Focolare: on the path of social Christianity

Jun 27, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

At the conclusion of a year-long celebration of the 60th year of the Focolare Movement in France, a symposium on the Movement’s contribution in the Church and in society in France was held on June 4 last at the Catholic Institute of Paris. In front of quite a diverse audience, attempts were made to answer the questions: “Who are the Focolare?” and “What is their involvement in the world today?” Whilst not ignoring some criticisms, such as lack of visibility, the speakers highlighted the positive contribution the Focolare Movement has made to French society. “There are not many movements that have arrived at their sixtieth anniversary in a ‘healthy’ state,” said Jean-Louis Schlegel, a sociologist of religion, in his talk.

Father François-Marie Léthel

Laurent Villemin,

An ambassador shares his experience

Jun 26, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

«Thanks to my work as a diplomat, with my family we learned to recognize the treasures of an extended humanity, to love the country of the other as our own, to love God in the person whose nationality and culture is different from ours. Mnay ask me if it is possible to live as a Christian in an environment that brings you into contact with the riches, but also with the sufferings of the most varied humanity. This is my daily challenge. In my work I try to draw inspiration from the ideal of fraternity proposed by  Chiara Lubich. There is a writing on diplomacy, which I use as a sort of guide. It says among other things: “Make yourself one with the other, in that complete forgetting of onself that possesses – without noticing it and without looking after it – him who calls to mind the other, the neighbour. This is the diplomacy of charity (…). The divine diplomacy (…) is moved by the good of the other and is therefore without any shadow of egoism”. And still more: “If every diplomat in fulfilling his function is guided in all his actions by charity towards the other State as if it were his own country, he will be enlightened by the help of God up to the point of contributing towards the realization of relationships among States just as the relationships among persons shoud be”. I feel that this affrimation is very true and concrete and I was able to experience this on many occasions. For example, while I was watching the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and the Paraolympics, I thought of sending my corresponding colleague a message through my mobile phone: “Your Country is showing us all its beauty”, I wrote. And he immediately replied: “Thank you”. With that simple gesture I was able to express my appreciation for his country. Sometimes work is transformed into a real battle. I remember when it was my Country’s turn to hold the presidency of the European Union, I was given the task of presiding one of the working groups wherein the adoption of “European Diplomatic Programme” was proposed.  This meant a program of professional formation offered to young diplomatic officers working in the national diplomatic corps of member Countries. It was strongly supported by some countries and greatly contested by others. The program provides for the inclusion of a language to the detriment of other national languages, which, at that point, should have also been taekn into consideration. In such a situation it was up to me to find a solution. I talked to the representatives of each Country, listening fully to the reasons of each one: as president, I wanted to be at the service of everyone. But I went ahead, trying to convince them that it would be more advantageous for everyone to have a common formation program, and that it would be useful to go ahead with two official languages that would not create any difficulties in the realization of the program. I made my proposal which was approved by all and the European Diplomatic Program is today an established and well-known reality. I carry out my mission in a country that is torn apart. divided, with considerable problems from all points of view.  I struggle, in these times, to love the persons concretely, to live the divisions and not to escape from them, to love the men and women without God and to bear witness to Him, there where he does not exist, to be, through my life, a bridge that unites. You don’t necessarily have to be an ambassador to become a “bridge”. When we love the other we can do everything; Saint Augustine reminds us this  and the witness of Chiara Lubich and of all of us who want to live her same ideal of unity in the world, are the most tangible proof». Source: New Humanity online

The Economy of Communion in Germany: “Outside the Box”

Jun 25, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Kenya:”Sharing with Africa”

Jun 24, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Argentina: International Youth Camp

Jun 24, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

500 teenagers from every continent will attend the events at Mariapolis Lia, a Focolare town in the state of Buenos Aires, Argentina. But they are only a small portion of the workshop which will be followed by  members of the Youth for Unity worldwide. A Facebook page has been documenting the preparation stages of the event: “There is a global mobilization underway, with those of us who have been preparing since July 14-21 at Mariapolis Lia; others who have been awaiting and preparing events to welcome the teens to their cities; and still others who have been organising projects at local levels. They are all like small workshops of a worldwide construction site for the building of universal brotherhood and becoming citizens of the world! Even the preparatory activities have turned out to be opportunities to interact and share with many people – civil authorities, public institutions, associations, friends, the local Church and community – the most beautiful gift we have received: our ideal of a United World.” Why has the camp been given this name? Chiara Lubich explains it in something she wrote to some young people in 1970: “The man of tomorrow will be a man of unity, a citizen of the world. He will be capable of both welcoming in his heart the treasures that the peoples of other lands have to offer and of giving his treasures to all of them. The man of tomorrow will be a man of unity, a world-man.” Newsflashes from around the world.Paraguay: “We are getting ready to welcome the teens from Ireland. In the photo you can see me telling Radio Caritas listeners about the activities that will take place during the second week of the camp. We will go to three cities: Asuncion-Lambare, Capiata and Caazapa, which is 230 Km from the capital.” Austria: “Five of us will be attending and, in the second part of the camp, we will move to Bolivia to the Rincon de Luz Social Assistance Centre. Teens from Switzerland will go to Bolivia as well.”    “In Salta, Argentina, we’ve been getting ready for some time to welcome the teens from Italy. We are working with public institutions, the local Church and youth organisations to finalize the “Let’s Colour Our Cities” projects that will be taking place. The most worrisome gray areas that have been identified are injustice, corruption, the gap between those who have and those who have nothing. . . Then there is the problem of drugs and the growing violence that has become natural among teens like us. The second stage activities will be held in three communities: Tartagal, General Mosconi and Yacuy. There is an obvious lack of material wealth in these regions, but there is certainly great cultural wealth, as well as a strong desire to build a more united world. There will be many opportunities to deepen our friendship with groups of teens from these communities! These areas are populated by Argentina’s indigenous peoples: the Wichi and Guarani.”   On July 19^th a “SPECIAL DAY” will be held at Mariapolis Lia during which the young people will celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the Youth for Unity Movement. There will be a live streaming of the event at 15:00 GMT (11:00 local time). http://vimeo.com/98558320

Spain: Architecture – pushing the boundaries

Jun 23, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Barcelona, ​​the capital of Catalonia, pulsating with experimentation and innovation, was the ideal venue for exploring new fields and new frontiers in Architecture at the international workshop ArquitecturaLimite, which was held June 15 to 18. It was attended by 30 people including young architects, teachers and students of architecture coming from Spain, Italy and Colombia, and with contributions from lecturers of the Polytechnic of Barcelona (EPSEB – UPC), of the ‘University Without Borders’, of the University ‘La Salle’ in Barcelona, ​​of professional studios and technical schools of bio-architecture (for example constructing brick buildings using only ecological materials). The programme allowed participants to analyze issues and low cost technologies to deal with design solutions in extreme environments. The concept of limit, low-tech technologies and the management of participatory processes and cooperation were all looked at. There was a great response at all levels, from both teachers and students, who expressed the desire to keep in touch, and re-opened the discussion, in these times of major changes in society, about what the essential elements of this discipline really are. What do you take away in your backpack, and where do we go from here? These were the two questions that participants responded to in group work: “Architecture must be built for the people and together with the people in a shared way: it is a cultural change.” “I take away a deep ethical sense: I’m not building schools, but education; not a health centre, but health. ” And again: “Replace the words ‘working for countries in the developing world’, with ‘let’s go to share’.” Everyone left re-charged with experiences, values ​​and dreams. Some scenarios of participating in upcoming projects of International Cooperation in 2015 were identified and planned, in collaboration with the NGO Action for a United World (AMU). Haiti, Madagascar and the Philippines being possibilities. The next round of Dialogues in Architecture, the organiser of the Spanish event, is the national interdisciplinary workshop “Openings” (“I Varchi”), a week for musicians, architects, filmmakers and writers, in Italy, in Montefalcone Appennino, from July 27 to August 2.

Loppiano: A special ‘thank you’ to Vincenzo (Eletto) Folonari

Jun 21, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Live streaming from Loppiano, 21 June at 3.30: http://live.focolare.org/loppiano

“Thank you, Eletto!” A journey through history and reflections on Eletto Folonari’s life, on the development of Loppiano which from October next will be celebrating its first 50 years of life, and the Gen Movement which he accompanied on its very first steps. In a letter to Chiara Lubich, Eletto wrote: “I have chosen God for ever and only Him! Nothing else.” He goes on to tell her that he wants to give all the goods he had inherited to the Focolare Movement – including the 200 acres on which the town of Loppiano (Florence) now stands – adding: “It was of no credit to me that I owned them, I was given them for free.” One of Eletto’s characteristics, in addition, was his relationship with the children and young people of the Movement that Chiara herself had entrusted to him in the early ’60s. “Why do we want to say thank you to Eletto?” – the gen that are organizing the event on 21 June in Loppiano ask – “First of all, for that Yes to God, an unconditional yes that is at the origin of what the Eternal Father has since worked through him, that is the birth of the first of the 33 towns of the Focolare Movement and the Gen Movement now spread throughout the world.” Yes, because this was his fundamental quality: Eletto knew how to place himself completely at the service of the divine will as Igino Giordani, who was his first biographer, so well expressed. In the conclusion to his 1965 book which simply bears the title “Vincenzo Folonari”, Giordani writes that his best known virtue was humility and that he: “… remains an example of the apostolate of modern lay people (…). It is basically the type of holiness that is required today in a democratic society, community-based, but which has been desecrated on a global scale: evangelization from the inside, without any props, motivated by love alone (…). ” The afternoon (live streaming starts at 15:30) offers a journey through history and reflections on Eletto’s life. There will be family members present and some of the first “popetti” (as children were called in the local Trentino dialect) who participated in the first Mariapolis’ in Fiera di Primiero (Dolomites) and whom Eletto looked after and loved. There will also be music and dances from different countries and the presence of many Gen, witnesses to the life and influence of the Gen Movement from the ’60s to today, all over the world.

Ascoli Piceno: I love my city

Jun 20, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

In Ascoli Piceno, a city in Central Italy, the Focolare is present in numerous parishes of the city, in many ecclesial bodies, aside from the many environments of professional and civic life. In fact, many of our co-citizens have come to know the Ideal of unity, through the meetings proposed by the  Diocesan Movement of the Focolare. We dream that our city can become a city of fraternity, we look first of all at the relationships that animate it, at the good that circulates, at the abundant commitments of many in the different sectors and we are amazed. We try to weave a network of relationships among people, lay and religious institutions, associations, movements, highlighting their specific characteristic with the aim of realizing the common good. The city thus becomes a laboratory of fraternity. With this goal in mind we have constituted an association whose title already expresses our objective “Amolamiacitta’ (Ilovemycity)” onlus. A “transversal” consensus is built around it among associations and movements of civil society who start to work for fraternity together with us. The public institutions also have started to collaborate with us through this new instrument that we are equipped with. There are numerous initiatives that have started, involving the different ecclesial realities present in the city, together with the members of the Movement and many citizens. Some examples are the “United World Week” of the youth, the “Spring Bazaars” of the teens, the “Feast of fantasy”, held during the period of the Carnival, the “Family Week”, “City onstage”, with the involvement of the schools of various arts in the city, the vacations in the snow “On skis together is better”, the “Room of marvels”, wherein beauty is profoundly shared, and which has become the “venue” of knowledge of the marvels of the world. Then there is also the project “And the city… as a school”, the campaigns against gambling,  “Everyone’s New Year Celebration”, maybe a true icon of the entire project “I-love-my-city”. During the New Year in fact, we can see how our city becomes a city of fraternity the way we dream it should be, characterized by a sense of family that shortens distances, drives away all fears and makes diversity beautiful. A fruit of all this life that floods the city was lived by us in 2009 when the “Chiara Lubich Award for fraternity” was given to Ascoli Piceno for the project “I-love-my-city”. The Municipal Council, in the speeches expressed the desire that the granting of the award would mark a new way of working for the city, a “compromising” of personal positions and of one’s political party in view of the common good. The city of Ascoli is also well-known for the precious bobbin lace, that are made by the weaving together of many fine threads by expert hands that at times are truly masterpieces. We feel that linked by reciprocal love we can weave many bonds of fraternity with everyone and contribute towards opening our city to a united world. (R.C. Ascoli Piceno)

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Slot Mob against gambling

Jun 18, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Another step forward for Slot Mob, the campaign against gambling supported by several associations and the media, thanks also to young people: it  took place in Catania, (Italy), where the City took a stand against slot machines, approving an amendment in the resolution of the municipal domestic and waste tax, which reduces by 50% the tax on waste to those business people that remove them from their shops. This is a reduction for two years in total, which includes a commitment not to install any other gambling machine for 10 years. The event to promote public establishments which do not have slot machines and video poker took place in Catania on 22^nd February. On that occasion “Youth for Unity” in their publication “Grafoteens”,  an information sheet for young people in Sicily, Calabria and Malta – posed themselves the question about “an ethic that is less about the world of gambling in general and which affects more and more the poor areas of the city”, including children, in spite of the prohibitions, and conversely on “an ethic that emerges in a stronger way regarding the use of goods confiscated from the Mafia, and which, in Calabria, the ‘Ndrangheta (a Mafia organization) continues to attack”. From this the meaning of the article summary is clear, “What side is the state on?” This constitutes a specific request to the administrative institutions to take a firm stand to support ethics which despite everything survive. And the answer came in June, with the resolution of the Municipality. The “Let’s get in the game” committee which promoted Slot Mob, and the “Teens for Unity”, who were committed to pursuing its instances were understandably satisfied. It’s a sign of detachment from the very strong culture of patronage and lobby of the managers of slot machines, wrote Giancarlo Morello in the editorial of the June issue of Grafoteens . We also appreciate the commitment and promise-keeping that some councillors demonstrated in the days of the creation of the Slot Mob, and who were then committed to the idea of rewarding those who would take away these machines. It all constituted a first signal towards achieving the “Let’s get in the Game Committee” and Grafoteens’  goal of a “City without slots”. The city of Catania is also working on a municipal regulation to counter the spread of pathological gambling. Like Catania, there are many municipalities where the fight against gambling, by mobilizing citizens, has taken many forms through the Slot Mob campaign. Supporters of the initiative include the Italian New City magazine and the Economy of Communion. To learn more or to arrange a Slot Mob in your city go to: http://www.nexteconomia.org/le-attivita/slot-mob http://www.edc-online.org/it/home-it/slotmob.html http://vimeo.com/98447447

Ecumenical Musical Evening

Jun 17, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

The feast of Pentecost is past, once again bringing the gift of unity that is felt even among different charisms, such as those developed through the centuries by many Christian churches. In order to emphasize the spirit of Pentecost, which unites Christians, the churches in the southern hemisphere celebrate at this time of year the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. In Porto Alegre, for example, conferences have given way to art: a musical evening called “An Ecumenical Musical Evening” brought together various groups in the city, both as audience and as musicians. Intense correspondence over a two-month period meant that all those who in previous years had participated in ecumenical initiatives were invited. And finally the much-expected date arrived: June 4, 2014. There were approximately 300 people, to listen to a performance of violins, with children from different schools, the choir of Porto Alegre, with people from all over the city, not belonging to any particular church, and other artistic pieces. The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer was an important moment, to seal real relationships as brothers and sisters who seek to bear witness to the one faith in Christ. How to live this witness? Joan Patricia Back (Centro Uno of the Focolare Movement), in a reflection during the Week of Prayer in the northern hemisphere (January 2014) in Modena, Italy had said, “The exhortation to unity is contradicted by the actual situation: for centuries Christians have been divided, and the divisions are the anomaly with which they present themselves to the world that does not know Christ. But Jesus said that the world would recognize him by the unity of those who follow him: how can we live today so that the world may see Christ in us? We are called to live a life of communion in Christ, which is the foundation of unity: if we base our lives on Him, we live as he taught us, we are his people, then we will be one. And he invites us to love one another as he has loved us, because from this people will recognize us as disciples. And we can love each other even though we belong to different churches.”

The Courage of Peace

Jun 10, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Margaret is an Arab Christian born in Israel. She received the Mount Zion 2013 prize, together with Yisca Harani, a Jew, for “the important contribution to the development of dialogue amongst religions and cultures in the Holy Land and to understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims”. Margaret Karram, former member of the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land and collaborator with the directorate of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), is now at the International Centre of the Focolare Movement and it was she who read the prayer of St Francis in the Christian section of the invocation for peace instigated by the Bishop of Rome with Shimon Peres and Abu Mazen, with the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew 1 also present. We report parts of the interview she gave to Victoria Gomez of Citta Nuova. What are your impressions of this meeting? “The first was that of finding myself in an oasis of peace. I am very aware of the differences which prevent it, and yet in those two hours spent together praying, it seemed to me that while we were asking God for the gift of peace, he was given the way to see ‘from above’, so to speak, the result of human efforts. The design is obviously not yet complete, but it seemed to me like the embroidery of a rug: on the back the knots that we must untie, but the one looking at the embroidery was God and he could see the pattern. While one prayer followed the other in Hebrew and in Arabic I thought to myself: ‘God knows these prayers and understands them. He knows how to act in history.’ I could see the power of prayer and I understood that only God is capable of changing man’s heart. Our part is to have the patience of the skilled artisan. Your story is like a passport that prepared you to participate in this event … Since I was young I have always dreamed of peace. As children we asked ourselves: ‘Which is my country, where is my place, who am I?’ Now, at 50, I can’t see that dream of a fatherland any closer, but we have sown the seed and lots of them! We must continue doing so. It’s our duty to the future generations. We must pass on the certainty of a possible future, without losing hope or giving up because of the fatigue. Then yesterday was also the feast of Pentecost and the action of the Holy Spirit ‘waters that which is dry, heals that which is wounded and bends that which is inflexible …’. You were representing the Focolare Movement with a personal invitation from Pope Francis … Many people, from the President Maria Voce to my friends in Bethlehem and Jerusalem assured me of their support. I heard many joyful words from several Christian, Jewish and Muslim dignitaries whom I met in the Vatican Gardens. I had the impression that the Pope gave us a new encouragement to commit ourselves to peace with greater courage. I felt it also directed to us as members of the Focolare Movement: to be more present, more active, more courageous actors in undoing the ‘knots’ that we find everywhere. The Pope’s personal greeting confirmed this for me, as did other authorities I met. You were the only woman to read a prayer. How did that feel? I tried to read that prayer as a representative of humanity that believes, suffers and hopes. As women we have an important role to play for peace. One of the participants said to me: ‘It is so important that you are here. I know the rich contribution a woman can make!’ As we listened to those beautiful prayers and music I recalled the words of the Pope at the Angelus, just a few hours before: the Mother Church and the Mother Mary are ‘both mothers, both women’. And in the certainly not always harmonious emotions that vibrated in those present, you could feel the need of a mother. How do you feel the people you know in the Holy Land saw all of this? There were great expectations and now there is great hope. Obviously there will always be sceptics. Both Palestinians and Israelis say that this meeting marked a turning point that we can look to from now on and continue to do so in the future. As well as that, it was a strong sign that the Church takes on board the sufferings and hopes of all peoples. And it was a demonstration that the Holy Land has not been forgotten and that the Pope does not leave these two peoples by themselves and will walk alongside them. The event must be seen in the long term. In the meantime we must continue to weave, untying the knots committing ourselves at all levels possible, with courage and tactfulness. Many think of a long road, but we really don’t know how God acts in history. There is always hope.” Source: Città Nuova online    

Bolivia: ‘Rincon de Luz’ (Corner of Light) Centre

Jun 9, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

In synthesis this is the aim of Centro Rincon de Luz, now into its third year, managed by the local Association of Unisol, in collaboration with AMU (Azione Mondo Unito) and AFN (Azione per Famiglie Nuove). To see how the project is going and to plan new developments, Anna Marenchino, from AMU’s Project section, visited Cochabamba in Bolivia. The new Principal of the centre, Mari Cruz, is one of the many people she met during the trip. Mari Cruz attended the centre herself when she was young, though it wasn’t as developed or as welcoming as it is today. She managed to finish her studies thanks to the support of ‘Help at a Distance’, a project organised by the New Families Movement. Seeing her in charge of all the studies today is a real encouragement to all the children and their families to believe that a better life is possible. “I’ve had to suffer a lot in my life,” Mari Cruz explains, “When I was small my father drank a lot and seeing him like that upset me very much. He wasn’t violent with us but he was very severe. I remember one of his punishments was to walk around the outside of the house from four in the morning until seven when it was time to go to school. The Centre was a reference point for me. They helped me with the subjects I was struggling with at school, and it happened once, would you believe it, that I was one of the best in the class! They also helped me financially to stay on at school and finish my studies. A few years later we moved house and were far from the Centre. My father was a bit better, and every weekend we would all work together with him to fix up the house. It was hard at first because we had nothing: except for light, water and a bathroom. But we didn’t complain. We would look at our father and in a reassuring tone say: ‘Don’t worry, just go to work so that tomorrow we can eat chicken!’ When times were hard I found the courage to start again, thanks to some people of the Focolare Movement who, besides having helped me at the Centre, gave me great support and helped me to trust again in myself and in others. I have been teaching at the Rincon de Luz Centre for a number of years now, but I just couldn’t believe it last December when they asked me to be the Principal. Did they really mean me? I said yes immediately, because I really want to help to give these children a chance, just like I was given. And now I am very happy because everything I’ve experienced, whether beautiful or sad, has made me stronger and has helped me understand other people more deeply, because I have felt their sufferings in my heart. Now I can say to the children and their families: ‘Be brave – we can all change!’ “ Source: Amu Newsletter No.2/2014 – www.amu-it.eu

Love conquers poverty

Jun 8, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“Deep in her heart, Chiara Lubich had a dream,” said Mark Tecilla, known to history as the “first” focolarino, to an audience of several hundred people from 50 countries, representing the local communities of the Focolare Movement around the world. It was spontaneous look at the life of the city of Trent, where the charism of unity took its first steps, so as to have a light for such a gathering. “Looking from her window that overlooked the city of Trent, Chiara would have liked to solve the social problems of the city. But we weren’t strong enough for that yet. Then, in December 1947 she called everyone to the Cardinal Massaia hall to tell us something. She had noticed that within our community there were people forced to live in dire financial straits. And this was inconceivable for her. In the early Christian communities which arose in Jerusalem in the early days of the Church, – as we are told in the Acts of the Apostles – “everything was shared and there were no needy among them” because the Gospel was lived to the letter. Chiara had decided to talk about the community of goods and present all of us who formed that first  community of Trent with that challenge which was both the same and different to that of the early Christians.” Did everyone have to sell all their possessions? “No. While reaching the same aim of the Christian community, each person was not asked to sell what they had and give it to the community, but to give that ‘everything’ they had and which they could do without, without harm to themselves or to their family”. How did this form of ‘organized’ charity work? “Each one brought any extra they had, especially in money, and pledged to donate a fixed amount established by themselves, month by month. The donor and the pledge remained secret. With the money received, Chiara asked a focolarina to  help needy families in the community, monthly and secretly, guiding this delicate task with extreme charity and discretion. The aim was: to reach the point that among us there was no longer anyone in need, but everyone had enough to live on.  The result of the amount donated and of the monthly pledge was totally unexpected and already in the first month was enough to help thirty families.” What did Chiara think about this? “Looking at this world of ours”, she said, “It seems impossible that nowadays it is so greedy and selfish … and yet it is so. Faced with these facts, touched and grateful, we shout out: Charity is God! And God is the Almighty. In the spirit of charity and unity (which is not mere almsgiving, but the total gift of self to the will of God) everyone could find something to give. But it is necessary, before asking people to give, to form hearts, because – unlike the early Christians – there is too much spirit of worldliness among us and disunity and indifference reign. Only a strong and deep evangelical formation can keep alive an ideal society living fraternal charity. This will certainly exist among us, because as long as we are united, Christ is in our midst, and what he builds, remains. “In fact, what was very prominent in the early days of the Focolare Movement was the importance of living the gospel.” This experience of the communion of goods did not stop at the first community of Trent, but continued over the years, both in the lifestyle choices of the members of the Focolare Movement, and in concrete actions including some in which things are circulated  in a way that resembles  the ancient idea of barter, with a strong dose of solidarity and social justice.

Gen Verde. Music and Faith

Jun 7, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Put together 21 young women from 13 countries around the world and add some sound talent, cultural richness and desire to to spread a positive Gospel message. It was an extraordinary experience for our city, a grand occasion for the young people who are passionate about music and the Christian message. It was a double appointment: Friday, May 30th a workshop with young people; and Sunday, June 1st an evening concert on the square in front of the Madonna delle Grazie Shrine, at the Nazareth Oasis. The 21 women animated by the charism of the Focolare Movement sang about this passionate love, and they did it through music, modern-day music, rich in sound, echo, expressed by many nationalities and with the words of the Gospel. In these times of “ho un dono, ve lo dono” (suor Cristina at The Voice), these young women did not hesitate to live out the Gospel command to love others in the Lord and to share the invitation to follow the Master with the sounds of their guitar, drums, bass and violins. “The music is a vehicle. We can’t claim to have great talent, but we can place our talents together and see them multiply,” the young women said.    During the workshop, they shared about some moments from their lives – some, moments of difficulty; others, uncomplicated moments of great simplicity  – in which words like unity, fraternity and sharing went from being abstract theories to pleasant ongoing realities. “Every morning before beginning the day,” they explained, “we renew the pact of reciprocal love. This also means loving the other person’s idea, which might be different from mine, welcoming the creative spark in the other as we share our ideas freely. It means beginning again, giving priority to our relationships and then to our art. Whenever I’m able to put aside my idea to open myself to someone else’s idea, a whole new world of opportunities opens.” The “Start Now” project that was performed on stage in Corato, Italy, was conceived during a trip in the Holy Land where Jews, Muslims and Christians live with each other, but often without any dialogue. “It occured to us that the Arts could be a vehicle of dialogue. Mutual acceptance of one another’s talents is a way of communicating. We hold theatre workshops in the international town of Loppiano, Italy, where we live. At these workshops, which also involve song and dance, young people from all over the world are invited to share their talents through diaolgue, and experience the values of unity and brotherhood.” One priest remarked: “Having dealings with these women,” one priest commented, “doesn’t leave you indifferent. Many of us realised this, both Friday and Saturday. Gen Verde wished to talk in front of many young people, telling them about ordinary moments in their lives that were rendered extraordinary by an encounter with the love of the Risen Lord who came to dwell in many episodes of their lives, not always rosey episodes. He transfigured them and made them beautiful and extraordinary, to the point that they could no longer keep it to themselves.” One song refrain says: “There’s a light in me that never goes away .” Antonella D’Introno,   communications director of the event on behalf of the Youth Ministry of the city, commented: “And these women revealed to us the secret for discovering again and again the enthusiasm for what we do. You always need to fix on one person in life: Jesus on the Cross who loves us immensely.” Source: Coratolive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qy-pyzk5bY

Stories of the Romani people

Jun 5, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Everything began twenty years ago from one of the members of the parish, who was visited by a group of Romani children who insistently asked him to go and see the image of the Madonna in their neighbourhood that, according to them, cried. This was the first contact with the Rom community, and which led to some of the parishioners gathering together everyday to pray in this square together with the children. Despite a series of initiatives started together successfully, after two years the prayer group was dissolved;  and it took ten years so that they could start the journey together once again. It was the Prayer and Mission Group “Ceferino Jiménez Malla” that gave the go signal, to meet every Monday to pray at the Grotto of Our Lady of the Valley, at the center of the square of the Rom neighborhood. «We had to overcome fear, prejudices, indifference, a refusal that was born from a wrong relationship with them,” Maria Teresa Sosa, volunteer of the Focolare Movement, shared, “but then the barriers fell, and we discovered that the Rom love to listen to the Word of God since, most of them are illiterate.” Then other members of the Focolare joined our group. “The experience would like to create a relationship through simple gestures of reciprocity, continued Maria Teresa, “to get to know each other by name, look at each other in the eyes, listen to one another, making ourselves one with the other. For example, to celebrate the birth of a child, or to visit patients in hospital. One of them was administered with the Sacrament of the Sick”. We also look for ways of inculturation, translating into prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, or the Glory be into the Roma language. “When they listen to us pray the children say: ‘You are like the Rom’.” Another important step was that of celebrating together the International Romani Day, which they didn’t know about, so as to give visibility to the community. A journey continues, on the 8th of April every year also thanks to the media: the Rom community will participate regularly in a transmission on Radio Maria wherein they will share about their customs, a newspaper published a page on the experiences of the Rom Mission. The visibility that they gained allowed them to start a project to provide literacy in collaboration with an Teaching Institute of formation. But the bridge must also be created also on the side of the Argentinian community:  in a secondary school that is found near the gypsies and with whom they have no relationship at all, a teacher tackled the topic of prejudice towards ethnic minorities, while some journalism students made a report entitled “Creoles and Rom, the start of a dialogue” (in this context the term “creoles” refers to the Argentinians). In March, at the start of the school year, a project began to save seats in the classroom for Romani children, who are often discriminated, and group participated in the day of their welcome into the school. There are many initiatives, from sewing lessons for the girls to catechism for the children, and it would be impossible to name all of them that are being done in this place. “Our desire,” she concluded, “is to create a national network of bridge.” On June 5 and 6, Maria Teresa is in Rome for the worldwide Meeting of the episcopal promoters and the national directors of Pastoral work among the gypsies, upon th einvitation of Cardinal  Vegliò, president of the Pontifical Council of Itinerants and Migrants.

The ‘La Pira’ Centre – 35 years on

Jun 4, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

The first thing Giorgio La Pira did in the morning was to buy the newspaper. Then, back in his office, he would open the Gospel next to the day’s news. For the ‘Saintly Mayor’ of Florence the two texts weren’t distant from each other – in fact the opposite was true. His work was that of applying the Gospel concretely to human and social affairs, with far seeing and creative actions that responded to the questions of the existential peripheries of his city, and then of the whole world. A job that is repeated today in the many social projects that bear his name. One of these, which has just blown out 35 candles on its birthday cake, is the Giorgio La Pira International Student Centre, which on 25th May celebrated its birthday, together with many friends who came for the occasion to the Auditorium in Loppiano. Guided by the journalist Maddalene Maltese, the participants leafed through, as with a family album, the many photographs that tell the story of these years at the service of a vast range of young people. Towards the end of the seventies, in Florence, as in many other parts of Italy, there was a new phenomenon: many foreign students arrived, particularly from Africa, Asia and Latin America. But Italy wasn’t ready for this influx at any level – legislatively, culturally or even on a human level. Inspired by the work of Giorgio La Pira, the Archbishop of Florence Cardinal Benelli intervened and asked Chaira Lubich to give him a hand. A few days later three young men of the Focolare Movement presented themselves to the Cardinal and went to visit the building in the heart of Florence that would begin to welcome these students. The rest is history. The man in charge of the Diocese of Florence today is Mons Giuseppe Betori, and in his address he underlined the prophetic dimension of Cardinal Benelli and Chiara Lubich’s idea, which made the La Pira Centre a beacon in the world of dialogue with diversity, and in particular with the suffering, the last, the forgotten. While the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Florence, Joseph Levi, found in the style of dialogue and reciprocity, the real richness that this experience offers the city and the growth of its social fabric in the spirit of fraternity. The many personal stories collected are a witness to this, like that of Jean Claude Assamoi from the Ivory Coast: “The Centre was a help to me at a difficult time in my life, taking me in together with other students. Later I became a collaborator as a teacher in the field of global education (…) and just like me, many other African students that have followed my path, have moved to other places developing work relationships between their own countries and the ones that have welcomed them which mirror the dialogue and unity which was built in Florence”. The peripheries that La Pira loved, and which today Pope Francis invites us to get to know, are the heart of a prophecy that each day becomes more tangible, up-to-date, fraternal.

A situation of suffering in the Central African Republic

Jun 3, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“The situation in Bangui, the capital of CAR, is generally improving. In other parts of the country the situation varies. Our communities are located in relatively calm areas, but since last December there is one area of the city where small reprisals and killings continue. It is the Muslim quarter and surrounding areas. People are unable to return to their homes and are taking shelter in refugee camps around the airport, in churches and at the central mosque.” “The morning of May 28th began like any ordinary weekday. In the afternoon there were more clashes in  some hot-spots. Then an armed group stormed the church of Our Lady of Fatima, opened fire on the people who were taking refuge there, and took forty hostages. Fifteen died at the church and many were badly wounded. Of the forty hostages, 39 corpses were recovered. . .” “The people are fed up. Thursday, the 29th was the feastday of the Ascension of Jesus. Barriers were set up on the main roads and in all the quarters of the city to prevent the flow of traffic. The day after, at four o’clock, we were awakened by a deafening noise. . . Thousands of people were banging pot lids in a peaceful protest that lasted until seven o’clock. You can still hear gunshots in other parts of the city, at times sporadic, at times intense. Perhaps they’re trying to contain the protesters.” “The protest is asking for the government’s resignation and the removal of foreign troops. Six months later, they are being accused by the population of not having successfuly disarmed the hot spot areas of the city. This is interpreted as a plan to maintain military and political disorder on the part of countries belonging to the troops that should be restoring the peace, but instead are continuing to illegally exploit our resources.” “On the day of the massacre at Fatima Church, we tried with great anticipation and fear to obtain news about the people of our community, especially the ones living in the areas that had been hit. Willy, a young boy whom we knew, has been killed and there are others who were lightly wounded. Everyone else fled and took refuge elsewhere. We’re trying to support one another by telephone, and some young people recently came by for some comfort and relief.” “Ever since the crisis began we have been trying to help those around us who have stayed behind, especially families and children. We offer concrete assistance through the help of the Youth for a United World and the adoption at a distance programme of the New Families Movement. Here at our place we are inviting young people to think about peace, with the help of Youth for a United World and the local Focolare community.” Monica concludes: “We are certain that God has a loving plan for our land as well; and, in the midst of the serious difficulties we are going through, we try to be witnesses of his love for everyone around us.”

Greetings from Myanmar

Jun 2, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

The Mariapolis is one of the traditional gatherings of the Focolare Movement, where people of all ages and walks of life gather for a few days to experience the brotherhood that is born from the life of the Gospel, even when – as in Myanmar – they are not all Christians. At the conclusion of the Mariapolis in Myanmar they write: “Heartfelt greetings from the nearly two hundred people who have attended the sixth Mariapolis in Myanmar! The majority have travelled great distances to reach the seminary located in the mountains of the country’s eastern lands: a 12-hour journey from Yangon; 20 hours for people traveling from the south, including some who walked for three hours before reaching the buses that transported them for another 10 hours. There were Catholics, a small representation of other Christian denominations and several Buddhists.” The message continues: “Tauggyi’s refreshing climate, compared to the 40 degree temperature (104 degrees F) of Yangon, made us feel like we were in a small paradise. But it was especially the temperature of our mutual love that increased as we performed personal daily acts of love of giving and receiving.” Some focolarini from Thailand and a few seminarians who are on holiday had arrived before the Mariapolis began to help with the preparations. “I’m in charge of a mothers association in my village. Before coming here, there was a problem because some of the members were arguing among themselves. During this Mariapolis, my thinking changed and I decided to ask forgiveness of the mothers when I return, as a sign of love.” “Even though I belong to the Baptist Church, I believe that I am here because of Mary, Our Mother,” declared 19-year-old Eden Htoo. “I will do my best to make this seed of reciprocal love that has been planted in my heart to grow, and I will share it with others.”   Michael admitted that he felt “encouraged to have more respect for people of other religions.” Eighteen-year-old Paulina: “I liked the statement: “If you want to be loved, you must first love.” I have never tried to apologise after having fought with a certain person, I thought it would have been too hard a blow to my ego. But now I realize that it is also important to apologise. Before I detested people who hated me, but now I’m going to try this: the more they hate me, the more I’ll love them.” Among those who attended was also the local Ordinary, Archbishop Matthias U Shwe, who had met the Focolare Movement as a seminarian through some of the first focolarini who visited Myanmar in 1966: “He surprised us when he arrived several hours before the Mass and conclusion. He encouraged us and urged us to return again next year. We left happy and desirous to take the experience of unity that we had lived in the Mariapolis to our local environments.”  

6th Klaus Hemmerle Award goes to Ruth Pfau

May 28, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Ruth Pfau is a medical doctor who generously devoted her efforts and service to Pakistan, working for peace in a way that has reached far beyond feild of health assistance. Evangelical Bishop Christian Krause called her a Christian woman who has “overcome the abysses between men and women in a society dominated by men; between rich and poor, between tradition and modernity, between foreign cultures.” She is a religious sister who has brought the experience of Christ’s love to people of all backgrounds and religious convictions,” said President of the Pakistan Bishops Conference, Archbishop Joseph Coutts, as he thanked her in name of the Pakistani Church. With the help of the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (DAHW) Ruth Pfau has built a hospital in the city of Karachi. Because of her work in the management of leprosy and tuberculosis she was appointed Secretary of State by the Pakistan government. For more than twenty years she has been working in collaboration with the Christoffel Mission offering assistance to the blind, and gaining the esteem of a nearly entirely Muslim society. Appreciation for this woman who was born in 1929 was also expressed by the Bishop of Aquisgrana, Heinrich Mussinghoffe and by Focolare president Maria Voce, who called her a “witness of God’s love and builder of a more just and fraternal society.” Every two years this award is conferred by the Focolare Movement in honour of the spiritual patrimony of Hemmerle. What does Ruth Pfau have in common with the theologian Klaus Hemmerle who was once bishop of Aquisgrana and a contemporary of Ruth? Television journalist and theology professor Michael Albus answers this question in the keynote address he gave at the Dome Church of Aachen (Aquisrana) where the award ceremony was held on May 8th. “She had the courage to dare to take the plunge, to decide to help without hesitation, wherever there was need: without theoretical, political or even theological justification. And without asking – as happens in our capitalistic world – how she would be repaid.” This is what these two people have in common, along with their desire to build “a Church that salvages God in the world, from dying of cold,” as St Martin reminds us. Then Ruth spoke: “We can help one another to be better people and full of humanity,” she stated. For her, one sign of this humanity is “wasting time.” She was taught that lesson during her time in Asia. You very rarely find it in a hospital or house for the elderly in Germany. For her, this signals a loss of humanity. She was pleased to accept the award because it gave honour to this “wasting time”, although the motivation for the award highlighted her ability to “build bridges and create unity through her radical devotion to the poor, based on her faith which she lived with strength and conviction in an environment charged with conflict.”

Trent and the Wave of Peace

May 27, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

The history of Trent – birthplace of Chiara Lubich – does not forget that devastating bombardment of 13 May 1944, which destroyed lives, houses and ideals. On the same day, 70 years later, the city sees a “bombardment of acts of love”. This is what many of the children present say. It’s always held during May. The square in front of the Cathedral of Trent, like an enormous sitting room lined with frescoes, once more this year welcomes over 2,500 children, coming from 23 educational institutes in the city. Together with them are also students from middle and high schools, teachers, parents, grandparents, representatives of different institutions, the Lord Mayor and several town councillors. It is an annual appointment that has become part of the history of the city over the past eleven years. The schools come together to share in many different ways how they have tried to live out the phrases from the Cube of Love, and how they have tried to be ‘builders of peace’. The programme developed around the theme of ‘conflict’: how to live with it, how to face it and how to resolve it. The moment of the Time Out was very touching, a minute of silence and prayer to remember the countries overcome by conflicts, with a special thought for the 300 girls kidnapped in Nigeria. A lengthy minute which, with the tolling of the bells of the Cathedral at midday, gathered in silence the very lively square. A celebration on a beautiful sunny day. The city was invaded by a wave of peace, with thousands of messages and stories of “acts of love” written and distributed to passer-bys, shopkeepers and tourists. There were hundreds of paintings colouring the main streets in the historic centre. The children were the main protagonists again this year, enthusiastic and convinced that “peace begins with me”. The headline on the front page of the L’Adige newspaper read ‘The Square invaded by builders of peace’. And the daily local newspaper Trentino: “What a beautiful injection of hope to see thousands of children with their colourful hats and tee shirts, giving the impression of a living rainbow and shouting together ‘peace’.” Also the Italian National broadcaster RAI and other regional television and radio stations spoke of this hope. The “Trent – city of peace” celebration concludes the annual course of education for values carried out in the schools of the city and shared by over a hundred teachers, from different types of schools, at the monthly meetings of “Tavolo Tuttopace”. The initiative started 11 years ago, with a third grade Elementary class of children, their teacher and that Cube of peace which they threw every morning to live one of the phrases on its six faces. And then with that small magazine Giornalino Tuttopace, which communicated and shared with other children their acts of peace, drawings, poems, songs, and which today, as an insert in the local council’s newspaper, is delivered to all the families in Trent. And, still more, the creation together with the Lord Mayor of that time Alberto Pacher that “Flowerbed of Peace”, with the Cube at the centre, so that passers-by could “observe and learn”. Today, a new project has been developed as well called ‘”Trent, a city that educates”, which involves the seven educational institutes of the city, with nursery schools, elementary schools, secondary schools, private schools, higher institutes and schools of the Province to which schools from other cities are linked. Together with the teachers and children, also the families follow their own formation course. And with them the whole area, the town council and provincial administration and other institutions and associations. https://vimeo.com/69260156

Pope Francis in the Holy Land: Men and Women of the Resurrection

May 26, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“Ut unum sint”, that all may be one, is the motto of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to reaffirm the commitment to “walk together towards the unity” of Christians, searching also for an “authentic dialogue with Jewish, Muslim and other religious traditions” (from the common declaration signed by Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew). If, in fact, the central purpose of the journey was the meeting at the Holy Sepulchre with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and the leaders of the churches in Jerusalem, to renew the unity expressed by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras fifty years ago in Jerusalem, the presence of the Pope in the Holy Land has undoubtedly also had a strong effect on inter-religious dialogue and an encouragement on the path of peace. The expectations of Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee, are a witness to this. Interviewed by Paolo Loriga, Citta Nuova’s correspondent, at his house in Jerusalem, he said that “the majority of Jews and Rabbis see this visit very positively”, and that the presence of the Pope ”could have a profound positive impact on Jewish consciousness and Christian understanding”. Rosen is one of the 400 signatories – including Rabbis and Jewish leaders – of a welcome message to the Pope, a gesture not only of courtesy, but a sign of a “rediscovery of brotherhood between Jews and Catholics. I am sure – he adds – that the visit will be a marvellous moment, an occasion of celebration and joy”. The shouts of jubilation in response to the Pope’s invitation to Peres and Abbas are a witness to this: “I invite the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli President Simon Peres to raise together with me a heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace”. The Pope was speaking in Bethlehem, on 25th May, after the mass celebrated in Manger Square. “I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer”. “This was a surprise for us all”, Mons William Shomali, Vicar of the Catholic Latin Patriarch of Palestine, and a great builder of relationships, said, given that the attempts to have a shared prayer during the visit had not met with success. Tana Imseeh comes from Ramallah and works at the Welfare Ministry: “We have heard an historic announcement which, I am sure, will bring fruits of peace”, she told our correspondent. The Pope arrived in Bethlehem from Jordan, where King Abdullah II had warmly welcomed him. The Pope had visited the site of Jesus’ baptism there, meeting with over 600 people including, amongst the Syrian refugees, injured and disabled young people. As soon as he was in Palestine, putting aside protocol, he wished for the Palestinian Authorities that “swords may be transformed into ploughshares and that this land may once more flourish in prosperity and concord”. He emphasised strongly that “it is time to end this situation of conflict which is increasingly unacceptable”, and pointed out that “the moment has arrived for everyone to courageously follow the path of peace”. On his way towards Manger Square he passed close to the wall that divides Bethlehem from Israel. The Pope asked to stop the jeep so he could get closer to the wall: and there he stood in silent prayer for a few minutes. Then he stepped forward to lean his forehead against it, to physically share the suffering of a people. This stop wasn’t planned in the programme, but Pope Francis confided: “It’s difficult to build peace, but to live without peace is constant torment”. Vatican site: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/travels/2014/outside/documents/papa-francesco-terra-santa-2014.html Official site for the visit to the Holy Land: http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/ Official site for the visit to Jordan: http://popevisit.jo/

Jordan. First Stop on Pope Francis’ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

May 24, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

“Dialogue can lead to beneficial joint action,” said King Abdallah II of Jordan. These simple but incisive words reflect the human and spiritual stature of the king and the entire Hashemite family. He believes strongly in dialogue and spares no effort in practicing it in a part of the world that for decades has faced many challenges concerning tolerance and peace. Welcoming Pope Francis is one more concrete demonstration that he wants to establish and strengthen relationships and work together for peace. It is striking to see how this little State that is overwhelmingly Muslim is making every effort to make the Catholic pope feel at home. The streets of Amman are covered with huge posters showing the smiling faces of Francis and Abdalla II shaking hands; and next to their faces an expressive: “maan” (together). A few days ago the Apostolic Nuncio, Giorgio Lingua, enthusiastically affirmed that a real family does things with warmth, with the heart. And we can confirm that none of this is artificial, although it is obvious that the country will benefit both economically and in visibility from the Pope’s visit. But this is a sign of intelligence, not falsehood. Pope Francis could not have begun his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in a more appropriate place! Here is where Pope Paul VI was welcomed in 1964 by King Hussein; and John Paul II in 2000 and Benedict XVI in 2009, by King Abdallah II. These are certainly not rosy days for this region that has already been marked by so much instability. The conflict in Syria has been a shock for the neighbouring countries. It is enough to recall the millions and more Syrian refugees, or the thousands of Iraqi who have recently found secure refuge here. But welcoming all these people in a country that also suffers the lack of water and electricity gives a sense of the generous spirit of the Jordanian people.

http://popevisit.jo/

[:it]Balcani, solidarietà in mezzo alla tragedia[:de]Hilfe für den Balkan[:es]Balcanes, solidaridad en medio de la tragedia[:fr]Balkans, solidarités au cœur de la catastrophe[:pt]Bálcãs, solidariedade em meio à tragédia[:zh]巴爾幹半島──慘情中的和衷共濟

May 21, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Tokyo: Young Buddhists and Christians hold symposium

May 21, 2014 | Focolare Worldwide

Focolare and Rissho Kosei Kai: a bridge happily still in place after it was put in place long ago by the founders of the two Movements, Chiara Lubich and Nikkyo Niwano. Since the early ’80s, on the basis simply of their friendship, shared initiatives have been set up by Christians of the Focolare Movement and Buddhists of the Rissho Kosei Kai (RKK).

Indeed, on 3rd and 4th May a delegation of seven Focolare young people from across the world went to Tokyo to take part in a symposium of young Buddhists and Christians run by the two Movements. The theme was: Keep our faith during daily life and spread joy.

It was a journey that lasted from 30th to 8th May and it was not just a matter of simply going to a conference. As the participants explained, ‘We worked on the contents of the meeting with both the RKK and with the Focolare in Japan who hosted us, and we lived the time of preparation together with our travel as a chance to get to know better the history of the Movement’s friendship with the RKK and, at the same time, to try to consolidate it. It was a small step in dialogue with our Buddhist friends, but even more important for the whole scene of interreligious dialogue.’

Moments of dialogue were not restricted just to the symposium itself. On 2nd May the international delegation of young people spent the day with students of the Gakurin Seminary and they met its President. On 6th May it was the Focolare community in Tokyo’s turn. The community, which also has Buddhists in it, offered moments of dialogue and stories of lived experiences.

Getting to know a country means understanding something of its history and culture. Therefore on 5th May a group visited the capital and, on the 7th, they went to the Enoshima Hase-dera shrine. At the symposium itself, the participants considered the history of the friendship between the RKK (which has six million members, and is the second largest Buddhist Movement in Japan) and the Focolare, with each Movement being presented one after the other. There were, then, comparative talks on the conference theme, which were accompanied by stories of life experiences told by young people from the Focolare and from the RKK, as well as other moments of dialogue and workshops.

On the symposium’s second day the young people greeted the current President of the RKK, Nichiko Niawano. He and his wife came for Memorial Day, when, on the 4th of each month, the death of the RKK’s founder is remembered.

There were numerous testimonies given by the young people of each Movement at the end of the symposium. A Japanese girl said, ‘We have begun working together in a new way. It is a historic day. In ten years’ time I will be proud to say: “I was there!”’ Others said, ‘We have found a family!’ And, when they returned to their various countries, the young people of the Focolare said, ‘We’ve come back massively thankful to Chiara and with a huge passion for interreligious dialogue. We’ve seen that it’s a really important path for building a united world.’