Nov 17, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Building peace is like being on a construction site, where there is always work to be done, and we are all called to “do” our part. Peace is not just the absence of war or an abstract concept; it is something we build together, facing all difficulties and starting from our own small surroundings. Another Rob Rob left home after an argument between us that seemed to be the end of our marriage. Two years passed since he left and I had no news of him. I only got to know from his parents that he was auditioning for films and that he started to get involved in the film industry. When he came back from Italy, disappointed and penniless, he looked like a whipped dog. He cried and asked me to forgive him. The man I had loved, esteemed and chosen as my life companion now seemed a stranger, a failure. Where has all his pride gone? And the beauty that was his pride? As with regards to me, during the time my husband was away, I came closer to faith and started basing my life on values I had neglected. When he came back, I felt as if God was testing my faith, but I managed to feel even stronger. Now he too has found a new peace, and together we are discovering a new way of life. I feel as if I am beginning to know another Rob. (R. H. – Switzerland) Building unity During a telematic working meeting, there were members from different countries in my group. After various presentations, someone imprudently ventured to define others politically, with overtones of nationalism and fascism. The tension that arose eventually degenerated into an outrageous exchange of words. As a journalist who had travelled extensively and also studied the history of the countries in question, my opinion was quite different from those who relied on hearsay and media reports. That day’s session was a real failure. The next day, preparing for another working group, I made it a point of highlighting in each participant only those elements that build and not those that divide. Things turned out to be quite different, so much so that when it was my turn to intervene, everyone felt valued. Hence a reflection: even just by only keeping silent, one can become either an accomplice to disintegration or a constructive and unifying element. It costs dearly to realise Jesus’ dream “That all may be one”. (G.M. – Hungary) In silence At hospital, I had to do night shift work with another doctor. He was not a practising Christian, and seeing that I attended mass almost every day, very often he made fun of me. Our shift lasted all night, but he would leave at the end of the evening, and this meant a lot of more work for me. In spite of this, I tried to keep an open attitude towards him, without judgement, for a month, two months…. One day he expressed the desire to join me for Mass (“During these months, I have learned many things from the way you love in silence”). Since then, he does not only see to his duties fully but he also sees that I do not overtire myself during the night. (Bashar – Iraq)
Edited by Maria Grazia Berretta
(from Il Vangelo del Giorno, Città Nuova, year VII, n.4, November–December 2021)
Nov 16, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Special delivery: the Espiga Dourada bakery at the gates of Mariapolis Ginetta in São Paulo, Brazil reaches out to its customers throughout the pandemic. “This crisis has changed everything. But at the same time it’s given us a new vision, a more beautiful and more free vision, I’d say. We’ve become aware of poeple’s needs like never before,” said Adriana Valle, an Italian Focolarina who transferred to Brazil over 40 years ago. She runs the Espiga Dourada (Golden Wheat) bakery located just outside the Focolare little town Mariapolis Ginetta, near São Paulo city. What began in 1988 as a street enterprise selling home-baked bread to passing commuter traffic, eventually developed into a well-established bakery and cafeteria. From the start, its customers found so much more than simple loaves of bread. It fast became an important and encouraging part of many people’s daily lives, and not even Covid could put a stop to this mission! “The pandemic came so unexpectedly that all our plans were thrown in the air,” continued Adriana. “Actually we were one of the few businesses allowed to stay open, but the new directives did not permit us to work normally. We weren’t allowed to be anywhere near other people or to serve tables. The customers could enter and quickly collect their bread, but with absolutely no time to chat. However many people no longer left their homes at all, and we asked ourselves what we could do for these people to get our products to them and also to let them feel we were close to them in such a difficult period. So we decided to start our own delivery service. We took on a friend of the Focolare Movement who was looking for work, supplied him with a small truck and we were ready to start deliveries. Orders came flooding in. We developed new products, began offering hot meals and packages of food essentials. We received very positive feedback on how happy our customers were. Throughout this period, thanks to God’s Providence, we’ve managed to survive every economic crisis which has allowed us to keep on all our staff”. What have you been through in this period? “We’ve seen real miracles of love throughout the pandemic. On Mothers’ Day last year, Brazil was still in lockdown. So we received many orders from the children of our clients who wanted us to provide gift hampers to their mothers they couldn’t visit in person. As we know many of our clients very well, we were able to prepare tailor-made hampers to each one’s taste and design greetings cards. We worked flat out, day and night, in that period. And the same again over Christmas. To ease the solitude of people, even just with a smile, is priceless. The pandemic has also meant we’ve got to know our employees better. Many travel to work by public transport and so were putting their own health at risk every day. Some Focolarini and youth from around Mariapolis Ginetta offered to drive to collect them in the morning and take them home again in the evening. A real network was created. It also meant we got to know each other’s home situations more than before and we saw that some of our employees were enduring serious hardship. We tried to act as a family and assist where we could. Everyone got involved. Even one of our clients, who actually does not share our faith in God, hearing of these difficulties, has started to leave a monthly financial contribution to help. In this way we see the “dough” rising gradually, and the yeast, which is love, continues to grow and spread”. Adriana, what does Espiga Dourada mean to you today? “This bakery was born because people wanted it. So anyone can feel at home here. It’s a passing place for many people from all social backgrounds. Business people, the well-off, and also workers and less well-off. All are welcome here and it’s rare that someone comes in only to buy a product. It may be a friendly “good morning” they need, or a bit of a chat, or to ask for help. We also have our regulars who come at dawn each day to claim yesterday’s bread free of charge, but even some of them try to leave a contribution if they possibly can”.
Maria Grazia Berretta
See also: Brazil: The “bread-making girls” available in English
Nov 15, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Building relationships that lead to peace can bring about dramatic changes Peace is a characteristic of the relationships Christians aim at establishing with the people they see regularly or meet only occasionally. Such relationships are based on genuine love, without deceit or insincerity, with no trace of implicit violence, rivalry, competition or selfishness. Working to establish relationships of this kind in the world can bring about dramatic changes in society. In fact, the way people normally relate to one another is entirely different and, unfortunately, seldom changes. Jesus knew what it was like to live with others, and that’s why he asked his disciples to always take the first step, without waiting for the other person to take the initiative or even respond, without expecting reciprocity. Jesus said: “I say to you, love your enemies (…). If you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?”[1] “They will be called children of God.” Receiving a name means becoming what that name expresses. Paul called God “the God of peace” and, in greeting the Christian communities, he said to them: “The God of peace be with you all.”[2] Peacemakers demonstrate their kinship with God; they act as children of God and bear witness to God who, as the Second Vatican Council says, gave order to human society. And the fruit of order is peace.
Chiara Lubich
Chiara Lubich, in Parole di Vita, [Words of Life] edited by Fabio Ciardi, Opere di Chiara Lubich [Works of Chiara Lubich], Città Nuova, 2017, p. 197 [1] Mt 5:44; Mt 5:47. [2] See Rom 15:33, Phil 4:9.
Nov 12, 2021 | Non categorizzato
What do heads of state have in common with Serbian young people? They are all looking for solutions to a common problem: protecting our suffering planet. While Earth’s most powerful are gathered in the UK for COP26, some young Serbian people tell us about an ecological day they had. “Is this how our story should end? The tale of the smartest species doomed by being too human to be able to see the global landscape and by wanting to pursue short-term goals.” In a grave and powerful voice, David Attenborough, 95-year-old naturalist and science populariser, spoke those words in front of Earth’s most powerful during COP26. The “Conference of the Parties,” organized by the United Nations and most recently begun on October 31, is focused as always on the theme of climate change. This year in particular is perceived by many as the great opportunity to make important decisions on the theme of ecology and integral ecology. According to many experts, if no decisive action is taken now, it will be too late. The heads of state gathered in Glasgow have great decision-making power, but it is also true that there is a need for a change that sees everyone taking a lead role. It is a change based, on the one hand, on collaboration between states, and on the other, on tangible actions at the local level involving each of us. Precisely during this second week of international agreements and negotiations, we decided to let you know about a short story, sent to us by some young people from the Focolare Movement in Serbia. During an ecological day organized a few weeks ago, these very young people set to work to find intelligent solutions to concrete problems, while respecting Creation. “We are the greatest problem solvers that have ever existed on Earth,” continued Attenborough in his COP address, “and nature is our greatest ally.” These young people in Serbia have come up with new ways to solve the problems they live with, striving to be green, sustainable and renewable. On one of the first days of work at COP26, Pope Francis tweeted: “There is no more time to wait; there are too many human faces suffering from this climate crisis now. We must act with urgency, courage and responsibility to prepare a future in which humanity is able to take care of itself and nature.” Each of us can do our part, some within an international conference, some through a change in our daily routine. The important thing is to start, now, and together. Here is the video of the ecological day in Serbia. Activate English or Italian subtitles!:
Laura Salerno
An ecological day_in Serbia
Nov 11, 2021 | Non categorizzato
On 8 May 2021 at a traffic light in the city of Porto Alegre (Brazil), Lorenzo, aged 24, and his mother, Themis, saw a poor man with a sign: “I’m hungry, help me”. This is how the project “Troque-a-fome-por-flor” (Swap hunger for a flower) began. The result is a network of florists and volunteers that now employs more than 70 people and is also spreading to other cities in Brazil. https://vimeo.com/619912229
Nov 9, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Statement by the Focolare Movement on the publication of the book “La Setta Divina” (The Divine Sect) by Ferruccio Pinotti (PIEMME Editions) The Focolare Movement has learned of the publication of the book “La setta divina” (The Divine Sect) by the journalist Ferruccio Pinotti (PIEMME Ed.), released today in Italian bookshops. The book comes at a difficult and crucial time in the history of the Focolare Movement: the transition from the founding period to the post-foundational phase. Throughout the history of the Church, this is a time that has often put to the test religious orders, movements and communities born of charismatic inspiration. Ferruccio Pinotti’s book wants to show that, even in the Focolare Movement, the initial zeal has sometimes led to misinterpretations of Chiara Lubich’s charism and/or to misleading actions. From the documents that Pinotti has obtained and published in the book regarding some of the internal debates within the Focolare Movement, there emerges, nevertheless, a growing awareness among the members of these and other inconsistencies in its history and the need to remedy them. However, the book does not seem to offer an objective and well-considered presentation of this charism, which is recognised by the Catholic Church. It does not take into account the commitment of many thousands of people who, inspired by the life and teachings of the foundress, devote themselves daily and generously throughout the world to creating relationships, healing wounds and overcoming rifts in every sphere of ecclesial and social life, in order to build a more fraternal and united world. We accept without reserve the fact that so much pain has been caused to the people who, in these pages, tell their stories of great suffering, disappointment, deception and abuse endured, and of those who did not wish to make their testimonies public. The Focolare Movement, in the persons of President Margaret Karram and Co-President Jesús Morán, expresses once again its shame and sorrow towards the victims and all those who have been wronged, its closeness and its desire to continue or begin a path of dialogue with them. It reaffirms its commitment to combat all forms of abuse and continue to improve its protection of children and vulnerable adults through ongoing formation of its members and leaders. It repeats its invitation to all those who have facts or stories of abuse to report them to the Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (CO.BE.TU.) or to their respective Church bodies. Despite the partial, one-sided, sometimes inaccurate or reductive reading of the history, spirituality and activity of the Movement, we see this book as a further incentive in continuing the ongoing processes of conversion and renewal, remaining faithful to the founding charism and to the development of an open, free and critical dialogue within the Movement and with anyone who wishes to fully understand the Movement as it is today and collaborate with it.
Stefania Tanesini
Nov 8, 2021 | Non categorizzato
The Word of Life for November 2021 invites us to be peacemakers. In this text, Chiara Lubich explains how to become one. Do you know who the peacemakers are that Jesus is talking about? They are not people we call “peaceful,” who only want a quiet life, who don’t like arguments. They might seem naturally inclined to get along with others, but frequently they secretly would rather not be disturbed or have any trouble. Nor are peacemakers those good people who, trusting in God, do not react when they are provoked or insulted. Peacemakers are those who love peace so much that they are not afraid to intervene in a conflict to bring peace to those involved. Only those who possess peace can be bearers of peace. First of all, we have to be bearers of peace by the way we behave in each moment, living in harmony with God and his will. Peacemakers strive to create bonds, to establish relationships among people, to resolve tensions, to alleviate the atmosphere of “cold war” that can often prevail in some family situations, at work, in school, during sporting events, between nations, and so on.
Chiara Lubich
(Chiara Lubich, in Parole di Vita, [Words of Life] edited by Fabio Ciardi, Opere di Chiara Lubich, Città Nuova, 2017, p. 196)
Nov 7, 2021 | Non categorizzato
15 experts in law, formation and psychology, from different geographical and cultural areas. An independent team that collaborates and supervises both the safeguarding and protection of young people and cases of abuse of power within the Focolare Movement. This team took office on September 17 and its coordinator is the Italian lawyer Orazio Moscatello, a criminal and civil lawyer, expert in Family and Juvenile Law. The Commission for the Safeguarding and Protection of Young People and Vulnerable Adults (CO.BE.TU.) has been expanded and strengthened in order to offer an increasingly competent and comprehensive service to those who have suffered or are suffering abuse within the Focolare Movement and to those who wish to report that this is or has taken place. The new members will be able to intervene and make a professional contribution in two specific areas:
- training and prevention
- management of reports of abuse, both sexual abuse of young people and abuse of power.
“The issue of abuse was one of the priorities dealt with by the Focolare General Assembly last January,” Orazio Moscatello explains. “The Assembly is aware of what has been done and is being done now in this field, but it has called for a renewed commitment to prevent abuse on the part of all members of the Movement, as stated in the final working document.“ In fact, point 2 of the text presents the conclusions and commitment of the Focolare for the next 5 years by stating: “We commit ourselves to strengthen what is already in place to prevent all forms of abuse – physical, sexual or abuse of power or conscience. We ask the victims for forgiveness and assure them of our complete support; with great sorrow, we recognize, all those situations in which we have not been able to protect them. We are committed to an even greater fostering of a culture of safeguarding and protection for all people, providing appropriate training and using clear communication.” Shortly after this declaration was drafted, Focolare President Margaret Karram arranged for the Commission for the Safegarding of Young People and the Independent Commission for the Protection of Adults to be unified into a single entity. In addition, to ensure the full independence of the commission, its members will not have roles of responsibility in the central or dispersed instruments of governance of the Movement,during their three-year term of office.
Stefania Tanesini
For further information or to report situations of abuse, contact: cobetu@focolare.org
Nov 6, 2021 | Non categorizzato
181 bishops, friends of the Focolare Movement, from 45 countries of the world and from 70 Churches and ecclesial communities participated in the conference “Dare to be one. The gift of unity in a divided world” that took place from 23 to 25 September 2021. The background and meaning of this meeting through interviews with five of the participating Bishops. https://vimeo.com/620771973
Nov 5, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Sophia Web Academy (SWA) constitutes an original way of providing training in the culture of unity; it is an experiment that IUS (Sophia University Institute) has begun and it aims to respond to the needs that many people are experiencing now. The course provides an advanced level of training and consists of two specific elements – culture and leadership of unity. It targets both people who already know the Focolare Movement and others who do not. Michele Zanzucchi, professor of communication at Sophia and coordinator of SWA, tells us about it. What is the mission of Sophia Web Academy? Sophia Web Academy (SWA) proposes to investigate and present the main conceptual and practical expressions of the charism of unity. It explicitly attempts to examine and compare the work of all those who have initiated cultural reflection that has developed from the mystical intuition of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement. How did this idea come about? It came about during the pandemic. There was an increase in the requests for formation on the foundations of the charism of unity and it became obvious that it was possible to give satisfactory training online. In the Focolare Movement, there is a need for a twofold formation course for people who have leadership roles, both at central and local levels. These courses should offer participants adequate preparation for the challenges of our times so that they can correspond appropriately bearing in mind the great gift of the charism of unity they have received. The courses should also equip some of members as “managers” of groups of varying numbers of people. How is it structured? The first year of the online specialist course consists of a total of 700 hours – 180 lectures, 60 hours of work under the guidance of tutors or in dialogue with teachers, and 460 of personal study – corresponding to about 30 academic credits, spread over 8 months, from 28 November 2021 to 3 July 2022. Starting from a common base of about 44 hours of teacher centred education, the following 120 hours will be divided into two areas: “culture of unity” and “dialogical leadership”. Then, during the last “three days”, there will be 16 hous of interdisciplinary teaching and learning. What are the entry requirements? You can enrol in the course as a student or as an auditor. Students need to have a degree, participate in the lessons, are entitled to a tutor, sit the exams and will receive a university certificate. Auditors, on the other hand, can enrol without any special qualifications, attend courses, are not entitled to a tutor, do not sit exams and will receive a university extension certificate of attendance. As auditors it is possible to enrol in individual modules. The full course of study can be completed in one or two years. One of the two areas of study that SWA offers concerns the “culture of unity”. What are the goals to be achieved? One of the qualities of a leader in a rapidly changing world is wisdom. The specific task of Sophia, according to Chiara Lubich, is precisely that of ‘teaching wisdom’, which is also acquired by listening to the voices – and entering into dialogue with them – of those who have sought the truth throughout the centuries. For a leader, this means acquiring the ability to see far ahead and also to think strategically about the processes to be put in place today to prepare a more humane tomorrow. An essential part of the course is dedicated to Chiara Lubich’s experience and thought in the context of the Focolare Movement, a very valid contribution to the integral formation of leaders. How can the topic of “leadership” be linked to the notion of unity? SWA offers a space to know and learn about leadership which is strongly characterised by dialogue and service, attention to the least, communion, active involvement and flexibility. This will lead to an increased capacity for strategic decision-making and choice, team work and communication. The leadership course is based on 5 didactic units that complement each other in an organic way, combining theoretical and practical aspects. “Fundamentals of leadership”, “Group management”, “Personal development”, “Flexible Work”, “Types and models of leadership” form the basic elements of this innovative and engaging course. For registration and further information, contact: https://swa.sophiauniversity.org
Maria Grazia Berretta
