impact of those few pages revealed to be prophetic considering that the Catholic Church had passed centuries in the more or less firm conviction that there was ”no salvation outside the Church” – the famous Latin adage extra ecclesiam nulla salus. In February 2013, a few days before announcing his ”retirement” and upon reflecting on the Council at the end of the celebration of its 50th anniversary, Benedict XVI defined this document as a « trilogy that revealed its importance only in the course of decades,» along with Gaudium et Spes and religious freedom. In effect Nostra Aetate opened the Christian world’s horizon towards the others in their ”otherness,” but the management of which, according to the council’s procedures was not at all easy. At the personal suggestion of the French-Jewish historian, Jules Isaac to John XXIII, the Pope entrusted the initial scheme to Cardinal Bea. The idea was to draft a document that would contribute to prevent the repetition of tragedies like the Shoà, but after long and complex debates, the Council laid down a few pages addressing all the religions of the world. In effect, through a laborious and difficult process, the document opened to all the main religious faiths, undoubtedly and particularly stressing the confrontation with Judaism and Islam. Nostra Aetate underlines how the Jews should be presented in a positive manner: “They should not be presented as God’s rejects or as accursed, almost as if this came from the Holy Scriptures.” Above all, it excludes Israel’s collective responsibility for the death of Jesus. Therefore, this radically changed the views the Christian and Catholic world had of Israel for two millenniums. Likewise, a great respect emerged also towards Islam. “The Church regards Muslims with esteem” – declared the document – and “if in the course of the centuries, many disagreements and hostilities arose between Christians and Muslims, the Holy Council urges all to forget the past and sincerely practice mutual understanding, and together defend and promote social justice, moral values, peace and liberty for all.” As earlier said, also the recognition of the traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism is clearly highlighted, without forgetting the traditional religions. In fact, the document also affirms that “the Catholic Church does not reject what is true and holy in these religions.” What history often has not recognised as religions are now valued by Catholic tradition which acknowledges the presence of truth and sanctity also in their traditions. 
Today, a great variety of events are being celebrated in various parts of the world to reflect on the value of Nostra Aetate and the consequences it has brought about between men and women of different religious traditions. Amongst all is the particularly important event held at the Pontifical Gregorian University and organized by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. For three days, from 26 to 28 October, about 400 people of diverse geographic, cultural and religious areas met and reflected together on what has come about over the last 50 years. There were representatives of all the major religions of the world (Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Jainists, Buddhists, and Sikhs and those of the Tenri-kyo and the traditional African religions). They reflected on highly relevant themes today, violence, commitment to peace, the challenge of religious freedom, education and transmission of values. The convention was opened by Card. Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious and by Card. Kurt Koch President of the Pontifical Council for Dialogue for the Promotion of Unity among Christians, and ended with a valuable and articulated reflection on ”Educating toward peace” by the Secretary of State, Card. Pietro Parolin. The participants then took part in the Audience in St. Peter’s square where Pope Francis dedicated his catechesis precisely to Nostra Aetate. He proposed a road-map for the future of dialogue, and encouraged all to work together for the poor, justice, the environment, and of course, peace. Rita Mousalem and Roberto Catalano, co-directors of the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue of the Focolare Movement, participated in the convention and conveyed the greetings of Maria Voce and the Movement when they briefly presented the important features of the Focolare’s interreligious dialogue and ensured the commitment of its members in continuing to work for the encounter and friendship between men and women of diverse faiths. Roberto Catalano
Inter-American Workshop on the Economy of Communion
Connect dreams and spread a new culture was the title of an inter-American workshop by the Economy of Communion, which was held on October 26-31 at Mariapolis Ginetta, San Paolo, Brazil. Mariapolis Ginetta is the place where Chiara Lubich’s inspiration for the EoC was born in 1991. Sixty young people from Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Colombia,, Bolivia and Brazil attended the even and have decided to embrace the EoC project and its innovative principles as they were first presented by the Focolare foundress. The business owners promised to accompany the young people on this difficult path. At the conclusion of the school every student received a certificate of participation from their partner. Thus a new form of communion was begun that has been called “Operation one for one”. Clézia Maria Pinto, head projects for Anpecom (the association that coordinates Economy of Communion projects in Brazil), announced the launching of a financial support programme for small businesses that operate in socially vulnerable situations, offering nutritional products or services in favour of educaiton health and housing, as well as to projects that focus on middle, low-income, and the neediest groups. The programme is inspired by projects that are already underway in other areas of the world, that offer funding and benefits linked to general adherence to the EoC. In the invitation, those who worked in preparing the workshop, wrote to their peers: “Let us not give up in front of social injustice and inequality” and posed a challenging question: “What if this change were to begin from becoming aware of what poverty, economy, work and interpersonal relations are?” These were only some of the topics that were presented during roundtable discussions, small group meetings where the main actors were the young people themselves and their expert business owners who had years of experience under their belts. In his final remarks, Anouk Grevin from the International Commission of the EoC admitted that there was the hope that the present workshop would function as a laboratory that would open new roads for the EoC not only in Latin America, but around the world.
Gospel into Action: Everyone is a candidate to unity
On the bus I was on Bus 45 which I take to work every day, when a man clearly in a bad mood climbed on. People who had realized this moved out of his way and avoided him. I, however, remained where I was and helped him with the plastic bags he was carrying. My day seemed to become brighter. Another day, on the same bus, there was the same man again. As soon as he saw me, he came to greet me. And this continued to happen. Even a very small gesture is enough to let another person, any neighbor whom I encounter throughout my day, feel welcomed and loved. E.M. – Hungary Tattoos On the train, I was sitting next to a girl and a boy covered in tattoos of a satanic nature. My propensity to look for the positive aspects in others made me think that those two must have a reason for displaying such symbols. After some hesitation, I got up my courage and asked them the meaning of their tattoos. Their eyes lit up. They took turns answering me, but each with the same sweetness: “We are grateful that you asked this question. Usually, people judge us and in the best case scenario, pretend they don’t see us. We aren’t what we seem, we only want to shake up this paralyzed and spineless society.” M.I. – France A carriage for Jamal It was Sunday afternoon. Jamal, a Moroccan worker I know, had brought me some apples. Talking with him, I found out that he was expecting a child to be born in December. However, they did not have any of the things necessary for the baby; above all, they would need a baby carriage. After listening attentively to him, an idea came to me: “Why don’t we ask God’s help together, the two of us? God is the same for everyone, you can call him by another name, but he’s still God. He will know how to find us a baby carriage.” Jamal liked the idea. We were in the open courtyard; we lifted our eyes towards heaven and we prayed as follows: “Lord God, we need a baby carriage. Please take care of it.” We were a young Muslim man and a Catholic woman: two different faiths, yet united in the asking. God accepted our prayer: the following Thursday the requested carriage arrived as a gift. V.M. – Italy
USA: Caitlin’s Challenge
Who are the saints?
Klaus Hemmerle
Reformation Day
It was in a spirit of ecumenism that 80 Christians from different denominations gathered on September 12th in the German town of Zwochau. 
During her visit to Zwochau in 2013, on behalf of the Movement Maria Voce expressed the desire to know Martin Luther better and also the faithful of the Lutheran Church. More recently, because of an exchange of letters last May between Cardinal Marx, president of the German Catholic Bishops Conference and Bishop Bedford Strohm, Chairman of the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), the idea was put forward of promoting more cooperation between Christian confessions in view of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation that will be celebrated in 2017. There were two points for reflection. The first, given by Lutheran theologian Florian Zobel, focused on Luther and his life, highlighting several little known aspects, and concluded with the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “For Luther theology was not an academic issue, but the interior struggle with himself. […] The question: ‘Where does God stand in relation to me? How do I stand before God?’ […] I think that this is the first summons we should hear from Luther.” The second point presented by Catholic theologian and researcher on Luther, Hubertus Blaumeiser, focused on the spirituality of the reformer monk and, in particular, the “theology of the cross” and the meaning of “Reform” that followed: “Not merely a transformation, a change or improvement in accordance with one’s personal plans,” he said, “but a new beginning, starting from the roots; that is, the return to the Scripture, […] to the Gospel of God’s grace and to the new choice of a life with, for and through the Crucified Christ.” In the afternoon a roundtable was held, moderated by Hermann Schweers and Lutheran pastor, Axel Meissner of Schkeuditz, and Emeritus Bishop Joachim Reinelt of Dresda. There were numerous interventions from the audience that touched upon topics such as the importance of the ecumenical effort in a society of non-believers, and the meaning of the Reform for today’s world. The day concluded with an ecumenical celebration.
Pastor Jens-Martin Kruse. Photo: Harald Krille
Sportmeet in the Balkans: When Sports Unites
Can sports contribute to building a more united world? Could it become a field of action and a tool for unity among individuals and peoples? These were the queries that sparked up the experience of the founders of Sportmeet, motivated by the sharing of the common passion for sports. “Since we were not sure we had all the answers, we scouted out the people and experiences of the sports world that could help us, and through the years were able to establish, specifically three elements that trace the identity of Sportmeet: the high consideration for sports as an important aspect of society; the capacity and objective to unite the most diverse categories of people interested in sports; and the challenge to merge theory and practice in a framework which tends to separate the sports specialists from those who practice it.” These were some excerpts from the speech of Paolo Cipolli, President of Sportmeet for a United World, which opened the seventh convention organized by the Sportmeet network in Krizevci (Croatia). The intent was to consider sports in dialogue with contemporary society, with the conviction that it can give a specific, stimulating and positive contribution to culture and the construction of active and responsible citizenship. About a hundred participants – deans, teachers of movement control sciences schools, pedagogists, athletes, heads of sports clubs, referees, educators, university students, and sports journalists, most of whom did not declare any religious convictions – coming from various regions of Croatia and Serbia, turned up at the event held at the “Mariapolis Faro” in Croatia from 2 to 4 October. Also present were the local and regional institutions that sponsored the Convention, as well as the national TV channel, local radio, and athlete, Branko Zorko, half-marathon road running specialist and three times world Olympic champion in the 1500-metre race, a native of the place and who has been in contact with Sportmeet for some time now. The theme of the convention “Free time as a resource for the young generations,” which evidenced the great changes and risks deriving from the massive use of the internet and diffusion of new technologies, was clearly and passionately underlined by Mirna Andrijašević of the Faculty of Motor Sciences of Zagreb. Alexandar Ivanosky of the private Sports and Health Faculty of Belgrade (Serbia), underlined the importance of the presence of adults, and called all to face the challenge of seeking creative approaches together with the youth who are often alone in facing the powerful stimuli of technology and the social networks. Milan Čapalija, psychiatrist, and Majda Fajdetić, pedagogist of the Zagreb Ministry of Education, highlighted the various methodologies that promote pedagogic action in reassessing the importance of games and sports. Various interactive workshops ended with a game for boys and girls of the high school in the city’s charming main square. It was a testing ground and at the same time also an occasion to divulge the typical activities of Sportmeet which centres on dialogue as a resource and essential opportunity to promote a new sports culture. As a sign of the atmosphere of esteem and trust which has grown over the years, Alexandar Ivanosky (Serbia), underlined the capacity of Croatian sports athletes to excel in team sports and encouraged even greater stringent interaction to share the spirit of fraternity that drives this group in the Balkans and also in other parts of the world. The convention closed with the announcement of the next Summer School 2016 to be held in the same city of Krizevci from 14 to 17 July.
Rome, Italy. World Congress on Catholic Education
On the 50th anniversary of Gravissimum educationis, the Second Vatican Council document on Education, a World Congress promoted by the Congregation for Catholic Education will held in Rome, Italy. The title of the conference: Educating Today and Tomorrow. . . .A Renewing Passion The congress will be attended by people engaged in the educational mission in Catholic schools and universities around the world. They will give a global glance to see what the contribution of the Christian community can be in multi-cultural and multi-religious contexts that are rapidly changing. The present educational and social emergency demands a review of educational approaches that are capable of transforming reality and are within the reach and the needs of children, teenagers and young people. The congress will include reports, testimonies and roundtables with experts from around the world. The congress will have three sessions:
- Opening Session(November 18, in Paolo VI Hall, Vatican City, Italy)
- The Main Session divided into Subsections: “School and University” (November 19-20, at the Mariapolis Centre of Castel Gandolfo, Italy); and OIEC Congress (at l’Auditorium di Via della Conciliazione, Rome, Italy)
- Closing Session (November 21, at Paul VI Hall, Vatican City, Italy) with an address by Pope Francis.
During the Closing Session in the presence of the Pope, the Service Learning Educational Model will be presented, which borrows several of its philosophical and methodological foundations from Chiara Lubich’s Education for Communion proposal as a proven educational approach that the Congregation for Catholic Education will recommend to educational institutions of the whole world.
Istanbul – 34th Meeting of Bishops from Different Churches
“Within a month, I will receive in Constantinople the Bishop Friends of the Movement:” The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople himself announced to the press the news of the upcoming Meeting of Bishops from Different Churches, Friends of the Focolare that will be held in Istanbul on November 25-30, 2015. He made the announcement during an interview following the Ceremony of the Honorary Degree in the Culture of Unity, October 26, 2015 at Sophia University Institute, Loppiano, Italy. “We will have a meeting in Halki,” he continued, “at the school of theology, and there we will have the opportunity to remember Chiara Lubich and pray for the repose of her soul, and express our experiences and our will to work for the unity of the Churches. We, as the Church of Constantinople, are happy and ready to welcome them, to exchange our experiences and the Kiss of Peace between East and West.”
Protagonists in building a world of peace
This is the title, but also the wish of the European Assembly of Religions for Peace (RfP), the organism that gathers the unites religious leaders of the world in walking together in the search for peace and justice, and Maria Voce is the co-president. Religions for Peace is currently involved in a global campaign called the Faiths for Earth project. “A very important initiative,” said Voce, because “humankind is facing an unprecedented challenge of global proportions, with little time left before it is too late. I see a providential synergy with the Pope’s Encyclical Laudato si’, which has generated such great interest around the world. In her opening address, on October 29, the Focolare’s president recalled the recent events that have changed the face of Europe. In front of the “tide of immigrants and migrants without historical precedent,” […] “Numerically speaking this phenomenon is far greater than the one million stateless people after the Second World War,” Maria Voce highlighted the dramatic situation that make us feel “dismayed, at a loss, and sometimes very uncomfortable, perhaps also deeply ashamed at our own powerlessness.” Among the causes she pointed to, also the “dramatic and questionable military interventions which destabilised whole nations in North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa and other ongoing conflicts. Our European nations are certainly not completely blameless with regard to these conflicts. ” Great concern: “What is most worrisome about our continent is the deep identity crisis which prevents these emergencies from being addressed in a co-ordinated and united way; and the “people fleeing from hunger and war becoming often the cause of strife and nationalistic backlashes. They continue to be victims of selfish exploitation, and become tools in political strategies to win favour and promote dangerous populist action.” And so, “believers, as members of varied religious traditions, together with all men and women of good will” join the cause. “We are certainly different,” Maria Voce acknowledges, “but we are all united by the same imperative, so well expressed by the Golden Rule put in many different ways in all our scriptures. We can sum it up in these words: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31). The Golden Rule is an ethical and spiritual norm that is too often forgotten. It has been put forward by Pope Francis as a true socio-political paradigm in his speech before Congress in the United States a few weeks ago.” The Golden Rule “calls us to respond to these crises, inviting us as leaders, as communities and as individuals to a shared commitment, one that is concrete, constant and heroic, even, so as to come to the aid of the mass of suffering people who plead for help, who are weeping and struggling and who, despite everything, carry on hoping. And it opens a window: “In fact, religion itself, which for centuries has been relegated to the private life of individuals and communities, and was considered by many as finished with until a few decades ago, has now become more accepted within the public life of our countries and our continent. It is needed today to give meaning and a soul, as well as true and satisfying answers, to humankind which is so confused and lost and traumatised today. It is enough to think of Pope Francis and the effect he is having in the world.” “This is the extraordinary adventure that we are called to live in our day and Religions for Peace is a providential platform: each one of us has a clear role in its immense workings. We are a wonderful international, intercultural and interreligious community, made one family above all by the shared ideal,” based on several basic points: Unity in diversity; Reciprocity in our relationships; and equality in our shared human dignity.” “On this solid foundation” it will be possible to “offer an effective contribution to peace and reconciliation in Europe;” and to set a final goal for ourselves: “humankind living according to God’s design fulfilled, which means universal fraternity.”
Word of Life November 2015
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‘That they may all be one’ (Jn 17:21). We can share God’s own dream and, as Jesus did, live and pray for unity. It will lead us down his path of death and resurrection together with him. This is the last, heartfelt prayer that Jesus spoke to the Father. He knew he was asking the thing closest to his heart. God, indeed, created humanity as his family, to give it every good thing, sharing his very own divine life. What do parents dream for their children if not that they should care for one another, help one another, live united with one another? And what saddens them more than seeing their children divided by jealousy or money matters, even to the point of not speaking to each other? God too has dreamt from all eternity of a family of his own living united as children in a communion of love with him and with one another. The Bible’s dramatic origin story speaks to us of sin and of the progressive break-up of the human family. As we read in the book of Genesis, the man accused the woman, Cain killed his own brother, Lamech took pride in his exaggerated vendetta, Babel generated misunderstanding and the separation of peoples… God’s project looked like a failure. Nonetheless, he did not give in and with determination sought the reunification of his family. The story begins again with Noah, with the choice of Abraham, with the birth of the chosen people. And so it goes on, to the point of deciding to send his Son to earth entrusted with a great mission: to gather into one family the separated children, to welcome the lost sinners into a single fold, to break down the walls of separation and the hostilities among peoples to create one new people (see Eph 2:14-16). God does not cease to dream of unity, and for this reason Jesus asks it of him as the greatest gift he can implore for all of us – ‘Father, I pray That they may all be one.’ Every family looks like its parents. So too the family of God. God is Love not only because he loves what he creates; but he is Love in himself, in mutual giving and communion, lived out by each of the three divine Persons with the others. Therefore when God created the human race he made it in his image and likeness and he impressed upon it the same capacity for relationship, so that every person may live in mutual self-giving. A more complete version of the words in the prayer of Jesus that we want to live this month, in fact, says: ‘that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us.’ The model for our unity is nothing less than the unity that exists between the Father and Jesus. It seems impossible, so profound is it. It is, however, made possible by that ‘As’, which means also ‘Because’. We can be united as the Father and Jesus are united because they draw us into their own unity, they give it to us as a gift. ‘That they may all be one.’ Precisely this is the work of Jesus, making all of us one, as he is with the Father, one single family, one people. To do this he made himself one of us, took upon himself all our divisions and our sins, nailing them to the cross. He himself pointed out the way he would take to bring us to unity: ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself’ (Jn 12:32). As the High Priest had prophesied, he had to die ‘to gather into one the dispersed children of God’ (Jn 11:52). In his mystery of death and resurrection, he has gathered up all things into himself (see Eph 1:10), has recreated the unity broken by sin, has remade the family around the Father and has made us again brothers and sisters of one another. Jesus has completed his mission. What is left now is our part, our participation, our ‘yes’ to his prayer: ‘That they may all be one.’ What is our contribution to fulfilling this prayer? In the first place we have to make it our own. We can offer our lips and heart to Jesus so that he can continue speaking these words to the Father and with trust we can repeat his prayer every day. Unity is a gift from above, to be asked with faith, without ever growing tired. More than this it must be constantly at the forefront of our thoughts and wishes. If this is God’s dream, we want it to be ours as well. Periodically and before every decision, every choice, every action, we can ask ourselves: does this help to build unity, is it the best thing to do to bring about unity? And finally we ought to run to wherever disunity is most evident and take it upon ourselves as Jesus did. There may be friction in our family or among people we know, tensions in our neighbourhood, disagreements at work, in the parish, among the Churches. Never shy away from dissension and incomprehension, never be indifferent, but take to them our love that becomes listening, attention to the other person, sharing in the pain that results from that open wound. And above all live in unity with whoever is open to sharing Jesus’s ideal and prayer, without giving weight to misunderstandings or contrasting ideas, but content with ‘what is less perfect in unity more than what is more perfect in disunity’, accepting the differences with joy, indeed considering them richnesses for a unity that is never a reduction to uniformity. Yes, at times this will put us on the cross, but is it precisely the way Jesus chose to remake the unity of the human family, the way we too wish to walk with him. Fabio Ciardi
Chiara Luce: a luminous and modern day model
The musical, “Life, Love Light,” inspired by the life of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano, has arrived in Peru: on October 10th, just a few days after the 5th anniversary of the beatification of the young woman from Sassello, the show took the stage in Lima. Months ago, the Peruvian young people of the Focolare Movement had already contacted their Spanish peers, who had put on the same show in Burgos in their language, in order to obtain the materials. They were helped by the collaboration of the Community of Villaregia and the Misioneras Identes and several professionals – as they admit, “The show was beyond our capacities,” – who undertook the preparation of the musical. 
There were 75 young people who participated in the musical production, both from the Focolare and from other Movements who got involved. And one cannot overlook a series of “fortunate coincidences” in which the young people saw the hand of God’s Providence: from the availability of a hall which seats hundreds in a well-known section of Lima, to the meals brought for the whole team, thanks to the generosity of an adherent of the Movement, to the interviews released to two television stations – one of which taped the show for a pre-recorded broadcast. 
Even the 500 spectators did not hold back their generosity: while the admission was free, they responded to the appeal to donate dry or canned goods, which arrived in great quantities, to give to the needy people in the Community of Villaregia. The show was a great success in other ways, as the participants testified that it helped them to discover and value many hidden talents. A touching testimony was given by a mother of a 13-year-old girl affected by a serious form of depression, who said: “You have changed my daughter’s life.” A message sent by Chiara Luce’s parents, Ruggero e Maria Teresa Badano, closed the evening, with their thanks for all that was achieved: “Her push towards sanctity and her faithfulness to the values of the Gospel of Jesus,” they wrote, “guided Chiara Luce even in the most difficult moments of her existence, and we are convinced that she will know how to inspire you. Because, as her spiritual mother Chiara Lubich said, ‘You have only one life, it’s worthwhile to live it well.’“
Bartholomew I: the greatest joy
© CSC Audiovisivi
© CSC Audiovisivi
Piero Coda: the new words of the Patriarch
Foto © CSC Audiovisivi
Bartholomew I and his passion for unity
“Everyone was so touched by the brotherly affection that joins the Holy Father Francesco to His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew. The Pope recognizes the Patriarch’s commitment in the journey of unity, which he describes as our common journey. Not only that: he very courageously says that this Honorary Degree is a step ahead in that journey.” You know the Patriarch very well, you have lived and now live even more intensely, this moment in a long history of closeness between the Focolare Movement and the Orthodox Church and its Patriarchs. What are your views on this Patriarch and the significance of this recognition? “Patriarch Bartholomew is the heir of the great Patriarch Athenagoras who really possessed this passion for unity which, in him, was almost a prophetic vision that he was not able to realize. This passion was transmitted particularly to Patriarch Bartholomew who never misses an opportunity to press for unity in the heart of the Orthodox Church, so that they can talk to one another to the Church of Rome with a voice that is already in a certain sense synodal. He tries in many ways to emphasise how much this journey together is alive. I think we are truly at a happy moment because there is gentle pressure being given by two heads of our two Churches, and that cannot but produce fruit. There will be resistance as Pope Francis pointed out at the conclusion of the Synod, but in the end there is the Holy Spirit who will help us, who pushes the Church securely towards the unity of the Churches. We think that this is a happy moment and that this recognition might be an important step, a concrete step on this journey.” In his speech the Patriarch spoke precisely about what unity is and that it is different from union, which is different from uniqueness – diversity as richness, a concept that is quite present in the charism lived by Chiara Lubich. Could you explain to us a little more, in what way? “Chiara was always reminding us that the Church’s journey is guided by the Holy Spirit, and therefore He was surely maturing gifts in all the Churches of Christianity that would serve unity, that would serve if they were put in common. These gifts do not flatten but respect the diversity, precisely because they recognize a great richness in these diversities that only makes the Church more beautiful as Jesus wanted it. No uniformity therefore, but unity in diversity. Chiara would tell us that the highest model is the unity that joins the Most Holy Trinity where the Father is Himself because He is not the Son; the Son is Himself because He is not the Father; but the love that there is between the Father and the Son generates none other than the Holy Spirit who is the Third in this Trinitarian dimension, but is also the First since He links the Father and the Son. And this can happen because each of the Three Divine Persons of the Most Holy Trinity completely loses Himself in the other. This is precisely what is required for the Church’s journey; that is, that each one be able to completely lose himself in the other church; which means being able to reach all the way down to the bottom of one’s own richness and give it all to the other, to the others. Therefore, it requires knowing how to be love in order to build that Church of Christ in which each Christian, no matter what Christian community they belong to, feels like a sharer in the Body of Christ.” With this award, are there any new prospects that might open? “We were actually talking with the Patriarch himself about the possibility of eventually instituting a Chair at Sophia University Institute that would be part Roman Catholic and part Orthodox and would study such figures as Chiara Lubich and Patriarch Athenagoras, trying to sort out and understand the contribution they made and can continue make, through the encounter of their two charisms, to this journey of unity.” (From Vatican Radio)
Bartholomew I, master of the Culture of Unity
During his lecture on October 26, 2015, following the conferment of the title of Doctor in the “Culture of Unity” by Sophia University Institute, Bartholomew I recalled the history of relations between the two “sister” churches. Those relations had been marred by centuries of misunderstanding and, in time returned to the path towards unity with the lifting of the mutual excommunications and the steps taken by such figures as Paul VI and Athenagoras I whose legacy has been embraced by Bartholomew I. It is a path that has recently recalled the value of “synodality” as a key element in guiding the Church of Christ, and there were several occasions that expressed spiritual synergy. In his message, read by Cardinal Betori, Pope Francis addressed “the beloved brother Bartholomew” stressing “the common journey our Churches take towards full and visible unity, to which we aspire with dedication and perseverance.” The Patriarch was deeply touched by the Pope’s words and said he was “very” happy, confiding that he would “return to Istanbul stronger, more certain” knowing there was a “a brother in Rome who wished to work and pray with us to accelerate the unity of our churches” and to whom he responded with the “Kiss of Peace” invoking the prayer for a long life for Pope Francis. 
The Patriarch’s words breathed a history that had gone from “the refusal to recognise the other as Christian” to the rise of “protagonists of the new springtime in the Church who would make unity the main focus of their pastoral activity for the good of all” and because of their single desire of “advancing the ways of God.” His words also breathed a future history in which both Church and human institutions would understand that “diversities are a gift and not contrapositions, richness and not imbalance, life and not death” The ceremony was held in the Focolare town of Loppiano, Italy, where Sophia University Institute is located, and that day marked the opening of Sophia’s 8th academic year. More than a thousand people attended the extraordinary event with the presence of His Holiness Bartholomew I – several delegations from the Orthodox Church, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, civic leaders, a Muslim community and over 4 thousand viewers connected via internet. The recognition statement presented to the Patriarch of Constantinople expressed gratitude “for his courageous, enduring and fruitful patience in favour of a culture of unity” of which he is a “beloved and listened-to protagonist on the international level, on the ecclesial level in the dialogue between the Churches, on the interreligious level in the encounter amongst different religious traditions and experiences, and on the cultural level in the collaboration amongst women and men of all beliefs who follow the path of universal brotherhood.” In an interview, Dr. Piero Coda, President of the Institute, went on to say – explaining the culture of unity – it is not a utopia, but an “inspiration through which Chiara Lubich understood that the charism of unity given to her by God, could also be expressed by culture. There is always a need for mediations, models, as Pope Francis says, a cultural revolution, to channel existence towards new frontiers. This is why Sophia University Institute was begun.” Focolare president, Maria Voce, spoke for the whole Movement expressed to the Patriarch the joy and the honour of welcoming him to the town of Loppiano, mindful of the leading role he plays as a spiritual and intellectual figure, the value of his testimony and of his “calls to justice and the safeguarding of the environment which is our common home.” “Dialogue is our common priority,” Maria Voce continued, as she stated our wish to “pursue the path in total harmony of ideals and life witness.” Another step, recalled by Bartholomew I during an interview at the conclusion of the ceremony, was the November 2015 gathering in Istanbul, of Bishop Friends of the Focolare from different churches: “There,” he said, “we will be able to express our will to work for the unity of our Churches. We are glad and ready to welcome them and to exchange the Kiss of Peace between East and West.” Unity in diversity was one of the “new terms” that were mentioned, and that University president Piero Coda strongly emphasised: “the Gospel is not uniformity, but appreciation of differences. Flowing from the same font, they are ‘unity’ precisely in the measure to which they enter into relation with one another; that is, that they mutually recognize the gifts that each of them carries. Therefore, diversity is the flower of unity when it is lived as a relationship, as fraternity, as communion.” “And it is precisely in the acceptance of the diversity” – the Patriarch concluded – “through the dialogue of love, mutual respect, acceptance of the Other and our availability to welcome and be welcomed, that we will be able to become for the world icons of Christ and like Him, in unity, also be diversity.” Replay streaming Message from Pope Francis Press Release
Trade unionists for universal brotherhood
Their “ethical statute” defines them as people who are immersed in «the contradictions and difficulties of the present time, and who take on themselves the burdens and sufferings of the world of work …in the perspective of universal brotherhood.» In this tension one can see the signs of that essential “new school of thought” indicated by Pasquale Foresi (“life itself makes us comprehend”), co-founder of the Focolare Movement who affirmed: «work is not only a means of sustainment, but is something inherent to our human nature, and is thus also a means to get to know reality and understand life. » It was a working method revealed through the experience of the employees of the former CGlobal company of Pisa involved in one of the usual restructuring and delocalization of businesses, and the story of the “bonds of solidarity” trade union fund of Pomigliano d’Arco, Naples, created thanks to the Parish of San Felice in Pincis, to give mutual aid to a community on the verge of collapse due to the lack of jobs caused by the international division of work steered by the multinational corporations. This scenario was completed by the dissertation of Alberto Botto, Secretary General of the trade union Luz y Fuerza in Rosario, Argentina, on the resistance of the labour unions in a confrontation with the power of military dictatorships and the liberalist privatisation formulas that risked to dissolve their country. 
In the light of the paradigm of “this economy that kills,” to cite the Pope, precisely those who decided to take action in the trade union out of a “thirst for justice” are experiencing the fragility and limits of their organizational methods compared to the commercialization of all aspects of life. The three days thus aimed to create an “unarmed” zone, where each could express the reasons for his/her commitment. It was a mutual sharing that highlighted sharing sessions and moments of a challenging dialogue with Maurizio Landini and Marco Bentivogli, national secretaries of two Italian metalworkers’ unions (Fiom Cgil and Fim Cisl), and also with Giorgio Cremaschi of the radical, critical area. The programme included the confrontation with Cecilia Brighi who has worked years in the international employment organization of the trade unions, and with professors, Antonio Maria Baggio, Barbara Sena and Alberto Lo Presti, who presented the actuality of a fundamental text re-edited by Città Nuova (“Labour issues and Christianity,” by Von Ketteler). 
The working sessions under the guidance of Antonella Galluzzi and Stefano Biondi, “Made in The World” contact persons and followed up by the Focolare Movement’s leaders of cultural dialogue, Caterina Mulatero and Joao Manuel Motta, saw the participation of the president of the Movement, Maria Voce, who remarked: «the truth is that jobs are not lacking. God did not leave us without work; just look around and see the needs and emergencies of civil society! What seems to be lacking is money. Where has it gone? Corruption and thirst for unlimited profits has created a gap between work and money, and its usage.» This is why we have to «take on the wounds of humanity together» with our “expertise” which is « universal brotherhood, reconciling man with man.» The participants departed with the great desire to share what they had experienced in order to promote opportunities for dialogue with other trade unions. «We understood that we are not alone – one of the Argentinean union members said – and that it is vital to remain united to give a spirit to the unionist struggle, in order to convey it to everyone.»
Honorary doctorate to be conferred on Patriarch Bartholomew – Watch live streaming
His Holiness Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, a pioneer in ecumenical dialogue and a peacemaker, will be receiving the first honory doctoral degree in the Culture of unity conferred by the Sophia University Institute, situated in Loppiano (Florence) and founded by Chiara Lubich to deal competently and effectively with the cultural transition taking place. The theologian Piero Coda, President of the University Institute said: “Today, the world needs people who seek the unity of the human family, and the Patriarch is constantly rendering a valuable service towards a culture that aims at placing fraternity at the heart of human history”. […]. Diretta streaming See more: Patriarch Bartholomew I visits the Focolare’s little town of Loppiano
At the conclusion of the Synod on the Family
It was a living experience of the Church that was very important for them, a unique experience in their life that they will always carry in their hearts. That is how the family from Colombia described their experience – María Angélica, a dentist, and Luis, Director of the Ethics Department at the University of Gran Colombia, and their two sons of 18 and 20 years. From October 4th to the 25th, they attended the Ordinary Synod on the Family “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the contemporary world.” They have been working for families for over 20 years in connection with the Focolare Movement, accompanying couples in the process of preparing for marriage, and for the years that follow when the inevitable crises threaten to deteriorate the sacrament and the love. You had an active role in the work of the small groups. Which moments seemed important to you in making a contribution to the Synod? The experience in the small groups was quite beautiful, because we were able to offer our own experience and that of other families, presenting what we wish to live as a family: the dynamic of love that is lived in the Trinity – in which each of the Three Divine Persons is Love for the other. This is one thing we were able to contribute. Also: emphasising the importance of the Eucharist; we highlighted the need for the presence of Jesus amongst families through mutual love; and so we shared with them about the times we have asked forgiveness of one another when there was not full unity. Another contribution was the point about divorced and remarried couples. It is important to feel a particular love for these families. And that according to the measure in which the experience of faith in them begins to grow – accompanying them to the point that they feel that Jesus is also in their neighbour, in the Word of the Gospel that is meant to be lived, in the community that lives in mutual love – their nearness to Jesus grows. We felt that one important point to be presented to the Synod fathers was Jesus crucified and forsaken, since He took upon Himself the sufferings of humanity. In Him we see the one who was betrayed, humiliated, feeling alone, abandoned, culpable, left without an answer to His question. We are all joined in Him because He lived through all that, and in Him we can have this unique communion wherein all are contained in this yes to Him. This was our proposal: that there is no difference between the family that has not suffered failure and the one that has, because we have all feel accepted by Him. We described the experience of many families, also in the Movement, in which they had said this yes with the pain of not being able to receive the Eucharist, but still knowing that they were called to holiness. Therefore, they are not excluded from the invitation to holiness. As Pope Benedict once remarked: they highlight the beauty of the indissolubility of marriage; they are also builders of this indissolubility, so they make a huge contribution as they grow in this yes. 
At times, it’s a matter of understanding the deep meaning of the sacrament. For many people of our day the sacrament of matrimony doesn’t say much, also because the couple has not been provided with an adequate formation, neither by parish nor ecclesial movement; whereas, it is a part of the journey of every human being to understand how to be human and to discover the transcendent dimension within oneself. It needs to be discovered how this sacrament can help in forming a family and why, through the family, we are responsible for children.” One day, coming out of the small group session, you felt the wish that the bishops would comprehend your deep love for the Church. . . “The relationship and the dialogue with the bishops has been drawing us closer and closer over the past few weeks, closer in knowing one another, listening to one another, also in trying to be ‘mothers’ towards them. For example, if they had a cough, a cold . . . we wished that they would be able to feel that we families also love the Church as they do; that we suffer for the Church as they do; that we also give our life for the Church. We’re on the same journey. As Chiara Lubich once told us: each one of us is like a piece of a mosaic, so our value lies in helping to create the beautiful reality that is the Church. It was very important that this was said – and heard.” One of your own offerings was included in the final document. “Yes, in the final small group meeting the relator asked if we would describe our experience as a family. Then, what was proposed for the final document also contained what each one of us had said. You can’t even tell, really, what was proposed by a family and what was proposed by a Synod father: it was everyone’s proposal, unanimously agreed upon.” What would your wish be for the conclusion of the Synod? “Many best wishes! The hope that, little by little, all families will discover the richness contained in them, no matter what their situation – ‘regular’ or ‘irregular’ – if they live as a real family, to make society better: for the growth of humanity.”
Safeguard the family with love
“God created the family, and he formed it in this way. He wants there to be love between husband and wife. If love is missing, there’s no marriage, no matrimony. Unfortunately, because of sin, this love has been spoiled to some extent. This love has been clouded over because sin entered humanity. So Jesus came and healed the situation, bringing a stronger love, a greater love, the very love that comes from God, the love which is God himself. So, we must take advantage of what Jesus brought, use this love in order to maintain natural love as well. For example, if you didn’t love your husband any more, you would have to love him because he is Jesus, because he is another Jesus, because you have to be the first to love, because you have to love everyone, because you have to make yourself one, because you have to love him as yourself. In other words, you bring supernatural love into the situation, with all that it means, in order to safeguard human love too. This is what to do and this way of doing things is the foundation of our New Families Movement.” Source: Chiara Lubich Center Video (italian soundtrack) https://vimeo.com/142517715
The family: relationships that reflect the Trinity
“It was the Son of God, Jesus Christ who revealed to us the true image of God and the true image of man and woman. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are, therefore, not dealing with three gods but one God in three Persons, as lengthily described in the doctrine of the Trinity. The Church has deepened and preserved this doctrine in all its integrity throughout the centuries. Besides finding the correct language in its profession of faith, the Church has always adored the Three Divine Persons. Up to the present, the spiritual Trinitarian doctrine has shown us the deep relationship the disciples of Jesus had with each of these Three Divine Persons. The Word of God does not present God only as a perfect Spirit, creator of heaven and earth, (as declared in the Christian Doctrine’s Second Catechism), but affirms that “God is love” (1 John 4,8.16). Saint Augustine tried to delve deeper into the path of love in God and reached the point of affirming that God is the Lover, the Beloved, and Love itself. However, he felt incapable of pursuing this path and bequeathed to us the deepening of this mystery in man and woman, in the three qualities of intelligence, memory and will. But what remained to be fully developed was the deeper understanding of the mystery of God who is Love. In our time, in which culture affirms the individual up to the point of falling into an exasperated individualism, and we struggle to make the synthesis between unity and diversity in the human relationships in this globalised world where human relationships are still re-evaluated in all senses, it would be opportune to seek in the Holy Trinity, that essentially Christian foundation, the path towards the fulfillment of love as a human identity. What is love? How can we understand and experience love? Our pathway must be found in the pathway of He who came to us from the womb of the Father, that is, the Son. To meet man, God who is love made himself nothing (Nazareth, Maria, Joseph, Bethlehem, the flight to Egypt. The Cross) (cfr text of Paul to the Philppians 2,5-11). Love passes through the incarnation and the mystery of the resurrection. Love makes itself nothing to be able to meet the other. This is the Kenotic dimension of love. Without this path it would be difficult for man and woman to find that relationship with God, but also with each other, whether man or woman. In this sense I think we could find the Trinitarian path of anthropology, not only theoretically but concretely.”
Building peace!
“We also felt the need to do something for all the poor families in our city. And we discovered that here in Teramo (Italy), the Caritas association runs an emporium where they collect basic goods for those in need. And so, with our parents, we visited this emporium and having discovered – to our great joy – that some bakers in the city donate not only the leftovers but also fresh bread, we decided to take eggs, jam, toilet paper, and refreshing tissues (since, as they said, they work like water). We filled up three trolleys with gifts!!! We all, kids and adults were all very happy, because we discovered a way of helping people who have nothing to eat. Now that we know about this special supermarket, we shall return and try to involve all our friends.” (The gen4 and gen3 boys and girls of Teramo, Italy)
The Synod: Moving on Together
It was a solemn celebration in the presence of all the synod Fathers, delegations, ambassadors and Pope Francis – who gave one of the most important speeches of his pontificate – on 17 October in the Nervi Hall, to commemorate 50 years since the institution of the Bishops’ Synod by Pope Paul VI. Focolare President, Maria Voce defined it, “a masterpiece”, when asked to comment on the spur of the moment, on the Pope’s speech. “He illustrated that there cannot be a progress of the Church if not as a synodal body. I was struck when he underlined the importance of the sensus fidei, that is, the sense of faith, and the infallibility of the people of God, who together listen to the Holy Spirit, thus expressing the faith of the Church. And this starts always from the base. In this manner, with all the juridical collegiate figures that emerged after the Second Vatican Council – Pope Francis makes us see – that if we don’t live this synodal spirit, starting from the people it addresses, they will not serve to enhance communion. They would all be just masks.” And regarding the primacy of service: “Let us never forget this!” the Pope exclaimed. “For the disciples of Jesus, of the past, today and for always, the only authority is that of service, the sole power is the cross, in the Master’s words: ”’You know that the governors of the nations rule over them and the leaders oppress them. Among you it will not be so; whoever wishes to be great among you, will be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you, will be your slave’ (Mt 20,25-27). Among you it will not be so: in this expression we reach that very heart in which we have been trying for some time now to reflect ourselves, exactly in the sense which he explained: “the top is found below the base. Due to this, those who exert authority are called ‘ministers’ because, according to the original meaning of the word, they are the smallest among all.” What comes out once more in his speech is the same wavelength between Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew I: “The commitment to build a synodal Church – a mission to which we are all called, each in the role the Lord entrusted us with – is burdened by ecumenical implications. Due to this, in speaking to a delegation of the Patriarchate of Costantinople, I recently stressed the conviction that ‘the careful examination of how the principle of synodality is expressed in the life of the church and the service of he who presides it, will offer an important contribution to the progress of relationships between our Churches.” Maria Voce also underlined, “It is a synergy – that not only regards the problems of creation expressed in the encyclical Laudato si’; it is precisely this feeling of synodality of the Church that pushes Pope Francis to open a door to say: we must get together as one. It is a responsibility that urges him to find a way of getting down to concrete steps towards a full communion among Christians, because only in this can the synodal spirit of the Church be seen.” Lastly, Maria Voce continued, “The effort is not to seek compromises, but that which the Holy Spirit wants to say to us, which is a challenge that requires a strong unity of the entire Church. We spoke with various participants of the Synod for Families in the past days, and also with the family of married focolarini from Colombia, María Angélica and Luis Rojas, and all asked us for prayers. So let us intensify our prayers as if we were there, trying to understand how to respond to the anguish and difficulties of the family in the modern world, and regard the family as part of God’s plan.” The motivation and strong words of Paul VI that accompanied the institution of the Synod of Bishops on 15 September 1965 are particularly important for the Focolare Movement, precisely because the institution of the Synod, Maria Voce explained, “brought a new climate within the Church, a turning point: that of collegiality, communion, passing from a manner of conducting the individual and rather hierarchical Church, to a collegial one. As the Focolare Movement, as a movement of unity, we thus could not but take this event into consideration, and with joy I accepted Cardinal Baldisseri’s invitation to participate in the commemoration.” The Synods, in fact, are the concrete prosecution of the Second Vatican Council: «Paul VI, evidently inspired by the Holy Spirit after having made such a beautiful experience of the council, which had stirred up new realities in the Church – just think of the documents Gaudium et Spes, Lumen Gentium, Nostra Aetate – felt that this experience had to continue.» “Synod,” in fact, precisely means “journey together” as Cardinal Schönborn explained in his speech on the birth of the Synod of Bishops and on the various Synods, with the force of the Pope. It thus means that «the Church is walking together, not the Pope by himself, the bishops by themselves, the people of God by themselves, or the laity by themselves: this journey is undertaken by the Church, in which all have something to say and give.” Read more: press release on the participation of the Focolare in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops.
Orthodox in tradition and in life
“I live in Nicosia and was born and grew up in an Orthodox family that was Christian in name only. There was no depth, no relationship with Jesus. Indeed, God was the ally of my parents, and they seemed to have a monopoly on Him when they wanted us to obey them. When I finished high school, I received a scholarship to study orthodontics in Hungary. It was difficult for me to get used to the new sitaution. For the first time I was far from my family, living with people I didn’t know. Back then, we were far from the multicultural spirit that prevails today. I was filled with prejudices, with an attitude of rejection. During that year I encountered many disappointments, also from my friends. Meanwhile, the deep search for a more authentic life had begun in me. At the new college I met a Hungarian girl. I had been struck by her cheerfulness and also the way she accepted others. She even offered to help me learn Hungarian. Disappointed by my previous experience with friends, her way of acting made me wonder: ‘Is she sincere, or only kidding?’ But . . . I began to trust her. We shared joys, sorrows, failures and also material things. When she went home to her family on the weekends, around 50 km from Budapest, she took me along so that I wouldn’t be missing my own family. Her family were farmers, very loving, warm and hospitable. But there was one question: Every day at the same hour, and one evening every week she would disappear without explanation. All I knew was that she was with other friends. It turns out that she was with several young women who belonged to the growing Focolare community in Hungary. Back then – when were under the Socialist Regime – anyone discovered belonging to a religious movement was persecuted with serious consequences, such as loss of one’s job, or place at university. One day she felt comfortable enough to confide in me. She told me how she had come to know the Focolare Movement. A priest from her village had recounted to her the story of Chiara Lubich, a young woman like us, of our same age, and how she had been struck by the fact that during the Second World War, Chiara saw everything crumbling around her and the only ideal that didn’t crumble under the bombs was God. She wanted God to be her ideal in life, and to live according to His will. She explained to me that she and those young women she met with were trying to do the same thing. They placed God first in their life, living the Word of Life each day, a sentence taken from the Gospel with an explanation by Chiara. Then they recounted their daily experiences to each other, as a gift for each other. Everything she told me touched me so deeply, I began reading the New Testament, which I had never done before, and this was a decisive moment for my future. Life began to change. All the people I met each day, I could no longer ignore them, nor judge them, nor undervalue them, because now a new mentality had been born in me: we’re all children of One Father and therefore brothers and sisters to each other. Every person is a candidate for the unity that Jesus asked of His Father: that all may be one: the good, the bad, the ugly, the unlikeable, the big and the small. . . The theology of the Fathers had been awakened in me, especically that saying of Saint John Chrysostom: ‘I see my brother, I see my God’. The walls of prejudice that I built up within me, began to crumble. I realised that the Gospel was not only something to be read out in church and that was it; rather, it could bring about a revolution if we took it seriously and translated it into daily life: at the university, at the factory, at the hospital, in the family! Amidst all of this enthusiasm and joy that was filling my life, there was one great sorrow: The other girls were all Catholics, and I was the only Orthodox. They attended Mass every day. I strongly desired to be with them in those moments, but they suggested that I look for my Orthodox Church in Budapest so that I could attend the Liturgy and receive the Eucharist. This separation was painful, but Chiara had invited the members of the Movement belonging to other Christian Churches, to love their Churches, just as she had loved hers. This explanation gave me peace and, once again, it confirmed in me the wisdom, love and descretion that Chiara possessed in front of the believers of different Churches. It could not have been anything but the fruit of God’s intervention in our times. I found the Orthodox parish and got to know it more. I went every Sunday and, with the permission of the priest was able to receive Holy Communion any time there was a Divine Liturgy. They never left me alone in this new initiative. The other young Catholic women often attended the Liturgy with me. The liturgical and sacramental life was no longer something formal or external, but a relationship that was building with Jesus, the activation of God’s grace in my heart that helped in the daily struggles and increased the fruits of love, joy and peace within me.” At Istanbul, March 14, 2015, on the occasion of the publication of the Greek editions of Chiara Lubich’s writings.
Historic event: “Together for Mexico”
“It’s a historic event”; “There’s no turning back”; “Only through our communion will we solve the problems of Mexico.” These were some of the phrases that were joyfully echoing in the corridors of the Centro Expositor, an avant-garde but functional structure that adds to the already rich architectural patrimony of the city of Puebla. The slogan “Young people, family and life united in the joy of the New Evangelisation” was the backdrop of the three-day conference (October 16-18, 2015). Accompanying the reflections presented at the main assembly, there was also a series of reports and roundtables, with twenty simultaneous focus groups that strengthened awareness in the thousands of participants, of the important social role that comes with being part of a Church movement. 
The first report was presented by Anna and Alberto Friso, members of the Pontifical Council for the Family, who examined the challenges to an institution that is more and more under attack due to the influence of individualism , but which remains as a light for society precisely because it is a “little church”. A variety of academics, civil leaders and members of the most prestigious institutions in the country, such as IMDOSOC, Mexicanos Primeros, A favor de lo mejor, México Evalúa and others, offered interesting presentations that helped to understand this North American country from many different angles: politics, mass media, education and social action. Among the testimonies there were also three aritsts of international fame: Liana Rebolledo, Eduardo Verástegui and Emmanuel. A very touching testimony was given by Margaret Karran, an Arab Christian focolarina from Haifa who up to a short time before had lived in the Holy Land in direct contact with the diverse religious expressions that are found there.
Margaret Karram (second from right)
Diversity among the Churches: a challenge and a valuable enrichment
“The place of my dreams, ever since I was small, was Canada. I would certainly never have dreamed of actually going there, much less in a town called Saskatoon in the prairies of Saskatchewan. Even more beautiful was the reason that brought me there. I went to take part in the final session of the Consultation between the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity of which I have been a member since 2009. I thought back over some experiences that were undertaken with Lutherans in South Brazil that followed a safe path. But with the first contact, I immediately realised that here it was another reality. I encountered a group of Evangelicals – in some countries they are called ‘Evangelists’, in others ‘Evangelicals’. There was a group of Christians included amongst them from different churches: Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Pentecostal, Mennonite and Anglican. They identified with a common missionary project, while living and being Church in very different ways from one another. There were thirteen of us – five Catholics and eight Evangelicals. I was the only lay person, and a woman. They came from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Philippines, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Kenya, Spain and the United States. It was an unforgettable week marked by prayer, study, reflection and, at times, heated discussions. The questions we asked helped us to know one another better, especially on a confessional and missionary level: What do we have in common? What still divides us? The diversity I encountered was a valuable enrichment and a serious challenge. Above all, we tried to clarify our positions in order to overcome the conflicts through truthful dialogue in charity. It wasn’t easy, and there wasn’t a lack of problems. We experienced the pain of the divisions. We realised that the road ahead would be long. What to do? Let it go, or carry on? Personally, I discovered that any obstacle can become an opportunity for dialogue and an invitation to have an even greater measure of love. We faced the problems in the light of the Gospel, working like real disciples of Christ. Amongst the Catholics were bishops, priests and laity; and we also came from different countries and backgrounds, different points of view. Yet, together, we managed to have a living experience of full and real communion which we enjoy. This is fraternal communion born over years together, along with the hope that every one of us can contribute something towards the reconciliation between Catholics and Evangelicals in our own country. Now, we are awaiting the publication of the final report of this Consultation. Because of the personal friendship established with them, Pope Francis has triggered a new ‘march’ of this dialogue. Encouraged by him, we would like to promote this experience everywhere, because it is in the local community that we live with one another; it is there that we forgive one another; and it is there that we offer the witness that Jesus asks us for: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).
Gen Rosso’s Tour in Brazil
These are the figures of Gen Rosso’s tour in Brazil: the band that resides in Loppiano has undertaken seven projects – one for every city – in collaboration with Fazenda da Esperança – a community founded in 1983 by Frei Hans, Nelson, Lucy and Iraçi – and the prefecture of Guarapuava. The first city to host the band was Palmas, in the state of Tocantins where the Fazenda da Esperança hosts 25 youths under rehab programmes from drugs, alcohol and violence, and who will work with Gen Rosso – together with other youths of other 4 Fazende in neighbouring cities – and take part of an intense workshop through which they will not only stage their musical Streetlight, but also undertake a spiritual journey of communion. Also 170 youths of the Focolare Movement of various parishes and diocesan movements will participate in the nine artistic workshops. The two evening shows resulting from the workshops attracted an audience of 2,300 people, as well as the national TV Globo channel, other media and the local civil and religious authorities. Also the second third stopover in Caxias and Manaus, in the states of Maranhão and the Amazon, followed the same pattern: the spirit of the tour is to involve the youth, especially those with difficult backgrounds and vicissitudes, within a programme of education towards peace and a different lifestyle transmitted through music, dance and mutual sharing. There were numerous touching testimonials in this sense: «I have lived for two years in the square of the theatre, sleeping on that bench in front, and ate what I found in the trashcans… I never thought that I would one day see what was behind those doors, and even go onstage to express my wish for redemption and a new life,» a boy from Manaus said. «I was familiar with the backstage door. I would enter to steal and when it was closed, it was the corner where I would assume drugs . And now, here I am, trying to give the best of myself: life is marvelous!» another boy relayed. Also the audience wrote very meaningful impressions – the final celebrations in Manaus saw the participation of 6,000 people – among these, the Bishop of Caxias, who underlined how «this type of evangelisation goes directly to the hearts of the youth, and from the stage reaches out to the public in an unmistakable and exciting way, » and various journalists gave ample reportages and footage in their various newspapers and TV channels. The tour is under way and will bring the band to Garanhuns (Pernambuco), Casca (Rio Grande do Sul), Guaratinguetá (San Paolo)
Patriarch Bartholomew I visits the Focolare’s little town of Loppiano
On October 26, 2015, at 5.00 pmSource: Press Release 19 October 2015 Other material available at Focolare Information Service Bartholomew I – Biographical Profile Sophia University Institute – Dossier “Athenagoras I, Paul VI and Chiara Lubich” – video (available in high definition, please send your request to sif.press@focolare.org) Photo gallery