It is the School of Civil Economy, called SEC in Italian which stands for ‘Scuola di economia civile’. Among its founders are some of the most important bodies in Italy: Associazione cristiani lavoratori italiani (ACLI, Association of Italian Christian Workers), Banca Popolare Etica (People’s Ethical Bank), Cooperazione Trentina (Trent Regional Co-operation), Economy of Communion (EoC), Federazione delle Banche di credito cooperativo (Federcasse, Federation of Cooperative Commercial Canks), the Sophia University Institute and the Polo Lionello Bonfanti (Lionello Bonfanti Business Centre). They officially established it on 19 May 2013 in Loppiano, near Florence, Italy.
Silvia Vacca, a young entrepreneur from the north of Italy, in the last few months has been in the front line in setting up SEC. She is about to become president of its administrative council. In an interview on the Economy of Communion’s website, she said: ‘It is a school that is also a research project that hopes to promote a civil and civilizing market, one that puts, at the centre of its economy activity, the human person with all his or her needs, aspirations and possibilities for flourishing. This kind of market is one where people interact for their mutual benefit and looking towards the common good, as opposed to a utilitarian approach or looking only to maximize profits which is the pattern that has spread across the world and that has led to the current crisis.’
It is, then, a study centre engaged in innovative research that redefines market relations against the background of the failure of individualistic capitalism, a failure that is no longer a theoretical proposition within academia but daily experience for many.
Its research programme is directed by Stefano Zamagni, Luigino Bruni and Renato Ruffini, who for many years have been promoting civil economy. They are flanked by a teaching community drawn from well-known scholars from the major Italian universities.
SEC’s proposal comes from the need to create awareness of a number of economic principles, especially those that touch upon the human person and the common good, in those areas of life that, because of their legal requirements or their openness to these principles, are in harmony with its principles. It offers education and training aimed in the first instance at people, currently or about to be, in positions of leadership within institutions, associations and businesses. SEC aims also at schools and intends to run study programmes for teachers and people in authority in education.
Courses begin in the autumn of 2013, following the official launch of SEC on 20 September during ‘LoppianoLab’ which takes place every year in Polo Lionello Bonfanti (Lionello Bonfanti Business Centre), which is home to its administrative centre in Loppiano.
“Before the start of the long tour in Brazil (May 16-July 27),” the friends of Gen Rosso write, “there was the long-awaited meeting with Franciscan Fr Hans Stapel and Brazilian Nelson Giovaneli, founders of the Fazenda da Esperanca community where young people in trouble are welcomed to live a lifestyle based on the Gospel. The meeting took place at their central headquarters in Guaratingueta, near to San Paulo. We felt that before beginning this challenging journey, we should take a moment to be with God and with those who, like us, had decided to embark on an adventure so rooted in the Gospel.”
The visit to the Fazenda began in the small chapel, where we remembered Chiara Lubich, whose spirituality is the inspiration behind the life of the Fazenda da Esperanca. In 2010, when the official recognition was given by the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Fiar Hans and his collaborators desired to visit the international headquarters of the Focolare in order to “thank” Chiara, paying her a visit in the chapel where her body rests.
The friends from Gen Rosso asked Fr Hans what he had in mind for the months before them in Brazil: “Let’s look at the beginnings of the Focolare Movement in Trent,” he answered. “Around the table of that first focolare there was a focolarina and a pauper, a focolarina and a pauper. . . There was the spiritual dimension joined to the social dimension. This is our challenge, especially here in South America, but I think also in the whole world. When there is the spiritual dimension without the incarnation of it on a social level, something’s missing. When the opposite happens, there is social involvement that has no roots in God, and the effort is vain. The challenge is found in the unity of these two dimensions.”
This was also the plan for the Gen Rosso tour that began on May 16 with their Musical Streetlight. The Musical will involve 200 young people from the Fazenda da Esperanca and will conclude with performance at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on July 27. The first 3 concerts were attended by over 5000 people. “Each day we try to root ourselves in God,” Gen Rosso writes, “through reflection, the life of the Word and the mutual love that we try to have among us, which generates the presence of Jesus in our midst (Mt. 18:20). With the strength of His presence we then try to love all the teenagers who are working with us on the “Strong without violence” project.” The teenagers are often coming from experiences of abandonment and unspeakable suffering. They find a refuge in drugs: “We’d like to offer them the joy that doesn’t pass away,” they write “because Jesus opens the door to the Eternal, even in the midst of much of our own suffering and that of others in this world.”
In conclusion: “This is the message that we would like to cry out to society here in Brazil, through our shows and the media: Something exists that doesn’t pass away: God. And he loves us immensely. It is he who can make us strong without any violence!”
Fr. Vasile Bobita and Fr. Gianfrancesco Bagnulo got to know each other while serving as chaplains at the Viterbo prison and bringing solace to the orthodox and catholic prisoners respectively.
Over the years this contact developed into a strong brotherly relationship, which then involved the members of their respective church communities and led them to collaborate in organising a local event of the “Together for Europe” initiative (May 2012), of which the Focolare Movement is one of the promoters.
This led to the idea among the two chaplains to visit together the small town of witness at Loppiano (Florence), inviting also Fr. Vasile’s Romanian Orthodox community and two orthodox monks from the San Giovanni Therestis monastery at Bivongi, in the Reggio Calabria province.
On the 15th May, among the enchanting Tuscan hills, after the presentation of Chiara Lubich’s story and that of the small town, a lively dialogue was initiated within this varied group on “evangelization and dialogue”, on the Movement’s spirituality of unity, on the relationships with the Orthodox Church since the 60’s, on Jesus’ Testament: “That all may be one” (Jn 17,21). This moment facilitated the deepening of mutual understanding and the sharing of hopes, challenges, sufferings and joys, which was also enriched by the presence of a Romanian Orthodox focolarina who lives in the little town.
Fr. Vasile’s comment was brief and meaningful: “Now I know why I always felt welcome with Fr. Gianfrancesco: it’s because you live the reality of unity”.
In the end, everyone wanted to participate with the inhabitants of Loppiano in the Holy Mass at the church dedicated to Mary, Mother of God. Fr. Gianfrancesco said that it “touched us deeply because it is the place of meeting, of relationships concretely lived in the light of the gospel”.
This visit was of particular significance as it coincided with the 10th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Shrine (2003-2013) when, in the presence of Chiara Lubich and religious and civil authorities, representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople donated some small coloured stones, from important Marian orthodox shrines around the world, to be laid together with the foundation stone as a sign of the path of communion that unites us.
‘It was a moment of deep, intimate and peaceful emotion,’ Maria Voce said in describing the atmosphere this morning at the mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the chapel of Casa Santa Marta, where she had been invited with Giancarlo Faletti, the Focolare’s Co-President. The words of the Pope’s homily were particularly significant. They were based on the Gospel for the day (Mk 9:30-37) where it is clear that Christian progress means to become more humble and that power in the Church is service: ‘Real power is service. As He did, He who came not to be served but to serve, and His service was the service of the Cross. He humbled Himself unto death, even death on a cross for us, to serve us, to save us. And there is no other way in the Church to move forward. For the Christian, going ahead, progress, means humbling oneself. If we do not learn this Christian rule, we will never, ever be able to understand Jesus’ true message on power.’ Greeting him the end of mass, Maria Voce told the Holy Father of the prayers and the gratitude of the whole Focolare Movement: ‘We all committed to living what you say to the letter, in particular to go out and meet other people because in others we meet Christ.’ ‘That’s just what’s needed,’ the Pope relied, ‘a culture of encounter!’
CCTV service – Pope Francis: True power, even in the Church, is in serving others (21.5.2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HquzYPDPGq0
>“It was beautiful to be able to assure Pope Francis that there is a vital force in the Church, even in spite of so many problems,” Maria Voce said to Vatican Radio microphones, as she described the confirmations and novelties she drew from that special encounter.
“It definitely confirmed the commitment to live our charism, as we felt how strongly communion is the essential mark of the Church today. And then our charism of communion, it seems to me, was highlighted for us as a necessary service to the Church. This was also confirmed by considering the feast under which we were meeting. We asked about each other, we assured each other of prayers …” .
“Renewed perhaps in the courage to face the world, because every movement surely has this inner drive that Pope Francis is strongly stressing, to reach out to others, to be available to the Church, to place ourselves at the disposal of the Church. Hearing it stated so forcefully by the Pope, it was like giving us the courage to say: we’re small, we’re weak, but in spite of this it is Jesus who leads us. Jesus is with us. The Pope sends us, so we can go …”.
As he looked ahead at the road before the different charisms and movements, the Pope put everyone on guard against both particularism and homologation, and he presented them with three words: harmony, newness, mission. What does this mean for you concretely?
“I was deeply impressed by the word “newness” because we would all be tempted to continue leaning on what is already familiar to us from the road we’ve already travelled, based on past experiences. But the Pope has challenged us to welcome surprises from the Holy Spirit, to listen well to what He asks of us and to follow Him on the streets of the world.”
Source: Vatican Radio – News Radio May 21, 2013 19:30 edition
Dr Gianni Caso (on the rigth) receiving the honour
Communion and Law is an attempt to discern those aspects of the spirituality of unity coming from the charism of Chiara Lubich that have significance for the world of law and let them inspire new avenues of research and new paradigms. Dr Caso, honorary Assistant President of the Italian Court of Cassation, is working at the moment in a similar field within the Focolare Movement. He has recently come back from a visit to Guatemala and Colombia where he was able to deepen his understanding of these countries. While there he was the recipient of an honour conferred by the Colombian Parliament upon the Focolare Movement. We asked his reflections.
What can the experience of Communion and Law give to societies struggling with difficult issues to do with the rule of law?
‘The role of Communion and Law in relation to what happens socially, economically and politically in such countries is twofold: it seeks to transform these areas of life and it seeks to rethink the dominant culture and its interrelationship with the society’s economic, political and legal order.
The first of these two things came into light in Guatemala. Here they asked us ideas on how to bring into effect the rule of law so that it could transform a society deeply troubled by injustice and without any guarantee of protection for citizens and for communities.
The second aspect came into light in Colombia, where there is a clear link between a society’s development of an individualistic culture and its economic, political and legal system, since individualistic culture affirms an economic order based on private profit and, at the same time, that kind of economic order promotes an individualistic culture. The consequence is a deeply divided and unequal society, with the formation of a class of rich people together with the exclusion of a large part of the population from positions of responsibility in economic, political and cultural life.’
If things are so tough and challenging, are there any positive signs or chances for change?
‘The strongest impression I had was when I compared the social and cultural situation of those Latin American countries with the current situation in Italy, and generally in Europe. In Latin America there is an extremely powerful “culture of life”. Even though socially things are very difficult because of the tremendous social inequality, leading to poverty and exclusion for a large part of the people, there is a real sense of the desire and the joy of living. This is caused by the huge numbers of children and young people generally (parents, in general, even though they are poor, have great love and care for their children). Here in Europe it looks as if we’re dominated by a “culture of death”: not many children, few young people, an ageing society, many “single” people, closed in ourselves, depressed and lack of zest for life. All of which is clear to those who visit those countries and come back here.’
Four questions and answers off the cuff. The Pope’s words were the most touching moment of the Pentecost Vigil at which 200,000 faithful from many ecclesial groups gathered on May 18, 2013. “I know your questions. . . it’s the truth!” Yet his answers were spontaneous, and they engaged those present in profound silence. He was first questioned on how he reached the certainty of faith and how we are to overcome our fragility. He responded with a story: “I had the grace to grow up in a family where the faith was lived out in a very simple and concrete way. It was especially my grandmother who taught me the path of faith.” “She spoke to us about Jesus and taught us the catechism. On Good Friday she brought us to the candle procession. At the end of the procession came the dying Jesus, and our grandmother would make us kneel. She would tell us: he is dead, but tomorrow he will rise! I first received the Christian message from my grandmother!” Then came the Pope’s invitation to abandon all fear: “We’re fragile, we know that, but He is stronger. With the Lord we are certain, the faith grows with the help of the Lord. . .” . What is the most important thing on which we should fix our sights? “The most important thing? Jesus. If we move forward with an organization, but without Jesus, we go nowhere.” And he invited all to live in “synergy with the Holy Spirit”. Not so much to talk but to give testimony by the way we live. How should we live so that the Church may be a poor Church and for the poor? What can our contribution be to the Church and to society in this time of crisis that involves public ethics? “Living the Gospel is the main contribution we can give. The Church is not a political movement, nor a well-organized structure. We aren’t an NGO, and when the Church becomes an NGO it loses its salt and has no taste, it’s only an empty organization made up of many structures.” Among the greatest dangers mentioned by the Pope were those of efficiency and of closing in on itself.Such closing in on oneself leads to illness: “The Church needs to come out of itself and start moving toward the peripheries of society. Obviously, when you go out, there will be accidents: “But I prefer a thousand times more a Church that is damaged than a Church that is sick from closing in on itself. Go out, go out!” This was the path the Pope was inviting all to follow in order to move away from a culture of confrontation and fragmentation and a “culture of waste”, and toward living a culture of encountering others, encountering Jesus and all our brothers and sisters, beginning from the poor, looking in their eyes and touching them with our hands in order to “touch the flesh of Christ and to take upon ourselves the sufferings of the poor.” How are we to confess the faith? “To confess the faith two virtues are needed: courage and patience, as we were reminded by the testimony of Brother Shabhaz Bhatti, Pakistan Minister who was murdered in 2011. We’re all on the path of martyrdom. Some give testimony to Christ by giving up their physical lives, some by living small martyrdoms throughout the day.” “A Christian should always respond to evil with good.” “Let us make these brothers and sisters feel that we are deeply united with this situation.” “Do you pray for these brothers and sisters in your daily prayers?”
During the final words to Pope Francis by leaders of the communities and ecclesial movements, Maria Voce also expressed her gratitude to the Holy Father and the Focolare’s commitment to “give a courageous and joyful testimony to the Christian life.” She shared some of her impressions with us: “his words touched our hearts” especially his continued insistence on the encounter with Jesus and prayer, which he came back to in all his answers, underscoring “the spiritual dimension of the Christian person: prayer and the encounter with Jesus that happens through people on the peripheries of society, on the outside. He rejected excuses and table strategies, while never denying the challenges. We need to look to Jesus and the rest will come as a consequence.” The president of the Focolare underscored the atmosphere of friendship and joy among the representatives of communities and movements. “I believe that the Pope, when he arrived, felt this joyful heart of the Church.” Giancarlo Faletti, co-president of the Focolare, stressed that the Pope emphasized the love of Jesus and of neighbour as the dynamic of life of those who look outwards: “He did not look at the movements just as a particular part of the Church, but he addressed all Christianity.” See the CTV transmission replay
O Holy Spirit, how much we ought to be grateful to you yet how little we are!
That you are totally one with Jesus and the Father, to whom we more often turn, consoles us, but it is no excuse.
We want to be with you who are “of comforters the best; … the soul’s most welcome guest; sweet refreshment here below.”
You are light, joy, beauty.
You seize and captivate souls, you inflame hearts, you inspire deep and decisive thoughts of sanctity with unexpected personal commitments.
You work what many sermons cannot teach.
You sanctify.
Especially, O Holy Spirit, you who are so discreet, though impetuous and overwhelming, yet blow like a soft wind that few know how to hear and perceive, look upon our rough-edged coarseness, and make us your faithful followers. May no day pass without our invoking you, thanking you, adoring you, loving you, without our living as your diligent disciples.
We ask of you this grace. Envelop us in your great light of love, above all in our darkest hour, when the present vision of life comes to a close, dissolving into the one that is eternal.
Chiara Lubich
(From Essential Writings, New City Press, New York and New City, London (English translation), p. 102.) 1. Sequence
More than 120,000 people are expected to arrive from 150 ecclesial realities, from many countries in all the continents. It is a meeting for ecclesial movements, new communities, associations and lay organizations that will take place in St. Peter’s Square on May 18-19. The event is one of many initiatives taking place during the Year of Faith. It was presented by Archbishop Rino Ficishella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, during a press conference in the press room of the Holy See. The slogan chosen for the event is significant: “I believe! Increase the faith in us.” “The personal pronouns used in this phrase,” the prelate explained, “attest to the underlying meaning. Each member of the Church is called to personally pronounce his adherence to Christ and to the Church.” It is a free and personal choice. But he also says that faith is communitarian, it’s an “us” imbued with community values, principally those of the Church. “So many men, women and youths,” he went on “have rediscovered in these movements not only the faith that they had lost,” but “they have undergone a real and true conversion of life.” “These ecclesial realities,” he stated, “are one of the most evident fruits of the Second Vatican Council.” These words powerfully echoed the expression used by Benedict XVI who, on Pentecost 2006, defined the new ecclesial realities “one of the most important novelties brought about by the Holy Spirit in the Church for the implementation of the Second Vatican Council.” Archbishop Fisichella continued by saying that the choice of Pentecost is meant to make it understood that “in the Church today these new ecclesial realities are a sign of the Risen Lord who guides His Church in the work of evangelization.” The start of the meeting in Saint Peter’s Square is set to begin at 15:00, and continue with testimonies and musical and artistic performances. The international Gen Verde band and 150 members of various members of different movements will also perform at different moments. Pope Francis will join them at around 18:00 and, after having heard the testimonies from Ireland Pakistan, will participate in an open discussion, answering some questions. On Sunday, May 19th, the Pope will celebrate the Mass at 10:30 in Saint Peter’s Square, followed by the Regina coeli. During these days of preparation some words of John Paul II have been returning to mind, from the first grand meeting on Pentecost 1998:: “What a great need there is these days for mature Christians, aware of their baptismal dignity, of their own vocation and mission in the Church and in the world! What a great need for living communities! And so we have the movements and new ecclesial communities: these are the answer from the Holy Spirit to this dramatic challenge at the end of the millennium. You are this providential answer.”
The Holy Spirit who unites created beings to their Creator generates a common life between the human and the divine. But Pentecost, by making ‘many believers one heart and one soul’ brought about, as a spontaneous effect of unity, the community of life. In this way common life, in the midst of daily distractions and noise, has become divine common life, where other persons serve as the means of ascent to God. Indeed, each brother or sister we meet resupplies us with divine life, because, loving the other for Christ, we are given access to God. And so life’s march is no longer, is it has been called, a death march, but growth towards eternal youth.
Living the Spirit of God is to let the Holy spirit live in us. And then to the extent we love God, we love also other human beings who are God’s representatives … And to the extent the goods of the Holy Spirit are communicated, they also increase. To develop and to blaze with life, charity must expand; it is blood and longs to circulate; it is fire and longs to burst all bounds. As natural life is a circulation of heat, communicated from cell to another, so also from the first cell set alight for the Creator there has been a continuous passage and an unwavering increase of heat in time and space. Likewise the supernatural life is an unwavering communication of heat – grace, charity – from the sun which is God to the souls who share in God. Other people are channels of the transmission of grace; in a sense they are sacraments of God. If others are excluded the Holy Spirit passes on no longer, life is stopped. And it is understandable: the love that passes on from me to the other person and from the other person to me is God who circulates.
The origin of this entire miracle is to be found in the incarnation and hence in charity. Humankind, therefore, being the image and likeness of God … is God who lives – incarnate so to speak – in human limitedness. If it is like this, I must see humankind like this and deal with humanity as if it were God in effigy. It is mutual; I must behave as God’s representative—from this come my vicarious dignity and my duties in action.
Humankind has been made by God and every cell of every human body and every fold of every spirit bears its maker’s trademark, the stamp of the Eternal. From such a maker humankind has received an unmistakable imprint, so that each human person on his or her own is like a masterpiece. Humans carry in their every molecule the proof of the existence of God who placed them in the world. The Holy Spirit is the One who acts in this divinization; he is the active principle of God’s incarnation. All individual humans are brought to share in some way in union with God, and the love that makes humans into God is the same that made God become human.
From Igino Giordani, La divina avventura [The Divine Adventure], Città Nuova, 1993
Sub-Saharan Africa united in the thought of its peoples: “A land upon which to build a better future,” affirms Gisele Moulasta from Gabon, “not to stay closed in our own small world, but in order to be more and more open to the entire human family.” A statement charged with meaning, at the conclusion of the course on May 10-13, which gathered people together from several African nations.
What is the centre for inculturation? In his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii nuntiandi, Paul VI had expressed concern over the split between the Gospel and culture, seeing it as the drama of our age. He therefore hoped that this gap would be overcome by approaching the different cultures with more interest and care. The evangelization of the cultures is, as John Paul II also stressed, is the deepest and most complete for the message of Christ to enter into the consciousness and penetrate the customs of the people, the activities of the people, their institutions and structures. In line with this thinking, in May 1992, during a trip to Nairobi, Chiara Lubich founded the Centre for Inculturation inspired by the spirituality of unity, On that occasion she identified the goal: to discover the way of dialoging with the African culture and its values in order to promote evangelization among the peoples of the continent.
This year, the focus was on the human person in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was examined from the perspective of the anthropology of the African community by geographical regions; Semitic Biblical and New Testament writings; Second Vatican Council documents and the contribution of the spirituality of unity. The participants also shared a variety of experiences that greatly enriched the academic discussion.
“Examining certain aspects of our culture in the light of the Gospel involves a confrontation of values that are divergent. Jesus is demanding,” explained Vital Muhindo who is from Congo: “The challenges are there: It’s not that the Gospel must enter into our cultures, but that our cultures that must enter into the logic of the Gospel.” In this context Victorien Kone recalled the powerful moment of his six year old daughter’s death. According to local tradition, the little one could not receive a burial because she was still in the process of becoming a person. “How could we give her a decent funeral?” her father asked. “Although still small, Joelle was spiritually a giant! She had a deep relationship with Chiara Lubich. She was loved by everyone, great and small. The funeral was held and attended by many people. It was a sign of life. This way of doing things was a surprise to many, but it also gave a testimony that had an influence on the common mentality.”
This year’s course also included a group of young people of the Focolare Movement from around the world who enthusiastically launched the Sharing with Africa Project, which is one of the many projects of United World Project. Simultaneously, United World Week 2013 was being celebrated inn Burkina Faso where a project was carried out in a pediatric ward of a hospital. In Nigeria there was a Genfest attended by 1,000 Christian and Muslim youths, and in the Ivory Coast the United World Project was presented to the UNESCO National Commission.
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is a megalopolis with more than 11,000,000 inhabitants. It has been a city of enormous social upheaval, which for years has been fighting for fair and equitable democracy, following decades of dictatorship that has only increased the gap between rich and poor. Parishes are often involved in various social projects in favor of the disadvantaged. They also feel the need of training in civic involvement for people who wish to see the country reconstructed in a way that will make it more equal. The Parish Movement – whose members are animated by the spirituality of the Focolare as they serve in parishes – has been running such a social training program for some time through the pro-motion of solidarity projects, food and housing programs, as well as civic and political training programs that are open to everyone. On the occasion of the election of the Mayor and deputy mayor of Manila, St. Roque’s Parish de-cided to hold an educational training forum on citizenship, politics and democratic participation. The forum was held on April 12, 2013 and was designed together with the Vicariate. It involved 48 parishes of the diocese of Manila as well as the Minister of Public Affairs. Preparations began in the interest groups last February. There they were able to draw up a program, invitations and presentations. Two thousand people took part in the forum of which 1400 came from different parishes. And there was also the participation of non-governmental organizations like the Transportation Association, the Sellers Federation, government deputies, ecumenical leaders, teacher groups and members of the business community. The candidates for mayor, deputy mayor and councilors presented their plans for the city of Manila over the next 3 years. This was followed by questions and answers in an atmosphere of re-spect and trust. The style of attacking one’s opponent as an election campaign strategy gave way to an experience of brotherhood from which the many different political affiliations came out satisfied. One of organizer commented: “I was afraid it might be beyond our strength, but it turned out a success.” Among the final impressions one person remarked: “I understood the candidates’ plans and the values that inspire them. Thank you for what you’ve done here.”
The wide embrace of Bernini’s colonnade is not able to contain the crowd of people who belong to as many as 56 new communities and ecclesial movements; a tiny representation of the approximately 80,000,000 Catholics, for the most part lay people, who make up this immense people. It’s the first time that they are meeting all together with the Pope. An enormous multicolored garden: this is the way someone described St. Peter’s Square on that sunny afternoon of May 30. The presence of members of the various movements, who with their specific charisms contribute towards making the Church beautiful, alive, and credible, constituted a surprising and remarkable display of unity in diversity. A reality witnessed to by founders of four of the most widespread movements: Chiara Lubich, Kiko Arguello, Jean Vanier, Luigi Giussani. Their charisms draw life from the same Spirit; it is a unity in diversity, demonstrating Christian life as a reflection of the Trinitarian mystery. « …numerous charisms are always born in the most important moments of the life of the Church. I’m thinking of the Council of Trent. … Today then, I would say that the Holy Spirit …, blowing in the same direction, puts the accent on different notes, because the life of the Church is like a symphony, a great concert; many instruments are needed, the greatest number of voices are needed». (Msgr. Piero Coda) Therefore, a wide variety of charisms are at the basis of the many new ecclesial movements, supported and encouraged by the Pope as the providential answer of the Holy Spirit to the challenges at the end of this millennium. In his address Pope John Paul II does not hesitate to affirm that what happened in the Upper Room in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, is being renewed this evening in St. Peter’s Square. «With the Second Vatican Council, the Comforter recently gave the Church … a renewed Pentecost, instilling a new and unforeseen dynamism. … You, present here, are the tangible proof of this “outpouring” of the Spirit». (Pope John Paul II) In speaking of the journey taken so far by the movements, Pope John Paul II sees them now on their way toward a new stage of ecclesial maturity in which their strong common announcement is a valid alternative to the secularized culture which encourages and promotes models of life without God.«It constitutes a precious capital for the entire mission of the Church. Its founder did not say in vain that the witness of unity is “so that the world may believe.” The missionary fecundity of the movements will be potentiated if this witness of unity in diversity shines forth so that the world may believe».(GusmánCarriquiri) A witness of unity among all the movements in view of the new evangelization: Chiara expressed this need to the Pope.
«We know that the Church, and you too, desire full communion, unity among the Movements, and this has already begun. We want to assure you, Your Holiness, that, because our specific charism is unity, we will make every effort to contribute, with all our strength, towards fully accomplishing it». (Chiara Lubich)
This commitment assumed by Chiara corresponds to the aspirations of all the leaders of other movements.
“I have been a very fortunate man. How I’d like to be able to express all the love that God has shown to me, though I think it would be impossible to put into words all that I’ve received [from Him].” With these words Oreste Basso began to describe the golden thread that he saw woven through the story of his life. He was born in Florence, Italy, on January 1, 1922. His family instilled in him Christian principles and rectitude of mind. He loved the humanities and dreamt of a life and career that would be just right for him. The experience of the War was “a dreadful lesson because in the war you could see all human ideals collapsing.” “The only thing that remained standing after the war,” he recalled, “were the natural affections of the family.” After graduating in engineering in 1946 he found a job at a factory in Sesto San Giovanni (Italy), which was then considered the “Stalingrad of Italy”. He lived in Milan and in the evenings was often at a canteen where he met some friends – Piero Pasolini, Danilo Zanzucchi, Guglielmo Boselli and Alfredo Zirondoli – who were later among the very first people to follow in the adventure of the focolares. They would discuss Maritain, Neo-Scholasticism, music and art. One of them, Giorgio Battisti, one day invited Oreste to “get to know something beautiful, some young people who live the Gospel.”
One of these young people named Ginetta Calliari, who is among the first companions of Chiara Lubich, went to meet them and was bombarded with questions. Quietly she would listen to them until late in the night. Each month she would travel from Trent just to meet with them. “We began to realize,” Oreste said, “that the Gospel was something that was to be lived not by people who were far from us, but by us, by me, by him, by the others.” The fruits of this new life were evident in Oreste’s life. He earned the esteem of one of his subordinates who was very active in politics, and came to know of his evangelical ideal. He told Oreste: “If you believe in this God, then I can also believe in Him in the way you say.”
In 1959 Oreste left home and went to be part of the focolare in Milan together with the others who had followed this path after having heard it announced to them by Ginetta. Then he met Chiara: “Such a beautiful encounter!” he said. “She seemed such a stupendous person to me, in her great humility and light.”
Meanwhile the number people began to grow in the cities of Italy, who were eager to know the nascent Movement. Oreste moved to the city of Parma with Lionello Bonfanti. His story has the flavour of the beginnings: “There was a couch for sleeping, and for eating we bought an alcohol stove. Usually we ate cheese, lots of milk – milk saved us! But we were truly happy.”
A few years passed and the Focolare Movement-Work of Mary – this was the name given by Chiara to this new eccesial phenomenon – continued to spread and take form in its mutiple aspects. Oreste was therefore asked to transfer to Florence and take on a role of responsibility. He immediately agreed in spite of his job where he had just been offered another promotion. The general director was himself saddened because of Oreste’s departure from the company. “It was the begining of another life,” Oreste said, “totally immersed in the charism of Chiara and being one of its bearers.”
In the late 1950’s he was recalled to Rome where always at Chiara’s side, with his discreet and joyful style, he continued his work right on the forefront, assisting in drawing up the Statutes of the Work of Mary. In 1981 he was ordained a priest, a ministry which he considered to be a privilege and a call to greater love.
He was elected co-president of the Movement in 1996 and played a fundamental role at Chiara’s death (March 14, 2008), as well as during the General Assembly that followed, in which the successor of the founder was elected.
The messages that have arrived after the news of Oreste’s death from the Holy Father through Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Bertone and from president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Cardinal Rylko, testify to his radically evangelical lifestyle as well as to the simple and sincere relationships that Oreste Basso knew how to build each day until the end.
Numerous testimonies continue to arrive, all expressing gratitude and affection for Oreste.
Klaus Hemmerle, once the bishop of Aquisgrana, was a brilliant theologian and philosopher who left a mark because of his notable contribution and deeper doctrinal understanding of the charism of unity, as well as its spreading among bishops. The visit by Focolare president Maria Voce to Aachen, Germany, on May 11th,,2013, was to pay homage to Bishop Hemmerle and the influence he had on the theology and life of the Church and of society: “Chiara Lubich inspired him and she allowed herself to be inspired by him,” Maria Voce affirmed as she described the relationship between the German theologian and the Focolare Movement. Chiara Lubich considered him to be one of the co-founders of the Movement.
Maria Voce had been invited to visit the current bishop of Aachen in the morning, Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff. They then travelled together to the Cathedral where they paid a visit to Hemmerle’s tomb. In the afternoon a small group of members of the Central German Catholic Committee, who were Hemmerle’s collaborators, met in what had once been his home.
Among these were Matthias Sellmann, professor of Pastoral Theology at Bochum, and Claudia Lucking-Michael, vice president of the Central Committee and General Secretariat of the Opera di Cusanus – an association that awards scholarships to students of merit. They presented two brief talks on the figure of Bishop Hemmerle. The second part of the program included testimonies by people who knew the bishop personally.
“His theological thought and his influence on our work in the committee of German Laity have produced much fruit that has reached far beyond his earthly life,” declared Claudia Lucking-Michel who met Hemmerle only once, but had studied his thought and was deeply influenced by it. She described him as a bridge-builder at so many levels, someone who had motivated her to reflect on the meaning of life and of death.
A great master at teaching a Christianity that was convincing is the way Matthias Sellmann described Hermmerle in his presentation, underscoring Hemmerle’s plural thinking. According to Sellman he was one of those avant-garde thinkers: “He always placed himself in the position of a learner and was convinced that theology always had more than one source. Hemmerle was able to explain the Trinity to you in a way that made you want to live it!” He was a great sage – Sellmann went on – who was able to explain great theorems in a way that was simple.
“We are thankful for having had him among us. And we’ll manage to understand the scope of his theology perhaps only in the future,” affirmed the current bishop of Aquisgrana Heinrich Mussinghoff. He continued: “We can learn from him how to think in a new way about the faith, how to live and tell it in a new way.”
During a discussion among the participants some interesting ideas highlighted what could be done to help secure that the heredity of Hemmerle would continue to bear fruit in the future: a study of the language that is “both unique and easy to understand” was suggested by Prof. Michael Albus who did his doctorate with Klaus Hemmerle; promoting an award among researchers who study the grand themes of Hemmerle’s work; Claudia Lucking-Michel suggested launching an exchange program for collaborators and leaders in ecclesial environments.
Overall, what emerged was the significance of the figure of Bishop Hemmerle for both theology and the life of the Church not only in the Germany of his time, but for ecclesiastical perspectives of today and the future.
“As many of you know, our here, especially in Jerusalem, we live separately. The Arabs do not have an occasion to meet the Israelis, and vice versa. We don’t have any real interaction in our daily lives.” This was voiced by Laura, a young Christian who lives in Jerusalem and studies at a Jewish university. Her words give prominence to the event held at the Kehillat Yedidya synagogue on the 30th April. The symposium entitled “Discovering the other’s humanity” was attended by youth from the 3 monotheistic religions. A good part of them belonged to the Youth for a United World, who were participating in the concluding event, “Be the Bridge”, of the Genfest. The others were their fellow youth who live in the Holy Land. Lara continues her narration speaking of “an idea conceived by two young and ambitious women who wanted to better their lives and to give the youth a chance to meet up with each other, breaking away from stereotypes.” It was a challenge undertaken 6 years ago and still continues today. Every year the group is comprised of around twenty odd youth from the three religions: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, aged between 16-18 years.
As a youth, Lara participated in the first project as “an enthusiastic young girl who sees the bright side of the situation and dreams of an approaching united world”. The meetings are held twice a month: “We discover and explore the similarities and the differences among us”. The meetings deal with various topics in order to know one another: the family, values and upbringing in the different religions, etc …
It’s an important project, but the question that remains is: after these meetings, will we continue to see each other. The experience continues and the project has also helped in understanding the other’s point of view. Lara explains further: “In times of conflict and difficulties, we meet up, share our sufferings, and pray. It seems like a dream that’s distant from reality, but it’s a truth that we live together.” Lara is one among 4 youth who shared their testimonies, dreams and hopes: with her there’s also Hani, a Palestine Muslim, who’s studying law; Huda, a Jew born in New York but who moved to Jerusalem while he was little; Nalik, a Christian from Portugal.
The nuncio, Mons Lazzarotto, in his address to the youth, invited them to “be prophets” to “make this land once more the land of dreamers”. Prof. Alberto Lo Presti expressed this appeal as a ‘Social principle”, that of fraternity, which contains within itself “the power to transform our history”. In answer to this, rabbi Raymond Apple (ICCI) underlined the need to learn to trust in each other: “the road to fraternity is to be able to say: I trust you”. Rabbi Kronish, Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), who moderated the event, concluded by encouraging the participating youth to continue to bring this message of hope to all.
We leave Jerusalem with the desire to look up and grow in mutual trust, in order to change history.
New Zealand. “We do a different social project every month. There are many beautiful beaches in our country that are open to all: families, youths, runners and children. Even though the natural environment is generally taken into account and respected, the beach isn’t always clean. We contacted Wellington’s City Council which welcomed our project, supplying us with the tools that would be helpful for the clean-up. A group of youths from Youth for a United World met one afternoon, with rubbish bags and gloves. We chose one of the most crowded beaches. In addition to performing a service for the city, we also built friendships with many young people who got involved in the project.”
France. Following the Tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster last year, we organized an evening of solidarity. During the evening we presented the United World Project and there was an internet link-up with a group of Japanese Youth for a United World. They shared how they had lived through the disaster, trying to help the people around them. We got to know more about the community of the Movement in Japan and their daily life. Some of our friends who were present that night were discovering for the first time the importance of solidarity and the joy that comes from being involved in a project that is geared towards universal brotherhood. The money we raised was sent to Japan to assist the local community.”
Italy. “My mother who is 94 years old, was rushed to the emergency clinic at 11:00 at night. My sister and I were worried and displeased when they asked us to leave the room, and our mother was left alone. A boy was seated beside us who looked like he wanted to talk. We asked him why he was there. His mother had perhaps suffered a heart attack, he told us. When we were allowed to visit our mother we found that she was in the same room as the boy’s mother. Thus we were able to bring the news to him and the husband who was seated in front of us. Then the boy went into the room and, in turn, brought us some news about our mother. The father – who was sitting there silently – began to speak with us of his work and the problems he was facing. Two hours later both our Moms were released. As we said goodbye to each other, the boy said: ‘It was a pleasure talking with you! I hope we can meet again!’ Our own anxiety had disappeared. Our personal pain and worry and we experienced that these can be overcome by loving the people around us.”
Ivory Coast. “The young mothers with children were not able to concentrate to focus on their work in the fields. So they decided to help each other by taking turns watching over the children. Before going to the fields, they now drop off their children with two of the other mothers who stay in their homes that day. They prepare the meals and stay with the children for the entire time. And a great trust has been born among this group of mothers.”
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An opportunity for experiencing in order to then live and teach in seminaries, a Gospel lifestyle that is centred on communion: this was at the basis of the course for educators, which was held in the capital of Thailand on April 15-May 5.
The small handful of European priests who travelled from Rome found themselves before a young and living Church that is open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Seminaries are still full as they had once been on the old continent, even though the society and the economy are experiencing evolutions.
The 60 priests who attended the course were from several Asian regions: Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, East Timor and Thailand. They brought with them their own cultural diversity, but the challenge of seeing these not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for getting to one another was joyfully accepted by everyone.
Work was preceded by the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by Francesco Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok and in charge of seminaries and the formation of the clergy at the local Bishops Conference.
As the days went on and the lessons continued, many noted the testimony of unity by the people who were the animators of the course and were personally committed to living what they were teaching.
Fr Silvestre Marques, the course director, noted: “the growing communion among all, communion of experiences, difficulties and many questions in a very open atmosphere.” For Brendan Purcell, from the diocese of Sydney, Australia, one fruit of this atmosphere was the deep sharing: “Especially by priests from Myanmar and Vietnam, who told of how their human and priestly life had been marked by tragic experiences – executions and the violent deaths of parents – that occurred when the priests were very young.”
The second part of the course focused on how to practice the spirituality of unity in the various areas of formation, through a dynamic workshop of experiences that identified the most urgent challenges, and concluded with a commitment to put it into practice in each one’s seminary. “This is a living course” one priest said, “in the sense that we are learning during these days to put into practice the life of communion, for the benefit of each one of us but also for the benefit of the local Church that we represent.”
After three weeks of living together in such a concrete experience of communion, each and every one of them testified to the “family” that they had become and the desire of continuing to carry on with the challenge and the adventure. Formation means preparing new priests whether in Asia or in any other part of the world.
The youth of the Focolare Movement around the world have gathered in the Holy Land: “Be the Bridge” is this year’s slogan, with the confidence to begin building a united world. See video – Franciscan Media Center
In paragraph 87 of his Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, John Paul II describes the process of inculturation as a “path to holiness” just as he had already done when he pointed the bishops of Kenya in this direction in 1980. In May 1992 Chiara Lubich began a Centre for Inculturation according to the spirituality of unity, in Nairobi, Kenya. There she intuited what “an overpowering weapon” was contained in “making himself one” of St. Paul (see 1Cor. 9:22). Chiara explained: “We can’t enter into the soul of a brother in order to comprehend and understand him. . . if our own spirit is filled with an apprehension, a judgement. (. . .) “Making yourself one means placing yourself in front of everyone in the position of a learner, because we really do have something to learn. It means cutting completely the roots of your own culture and entering into the culture of the other in order to understand it and letting it express itself, until you have finally understood it from within you. Then, once you’ve comprehended it, then, ye, you may begin a respectful dialogue with him and also pass on the evangelical message through the riches that he already possesses.” In sostanza, sintetizza Chiara nel 2000 visitando la cittadella di Fontem (Cameroon), “è l’amore che deve guidarci nell’inculturazione, così che agisca lo Spirito Santo”. Therefore, inculturation as Chiara understands it is an “exchange of gifts”: “Like this, the brother has first given to us; then we follow suit. . . and upon this ‘living’ something that is between us we, in act of pure service, can gently, with love and within the limits of discretion implant those aspects of the evangelical truth that we bring, and that bring fulfillment and completion to what our neighbor already believes, what he or she has been awaiting, coveting, longing for. And these aspects then draw along with them the entire truth.” Several editions of this course on inculturation have taken place over the past 21 years on a bi-annual basis. Each of them has focused on a single cultural or existential aspect of life: privat property and work; the concept of God; the human person and the community; reconciliation; suffering, illness and death; education; communications; the sacred in the traditional religiosity of Sub-Saharan Africa. This year (May 10-13) the focus will be on “the human person in African culture”. This topic will be examined from three perspectives: traditional African culture, Holy Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church in the light of the charism of unity. Source: excerpts from Chiara Lubich in the Presentation of the volume “Il senso del sacro nell’Africa subsahariana” Opus Mariae, Nairobi, Centre for Inculturation, 2012, pp.5-7.
One of many meetings which for more than 20 years throughout the world have created occasions for dialogue between the Focolare Movement and friends who profess no religious affiliation. This openness is far more necessary today in a world where discrimination between atheists, believers, agnostics etc, is less tolerated. Often times in countries where the religious sense is more developed, atheism often simply takes on the characteristics of anti-clericalism. Chiara Lubich was among the first to perceive the importance of dialogue between Christians and friends of non-religious affiliations, and she did so with much sensitivity and a decidedly innovative approach to brotherhood. In May 1995 Chiara herself confirmed this in Loppiano. She said: “We have a universal vocation. Therefore, our motto is: ‘May they all be one’. Now, this ‘all’ includes you too.” From that time on, opportunities to meet and exchange thoughts multiplied. Dialogues at 360 degrees developed, demolishing age-old stereotypes and prejudices. Peter Fleissner explains: “The human soul is something marvellous. And this is part of my materialism. Why do I commit myself to the Focolare Movement? Because we have a shared inheritance: the world we live in.”James Hall-Kenney from New Zealand affirms that the Focolare aims to communicate with love, from the heart, even though there may be terminology differences. Luan Omari (Albania) suggests focussing on our common values: “I believe in the values Jesus Christ preached even though I don’t necessarily believe that Jesus is the son of God, for example. But I embrace his values, I am in solidarity with these values. And this is the common ground which unites us.”Claudio Vanni is the head of external relations at UNICOOP in Florence. He speaks of individualism as one of the characteristics which accompany consumerism: “Individualism, if affirmed as culture and concept, is the opposite of dialogue and therefore each one guards his or her own interests, not looking at the interests of the others, and without dialogue there is no common good, there is no social growth and there is conflict.”Ruben Durante (Argentina) speaks about the importance of listening: “If I remain with my idea within me, I do not have the ability to listen which you need in order to tell me and give me your idea and your human experience.” It is a dialogue which is continually evolving by trying to better define the relationships and points of view between “us” and “you” which nevertheless implies belonging to one and the same body. Maria Voce,who was present at the meeting, addressed the participants: “What do I expect from our friends who have no religious affiliation? I expect that they take the ideals that animate the Focolare Movement to the furthest boundaries, outside the Movement itself. And what should our friends expect from us? I think they should hope for what each of us hopes for: to feel accepted.” Compiled by Franz Coriasco
“I’ve known the Focolare movement since childhood, but in the last two years I’ve had the occasion to rediscover my relationship with God through the experience of my parents’ separation. They were tough years in which I saw all my certainties crumble, and on various occasions I questioned my faith in God and His love for me.
Being the eldest girl, I found that the gravity of the situation weighed mostly on me. My parents spoke with me for hours over the telephone narrating their anger for each other. I felt really alone in that period, without any points of reference. I felt God distant from me: I only experienced His silence.
One day, when by then I had thought that the situation could not have worsened further, my mother called saying what her advocate has suggested: to get me and my sister to testify in court against my father, because she felt that it was the only way to quickly conclude the separation case.
My world fell apart! I felt torn within: in fact, my father had treated us badly and then unfortunately I had never been able to establish a strong relationship with him. Besides a few days earlier, he had done something really mean: it was my birthday and he called me not to wish me (he had forgotten about it) but to give vent to his feelings and complain as usual about my mother.
However, in that moment of great desperation, after months of ‘silence” I felt once again God’s voice clear and strong within me. It told me not be overwhelmed by anger and to think only of loving, always and in spite of everything, without expecting anything in return.
I took courage and told my mother that I wouldn’t testify against my father. She reacted badly by getting angry and accusing me of not wanting to help her. We didn’t speak again for many days, during which I suffered a lot, notwithstanding the conviction that my “no” to her was a “yes” to God.
Unexpectedly, from that moment onwards, things began to get better. Little by little all the various issues got resolved and above all my parents realised that they shouldn’t involve us children in their problems. When the crisis was over, my mother understood and accepted my decision, and our relationship was further strengthened. Things improved even with my father because he learned about my decision and was “struck by my courage”.
Now I experience within me a completely new strength, serenity, and faith, stemming from the certainty that I’m not alone, even in moments when I don’t feel His voice, He is always besides me. And if it’s true that God asks one to leave everything to follow Him, what he finally gives in return is much more valuable than anything that’s given up. It is truly the promised hundredfold!”.
Berlin – Among the representatives from the various cultures and religions, there were the Apostolic Nunzio, Mons. Jean-Claude Périsset, the emeritus auxiliary bishop of Berlin, Wolfgang Wieder, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Clementina Shakembo Kamanga, and Sona Eypper, president of the International Convent of the Christian communities in Berlin. By means of video clips and some interviews on stage, the organisers of the evening gave a brief vision of the Focolare Movement’s commitment to dialogue on various fronts: between cultures and religions, in the fields of economics and politics, among generations. In her address, Maria Voce recalled some important challenges facing today’s society – in Europe and all over the world: material needs aggravated by the financial crisis, reservations in the face of increasing migration, social tensions provoked by cultural diversities and insufficient integration. “We have discovered dialogue as the highway which can be travelled with hope for success for all those who want to contribute to bring about universal brotherhood”, explained the president. “Dialogue is a style of life, a new culture, which the Movement can and wishes to offer to today’s men and women”. If every person allows himself or herself to be guided by the consciousness of being the child of the same Father, and as a consequence of being brothers and sisters among themselves, then there would be the chance to reach a true “dialogue among persons, and not between ideologies or systems of thought”, an exchange characterised by mercy, compassion and love. Maria Voce regards the media as the most suited means to promote this kind of dialogue, provided the contacts don’t remain “brief, fleeting, lacking sense, restricted exclusively to the virtual domain”. Instead it’s about “transforming contacts into relationships, i.e. building true networks of fraternity”. The speech was followed by a lively and profound dialogue with the audience: What does one do when the other person does not show any interest in building a fraternal relationship? Is it right to condemn social networks as superficial means within personal relationships? Maria Voce replied in a very practical way, giving examples from her own life and inviting all those present to always take the initiative. “For me Berlin is a city that displays the wounds of history. However, out here walls were broken down too. And you, citizens of Berlin, offer these wounds and invite others to share the fruits”. This echoes her first considerations on the German capital. “Maria Voce does not limit herself to theory alone” – affirms Nuncio Périsset, who had received the Focolare president that same morning. “She invites us to break down the walls, to build bridges, and to take the initiative. This is important even in my work as a diplomat. God redeems the world in us and through us. And I have witnessed and lived it this evening”. Andrea Fleming
On 5th March the Orthodox Church celebrated the Blessed Easter. To all our Orthodox brothers and sisters around the world, we convey our heartfelt wishes for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord through a stanza from the ancient Troparion:
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs, granting life.
Italian:
Cristo è risorto dai morti, con la sua morte ha vinto la morte, e a quelli nelle tombe ha donato la vita!
Greco:
Χριστός ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι ζωήν χαρισάμενος.
Christós anésti ek nekrón, thanáto thánaton patísas, kié tis en tis mnímasi zoín harisámenos.
Russiano:
Христос Воскресе из мертвых, смертию смерть поправ и сущим во гробех живот даровав
Romeno:
Hristos a înviat din morţi, cu moartea pre moarte călcând, Şi celor din morminte viaţă dăruindu-le!
Arabo:
المسيح قام من بين الاموات و وطيء الموت بالموت و وهب الحياة للذين في القبور
“Sandro told me one of his experiences. He, his wife, a 14 year-old son, a 12 year-old daughter and their two year-old son went to the market for some groceries. One day they were selling artichokes for 3 Euros and everyone in the family agreed that they should buy some!!!
After buying all that they needed, the family met a poor woman on their way home. She spoke to the Dad: “Would you give some artichokes? I don’t have anything to eat.”
In agreement with the family, his wife Joy gave the woman 5 artichokes.
The daughter of Sandro spoke up to her father: ‘If this woman asks for artichokes from lots of people. . . maybe it wouldn’t be so fair. . .’ Her father responded: “We try to do good to others. Then she’ll have to answer to her own conscience for the way she acts.” With that they returned home happy with their purchases.
The next day while Sandro was in church making a little visit to Our Lady and asking for her help because he had to buy eyeglasses for his son and didn’t have any money, his telephone rang. It was a total surprise: an old acquaintance to whom he had lent some money many years earlier. The friend wanted to return the money to him now!
The amount was exactly the amount need for the eyeglasses. The Gospel says: “Give and it will be given to you.” But the One who exchanges the gift is truly a gentleman, the Lord.” (A.DN – Italy)
“This Word of Life is really true! The other day I was on my way to work. One of the employees asked me for a small amount of money, which I willingly gave. These days we’re working (I’m a teacher) even though the schools are closed. When I went to receive my salary, I was surprised to see that the administration had paid us an amount that we hadn’t expected. It was 5 time more than the amount I had lent to that other employee.” (K. – USA)
Nearly 500 people attended the event that was held at the Sheraton Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.They came from North America, Santo Domingo, Australia and Europe. An additional thousand participants were linked up via internet.
Expo 2013 put on display the creative, industrious and courageous spirit of America, of both individuals and of communities who have put themselves on the line. It was a moment for knowing one other better and sharing in a common purpose. No speeches, reports or roundtable discussions were part of the plenary sessions; only a series of brief expriences as a way of introducing the eight workshops that took place on Saturday afternoon. Workshop topics included: music, work, art, faith, health, education, ecology, media and comunication.
“This is change that begins from the relations, from the relationships that are created among people that construct the social fabric,” declared Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of the city who stopped in to greet the assembly. “And this is the wish that I have for you from here on: that you will continue to build unity at all levels, even if it will be necessary to risk because this is what will most serve today’s society.”
This was the experience of Carol Spalewho lives in Chicago. In a difficult family situation, she received free assistance from her neighbours, which provoked a chain reaction that today continues to involve her entire neighbourhood and city administration in an effort iin fovour of the needy in her city. This is also reciprocity.
Marisol Jimenez, who runs the Cafè con Leche School in Santo Domingo that not only provides education and daily meals for more than 500 children, also plays a fundamental role in re-establishing social harmony in the city’s poorest quarters.
The same is taking place in Canada and in the entire North America that came together in Chicago to see each other face to face, take stock of the situation and draw new courage to begin again in bringing ahead a variety of projects in many regions of the land.
Here is one example. Night had fallen in Rome. In their basement apartment, a small group of young women who wanted to live the Gospel were wishing each other good night. Then the doorbell rang. Who could it be at this hour? At the door they found a panic-stricken young father. He was desperate: the following day he and his family were going to be evicted because they had been unable to pay their rent. The women looked at one another and then, in silent agreement, went to the dresser drawer. There they kept what was left of their salaries. In envelopes marked “gas,” “electricity” and “telephone” was the money they had set aside for these bills. Without a moment’s worry about what would happen to them, they gave all the money to their visitor. That night they went to bed very happy. They knew someone else would take care of them. Just before dawn the phone rang. It was the same man. “I’ve called a taxi, and I’m coming right over!” Amazed that he should have chosen to come by taxi, they awaited his arrival. As soon as they saw his face they knew something had changed. “Last night, as soon as I got home,” he said. “I found I had received an inheritance I never dreamed I would get. My heart told me I should give half of it to you.” The amount he gave them was exactly twice what they had generously given him.
“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your lap.”
Haven’t you also experienced this? If not, remember that the gift must be given with no self-interest, without hoping to get it back, and to whoever asks for it. Try it, not so that you can see if it works, but because you love God. You might be tempted to say, “I have nothing to give.” That’s not true. If we want to, each of us can discover that we possess inexhaustible treasures: our free time, our love, our smile, our advice, our peace, our words that might persuade someone who has to give to someone who has not. You might also say, “I don’t know whom to give to.” Just look around you: don’t you remember that sick person in the hospital, that widow who always feels lonely, that boy in your class who failed and got discouraged, the young man who is sad because he can’t find a job, your little sister or brother who needs a helping hand, that friend who is in prison, that new person at work who is unsure of herself? In each person, Christ is waiting for you. Put on the new style of behavior that comes from the Gospel and is the garment of a Christian. It is the exact opposite of having a closed mind or being concerned only about ourselves. Stop putting your trust in this world’s goods, and start relying on God. This will show your faith in him, and you will see from the gifts you receive that your faith is well founded. It becomes apparent, however, that God does not give as he does in order to make us rich. He acts in this way so that many, many others, seeing the little miracles that happen to us as a result of our giving, may decide to do the same. God also gives to us because the more we have the more we can give. He wants us to be administrators of his goods and see to it that they are distributed throughout the community around us, so that others might be able to repeat what was said of the first Christian community, “There was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34). Don’t you think that in this way you too can help give a solid spiritual foundation to the social change that the world is waiting for? “Give and it will be given to you.” When Jesus said these words, undoubtedly he was thinking first and foremost of the reward we will receive in heaven. But the reward we receive on this earth gives us already a foretaste and a guarantee of our heavenly reward.
Chiara Lubich
(Previously published in June 1978 and October 2008)
Each month a Scripture passage is offered as a guide and inspiration for daily living. This commentary, translated into 96 different languages and dialects, reaches several million people worldwide through print, radio, television and the Internet. Ever since the Focolare’s beginnings, founder Chiara Lubich (1920–2008) wrote her commentaries each month.
On May 1 there will be a flashmob and a march for peace in Jerusalem. Thousands of youth from all over the world will participate in the concluding program through direct streaming. Direct link-ups with Loppiano (FI), Mumbai and Budapest are planned as part of this program. United World Week, the annual event organised by the youth of the Focolare Movement since 1996 will start from here. This is the tip of the iceberg of a commitment to promote unity and peace at all levels. So, “let us be ready” in line with the United World Project, launched precisely at Genfest 2012. This broad commitment wants to be an answer to Pope Francis’ appeal to youth: “Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope” and it is a step towards World Youth Day 2013 atRio de Janeiro. Video: Franciscan Media Center
The collaboration and friendship that binds the Ecumenical Council of Churches with the Focolare Movement has roots that extend to the 1960’s, and another page of this history was written on April 25th, 2013. Here, at the headquarters of the ecumenical organization a conference was held followed by a panel discussion titled: “Peace and justice, the fruits of unity”. The purpose of the event was to highlight the benefits that the charism of Chiara Lubich has produced in terms of interreligious dialogue, dissemination of basic paradigms for the promotion of human rights, and the promotion of communion in the practice of politics.
Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit who is the Secretary General of the Ecumenical Council of Churches could not be present at the event, since he was taking an important trip to Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan. Instead, the General Secretary, M. Georges Lemopoulos was on hand to give a warm welcome to the guests and to underscore the importance of this event in the context of the preparation of the General Assembly of the Ecumenical Council of Churches that is to be held on October 30, 2013 – November 8, 2013 in Busan, South Korea, with the title: “God of life, lead us towards justice and peace”.
Doctor of Spiritual Theology, Michel Vandeleene, addressed the audience of 180 people, mostly representatives from local churches and members of international and ecumenical organizations. He read a message that was sent from the President of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce: “I have great appreciation for the passionate commitment of so many – also here today – in favor of the full and visible unity of Christ’s Church, so that Christianity can unanimously make its indispensable contribution of life and thought toward the building of a more just and peaceful world. It brings joy to know that there are people of other faiths and humanitarian organizations who are united with us in this effort towards universal brotherhood, which is so important for toady’s humanity. “It is precisely brotherly love that has a transforming effect on our working together in relationships of reciprocity.” Michel Vandeleene then went on to describe the development and specificity of the charism of Chiara Lubich, stressing the “passion for peace, justice and unity” that earned her the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education and in 1998 that of the European Council on Human Rights.
During the panel discussion that followed, several speakers mentioned the inspiration they draw from the charism of Chiara in their efforts for peace and politics. Ada Marra, National Councilor of the Swiss Parliament shared his desire to maintain the dialogue with his colleagues, regardless of their political differences. He reaffirmed to his commitment to establish interpersonal relationships that are respectful of differences of opinion and ideology. Maria Francisca Ize-Charrin, former director of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, examined the connection between the lifestyle proposed by Chiara – unity – and the two principle concerns of the United Nations: the universal recognition of human rights and the protection of every person.
Professor Ioan Sauca, Director of the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, added that “the friendship with Chiara Lubich produced significant results; among other things, the Institute has undergone a number of changes, including a greater unity between its members, collaboration with teachers of other religions and openness to students of new religious movements. One guest said he was touched by the meeting and emphasized that the implementation of the charism of Chiara “must begin with interpersonal relationships that will then induce a profound change in society and lead to the development and peace. “
Called “Condecoration” of the “Order of the Congress of Colombia”, it was instituted in 1987 by the Colombian parliament: it is an honour that the two houses can confer, in the name of the people, upon citizens or institutions that have served the country. It was in recognition of this that the “Condecoration”, solicited by the Senator of the Republic, José Darío Salazar Cruz, was conferred upon the Focolare Movement and delivered to the Italian magistrate, Dr Giovanni Caso, Honorary Deputy President of the Italian Appeals Tribunal.
“We welcome this recognition of the work of Chiara Lubich as a added encouragement to continue with a greater impetus and enthusiasm, on the path she has shown everywhere, and particularly in Colombia”. This was the message of thanks that the Focolare president, Maria Voce, sent to the honourable members of parliament and to all those present at the extraordinary session of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia held on the 25th April. The title of “Commendatore” was conferred upon the Focolare with a citation that “recognized the lofty contribution that the Movement had given during its 40 years of presence in Colombia to the benefit of living together and of fraternity”.
Among those present was the Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, Mons. Daniel Falla Robles, the Anglican bishop Francisco Duque, and the Personero of Bogota [Head of the District Office of Human Rights], Dr. Ricardo Cañón. The citation particularly recalled how the Focolare, in its 40 years of presence in Colombia, gave rise to “models of living together in various social circles, in the fields of education, law, economy…”. Among the various concrete realizations, mentioned by the Senator in his speech, were that of Los Chircales, the Sol Naciente school, and the collaboration with Social Pastoral Care of Soacha.
Maria Voce laid emphasis on fraternity as the “necessary condition for every living together”, considering how its application “on a larger scale in political, legal, and social behaviour opens up remarkable possibilities. It favours dialogue at various levels and enables to keep together and valorise diverse cultures and thoughts, and divergent human experiences, which otherwise could lead to irremediable conflicts. Freedom and equality, foundations of democracy, acquire new meaning thanks to fraternity. Fraternity can sustain and give new vision to those organizations committed to overcoming the barriers between individuals and peoples, so as to accelerate the stages towards the unity of mankind and to ensure peace”.
So, the Focolare commitment continues in Colombia, which in these past days has also been realised through a series of meetings held by Dr. Caso, member of the International Central Commission of Communion and Law, an international network of professionals and academics in the field of justice, who strive to combine the paradigm of fraternity with justice. The calendar of events in the past also reached Central America, with an important meeting of professionals in the field of justice in Guatemala.
David belongs to Catholic Action. He is 24 years old and claims that Sophia is one of the most correct choices he has ever made. As student representative, he presented his colleagues. Currently 80 students enrolled in specialization and doctoral courses at the Institute. Vanessa is from Lebanon. She has known the Focolare Movement since she was a child, but at a certain point her search for the meaning of life and for God became deep concerns. At the suggestion of a focolarino friend, she decided to attend Sophia in a last attempt to rediscover that God whose existence she was now doubting. Sophia turned out to be quite demanding, but there she also realized that she was not alone in her search. Twenty-four year-old philosophy graduate Emanuele from Italy, has been at Sophia University for two years. He explains how Sophia allows anyone, regardless of whether or not they belong to the Focolare Movement, to have access to the basic foundations of the charism of unity that stem from that unique experience of Chiara Lubich in the summer of 1949 when she received intuitions from the Lord concerning the Work of Mary that would come to life in the years that followed. “At Sophia,” he says, “the universal dimensions of Chiara’s charism come to be understood by people who do not belong to the Movement.” Lorenzo describes himself as an “abnormal” student, since he’s already 47 years-old and has a stable job. He discovered Sophia when he was invited to speak in a debate where the Economy of Communion had been mentioned. This new proposal for the economy put everything into question for him. He thinks it could be the same for many other people like him who have already graduated or begun careers. Lia, who in her second year at Sophia, posed a question to the President of the Focolare and Vice Chancellor of the University Institute, a question about the educational approach used at Sophia which joins study to life. Maria Voce responded: “A difficulty can be seen as an obstacle or as a challenge that can take you a step ahead. The challenge of living together with others allows you to bear witness to universal brotherhood that is the foundational idea of the Movement and of Sophia. How can one ever give witness to mutual understanding, overcoming different visions, if not through concrete experience? You came here because you were drawn by a project that uses a different approach, one that has fascinated you; otherwise, you would have gone somewhere else. This project is rooted in an extraordinary light, in a ‘dream’ that comes true through much effort. You have been chosen for this and it is an important experience for you. You are experiencing the construction of brotherhood. The effort should not frighten you, nor can you try to make the experience easier, because you are dealing with something very great.” Everyone – including the president – was aware of the effort involved. She herself stated: “We need to be open to believing that we are rooted in a dream that began in God, was transmitted through Chiara, and this demands seriousness from those who wish to make it come true. It is a great challenge for great souls.” By Aurora Nicosia See Flickr photo gallery
Miguel: We are members of a very large Catholic parish near Denver, Colorado. We arrived there from Argentina about 3 years ago. We didn’t know anybody, not one single person in the area; we arrived in the middle of a “snowy” winter, when people – understandably so –tend to “socialize” less. The fact of us being retired didn’t help.
It was a new chapter in our lives, but, as always, a new opportunity to practice the “art of Christian loving”. We sensed immediately that it was going to be a matter of taking the initiative – be the first- to reach out to “strangers”: fellow parishioners, neighbours, etc, in an attempt to get to know and build more permanent relationships with them. So Raya and I said to each other: “We have to be pro-active and creative in trying to create opportunities to do this, not just for ourselves, our “survival”, but to contribute a little “to change our little corner of the world” for the better.
Many of our parishioners were well acquainted with one another and had enjoyed for many years well-established social networks that seldom allowed for newcomers. Our first effort was to deliberately hang around after Mass in order to start a conversation with someone. Our second effort was to meet and greet these folks each week for the next 18 months. I consciously did this by always asking them something they may have shared with me in our previous conversations, and almost everyone always seemed to feel valued
Miguel: I joined a Catholic men’s association where I found myself helping others install big Christmas trees in the parish, , and driving 60 miles to take food baskets to migrant workers in the Colorado corn fields. In most of my conversations, I would first try to talk about what the other guys would feel comfortable with: daily life, Denver Broncos or mountain hikes; trying in other words to make myself “one” with them as the “art of loving” suggests. But then, whenever the opportunity allowed, I would also try to share something from my spiritual life and my experience in trying to live -not just think- in the spirit of the Gospel. Gradually, I could sense their “respect” and friendship was growing, and within less than 18 months, Raya and I were nominated for the Parish Council.
Raya: A few months later, we were asked by the Church to host a new “small faith community”. Since in all the 80 or so existing small church groups, we had not found any who emphasized the practical side, the connection between Scripture and daily life, we knew that we wanted to focus our group exclusively on this topic so we agreed to host these weekly meetings.
Miguel: About 50% of our time together in the group consists in the sharing of real-life experience in the art of loving so that the abundance and diversity of opportunities to love our neighbors can be universally appreciated. After a while people in the group also started sharing their own experiences of living the Word. One, for example: George, a computer engineer, shared one day: “Since I saw this new approach to the Gospel I realized that I had to change my relationship with my customers and colleagues, by being more attentive, 100% present in each moment, in dealing over the phone with anxious customers whose computer systems were not working, or by taking without the usual ’lamentations’ more complex jobs which my colleagues or boss would send in my direction.”
Raya: Eventually, I began to notice the power of this kind of sharing in helping to inspire others to live more authentically. One lady immediately realized that being a good neighbor was something that she and her husband could easily do—after all almost everyone has a neighbor or two. So, she recounts, “We took the initiative and went together to speak with a couple with whom we had only a casual encounter before. We soon discovered that the wife was about to undergo cancer treatment, and that the husband was quite anxious about it. We volunteered to prepare meals for him while she was in the hospital, we brought her flowers when she returned home, and afterwards I was able to share with them information gathered from my own workplace regarding many positive outcomes reported for her very kind of treatment.”
Miguel: But just having group meetings as you may all know is not sufficient to create a community – we also need to experience a sense of “family” among the members by relating one on one-personally- with each other and repeatedly. So whenever, our regular meeting schedule was interrupted, we would encourage group members to do something individually with another group member and to keep in contact with one another through telephone conversations at least once monthly. In addition, Raya and I regularly tried to model this individual caring for each of the members of our group by-for example- becoming empty of our own concerns when we would spend time with them, so that we could be 100% attentive to learning about theirs. We also encouraged others to share about their personal relationship with God, their deepest aspirations, and their honest struggles with the challenge to love others. All this, in the attempt to unite deeply, spiritually everyone in one group striving for a common purpose.
Raya: Striving to love our neighbours in this way always seemed to bear some kind of tangible fruit and the need to aim for this was always present. Sometimes, just before a meeting, Miguel and I would differ on how we were going to proceed. We also knew we had a responsibility to always practice what we tried to teach, so working to always love each other as “neighbours” – not without effort – also became an important prerequisite for each meeting. The more we practiced living the Art of Loving, the more we began to see tangible fruits from our efforts. In myself, I noticed an increased sense of peace and well-being whenever I put the needs of another ahead of my own. My relationship with Miguel also was enriched.
Our efforts were reciprocated. Our neighbours began offering invitations to us, and some of the group members began sharing experiences of observable behavioural change. The importance of “practicing what we preach” became abundantly clear.
Miguel: Once one member shared : “I was brought up in a solid and even intellectual Christian tradition but here there is something “different”, a new approach related to ‘real every day life’ – a way by which I can concretely contribute to make of this world a better place: at work, family, wherever … Now I am also involved a with the formation of a teenagers and young adults groups, in my church.
Our faith community helps me not to feel alone, it gives me the strength of a “group” to start each day and to practice the art of loving…”.
The Peace Centre is located in the multi-religious and political heart of Bethlehem. In the same square – a square of white stone and surrounded by palm trees – there is the Basilica of the Nativity and the Mosque, a coexistence that has nothing of confrontation or intolerance. Next door is the Town Hall and all around the colours of the Bethlehem market. There is also the haunting wall that the Israeli government has constructed in defence of its territory.
The Focolare Movement’s Youth for a United World have decided on the Peace Centre as the venue for strengthening the bridges of brotherhood that were begun at the Genfest event that took place in Budapest, Hungary (September 2012). Now they are building bridges everywhere in the world. The slogan in Hungary was Let’s bridge and this was an invitation to construct bonds among people around the world, overcoming barriers among peoples, faiths and cultures. Now the slogan has become Be the bridge! and this is the project that is being launched from the Holy Land with a database that provides a catalogue of best practices that have been inspired by brotherhood and implemented by individuals, groups, organizations and states.
First Lady and Mayor of Bethlehem and the Palestinian territories, Vera Baboun, welcomed the proposed launching “happily and proudly because I believe in the power and ability of dialogue in a land that is wounded by the absence of brotherhood.” Cristina, who is a university professor, widow and mother of five children, shared her experience as a woman mayor and answered questions that were posed to her by the lively young audience. As an enthusiastic supporter of innovation and of the new generations, she repeated several times: “It’s up to us to take the steps that will lead to what is new. Three things are needed to build bridges: courage, good will and truth. You need to have trust in yourselves and believe that you can change.”
In confirmation of the innovation that has distinguished her administration she presented the idea of an advisory council made up of young people alongside the elected city council. In her closing remarks she could not but make reference to the wall surrounding her city. “This wall was built by human hands. What will bring it down? Human hands. Let us make a disadvantage into an advantage and work for a common dream: that of making the world a home for people who really are a single humanity. And the Palestinians are this humanity.”
Meanwhile in Jerusalem the final stage of the Genfest continues until May 1st with the workshop on brotherhood that is being run by the Focolare’s young people in the Holy Land. It began on April 24th. Several events are planned involving Jews, Arabs, Christians and Muslims that will help them to continue in the commitment they made in Budapest to build bridges everywhere. There is a workshop at Bethlehem University on reconciliation, involving 200 Christian and Muslim students; while other young people are involved with the international Gen Rosso and Gen Verde bands, as well as other local artists, for a journey into the world of music and art.
On May 1st there will be an international link-up from Jerusalem with Italy, Hungary and India during which a worldwide pact of brotherhood will be made and the United World Project will be re-launched. This project aims to increase the unity among peoples, individuals and institutions also through the creation of a database of all the projects that have worked over the years.
«As we know, our Movement came about because a small group of people, a microcosm of humanity, discovered a “wellspring” and let themselves be imbued by a stream of living water – a new and deeper understanding of the good news: God is Love! God loves us. God loves everyone. In our lives, even in the particular circumstances of everyday living, with its problems and projects, its sufferings and joys, we are not alone. If we so desire, and if we are open to it, the presence of God, this extraordinary superior presence, can play a role in all that we do, helping in unexpected ways, and enriching and ennobling each and every aspect of our daily lives.
We have a Father: a divine Providence is looking down on us and watching over us. Certainly, this faith in God’s love is present, even today, in the hearts of many. Nonetheless, oftentimes we fail to perceive the logical consequences of this faith. We lead our lives, building the earthly city and wanting to renew the world, as if we had to do all of this completely on our own. … To give you just one example, one of the strongest convictions that our Movement has developed throughout its forty years of life, a conviction supported by daily experience, is this one: that living in accordance with the Good News and launching the revolution of the Gospel in the world, is synonymous with launching the most powerful social revolution.
Is there social inequality in the world today? Are the rich and the poor still on opposing fronts? We believe, like Mary (and through the grace of God we have seen this fulfilled in more than one place on earth) that the law of the Gospel put into practice can truly fill the hungry with good things and send “the rich away with empty hands” (Luke 1:53). We can attest to the fact that if the beatitude on poverty (cf. Luke 6:20) and Jesus’ warning, “Woe to you rich” (Luke 6:24) are taken seriously, they can give a powerful thrust to the restoration of social equality.
Are we now faced with the problems of unemployment, of the elderly, the alienated, people with disabilities, the hungry and the many concerns of the developing nations? Doesn’t the entire history of Christianity indicate that the page of the Gospel concerning the “final exam” which will be given to every Christian, “I was hungry and you gave me food…” (Mt. 25:35) offers us remarkable solutions? Haven’t we ourselves also experienced that by putting that page of the Gospel into practice with commitment, in accordance with today’s demands and using methods suited to the times, many of these problems can be resolved?
And the “giving” that the Gospel demands (“Give, and it shall be given to you”) which guarantees the promise of the “good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over” (Luke 6:38), which our Movement has experienced many times, isn’t this also a practical way of acting, capable of relieving those who suffer from poverty, hunger, and loneliness, those who are in need of everything?
It is also our daily experience that in “asking” as the Gospel teaches, we receive (see Luke 11:10); that “all these things” (and “these things” could be for some health; for others a job; for still others a house, or a child, or something necessary) “all these things will be given you besides” (Mt. 6:33).
We have often seen with our own eyes, to the glory of God, the “hundred times over” that Christ promised to those who have left everything to follow him (see Mt. 19:27). … And if it happens here, for the little that we do, through the grace of God, for the little that we love, why can’t it happen everywhere?»
They were in the same car that had come from the Turkish border. When they reached the outskirts of Aleppo a group of armed men stopped them. The men made everyone get out. They killed the deacon who was the driver. Since then the two metropolitan bishops have not been seen.
Mor Gregorious Yohanna Ibrahim, Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Aleppo is well-known. He is a bishop friend of the Focolare Movement and works with the Community of Sant’Egidio, as does Bishop Paul Yazigi.
The director of the Vatican Press Office, Fr Federico Lombardi, said that it is ‘a dramatic confirmation of the tragic situation faced by the people of Syria and its Christian communities.’ Speaking on behalf of the Vatican, he went on to say, ‘The Holy Father Francis is following events with great concern and intense prayer for the health and release of the two kidnapped bishops, so that, with the commitment of all, the people of Syria may finally see effective answers to their humanitarian drama and the prospect of real hope for peace and reconciliation.’
At the moment the condition of the bishops is unclear. On 23 April the news of their release was announced in the media, but this is still being verified locally. In the evening a small crowd gathered in front of the residences of the bishops in Aleppo, but eventually they returned home. In the next few hours new developments are expected. The whole world is praying for their release.
“Patterns of unity: an interdisciplinary dialogue on the thought of Chiara Lubich”, was the title of the seminar held from the 12th-13th April at the Fu Jen Catholic University (Taipei).
Organised in tandem with the Sophia University Institute and two other Catholic universities from Taipei, the event sealed a rapport that the Focolare foundress had been cultivating with the Church and the academic world of the island since the ‘50s, and that reached its apex, as Maria Voce recalled in her greetings on the occasion, in the event organised by the Catholic University of Taipei that conferred on Chiara the Honorary doctorate in Theology in 1997.
Today’s event hosted in the very same place, highlighted Chiara’s charism and her legacy. In his goodwill message to the participants, Pope Francis encouraged them “to renew the joy of the meeting with Christ and to witness His presence in the world” through this very charism.
The opening address by cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, highlighted a challenge faced by the Church: to combine unity that is “it’s essential feature” and catholicity. “In other words”, he specified, “how to reach oneness within the great variety of cultures, traditions, spiritual and theological experiences”. In this journey towards the fullness “of unity in diversity”, Chiara’s charism entered as a “greatest gift”.
Papers were presented by Piero Coda and Luigino Bruni in the fields of theology and economics respectively, along with contributions from local speakers, in a fruitful synergy and bright prospects of further collaborations in the future, as evidenced by the memorandum of understanding signed with Sophia.
Taiwan parliamentarian, Yu-Xing-yang, shared an enthusiastic testimonial of how Chiara’s charism was also a source of inspiration in his own political life.
The significant presence of members from various Buddhist schools of thought, as well as the representative of the Taiwan Orthodox Church, added an interfaith and ecumenical flavour to the event.
We conclude with the words of P. Ramon from the Providence University, that best summarise the illuminating days of the conference: “Chaira visited Taiwan in 1997. Today she came back a second time and we should never let her go”.
“Above all its a tale of friendship”. These words opened the meeting jointly organised by the Muslim community in Sicily and the Focolare Movement at Catania on the 14th April. “Some of the Focolare Movement members had met the Imam of Catania, and their friendship grew to include other Muslims and members of the movement, especially families. There were moments of sharing together the values of universal brotherhood through concretely lived experiences.” This was shared by Giusy Brogna of the Focolare, an expert in interfaith dialogue with Islam after having lived for years in the Middle East, who had organised the event together with journalist Roberto Mazzarella, Kheit Abdelhafid, Imam and President of the Muslim community in Sicily, and Vice President Ismail Bouchnafa. Nearly 500 people attended the event: it included entire families coming from various cities of Sicily, wherein a bond of friendship has already been built between the Focolare Movement’s local community and some Muslim families. The Christian vision of the family and the enrichment brought by the Muslim family in the Italian society were among the main speeches, respectively presented by the couple Gaetano and Grazia Maria Amore, and Imam Kheit Abdelhafid. The latter voiced his satisfaction with the event as well as the long preparatory work involved. The family is a central reality in both our religious traditions, especially with regard to the future of our children, whom we would like to live in a world without barriers, which considers diversity as an enrichment”. The lived experiences confirmed what was spoken: they were shared by a family from Scicli; Giosi and Zanja, school mates from Ispica; Fatima and Hamed from Rosolini with their daughter Rabia and some Catholic friends. Among them were people who have been hosting education programmes for immigrant women in their parish premises since years. The afternoon programme was conducted by the youth. Christian and Muslim youth had shot a short movie in the earlier weeks to depict with irony, the common prejudices encountered when one does not know the different cultural and religious traditions. The archbishop of Catania, H.E. Monsignor Salvatore Gristina, who was present at the event, encouraged the organisers to continue on this endeavour. He said, “Let’s trust in God’s help. Let’s hold hands and go ahead.” Among the public figures who spoke, there was also the mayor of Catania, Raffaele Stancanelli, who thanked the organisers for having chosen his city to host this important event that is “capable of positively influencing our national community”. The 14th April event at Catania forms part of the experiences of fraternity promoted since a while between some Muslim communities and the Focolare, as part of the Progetto Italia (Italy Project), and which figured significantly last November at the event at Brescia.
Focus on Sweden: This Scandinavian country with a strict Lutheran tradition has been marked by widespread secularism, like in the entire peninsula, which is expressed not only through a scanty participation at religious celebrations, but also by a lifestyle that seems to have put aside any reference to the transcendent. The experience of the “Court of the Gentiles” to open a dialogue among believers and non-believers, which was launched by the Pontifical Council for Culture, has contributed in these years to a greater mutual understanding among Lutherans and Catholics, and it can be strengthened and enriched by putting the gospel into practice, and sharing the fruits it produces. In this context and keep this end in mind, we would like to situate two initiatives promoted by the Focolare Movement to mark Chiara Lubich’s 5th anniversary. ““May none of those you meet be deluded, but may each one find in you light for their own lives, warmth for their own hearts, support for their own steps; (…) Remain faithful to your charism and witness to Christ in this world that is so confused, and at times weary and without enthusiasm”. These were the words of entrustment and exhortation directed by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sweden, Mons. Nowacki, to the Focolare Movement’s members. During his homily at the mass on the 14th March on the occasion of Chiara Lubich’s fifth death anniversary, he remembered her as “an extraordinary woman who (…) inflamed the world with the fire of Christ’s love and who discovered in Jesus’ cross a fundamental reason to live in intimate union with Him (…), each day as an expression of love for God and neighbour”.Is the gospel still relevant today?”. Testimonies and life experiences were shared at this meeting, together with updates on activities of concrete solidarity, and a spiritual deepening with artistic contributions. Some of the feedback received best express the tone of the evening: “I had thought of going back to work on Monday and asserting my point of view, but after hearing the experience in the hall I understood that I must be the first to love”; and another: “I realised that it’s possible to live the gospel even today. I want to try it out too”. The next Focolare Movement appointment in Sweden will be theMariapoli at Kumla (Örebro) from the 27th – 30th June.
During 4-7 April, the young people from Metro Manila, Aklan, Baguio, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Masbate, Tacloban, Tarlac, Palawan, and Rizal gathered together in Tagaytay City for a different kind of adventure. As they left the comfort of their hometowns and distanced themselves from technology, they braved the challenges of facing diversity and opted to be in touch with nature, while making new friendships from across the islands. With the theme “The other… an Other me,” they were exposed to four full days into discovering what living in unity must be like through a life led by love.
During the “Let’s Colour Our City” activity, the youth campers visited various social institutions like orphanages and the local prison. They also went to remote villages in the city of Tagaytay, where youth campers planted about a hundred trees in coordination with local village leaders. The whole exercise was a concretization of the very theme of the Youth Camp, especially in living the Gospel phrase, “Whatever you do the least of your brother, you do it to me” (Mt. 25:40).
The “Let’s Colour our City” activity left an indelible mark on the campers, as one of them commented, “I understood how much I am taking for granted the privileges and gifts that I have”, after he had served persons with cerebral palsy in the San Rafael Hospital for the Disabled. After spending a few hours with the orphaned children residing with the Augustinian Sisters, a camper commented: “In the short time spent with these children, I felt that I had become a father to the child who had no parents”.
At the Tagaytay City Jail, those who visited the prisoners were very touched by the testimonies of the inmates who were striving to pick up their broken lives; they even advised the youth campers to lead a moral life and to avoid major mistakes so as not to end up in jail and destroy other people’s lives. Workshops were provided as campers engaged in arts, theatre, dancing, music, journalism and sports. Moving life experiences were also shared like that of the family of Lito Bulan: in spite of difficulties like the illness of his wife, he had faced life with much love and perseverance, and so did his daughter who tried to live the art of loving, by being the first one to love in the family so as to keep their unity in the family intact. She affirmed that trials in life serve like filters for a stronger and deeper bond of love in the family.
An Amazing Race type competition took place during the camp. Actually, it was a race to test the unity and teamwork of the 15 groups as they played the various games, the most challenging of which was the mudslide which proved to be a great lesson in trust and courage in life, and the obstacle course which was a real test in perseverance.
The last day was dedicated to prayer, reflection, and to the sacrament of confession. It was a moment to recollect and to ponder on the four-day camp, as well as to integrate all the learning experiences of these meaningful and adventurous days. As in every youth camp, held over the past 5 years, it was always hard to say goodbye to one another but the challenge to love our neighbour and to colour the dark corner of our cities was stronger in most participants. Echoes in the social media had filled the Facebook pages of the campers exchanging pictures, stories, and experiences which described and expressed that this was “the most unforgettable and memorable summer” of their lives! Now, 300 young Filipinos will transpose the experience of unity lived at the Youth Camp within their own environment.
The explicit motto “Let’s Bridge” of the Genfest in Budapest last September, was chosen by the Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement as the title for the United World Week 2013. The main event will be the 01st May with 4 major gathering locations: Jerusalem, a symbol of peace; Loppiano, which had always been linked with the Youth for a United World’s history; Mumbai, on the route to interfaith dialogue; Budapest, the capital that hosted 12,000 youth for the Genfest. During the 01stMay event, there will be live link-ups among these 4 cities to render visible this worldwide network that is already in place.
To be bridges then, to build bridges of brotherhood on the United World Project (UWP) guideline, which was launched precisely at the Genfest. In these months, many youth have undertaken this journey in various parts of the world, recognising the “brotherhood afoot” in their own lives and around them, increasing activities and initiatives to raise public awareness in their own countries, contributing as active citizens to bring about a culture of peace and dialogue that welcomes diversity and multiculturality. Such as in Chicago, where the Youth for a United World together with the Mosque Cares association met at the Ephraim Bahar cultural centre to prepare 150 meals, “survival kits” and a selection of men/women clothes to distribute to the homeless in the neighbourhood. Or as in Montevideo, where a Youth for a United World delegation from Uruguay together with some professionals involved in the field of education, were received by María Paz Echeverriarza, responsible for the area of Education at the UNESCO Representation for the governments of Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It was an occasion to present the UWP and to share about the network that has emerged around the Nueva Vida social project, which has seen the successful onset of small businesses, despite the context of marginalisation. And also the “Goodwill Week” in Serbia: in an alternative cultural centre, the youth held forums on social initiatives, film projections, initiatives to help people in difficulties, which also included a blood drive, besides the collection of provisions.
The United World Week will be an occasion to take stock of the situations, and many activities will simultaneously take place during those days in various parts of the world. In the Holy Land, 120 youth from various countries will meet together from the 24th April to the 02nd May. There’s a intense programme planned that includes a “Forum on universal brotherhood” at the University of Bethlehem with Muslim and Christian speakers, a meeting with the mayor Vera Baboun, an interfaith evening, a desert outing, workshops in singing, music, dance, and percussion with the Gen Rosso and the Gen Verde who will be present for the occasion. These workshops will showcase together in a concert planned for the 29th April in Haifa. The 01st May event will end with a flashmob at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem where Jews, Christians, and Muslims will meet up.
However, the project will continue, and the subsequent phases will take place in Africa, and precisely at Nairobi, where the Sharing with Africa site will kick-off with the “Inculturation School” on the value of the person in African tradition.
«Many of my companions at school ask to borrow my sharpener as it’s a good one that sharpens pencils well. I always lend it but one morning they had asked me many times. So when another companion asked me again I said “NO!” quite strongly. He returned to his place quite sad and in that instant I remembered: “But Jesus is present even in him. I can’t refuse him!”. I called him back and gave him my sharpener with a big smile. He was happy and I too felt a joy within me. In the evening, I along with my father and brother were watching a football match sitting on a sofa. My mother entered and said: “Don’t any of you care about me. I’ve just come home from work and I have to get dinner ready. Now, who’s going to help me set the table!?” I wanted to watch the game but I thought: “I need to love Jesus even in my mum!” I got up and went to the kitchen to set the table. I made my mother happy and then our team won 4-0!!! ». (E.M. 8 years old, Italy) «We kids like to collect and play with cards of games like Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh and of football players. We carry them with us to school. I have 83 of them and some are rare. One day I was returning home with the school bus and I took out my Yu-gi-oh cards. One of my friends Lorenzo asked me to gift him a super rare card called Steelswarm Moth. At first I didn’t want to because it was really important to me. But then I gave it to him to do an act of love and he was overjoyed.» (V.F. – 7 years, Italy) «One day I returned home tired from the swimming pool. My mum asked me to tidy up my room and I didn’t feel like doing it just then as I wanted to rest. Then I thought that there’s Jesus also in my mum. I began to tidy the room and I felt so much joy in my heart that I didn’t get more tired.» (L.A. – 8 years, Italy)
In these first days of Pope Francis’ pontificate we can find strong signs of the charismatic profile of the Church. What do you think of this?
«First of all I’d underline two words: service and poverty. Pope Francis spoke about these, but he especially bore witness to them with gestures and facts: poverty to express a simple lifestyle, a greater sharing of goods with those most in need and a greater protection of the creation that God put at the disposal of humankind. A particular point then is his capacity to create occasions for dialogue and communion with the people he meets during the audiences, among whom children and the sick, as well as the workers of the Vatican City State whom he invites to his morning Masses. These and other gestures express the attention Pope Francis has in favouring, so to say, the horizontal value of the Church which is the charismatic value. This dimension is inherent to his truly institutional person, which offers a more complete vision of the Church, containing teachings and love, hierarchical interactions and relationships in pursuit of simplicity and “tenderness.” We are often used to considering the hierarchical aspect of the Church as if it were a pyramid, with an exaggerated oligarchy. Instead, Pope Francis makes the reality of the Church as communion come to light, certainly with a centre, around which converges all the gifts that God has granted her through the charisms.»
Maria Voce
This coming May 18th, the Pentecost vigil, Pope Francis will encounter the Movements and lay associations at St. Peter’s Square, in the context of the events of the Year of Faith. How are you preparing for this? What do you expect from this meeting?
«More than expecting something we would like to be able to offer something. We would like the Pope to feel that these thousands of people only longed to bear witness to the vitality of faith, the richness of God’s gifts and the capacity to respond to the most important challenges of the present moment through the different charisms which movements and associations carry within themselves. As Focolare Movement, we would especially wish that the Pope feels that we are totally at the service of the Church, to be instruments of unity among her various constituents, starting among the sons and daughters of old and new charisms, at the service of a Church as communion which is what humanity hopes to see today.»
The young Pakistani who was hit by a stray bullet during clashes in Karachi. “Go ahead, with the firm decision to live our great Ideal radically, to offer the society around you the love that shines in your hearts, and that Muneeb too would have wanted to gift to many. Certainly he will continue from heaven to live and work with you and with the whole Movement, so as to give rise day after day to a new, united, peaceful and supportive people”. With these words, the president Maria Voce encouraged the gen (youth of the Focolare) in Pakistan to follow the path of Muneeb Sohail. He died after being hit by a bullet during the heavy and violent clashes last January in Karachi, while he was returning home with another gen after an English lesson. Unfortunately, such clashes frequently occur in this southern metropolis of the country. Muneeb would have turned 20 next May. Right from an early age, he had begun to live and appreciate within his family the spirituality of unity. He had lost his father as a child. When he grew up, he took it upon himself to pass on the lifestyle he had discovered to youth as well as to younger children. He used to say that in order to “deepen and understand it better”, he went to live together with other gen during the spring of 2012. He made an indelible impression on them. Speaking of him they said: “For me he was an angel. He taught me to live with God. He was a true friend for us children”; “When I first met him, he immediately shared with me his experiences and his life, and he never missed an opportunity to love concretely”. On 7th October last year, a month after the large international event in Budapest, the Genfest was also held in Karachi despite the tense situation prevailing in the city. Muneeb was at the forefront during the preparations and in the programme, adhering to and spreading the ideal of a United World. On 17th January, while greeting his mother, Muneeb said: “I’m happy to give my life to Jesus”. And now the baton passes on to all the gen in the world, to all those who support the United World Project – UWP, and to all those who feel called to build bridges of peace and brotherhood everywhere.
Joanna: “I was so anxious to know if my friends were ok.”
Two days after the bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the city remains traumatized, partly paralyzed. The inhabitants, though shaken and shattered by the violence, want to stand up against the sense of fear: “We’re the ones todecide when to finish the marathon,” says Joanna, a 19 year-old college student in Boston. An event has been organized for Friday evening – to walk the last five miles of the marathon, which is where the police forced them to stop. The walk will be a sign of hope to show the world that there’s more good than bad in the city of Boston.
Joanna was cheering for several friends who were running in the marathon; she was standing about five miles away from the finish line. “All of a sudden, there was chaos; there were cops everywhere telling the people that the race was over.” Joanna was scared; nobody knew what happened, more-so because the cell phones were not working. There was talk that there had been two explosions, then she overheard two policemen speaking about a bomb attack. “I started to realize that my friends were right there in the middle of it all, and I was so anxious to know if they were ok”. Feeling helpless, Joanna took refuge in a cafe’ when one of her friends who had participated in the marathon walked in the door. “I bought him something to eat; I listened to him”. By doing these simple acts of love, Joanna realized that we can’t remain paralyzed with fear.
She found out that all her friends were fine, though one girl was very close to the bombings. “Unfortunately, a lot of families and other students cannot say the same,” says Joanna, “I’m praying for them.” Every evening, Joanna goes to Mass at 10 pm, and she invited all her friends to go with her. To her surprise, they all turned up. Mass there was normally attended by just a handful of people, but this time the Church was full. They weren’t all Christian, but everybody felt the need to pray.
More than 12,000 people have already signed up for the Friday walk. Though the sad, strange atmosphere still lingers and continues to be a suffering, Joanna is sure of one thing: “We have to show the world that love is stronger. We have to believe more than ever before in a united world, and to do our little part.”
By Susanne Janssen (Living City Magazine, NY – USA)
We are offered a very simple criterion to judge whether we are right with God. We are right with God if we are right with humanity. We love the One in heaven if we love the other on earth. It could be said that our brothers and sisters have been given us to remind us, because of their likeness, of God.
I would not like to be spoken ill of, starved, kept homeless, workless, joyless… and so, as much as it is in my power, I should be active so that others may be honoured, fed, housed, employed and filled with consolation. Then we establish a kind of equality, which is, as I treat my brother and sister, so God treats me; as my brother or sister treats me, so God treats him or her.
It could be said that God is the first to practice the key precept of the Gospel: ‘Love you neighbour as yourself’, and he loves according to his nature as God, that is, infinitely. In fact this love urges him to the point of wanting us one with him, making us sharers in his nature. Did he not, for this very reason, make himself share our nature? And this puts us in our place so as to bestow on us a life together with him.
Individualism, with its closing down and swelling up of the ego in the shell of it is own personal exclusivity, suffocates the soul and, as it lacks the circulation of warmth, it is extinguished. And the soul suffers cold, dies frozen. It is enough, though, that one should love a brother or sister, because bringing warmth back to the spirit of the other, the soul warms up itself. A warning habitually made to us is the exhortation or the prohibition to mix with these or those people… Yet Jesus spoke even with the Samaritan woman, scandalizing his friends. And he wanted us to leave the 99 obedient sheep to seek out precisely the disobedient hundredth.
In coming close to a brother or sister, I come under a responsibility for that person’s eternal future and hence also for my own, given the solidarity that lies beneath our relationships. However many times our brother or sister sins, in a minor or major way, it is also our sin, a collapse created by our lack of love.
How often a criminal is an individual who has had a lack of love, so much so that the Crucified One, over the heads of the judges in session could utter: ‘Let anyone who is pure cast the first stone!’ How many brothers and sisters have been lost because they have been abandoned by us!
Igino Giordani, Il Fratello (The Brother),(Rome: Città Nuova, 2011; first published by Figlie della Chiesa, 1954).
“We have a chance… we can speak on common themes of Christian theology.” With these words, Prof. Stanciu, Dean of Orthodox Theology at the University of Babes-Bolyai, recommended to aim at what unites rather than divides. “We all know that there’s need for love and there are no elements of disagreement when one speaks of love. Why not benefit from this opportunity?”
This second meeting was held on the 16th April at the department in an atmosphere of harmony of thought and life. It was entitled: “Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1Jn 4,16).
Orthodox and Catholics in turn presented academic papers and life experiences in an atmosphere of intellectual and spiritual productiveness, as a fruit of the shared intention to live this moment in the light of Jesus’ words: “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (Mt 18,20). “From the presentations it seemed to be that there was not just a dialogue of concepts among the speakers but also of hearts”, commented an Orthodox professor. “We not only spoke but also lived”.The friendly and fruitful relationship among some Catholics and Orthodox has in fact developed over several years.
Bishop Vasile
The Meeting began with the Metropolitan of Cluj Andrei’s greetings to the nearly seventy participants present, and ended with the speech of bishop Vasile, the Metropolitan’s deputy. He drew a parallel between the birth of the Focolare and Saint Basil’s activity or the message of Assisi “because in the difficult times the world was passing through, they knew how to bear an extraordinary witness to Christ, uniting forces with whom they helped society advance, mobilizing all the Church’s energies in order that it might mirror that what it ought to be and for which Christ founded it.” He also wished that these meetings of mutual enrichment, knowledge and fruitful exchange, would continue to be held on a regular basis.
In order to highlight the importance of the event, the Metropolis radio hosted a programme with various interviews.
The funeral of Oreste Basso, focolarino and priest, was held at Rocca di Papa in the presence of hundreds of people as well as telecast live via internet. A huge number of testimonies, messages and thanks arrived from all over the world including the Vatican Secretary of State.
The homage to Oreste Basso during his funeral celebrations on the 15th April 2013 began with the words: “The Holy Father wishes to express his deep condolences to the entire Focolare Movement”. This message signed by the Secretary of State, cardinal Bertone, was read by Maria Voce. It also remembered “his generous service to the Church as a fervent priest who did his utmost to joyously proclaim the gospel and zealously witness to charity”.
Cardinal Bertone, who knew Oreste Basso personally in the course of discussions on some details of the Focolare Movement’s (Work of Mary) statutes, also expressed his own thoughts through a letter to the Focolare president. It read: “I was impressed with his keen listening to advice and his total willingness to collaborate. I experienced a sense of true fraternity with him, which left me with this feeling of friendship even later on when we no longer meet. I sensed the fineness of his soul as a fellow priest, in the Movement, without authoritarianism. It served me as an example.”
The president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Cardinal Rylko, wrote: “I appreciated his clarity of ideas and his profoundness as witness to the gospel”. He considered him as “a faithful and an untiring collaborator of Chiara Lubich”; “His being a priest with a heart conformed to that of Jesus shone beyond his amiable trait, and he witnessed to the flowering that the Movement’s charism can bring about of the grace of the sacrament of priesthood”.
Marco Tecilla, the first focolarino and Oreste’s fellow companion for many years right till the final moments of his life, narrated his story. He said it was only a brief presentation of a life lived to the fullest.
Oreste Basso, a focolarino who was amongst the closest collaborators of Chiara Lubich since the 50s, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 between Saturday night and Sunday 14th April morning. He can be described as a “giant” of the Focolare. During his lifetime, he undertook various functions of great responsibility in governing the Movement, thereby becoming an eloquent witness to the charism of unity. Ordained a priest in 1981, he considered the ministry as a service and a calling to a greater love. He was elected Co-president of the Movement in 1996 and he exercised a fundamental role at the time of the foundress’ death (14th March 2008) and during the General Assembly that followed (July 2008). During this assembly, which was the first of its kind for the Focolare, the person who was to succeed Chiara Lubich as president was elected.
Born in Florence on the 1st January 1922, he met the Focolare in Milan in 1949, when he along with his friends (Piero Pasolini, Danilo Zanzucchi, Guglielmo Boselli, Giorgio Battisti), who later all became focolarini, heard Ginetta Caliari speak at the university canteen. He worked for a prestigious firm in Milan as engineer and inspector of locomotive engines. In those difficult years that followed World War II, the spirituality and life of the Movement based on the gospel were for him a discovery of a force, which with others would have given back peace, progress and hope to the world. In 1951 he opened the first male focolare in the main town of the Lombard region along with other companions. At the end of the 50s, Chiara Lubich called him to be at the Centre of the Movement in Castelli Romani, where he exercised his functions in a spirit of service. Everyone who met him experienced a deep sense of being family.
The Centre of the Focolare is receiving messages from all over the world expressing condolences and a deep gratitude for Oreste Basso’s tireless work in service of the Church, the Movement, and for his vividly evangelical life. Some spoke of “a sanctity with a sense of humour” bringing to mind this wonderful gift he possessed.
Oreste’s last words reveal his deep relationship with Mary that marked his whole life: “Beautiful, wonderful, amazing, Paradise. There’s Our Lady… we must pray, above all we must help the poor and the weakest who are the ones most in need of mercy”.
Marco Tecilla while concluding said: “We always asked Chiara for a sentence of the gospel to guide us during our lifetime, and Chiara proposed to Oreste the phrase: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1Cor 11,1). Now that he has completed his journey, we feel that Oreste recommends this sentence to each one of us”.
It is the School of Civil Economy, called SEC in Italian which stands for ‘Scuola di economia civile’. Among its founders are some of the most important bodies in Italy: Associazione cristiani lavoratori italiani (ACLI, Association of Italian Christian Workers), Banca Popolare Etica (People’s Ethical Bank), Cooperazione Trentina (Trent Regional Co-operation), Economy of Communion (EoC), Federazione delle Banche di credito cooperativo (Federcasse, Federation of Cooperative Commercial Canks), the Sophia University Institute and the Polo Lionello Bonfanti (Lionello Bonfanti Business Centre). They officially established it on 19 May 2013 in Loppiano, near Florence, Italy.
SEC’s proposal comes from the need to create awareness of a number of economic principles, especially those that touch upon the human person and the common good, in those areas of life that, because of their legal requirements or their openness to these principles, are in harmony with its principles. It offers education and training aimed in the first instance at people, currently or about to be, in positions of leadership within institutions, associations and businesses. SEC aims also at schools and intends to run study programmes for teachers and people in authority in education.
“Before the start of the long tour in Brazil (May 16-July 27),” the friends of Gen Rosso write, “there was the long-awaited meeting with Franciscan Fr Hans Stapel and Brazilian Nelson Giovaneli, founders of the Fazenda da Esperanca community where young people in trouble are welcomed to live a lifestyle based on the Gospel. The meeting took place at their central headquarters in Guaratingueta, near to San Paulo. We felt that before beginning this challenging journey, we should take a moment to be with God and with those who, like us, had decided to embark on an adventure so rooted in the Gospel.”
This was also the plan for the Gen Rosso tour that began on May 16 with their Musical Streetlight. The Musical will involve 200 young people from the Fazenda da Esperanca and will conclude with performance at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on July 27. The first 3 concerts were attended by over 5000 people. “Each day we try to root ourselves in God,” Gen Rosso writes, “through reflection, the life of the Word and the mutual love that we try to have among us, which generates the presence of Jesus in our midst (Mt. 18:20). With the strength of His presence we then try to love all the teenagers who are working with us on the “Strong without violence” project.” The teenagers are often coming from experiences of abandonment and unspeakable suffering. They find a refuge in drugs: “We’d like to offer them the joy that doesn’t pass away,” they write “because Jesus opens the door to the Eternal, even in the midst of much of our own suffering and that of others in this world.”
‘It was a moment of deep, intimate and peaceful emotion,’ Maria Voce said in describing the atmosphere this morning at the 
“It was beautiful to be able to assure Pope Francis that there is a vital force in the Church, even in spite of so many problems,” Maria Voce said to Vatican Radio microphones, as she described the confirmations and novelties she drew from that special encounter.
Four questions and answers off the cuff. The Pope’s words were the most touching moment of the Pentecost Vigil at which 200,000 faithful from many ecclesial groups gathered on May 18, 2013. “I know your questions. . . it’s the truth!” Yet his answers were spontaneous, and they engaged those present in profound silence. He was first questioned on how he reached the certainty of faith and how we are to overcome our fragility. He responded with a story: “I had the grace to grow up in a family where the faith was lived out in a very simple and concrete way. It was especially my grandmother who taught me the path of faith.” “She spoke to us about Jesus and taught us the catechism. On Good Friday she brought us to the candle procession. At the end of the procession came the dying Jesus, and our grandmother would make us kneel. She would tell us: he is dead, but tomorrow he will rise! I first received the Christian message from my grandmother!” Then came the Pope’s invitation to abandon all fear: “We’re fragile, we know that, but He is stronger. With the Lord we are certain, the faith grows with the help of the Lord. . .” . What is the most important thing on which we should fix our sights? “The most important thing? Jesus. If we move forward with an organization, but without Jesus, we go nowhere.” And he invited all to live in “synergy with the Holy Spirit”. Not so much to talk but to give testimony by the way we live. How should we live so that the Church may be a poor Church and for the poor? What can our contribution be to the Church and to society in this time of crisis that involves public ethics? “Living the Gospel is the main contribution we can give. The Church is not a political movement, nor a well-organized structure. We aren’t an NGO, and when the Church becomes an NGO it loses its salt and has no taste, it’s only an empty organization made up of many structures.” 
Among the greatest dangers mentioned by the Pope were those of efficiency and of closing in on itself. Such closing in on oneself leads to illness: “The Church needs to come out of itself and start moving toward the peripheries of society. Obviously, when you go out, there will be accidents: “But I prefer a thousand times more a Church that is damaged than a Church that is sick from closing in on itself. Go out, go out!” This was the path the Pope was inviting all to follow in order to move away from a culture of confrontation and fragmentation and a “culture of waste”, and toward living a culture of encountering others, encountering Jesus and all our brothers and sisters, beginning from the poor, looking in their eyes and touching them with our hands in order to “touch the flesh of Christ and to take upon ourselves the sufferings of the poor.” How are we to confess the faith? “To confess the faith two virtues are needed: courage and patience, as we were reminded by the testimony of Brother Shabhaz Bhatti, Pakistan Minister who was murdered in 2011. We’re all on the path of martyrdom. Some give testimony to Christ by giving up their physical lives, some by living small martyrdoms throughout the day.” “A Christian should always respond to evil with good.” “Let us make these brothers and sisters feel that we are deeply united with this situation.” “Do you pray for these brothers and sisters in your daily prayers?” 
This year, the focus was on the human person in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was examined from the perspective of the anthropology of the African community by geographical regions; Semitic Biblical and New Testament writings; Second Vatican Council documents and the contribution of the spirituality of unity. The participants also shared a variety of experiences that greatly enriched the academic discussion.
Therefore, a wide variety of charisms are at the basis of the many new ecclesial movements, supported and encouraged by the Pope as the providential answer of the Holy Spirit to the challenges at the end of this millennium. In his address Pope John Paul II does not hesitate to affirm that what happened in the Upper Room in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, is being renewed this evening in St. Peter’s Square. «With the Second Vatican Council, the Comforter recently gave the Church … a renewed Pentecost, instilling a new and unforeseen dynamism. … You, present here, are the tangible proof of this “outpouring” of the Spirit». (Pope John Paul II) In speaking of the journey taken so far by the movements, Pope John Paul II sees them now on their way toward a new stage of ecclesial maturity in which their strong common announcement is a valid alternative to the secularized culture which encourages and promotes models of life without God. «It constitutes a precious capital for the entire mission of the Church. Its founder did not say in vain that the witness of unity is “so that the world may believe.” The missionary fecundity of the movements will be potentiated if this witness of unity in diversity shines forth so that the world may believe».(Gusmán Carriquiri) 
“As many of you know, our here, especially in Jerusalem, we live separately. The Arabs do not have an occasion to meet the Israelis, and vice versa. We don’t have any real interaction in our daily lives.” This was voiced by Laura, a young Christian who lives in Jerusalem and studies at a Jewish university. Her words give prominence to the event held at the Kehillat Yedidya synagogue on the 30th April. The symposium entitled “Discovering the other’s humanity” was attended by youth from the 3 monotheistic religions. A good part of them belonged to the 
In this collection of inspiring meditations, the author shows that living the present moment is our way to be connected with eternity. Living the present puts us in touch, already here on earth, with heaven. Available from: 
In paragraph 87 of his Apostolic Exhortation 
Doctor of Spiritual Theology, Michel Vandeleene, addressed the audience of 180 people, mostly representatives from local churches and members of international and ecumenical organizations. He read a message that was sent from the President of the Focolare Movement, 
Called “Condecoration” of the “Order of the Congress of Colombia”, it was instituted in 1987 by the Colombian parliament: it is an honour that the two houses can confer, in the name of the people, upon citizens or institutions that have served the country. It was in recognition of this that the “Condecoration”, solicited by the
Among those present was the Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, Mons. Daniel Falla Robles, the Anglican bishop Francisco Duque, and the Personero of Bogota [Head of the District Office of Human Rights], Dr. Ricardo Cañón. The citation particularly recalled how the Focolare, in its 40 years of presence in Colombia, gave rise to “models of living together in various social circles, in the fields of education, law, economy…”. Among the various concrete realizations, mentioned by the Senator in his speech, were that of Los Chircales, the Sol Naciente school, and the collaboration with Social Pastoral Care of Soacha.
David belongs to Catholic Action. He is 24 years old and claims that 
Lia, who in her second year at Sophia, posed a question to the 
The Peace Centre is located in the multi-religious and political heart of Bethlehem. In the same square – a square of white stone and surrounded by palm trees – there is the Basilica of the Nativity and the Mosque, a coexistence that has nothing of confrontation or intolerance. Next door is the Town Hall and all around the colours of the Bethlehem market. There is also the haunting wall that the Israeli government has constructed in defence of its territory.
The Focolare Movement’s Youth for a United World
In confirmation of the innovation that has distinguished her administration she presented the idea of an advisory council made up of young people alongside the elected city council. In her closing remarks she could not but make reference to the wall surrounding her city. “This wall was built by human hands. What will bring it down? Human hands. Let us make a disadvantage into an advantage and work for a common dream: that of making the world a home for people who really are a single humanity. And the Palestinians are this humanity.”
“Patterns of unity: an interdisciplinary dialogue on the thought of 
The opening address by cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, highlighted a challenge faced by the Church: to combine unity that is “it’s essential feature” and catholicity. “In other words”, he specified, “how to reach oneness within the great variety of cultures, traditions, spiritual and theological experiences”. In this journey towards the fullness “of unity in diversity”, Chiara’s charism entered as a “greatest gift”.
Focus on Sweden: This Scandinavian country with a strict Lutheran tradition has been marked by widespread secularism, like in the entire peninsula, which is expressed not only through a scanty participation at religious celebrations, but also by a lifestyle that seems to have put aside any reference to the transcendent. The experience of the “Court of the Gentiles” to open a dialogue among believers and non-believers, which was launched by the Pontifical Council for Culture, has contributed in these years to a greater mutual understanding among Lutherans and Catholics, and it can be strengthened and enriched by putting the gospel into practice, and sharing the fruits it produces. In this context and keep this end in mind, we would like to situate two initiatives promoted by the Focolare Movement to mark Chiara Lubich’s 5th anniversary. 
““May none of those you meet be deluded, but may each one find in you light for their own lives, warmth for their own hearts, support for their own steps; (…) Remain faithful to your charism and witness to Christ in this world that is so confused, and at times weary and without enthusiasm”. These were the words of entrustment and exhortation directed by the Apostolic Nuncio in Sweden, Mons. Nowacki, to the Focolare Movement’s members. During his homily at the mass on the 14th March on the occasion of Chiara Lubich’s fifth death anniversary, he remembered her as “an extraordinary woman who (…) inflamed the world with the fire of Christ’s love and who discovered in Jesus’ cross a fundamental reason to live in intimate union with Him (…), each day as an expression of love for God and neighbour”. 
Is the gospel still relevant today?”. Testimonies and life experiences were shared at this meeting, together with updates on activities of concrete solidarity, and a spiritual deepening with artistic contributions. Some of the feedback received best express the tone of the evening: “I had thought of going back to work on Monday and asserting my point of view, but after hearing the experience in the hall I understood that I must be the first to love”; and another: “I realised that it’s possible to live the gospel even today. I want to try it out too”. The next Focolare Movement appointment in Sweden will be the Mariapoli at Kumla (Örebro) from the 27th – 30th June.
«Many of my companions at school ask to borrow my sharpener as it’s a good one that sharpens pencils well. I always lend it but one morning they had asked me many times. So when another companion asked me again I said “NO!” quite strongly. He returned to his place quite sad and in that instant I remembered: “But Jesus is present even in him. I can’t refuse him!”. I called him back and gave him my sharpener with a big smile. He was happy and I too felt a joy within me. In the evening, I along with my father and brother were watching a football match sitting on a sofa. My mother entered and said: “Don’t any of you care about me. I’ve just come home from work and I have to get dinner ready. Now, who’s going to help me set the table!?” I wanted to watch the game but I thought: “I need to love Jesus even in my mum!” I got up and went to the kitchen to set the table. I made my mother happy and then our team won 4-0!!! ». (E.M. 8 years old, Italy) 
«We kids like to collect and play with cards of games like Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh and of football players. We carry them with us to school. I have 83 of them and some are rare. One day I was returning home with the school bus and I took out my Yu-gi-oh cards. One of my friends Lorenzo asked me to gift him a super rare card called Steelswarm Moth. At first I didn’t want to because it was really important to me. But then I gave it to him to do an act of love and he was overjoyed.» (V.F. – 7 years, Italy) «One day I returned home tired from the swimming pool. My mum asked me to tidy up my room and I didn’t feel like doing it just then as I wanted to rest. Then I thought that there’s Jesus also in my mum. I began to tidy the room and I felt so much joy in my heart that I didn’t get more tired.» (L.A. – 8 years, Italy)
The funeral of Oreste Basso, focolarino and priest, was held at Rocca di Papa in the presence of hundreds of people as well as telecast live via internet. A huge number of testimonies, messages and thanks arrived from all over the world including the Vatican Secretary of State.
Oreste Basso, a focolarino who was amongst the closest collaborators of Chiara Lubich since the 50s, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 between Saturday night and Sunday 14th April morning. He can be described as a “giant” of the Focolare. During his lifetime, he undertook various functions of great responsibility in governing the Movement, thereby becoming an eloquent witness to the charism of unity. Ordained a priest in 1981, he considered the ministry as a service and a calling to a greater love. He was elected Co-president of the Movement in 1996 and he exercised a fundamental role at the time of the foundress’ death (14th March 2008) and during the General Assembly that followed (July 2008). During this assembly, which was the first of its kind for the Focolare, the person who was to succeed Chiara Lubich as president was elected.
The Centre of the Focolare is receiving messages from all over the world expressing condolences and a deep gratitude for Oreste Basso’s tireless work in service of the Church, the Movement, and for his vividly evangelical life. Some spoke of “a sanctity with a sense of humour” bringing to mind this wonderful gift he possessed.