Oct 15, 2013 | Non categorizzato
October’s Word of Life invites us to “be the first to love every person we meet, telephone, write to or live with. Our love should be practical and concrete, persevering, generous and patient. Waking up during the night “I work in a school, whereas my wife, Betty, stays at home with the children. They often wake up in the night and begin to cry. This is a burden for me. I try to hide beneath the covers, even covering my head so I don’t hear the noise. I tell myself that my wife should go and care for them alone. Considering that Betty continuously has to get up from bed each night to care for the children and reflecting on love of neighbor, I suddenly realized that my wife and children are my first and closest neighbours. Up until then my love had been only partial: I loved only when there were no difficulties involved. Then I decided to begin immediately. And that very night, when the children began to cry, I ran to help them sleep again. It was difficult, but I managed well. I did this for some time, until the little ones have ceased to awaken during the night.” B. – Uganda Refugees “I’m a Muslim who escaped from Bosnia, where I left behind my Catholic husband. Two of my cousins had already fled to Split. One of them was expecting a baby; they asked me to help her and that’s why I’m in Dalmatia. I did everything I could to improve this situation. During that period, one day another woman came to stay in the small apartment,. She was ill and elderly. I was without strength. I missed my husband and family in Tuzla. . . When I couldn’t see any way forward, the woman who had welcomed us into her home invited us to a gathering in which I heard talk of the Gospel for the first time. I realized that by loving others I could change myself and the situations around me. So I went in search of other refugees in the city and a small group was begun that continued to grow. Together we were able to help each other to find medicines, send letters to relatives and care for the children. Now there are 87 of us. We feel like a true family, even though we are of different ethnic backgrounds, nationalities and religions.” T. – Bosnia A seed of unity “While in hospital for a little surgery, I read a book that my fiancé had given me. It contained experiences of people who were trying to live the Gospel. They were very beautiful, but I said to myself: “It’s impossible to really live like that.” Then she invited me to meet some of those people, and as I spoke with them I understood and saw that it was possible. From there a new path was opened for us. We married with the intention of forming a family that would be open to others. First I wasn’t religious even though I belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, whereas Anna is Catholic. As I began to reflect more, I understood that in order to love my Church I should give a witness there. This is what I did. I made connections and now belong to the parish council. We’d like to show to our children and to everyone the beauty of the Christian faith by being a family that is a seed of unity.” D. J. K. – Germany Soure: Il Vangelo del giorno (The Daily Gospel), (Città Nuova Publishing House, Rome. October 2013)
Oct 14, 2013 | Non categorizzato
I need God. You need God. The whole world needs God. This thought raised a question in my mind: What could I do to encounter God in my life? What could I do to have a personal relationship with Him? Reading the Gospel and listening to others who were asking the same questions, I realized that the important thing is to pray and love your neighbour. These two things have revolutionised my life. Without prayer and love for my neighbour, the Always A Person project would never have begun. What is this project? Around 18 years ago a friend asked me for a favour: “I have been given the names and addresses of 6 prison inmates; we could write to three of them – three for you and three for me. It might cheer them up.” I immediately agreed to what he was asking because I remembered Jesus words: “I was in prison and you visited me” (Mt. 25:36). I wrote the letters and a few days later one of them, Giorgio, replied: ‘I’m really happy to be friends with you. God has sent you. . .’ Then he asked me for a favour: ‘Could you go to my mother’s house? She’s ill. Bring her a kiss from me.” So I went. I was told that she lived on the fourth floor. In the lift I was thinking: ‘What will I say to her? How will she welcome me?’ But I was already involved in this little adventure and I wanted to see it through whatever the cost. ‘Madam,’ I said to her, ‘I’m a friend of your son. We write to each other. He asked me to visit you and bring you a kiss from him.’ She was moved and began to weep. ‘My son is good, my son is good; a bit lively,’ she said. ‘He’s made many mistakes. His girlfriends led him to make mistakes, but he’s not bad! I have a tumour and only have a short time to live. I see that you genuinely care for my son; stay near to him. Help him, I beg you!’ A week before she died, I visited her in hospital. There were many people around her bed. ‘Be near to him Giorgio, Giorgio, Giorgio!’ she said to me. These were her last words. When I went to visit Giorgio, some of his friends wanted to talk to me. Thus I came to know many others in different sections of the jail. Many told me about their families living around the areas of Rome and the surrounding regions. I felt urged to visit them. I brought food and such to the poorest among them: nappies and baby food where there were children. This calmed the inmates, knowing that someone was looking after their families; and the families were also comforted, and some of them began visiting their inmate husband or son. Then to my great joy, I received requests from some ex-inmates to collaborate with me. Now there are thirty of us (volunteers and ex-inmates) who bring groceries and other supplies to more than 70 families living in at-risk areas of Rome and in the surrounding districts. We don’t receive support from anyone; everything we distribute comes from a few parishes around Rome, as a witness to the life we share. The funds we gather are spent on groceries and supplies. We always find that God is generous and sends us what we are in need of. you for listening to my story! I’m now convinced that if we pray and serve our neighbour, we will make many people happy; we’ll be happy and we’ll change the world around us. (Alfonso Di Nicola)
Oct 13, 2013 | Non categorizzato
“The Church today insists on presenting the imitation of Mary in terms of hearing and practicing God’s Word. This is best summarised in her attitude towards the will of God and words of Jesus: “But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19). She made her heart into a paradise of divine treasures, a chamber for the Incarnate and spoken Word of God. She held Wisdom in her heart, just as she held Jesus in her womb. She was able to welcome God into her womb because she was always so accustomed to emptying herself, so that he could fill her with his mind. She lived the ordinary life of most people in her world, burdened with the work and concerns of the family that were common to everyone else. In order to become all things to all people she turned the common everyday events of her life into the raw material of her holiness showing that one can ascend to the heights of God without ever living outside the realm of common existence. In this way she is the model for every living person; and every living person is in a position to reproduce, to prolong her mission in the human family – and to reproduce her under any human condition. Every soul can imitate Mary. It only has to act in such a way that whoever sees the way it expresses itself will recognise or maybe even discover Mary who gave the world its Redeemer. Everyone can find himself in Mary: the poor, the worker, the ailing and the aging; and in her you can just as easily find the scholar, the scientist and the statesman: Bernard, Aquinas, Dante, Milton and Manzoni. . . Many do not know how to define Christianity, and they also ignore the secondary definitions. But from their mothers or at school, they have taken away and cherish an image of Mary. They know from that image that Christianity is a collection of good things: love, loyalty, solidarity, strength, innocence, joy, beauty. . . Mary is all the most desired virtues put together that moreover are lived in a simplicity which makes them accessible to all. It’s enough to rely on God as she does, placing yourself in his hands (. . .) If you look at your neighbour with your own eyes and consider with your own mind the economy, politics and all the models of coexistence, you’ll only come up with bitterness. But if you look at people and things with the eyes of Mary, you will more surely be filled with pity. Her tears drench everything in love. And in the divine light all that seems grandiose, horrific and fatal is deflated. Everything is returned to its truly small dimensions (. . .) if you look at the world with the eyes of Mary sparks of human sympathy and poetry begin to arise from even the gloomiest faces and darkest situations. The divine life begins to surface, which had been inserted in humanity by the Incarnation. Mary is simple and thus the imitation of Mary involves the total dismantling of complicated words, studied gestures and relationships woven by diplomacy (. . .) in other words washing away all the makeup that has been applied to the soul, so that one can uncover one’s self as God created it. There could be the objection that acting in such a way would leave you open to the attacks of the clever and sophisticated. But perhaps the best defence against such attacks (and also the cleverer) rests in simplicity which is dismounting. Truth is the subtlest form of diplomacy. Mary proceeds straight on her way, says what she thinks, does what she must. All the souls that use the arms of goodness, prayer, repentance and forgiveness are able to find themselves in Mary. Imitating Mary, or better, uniting ourselves to Mary, the march of existence turns into a Heavenward ascent. The bitterness of life becomes sweetness if we let ourselves be taken by her hand, her pure and motherly hand that never grows tired.” Igino Giordani in: Maria modello perfetto, (Rome: Città Nuova, 2001).
Oct 12, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“God writes straight on crooked lines;” we only need to abandon ourselves to his love, despite spite of our limitations.” These were the concluding words of business owner Livio Bertola from Cuneo, Italy during an interview of September 30, 2013 with journalist Gabriella Facondo on the Nel cuore dei giorni show on Italy’s TV 2000.
Livio tells how as a young military man in Rome, he felt a calling in a meeting with a priest from his area, a subtle call which later he felt even stronger when he met the Focolare in 1995. From that moment the spirituality of unity became a way of life for Livio, which spread to his family and also relationships at the company that from then on operated according to the principles of the Economy of Communion (EoC) , leading to unexpected and often surprising results.

The meeting with Chiara Lubich in 1995
Founded in 1946 by Antonio, Livio’s father and two uncles, Bertola srl is a leader in the chromium plating industry. It has about 30 employees and its customers include: Ferrari, Volvo, Kia, Nissan, Ducati, Guzzi and Piaggio. In 1991 Livio took the helm in running the company and four years later, in 1995, there was a big change. Livio recounts: “In the 90s when I heard talk of the Economy of Communion, I wanted to understand it more deeply.” Livio went to Loppiano, a Focolare town near Florence. There he met Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement: “I heard her speak to a group of people composed of non-believers, agnostics and Christians. “The most important thing in life,” she said, “is to love. Love everyone; be the first to love; put yourself in the other person’s shoes. But most of all, love without any ulterior motives or self-interest.”
Livio’s life changed and the centrality of the human person urged him to look upon employees, suppliers, customers and even competitors, with different eyes. Even the firm’s internal operations no longer remained the same. “A genuine friendship was formed with each employee of the company,” Livio affirms, “which continued after working hours.”

A celebration with all the employees
Several employees are Muslim. Right from the start I had also proposed to them that we live the Golden Rule, which is respected by all religions and people of good will: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I often visited them in their homes, showing concern for their personal situations. “Before knowing you,” they told me, “here in Italy we felt like strangers. Today, after coming to know this evangelical love through you, we fell like we are in a family!” One time Livio came to learn of the situation of two non-Europeans. There wasn’t much work in his company at that moment, “but I wanted to trust in God,” he recounts, “and I hired them. For Siamo we were also able to find him a house and some furniture. For these young men life has changed for the better; but also for the company things have become better: almost inexplicably, someone placed a huge order that has enabled us to increase personnel.”

AIPEC’S National Board of Directors
And the crisis? “Naturally, try to find work alternatives in order to acquire new clientele,” says Livio, “but mostly I try to trust, focusing on fostering brotherly human relationships. Trying to do things right for others, you also end up doing them better, and the market notices. An example? One large company that had decided to leave us and give their production to a foreign company because of lower cost has now returned to us because it realizes that quality always wins.”
Bertola has been linked for many years to the network of businesses that adhere to the EoC and, in 2012, several EoC business people spread throughout Italy felt it would be opportune to found the Italian Association of Business Owners For An Economy of Communion (AIPEC). The group is open to anyone who adheres to the EoC. Livio Bertola was elected president of the Association (for information, www.aipec.it).
Oct 11, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
On October 23, 1988 Chiara Lubich was awarded the Grand Feast for the Peace of Augsburg prize. Twenty five years later, on 20th September, 250 people met in the main hall of the prestigious Centre of the Lutheran Church in Augsburg. The audience included many personalities from civil society and the Church, members from the network of Christian communities affiliated with Together for Europe, as well as members of the Focolare Movement. Doing the honours was Lutheran Evangelical Deaconess, Susanne Kasch who gave a warm welcome declaring herself “proud that you have come to us.”
The purpose of the gathering was to assess the progress that has been made in 25 years. “Has the Focolare founder’s vision for our city remained a mere prophecy, or is there evidence that in the past 25 years some concrete steps towards unity and universal brotherhood have been made?” This question was the central theme of the event.
On October 23, 1988, Chiara Lubich had highlighted the importance of the city of Augsburg as the city of peace and had encouraged everyone to look higher in bringing ahead the Augsburg Settlement (between Lutherans and Catholics) by aiming for Augsburg Unity.
Following an exhaustive report on the Focolare’s concrete involvement in the social, political and ecumenical field in Augsburg, Mayor Dr. Kurt Gribl spoke: “The very fact that we are all here asking ourselves how much we have corresponded to the vision expressed by Chiara Lubich is a sign that she was an example. . . In reality, in 1988 Chiara Lubich was only half way in her activity. It is enough to consider that in 1996 she went on to receive the UNESCO Peace Prize, and in 1998 the European Human Rights Award. Augsburg has indeed recognized and appreciated her talent for peace.” And he asked: “Have we succeeded in bringing about what she desired, a civil life that is based on Christian and religious life?”
The Mayor listed what had been accomplished towards the promotion of unity in the city over the past 25 years and especially brought out the great openness that has been shown to refugees who find Augsburg to be their second home. Currently people from 150 different lands are assisted and supported by a vast network of specialists in the immigration sector.
Several groups from the city, who are involved in social work, shared spontaneously regarding their work in welcoming and accompanying recent refugees from Syria. This experience regarding hospitality and welcome was very pleasing to the Mayor who concluded by saying: “Chiara Lubich’s vision, her message, fell on fertile ground. Therefore, Augsburg: a city journeying towards unity. A journey that is always unfolding; and may we never fail to be on the front lines of this journey.”
Oct 9, 2013 | Cultura
Coming soon (Publication Date – November 2013)
Dorothy Day connected radical faith with doing radical deeds. Beginning from her discovery of God in the Word when she was eight years old, Michael Boover shares Dorothy’s reflections about her pilgrimage to the daily discipline of readiness and openness to God in her life, especially to God in her neighbor. He shares her words on why and how she prays, on her preference for frequent confession, on her intentional choice of suffering and poverty, and on her desire to imitate the saints and to make sanctity the norm of everyone’s life. Read more
To pre-order book: New City Press (NY)
Also available as an e-Book
(more…)
Oct 9, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“My mother, in her eighties, has begun to make steps on the flowery path: gradually she no longer thought, and saw things with the heart. Finally, her heart gave in and her pure eyes were all that remained. She’s often a child of six or seven and asks about her small friends; sometimes she weeps because of her longing to see her Mamma and Papa; but then she trustfully smiles as she steps in and out of the flowery path. Occasionally, following my Mother, I also step onto the flowery path, and the worrisome burdens of the world are turned into light clouds in the sky; I also become a mere flower within my mother’s secure enclosure.”

The award ceremony took place on September 16, 2013 in the Conference Hall of Coex a Seoul.
These are the opening lines of the preface of the book “My Mother’s Fowery Path” (1). The book, a collection of episodes and events that warm the heart, was written by Korean author, Maria Goretti Jeung Ae Jang, poet and nurse. She writes of the period she spent beside her mother with Alzheimer’s. The book is the 2013 recipient of the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare’s National Award for good practice in assisting Alzheimer’s patients. The award ceremony took place on September 16, 2013 in the Conference Hall of Coex and the award was given by the Minister of Health and Welfare. “When I wrote about the experiences with my mother,” the surprised author recounts, “I didn’t even know that such an award existed. My only hope was that the book would be helpful to family members whose lives have been impacted by this illness. This is a great gift for me that I never thought of receiving. I only loved my mother who suffers with Alzheimer’s; then I wished to share these experiences with others. But I’m very happy because this was an opportunity to make the book known to many other people who might read it and see that no illness can remove one’s human dignity.” 
Right: Korean author, Maria Goretti Jeung
The author continues: “Alzheimer’s disease is a tiring process for both patient and family. But I think that suffering is purifying. I’d like to propose that we not fear Alzheimer’s, but accept it as an illness that can affect anyone, and to try to face the treatment of the disease through the eyes of the patient.” She concluded: “Let us do away with the negative feelings in our hearts and look after these people with love. Then Alzheimer’s will be a side of life that we will be able to live with.” “With all my heart I thank Chiara Lubich, whom I consider to be my spiritual mother,” Jang confessed, “because she taught me to love. The spirituality of unity indeed helped prepare me to see the face of the suffering Jesus in my mother, beyond the illness which rendered her more and more helpless. This was the key that enabled me to see her as truly precious and to recognize and appreciate her human dignity. Chiara’s words rang loud and clear to me, which she spoke many years ago: “You must be mothers of your mothers. . .” For me this was a veritable mandate.” (1) Translation from Korean
Oct 8, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Oct 7, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Local communities versus national institutions? Minister of Regional Affairs, Graziano Delrio and Italian local authorities have no doubt. “Today the best resources for changing the country will emerge from small local communities.” The minister made this statement at the LoppianoLab workshop during an event entitled: Safeguarding the Human Person.
On stage also were urban planner Elena Granata and political scientist Alberto Lo Presti, who offered some stimulating ideas to the discussion from the perspective of their respective fields of expertise. The evening’s moderator was Michele Zanzucchi, director of Citta Nuova magazine.
“A city is a very fragile thing,” said Delrio, “it needs to be loved. This is why I believe we need to re-think the city, the community and its culture. For the past 20 years the emphasis has been on private environments; we now need to reconsider the role and care of the public sections in society where communication and relations are created.” And concerning expectations for solutions to the crises that are placed in national politics. “We’re seeking answers at institutional levels, from where they will never come. The answers are found in society which has an ability for making great things happen.”
While discussing the topic of young people in today’s society, Delrio stated that society needs to overcome a cultural defect towards young people: “Any society that wants to invest in its young people must have the courage to let them make mistakes.” He denounced the lack of resources and ways that would encourage them to be involved and take risks; but he did not deny that society should not be afraid to be demanding of them: “Because that would mean you don’t esteem them.”
The discussion moved from the Italian landscape to consider some prospects for overcoming localism and nationalism in Europe. He showed that he felt optimistic towards the contribution of young people as he presented a challenge: “Soon a generation of sons and daughter will be born, a new generation of European founders. We’ll set aside the notion of nation and embrace the notion of homeland.”
He responded to a comment of one Egyptian student concerning the street demonstrations in Tahrir Square: “We need to ask forgiveness from the young Arabs across the Mediterranean. We should do more to assist a democratic transition in their land. We need to rediscover the calling of our national territory to be bridges in the heart of the Mediterranean, towards the cultures of North Africa and of the Middle East.”
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Source: Sophia University Institute online
Photo gallery: flickr
Oct 6, 2013 | Non categorizzato

After having reviewed some points of the spirituality of unity in these past years (God-Love, the Will of God, the Word, love of neighbour), we are now looking into the “new commandment” of Jesus, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34).
Chiara Lubich over the years understood more and more its importance and its novelty. She also saw it as the great expectation of our time.
We offer a brief writing on this topic taken from a talk given on October 24, 1978 and addressed to the delegates of the Focolare Movement:
«The Lord used a special technique to teach us how to love our neighbour, remaining in the world without being of the world. He immediately made us understand that it was possible for us to love our neighbour without falling into sentimentalism or other errors, because it was he himself loving in us, with his charity. …
Charity is a sharing in the divine agape (love). …
St. John tells us that God loved us, but he doesn’t then conclude – as would have been more logical – that if God has loved us, we ought to love him in return. Instead he says: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn 4:11).
It is only because charity is a participation in God’s love (agape), that we are able to go beyond natural limits and love our enemies and give our lives for our fellow human beings.
This is why Christian love rightly belongs to the new era, and the new commandment is radically new, and introduces something absolutely new into human history and human ethics.
“This love,” writes Augustine, “makes us new, so that we are new persons, heirs of the New Covenant, singers of a new song (cf. Io. Evang. tract. 65, 1; PL 34-35).”
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Taken from the Italian book: Chiara Lubich, L’amore reciproco (Mutual love), edited by Florence Gillet, Editrice Città Nuova, Roma 2013, pp. 38-39.
Oct 5, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“I am the spokeswoman for the people nobody listens to” says Charity Chege, social worker and a Volunteer of the Focolare Movement. She comes from Juja, Kenya and is the mother of four children. Her work brings her into daily contact with the pain of her fellow citizens: child orphans, elderly who must care for grandchildren whose parents have succumbed to AIDS, ordinary people living in extreme poverty. “On the night before the 2007 elections,” says Charity, I told Chiara Lubich about my wish to serve my people by presenting myself as a candidate for the town council. Chiara encouraged me, reminding me that politics was the love of loves.” Charity was never elected, but says: “For me, nothing changed. I could and should continue to love and serve.” And there were many opportunities. The elections were followed by much violence and conflict among the different ethnic groups: “Many people lost their lives; others lost all they owned, while others had to leave their lands because of the terrible violence.” In 2013 Charity once again became a candidate in a party that shared her values and ideals: “To the great surprise of someone who asked why I hadn’t run with a party with a majority of members from my tribe, I responded: ‘I live for the universal family!’” The electoral campaign turned out to be an opportunity to know and appreciate the hardships and needs of the people: “When we went to visit those who had been left homeless by the violence of the past elections, I felt it more important to love them as best I could, rather than try to explain my electoral platform. I found much hatred, and I spoke to them of forgiveness. Two of my colleagues asked me why I was acting in this way, and I told them that our relationship with the people is the most important thing. If we are truly interested in their happiness we should help them to forgive.” Once again, Charity did not win the election, but many who came to know her commitment have continued to turn to her for assistance. “One day I was at the market,” she says. “A woman came up to me and asked if I could do something for her, since she was ill. She added that many in her village are in the same condition. I realized she was talking about AIDS. This little episode has put me in contact with some thirty people who suffer with the virus. There is much prejudice against these people in our villages, they experience a lot of negativity and mistreatment. They are often estranged from their families or even discarded by them. At times they surrender to the illness and are reluctant to seek the medical care they need. I decided to be personally involved by offering some concrete assistance, loving them one by one, and involving some of the young people of the Focolare Movement. We are trying to make these friends of ours to first feel accepted, and then we try to do what we can for them.”
Oct 4, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“Let us pray for hearts capable of embracing refugees.” These words were spoken by Pope Francis on July 8, 2013 during a pastoral visit to Lampedusa where he was deeply touched by the never-ending exodus of refugees fleeing from hunger, fear, war and every form of distress in their homelands.
The story of Cristina, Elena and Maria Norena begins with an Italian language course. The three of these women are Volunteers of the Focolare Movement, who felt called to be more personally involved in helping people in need. “It was in May 2011,” Elena explains, “the boats were coming at an unrelenting pace. Some 25,000 people were coming in from war-torn Libya. Two hundred immigrants came to our province in Trento. Most of them were young men between the ages of 18 and 30.” Maria Norena continues: “I also saw the lack of relationship and social life. These men told us of their solitude and they were suffering because they couldn’t speak Italian. Right away the others in our group offered their support and we began this project.”
The experience spread quickly and even some public institutions became involved. Cristina says: “We wanted to secure a future for these young men. With the help of many people we began to advertise in the local newspapers especially that of the diocese, trying to give a voice to these voiceless men. The bishop of Trent appealed to the Christian community to show concern for the young men who are our brothers.”
Meanwhile, the provincial administration decided to lengthen the project by granting two years of assistance to each immigrant from the date of arrival. At the end of the two-year period, the young men have to leave their temporary lodgings.
Maria Norena recounts: “We involved several parish groups and members of the local Focolare community in gathering funds and finding jobs for the young men so that they could enter into society and find permanent housing.” Cristina interjects: “Currently we have found homes for 16 of our young friends. We continue to experience the help of Providence which is always there to meet our great and small needs. We received 4 bicycles that were useful, because one of the men lives far from the city where there is no bus service. We also received a washing machine. That was a real need!”
One boy who lives in a guest house run by some Focolare Volunteers, wrote to us: “I thank you for everything you are doing, for the trust you have shown me, for believing in my honesty. I love you very much.”
Oct 3, 2013 | Focolari nel Mondo
“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8). (more…)
Oct 3, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“I was standing near a stretcher in the Emergency Room when I saw two perfectly dressed women at the end of the corridor. They were followed by a small child whose jumpsuit was a bit too big. He appeared hesitant with his astonished gaze as he clutched a small airplane close to his chest. I wondered who the boy’s mother was because he didn’t resemble either one of the two who, by the way, answered in unison to every question about the boy’s health. Meanwhile, Vito sat on a clinic couch, refusing to give his airplane to the nurse who wanted to take a blood sample.” This is the story of Marina D’Antonio, an Italian doctor who says that she’s ‘in love’ with the Gospel. She has already racked up countless experiences with patients of all ages and backgrounds. And she says that she has always made an effort to set aside rules and impositions that often hide behind the white coat, and embrace the humanity of each patient that comes to her for treatment. In this story the main character is a child. We publish it as several hundred doctors and health care providers will soon gather in Padua, Italy for a two-day conference on the significance of health care in today’s world in the midst of globalization, sustainable practices and personalizing approaches to treatment. “Usually in these cases,” the doctor continued, “you seek the cooperation of the mother, but here they were again acting in unison, one on the right and one on the left. One of them pointed out to Vito that his aeroplane had to get into position on the runway (my desk) to bring aboard the second pilot. A small man made of red and black plastic magically popped out of the woman’s purse. Vito then waited to allow a regularly scheduled aeroplane to take off before his own. Meanwhile, I waited for the next episode that would allow the nurse to sink the butterfly needle into his forearm. And here it was: the nurse pulled her yellow cloth flower and red cloth butterfly. “Look Vito,” she said “the butterfly is drinking a bit of nectar from the flower. This one is green!” The little boy turned to watch as the professional nurse quickly inserted the green butterfly needle. The boy was no longer weeping, and the flight of the red butterfly began, pointing towards his forearm and softly landing a moment later after the nurse had covered the tiny wound with a colourful plaster. I was struck with admiration for these two exceptional mothers. The nurse, startled by something the women said, asked them: “But. . . why. . . how many children do you have?!!” They answered with a smile: ‘Well, at the moment we have 15.’ They explained that they were educators hired by a Family Home in the territory of our ASL. Vito’s mother had died of AIDS. His father was currently in a halfway house for drug addicts. The Juvenile Court keeps the child in Family Home until the statutory conditions are met for declaring him adoptable or not. Even though Vito was 4 years old, he didn’t talk. When I finished work, I didn’t go for lunch. I didn’t return home. I cancelled all my afternoon appointments. I put the address of the Family Home on my GPS and, when I reached the place, rang the doorbell impatiently. I asked if I could do something for them, anything. This was how my adventure at volunteering began alongside abandoned, abused and frightened children who always accepted my challenge: no matter what happened or what will happen, we will carry on playing. I began to play along with them. One afternoon on the large meadow that surrounds the Family Home a man landed with his colourful hang glider. Vito looked at me and, pointing to the hand glider, spoke his first word: “Daddy.” His first word, but packed with more meaning than if he had given an entire speech, poignant as the years of waiting to scan the skies. And finally, just a few days ago, it actually happened.”
Oct 1, 2013 | Non categorizzato
“St Paul tells us that mutual love is a debt, and so we must be the first in loving as Jesus was with us. This type of love takes the initiative, it doesn’t wait or put it off for some other time.” In the following experiences, simple events from daily life, there emerges the choice of concrete love with a capacity for understanding, anticipating, being patient, trusting, persevering and generous.
The aunt who was erased. “I have an auntie whom I loved very much. During school holidays I would go and work on her farm. I was her favourite niece, but when I married things began to change. She never wanted to come to my house and never met my children. I was so angry that for fifteen years I never put foot in her house. I had totally erased her from my life. Recently, while reading the Gospel I came across the words: Love your neighbor. I said to myself that I was missing something important, forgiveness for my aunt. I returned to the village and convinced my mother to accompany me to her house, because I didn’t even remember the way. When we reached the house, I felt like the Prodigal Son. We both wept tears of joy. She happily accepted what I had brought for her. It was difficult to say goodbye to each other, and she greeted me over and over again. Peace had returned to us, and now I try to always keep the flame of affection burning in my family and around me.” S. P. (Africa)
Hospitality. “We received a letter from our married son, asking us for hospitality, although not explaining what was pushing him to leave his family and come back to us. We were very bewildered, but, in spite of all the questions and concerns that tormented us, we began to prepare a room for him, and welcomed him with serenity and respect for his pain. After a while he began to open up to us, sharing his difficulties and problems with us. We listened with open hearts, without inquiring or giving advice. Surrounded by love and trust he was able to reflect in peace and arrive at the decision to return home. Perhaps God had made us of us to help him put his family back together again.” N. C. L. (Peru)
Apres ski boots. “One morning a young Albanese woman knocked at our door, asking for some clothing and shoes. I began putting some things together as my children watched me going back and forth to the door. Then I saw my son Gianni’s favourite après ski boots sitting by the front door. I asked him why they were there: “Give them to the lady,” he replied, “for her children. Besides, it’s not going to snow anymore.” It was the middle of October. It’s really true that generosity begins in our children when they see it in us.” F. P. (Italy)
The bag. “Having immigrated to Europe, one day I noticed a lady on the road. She was carrying several heavy bags: “Madam,” I said, “can I help you?” “No,” she replied, “I can manage alone.” “But I’d like to help you.” “Very well, take this bag.” She invited me to her home and offered me supper. Through this family that welcomed me so well, I was able to find a job. People like me often have concrete problems: finding a job, a home, a means of support; but sometimes there is only need of someone to chat with, for a telephone number you can call in the difficult moments. the solidarity I’ve found among Christian families has made me realize that God is Father of all and loves everyone as his child.” L. E. Morocco
Source: The Gospel of the day, in October 2013, Città Nuova Editrice
Sep 30, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Aldo Stedile (Fons) left us on the night of September 30th at the age of 88. Together with Marco Tecilla and two other young men, he had begun the first men’s focolare in Trent, Italy. Everyone who knew him remembers his big smile, his irrepressible vitality, his passion for the Ideal of unity and his optimism.
“Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:38): this was the gospel sentence that guided him in life and earned him the name Fons (Latin for “font”).
Fons was the second of ten children. He was born in Valle del Terragnolo in Trentino, Italy, on July 13, 1925. He had noticeable artistic talent as a painter and if the Second World War had not begun, he would have gone to Florence to study Fine Arts.
In 1948 he came into contact with the experience of the Focolare Movement through Valeria Ronchetti (Vale). He said of that day: “Meeting her was a revelation for me, a true encounter with God. Everything changed in that moment.” After hearing Vale speak about Jesus forsaken, he we went on to say: “Now I understood everything; this was the answer, the solution. This is what I was missing. . . ! I knew that difficulties would come, trials, doubts, misunderstandings, failures – but nothing could frighten me anymore. I felt a strong serene force within me.”
In the early 1960s he was a pioneer of the Focolare in Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Germany where he lived for 20 years. Together with Bruna Tomasi who was co-responsible with him for the Movement in central Europe, he helped to begin the ecumenical town of Ottmaring near Augsburg, Germany. In 1963 he was ordained to the priesthood together with Antonio Petrilli.
In the 1980s he assumed responsibility for the branch of the Volunteers of God and in 2000 served several roles on the General Council of the Movement.
In the final years of his life a debilitating illness appeared, but the illness never managed to affect the deep roots of his heart, said Maria Voce as she notified the members of the Movement of his death. In February 2010, when he was undergoing a test of mental cognition, the doctor asked him to quickly write down a complete thought. Fons wrote: “Love everyone, always!”
Fons left us as 200 people were attending a meeting in Rocca di Papa, Italy, from several regions around the world. In the funeral chamber set up for him in the chapel of the International Headquarters of the Movement in Rocca di Papa he is receiving the warm and grateful homage of people from around the world for his joyful and authentic witness to the charism of unity.
The funeral will take place on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 15:00 in the Castelgandolfo Mariapolis Centre (Via S. Giovanni Battista De La Salle).
Sep 30, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Aldo Stedile (Fons) passed away last night at his residence in Rocca di Papa, Rome, aged 88 years.
He was originally from Trent and was among the first group of people to follow the way of Chiara Lubich at the beginnings of the Focolare Movement. Together with Marco Tecilla, he started the first men’s focolare house in 1949.
“He who believes in me, as the Scriptures say, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ (Jn 7:38)”: this phrase from the Gospel guided the course of his life. To him was attributed the nickname Fons (“fountain” in Latin) and he was affectionately called by this name by everyone.
He is currently lying in state in the chapel of the Focolare’s International Centre in Rocca di Papa. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, 2 October, at the Mariapolis Centre in Via S. Giovanni Battista De La Salle, Castelgandolfo.
Sep 30, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
A seminar entitled Dialogue on a Trinitarian Anthropology for our people, organized by CELAM and held at Mariapolis Lia, Argentina. The seminar was attended by twenty experts from Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay and Italy. There were two bishops and Msgr. Piero Coda, president of Sophia University Institute (IUS) in Loppiano, Italy. The seminar was opened by Piero Coda with a very significant lecture on Trinity and Anthropology, notes for a theological phenomenology based on the mystical experience of Chiara Lubich. From the outset, the discussion was marked by the challenge of using a work method based on dialogue and communion. Following the presentation of topics, ample space was given to sharing and reflection among the participants. The workshop was therefore an opportunity for “thinking together.” Mariapolis Lia which tries to be a witness to the life of the Gospel, proved to be the best setting for an experience of this type. One Bolivian expert commented: “The choice of this location was so important for this topic, because here it is a reality.” The participants felt enveloped in the mutual love of the inhabitants of the Mariapolis, which was a concrete expression of “Trinitarian relationships.”
The seminar was also significant because it was an opportunity for the light of the charism of Chiara Lubich, which is the subject of academic study at Sophia University Institute, to become known in the Latin American Church. The participants also expressed interest in continuing relations with Sophia, by establishing specific agreements. During the final Mass, Fr Scannone, a well-known Jesuit in Latin America, stated: “Let us thank God for this community of thought that has been established among us, for the perichoretical relationships we have lived, in which we died and rose, in which we have thought and lived in a true community.” The seminar ended with a brief homage to Bishop Klaus Hemmerle, a forerunner in the development of Trinitarian Anthropology. CELAM has already scheduled another such event for 2014 and decided to publish some of the results of this year’s seminar.
Sep 29, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75649279 «After my studies of fashion design I worked for several years in the clothing sector. Providence then gave me a chance to work in a humanitarian organization with a religious sister of the Focolare Movement. Together we brought ahead projects, teaching the women evacuees sewing, embroidery as well as fashion design. In this way we helped them to then find a job in order to support their families. In September 2012, 45 women enrolled for the course. They belonged to all the different faiths present in the country (Sunnites, Shiites, Christians, Alawites, Druze) and of various political tendencies. They had only one thing in common: they were evacuees and had lost everything. There were very strong and evident tensions between them, they even refused to stay in the same place. One day I found the answer in the Word of Life. It was like an advice: if I wanted to do the will of God “who makes the sun rise on the good and the bad” and He loves us without any discrimination, then my love should also make no distinction. My priority was to treat each one as a person worthy of respect. We saw that little by little these women started to greet one another, to speak to one another, to have a certain contact, a certain relationship that was growing. As weeks passed, these women started to accept their differences and to overcome their diversities, which were instead emphasized in their country outside that center. They shared worries and sufferings and a relationship of true love was established among them. To my surprise, on the feast of Ramadan, the Christian women prepared a little surprise party for the Muslims, full of strong and simple love. The Muslims did the same at Christmas. When the time-out prayer for peace in Syria was launched I decided to propose it to all and I was very surprised the next day when I heard nearly all their mobiles/cell phones ringing at 12 noon to remember the time-out! In June 2013, the day we handed out the diplomas, in the presence of members of International Associations and representatives of the Red Crescent, they were asked which were the most difficult moments during the year. One, on behalf of the whole group, answered that, that day was the most difficult day, because it was the last day in that Centre. She said: “It’s the only place where we are able to breathe and it has always helped us to go ahead, bringing peace in our families and in our hearts.”»
Sep 28, 2013 | Non categorizzato

By chance I took part in a meeting on the disabled. There I met several young people who didn’t have severe disabilities but were still unable to be fully inserted in society. If it hadn’t been for their families and some associations, they would have been left to themselves. I teach in a centre for adult learning, and I understood that my school should also care for them. But in which way? I had an idea: I could teach them an old hobby of mine, how to use a photo camera.
My goal wasn’t to photograph them, but to allow them to capture some moments in their own lives. I gathered the group with their families and the adventure began. Four of them took part in the project along with four adults who were willing to help. It was September 2007.
Lesson one: how to use a simple digital camera. Homework: photographs of your house. M.G. showed me his photos: a colourful sock, the edge of an embroidered blanket, an elaborately carved doorknob. I was amazed. Timidly he told me that these were the things in his house that he liked.
This is how I learnt that my task was not to teach them something that I thought they needed to learn, but to discover and draw out what they had within them. As time passed unimaginable talents and interests began to emerge in teenagers: appreciation for detail; picture composition by a visually impaired girl, who was able to stay still for up to fifteen or twenty minutes before snapping the photo at just the right moment. Some didn’t show so much interest, but the relationship that was created among the group drew them in, and they didn’t feel excluded.
I had ventured to include wedding photos in the programme. But I didn’t know where I was going to find a couple who would be venturous enough to entrust their wedding pictures to a group of disabled teenagers. Providence allowed me to meet Matteo and Beate who wanted to leave out the extras from their wedding, including the photographer. And that’s how they found the most ramshackle band of photographers that’s ever been seen. The result was a very beautiful photo shoot with lots of originality and warmth of expression.
As the contact and friendship grew among all, so did the size of the group. One photographer whom I had asked to do something for the group thanked me for the important lesson he had received from them, having learnt that “different” is a pre-conceived notion, and how now it is not so easy for him to see others as different.
Then, with the help of a young artist, we came up with the Occhi Diversi (Different Eyes), a photo exhibition of 100 photographs, all of them beautiful and detailed, permeated with a sense of purity and passion that left a mark on many visitors. In the guestbook many expressed their gratitude at having sensed God’s love in the photographs.
None of what happened was ever planned sitting around a table. What has begun is the fruit of real and true mutual love among all the participants, several of whom do not profess religious faith. I often found myself in situations that would have required totally different skills; I was “forced” by the events to throw to the wind all the content of the training I wanted to give, in order to allow space for listening, playing, accepting a sign of affection, allowing freedom of expression; in other words, giving space to relationships.
Alberto Roccato
Sep 28, 2013 | Non categorizzato, Word of
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
This Word of Life emphasizes two things.
In the first place, love is presented as a debt, that is, as something we cannot be indifferent to, something we cannot put off. It is presented as something pressing on us, spurring us on, leaving us no peace until it is satisfied.
It’s like saying that mutual love is not an ‘extra’, the result of our largesse, whose strictures we can set aside without incurring any legal penalty. This Word urges us to put mutual love into practice on pain of betraying our dignity as Christians called by Jesus to be instruments of his love in the world.
Secondly, this Word of Life tells us that mutual love is the moving force, the soul and the goal of all the commandments.
It follows that, if we want do the will of God well, we cannot rest content with a cold and legalistic observance of God’s commandments. We must always keep in mind the goal that God sets before us through the commandments. So, for example, to live well the commandment not to steal, we cannot limit ourselves to not stealing, but we ought to be seriously committed to eliminating social injustice. Only like this will we demonstrate love for our neighbour.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
How should we live the Word of Life for this month?
The subject of love for our neighbour, which it puts before us once again, has infinite shades of meaning. Here we pinpoint one in particular that would seem to be suggested in a special way by the words of the text.
If, as Paul says, mutual love is a debt, we need to have a love that is the first to love as Jesus was with us. It will be, therefore, a love that takes the initiative, that does not hold back, that does not delay.
Let’s do this in the coming month, then. Let’s try to be the first to love each person we meet, we speak to on the phone, we write to or we live with. And let’s love in a concrete way, knowing how to understand the other, foresee the other’s needs, be patient, trustful, persevering, generous.
We will notice that that our spiritual life takes a qualitative leap, to say nothing of the joy that will fill our hearts.
Chiara Lubich
First published in September 1990
Sep 27, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Shared commitment to peace. This triggered an immediate understanding between the delegation from Youth for a United World (YUW) and Nobel 1987 Peace Prize recipient and the then president of Costa Rica. Arias had been visiting Rome to attend a Community of St. Egidio conference on the United Nation’s Arms Trade Treaty, and an audience with Pope Francis. The purpose of the meeting was to find forms of collaboration with the Arias Foundation for peace and human development , since the YUW already work for peace and brotherhood. The young people who were present at the meeting from several nations recounted the history of their efforts for peace, beginning from the 350 thousand signatures they collected during the Cold War and handed over to embassies of the of the USSR and the United States in Geneva, Switzerland (November 1985). They went on to present the Time Out launched by Chiara Lubich in September 1990 during the Persian Gulf Crisis; the UNESCO Award for Educating for Peace; the 2012 Genfest in Budapest, Hungary where the United World Project was launched; and the recent meeting between Maria Voce and the Focolare communities of the Middle East that was held in Amman, Jordan, and followed by the concert for peace held by YUW from regions where there is conflict. The Nobel laureat presented to the young people what the Arias Foundation for peace and human development has achieved from its beginnings, its current challenges and future dreams. For example, since there are so many war museums, why not build a Peace Museum? Moreover, Sanchez proposed collaborating with the recently approved UN Arms Trade Treaty that is aimed at putting an end to the marketing of small arms which, in his opinion, are the cause of most of fatalities worldwide. Basing himself on his own experience as President of a nation that by constitution does not have a military army, he affirmed that the reduction of arms would allow many countries to share economic resources that could then be allocated to finding solutions to social problems, such as access to education, health care, protection of the environment and, not least of all, the drama of world poverty. In conclusion he underscored the need for young people be deeply involved in their education so that they will be prepared to create a culture of peace and brotherhood, because: “in a world where egoism and greed seem to prevail, young people are the first ones being called upon to engage new values within society, such as solidarity, suffering together, generosity and love.”
“Before saying goodbye to us,” Olga from Costa Rica recounts, “he wished to personally adhere to our project (UWP) by signing the commitment statement to live the culture of fraternity, uniting himself to the 62,000 other signees from around the world.” “It doesn’t happen every day that you meet someone of this level,” added Iggy from New Zealand: “cultured and pragmatic, but also very simple. I felt very much at home with him.” The conversation went on for an hour, during which many projects and goals were shared. The next big event for the Youth for a United World is the Youth Forum at UNESCO in October 2013. “It will be a training course in which our ideal of fraternity will be presented and explained” says one of the youths who will be representing the Youth for a United World, the youth section of the New Humanity Movement.
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803 «Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.» Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.» Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.» «I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
http://vimeo.com/75469803
«Caritas Jordan is an entity affiliated to the Catholic Church headed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. It has been in Jordan for 45 years and is part of Caritas International.» These are the words of the director, Wael Suleiman. He continues: «Caritas Jordan has responded to the appeal of the Church to take care of the Syrian refugees. We have recorded 1 million and 300 thousand Syrians who have entered Jordan, including 130,000 registered to Caritas. We provide them with medical care, educational services and humanitarian aid. It certainly is difficult for Jordan to welcome such a large number of refugees with the few resources of the country: water, petroleum, and all the economic problems. But Jordan does not want to close the doors. The King has ordered that the borders remain open to serve our Syrian brothers and sisters. At this moment we all try to live solidarity.»
Suhad Zarafili is the administrator of the projects for Caritas Jordan: «One of our programs – she explains – is the volunteer program: we have around 30 committees, with more than one thousand volunteers, Christians and Muslims. They were the ones who started doing the field visit to find the needy Syrian refugees in all our areas.»
Carole is one of the volunteers. «I am very happy – she shares – that God has given me the opportunity to work with Caritas and to help the Syrians. I too am a Syrian so in a certain way I understand better what they feel, it’s a mutual feeling. They have a lot of sufferings, they need many things: the association embraces them and tries to give them all the possible aid, until our God will solve the situation.»
«I belong to the Focolare Movement – continues Director Wael Suleiman – and this spirituality, lived by so many here at Caritas, helps us to go out into the world, outside our small circle where we live and work, so as to love everyone more. Living the spirituality of unity, we have now formed a “cell” within the Caritas, which has helped all this progress so that those who come here may experience not only assistance, but the spirit and the life behind this aid.»
Sep 25, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Three years have passed since that 25th of September 2010 when Chiara Luce Badano was proclaimed Blessed at the Roman Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. It seems like yesterday, the memories of that extraordinary event are still so alive. They seemed like the realization of Chiara Luce’s words in a letter to her friends: “I went out of your lives in an instant. Oh, how much I would have liked to stop the speeding train as it carried me farther and farther away from you! (. . .) But now I feel enveloped in a splendid design that little by little is being revealed to me.” We would like to reflect on that “splendid design” that Chiara Luce fulfilled in life, with some words from her parents, Maria Teresa and Ruggero in the book by Franz Coriasco In viaggio con i Badano (Travelling with the Badanos) “Did you ever think during her final months that you were dealing with a saint?”
Maria Teresa: “No, we never thought that, not even distantly. We were living with ‘extraordinary normality’ even though Chiara had lost the use of her legs and was confined to bed. Evidently there was a grace that at the time we didn’t even have time to be fully aware of, but which we lived each day. And this grace continued afterwards, and continues now. If I may be allowed to say it, I think Chiara’s specialty was that she became a saint not amidst horrific suffering and pain (although these were not lacking), but immersed in the joy of loving God.” Ruggero: “Well, thinking back on the period of Chiara’s illness, we cannot but say that those were surely the years of our lives that were most blessed by God.” (Taken from: Coriasco, F. In viaggio con i Badano. Chiara Luce e la sua famiglia: i segreti di un segreto, (Rome: Citta Nuova, 2011).
Sep 24, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Sep 24, 2013 | Centro internazionale, Focolare Worldwide, Focolari nel Mondo, Spiritualità
http://vimeo.com/75092264 (more…)
Sep 24, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
“I work in an elementary school as an assistant teacher. There is a boy in my classroom who wears a hearing aid. For the sake of privacy I’ll call him F. He has problems getting along with his classmates who are then disrespectful towards him and excluding him from their games. There is a general atmosphere of rivalry among the children who compete in underscoring the errors and defects of those who seem to be weak. So I decided to engage them in an activity that would be gratifying to them and would help them to see the good in one another; and hoping that they would also see the good in F. This is how the Friendship Post began: One morning a colourful mailbox with slots appeared on the teacher’s desk. A cartoon image of GB&W was pasted on top. The pair of smiling cartoon characters were saying: “I have a surprise for you!” I suggested to the children that we could use this box to say good things to each other during the week, good things we had noticed in one another during the day. The messages could be signed or anonymous and addressed to anyone. We could send drawings, poems or small gifts. We teachers also wanted to participate, writing mostly to the children we thought would not receive a message. These messages would then be read every Friday afternoon. The children enthusiastically agreed to the suggestion and began writing messages, letters, poems and drawings. At the end of the first week the entire classroom was overflowing with enthusiasm. Opening the mail was a moment of true sharing in which everyone finally focused on the positive rather than the negative. Every child received a letter and promised to respond to the sender. We teachers had kept watch for those who hadn’t received a message when the box was opened. We would write short thoughts for some, and for others we would send a small cartoon image of GB&W. The recipients of the comic strips asked about the comic strip characters and I offered some explanations. A deep and beautiful dialogue was begun. From then on receiving a comic strip was seen as a privilege, something special that was cherished. During the weeks that followed the atmosphere in the classroom had changed noticeably: the children were more polite to one another, a bit because they wanted to receive a letter, a bit because of the positive bonds that had begun to be formed among them because of the positive compliments they had received from their peers.
However, it was more of a struggle for F. to benefit from the Friendship Post. He refused to write messages to his classmates, saying that he would surely receive none from anyone else, except teachers. This went on for two weeks. During the third week, however, one girl wrote a message to F. saying that he was her friend because he lent things to her. F. broke into tears and angrily ripped up the note. But the next week he asked me to help him write several letters and, in the following weeks, he began to receive messages that were filled with compliments that filled him with surprise. Then he decided to write everyone a friendly message. For him, who was always so selective in his relationships, it was a very big step that was filled with emotion. The “friendship mail” continued until the end of the school year, becoming an integral part of the scholastic programme as a vehicle of friendship and reciprocity for everyone.” (M. T. – Italy)
Sep 23, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

© Sean Scaccia
The Focolare Movement in Sardenia, Italy, has responded to an invitation by local bishops to join in a communion of goods in the form of money to be donated to Caritas in Buenos Aires, which is historically linked to the Italian island. The original name of the Argentine capital, Santa Maria del Buen Ayre, St. Mary of Buenos Aires, derives from St. Mary of Bonaria who is greatly venerated by the people of Sardinia. Caritas in Buenos Aires has called the project: A Gift To The Needy In Buenos Aires. Focolare members in Sardinia also presented the Pope with a symbolic gift, a canvas painting (1 m. x 70 cm.) titled Trust that was painted by artist Sean Scaccia. The canvas was given along with a small text written by artist:
Trust.
A leap in the darkness by a soul in the Light, defying the darkness with the plunge into Heaven’s embrace. |
Sep 23, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Two thousand people – business people, young people, families, scholars and institutes – have flocked to the international city of Loppiano, Italy, not counting the more than 3000 who have followed the events on social media. LoppianoLab 2013 does not offer conclusive answers, but projects and initiatives that are just beginning or ongoing after four years of work by a network that has spread throughout the country.
Pope Francis told Sardinia’s workers that Italy “needs a new push to take off again” and “a new generation of lay Christians who are committed and able to seek solutions with the competence and moral rigour that is required for sustainable development.” The participants at LoppianoLab have echoed his words by projecting toward a new Italy through dialogue with 30 university scholars, two government ministers, an Italian government undersecretary, three magistrates, 50 journalists and students from Sophia University Institute.
Twenty projects were presented, such as New Families Onlus Project that collects more than 6 million euros every year for adoption-at-a-distance projects; a network of young film-makers which is focused on social training; the work of many men and women religious who go out into the streets to meet the immigrants and disadvantaged; communicators who are at the service of legality and the common good; the promotion of synergy between citizens and institutions at the territorial and national levels for the promotion of good practices in response to the emergency of immigration.
From the world of economy and work: the proposal by the School of Civil Economy, reinforced by more than 200 Italian businesses that have embraced the Economy of Communion project, a new style business style has emerged that would be capable of contributing to the renewal of the Italian economy.
At the front of the emergency stands legality: a legal project for regulating gambling, which is connected to the Slotmob campaign (mobilising public campaign by citizens ‘for good gaming’ and ‘against the new poverty of gambling addiction’); the promotion of critical consumer choices, the creation of networks and areas of cooperation in response to “racketeering, usury and widespread illegal practices. Institutions and citizens, associations and business owners are weaving together a common path towards a widespread culture of legality.
At the opening of LoppianoLab, Focolare president, Maria Voce, recognising the national importance of the event because built by so many vital forces in the country, also underscored its goal: “to offer answers to the difficult and complex situation of Italy.” She expressed her wish that from this would emerge more and more proposals and projects that contain the power of innovation and “thinking, acting and living for the ‘Promised Land’ where universal brotherhood is the way of life.”
Sep 23, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
“Remove from the centre the law of income and profits and put the human person and the common good there instead,” said the Pope in a peremptory statement before a crowd of thousands of unemployed people during his recent visit to Sardinia. It is the “young unemployed, people on unemployment assistance, the poor, entrepreneurs and traders who are struggling to survive.” These are the ones who must be kept most at heart. In this alarming context of uncertainty in which the Pope did not hesitate to strongly affirm that “there is no dignity without work,” he was presented with several testimonials in response to his plea. One was that of the Cooperativa Primavera 83 (Spring 83 Cooperative) that began from the initiative of the Councillor of Social Services for the Commune of Cagliari, who wished to use the financing of a Regional Law to provide jobs for a group of teenagers with social problems, by entrusting them with the care of some school gardens.

Cagliari
Maria Grazia Patrizi spoke for Sardinian business owners: “We created a cooperative which took its first steps with cohesion and consistency our only capital. We were young. With passion and courage we overcame so many failures, always beginning again. In 1993, our training and professionalism led us to win an environmental protection prize that was given by the city of Cagliari. In 1994 Primavera 83 presented a proposal for the restoration of a public garden in the Sant’Eliaquarter, a fishing village that had become one of the most degraded areas of the city. Many thought the investment would be a waste of money, but today this garden is one of the most beautiful in the city. It is often used with pride by the citizens, for wedding photos.” In 1999, the owners and workers at Primavera 83 who were involved in the maintenance of the natural landscape of Oristano, decided on an innovative way of drawing up their work contract. They decided to give away part of their holiday pay so that one of their colleagues could provide for her son who was suffering from a chronic illness without losing any days of pay.
In 2008, to celebrate 25 years in operation, the cooperative gave the commune of Cagliari a garden area on the roundabout in front of the cemetery. It is dedicated to some shareholders of Primavera 83 who died of AIDS in the 1990’s. “Now, after 30 years in operation,” continues Maria Grazia Patrizi, “this cooperative that adheres to the Economy of Communion employs 110 workers and works for the protection of the local environment in other municipalities of the Province as well, with a turnover of more than € 3 million. We compare on the market to some of the most important businesses of the region in this sector. Collaboration agreements with local social service agencies allow us to hire for more than a third of our workers people who are at risk, such as the disabled and those suffering from mental illness, prisoners and drug addicts. For us the social cooperative is a business enterprise which, through solidarity, meets the criteria of the market: professionalism, quality and efficiency, enhancement and empowerment of the potential of all, both members and employees. In this time of crisis we fell that this exercise of trying to include people who don’t seem to meet the requirements for effectiveness and efficiency, has turned into a boon for the society as a whole, transforming funding for the unemployed that will be a mainstay for the development of Sardinia.” One of the many responses to the “courage” that the Pope asked of unemployed Sardinians, a “courage that comes from within and urges to do all you can (. . .) to face this historic challenge with solidarity (. . . ) and intelligence.
Sep 21, 2013 | Non categorizzato
“I want to meet you in Cagliari!” These words were addressed to the young people by the Pope in Saint Peter’s Square last May, but all the Sardinian people are planning to be there with the Bishop of Rome. “Our world today is especially in need of hope,” said the bishops of Sardinia in a letter written to the faithful on September 8th, “and Pope Francis comes to repeat it to us again: “don’t allow yourself be robbed of hope” (Homily of March 24, 2013).
Considering the growing number of difficulties this courageous people has to face on so many fronts, the bishops thanked the Pope who, with this pilgrimage, “takes by the hand and leads us to the feet of Mary, so that we might all discover her as a model of the Christian life and as the Mother of Hope.” From Sardinia they write: “The young people are looking forward to his visit with enthusiasm and hope. These past several months have been a time of reflection, comfort and group work. The process has happened in stages, all highlighting the importance of service and giving oneself to others, and responding to the call.” It will particularly highlight experiences that give hope. One example being the Primavera 83 Cooperative that will be presented to the Pope, which is a member of the Economy of Communion project and offers social assistance. In recent years, contrary to popular trends, it has seen an increase in turnover. The Focolare community is present and active with experiences of solidarity and support also in the mining region of Sulcis, which is steeped in suffering due to the drama of unemployment.
Experiences and dialogue will alternate with moments of prayer and reflection, along with moments of joy and feasting. The international Gen Rosso Band has been given the task of preparing and animating the Pope’s meeting with young people. During the days leading up to the event the 18 artists of the group who come from nine countries, have offered three thematic workshops: communication, choreography and song. “Two days of workshops,” they write, “which many youths have attended; an explosion of joy and celebration as we prepare for the big event,” of welcoming the Pope with their performance – young people and artists together – and providing songs, choreography and background music for the program. Read Vatican Radio report Watch VideoNews
Sep 20, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
Five hundred people of all ages came from three regions of central Italy. They included lay people, priests and three bishops: Bishop Secchia from Teramo, Archbishop Petrocchi from Aquila and Bishop De Luca from Termoli. They came together for a conference of the Diocesan Movement of the Focolare, taking place on August 29, 2013 – September 1, 2013. The event drew people from six Italian diocese to share projects that focused on the New Evangelization. Together they attempted to come up with a work model for dealing with new challenges and prospects being faced by local churches.
They spoke about open churches as described by the Pope, capable of welcoming everyone into the great family that is at the service of God. Grouped by age, they shared their experiences, with the aim of then reaching out to their local environments. Beginning with a comprehensive holistic approach, they discussed ways of offering continuing education throughout the journey to adulthood. They shared projects that engaged entire cities, at times entire diocese. In the city of Ascoli, for example, the local bishop sent Christmas greetings to the newly-elected mayors and this simple gesture was the start of a very effective collaboration. Now there are several projects in support of the disadvantaged in that region in collaboration and with the support of the municipality. For many years in the city of Pesaro there has been cooperation between the Orthodox world and groups of young people (especially from Romania) who have brought a wind of hope for ecumenism in that region. In Fermo and Teramo musical bands were begun: Eis (meaning ‘one’ in Greek) and Hope, that bring a message of peace and hope. What came into evidence in the various workshops was the impact of the community on the local environment. So why not apply this experience on a vaster scale? It could also be a way of increasing the fraternity within a diocese.
The bishops present were unanimous in welcoming the idea. In order to open itself to the existential peripheries, the community had to interrogate itself, be confirmed by its brothers and sisters and increase the unity among all. Final proposals included: to work as a network in order to be enriched and to be of help to one another; to work together at finding new paths and, in this way, have a greater impact on the local environment. The Diocesan Movement of the Focolare began in the 1970’s and developed mostly in the diocese of central Italy. Together with the Focolare Movement its goal is to “work towards the realization of Jesus’ testament that all be one (Jn. 17:21), by animating local church structures (parishes, organizations and diocesan environments) through the spirituality of unity.
Sep 19, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Gaffar from Afghanistan had to seek asylum in Holland for him and his family. Life in the refugee camp was not easy with one room for the whole family. The children had to play outdoors when they were bored and disturbing to others. Every day Gaffar attempted to invent something new that would keep them busy in a positive way. Gaffar is a journalist and to keep his own mind active, he began translating a book. One day his friend, Frank, brought him a typewriter. To Gaffar it was like touching heaven with his fingertips. Now he could type his translation. Then his roommate exclaimed: “I would like to have one of those too!” Gaffar told him: “Take it; it’s yours.” Later that same day Peter arrived with a computer for Gaffar. It was still working well, and had been given to Peter when the computers at his office were replaced with new ones. “Seeing all the things you are doing for the children, I thought it could be helpful for you in preparing activities for them.” That month the Word of Life that was being lived said: “Give and there will be gifts for you.” (Photo: Afghan refugees leaving their country) Source: Città Nuova online
Sep 19, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Four days to talk about economy, culture, politics, the region and the young. Many concrete examples of “active citizenship” were shared at LoppianoLab in a programme that unfolded in workshops, seminars, testimonies by business people, an area for the Economy of Communion, courses on political involvement by the Political Movement of Unity and the Sophia University Institute. A close-up on “what the focolarini think now that Chiara Lubich is gone” through a presentation of the new book, La scommessa di Emmaus (the challenge of Emmaus), an interview with Focolare president Maria Voce. An early count of the participants places the number at around 3,000 people from every Italian region, plus another 5,000 who were linked up via internet with the different moments of the programme. Some came to Loppiano for the day. One social network had allowed the social network public to interact in the events, involving 300,000 contacts.
The major topics that were discussed included electoral law, interculturalism, legality, art, sustainable development and many others that were presented in fifteen laboratories that led to the Saturday afternoon event, entitled “Italia Europa. Un unico cantiere tra giovani, lavoro, innovazione” (Italy, Europe, a single field between youth, work and innovation). A lively discussion followed with experts on economy, training and Europe in which the young people were very involved in making a contribution toward the rebirth of Italy.
Regarding the realtionships among the generations, journalist Tiziana Ferrario riterated the importance of growing together – young people and adults – in a mutual exchange between passion and experience. “There is a more need for a Europe of the citizens,” declared Paolo Ponzano, counselor of the European Special Commission. His words were echoed by economist Stefano Zamagni, recalling the need for a more mature democracy at an international level, in which the citizens participate daily in the management of public affairs.
A high moment was the double interview with Maria voce, president of the Focolare, who has just been named an auditor of the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, who responded to the questions of Lucetta Scaraffia (Osservatore Romano)and Marco Politi (Il Fatto quotidiano), on issues facing the Church and society: the role of women, interreligous dialogue and relations with those of “different beliefs”.
At LoppianoLab citizens, experts and professionals spoke of Italy in crisis, but also of Italy on the rise, with the same common denominator: a passion for civil participation. The laboratory entitled “The stalling of the parties. A politics for the technicians. And the Citizens?” in which the issue of electoral law was discussed, which is a very hot topic in Italy. In full harmony with this was the seminar offered by the Courses on participation in politics, twenty four such courses underway throughout Italy today, involving 500 youths. “Provide us with true educators and we’ll provide you with a better world” was the title of a laboratory that pointed out the centrality of education as one resource for a better future. Stories of hopes and battles enlightened the laboratory on legality, such as that of business man Salvatore Cantone, who is engaged on the front lines with an anti-racketeering association and Giuseppe Gatti, anti-mafia magistrate and undercover, which which highlighted that a new legality can only be born from fraternity. The workshop entitled
Comunic@ando presented a series of projects: civic workshops, critical use of the media and a European project that involved Italian young people in a partnership with citizens of four other nations. The 3rd National Convention of Economy of Communion (EoC) was held in Loppiano at the Polo Lionello (Lionello Industrial Park). The novelty this year was the birth of AIPEC, an Italian association of the EoC and the voice of the young people: an overview of the year’s activity at the industrial park that was the incubator for 52 business projects; the Policor project in response to the high rate of unemployment among the young people in Italy. Now that the event has ended, the workshops continue at local sites across Italy. Active participation is the key in looking toward 2013.
Flickr Photostream
Sep 18, 2013 | Non categorizzato
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Sep 18, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
A few news flashes that highlight the radical change that love can bring about even in the life of the very young, and how the commitment to loving everyone supports them as they grow; and it becomes their distinctive mark
“My name is Karam and I’m 12 years old. I was five when I met the Focolare and was a Gen4. Among the many beautiful things I learned there is one in particular that I have in mind: the cube of love. I played the cube every day and tried to live according to the motto that came up. I remember one of my first experiences. There was a boy at my school whom no one liked and made fun of. I was one of these three. One day I tossed the cube and the phrase came up: Love your enemy. And so I went to school and apologized to the boy. The other two boys who made fun of him with me were shocked by what I had done. I told them about the cube of loveand how so many things in my life had changed once I started living the gospel with the help of this little tool. Now, every day we toss the cube together and try to live the phrase that comes up. And that boy we made fun of is also with us. Now I’m a Gen3 and still continue to play the cube, and I find that it helps me as a teenager to live the gospel in concrete ways wherever I may be.”
Following a series of testimonials by teenagers and children, the Gen4 offered their contribution. They showed up with their families at all the meetings that were held with the Focolare president and co-president in Jordan recently.
“My name is Marian and my brother and I recently had an experience. We like to watch Barney and Friends. One day while watching the shows we discovered that Barney was coming to Amman for a series of celebrations with children and we were looking forward to attending this feast. But the ticket was a bit costly. So we decided with our Mother and sisters not to attend this celebration with Barney, but to give the money that we would have spent on the tickets to the poor.”
One child posed a question to Maria Voce: “What do you think we Gen 4 from Jordan can do to help put an end to the political problems in the world and make the world more clean and beautiful?” Maria Voce answered: “You could do many things, because the world isn’t only far away. the world is also right there in your own house, in your school, in the places you play, in the streets. . . And so if you care for these places, you’ll be caring for the world. Then when someone sees those places where you go to play and see how clean and harmonious it is, they’ll think: ‘The people who play here must truly love one another. Look how beautiful and clean! Why don’t we do the same?’ And so they will, and then others will do the same, then others. . . You are like the ones who throw the stone into the water. You might say, ‘But it’s only a small stone. That’s nothing.’ But, when it’s dropped into the water a circle is created, and around that circle an even bigger circle is formed, and then another even larger circle, then another and another – until it reaches everywhere in the world. And so what you do is very important. If you don’t begin, then the others will never begin.”
Sep 16, 2013 | Non categorizzato
Th
ese ‘simple’ reflections mirror discoveries that Bishop Brendan Leahy feels he needs to constantly re-discover in order to be most effective in building up the presence of Jesus among “two or more” who are going to God together. He offers reflections on a variety of spiritual themes personal to his journey as a Christian and bishop. His reflections are poetic, solidly grounded in the spiritual tradition of the Church and clearly “audible” to the heart of every person seeking to find God in the midst of their hectic everyday life. I highly recommend this book for daily meditation and spiritual reading. Brendan Leahy is Bishop of Limerick, Ireland. Formerly professor of Systematic Theology at the Pontifical University of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, he is a von Balthasar scholar and an ecumenist and has authored articles and books, including His Mass and Ours: Meditations on Living Eucharistically.
Available from New City Press (NY)
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Sep 16, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide
Sep 16, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Available from Living City Magazine Store
Nick & Friends. Nick and his forty friends from around the world write songs with appealing rhythms, but meaningful and appealing lyrics as well. “You changed me when you came into my life, I only want to love you; you are my new beginning.”
New Beginning is the title of the CD and of the song by the same name that mixes soft melodies and rap written by Canadian, Nick Cianfarani. The idea began because, for Nick, music, friendship and relationships are a means of solidarity. The 2010 earthquake inHaiti was the reason for the CD. Hundreds of thousands died and millions were left homeless. It was a catastrophic event that only worsened the situation of one of the poorest countries in the world, where half of the people live on less than one dollar a day.
“I’m not rich,” says Nick “and I don’t have any financial resources, but I know how to play and write songs, and I belonged to Gen Rosso Band for three years. Why not involve some of the musicians I’ve known over the years, I thought.” Nick & Friends compose their songs for free, and all of the profits are put into a project promoted by the Focolare to build public housing inHaiti.
Already in 2009 some friends of the Focolare recived some land and began to collect funds. The earthquake made the project take off and thanks to the support of Action for a United World they were able to build 20 studio homes, a community centre, a kitchen and a small storage building. Some of the earthquake victims have found a home and today 17 extremely poor families live in the studio homes. 175 children are supported through a support-from-a-distance programme of the Movement, as well as three schools, and one kindergarten, totaling some 1000 children. It has contributed to helpingHaiti on its feet again.
Continua la raccolta fondi, anche attraverso la vendita di A new Beginning, perché è in progetto la riforestazione di un’area con piante di mango, aranci, limoni e ananas che darà possibilità di impiego a molti lavoratori. “As soon as I mentioned the idea,” Nice recounts, “everyone was in agreement: Giovanni from Italy, Maria and Brian from New York, Renan from Brazil, the Chinese Leonard, Jane, Adrian and Eva who are now Canadian citizens and belong to the quartet. The last song on the CD, Risalet Salan, is sung in Arabic by four musicians from the Jeel Band inJordan: Yousef, Lith, Anwar and Amer who have become quite popular. Their video clip won a national award for the best song promoting peace.
Link video Gen Rosso Haiti
For more information: livingcitymagazine
nick.cianfarani @ focolare.org
Source: Città Nuova online
Sep 15, 2013 | Non categorizzato
A laboratory never closes but continues. Especially if its purpose is to implement practical solutions that will generate some hope for Italy’s revival. The organizers of LoppianoLab did not place the word “end” at the conclusion of this second LoppianoLab (September 18, 2011), a national laboratory lasting four days which brought together in close dialogue researchers from the fields of economy, culture, education, art and Italian communication networks not to search for a new future for Italy, but to come up with a shared idea for Italy’s present.
The final assessment was positive. The Lab was confirmed in its calling to create a national meeting space for the different worlds of work, cultural agencies, citizens and institutions. The meeting gathered together 3, 000 people and 70 Italian companies. There were 56 events including panel discussions, conferences, artistic performances and Literary cafés.
One event that was particularly highlighted was the Second National Convention of the Economy of Communion twenty years following its birth. It involves economists and entrepreneurs together finding new avenues for work’s future. Alberto Ferrucci from the International EoC Commission announced that a document of proposals is to be presented at the United Nations, which the Economy of Communion project has formulated for confronting the crisis and finding a new model of development. Many stories were shared during these days by entrepreneurs who decided to not only consider the final product and profits, but the individual persons who are the true assets of the company.
The Trinity a Way of life?” This was the title of an evening dialogue session between theology, philosophy and art, based on Coda’s theological volume, “Dalla Trinità” (From the Trinity). Two parts of the LoppianoLab took place at Sophia University Institute. One was the presentation of Sophia magazine, which reports on the research being carried out at the Institute; and the other was the presentation of Nuova Umanita which, for thirty years, expresses the Focolare Movement’s culture. Participants were also given the opportunity to become acquainted with the academic project of Sophia Institute, which is a path of life, study and research for the acquisition and deeper understanding of a Christianly inspired culture that is capable of illuminating many human dimensions as well various academic disciplines.
The meeting of the Città Nuova Press Group gathered together regional work groups of journalists and officers, editors and collaborators who are involved with “Città Nuova” magazine. They stand on the front lines in strengthening a national network which promotes the culture of unity. The town of Loppiano, which hosted the events, offered an “Open City”, a presentation of its people and places: a fifty years of Centro Ave Arte art exhibit, dramatic readings from the writings of Igino Giordani and Fraçois Neveux, music, dance, and a taste of cultures from around the world.
The concluding laboratory took place on the morning of September 18. It was entitled: “Hoping with Italy. A network for the common good on the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.” This laboratory highlighted the results that have been achieved in various settings, pointing out practical avenues for continuing reflection and experimentation, which were summarized in four proposals to make Italy hope again: support for young entrepreneurs with special attention to the South in the Expo of EoC businesses at the Bonfanti Industiral Park; the necessary openness to other networks, organizations and institutions, in the laboratories that are promoted by the Città Nuova Press Group; summer schools in Argentina and Cile with three new Masters from Sophia University Institute, which is an instrument for re-launching the new humanism: Loppiano as a permanent laboratory. What is its contribution to Italy? To demonstrate that unity in our cities is possible even in daily life.
Sep 13, 2013 | Non categorizzato

©Osservatore Romano – Pope Francis welcomed Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti
At the end of the audience Maria Voce said, “A conversation with familiar tones. We could see the great importance the Pope gives to a Christian life of commitment and communion”. The president of the Focolare Movement continued to say, “ The life of the Gospel is of particular importance to him. He encouraged us to keep going ahead with joy, because a Christian without joy will not attain anything.So, a Christianity of commitment, communion and joy”. This meeting provided an opportunity to present the Focolare Movement and its initiatives in different parts of the world, highlighting its specific contribution in different places. Maria Voce said, “Pope Francis thanked us for the work of the Move ment all over the world”. They were able to speak about the various aspects of the Movement’s commitments:from its material and spiritual capillary action in favour of families and youth in many places in Syria to its cultural initiatives promoted in China; from its interreligious dialogue with Buddhists, Muslims and Jews to its involvement in the project “Amazzonia” launched by the Brazilian Episcopal Conference for the evangelization of this vast area; from the testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation in various African countries struck by war to the revitalization of fraternal relationships in anonymous districts of various metropolis in the West, to the enterprising initiatives in the social sphere, such as the Economy of Communion. 
© Pope Francis welcomed Maria Voce
When speaking about their latest visit to Jordan, where they met the Focolare Communities of the Middle East and North Africa, Maria Voce shared with the Pope the experience of those days of tension and uncertainty. Even there, on September 7, the members of the Movement present in Amman and belonging to various churches and religions lived the day of fasting and prayers for peace. “ One could feel the Pope’s open-heartedness and his great desire to embrace all humanity through this prayer,” commented Maria Voce. “And the Middle East was present in this embrace”. Maria Voce concluded: “The Pope’s words made us realize how much he appreciates the Movements. When speaking of any situation, he remarked on how important it is that the movements sustain these situations. You can see that the Pope recognizes their ability to put the radicalness of the Gospel in the foreground”. Press Release See Rome Reports’ account of the meeting and YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Uy26LWfjEoQ
Sep 13, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Following the success of the first presentation and study of the Economy of Communion project, the Focolare Movement proposed a second edition of the event for anyone interseted in learning more.
The gathering took place in the Focolare’s permanent Mariapolis in Puebla, Mexico. More than a hundred people attended from the United States, Argentina, Costa Rica, Brazil, Italy and several regions of the Mexican Republic. There were a large number of young people, students and business owners, whose liveliness brought the hope of a promising future for the EoC’s development in Mexico.
This second edition of the congress, held on August 24th and 25th, the contribution of several specialists and business owners whose businesses belong to the EoC were presented.
The meeting entitled “Persons and Communion for the Establishment of a New Economy”, also featured the presence of John Mundell, member of the international commission of the EoC, who has successfully implemented the the EoC model in his own business, Mundell & Associates Inc.

This North American business owner highlighted the more than hundred businesses in the world that belong tot he EoC economic model, with a strong presence in Europe and worthwhile development in Latin America and Africa. During his presentation he gave the first launch to the The Company Cube in its Spanish version. It is a fun tool that helps to live the lifestyle of the EoC in one’s own daily life.
Argentine business owners Monica Salazar (Nogales Maderas), German Jorge (Dimaco S.A.) and Francisco Cervino (Sushi Soul), presented how they adhere to the dictates of this economic model. Then several business owners and young people from Mexico shared the challenges and concerns they daily face in their work environments, and they showed how the EoC is a key way for contributing to a more just economic order in the world.
The main aim of the Economy of Communion (EoC) is that of helping to create a more fraternal and supportive society, with businesses as the cornerstones of this endeavor. As they are consolidated, these businesses create jobs and make free decisions to put the profits in common in support of people in poverty, and the spreading of a culture of giving and communion, through the promotion of educational and cultural projects and initiatives.
Christopher Jimènez
Sep 13, 2013 | Non categorizzato

Pope Francis receives Maria Voce in private audience. ©Osservatore Romano
More details about the meeting to follow.
Sep 12, 2013 | Non categorizzato