Surviving after typhoon Yolanda

3 Sep 2014 | Non categorizzato

Minx and Alfred, live in Kalibo, a Philippine island in the Province of Western Visayas, particularly affected by typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), on 8 November 2013. Ever since they met the Focolare Movement, 29 years ago, their life has changed: “We started to serve God in every neighbour,” they tell us. “The day before the arrival of the typhoon – they recall – we were warned by radio and TV but we listened to the news as if it was one of the many already suffered in the past. Our 4 children were home for the holidays at the end of the semester in school so we were all together when the strong winds and the rains began. It was the first time we experienced such a powerful storm: the windows shook, the roof began to peel off piece by piece and the big mango tree in our garden was uprooted and fell without, thankfully, hitting the house. The water from the rain began to come in everywhere and flooded the entire house. When the second floor began to shake, we thought everything would be destroyed.” “In the midst of the disaster – Minx remembers – in my heart I said: ‘It is You, Lord, this tragedy is a face of your abandonment and I want to love you. Please, spare us all … ‘. That night, in the midst of darkness because of the black out, in bed, I thought about what surely must have happened to those who live in wooden houses. As the tears flowed, I prayed for them. Early in the morning, after seeing that we were all right, I went looking for our neighbours. There was only destruction and frightened faces everywhere. I tried to put aside my pain to welcome every suffering person I saw. A little girl, a friend of the family, weeping, told me: ‘Auntie Minx, we no longer have a home … paano na kami?’. Her innocent words broke my heart. I hugged her and I said, ‘Let’s not lose our love and faith in Jesus, let us pray and continue to love Him in others … Jesus will help us.’ Our prayer has been heard, because the next day aid started to arrive, first from family and friends and then from many parts of the world, through the Focolare. Now we even have a generator so we can carry on a small family business, given that the electricity has failed for many months. I tried to be always available at any time to give help. One of my sons said, ‘Mom, do you prefer to help others when we have nothing to repair our own house?’, because the water continued to come in when it rained. I reassured him: ‘Jesus will remember our kindness.’ After a few months we were surprised and happy because our house was included in the project of repair and reconstruction for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. It has now been repaired and even if other typhoons continue to arrive we feel more safe and secure. We are so grateful to God and to the Focolare, which has supported the project.” A reconstruction project for the victims of the typhoon. The Focolare Movement in the Philippines, with the support of Action for New Families (AFN) and the Association for a United World (AMU), is conducting a reconstruction project for 60 families. In Tacloban, 6 houses have been built and documents and permits are being prepared to begin construction of another 5; furthermore, a substantial contribution has been given to 7 families who had already begun work. In Baybay, a piece of new ground is being purchased on which to build. In Panay Island, in addition to the 5 houses already completed, another 7 are under construction, while negotiations are underway for the purchase of land on which twenty terraced houses will be built for families who did not own land. The houses are built with solid materials: concrete roofs with eaves, foundations and masonry walls, one or two floors (according to need), each one about 50 square metres in size. WHERE TO SEND YOUR DONATIONS: FOCOLARE MOVEMENT IN CEBU – see also Emergency Aid poster Payable to : Emergency Typhoon Haiyan Philippines METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY Cebu – Guadalupe Branch 6000 Cebu City – Cebu, Philippines Tel: 0063-32-2533728 Bank Account name:  WORK OF MARY/FOCOLARE MOVEMENT FOR WOMEN Euro Bank Account no.:  398-2-39860031-7 SWIFT Code:  MBTCPHMM Payable to:  “Help Philippines– Typhoon Haiyan“ Email: focolaremovementcebf@gmail.com Tel. 0063 (032) 345 1563 – 2537883 – 2536407 New Families Movement (AZIONE per FAMIGLIE NUOVE Onlus) c/c bancario n° 1000/1060 BANCA PROSSIMA IBAN: IT 55 K 03359 01600 100000001060 Swift: BCITITMX

Sport and religions together for peace in the world

2 Sep 2014 | Non categorizzato

In audience with Pope Francis

Maria Voce leads the opening of the Focolare General Assembly

2 Sep 2014 | Non categorizzato

«I officially declare the Assembly open.” With these words Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement, gave the start signal on 1 September for the morning working session of the long awaited appointment in which the participants will discuss some fundamental issues of the life of the Movement and elect the President, the Co-president and general councilors for the next six years. The word of life of the month cites a phrase of Paul to the Romans: “Accept one another, just as Christ has accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rm 15,7) and Maria Voce invited all those present to assume this attitude. It is a commitment which should not to be taken for granted, since many of those attending have arrived from every corner of the world, bringing with them the tragedies of populations at war, struck by natural disasters, and put to the test economically. Some messages were read, like that of the Evangelical Gerhard Pross, of the YMCA of Esslingen, who wrote: “I send you my warmest greetings on the occasion of your General Assembly. I am most aware of the importance of this moment for all of you: singly and all together as the Focolare Movement. I shall be with you in these days with a special prayer, and pray that the Holy Spirit be in your midst to guide you. » «Encouragement and support» also arrived from the Fon of Fonjumetaw (Camerun) «also on behalf of the “Fon-Friends” of the Focolare Movement». In his message he prayed that all would accept his best wishes «for the outcomes of this important spiritual meeting, aimed at bringing ahead Chiara’s heritage of mutual love for the achievement of universal brotherhood. » Dr. Walter Baier, Secretary General of the network of Leftist Europe intellectuals “Transform!europe,” wrote: “What unites us is the objective for a just, solid and fraternal humanity, in which differences are not considered divisions, but enrichment. […] I wish you would possess wisdom: so that you may translate your specific ideals into society today, and I ensure you that I am with you. » The participants were called to focus their attention on the “heritage” of the foundress, Chiara Lubich, who on many occasions, upon answering the question on the future of the Movement after her death, had answered, saying that she was absolutely sure that the presence of Jesus among those who loved one another in His name (Mt 18,20), would guide and bring ahead the Movement itself. On this premise, the first “operations” started off from the approval of the regulations of the Assembly. The spiritual retreat will take place from 2 to 4 September.

Living the Gospel: overcoming distrust

1 Sep 2014 | Non categorizzato

“I work as a guard in a Church in Montevideo, and sometime ago, upon opening the door every morning I would always find a boy dressed in rags, who would enter the church with the typical beverage we drink here. My first reaction was one of suspicion and distrust, due to his appearance. I thought: “I hope he is not here to steal!” After some time, however, I remembered the Word of Life … so I started to greet him and speak to him. He told me that he was homeless. One morning, seeing that he was all neat and dressed with new clothes, I asked him if he had found a place to stay. “No,” he answered, “I wash myself in the square with soap the Ministry for Social Development distributes. I don’t like to be dirty.” Then he recounted that he was a Catholic and went to Church ”to speak with God.” He had received his First Communion as a child. So I said, “Why don’t you come to Mass and then speak to the priest.” From then on he started attending Mass every day. Since I had gained a bit of weight, I had many clothes that no longer fitted me. “Perhaps they would fit him” I thought. So I filled a bag and brought it to him. “Oh no, that’s too much!”he exclaimed on seeing the bag. “I need so little, since I live on the streets.” From then on also other people of the community started to help him, convinced that every man is “Christ in person.” It was then that this man, who was now a friend, managed to find a good job (he works really hard) and rent a room.”

J. B. (Montevideo – Uruguay)

«A few days ago, on my way to the market, I saw a woman rummaging through the garbage bins and selecting the things inside. I stopped for a moment to look at her. She then said “The rich people throw away so much… but these things are still useful.” She simultaneously showed me a pan, saying: “This is made of good material.” “You’re right!” – I answered, really surprised at what she had found. It was a good pan, you could see that it had been used, but it’s one of those things that last forever. So we continued our conversation. “… this could serve to make pudding, and that other thing to drain…” and we went on and on. She then showed me a holy picture of Our Lady which she had found in the garbage, together with a statue of Our Lady of the Valley, one of those tiny and really old lead statues of Our Lady.  “Do you know what this means for me?” – I said – “It means Our Lady is with you.”  “Yes!” she said. “God and Our Lady are always with me. They are always by my side.” Then on seeing that among the objects, there were plants that I liked, she shared them with me and asked me to choose a branch, and still another… On arriving home I put them in water so they would germinate and be transplanted. In my heart I prayed:  “Thank you Jesus for allowing me to meet you out in the streets. Thank you for coming to see me. Please do not tire of looking for me, if I do not search for You in the outskirts of life.” T.S. (Cordoba – Argentina)

A temporary focolare in the Holy Land

30 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

“Arriving in the Holy Land at the end of July when the broadcasts on TV were full of dramatic events, was described by many as just plain crazy! This project of a “temporary Focolare,” that is, a one-month Focolare in Palestine, was supposed to be undertaken in spring, when all was calm. But then weeks before our departure, the situation plunged: “What shall we do?” we wondered. And the answer was: “This is the right time to go, on the other hand, to bear witness to love that overcomes fear.”  Surely the Focolare’s ten-year presence in that region was our warranty. And so, on 30 July we settled in a small apartment in Bethlehem. Waking up in the city of Jesus’ birth was really very impressive. “Is this a dream?” we wondered. Soon we started visiting the families, priests, and the youth: all were surprised and happy to see two men focolarini from Italy, and a third who came from Jerusalem to stay with them. As in the Mariapolis in Nazareth, there had also been strong encounters  with a big number of participants (despite the situation), where we received a letter with photos from the members of the community residing in Gaza, who could not physically attend. Then on 8 August, right in the midst of the battles, we held an interreligious meeting in Jerusalem with Christian Arabs and Jewish friends together with Muslims: the objective was to pray for peace. It turned out to be a really poignant moment of “intense light” in the black night of the war. A Rabbi surprised us all with his really moving prayer for the children of Gaza. There were 80 participants in all, a tiny miracle, given the situation. We felt the deep change in three aspects: pain, love and prayer. The first, the pain for the stories we heard, aspirations to be a State, and for a true and lasting peace, water freedom of movement a better future for our children and above all, the aspiration to live in harmony and peace with all our neighbours. The second element was love: we have received so much love in these three weeks! Much more than what we gave. And the third, prayer: long moments, at times entire days passed in silence, praying for all those dying and those shooting; a there was also prayer for the arrival of mutual forgiveness in this blood-soaked land. The characteristic of the whole experience was life in the midst of the population lost in the crowd. Not being in a comfortable apartment in the big city, we learned to ration water which was scarce, for example. This is practically part of the life of the Palestinians. We wanted to and are still experiencing what it is like to pass through the check-points,  what it means to smile and greet a soldier with a machine gun on his shoulder; or to be nice to an old lady, trying to sell her mint plants under the burning sun. In all these things we felt God’s presence. And you could feel God in the Holy Land walking at your side once again, down these roads. We lived this experience with all those who are here to contribute to making Jesus’ dream come true: ‘that all may be one’ (John 17,21). That prayer which Chiara Lubich gave her life for. The day will come when the united world will dawn on the Holy Land: it will be the world of mutual forgiveness, the true water that will quench this thirst for peace. And on that day, all of us together will have to be here to continue loving.”

Luigi Butori (Italy)

General Assembly of the Focolare Movement about to start

27 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

The Mariapolis Centre in Castelgandolfo, Rome, will gather 494 world representatives of the Focolare Movement; they will come from different geographical regions. These are lay and consecrated persons, adults and young people, men and women, an expression of the diversity that characterizes the Movement. Another 49 participants belong to other Christian Churches. Also invited are members of other religions and persons of no religious affiliation. Focolare Communities all over the world have participated very extensively in the preparation for this event, and this resulted in a number of reflections and proposals being tabled for an assembly which is expected to give its views on key topics relating to the life of the entire Movement. The introductory part of the Movement’s General Statute states that “the norm of norms, the premise to every other rule” is mutual love, as this is the base for the action of Holy Spirit; and it is this  the “logic” that guided all consultations made in preparing for this Assembly. This preparatory work has brought to the surface questions, challenges and demands that show the vitality of the life of the Focolare people. Matters that have emerged in a very particular way are loyalty towards the Movement’s charismatic identity, attention to young people, to the elderly and to families, and the need to look beyond the Movement and move towards the pains of humanity, offering privileged care to those gripped by the most diverse needs. Therefore, here is a call for further action, together with an adequate and updated spiritual formation, in line with the spirituality of communion typical of the charism of the Focolare Movement, so that Jesus himself, present among those united in His name, (cf. Mt 18, 20), may walk in the streets to meet the men and women of today. Contributions from the preparatory work have been summarized into twelve major themes. During the Assembly these will be discussed by the groups of participants and in plenary sessions so as to direct the Movement in the coming years. After a few days of spiritual retreat and some work, the Assembly will elect the President, the Co-President and the general councillors for the next six years. The participants will be received by Pope Francis  at the Vatican. The General Assembly is the main governing body of the Focolare Movement and ordinarily meets every six years.

Angels with only one wing: the challenge EOC in Mexico

26 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

“The Economy of Communion is a different way of thinking, feeling and acting!” Galo Pozo, a business consultant in Ecuador, doesn’t mince his words in defining the EOC project, inviting the young participants to “risk their lives, in the best possible sense, for this project.” Galo Pozo seems to be saying these things first of all to himself: he is one of them, one of the participants at the Economy of Communion (EOC), “Summer School” which was held from 11^th -15^th  August in “El Diamante“(“The Diamond”) , the little town of the Focolare a few kilometres from Puebla, Central Mexico. Pozo is one of them because, as Luigino Bruni, Coordinator of the International Commission of the EOC, said, “Here there are no teachers or students, but people who learn from each other in communion.” And so 60 people, including students, entrepreneurs and specialists of the Economy of Communion flocked from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador as well as from France, Switzerland and Italy, in order to deepen the different aspects of the theory and practice of this economic project. The school’s programme included plenary lectures thanks to the contributions of the aforementioned Bruni and Gozo, but also Swiss economist Luca Crivelli, Anouk Grevin from France and Brazilian entrepreneur Armando Tortelli (members of the International Commission EOC). There were visits to the concrete realities in the area that already operate  in the spirit of the Economy of Communion, like the Santa Maria School, in the nearby town of Actipan, which gives a strong witness of what can be done: in a context of extreme poverty and degradation of all kinds,  a school was established, attended today by boys and girls from different social and economic conditions, who enjoy an harmonious coexistence. Here the whole school community is actively involved, starting from the families, they all teach and each learns what is most important in life, experiencing a fullness as people in all dimensions: physical, intellectual, psychological and spiritual. A concrete application that shows how our behaviour in corporate life, characterized by creativity, innovation and a strong love for the poor, can really transform the reality that surrounds us. The moments of communion and sharing of experiences were fundamental, and helped to create networks of collaboration among all, in order to strengthen and develop each one’s  business ventures, their heartfelt  “dreams”. The initiatives which have emerged because of  the centrality given to the communion of goods, social commitment and the centrality of the person include: digital platforms to find funding, production of clothing, art galleries, a training school for trades, online shops. “We came here with very different ideas, professions and national realities”, write the young people in their Final Manifesto, “The Economy of Communion invites us to look at all these differences with fresh eyes and beyond borders, to perceive the multiple dimensions of poverty and to engage freely in changing the world every day. (…) Not allowing ourselves to be limited by borders, we want to find alternatives to the current economic model which does not respond to our deep desire for a just and more fraternal society, where love is the greatest instrument of transformation. We are “angels with only one wing” that in order to fly must embrace one another.”

Experiences from Iraq / 2

25 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

Photo: S. Baldwin/UNHCR

The Amazon Project continues

24 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

“Words cannot express the great joy and the change that I feel.”; “These days have marked my life”. These are the spontaneous impressions of two young people, Eduardo from Abaetetuba and Leticia from Curupaiti del Parà (Northern Brazil), after an intense week spent with “Amazone Project”. Initiated by the  Focolare Movement, the project hopes to be an answer to the appeal launched by the Bishops of Brazil to the different expressions of the Church for the evangelization of this vast piece of land, where Catholics are decreasing in number, the priests are few, while there is an increase in membership in the sects. Abaetetuba is one of the cities at the center of this project. Immersed in the forest, it rises on the shores of the Maratauira River.  It is spread among 72 islands where half of its 150,000 inhabitants live. The majority of the population has to face many difficulties daily due to their great poverty, but these people are gifted with a joyful character and a strong fighting spirit, always ready to give to others the best that they have to offer.  The 45 “missionaries” of the Focolare, coming from all over Brazil, together with the members of the Movement in that place and the parishioners of three communities, went from house to house (around 1,900 people), receiving a warm welcome wherever they went. “When visiting a family,” Laiane of Maranhão shared, “I met a woman who was going through a huge trial: during those days a young boy was killed, her neighbour whom she considered as her son. She took care of him since he was small and she did everything to help him to overcome his drug problem, without success. She greatly needed someone to listen to her. When we greeted each other as I was leaving, she didn’t stop thanking me: “You have been a gift from God”. “In another family I found a paralyzed elderly man. I gave him the Word of life of that month: ‘I am with you everyday, up to the end of the world’; I met his gaze: he agreed with all his heart”. “Sometimes I let myself be defeated by the difficulties, but listening to these people I was struck by by how their faith helps them to overcome very big problems”, Eduardo affirmed. The “Project Amazons” is not only evangelization in the spiritual sense, but concrete service. “In partnership with government agencies  – Natalia (Rio de Janeiro) and Manuela (Sergipe, Northeast) shared –  we have collaborated in a social action to respond to the request for documents for those seeking employment, to facilitate access to health services and the participation in social programs of the government”. This project has been going on for eight years now. There have been many fruits: revitalization of the community, a growth in the relationship with the civil authorities, a new protagonism of the population for the social and spiritual development of the city.

Experiences from Iraq/1

23 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

  R. wrote, “After the elections that took place this year, the situation in our country worsened, because until a few days ago a government had not been formed. Extremist groups of Isis Jihadists took advantage of this situation and began to advance in the North. Many families fled to take refuge in safer places. Some families of the Movement who live in more secure places took them into their homes. While the mass media transmit tragic news, we seek to bear witness with concrete acts of love and mercy towards all”. V. said, “Before the situation became worse, a friend and I were trying to think of a way to give courage and hope to the people of our city, many were emigrating. We talked to some city officials to ask to post encouraging phrases on the walls of the city, trying to highlight the positive, since only negative news were spreading. One day we helped a family of the Movement who had taken refuge in our city. They needed water. One of our neighbours, who we didn’t even know very well, gave us water intended for his own family since he saw the others needed it more. Other families asked us to find them a place to stay. We prayed that God would help us. We remembered a boarded up house that belongs to relations of ours  who had emigrated abroad. We contacted them and immediately they gave us the go ahead.” The experience of V. refers to the days when people were uncertain about their future because just 20 Kms away, extremist groups had driven the Christians out of Mosul. Rana added, “Unfortunately, they then also attacked some small villages, mostly Christian. To save their lives, the people had to leave their homes in the middle of the night, leaving everything behind: goods, homes, jobs, clothes and documents … Many are now living in the north of the country with other families they don’t know or for the luckier ones, with relatives. But many are still sleeping in the open air, in the squares or in churches and schools. Or else two or three families may have to live together in a small house. Some survive on the aid coming from the NGOs or churches, just enough to get through the day. Their hopes of returning home are minimal and there is talk of not for at least a year or two. Many children play in the scorching sun with stones or empty water bottles! The summer here is very hot, with temperatures still reaching 45 degrees during the day and at night dropping to 25 degrees.” R. continued,  “Practically all the young people we know have had to leave everything: their homes, schools, work … Some fled to Duhok, a city in the north of the country, where they were welcomed by a family of movement. They found themselves together, living in a situation similar to that of the early days of the Movement during the Second World War, where despite the fury of the bombs they continued to help everyone. Spontaneously, families and young people started to get together to pray the Rosary. Every day others join and now there are about sixty people who pray every day, each time in a different house. Some of the displaced families found refuge in the church, others in a school, and others in a building under construction. The majority are Christian and recently  some Yazidic families arrived. The fundraising initiative of the young people of the movement throughout the world is giving us the opportunity to help them because they have nothing. In Dohok we were able to buy groceries, mattresses, sheets and fans.” V said, “Along with a friend we had already bought a lot of mattresses, but there still wasn’t enough so we went to another village to buy them. After explaining why we were buying them,  the shop owner joined in our initiative and gave us the mattresses for nothing. So we were then able to buy other things” (to be continued) 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 Description:  Help Christians in Iraq ARAB Bank – Amman branch Amman – Jordan

Philip, a sailor who lives the Gospel

22 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

Two episodes highlight Philip’s efforts to live fraternity, as he himself describes: “When I was at Naval College I slept in a big room with 200 beds. We had to wake up early, and remain motionless while our Officer spoke. I knew that I could see and love Jesus in the many others who were far from their families and, as soon as we could move, I made my bed and sometimes the beds of some of the others and I said ‘Good morning!’ to all those I met in the corridors. One evening, when I was saying good night with a big smile to a friend, he said to me, ‘Philip you’re happy, and you can see it is because of God! I think I will come to Mass with you.’ For three years I had been trying to greet everyone and love each person and I experienced the truth of the sentence: where there is no love, put love, and you’ll find love. In fact, while I was in trouble in a final of a fencing tournament, my colleagues began to encourage me, cheering: ‘Good morning Philip! Good morning Philip! ‘And I won the tournament. ” Putting love where there is no love is also the secret that allowed him to overcome the inevitable difficulties of living the Gospel: “One night two colleagues who sometimes teased me for my way of life, came back to the dorm drunk and they woke me up by hitting me. The next morning, while they were still asleep some friends encouraged me to take revenge. But I thought, I’ll take another kind of revenge, a revenge of love. So I went to the kitchen and I prepared a nice breakfast for them with sandwiches, milk, chocolate, fruit, juice, and I also wrote a note that said: Good morning! When they woke up, they did not understand why I had done this and they hugged me and said they were sorry. The next day, when I woke up, I found a piece of cake beside my bed, with a note that said: Good morning !! It was the same guy who had hit me. Really love conquers all. ” Source: www.loppiano.it

Law and Environment: Summer School 2014

16 Aug 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, 26^th to 29^th 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 (13^th  to 15^th  November 2015 in Castel Gandolfo), but – concluded the young people, “We want to arrive there as protagonists, having prepared it together.”

Peace in the Middle East

15 Aug 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

Future priests: What kind of formation is needed?

14 Aug 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”.

What good is war?

13 Aug 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.

Pope Francis in South Korea

13 Aug 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

Bishops’ meeting focuses on Asia

12 Aug 2014 | Non categorizzato

Msgr Lazzaro You Heung-sik

Like Clare of Assisi

11 Aug 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

Unblocking situations of conflict through dialogue

9 Aug 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

Tax deduction is possible for European donors.

Vatican Conference on Inclusive Economy

21 Jul 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.”

Father Pasquale Foresi. The Prayer for Unity

20 Jul 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.