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Aug 20, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
A project which, in the outskirts of Kinshasa – capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo – would like to give teens an adequate education and nutrition, medical treatment and clothing is known as Petite Flamme (Little Flame) and it has been taking care of 1650 children inserted in 9 schools. “It has already been 17 years that I have been accompanying this project,” says Edi, project collaborator for the Focolare Movement, “which for the past 19 years we have taken ahead thanks to the “Support at a Distance” project of the New Families Movement. Aside from the children, the teachers and their families are also benefited, since they have a job even if the salary is a modest one, in a country where the unemployment rate exceeds 80%.” 
There are countlesss examples of the concrete support that the project is able to give. “For example,” Edi continues, “a single-mother in difficulty was able to obtain a diploma in sewing, and is now able to provide food for her child and for herself. Or in another instance, an orphaned teenage boy will be the first to graduate in mathematics and computer science at the University of Kinshasa”. At Petite Flamme we also welcome unsighted children who follow a formation course especially made for them. And once they have completed their studies, the teens are not left without any means of livelihood: the teenage girls who have received a diploma in dressmaking, for example, will be given a sewing machine so that they can start their own professional activity. “These children, receive a special formation in music,” Edi explains, “and they receive as a gift a classical guitar. During the graduation celebration a blind boy sang for everyone a song composed by all of them as a gift, and to thank their parents for having taken care of them despite the difficulties that their situation involves, especially in a poor country.”
Jonathan (left) with his classmates
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Aug 19, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Seoul, 14 August 2014. As of today, the Pope is on Korean land. We were struck by a small gesture by the Pope at the Nunziature. When everyone had left the room, the Pope turned off the lights. . . During his homily at a private Mass, he spoke of forgiveness as a necessary condition for constructing fraternal relationships and solving conflicts also on a large scale. In the Nunziature we were struck by one small gesture: “While he was exiting a hall that everyone else had already left, the Pope turned off the lights. Daejeon, August 15, 2014. First he met with survivors and relatives of the victims of the Sewol (South Korea) ferry disaster. Then there was Mass for the feast day of the Assumption with more than 50,000 faithful who filled the World Cup Stadium. He strongly urged the young people to reject inhuman economic models that create new forms of poverty and marginalise workers, and the culture of death that devalues the image of God, the God of life, and violates the dignity of every man, woman and child. He asked asked them to be intensely concerned for the poor, the needy and the weak in our midst. The Korean people were more and more convinced by this Pope whom they found so striking in the way he understood them and offered them concrete reasons to hope. In the afternoon there was the long-awaited open discussion with the young people AYD. Ten thousand young people from 23 Asian countries him to the Shrine of Solmoe with songs and dance and theatrical performances and testimonies. Francesco exhorted them: “Together with young people everywhere, you want to work to build a world in which everyone lives in peace and friendship, overcoming barriers, mending divisions and rejecting violence and fprejudice.” He also invited them “to pray together in silence for the unity of the two Koreas.” After that prayer he spoke off-the-cuff: “Korea is one, it’s a family, you are brothers and sisters who speak the same language.” Right now preparations are underway for tomorrow’s Mass at the Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul, for the Beatification of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and his 123 Companion Martyrs. It took only two days for the Pope to set everyone’s heart on fire, and not only those of the Catholics. Seoul, August 16, 2014. A very busy day today. One million people were able to remain in absolute silence during the homily and Communion, bowing in unison at the sound of the bong. Pope Francis spoke paused to talk about the role of the laity who spread Christianity in Korea before the arrival of missionaries. “The Martyrs call us to place Christ over all things, and to see every everything else in relation to Him and to His Eternal Kingdom. These make us ask if there is something for which we would be willing to die for.”Perhaps the most moving moment of his journey was the visit to the “House of Hope” centre for the disabled in Klottonganae. The Pope’s expression also brightened as he listened to the children sing and dance and embrace him. 
During his meeting with Korean men and women religious he thanked the superior generals for “. . . speaking clearly of the danger that globalisation and consumerism pose for the religious life.” Finaly there was the meeting with Lay Leaders at which members of the Movement participated, among them two married focolarini who spoke to the Pope on behalf of all. Tomorrow the Pope moves to Haemi for the meeting with the Bishops of Asia. Then there will be the concluding Mass of the sixth AYD, which the young people are ardently looking forward to. Seoul, August 17, 2014. The Pope told the Bishops of Asia that he firmly hoped that the countries on the continent of Asia who did not yet have full relations with the Holy See would never hesitate to promote dialogue for the good of all. I am not referring only to political dialogue, but also a fraternal dialogue.” In the afternoon there was the long-awaited AYD Mass amidst an atmosphere of warm and youthful enthusiasm. The Pope adds “fire to fire,” strongly uring the young people to “not sleep, but to wake up and reach out to the world.” The Pope has left, leaving behind much warmth, hope and new courage. You could say that the whole Korean Church and society has had a healthy wake up call, that “wake up” directed to the young people by the Pope whom they understood loved them very much. From Korea, Won-Ju Moon e Alberto Kim
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Aug 18, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
I’m a drug addict! A young boy approached us, “I’m a drug addict,” he said, “but I want to quit. I need someone to help me to stop taking drugs; I want to be hospitalized. I do not know how I got here. I was on the train … and I fell asleep.” Since there are no institutions in our city for recovering addicts, we invited him to stay with us. While eating the snacks offered to him, he confided that his addiction was serious, so much so that he would do anything to be able to obtain drugs. Through God’s providence, a doctor friend found a way to get him into a hospital. The next day we went to see him, bringing him some sweets. He begged us not to leave him alone. When he left the hospital a few days later he came to stay with us. Meanwhile a place became free for him in a specialized centre. We could see that he was happy when he left, confident that he could still count on us. E. – Argentina The Gospel in action! An ex-convict wanted to meet me, but at the same time I had to take some food parcels to several families who were in difficulty and which I knew had an urgent need of support. While trying to figure out what to do, I received a phone call: “Do you need help? I have a car and am willing to take some packets to the families.” I was a bit taken aback when I realised how God is at hand and sees all, hears all. It is true that he sends his angels to help us to do good. So I went to see my friend I had met in prison, while the ‘”angel” went to bring the packages to seven families. That’s how living the Gospel works! A.D.N. – Italy The seasonal workers 
On my building site there are many “seasonal workers”. It was payday, but I didn’t have enough money to pay everyone: the amount available was enough for the permanent workers only; the seasonal workers would have to wait. At the exit, their wives came to meet me. After I tried explaining the situation, they said they would remain there until we paid them, as their children at home were hungry. Back in the office I took some money from my pay packet, and proposed to the other workers who had already been paid to offer 10 bolivianos each, in order to make up the missing money. After a little bit of hesitation, they agreed. Only one did not do it, but just when I was giving the money to the wives, he caught up with me to give me his 10 bolivianos. F.M. – Bolivia To do something more With my wife and our two children, we felt a strong desire to do something for our small town, crushed by so many problems: couples breaking up, single mothers, immigrants, poverty and moral destitution. And so our nice apartment has become a listening centre. The people of the village were happy with this initiative; also many relatives and others have become involved in volunteering. So now we have many opportunities to help people in need: the possibility to welcome Sonia, a Slav single mother who was helped before and after the birth of her baby Peter; dinners for the Ukrainian women who worked in the area, a mini-school for parents and collaboration with various young people for the realization of some projects in Africa. The apartment where we live is small, but now houses a small seed of “United World”. TP. – Italy Source: The Gospel of the day (Supplement to no. 11/2014 of the magazine Citta’ Nuova)
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Aug 17, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
“A writing of Chiara Lubich (1) speaks to me of the Church and makes me understand the priest as part of the living reality of the Church. Actually, Chiara Lubich’s meditation speaks of the individual Christian, but it also speaks, indeed even more so, of the Church. Today, perhaps as never before, the credibility of the priestly service depends on how much the individual priest is rooted in a vital unity, in a form of life in which priestly service becomes a common witness by having the Lord Himself, the One Priest, in our midst. If a priest must specialize in something it must be in communio, unity. The spirituality and lifestyle of the priest is unity. Living in communion with Jesus among the members of His Church and being a concrete expression of God reaching out to humanity: this is his task. And the accomplishment of this depends decisively on the measure to which Jesus’ Testament, contained in His Priestly Prayer, is fulfilled: That all may be one (cf Jn 17:21). For Jesus Christ is present in the Church and this can be experienced wherever believers are united in His name, whenever they love one another as He loved us (see Jn 13:34). The world will believe when it sees the Church living unity through mutual love. We said before that today’s world is seeking a mystical dimension and concrete commitment. Very well, to live together with our gaze fixed on Jesus in our midst, in a constant commitment to have Him in our midst and thus to bring Him near and far: this is what it means to be a priest today. The priest today? Is that not saying too little? Perhaps it would be better to say: priests today, united to one another, with Jesus in their midst.” (1) Chiara Lubich, Essential Writings, New City Press, New York and New City, London (English translation), 2007. See also: Klaus Hemmerle: The Priest Today (1) (2) (3) Forthcoming event “Networking” 19 August 2014 – 22 August 2014 A meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement for young priests, deacons, seminarians and young people attracted to the priesthood.
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Aug 16, 2014 | Non categorizzato
30 students, from Kenya, Angola, Congo, Portugal, Spain, Italy. Cary, from Angola, studies law at Lisbon. On last morning, she was the first of a series of impressions and ideas: “I would like to say to each of you ” Don’t go down”. If we manage to maintain a healthy and honest mind, full of love for those in need, then we will fulfil our dream.” Federico, from Italy, gave an excellent summary of the results of the school: “After this Summer school it’s clear that you can’t practice law in isolation; a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is needed in order to deal with environmental issues.” The 4-day conference, 26th to 29th July, explored the theme of legal protection of the natural environment, threatened in various ways in different parts of the world. Studying together with teachers from legal and environmental disciplines, brought out the sense of communion with the environment around us, which each participant experienced in a very real way, so much so that everyone felt the need to protect it. This awareness united all the participants in the school, beyond their different origins and backgrounds, in the need to defend the integrity of nature and built a brotherhood between all the participants. This led to the conviction that pursuing the protection of the environment in the whole world together is a concrete, sure and effective way to achieve peace and brotherhood. 
Marc’Angela from Congo felt that he should get involved personally: “I cannot hold back anymore. I want to work with a group of young people in my country, who are already involved in an NGO, so that we can work together to save the environment. Being here, I realized that the mistakes that we are currently making in my country are the same ones that were made many years ago in Italy and now I see the consequences. We have to learn and get involved, even at a personal cost.” “What made these days unforgettable was the relationships: we must learn to transfer this lifestyle to our daily life. This was not my first meeting of this kind, but what strikes me every time is the atmosphere of universal love, “said Michela, from Italy. 
“Going home, I want to commit myself to change things around me. I’m just a drop in the ocean, but I think that with this drop I can make a difference,” explained Eva Maria from Kenya. “I’m leaving with great intentions: to participate actively, to live for others. I was delighted to come here because at the end of these meetings I’m no longer a Neapolitan or an Italian, but a citizen of the world. Here with you I live brotherhood “(Maria) The next event will be the International Congress (13th to 15th November 2015 in Castel Gandolfo), but – concluded the young people, “We want to arrive there as protagonists, having prepared it together.”
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Aug 15, 2014 | Non categorizzato
The Focolare Movement in Jordan publishes a declaration shared by the entire Focolare Movement, in which it appeals for peace and makes known its own commitment to help the victims of violence “We, Christians and Muslims of the Focolare Movement in Jordan, wish to express our great dismay for what has taken place in these days and is continuing at this very moment in the Middle East. In Syria there is a war that has lasted more than three years, destroying a nation and forcing millions of people to flee for their lives. There is the Gaza conflict that does not spare civilians and innocent children as it highlights an unresolved situation between two peoples, and a serious lack of articulated commitment from the international community toward resolving it. There has been the recent advance of extremist militants in north Iraq, who are spreading terror among several religions, forcing them to live like displaced people in their own land. Among these displaced people there are more than a hundred thousand Christians who have been rooted in this land for 2000 years. They were obliged to leave their homes in the middle of the night. It is a true catastrophe! Then there is the deliberate destruction of their religious and cultural patrimony, which is also the patrimony of all humanity. 
We are committed to do what we can to alleviate the suffering of these people, many of whom we know personally, first by praying for them but also raising funds to help meet their most urgent needs; opening our homes to them if necessary. We urge the international community to take action immediately to ensure that these communities being targeted in Iraq can return to their homes as soon as possible! We condemn every act of violence against any human being! We condemn the disproportionate production and sale of weapons of war, no matter the institution that finances them, as well as all those who put them in the hands of terrorist and subversive groups! We wish to underline, especially concerning the events in Iraq, that those who commit these abominable acts do not have a religion, and if they claim to have one, they do nothing but undermine it. In fact, the essence of religion is precisely the encounter between God, man and the entire creation. We are tired of seeing religion being exploited to create divisions in humanity and foment conflict. We are outraged with those – groups, persons or nations– who have plans and strategies for dividing and creating separate ghettos in places where people have been living side by side for hundreds of years. We are aware that dialogue between members of the Christian and Muslim communities is not always easy; but we wish to recall that for some time now noteworthy efforts are being made to calm misunderstandings in a spirit of mutual respect, knowing that the one God has raised different paths that converge in the same direction: mercy, love, compassion and all those virtues that he alone possesses in full. He has made us in his own image to live them with one another, and so we wish to follow his teachings in order to construct our societies on the basis of pluralism where the right to profess one’s faith without any restrictions is ensured for every citizen and community. Jordan has a long history of good relations between Christians and Muslims and and the recent visit of Pope Francis,, invited by our beloved King Abdallah Ibn Al-Hussein, has strengthened those relations even more with an impulse to work together, more intensely for the good of society. The Focolare community of Jordan also wishes to confirm its commitment to work side by side to build a peaceful and harmonious society, in the defence of every human being – regardless of religious creed, ethnicity or tradition – and in continuing to work for peace, brotherhood and the protection of nature. We believe that acting in this way we can bring about good, sustain it and spread it wherever it is already present. We are certain that evil can never have the last say. Our faith in God guarantees this, just like the strong relationship among us.” Amman, August 13, 2014
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Aug 14, 2014 | Non categorizzato
A new generation in the Catholic Church to whom the Bishops have entrusted the venues for formation: they are young priests (born in the second half of the ‘70s and the first years of the ‘80s), who are well prepared, some of them are finishing their studies in Rome and who will be assigned to the formation in seminaries. 23 priests from eleven Countries – Thailand, Congo, Kenya, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland and Italy – participated in the 2014 Course for Seminary Formators (14-26 July, 2014), organized by the Center of the spirituality of communion for diocesan priests and seminarians “Vinea mea” of Loppiano (FI), together with the Sophia University Institute (Loppiano) and with the Priests Movement of the Focolare Movement. 
“Some spoke of a spiritual retreat, or of a conversion; others spoke of a synthesis of study and life,” stated the director of the course, Fr Silvestre Marques. “Everyone agreed that the communion and the unity in diversity was tangible and became the experience that was lived by all and which they will bring with them as a witness of life in their seminaries.” The course – now on its 9th edition – is made for rectors, spiritual directors and formators who are working full-time in a seminary and proposes pathways and paradigms for the discernment and the formation of vocations to the priestly ministry, that can adequately respond to the challenges of the socio-cultural changes and their effects in the life of the youth. 
This course takes place in a span of two years: two weeks for each year, with talks given by experts, group workshops and plenary sharing sessions, all united to the liturgical celebrations. The course study, which has the approval of the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for Catholic Education, grants credits given by the Sophia University Institute, after the presentation at the end of the course of a written paper. “They were two weeks lived in the atmosphere of Sophia: a well-rounded experience of life, thought and prayer,” Fr Silvestre continued. “Everyone had the joy of having made the experience that they had always longed for and searched for and which they now would like to present to their educational communities.” «I was not able to follow everything well because it was conducted in the Italian language but I understood another language, that of the community», wrote one of the participants. And another: « It is a challenge to live it; we saw our difficulties in a new light». The appointment was set for 2015 for the second part of the course, where they will study in-depth the 4 fundamental dimensions of the priestly life: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. For the seminary formators, see you again in Loppiano in July 13 to 25, 2015, at the “Vinea mea”.
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Aug 13, 2014 | Non categorizzato
War is large-scale murder, clothed in the appearance of some sort of sacred cult, like the sacrifices of the firstborn that were made by the worshippers of Baal, and that was due to the terror it instilled, the rhetoric that clothed it, and the interests that were at the root of it. When humanity will have progressed spiritually, war will be catalogued alongside bloody rites, superstitions, witchcraft and savagery. War is for humanity, what illness is to health, or sin to the soul. It is massacre and destruction, it invades both body and the soul, both individuals and collectivities. Einstein suggested that man has a need to hate and destroy and war would satisfy this need. But this is not the case: most people, entire populations, do not manifest such a need. However, they repress them. Then reason and religion condemn them. Saint Thomas says that all things lust after peace. In fact, they all lust after life. Only the insane and incurables are able to desire death. And war is death. It is never the desire of the people; it is willed by minorities for whom physical violence is used to ensure economic advantages or, also, to satisfy deteriorated passions. Especially now, with the cost, the victims and the ruins war seems like nothing more than a useless massacre. “Massacre” and, what is even worse, “useless”. A victory over life, which is turning into a suicide for humanity. By saying that war is a “useless massacre”, Benedict XV has offered the most precise definition so far. That “uselessness” was reiterated by Pius XII in 1951: “All have expressed their horror at war, with the same energetic clarity, as well as their belief that it is not – now more than ever – the way to resolve conflict and bring justice. That can only be the result of free and fair agreement. That it could be a question of popular wars – in the sense that such wars corresponded to the consent and the will of the people – that could never be the case if not in the face of an injustice so flagrant and destructive of the essential goods of a population as to turn round the conscience of an entire nation” (To the entire diplomatic corp, January 1, 1951. Our translation.) Just as the plague is good for plaguing, hunger is good for starving, war is good for killing – even worse – for destroying the means of life. It’s a funerary industry, a factory for producing ruins. Only a fool could hope to derive benefit from a massacre, health from suicide, energy from pneumonia. Evil begets evil, as a palm produces palm dates. And reality demonstrates, also in this field, the practical inconsistency of that Machiavellian aphorism according to which “the end justifies the means”. The end might be justice, liberty, honour and bread: but the means produce so much destruction of bread, honour, liberty and justice, aside from human life, including that of women and children, the elderly and innocents of every sort, that this tragically cancels out the end that was originally intended. In essence, war isn’t good for anything outside of destroying lives and wealth. From: Igino Giordani, L’inutilità della guerra, Città Nuova 2003, pp.9-16.
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Aug 13, 2014 | Non categorizzato
“I had written a letter to Pope Francis at the start of his Pontificate […] Then I went to WYD in Rio de Janeiro with 350 young people from Korea: there the Pope invited the young people to go out into the world to serve their brothers and sisters. So I wrote another letter, to tell him how nice it would be to have him physically among us at the meeting for Asian youth. In April when I met him in Rome the Polpe told me that as he read my letter he heard a voice in his heart saying: we have to go to Korea.” These were the words of Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik during an interview with Vatican Insider. The bishop’s diocese of Daejeon will host the Asian Youth Day as well as the meeting of Pope Francis with the bishops of Asia. “The Holy Father’s visit to Korea is an extraordinary event for the Korean people that has raised great expectation also among non-ecclesial environments outside the Catholic Church,” say Alberto Kim and Maris Moon from the Focolare Movement in Korea. We also asked them to explain the Asian Youth Day (AYD), which is already underway (August 10-17) and whose highlight will be a meeting between the young people and the Pope. 
They write: “This week-long experience is meant to provide the young people with Catholic formation that can help them in planning their future spiritual lives. The meeting is also intended to provide opportunities to young Catholics to explore and deepen the faith so that they can share the Gospel with others including young people and other relgious groups.” The day has been titled “Asian youth, wake up! The glory of the Martyrs shines on you” presenting “the spirit and example of the martyrs to the young people of the current generation, which is living amidst many temptations and non-Christian values, so that they might gain the courage to live according to Gospel values.” The young people of the Focolare have been entrusted with preparing a two-hour prayer vigil for the conclusion of the second day of AYD. Alberto and Maris concluded by saying: “On August 16th we’ll be at the Kkottongnae Rehabilitation Centre for the meeting of the Holy Father with Korean Lay Leaders. Paolo Kwon from the Focolare and president of the Association of the Laity in Korea, will give the welcoming address on behalf of the Korean laity.” 
The Pope’s visit will focus attention on martyrdom, with the beatification of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 of his companion martyrs and the Youth Day’s theme. “A third of the Korean martyrs came from my diocese,” declared Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik to Vatican Insider. “For them faith and life were the same thing. And they will forever remain a model for all. The young people who will come here from all Asia will redisover the gift that can make their own lives compelling and exciting as well.” What are expectations? “The Pope’s visit will last four days, and then it will end. What will remain with us is Jesus, and this is what is important. For Jesus and with Jesus I can go anywhere and meet anyone. Pope Francis is only pointing to this and,in doing so he throws us all off: he helps us to never become comfortable with our conventionalities. This is a stimulus to trust in God in all that we do.”
See also Rome Reports video
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Aug 12, 2014 | Non categorizzato
Msgr Lazzaro You Heung-sik
This 38th meeting of bishops was based on the central theme, “The Eucharist, mystery of Communion”, about which Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement gave her reflection, starting from the experience and spiritual doctrine of Chiara Lubich. The development of the Movement was initially linked to the sacrament instituted by Christ in the Last Supper; it led Chiara to state more than once that the Work of Mary was born from this relationship “between her and Jesus in the Eucharist”. The power of the sacrament of unity appeared as the root and nourishment of the Church, leading to the communion amongst brothers within the family of the children of God, inspiring all towards a profound dialogue with everyone, believers and non believers. Through discussion with Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Falletti, the participants could deepen their understanding of the principle themes which will be the subject of the next General Assembly of the Focolari, during the coming September at Castelgandolofo (Rome). There was ample time for reflection and sharing about the present challenges of the Church and the various shades that these can take in the different continents. 
The 52 bishops then concelebrated the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Trent together with the Arhbishop of the place, Luigi Bressan, who said that their cathedral had never contained so many bishops and cardinals since the time of the conclusion of the Council of Trent on the 4th December 1563. The meeting was held as part of the initiative, started 38 years ago by Chiara Lubich and Mons. Klaus Hemmerle, Bishop of Aquisgrana. At present the moderator is Msgr Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok. The city chosen this time was Trent, where the founder of the Focolare Movement was born and during the turbulent years of the Second World War. In the dramatic scene of much conflict in the world, the return to the origins of the spirituality of unity has resulted in the participants from suffering regions finding a motive of hope and a confirmation that God never abandons his people.
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Aug 11, 2014 | Non categorizzato
When we were young like you, like the majority of you, we were always greatly struck by a phrase that Saint Clare told St Francis when the latter practically drew her to follow his way. St Francis asked her: “My child, what do you want?” One could expect all kinds of answers, like: “I would like to follow you in the way of poverty, I want to become a nun, I want to enter a convent,” and so on. Instead she truly got it right. “My child, what do you want?” and she answered: “God”. She wanted God because she was choosing God as God had chosen her. It’s the same choice that we also made at the beginning of the Movement, we made only one choice: God! Beyond the bombings and everything else, God emerged. We believed in God and we made God the ideal of our life. We see that this choice is always new because this choice of God makes us put aside nearly all those riches that we perhaps accumulate even without realizing it. Perhaps we are rich of the focolare, we are rich with things, we are rich in intelligence, of our studies, we are rich, I don’t know, of our relatives. We are perhaps rich of our priesthood, or perhaps of something more. Our ideal which is Jesus Forsaken, who is nothing, who made himself nothing, makes us put all of this aside so as to have God first and do all the rest as the will of God. This is what Saint Clare reminds us again today. She did it by choosing the way of poverty; we do it by choosing the way of unity, always having Jesus in our midst, the Risen One and Jesus in us through our love for Jesus Forsaken.
Chiara Lubich Mollens (Switzerland), 11 August 1987
Source: www.centrochiaralubich.org
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Aug 9, 2014 | Non categorizzato
The youth of the Focolare Movement are mobilizing their contacts around the world to work for peace through the launch of an appeal which affirms the need to practice dialogue as a way to find a solution for conflicts, and it encourages each person to start practicing this on a personal level while proclaiming the message to governments and policy makers. 
The initiative, which starts on August 15, aims at involving people from all over the world who would like to adhere to this idea, wherever they are, through a page on Facebook where they can sign their membership by posting messages, clips and photos wearing something white. This initiative fits in the various peace campaigns that are being held in individual countries during this time. “Dialogue to unlock” will continue during the coming months while it collaborates with other peace initiatives. “We appeal to governments on all sides of the conflict to end the use of violent means,” the young people write. They intend to take action locally by inviting everyone to be “promoters of dialogue in everyday life”. A current account has been opened for contributions towards the many emergency situations caused by the current conflicts. Its details are the following: C/bank account no. 120434, payable to: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” Via Frascati, 342 – 00040 Rocca di Papa (Rome, Italy) Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma
IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 – SWIFT/BIC CCRTIT2184D Description: Emergency Middle East
Tax deduction is possible for European donors.
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Aug 9, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
“If it is true that only by comparing him to Christ that a priest can be understood both in his greatness and in his smallness, in his mandate and in his frailty, if it is true that the priest relives in space and time the deprivation that Christ filled in Himself, then no words can better express the priestly life than those of St. Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20). These words hold true for every Christian just as the text of Chiara Lubich we quoted applies to all Christians. For in Baptism, the decisive ontological event that regards our person has already taken place. There is no longer the “I” that asserts itself against God and which must consequently die. Rather, it is the “I” which, having died with Jesus Christ in God makes room for Him, for God Himself, for Jesus Christ within us. I belong to Jesus Christ. Dying again and again in each moment in Him, so that He may live in me, this is the true way to find ourselves, to reach self-fulfilment. To say “you” to Jesus each time I say “I”: this is the way of sanctification which has its origins in Baptism. It is in this way that I can remain in continual contemplation, in continual union with God; and it is also under this condition that God-Love, who in Christ gives Himself to humanity, can give Himself to our times and communicate Himself to the men and women of today. There is no truer model for accomplishing this than Mary. She looks at God alone and at His will and receives Him completely within herself. Thus she gives Him to the others, gives Him to the world. The gratia plena is also the Theotokos, the God Bearer and Mother of God. Now, if a priest is a person who is mandated to àgere in persona Christi, this mandate cannot be limited to merely carrying out sacramental acts for which, in the strict sense, this mandate was given. The sacramental acts, the carrying out of priestly ministry will become a witness in the measure that the priest corresponds with his entire life to those acts. Therefore, the more deeply the priest lives out his Christianity, his Baptism – the more Marian he is in the sense explained above – all the more will Christ the Priest shine forth in him. Being priests by being totally Christian! Living Christ the Priest totally, by living Mary totally – her self-giving, her serving! The priest must give himself to God completely. Nothing else should fill his life, not possessions, demands or things he can be left to dispose of. That part of the human heart which could be kept apart for the most beautiful, noble and sacred human sentiments must be kept free for Jesus Christ alone. His hands must be empty and hold nothing other than Christ, thus enabling the priest to give Jesus Himself to others. He must be united with Jesus alone, and thus to have greater freedom.” (to be continued) See also: Klaus Hemmerle: The Priest Today (1) (2) Forthcoming event “Networking” 19 August 2014 – 22 August 2014 A meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement for young priests, deacons, seminarians and young people attracted to the priesthood.
Aug 8, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Summertime is the season when students are searching for a job, but the Summerjob project is not exactly the same thing. It took place on June 29, 2014 – July 6, 2014 with 139 young people from throughout the Czech Repbulic. The week-long project, which has been taking place every year for five years, by the young people of the Focolare Movement, takes place on the city’s peripheries and rurul provinces. During the winter months they research the local site and work with mayors, bishops, pastors and residents to identify the best way to help those who are in need. The 2014 Summerjob called Where The Work Takes On A New Dimension, was held near Brumov, in the northwest region of the country where the young people gave a hand to 90 families in six villages. The tasks varied: chopping and piling wood for the winter, cutting grass, painting windows, cleaning stables, barns and barn lofts, helping farmers in the fields and gardens and strengthening relationships throughout the community. But Summerjob is not only work. In the daytime the town hall was transformed into a canteen for the young people who were then offered temporary lodging at a school building; in the evening it was transformed into a meeting hall. There were sporting and cultural events, theatrical performances, concerts and an evening on the 1960s and more. The spiritual dimension was never missing. The local Summerjob sites had several abandoned churches that were transformed into “cathedrals” with daily Mass animated by the young people and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the evenings involving also the local residents. In order to maintain the contact that has begun the event will continue to be held in the same region for three years, then it will move on to other regions. The impressions shared by the young people were all very meaningful: “This is my first time here,” Pavel recounts, “and I admit that I was a bit perplexed at the large number of workers and the work itself. The big surprise for me was that this kind of work can be enriching, even though there is no salary, especially because of the relationships among the young people and the local residents.” Kristina states: “I came here to learn something new and to receive a kind of training in the art of loving everyone. I wanted to try to help someone else. In the end you’re the one who receives. You learn to give.” Martin, who has taken part in all five editions of Summerjob says that he came to “take a break from the office. This rest is better than being at the seashore: I know a lot of young people and help a lot of people.” Summerjob has also caught the attention of the media: Czech national television did a brief report on the daily news and a photo gallery on its website, and a few articles were published in some daily newspapers.
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Aug 7, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Choreographies of hip hop, jazz, contemporary dance and aerial dancing using strips of cloth: all these were part of the program presented on July 14 entitled “The eyes of those who believe in us”. There were two hundred spectators, in a venue that was truly special: Bethlehem. It was the realization of a dream: to bring the Harmony Project’s message of peace in Palestine, a land where it seems impossible even just to stay together to get to know each other. In March the Custodian of the Holy Land, Fr Ibrahim Faltas OFM, invited the association DanceLab Harmony to hold their Campus 2014 precisely there. And so, housed as guests at the John Paul II Foundation of Bethlehem and in collaboration with the Association “Children Without Borders”, ballet dancers and teachers, from July 1 to 16, held a Campus of dance and figurative with Palestinian children and teens. An event with an extraordinary flavour of of of great emotional intensity, which they hope could become an annual event. The mayor of Bethlehem, Vera Baboun, satisfied with the initiative, thanked Fr Ibrahim Faltas and the directress of DanceLab Harmony Antonella Lombardo for «this great idea that brings hope and happiness to the children in these difficult days of war». In the internatinal campus of high-level dance instruction (the association DanceLab Harmony has 5 active projects) teens of different countries are involved, and they discover together how art can help to break down the barriers of culture and of religion: the teens work together rediscovering the same dreams and the same needs, thus creating at atmosphere of true fraternity. 
This year the focus of the project was the 5th Art Campus that involved fifty Palestinian children and teens from 5 to 16 years old, Muslim and Christian who, through the study of dance and painting, they were able to live moments of peace and harmony. 
At the end of the program, there were many parents who came to express their gratitude: “It was a great and emotional moment that will surely remain fixed in the hearts of our children – a father affirmed – but I would like to thank you above all for each day in which you gave them true happiness. They would come home satisfied at having experienced something great and beautiful. You have brought a breath of fresh air, of something new in this land. You have given our children the possibility to open their minds to new horizons.” “Despite the war, the Palestinians have shown, through their will power and in their work, that they are free,” declared Antonella Lombardo upon her re-entry from the Holy Land. The Campus also received words of encouragement from Pope Francis who, through a letter, sent his blessing “as a guarantee of peace and prosperity” encouraging them to “persevere so as to as to create a sense of wellbeing among the people”.
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Aug 6, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Amidst almost total silence from the media a step has been taken towards a resolution of the political and military crisis in Central African Republic. On July 24, 2014, with the last-minute signing of a hostility-ending agreement, the Forum for national reconciliation and dialogue concluded its work on July 21st in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The agreement, which calls for the immediate end to fighting throughout the entire Central African Republic, was signed by forty Central African and foreign members. Begun in December 2012, the fighting has led to thousands of deaths and more than 4.5 million internally displaced persons and refugees, despite the deployment of French Sangaris forces and African MISCA troops to halt the fighting. In recent months the situation has improved, although there remains division between northeastern areas with a Muslim majority and southwestern areas with a Christian and Animist majority. Consequently the Muslim population that has remained in the southwest areas often lives in refugee camps and is discriminated against, as is the Christian population in the northeast. In early July the church of Bambari was attacked causing the death of many Christian refugees. Therefore this Brazzaville agreement was welcomed with hope, but its practical consequences still remain to be seen. 
The Focolare community has responded with much imagination to the many necessities of the people and, thanks to the communion among many people, many forms of help have been provided,” explains Monica from Bangui. In March, for example, with the Youth For A United World from Bangui, “we asked each other what we could do concretely to help bring peace in our country. With our ideal of brotherhood in mind, we saw that if the art of loving were lived on a large scale it would help provide a solution to many difficult situations that people are going through. Another question we had was where to find the people at this moment. The answer was: in the refugee camps” (thirty of them in the capital alone). We began at the Major Seminary which shelters more than 4,500 people. On Sunday, March 24th, with music and testimonies, the young people launched a powerful message of peace, not only to the refugees but also many others who joined in. Unfortunately, the situation has worsened with new clashes in several areas. In recent months a “crisis cell” composed of Focolare members was begun to respond to the needs of many Bangui. 
A variety of activities have been carried out: from distributing semolina to children in a kindergarten and elementary school without access to adequate nutrition, to distributing school supplies to children whose schooling had been interupted when the military offensive began. This led to the founding of a teachers association that is dedicated to carrying out educational activities that teach peace. School supplies were distributed in exchange for toy weapons that were handed over by the children. Also economic assistance was provided to young students in exchange for work in the community, as well as economic assistance to cover child and senior health care and rent costs. Radio shows were presented on Notre Dame Radio that promoted peace, with testimonies of people living out the Word of Life, and other aspects of the Focolare’s spirituality of unity.
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Aug 5, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
See video about the project Photo Gallery 
Small village at 3200 metres above sea level, in an inaccessible reagion of the Andes Mountains. Bolivar, one of the poorest provinces of Peru, in the extreme northeast of La Libertad, has only one public school, which is unequipped to welcome the large number of school-age children who wish to enroll, some of them travelling on foot for long hours from distant mountain villages. In 2011 the San Francesco d’Assisi Scholastic Instutute was begun thanks to the efforts of parish priest Father Emeterio. This school was not meant to compete with the state school, but to complimennt it by welcoming some 80 children from the most remote and disadvantaged villages, providing them with one hot meal a day. The State openly recognised the importance of this work and provided salaries for the teachers. Now the institute has to move to a larger building so that all the children of Bolivar can attend classes. This is why AMU has launched a project called A School on the Andes to support the construction of the new building. The building will house eleven classrooms, a computer lab and secretariat. It will provide education at the primary and secondary levels, teaching materials and nutritional assistance. There will also be teacher training for teachers. The school will welcome 220 students each year, 12 teachers, 2 teacher assistants and a director. All of this will be brought ahead in collaboration with local partners, the Catholic Diocese of Huamachuco and the parish of San Salvador in Bolivar. 
Two 3-level teacher training courses are given for teachers: teaching content; educational techniques; accompanying learning, as well as civic and moral education. Competent and motivated teachers will be able to offer quality instruction with more efficient methods and more support in the learning process of children and teenagers. The school will also offer computer literacy training and access to internet. There are no other on-site locations where young people can learn modern systems of communication. Finally, adult education courses will be offered for adults who have never had access to instruction. Schedule: the new eduational facility will be ready by the end of 2014; in March 2015 all operations will be transferred to the new campus. Now the challenge is to raise 630 thousand euros for the completion of the project, which will be partly covered by local partners, by the Peruvian Ministry of Education, and by AMU. The costs spreading over three years, will include the amount for the construction of the school building, the purchase of teaching materials, the teacher training and hot meals for the students. Contributions in any amount can be deposited to the following bank account: • cc bank account 120434 at Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma IBAN code: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 SWIFT/BIC code: CCRTIT2184D Attn: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” Via Frascati, 342 00040 Rocca di Papa (Rome, Italy), Specify in the subject: “PERÙ – UNA SCUOLA SULLE ANDE”
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Aug 4, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Dad’s bread
The separation from my husband had left me with very little self-confidence, in addition to giving me a serious feeling of guilt. I had lost all my points of reference. Then, with the help of my family and friends, I found again a little strength to live. I learned how to detach myself from my own ideas, to respect my husband in his life choices, and not to judge him. It wasn’t always easy, in fact the opposite is true … In addition, these steps are not made once and for all, we must begin again each day. But I was able to make some painful choices in peace: for example, to stay on living in the house that reminded me of my life as a couple. Speaking with my three oldest children, I realized it was better that way in order to enable them to continue living in their own environment. On the day of my youngest son Gael’s confirmation, my husband came and started to make some bread. I tried to make everyone feel at home: forgiveness prevailed. It was a wonderful day that reached its climax when we shared together the bread that Dad had made. B.G. – Mauritius The guitar
Judy and Tom, a couple who lived on the edge of the abyss between drugs and alcohol. As a result of our friendship, Judy decided to stop taking drugs, while Tom remained hostile. One evening we went to visit them, and seeing a guitar in the corner, I asked Tom to play something. He did and slowly began to open up: a first step towards the big decision to return to work and leave the drugs. With other friends we helped him in every way. On the tenth anniversary of their wedding, Judy expressed the desire to renew their wedding vows, “now that God has entered our lives.” So we organized a big party for them. G.L.O. – USA A Pact I was having big problems in my relationship with my father, so I was thinking of leaving home, even though I was only 16. After talking it over with friends from the parish, I understand that I had to try to love him better, without expecting anything from him. A few days after this decision, I stayed at home to work with him. Hours of silence. When we had finished working, he confided in me: he had noticed that for some time I interacted with him in a different way from my brothers. “I understand that you may have wanted a more affectionate father, but I ask you to accept me as I am.” For me it was as if we had made a pact. M.T. – Belgium Source: The Gospel of the day (Supplement to no. 11/2014 of the magazine Citta’ Nuova)
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Aug 2, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
«The youth of today will be the leaders of the tomorrow. From the questions and often impetuous desires of young people, from their opinions and sometimes impatient and exaggerated demands, we can understand something of what is going on in the minds of people in any given epoch. Those who are very much in contact with today’s young people, come up against two tendencies which seem to be contradictory: on one hand young people want closeness, equality and spontaneity, so that whoever is distant or too high is neither accepted nor understood. They want people who have something to say, not to be too different from them but to have an inside-knowledge of their situation. In short, they don’t want these people to feel that they are above everyone else in some way, with their answers come down from somewhere on high. At the same time, however – and this is the other tendency – we discover in young people a great thirst for originality, the need for a model they can hold up in front of them, an Ideal they can follow which is convincing and a way of life. Young people want to draw their lives from depths they themselves are not able to reach, from a source they feel cut off from. They are looking for someone who is very close to them and at the same time someone “who comes from the land of distant waters” to make them drink. They are looking for someone who is both like them and at the same time completely different. They are looking for someone who is small and at the same time someone who possesses a greatness without which life is dull, frivolous and empty. In a sense broader than that of a specifically religious or Christian context, we could say: young people, indeed, humanity today, is attracted both by: action and a mystical dimension, nearness and authority, brotherhood and mandate. Couldn’t this be nostalgia for Jesus Christ? For the Son of God who comes to us as the Son of Mary, for the Messiah who belongs to the carpenter’s family? Yes. And this nostalgia for Jesus Christ is also a nostalgia for the priest: for that priest, whose message becomes credible by means of his personal life, and who gives witness to this message through his own experience, by what he says and what he brings, even though his ultimate authority comes from Jesus Christ Himself. The priest in himself is a man like any other; he must never elevate himself as if he were somehow higher or better. But it is also true that Jesus Christ has imprinted Himself upon the priest. Jesus chose the priest and sent him out to bring His presence near to men and women, to witness to Him and transmit His life, and message. There is something different in the priest, but this difference can be justified only because of Jesus Christ and for Him. Thus, courage is needed, courage to differentiate oneself and courage to be near; courage to live in contemplation and courage to serve with simplicity and humility; courage to climb Mt Tabor and courage to wash the feet of one’s neighbour: this is the figure of the priest today. And this figure meets the desire of our times, the nostalgia for Jesus Christ who comes from the Father in Heaven and at the same time, lives the everyday life of ordinary people. To live Christ, to live his mission, to live his authority close to Mary, the Handmaid of the Lord – this is what it means to be priests today. In a word: the priest, the response of God to our times; the priest – the man of our times […]». (To be continued) Klaus Hemmerle: The Priest Today (1) Forthcoming event
19 August 2014 – 22 August 2014
A meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement for young priests, deacons, seminarians and young people attracted to the priesthood.
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Aug 1, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
This year most specialisations at the graduate summer session of Sophia Univeristy Institute (IUS) came from the Department of Political Studies. Ramy Boulos from Egypt with the thesis on Monitoring and Evaluation Systems: Rethinking, Recovering and Reconciling Current Practices; Vanessa Breidy from Lebanon with Pluralisme et Conflicts Culturels Au Liban. Entre Communitarisme Et Conscociativisme Perspectives Pour le Futur (on prospectives of institutional reform in the country); Melchior Nsavyimana from Burundi with Le Soudan du Sud e la Communaute est Africane (on the integration process of Sudan in East South Africa; Vilmar Dal Bo Maccaria from Brazil with O concieto de social segundo o paradigma fraterno a partir do pensamento de Giuseppe Maria Zanghi (on social life and fraternity, with a particular reference to the thought of Zanghi). Choosing a topic for a thesis is always very demanding. What was your approach? “There was a big question that was returning to me for some time: What defines the identity of a people? Why does identity still appear as such an irreconcilable contrast? What relationship is there between identity and democracy? The Middle East is still in the midst of a very critical phase that will long determine its appearance. Only three years ago there was talk of an Arab spring, whereas now we are much more cautious about using this term: the line between Arab spring and Arab wars is not as clear as we observe the return of several non-democratic military regimes. Prolonged oppression of minorities, persecutions against those who think differently, rigidity and fundamentalism, vicissitudes that are deeply rooted in history . . . what we see emerging from a combination of confused and at the same time dramatic factors seems to me to be a sad inability to ‘under-stand’ the cultural, ethnic, political and religious diversity that is found in different countries. The theory of democracy is struggling with these unanswered questions, and I think we have to recognise that we still have a long road ahead of us.” What is the message that comes from your own country of Lebanon? “John Paul II said that Lebanon was more than a country – that it was a message. And yet, until now the Lebanese have not managed to secure harmonious coexistence amongst the ethnic groups, religious groups and different faces of its inhabitants. The search continues amidst challenges and disappointments. Lebanon has several interesting features that should not be undervalued; but a critical analysis should be allowed to also identify what is lacking so that the values, upon which our coexistence can be built, can be highlighted.” From where should we begin again? The high vision of politics that I studied at IUS has given me much hope. I learnt that it is always necessary to choose dialogue, accepting even our fears and ambitions, while aiming for the truth. Each one of us, in our deepest being, is formed by the Other: by the identity of others. In politics, dialogue becomes the true art of understanding and learning. With this in mind I placed the accent on the question of Good more than Justice, an idea that seems to be making strong headway throughout the Middle East: why not continue following this line after for so long asking what is just has proven to be so unfruitful? I am convinced that, following this path, the Lebanese will also rediscover the fruitfulness of their own message – the peaceful coexistence of different religions and cultures, but especially the dialogue among them, for a new blossoming of service to the Middle East and beyond.
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Jul 31, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Jerusalem, July 30, 2014. “The situation in Gaza is dramatically deteriorating. Following the total destruction of the electrical plant, which was only partially operating, the people are now completely without electricity. Yesterday, G., a Christian woman, informed us that water has also become scarce. Two hours ago she telephoned saying that shortly there would be no telephone line, but she wanted to inform us that everyone was still alive. Three families are staying with her, because their homes have been completely or partially destroyed. They say that the love among them strongly unites them, and they wish to stay together even if it means dying together. The home of H., which was already seriously damaged a week earlier, was completely blown up last night by four missiles. In their last telephone call they begged: “Pray for us not a little, but a lot!” 
The apartment of N., was bombed five days ago. They are now living on the stairs, which is the most protected place they can find. They tried but were unable to restore the generator so that they could have a few hours of electricity. Nadia says it’s like living in an ongoing earthquake, and she is suffering very much. But when she telephoned she was very grateful because, at 15:00 a four-hour ceasefire was declared. Within Gaza there are some 50 people who live the spirituality of unity. They count on the prayers of the worldwide Focolare family. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem we have visited the fifteen wounded who were taken from Gaza and placed in a hospital in the city. Among them was a small child of four years, who lost her family. There was also five-year-old Yazan, thirteen-year-old Abdul Karim and twenty-year-old Musleh. One of them lost a kidney, another lost an arm and a leg. . . We wanted to kneel down in front of each one of them and ask for forgiveness. We continue praying that the hatred, mistrust and fear may melt and that peace return.” Corres Kwak and Claudio Maina – Focolare Movement in the Holy Land
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Jul 30, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
Angiolino is by no means “self-centred”. This is the best description you could probably give of him. For 75 years he’s lived as someone who is “other-centred”. He’s lived in several places in Italy, then in Belgium and Argentina. For the past few years he’s been living in Rome, Italy. “When I first came to Rome, I felt a bit awkward. I knew so few people, but at the same time felt the need to do something for the people here who often seemed tired and stressed, unhappy and buried in their personal problems. Then, I simply began to acquaint myself with whomever came into view, beginning with the shop workers, the florist, the coffee shop owner, the newspaper seller. But especially the many poor people I met who were begging for money. Often when I go to church, I find them coming up to me in groups of four or five. One asks for some money, another for a pair of trousers or pieces of clothing. Even when I don’t have anything to give them, I stop to chat a bit and they feel accepted. Once in a while I stop by a Romanian who is unable to move one leg because of an accident. He’s married with a daughter who considers me a father. Then someone tells me he hasn’t had breakfast. So I invite him to a coffee shop and do a bit of shopping for him. Hasamed from Bangladesh supports his family, cleaning windshields. When he insists on buying me a cappuccino I let him pay, out of respect for his personal dignity. If someone has a need that goes beyond my possibilities, I pray to the Eternal Father, and often the answer comes. Once, not knowing how to assist a Romanian lady who was in need, I gave her the gold cross and chain I have always worn around my neck. At times, not concerned about who sees me (it’s been a while since I’ve looked for human respect), I sit with them and listen to what they have to tell me. . . I don’t solve their problems, but at least they feel there is someone who wishes them well. My way of acting is not always looked upon in a positive way. Once someone even threatened me: ‘You give too much trust to those over there, then they take advantage and come to rob you. If you continue like this, I’ll report you to the police!’ But as for me, I just continued, hoping that my example might draw others. Like that time when I was at the Vatican Museums and it began to rain. I saw a bearded old man approaching, soaked to the skin, unsteady on his feet and wearing a tattered scarf around his neck. He smelled of wine and I understood immediately! In fact, I had just received some extra money from my pension. ‘Come,’ I told him, ‘let me buy you a pair of shoes.’ As I stepped into the shop, a gentleman turned to me and said: ‘I’ll also contribute ten euros.’ I’m a bit talented at doing clown performances with a foldable metre for measuring. The monies I receive from these small performances I donate to from seminarians from outside the country, since the bishop who was assisting them has died. Then there are others in Congo who would not be able to carry on with the studies if it were not for my support. I was also able to help a married couple who were unable to afford a cesarian section: now they have a healthy baby girl. I share these little episodes with people whenever the occasion allows, and my barber – for example – has refused to let me pay for the last two haircuts, telling me to “send the money you were going to give me, to Congo.” Living like this is an investment: for example, at times I leave the house focused in on myself, a bit burdened by some personal problem, but when I spot one of my poor friends I take courage. It’s as if they say to me, come on, Angiolino, get out of yourself, give us a smile. . . And by forgetting myself, I return to being free and happy. Source: Città Nuova online
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Jul 29, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
July 21-22, 2014. An innovation for future generations of graduates in European and Italian Economics: Fifty students at the Lumsa University of Rome recite and undersign the Genovesian Oath committing themselves to exercise their profession according to a demanding ethical code. The initiative takes its name from the first professor of Economics in Italian history, Antonio Genovesi who, in 1754 was a voice for values such as trust, public happiness and mutual assistance. It is just a small parchment,” explains Professor Bruni of the department of Economic Sciences at Lumsa University, “but will have an impact on a symbolic and ritualistic level. Publicly reciting and undersigning the Genovesian Promise at such a significant moment as a doctoral hooding ceremony is not mere rhetoric or folklore.” The oath proposes an epochal challenge at a time of crisis and precarious values. In his Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis states that the present economy kills. Professor Bruni adds: “Nowadays people are dying not only because of causes linked to medicine, but also because of the omissions and mistakes committed by economists, financers and managers: nowadays people are dying as a result of decisions and the unethical behaviour of banks and businesses. For this reason a commitment to ethics in economics, an oath to abide by certain values and behaviours is not less weighty than that required of other professions that are ethically sensitive, and it can help trigger a virtuous cycle of economic and social change.” 
This could be an important step for Europe, as Rector of Lumsa University, Professor Giuseppe Dalla Torre said: “We need to pay attention to the civilian economy, its ethics, and overcome the individualistic mind-set that characterises it now.” Text of the Genovesian Oath: “In receiving this Economics Degree today I promise that I will: 1) view the market as a set of opportunities for mutual benefit without, discrimination of language, gender, race or creed, and not as a competition or battleground wherein one wins at the expense of others; 2) never treat an employee as a commodity, capital, or resource of the company; 3) first of all recognise in my professional practice that employees, partners, colleagues, suppliers and clients are human beings, and because of that human dignity I must respect, value and honour them; 4) relate with my interlocutors with kindness, trust, fairness, justice, magnanimity, morality, and respect for every person, recognising this work ethic to as the best path to a good and sustainable economy; 5) see my career as the terrain for my personal growth and as a contribution to the common good.
Jul 29, 2014 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Because God is mother and father, he is not satisfied with just loving and forgiving his sons and daughters. He ardently desires that they treat one another as brothers and sisters, that they get along with one another, that they love one another. This is God’s great plan for humanity: universal brotherhood. Such a brotherhood is stronger than the inevitable divisions, tensions, and hard feelings that so easily creep into relationships due to misunderstandings and mistakes. Families often break up because people don’t know how to forgive. Past hatreds are handed down only to perpetuate divisions between relatives, social groups, peoples. Some people even teach others not to forget the wrongs suffered, to cultivate sentiments of revenge … Such deep resentment can only poison the soul and corrupt the heart. Someone might think that forgiveness is a sign of weakness. No, it’s an expression of great courage; it’s authentic love, the most genuine, because it’s the most selfless. “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” says Jesus (Mt. 5:46). Everyone knows how to do that. Jesus asks for more: “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44). We are asked to learn from him and to have the love of a father, of a mother, a merciful love toward all those who come our way, especially those who do something wrong. Moreover, for those who are called to live a spirituality of communion, that is, the Christian spirituality, the New Testament asks for something more: “Bear with one another … forgive” (Col 3:13). We could almost say that mutual love requires that we make a pact with one another: to be ready to forgive one another always. This is the only way we can contribute to universal brotherhood. “Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.” These words not only invite us to forgive, but they remind us that forgiving others is the necessary condition for receiving forgiveness. God listens to us and forgives us in the measure in which we forgive others. Jesus himself warns us: “The measure you give will be the measure you get” (Mt 7:2). “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Mt 5:7). Actually, a heart hardened by hatred is not even capable of recognizing and accepting the merciful love of God. How can we live these words of life? First of all, by immediately forgiving anyone with whom we have not yet been reconciled. But this is not enough. We need to search the innermost recesses of our heart and eliminate even a feeling of indifference, a lack of kindness, an attitude of superiority, of neglect toward anyone we meet. Furthermore, we need to take some precautionary measures. So every morning I look at the people around me, at home, at school, at work, in the store, ready to overlook anything that I don’t like about their way of doing things, not judging them, but trusting them, always hoping, always believing. I approach every person with this total amnesty in my heart, with this universal pardon. I do not remember their faults at all, I cover everything with love. And throughout the day I try to make up for having been unkind, for a fit of impatience, by apologizing or by some gesture of friendship. I replace an instinctive rejection toward someone with an attitude of total openness, of boundless mercy, of complete forgiveness, of sharing, of being attentive to his or her needs. Then when I pray to the Father, especially when I ask him to forgive my mistakes, I am confident that my prayer will be granted. I’ll be able to say with total trust: [L1] Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us (see Mt 6:12).
Chiara Lubich
Each month a Scripture passage is offered as a guide and inspiration for daily living. This commentary, translated into 96 different languages and dialects, reaches several million people worldwide through print, radio, television and the Internet. Ever since the Focolare’s beginnings, founder Chiara Lubich (1920–2008) wrote her commentaries each month. This one was originally published in September 2002.
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Jul 26, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
“If you are looking for a seismograph that can register the vibrations of our world today, can know the positive and negative developments of the consciousness of our times with its imminent dangers and new experiences, look at the priest. In a certain sense he is the heart of Our Lord, placed by God Himself in the heart of humanity with this calling to be completely available to the Lord and sensitive to all people, with whom he is called to make himself one and be close to; but this availability also involves a great vulnerability. Whoever deals with a theme such as The Priest Today – an essential question for the life of the Church in our times – finds himself faced with countless theories, experiments and projects. The documents of the Second Vatican Council and the 1971 Synod of Bishops, the talks and letters of recent Popes, especially our present Holy Father, John Paul II all offer support and mark out the way. But they do not dispense us from making the personal effort of carrying them over into our own lives so that they may be comprehensible for others and express a shining witness for all people, both within the Church and outside of it. With the directives of the Church in my heart and keeping my eyes fixed on the experiences and problems of humanity, I sought an image that could shed light on the figure of the priest today – who is he? How does he appear to us? In my search I came across a text that can provide that answer to the question about the priest’s identity today, even though it does not mention the priesthood at all. This is the great attraction of modern times: to penetrate to the highest contemplation while mingling with everyone, one person alongside others. I would say even more: to lose oneself in the crowd in order to fill it with the divine, like a piece of bread dipped in wine. I would say even more: made sharers in God’s plans for humanity, to embroider patterns of light on the crowd, and at the same time to share with our neighbour shame, hunger, troubles, brief joys. Because the attraction of our times, as of all times, is the highest conceivable expression of the human and the divine, Jesus and Mary: the Word of God, a carpenter’s son; the Seat of Wisdom, a mother at home.[1] This text of Chiara Lubich speaks to me of our times and highlights the priest as God’s answer to our world today. This text speaks to me of Jesus Christ and makes me understand the priest from this point of departure: Christ. This text speaks to me of being a Christian – and reveals to me the life of the priest from this point of departure: the life of an ordinary Christian. This text speaks to me of the Church – and shows me the place and meaning of the priest within the Church.” (To be continued)
[1]. Chiara Lubich,
Essential Writings, New City Press, New York and New City, London (English translation), 2007, p. 169. Forthcoming events:
19 August 2014 – 22 August 2014
A meeting promoted by the Focolare Movement for young priests, deacons, seminarians and young people attracted to the priesthood.
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Jul 25, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Despondency prevails among the people of Gaza. The only thing that helps are the words of the Pope and the support of prayers from around the world, as a young woman from the Focolare Movement recounts. She lives in the Gaza Strip and for safety reasons will remain anonymous. R. “There is no respite to the conflict, we only sees death, destruction and refugees on the road. It seems so inconceivable, you can’t believe it. Near to us there’s a UN school for refugees, some seventy people live there in 50 square metres, taking cover under the trees. How can you find peace in this situation? D. – How has your life changed since the conflict began? R. –Sincerely, we’re already a bit dead. Before and after this war nothing has changed. There’s no electricity, water or work. The young are psychologically dying. You speak with them and it’s like talking to a seventy-year-old who has no more expectations or hope in life. The only ambition is to have at least a bit of electricity for a couple of hours a day and to find a bit of fuel. D. –Until now both Hamas and Israel authorities have been saying that it cannot stop, that they must finish what has been begun. Do you also think so? R. –We don’t have any expectations. All we have is prayer. We turn to God and entrust ourselves to Him, because there is no government that can help us, neither Arab nor foreign, not even the UN can do anything. D. – Then how can this situation be changed? R. –If things were to change it would only be because those with the power and responsibility had remembered that God sees everything they are doing. Only God can make the difference, only God can change the hearts that are full of hate, only God can change this reality of death and suffering. D. – Is news getting to you about how the Pope is praying and making appeals for you? Does that news offer you some support? R. –We’ve been receiving all the messages and appeals by the Pope. We know that he is near to us and asking God for our safety with the intercession of Mary. And then all the Christian communities around us call us every day so we don’t feel alone, and they support us with their prayers. All of this helps us. D. – You belong to the Focolare Movement and therefore live a spirituality of unity that is built with mutual love, as the Gospel says. How do you put that into practice now? R. –Every day, in the morning and evening, I try to make contact with my relatives and friends to know how they’re doing. So many of them no longer have houses, because they’ve been destroyed by the bombings and we’re putting up two refugee families in our home right now. Just yesterday I was saying to them: ‘don’t think about the house, about material things. The important thing is that we’re alive and together. The important thing is that we’re here for each other’. Then, every day I give praise to God for the grace of another day to live. This is already a lot: we still exist and can still get busy doing something for each other. D. – If you could launch your own appeal, what would it be? R. –I’d like to speak to the whole world on behalf of my people, asking that everyone would return to God and remember that Muslims and Christians are a single people in Gaza, a single life and we’re all undergoing the same suffering and pain. Thanks.” Source: Vatican Radio Online 
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Jul 24, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“Don’t forget us!” We cannot. As Christians and as men and women of this planet we cannot remain passive in front of the grave situations that are unfolding in many parts of the world. Therefore, let us unite ourselves to the heartfelt prayer of Pope Francis asking for peace especially in the land of Jesus. Let us ask that every possible path will be taken that excludes the use of arms so that the innocent deaths of so many innocent people may be avoided. We wish to assure our Christian brothers and sisters, but also those of other faiths, that we have not forgotten them. That we assume the daily commitment of offering and praying to the Almighty that the violence may stop and dialogue begin between the parties, and that they may have the courage needed for peace. For those wishing to help: Associazione “Azione per un Mondo Unito – Onlus” Via Frascati, 342 – 00040 Rocca di Papa (Roma, Italy) c/c bancario n. 120434 Banca Popolare Etica – Filiale di Roma codice IBAN: IT16 G050 1803 2000 0000 0120 434 codice SWIFT/BIC: CCRTIT2184D Reason: Emergency Middle East For European donors there is a possibility of deduction / tax deductibility. For those wishing to help the Christians of Iraq: IBAN JO09 ARAB 1110 0000 0011 1210 9985 98 Account: 0111 210998 0 598 Swiftcode: ARABJOAX100 Reason: Help Christians in Iraq ARAB Bank – Amman branch Amman – Jordan
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Jul 23, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
The Teens for Unity from southern Italy have held their annual “Big Bang” meeting in the extreme peripheries of Sicily (July 1, 2014 – July 6, 2014). This was the fifth such event and, once again, it was rich in content, full of emotion and generous commitment. The preparations were carried out by the teenagers themselves, who not only decided on the content, but also the dynamics and timing of the event. They reviewed the last five years and examined the current situation. The teenage editors of the Teens for Unity in Calabria and Sicily (GRAFOTEENS) had already highlighted some issues for adolescents such as the difficult relationship with their own bodies, with the growing number of cases of anorexia and boulemia. The teenagers wanted to change the approach to the problem. They dealt with it in a newspaper article and then staged an open-ended “psychodrama” that they left to be continued in the various work groups. Another burning issue was the relationship between teenagers and parents, which was presented by psychiatrist Ezio Aceti. He focused on communication and the strong feelings that can unfold in friendships, love and even education. The tragic deaths of 45 mirgrants who perished in the hold of a ship caused an interruption in the summer camp. The boat carrying the corpses arrived at the Port of Pozzallo a few kilometres away from the site of the camp, so the Teens for Unity decided to cancel the concluding festivities on Saturday and attend the prayer vigil that was going to be held to commemerate the dead and comfort the living. This decision brought them to the heart of the tragedy of immigration, meeting with Caritas workers and learning what prompts thousands of people to flee their own war-torn lands in search of peace and employment. The local diocese asked the Teens for Unity to be involved in the Vigil.They decided to bring both their “roots” and their “wings”. Their “roots” was the journey they share as members of the Focolare Movement. They read a passage by Igino Giordani from 1926: Come, my exiled brother, let us embrace, in which Giordani discusses the duty towards others and the least. The “wings” was represented by a letter to the 45 deceased refugees, written by a 14 year old girl, Enrica, who asked forgiveness for othe world’s indifference and lack of sensitivity. At the conclusion of the prayer vigil the Teens for Unity were greeted and thanked by the vicar general of the diocese, and some of the refugees and minors who had escaped death just a few days earlier. A dialogue was begun in broken English and Italian, and the youths from the Focolare invited the young refugees to attend some upcoming appointments that could help them to become inserted in the local environment. Perhaps the real “Big Bang” was the new beginning offered at this refugee landing and represented by the Chiara Luce Badano Award that was bestowed on the Sicilian Communities of Ispica and Rosolini for their warm welcome and acceptance of the refugees, especially minors in search of a better future. Source: Città Nuova online
Jul 22, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
The Focolare’s United World Project (AMU) and its partner in Burundi, Cadre Associatif des Solidaires (CASOBU), are quite a winning team! This is thanks also to co-financing by several Italian state entities with whom they were able to conclude several microcredit projects on the peripheries of Bujumbura and in the Province of Ruyigi, Burundi. In all, 80 microcredit groups have been established. The savings accumulated within each group has allowed 406 people to take part in the first project; and 722 people in the second project to begin a production business that enables them to support their families. Sandrine who is one of the project animators recounts: “At first it wasn’t easy to introduce the project, because the people didn’t respect the schedule of programmes. . . this often required me to go beyond simply executing the tasks that had been entrusted to me.” Jerome works in the projects department at CASOBU. He is motivated by the desire to come to the aid of his people: “Each time I try to work alongside them, to respect their personality and dignity, to help everyone to put the accent on the human person and to strengthen the social bonds. In one group a person wasn’t able to repay the credit within the set deadline. Another member of the group, seeing what that other group member had done, lost his own records. Knowing that I was in Ruyigi, the previous debtor looked for me in order to report on his situation. I took the opportunity to stress the importance of brotherhood in the group and how it was the most important value for us, which comes before everything else. Meanwhile, we managed to find the second party who, as it turns out, had gone off to search for money to repay his debt. I learned how important it is that the beneficiaries find the ability to solve their own problems, remaining faithful to the rules, but being enlightened by the spirit of brotherhood. This self-confidence also shows them what they’re able to do.” “In other words,” Sandrine continues, “we at CASOBU would like this Gospel love which guides us as the animators, to also inspire relations within the group, including the decision-making.” One of many experiences: “One woman, a mother with two children and expecting the third, had taken on a debt so that she could begin a small business, but she had never attended the group meetings. It seemed that she had moved elsewhere. They finally found her. As she recounted her story, they realised she had terrible problems. Her husband had abandoned her and her small children, she wasn’t able to pay the rent and was threatened with being thrown out on the street. The group members found a family who took in her children, and they unanimously agreed to grant her an additonal loan so that she could restart her small business. The woman was then able to pay her debts before the deadline. And the other group members felt pride in having brought this situation to a happy conclusion.”
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Jul 21, 2014 | Non categorizzato
An open discussion among “alternative” economists, the world of finance and transnational societies. Among the 50 participants, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus (Banker to the Poor); Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis, Michel Roy; and Juan Grabois (Argentine founder of the Movement of Excluded Workers); but also Jose Angel Gurria, Secretary general of the OSCE; and the highest ranking representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Goldman Sachs Investment Bank and multinational companies such as Nestle and Ferrero. Also in attendance as supporters of the event were economists Stefano Zamagni, Leonardo Becchetti and Luigino Bruni (Coordinator of the Economy of Communion Project). The conference was titled “The Global Common Good: Towards A More Inclusive Economy” following after Evangelii Gaudium with its attention to social issues, particularly the global economy it accuses it of being an economy of exclusion. In collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, these experts held a two-day conference at the Vatican on July 11-12, 2014 to deepen the dialogue that then led to the signing of a document calling for an economy that places the human person at the centre, signed by the participants, and titled “Beyond the globalisation of indifference, for a more inclusive economy.” The document stresses the importance of the market being inclusive and creating work and wealth. It invites those in charge of institutions to more decisive action against tax shelters; to safeguarding the biodiversity in economic and financial forms which are threatened by a single way of thinking that threatens local and territorial organisational forms; and of supporting the development of new financial institutions include the poor; of overhauling economic theory bsing it on more humane and realistic hypotheses; of combatting discrimination against women; human trafficking, international criminality, corruption and money-laundering. The conference gained the attention of the Wall Street Journal which, in one article underscored states: The debate matters beyond the church. Catholics constitute about 17% of the world’s population and a greater proportion in Latin America and swaths of Europe, so the church’s teachings on business can affect commerce world-wide. 
The Pope invited the attendees to reflect on reality, but to reflect without fear, to reflect with intelligence. He also focused attention on the heart of the problem that has been brought out by the economic crisis: “anthropological reductionism.” Man loses his humanity and becomes “an instrument of the system, the social system, economic system, a system where imbalance reigns. When man loses his humanity, what can we expect? What happens is what I would call in common parlance: a policy, a sociology, a throwaway attitude. One discards what is not needed, because man is not at the centre.” And when man is not at the centre, another thing is and man is at the service of this other thing. “Many of Pope Francis’ statements struck me,” says Luigino Bruni, “especially his way of listening, as if he were there just for us, even forgetting to eat the meal in front of him. Then his gratitude: the words most spoken by the Pope were ‘thank you’.” “There is no one in the world today with more moral authority than the Pope,” said Mr Carney, Governor of the Bank of England. It is true, and in this ‘Davos of the poor’ the Pope has taught us to choose the point from which the world is to be observed. He has chosen that of the Lazaruses of today. I’ve proposed at the end to make this ‘Davos of the poor’ a biannual event, an invitation that I think has a good chance of being accepted.”
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Jul 20, 2014 | Non categorizzato
The prayer for unity is found in the seventeenth chapter of St John’s Gospel. Chiara Lubich saw the words of that prayer as her mission in life, which she immediately shared with her first companions. We present a 1979 commentary by Fr Pasquale Foresi. “That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21). “That they may all be one.” This phrase is the continuation of a previous one in which Jesus also prays for those who would believe him through the words of the apostles. It is the Word that makes us one, and of one mind through the unifying power of the Word that is Christ. The Word of God will continue, down through the centuries, through diverse cultures, continuing to make those who accept it one. Another feature of the unity brought about by the Word is this: Whereas in any school of philosophy the disciple must never stray from the fundamental intuitions of the master, Christian unity is a vital activity. It is unity of mind and heart, it is family. That all may be one. This word “all” points to the most absolute and widest universality with no exceptions [. . .]. In this verse, the word “all” is linked to the word “one”. These are the two striking features of the Church: universality (catholicity) and unity. Paul affirms this Christian calling to unity when he writes to the Ephesians: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:3-6). Pasquale Foresi, Luce che si incarna. Commento ai 12 punti della spiritualità dell’unità, (Rome: Città Nuova Editrice, 2014) 131.
Jul 19, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
http://live.focolare.org/rpu/ See also:
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Jul 18, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Pregnant and Working Despite the promises it had made, the company I work for was unable to provide maternity leave, compensation or future guarantees when I found out I was pregnant. So I had to resign. Then a friend offered me a position at his professional firm. It would have been a fictional employment; I wouldn’t have to work but my rights as a working mother would be honoured. I had already begun to prepare my documents when my conscience rebelled. By stepping outside the law, I would actually be performing a theft against the state, even though I wanted to be a model of honesty for the child I was awaiting. So I declined the job offer, against the wishes of my relatives. But a few days later they were also shocked by how God had answered in such a providential way: a new professional career for my husband, a crib, stroller and baby clothes for my son, as well as a new job for me.
M. L. – Sicily
The Ironing Board For a short time my son has been living on his own. He often comes to visit me, and one day when he saw me ironing, he said: “You know what? I’m missing an ironing board.” I didn’t think about it very long, and I gave him mine. He went away happy, but I was feeling happier because I had given him something he truly needed. A couple of days later a friend of mine asked: “Could you use an ironing board? I have one in the cellar that I’m no longer using.” I was stunned. It was also more comfortable than the one I had given away.
R. B. – Switzerland
The Classmate One day, one of my classmates began throwing books in the air and cursing against God: “Why aren’t you ever there when I need you? What are you doing up there?” I didn’t understand why he was acting like that, until I learnt that his mother had to have cancer surgery. I tried to be close to him, sharing this great suffering, and we prayed together to Jesus that the surgery would go well. Then my other classmates also prayed. The class seemed transformed: this event had made us become more united. The surgery went well, and we all thanked God.
J.S. – Germany
Translation Work 
I was in need of money and was able to find work translating. One day my friend confided to me that she was going through difficult times economically. I offered to let her share the translation work I was doing. That same day I received an offer for another job that would earn me double the amount I had shared with my friend.
E. M. – Azores
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Jul 17, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
The tension of those 115 minutes of play time is felt all over the world, and even more so in Argentina. Everyone is in front of the television screen for the finals of the Soccer World Cup. When Germany makes a goal, there is a moment of profound silence, then a shout of joy from those who side with that team and immediately after the applause of everyone. They are the more than 500 teens from different Countries who arrived in the Argentinian Little Town of the Focolare Movement (250 kms. away from Bueno Aires), to participate in the “Citizens of the World” Youth Camp that started on July 14. Some were supposed to arrive later but they hurried to come so as to live together the great finals. There were flags, faces painted with the colours of the two national teams, songs, cheers… everything, but all done in mutual respect. Even if they didn’t know one another, in a short time freindships were formed. They are adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, coming from 27 countries and 5 continents. They are all members of Teens for unity. Sharing the World Cup finals together was a happy coincidence, as it became an opportunity to practice living the experience of fraternity, before starting the tasks to be done during the first week of the youth camp. The proposal consists of realizing an international workshop where teens are formed according to the culture of fraternity, and which will allow them to acquire a worldwide dimension, where one learns to respect and love the country of the other as one’s own. The event will take place in two stages. The first week will be held at the Mariapolis Lia, where the teens will work together in a dynamic programme, “just like in a laboratory” they explain, “where different elements are mixed together to produce something new. This is what we want to do during these days”. The objective is to learn to build relationships with everyone, in a venue of a “culture of reciprocity” that allows each one to be formed as “men and women citizens of the world”. Saturday July 19, the first phase concludes with a day open to other teen boys and girls and with a live streaming link up (live.focolare.org/rpu) with the Teens for Unity all over the world. At the end of the day they will make a pact to commit themselves to “going towards the peripheries”, so as to concretize actions of solidarity in terms of fraternity. From July 20 to 27, during the second week, the project will continue, moving to different cities of the Latin American continent, where there are social iniziative animated by the spirituality of unity, typical of the Focolare Movement. This include schools, community centers, homes for street children, home for the elderly. In the meantime, the streets and the areas of the Little Town come to life and experience a new sprint with the presence of these teens who want to participate in the “world championship of fraternity”. video
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Jul 15, 2014 | Senza categoria
“Why were we asked for this contribution? The first reaction of my people was surprise, Patience Lobe of Cameroon shared. But then this dimension of our culture kicked in: when it is the community who asks, one must give an answer, tackling the questions first of all within the family. That is why the answers sent to the commission were the fruit of a common reflection, not so much the expressions of the individual.” Patience is one of the 20 members of the commission that has gathered and organized reflections, analyses and balance sheets of the Focolare community in the world. Some 3050 interventions arrived, and more thane 600 were documents which came from the youth of the Focolare Movement. They represent a precious treasure and show the great involvement and participation in the process of the General Assembly of which they are a part and which is convened every 6 years. What emerged is a “photograph” of the Focolare Movement in its different vocational, geographical and generational expressions, with its challenges, hopes, criticisms, gratitude, joy for the journey that has been accomplished and with aspirations and proposal made in the light of the charism of unity. “At the beginning of this task, people thought of the Assembly as a moment to elect the new persons responsible for the Movement», explained Bill Neu, of the United States. «But then we grasped the importance of welcoming the requests that were coming from the entire Movement and to face them”. 
For Father Egidio Canil, conventual Franciscan of Assisi, moreover, «having experienced other chapters, assemblies, ecclesial and religious synods, I can say that the “method” of Jesus in the midst (Mt 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst”) is an original and new, very new method in the Church and also in society. This means: to make Jesus present among the members of an assembly before going ahead. In this way, then, it will be God, presen among them, united in the name of Jesus, who makes the Holy Spirit present, to guide the works and also to produce for the whole Opera fruits on the level of the design of God. This thing of unity is the charism on which the Focolare Movement rests, and without which it cannot function otherwise». Giuliana, a focolarina in India, said: “To carry out this task we met with the various communities and immediately there was a great agreement and support in sharing one’s own idea. I saw the love that there is for this Opera, a call once again to authenticity so as to live better – recalling our roots – the aim for which it was born, for the world.” Pablo Loyola, volunteer from Argentina, confided: “There were doubts, in the beginning as to how we should proceed. How would this work be perceived? By making a summary, we saw that the results went beyond all our expectations. I can say that we listened to all the voices. I tried to bring the voice of Hispanic America whom I represent. The challenge now is to see to it that this work of involving everyone continues.” Objective and wish for whoever will participate in the work: listen to everything that has emerged so far so as to understand together how to go ahead in the journey as the “people of the Focolare” in the succeeding years to come. In the meantime, as the Assembly approaches, last July 7 the president Maria Voce wrote in a letter: “As I return the mandate completely to the Holy Spirit, as we wait to discover what He would like to show to us, I want to share with you three sentiments that dominate my soul in this moment: gratitude, joy, a new momentum” she wrote in a letter to all the members of the Focolare Movement. A profound “communion” with the expressed desire to “multiply such sentiments of gratitude, joy and a new momentum so as to make us all start again all together, with no one excluded, in this extraordinary adventure”.
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Jul 14, 2014 | Non categorizzato
“I completely entrust my mandate to the Holy Spirit, and I await to discover what he wishes to show us. I would like to share with you the three sentiments that dominate my soul in this moment: gratitude, joy and new ardour. First of all gratitude to God, of course, but also to each one of you for your generous commitment during these six years so that nothing of all that Chiara left us might be lost. Gratitude for so much life, so many sufferings, so many offerings. A special gratitude to the many people who, during these years, have already joined Chiara and remain as shining beacons to give us light for our journey. Joy, in seeing the life and abundant fruits of the charism through which we experience the presence of Chiara wherever one finds her children. Today this is evident in a special way in the small and large communities that have multiplied throughout the world. They bear witness, also through the Mariapolis gatherings – about which I get beautiful news every day – to the authentic sense of family experienced when we live mutual love, where everyone feels at home: those coming for the first time, as well as the many returning. All of this urges me to make a new commitment and to respond in a radical way to God’s calling, and to serve him in his Opera, how and where he wants, leaving aside everything else so that he can truly be everything for me. I would hope that by sharing this experience, these sentiments of gratitude, joy and commitment might multiply and help us start again, all together, with no one missing, on this extraordinary adventure, conquering every fear, every indecision, every hesitation, because everything is possible for God and God loves us. With this commitment, which is also a greeting and a prayer, supported by this month’s Word of Life, I greet you with all my heart.” Maria Voce (Emmaus)
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Jul 14, 2014 | Non categorizzato
Montet, Switzerland, August 15, 2001. Chiara Lubich was surrounded by 50 young people and several professors from the Focolare’s Centre for Studies who were about to give birth to the Abba School and the future Sophia University Institute. Chiara wished to speak to them from the heart, conveying to them that particular experience with Igino Giordani that lies at the foundation of the Focolare Movement: the Pact of Unity at Holy Communion. It was July 16, 1949; Chiara was 29 years old. A study on the Pact of July 16, 1949 has been published in a book entitled: Il Patto del ’49 nell’esperienza di Chiara Lubich. Download mp3 Video in italian http://vimeo.com/100116616
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Jul 13, 2014 | Non categorizzato
Foresi points to some of the major aspects of the Christian understanding of God, underscoring how it also provides a new understanding of the human being. This new understanding translates into new life, not only personally but socially as well. Jesus – Foresi emphasises – is quite clear on this point: the love he asks of us regards both God and neighbour, every neighbour. The spirituality of unity strongly underscores and re-proposes one essential aspect of this love: reciprocity. If love is to be as God intends it to be, it must be reciprocal. “When Jesus was close to death and wanted to summarize all the teachings he had given during his life, he uttered the simplest words that any thinker had ever formulated: ‘Love one another’ (Jn 15:12). These words can be understood by anyone – the less educated, the scientist and the man of letters. These words are able to be translated in every language, able to penetrate every culture from East to the West. This is because love is the mystery that lies at the origins of the life among human beings. It is through the love of a man and a woman that children receive their life and the basic cell of society is born, the family. Furthermore, it is love between parents and children that permits physical and psychological growth and development. It is love that allows peaceful coexistence in civilian society. So those words of Jesus can be immediately grasped and understood by all. Nevertheless, we often fail to grasp the full depth of their meaning. Those words contain the hidden mystery of being. If people of every sort and background are able to understand them, if they are relevant to the life of families and entire populations, it is because they contain a deep reality that concerns the very essence of God. For us Christians, mutual love is what reveals the innermost being of God: God’s being Trinity; God’s being mutual love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each of whom is the One God. This is why the new commandment of mutual love is a call to humanity, to live according to the model of the Trinity. This is the Christian significance of the word agape.” Pasquale Foresi, Luce che si incarna. Commento ai 12 punti della spiritualita dell’unita (Rocca di Papa: Citta Nuova editrice, 2014) 46-47. From an address to Buddhist-Christian Symposium, April 2004, at Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
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Jul 12, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
A trail in heaven. This is the title of the docu-fiction that tells the exciting story of Vincenzo “Eletto” Folonari, a young heir of a rich Italian family, who left everything to follow Jesus “I chose God and nothing else” was one of his famous phrases. http://vimeo.com/100491503 Presentation: 
«He was young. Rich. Handsome. He had everything that someone his age could ever want. But Vincenzo looked beyond, he wanted something more in his life. He came to know the spirit of the Focolare, he left everything for an ideal: universal brotherhood. He disappeared one summer day, amidst the waves of Lake Bacciano. But his death was not in vain. It was the push that gave life to the Gen Movement. Youth, teens, children present today in 182 Countries of the world. That was his dream. He was named Vincenzo. But for everyone he was Eletto». To acquire the dvd (available in various languages): http://editrice.cittanuova.it/s/38125/Una_scia_nel_cielo.html
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Jul 11, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
It was not easy to start the production. Financial difficulties did not allow her to have a stable income, until the right moment came, and Donatella Paolini Baldi was able to go ahead: «The number of families of bees and the amount of honey produced increased – she shared – so much so that I was able to ask for the v.a.t, to do various registrations, to constitute a real and true enterprise, to leave my other job and to have a small income as an apiculturist». “Beach honey” fragrant and aromatic is the best-selling product of the small enterprise, that she was able to build up through the help of the Corporation of a regional Tuscan natural park: a special quality that has already received some awards. Inserted in some purchasing groups as a supplier of honey, she is also a member of the “district of economic solidarity”: a pact made among organizations, purchasers, producers and citizens (consumers) who aim at making production and consumption sustainable. This is a network of enterprises with similar goals, who aim at local production with few middlemen, reusable energy, biological cultivation, and who propose a series of services and products that are highly social and ethical. 
The style of the Economy of Communion has entered into all the activities of this small enterprise that produces honey: taxing itself when – in spite of the good production – it was not possible to pay both salaries (her own and that of Peter, a young collaborator). Or in resisting the “siren’s call” when, applying for a regional subsidy for apiculturists, she is offered a loophole to gain more advantages. «I suffered a lot thinking of the materials that I could have had for free – Donatella shared – or better still, paid for by the community and even if I imagined the ridicule of my colleagues, I said a difficult “No”, but it was a “No”! To speak of fair play is easy, but to go against the current is a bit difficult. In the end, my enterprise was considered as qualified for the subsidy and was entirely financed by it; and I was happy that my choice, without their knowing it, allowed other financed apiculturists to be inserted in the list after me». In the “honey plant” which is availed of for the extraction of the honey, Donatella met G., a labourer who is serving his jail sentence by working there. «Even if I was reassured by the person responsible for the plant, by the social worker and by his lawyer, I still found it difficult to accept the fact that I had to spend a lot of my working hours alone with him. In fact, before knowing him they already gave me a detailed description of the multiple homicides he committed… When I found myself in front of him, tall and robust, courteous and helpful, this wall continued to be present between me and him». Until one day G. heard a conversation of mine on the telephone. «I was talking to a friend who was sharing her feelings with me in search of understanding and help. I was trying to encourage her to maintain certain actions such as: seeing each other new every morning, seeing the positive in each other. G. understood well the meaning of my words so much so that he thanked me afterwards. His gratitude enlightened me… ». And still more, punctual providential interventions, seen as actions of the “hidden partner”, God, to whom Donatella and her collaborator Pietro entrust themselves continually. «It was a particularly difficult year due to the cold and the intense rain which compromised the blossoming of the flowers and therefore the production of honey. Among the apiculturists there was a drum beat of telephone calls. In this atmosphere, S. an apiculturist who supports his family through his work, called me up crying. He didn’t know what to do, he was desperate. I told him to calm down and to have faith. I overcame my reluctance and I went to look for and then found some fields that are next to 10 hectares of sunflowers. We can put the houses of the bees on his land and the bees can then fly to the sunflowers in the neighbouring field, whose owner was happy to collaborate. I don’t know if we will have an abundant production of honey, but I understood that asking and giving have truly the same value».
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Jul 10, 2014 | Non categorizzato
Education rhymes with peace: the next World Forum organized by the Schengen Agreement for Peace will be held in the spring of 2015 in Cairo. This is thanks to the project Living Peace, which has its own “operatiions centre” in Cairo. The announcement was made during the last Forum in June, on the occasion of the awarding of a medal “Peace Prize Luxembourg 2014” to Carlos Palma, founder of Living Peace.
It was one of the projects presented, along with the “best practices” in the course of “Learning Fraternity“, an international meeting organized in September 2013 by the various educational agencies of the Focolare Movement, including AMU an organization accredited by the Ministry of Education in Italy. Experts in the field, teachers, young people and families met to discuss the issue of globalization and how it is necessary to begin thinking about education from a global and solidarity perspective.
Presentations were made of the current and future activities of the New Network Peace Project, which began in Italy in 1990, and that in April 2013 saw the signing of a protocol of national cooperation with AMU. There are about 5,000 students participating in classes on an ongoing basis – while about the same number participate in individual initiatives. They carry out activities such as training courses for parents, students and adults, art competitions, sports activities that highlight the values of loyalty and respect of the opponent, the twinning of Italian and schools from other countries, visits to drug recovery communities or for people with disabilities. The main objective is to create a network that not only raises awareness among young people, teachers and families on issues such as multiculturalism and integration, but also promotes discussion among people and values their talents.
The journey that began with “Learning Fraternity” continues: in this context, Amu is organizing for the next school year in Italy paths of active citizenship divided into four strands (Globalization and Fraternity, Inter-culture, Economics and the Culture of Giving, Environment and being a responsible consumer). Globalization and Fraternity is also the central theme of the Campus of Global Citizenship that will take place over the course of a day around April/May 2015 in the international town of Loppiano (Florence), for 1st and 2nd year secondary school students and their teachers. There are other projects already under way, both in Italy and abroad, and other newly launched ones in the wake of the previous ones. Such as the twinning of “A school in the Andes” to support the educational centre of Bolivar in Peru, or the project “Schoolmates”, in which boys and girls participate in a worldwide network between school classes – a mutually enriching experience, sharing cultures, languages, traditions and initiatives that are already up and running.
The projects and initiatives are numerous: we invite you to continue to follow them over the summer, to get to know more about them and to consult them on the “Education for Development” section of the AMU site.
Jul 9, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/98416187 An entrepreneur is someone who pursues a productive idea. That of John Mundell, of Indianapolis (USA), is quite original. The enterprise of this civil engineer, where19 collaborators work, adheres to the project of the Economy of Communion (EoC). There are around a thousand companies in the world that adhere to this evangelical way of working in the economic field, with a strong presence in Europe and with a notable growth in the regions of Latin America and Africa. The simple but winning idea launched by Mundell is called “The Company Cube” (Dice for the companies). This is a nice instrument that helps to live in a practical way the life style precisely of the Economy of Communion. The Company Cube, is a practical way of remembering the values that create a work environment grounded in mutual respect, concern, and shared responsibility. Not only this, it also aims high, and proposes itself as a daily “modus operandi” to bring about social change through decisions made centered on the person. How does it work? “Take the Cube and… throw it – John Mundell explains. Read the side that faces up and try to live it in your place of work. At the end of the day think about how your way of acting changed and share your experience: Roll it, Read it, Live it, Share it. You will experience surprising results!”. But what is written on the faces of the dice? Build (relationships everyday!), Support (with actions, not just words!), Share (expertise, time, yourself!), Value (every person,every idea!), First (to help others!), Competitors (can be friends too!). Regarding “Competitors”, a colleague shares: “When I found out my competitor had won a project we both had written proposals for, I called to congratulate her. She was surprised to hear from me. She shared her approach and it gave me an idea for our next project.” In August of 2013, during an international congress of th EoC held in Mexico City, entitled “The person and comunione, towards a refoundation of the Economy”, John Mundell launched the Spanish version of “The Company Cube”: “El dado empresarial”. For more information: The Company Cube ( http://www.thecompanycube.org/it/ )
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Jul 8, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
«Solitude, silence, do not frighten: they are made to protect, not to cause fear. Nevertheless, one can take advantage of such a suffering. The greatness of Christ is the cross. He was never so close to the Father and so close to the brothers as when naked, wounded, he cried out from the gallows: «My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?. With that suffering he redeemed: in that fracture he reunited all men with God. Therefore we should not think that sufferings, which are never lacking even in this moment of rest, are a hindrance: they are a stimulus. And so […] listen to that Voice, so as to start to converse: a Voice that arises from the depths of your soul and falls from the heights of the heavens. You are not accustomed to listen to it and so, in the first encounters, it may seem that it escapes you, almost as if there is a thick wall between you or a cosmic distance. It is because it comes from the most intimate part of you and you are used to the clanging that comes from the world outside. It comes from the planets, from the sun, from nature […] and brings with it a profound voice: that of the author of the sky and of the earth.[…] Listen to it. Contemplate it, within the silence wherein God speaks. This is, in the day of life, the hour of dusk of contemplation, when the creatures gather together to assess the work that has been done and to prepare the actions of tomorrow: a tomorrow immersed in eternity. […] Detachment from the world, therefore, and attachment to God: thus not a separation from people, inasmuch as they are brothers, members of the same divine and human family. The wealth of experience of those who have passed the exam of life is useful to them: but above all what is useful is that wisdom, which in religion is called sanctity. The mystic introduces into the arteries of the Mystical Body the virtues of contemplation: seeds of the divine, that expand into the social fabric. This needs it as never before. […] So then one (…) detaches from creatures so as to find oneself in God, where they will never be separated anymore. Since the Lord – the Trinity – has placed himself to live in you, then with his love, you love all creatures: and to love them means to unite yourself to them. […] And since God is in tranquility, one can achieve this more easily in the relaxation of the spirit and possibly of the body during this period, striving to relax by establishing peace with all creatures, forgiving and forgetting, up to the point in which no thoughts regarding the others remain to disturb us, but all gather in the house of the Lord sharing with one another. […] In this station we meet with spirited companions on the journey, who, placed in front of the dilemma: the Eternal or the world?, choose the Eternal, to the amazement of relatives and the scandal of friends. They make of the task assigned to them in time, a march of coming closer – almost an attack – on the Eternal and they tear off pieces of heaven: thus they give to the generations an idea of the Infinite. Paul, Augustine, Bernard, Francis. Thomas, Dante, Catherine… And the John of the Cross and Teresa and Pascal and Newman and Manzoni…[…] The meditation of their writings – up to the point of assimilation – sends the soul on the way to divinity. One scales the heights with them, who know the way and provide the instruments necessary. And the peak is the home of peace and also of joy, because it touches paradise. (Excerpts taken from “Città Nuova” XXIII/13 10 July, 1979, pp.32-33)
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Jul 7, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
“The bible the world reads the most is the one they see in us.” With these words, the recipient of the Luminosa Award for Unity 2014, John Armstrong, challenged the audience at a panel discussion at Mariapolis Luminosa, Hyde Park, NY on June 21. How can the world read the bible lived out, if Christians are deeply divided and judging one another’s traditions, beliefs and forms of worship? If people can read in us Christians at least the core phrases of the Gospel’s message, such as “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34), they would get the essence of it. Rev. John Armstrong is the founder of the ACT3network, an acronym for Advancing the Christian Tradition in the 3rd Millennium. It is a ministry that began with a focus on spiritual renewal but then embraced the vision that he calls “missional ecumenism,” opening the door to ecumenical dialogue especially among evangelical Christians. In his acceptance speech for the Luminosa award, he quoted Focolare founder Chiara Lubich with her statement, “In Christianity, love is everything.” If Christians really believe that, they would believe in this pure love that is both the reason and the consequence of the presence of Jesus in their midst. In this vision, we can believe in the renewal not only of theology and ecumenism, but all the fields of human endeavor. Armstrong said, “Our business is to live the Gospel in community; it is to be the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In the panel discussion, “How can we bear witness to the New Commandment?” the four speakers shared their personal ecumenism stories. Fr. John Crossin, director of the secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, invited everybody to focus on the mission that we have in common rather than looking at things where someone may think of lines that one cannot cross while being a Christian. “We need to call everyone away from fighting and to Christian love,” he said. Rev. Elizabeth Nordbeck, minister of the United Church of Christ and faculty member of Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts, shared four stories where she experienced ecumenism. What they all had in common: friendship and trust precede ecumenical dialogue; non-cognitive and non-verbal sharing matters; and very often it helps to “do some stuff together first.” Nordbeck encouraged everyone to have an open mind: “We all tend to engrave in stone the opposite of the things that we most fear. Instead, we need one another to learn from one another.” Rev. Bud Heckman, director of the El Hibri Foundation and former executive director of Religions for Peace USA, widened the view of the participants from ecumenism to interfaith relations and highlighting the need for Christians to know how to connect with those who do not identify with a particular church. Times have changed: “When I grew up in a small town in Ohio, we were all Christians,” he remembered. One boy from the other side of the street didn’t go to their church: “Are you a Christian?” he asked him. “No, I’m Catholic,” was the answer of the boy. Having a Catholic as a friend was already an exception. Later, he was dating a Jewish girl, “and only when I asked her the third time what she was doing for Christmas, she told me: ‘Look, here is the Menorah, we are Jews, we don’t celebrate Christmas.’” In 1990, 86% of the U.S. population identified themselves as Christians, in 2001, this number went down to 76%. By 2050, less than half of the population may be Christian. “The group of ‘none’s and none’s’, who might be spiritual, but not affiliated with a particular religion, is growing.” There is the need of the witness of mutual love even among religions. It should be bore with deeds, not words. He said, “We don’t remember facts, but experiences, we remember how we felt.” He cited the 2004 gathering of the Parliament of Religions for Peace in Spain, when the Sikh community fed all the members there present with vegetarian dishes. Everybody remembered the hospitality. “It was building relationships instead of talking,” he said. It was clear that there are still different opinions and convictions, but this isn’t a problem for dialogue: “I don’t want the other to agree with me — if so, it isn’t dialogue.” Dialogue cannot be argumentative, by nature, said Armstrong: “If they don’t want to hear what you want to say, there’s not much dialogue.” The other panelists agreed, because there are differences, but they don’t have to divide up. This commitment is about keeping the doors open to one another — and to the Spirit. With the Luminosa Award for Unity, the Focolare recognizes since 1988 persons or associations who have given a significant contribution to building bridges of mutual understanding and concern among the various Christian churches, major faith traditions and people of good will, in all aspects of social life. Past Luminosa Award recipients include Cardinal John O’Connor, Archbishop of New York, Norma Levitt, former president of WCRP and honorary president of Women of Reform Judaism, Rev. Nichiko Niwano, President of the Japanese lay Buddhist organization, Rissho Kosei-kai , His Royal Highness Lukas Njifua Fontem, King of the Bangwa People of Cameroon and Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, American Muslim leader. By Susanne Janssen – Living City Magazine
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Jul 6, 2014 | Non categorizzato
“God loves me immensely,” “God loves us immensely.” Saying such a thing – never mind preaching it – in the 1960s would have been a quite novelty, even subversive. Everyone knew it, but in a certain sense it was no longer very present in the personal or communitarian life of good Christians. This discovery of God’s immense love for us, which has marked the beginnings of the spirituality of unity and the experience of Chiara Lubich and her first companions, is presented by Foresi as the foundation of the Christian life, the life of prayer and in the personal calling to a specific vocation. This truth also nourishes and permeates social relationships. It equips us to bring God into our world, to everyone we meet. “I remember the deep impression this message left in me too. I perceived the fundamental importance, the complete novelty, I would say, the absolute novelty. Nevertheless, many years later, there is the need to ask how conscious of it I really am. How I fully have understood the significance of these words: “God loves me immensely.” Our understanding of God and his action in our lives is often in fact determined by our own limited perspectives. We measure according to our own limited feelings and express it according to our own personal categories and thinking. It can then happen that feeling imperfect and therefore far from God’s love, we transfer this perception onto God and end up believing that he could never love us, or, at most, could only love us partially. But this is not the case. God loves us always, infinitely, and his love is near to us and holds us up at each moment of our journey. If we wanted to sketch images of some of the features of God’s love, the first to stand out would be a familiar one in Holy Scripture, and one found in many spiritual authors: God loves us as a bridegroom loves his bride. Like a man hopelessly in love, he loves us beyond the valor of the one he loves. He loves her to the point of seeing everything in her as beautiful, positive, understandable, even her defects which, when he does notice them, are overlooked and sublimated by love. But there is one image that also expresses God’s love for us. It is the image of the mother who is always ready to welcome her wayward child, no matter the sorrowful situation he or she may be in. She never reproves but only welcomes and forgets. Because this is what maternal love is: inextinguishable and essential. When you begin to draw on such love, even if only for a moment, everything is transformed. The life we’ve been given, the world around us, every circumstance happy or sad: everything acquires the mark of God’s personal love for me whom he wants to be holy as he is holy (see 1 pt 1:16). This is the foundation of the entire Christian life: this love of God for each one of us, a love to which we should respond and completely return.” Pasquale Foresi, Luce che si incarna. Commento ai 12 punti della spiritualità dell’unità, (Rocca di Papa: Città Nuova Editrice, 2014) 29-30.
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Jul 5, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
«I would like to tell you what the priesthood is for me, what it means for me to be a priest today. It is to be simultaneously, as much as it is possible for a human creature,Jesus of the cenacle and Jesus of calvary, Jesus of the crowds and Jesus of Gethsemani, Jesus of the hosannas and Jesus of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”, Jesus of death and Jesus of the resurrection. It is to be always more, everyday a little bit more, Jesus, just as the eternal Father desires and arranges in his loving will. […] Let Him use me as he wants. I dn’t have anything except the present. In it, to be able to do anything or not, both humanly and as a priest, doesn’t matter; what matters is to be that will of God on me». 
This is what Fr. Cosimino wrote to his parishioners on the 25° anniversary of his priestly ordination, in 1988, when he was already tried by the illness that will bring him to the end of his earthly experience on July 5, 1989. «Jesus died at thrity three years old – he wrote – so why do I have to die at 49 or 50? Jesus was able to say: “Everything is done” while everything was revolving around him, nevertheless he says it. Why do I think of many big and small projects? For me too everything will be “Done” (brought perfectly to its conclusion) if I remain like Jesus in the design of the Father». Fr. Cosimino, was born in Gaeta (Italy) on September 5, 1939 and he entered the seminary in 1950. In this period of formation he was exemplary, both in his spiritual journey, lived with great committment, and also in his studies. A great desire was always strong in him: to understand how to live in order to become a saint. He was ordained a priest in Gaeta on July 14, 1963. A year after his ordination he participated in a meeting of the Focolare Movement at Ala di Stura (Northern Italy). Here, as he himself would often repeat, he found the answer to his desire for sanctity, he found the “IDEAL”, as it was called then. And so he immediately treasured, with committment, all that he received, striving not to lose even a single word and his committment was in understanding, but above all in living the spirituality of unity. 
In 1967 he was named the parish priest of St. Paul, in his native city. Here, with his typical style full of love and attention towards everyone, in a special way towards the least (teenage mothers, ex-prisoners, drug addicts, rthe homeless and the drifters), he organized his community by focusing simply, but with strength and decisiveness, on living the Gospel in all the situations and in the most diverse realities. Occasions were not lacking wherein he had to take a stand also with regards to social realities that were drifting far away from a truly human and Christian dimension. He worked a lot for the Priest Movement and for the Parish Movement, two branches of the Focolare Movement. In this way many, also on an international level, were able to get to know him, as was evident by the great participation of many during the entire period of his illness. 
A significant aspect in order to understand his life is his relationship of unity with other priests, in a passage from an individualistic mentality to a life of communion. His only goal, to grow in charity, putting aside the talks on new techniques of the apostolate, of catechesis and on modern and attractive expressions of the liturgy, as was fashionable then, to give space to sharing, like in a family: goods, salary, friends, light or trials, health, clothes, ideas. He made his own with radicalness and conviction, the symbol of the priest movement of the Focolare: the washing of the feet. He wrote: «The consideration of the washing of the feet was fundamental for me. Because He did it, so too must I repeat it for the people of this generation. Sublime dignity! But Christ in his divine dignity lays down his clothes and washes the feet. I, a priest, will repeat Christ, by stripping away my false good reputation which I am attached to and I will come closer to the others to bring them the washing of the feet, the redemption. I will wash the feet in the confessional, in the hospital, while saying Mass, taking care of the poor, the elderly. But I must strip myself of everything. This is essential».
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Jul 4, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide
«I met Chiara Lubich immediately after the end of the war. I went to Trent to those girls who they said “were living the Gospel like the first Christians”. The words of Chiara sent me into a crisis. I came from a Christian family and I belonged to the Catholic Action, but I realized that my religiosity had very little to do with Christianity, because I practically was not living the Gospel. With our group we often went to Trent and Chiara too would go to Rovereto, our town, to visit us. She spoke to us of the Gospel and she made us fall in love with Jesus. A community was immediately formed in Rovereto which included the manager of the Telephone Company, the mathematics professor, the shoemaker, the watch repairman, a father and a mother, young boys and girls, we were many and we really loved each other. Every time that we met as a community we tried to make a new committment to live the Gospel, to change our lives and to take care of the needy around us.
Violetta Sartori
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Jun 30, 2014 | Non categorizzato
The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement will be held between 1st and 28th September 2014. Electing the President, the Co-President and the general council members who will remain in office for the next six years, decision making on requests and proposals received from various parts of the world and establishing broad guidelines for the coming years will be among its main tasks. President Maria Voce states “the Assembly is called to express its views on key topics for the life of the entire Movement”, and it sets forth towards this work “with a great sense of gratitude towards God for what we have lived together during the past six years”. The 494 participants at this General Assembly will be representing the geographical variety of members, who are of different ages and have different commitments, as typical of the Focolare Movement. 15, who come from various non-Catholic Christian Churches, non-Christian religions and non-religious cultures, have been invited to be among those present for this Assembly. They will accompany the work of the Assembly and express their views, something very essential for the life and activity of the Movement. During the last six months, a series of different initiatives have been taking place in Focolare communities throughout the world to facilitate reflection, analysis and assessment about the work of the Movement, its challenges and its prospects, and thus to suggest themes and proposals on which to set the work for the coming General Assembly. 
The outcome of this process of participation are more than 3000 suggestions, each expressed in a maximum of 100 words, and as Maria Voce says, “these indicate the vitality of a people on the move and growing”. Following a process of reflection in all five continents, a group of young members of the Focolare Movement came together for an international conference, where a manifesto was approved and then handed over to the President. The set of suggestions is being made functional by a preparatory committee who is working on it, and at the beginning of July a copy will be sent personally to each participant. The twenty members of this committee represent the actual International Centre, the various branches of the Movement and the regions of the world where the Movement is present. The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement is the most important governing body of the Movement and it ordinarily meets every six years. The previous General Assembly was held in July 2008, three months after the passing away of the foundress, Chiara Lubich.
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Jun 29, 2014 | Non categorizzato
“You love God, the Father, also by giving food to you brother who is hungry. The whole development of literature on this issue, especially the great patristic literature, is a struggle against the selfishness of those that cause the misery of others, a kind of reconstitution of violated and degraded humanity, starting from the principle: nourish the stomach, to replenish the physical body which is also part of the Mystical Body: it too is a presence of the living Christ […]. Not everyone can work miracles, wrote St. Augustine, but everyone can feed the poor. “You cannot say to the paralytic, Arise and walk! But you can say: While we are waiting for you to get up, have something to eat…”. Anyone who would be able to feed the undernourished, the malnourished and the hungry and does not help them, is, according to a thought of the Fathers of the Church, a murderer, even a God-killer. He makes Christ die. Those who, during the years of war, condemned prisoners to die of hunger from the point of view of the Gospel have replicated the crucifixion. They have been, so to speak, murderers of God. The hordes of deportees, in the snow and blazing sun, in covered lorries or isolated ships, whose monotony was broken only by the collapse of the hungry, mark the line of practical atheism, even if perpetrated in the name of God For this reason, St. Vincent de Paul went out into the galleons of the most Christian kings, where the convicts fell exhausted. This is why works of mercy, by restoring justice, are not merely administration of food or of money to buy it. “Works of mercy are worth nothing without love,” says St. Augustine. And St. Paul says, “And even if I gave away all that I have to the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, if I have not charity, it is worth nothing” (1 Cor. 13, 3). Social works add little to the effects of religious life if those who carry them out do not bring that divine ingredient, that ardour of the Holy Spirit, which is charity […]. Works of mercy are a moral and material duty: by nourishing those in agony, I nourish myself: because his hunger is mine and of the whole social body, of which they are an organic part. “Though we are many, we are one body”, and you cannot injure one organ to benefit another. And if you do, you pay: with revolution and unrest and epidemics here, and then hell in the next life. It is tempting to think that this precept has become quite unnecessary in an era in which workers are reaching a certain comfort. Whereas it has never been so present and extended so vastly as in the era of rationing, of concentration camps, of deportations and unemployment, of war and the post-war period (…). A civilization that tolerates hunger alongside opulence is a civilization in a state of mortal sin (…). If someone does not have a ration, it means that someone else has two […]. Works of mercy are justified by the reality of human nature and perform the miracle of circulating love by circulating bread. The miracle is that the gift of bread becomes a kind of social sacrament, through which with love, we communicate God and through nourishing our body, we nourish our soul.” (from Igino Giordani, The Brother, Città Nuova, 2011, pp. 64-67)
![“Petite flamme”: The Miracle Continues]()
Jun 28, 2014 | Non categorizzato
The image of the Church that, with its pastoral choices, the next Synod is called to show, is that of “a mother committed to generate, support and sustain all the children of God, without exception.” This was underlined by Archbishop Bruno Forte, special secretary of the next Extraordinary Synod on the Family, which was desired by Pope Francis. The occasion was the presentation of the Working Document of the Synod Assembly to the Press. The synod, which will take place next October, will be dedicated to the theme “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the context of evangelization. ” Anna Friso, who with her husband Alberto is responsible for the ‘New Families‘ section of the Focolare Movement, said, “The family has become a symbol of the difficulties and sufferings of society, so knowing that the Church has this attitude of acceptance and closeness is tremendous.” The document is based on the results of the survey carried out last November through a questionnaire of 39 questions, which had a positive reception and a large response. Anna Friso said, “I think it was the right idea. Begin from the people, from the concrete facts of how we live”. Alberto Friso continued, ” This attention to such complex and diverse situations of many families in trouble means giving value to these sufferings in order to draw out a light. Suffering is a value, a very important factor. If the Church understands this, families will find inner resources to find ways of reconciliation. ” Alberto went on to say: “It’s definitely an opening of the heart and soul of the church in welcome and acceptance. But it is not just a way to enlighten the difficult situations, but also the whole general context of the family, because the family is born from God’s for humanity, and in this love it finds its meaning.”
Alberto and Anna Friso
