Syria: praying for a truce

Feb 16, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“The cannonades and aircraft flyovers make connections difficult. The situation on the ourskirts of Damascus is also becoming more dramatic. Just listen to the repeated cannon shots even at night, to realize that we have not yet gotten to the word peace! Yet, we continue to hope for it. And we pray for it. I heard from Rim who proposed the Time-Out for Peace to his students, most of them Muslims, in a centre where they are staying and learning to be tailors. The other night I telephoned Maryam from Hom, to see if there was any news from there because I hadn’t been able to reach her for some time. She agreed with me that an intervention from God was needed, so that we wouldn’t lose the faith. She has been living in a nearby village where she fled ten months ago. Her parent’s house is gone, but her elderly father doesn’t know, it would be too much for him. Maryam’s son has returned from Raqqa where he had been studying at university, becuase the situation there has also grown worse. She told me that at the end of the month they will have to leave the house they have been renting, and where shall they go? Today I spoke with Luna from Aleppo who informs me that together with Marah, Yasmina and some friends they have put up a small business from their home (marmalade, doilies and such) and they would like to find a way to sell these products. She says: ‘Many people like us are grateful if we receive help in buying bread or a few litres of gas oil for the heating, but we want to work!’ I was immediately reminded of the road blocks and the risk of being robbed, but I assured her that we wouldn’t let the idea fall by the wayside. I’ve known Luna for some time and not surprised by her determination. I aslo know her brother Nader and his family, two splendid and intelligent little boys. Up until two years ago Nader and his father ran one of the most well-known carpentry businesses in the city, with products that were artistically excellent. For nearly six months they’ve been without work. Luna tells me: ‘If we don’t find some other way to support our families, we will also have to go and knock on the door of the churches for help!’ What shameful words they teach in the schools: ‘Si vis pacem para bellum’ (if you want peace prepare for war)! ‘If you want peace prepare human beings’ I would say, human beings who think in terms of brotherhood, justice, sharing of goods, love and true freedom. “The Latin Rite bishop is saying that at least two generations will be needed for the wounds of this war are healed – and that is only if the war ends it quickly. Many here are convinced that the only reason for all of this is economical and political.” “Many would like to do something to put a stop to these senseless and malicious projects. But then there are also those – and they are not few – who joing together to pray not only at twelve o’clock for the Time-Out for peace that was launched by the Focolare Movement. They try to spread the Time-Out among friends and acquaintances during chance meetings and with people of all religions.” fonte: Città Nuova

Emerging Youth Cultures

Feb 15, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

The Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture dedicated to emerging youth cultures was held in Rome from 6^th to 9^th February. The dicastery’s president Cardinal Ravasi stated that the aim of the meeting was “to listen carefully to the youth issue” that exists in society as well as in the Church, wherein the difficulty in the transmission of the faith is evident.

The importance of this theme was reaffirmed by the Holy Father in his meeting with the participants, where he mentioned that for the Church young people are “an essential and unavoidable point of reference for its pastoral work.” He added that “there are decidedly positive phenomena” such as “the many young volunteers who dedicate their best efforts to others in need“.

Farasoa Bemahazaka

The experience of Fara, a youth of the  Focolare Movement in Madagascar, confirms the pope’s words. She was invited to speak on: “Forms of participation, creativity and voluntary work”. At the age of 16, Fara attended an international meeting of the Youth for a United World, having “Project Africa’ as an on-going activity. With them she experienced that it was possible to live the radicalism of the first Christians even today. Some years later she attended the Gen School at Loppiano in Italy, where she stayed for 10 months, driven by the desire to live her faith with more intensity. During this period, she understood that “each person has something to give, even through many small actions; one gives and receives insofar as one loves. This gives rise to intercultural dialogue, which begins with an interpersonal dialogue because the dialogue is not between cultures but between people of different cultures”.

At present this young African woman is studying Economics and Trade in Florence. It was here that she came in contact with the La Pira International Centre, where she carried out civil service and was able to continue to deepen relationships with and cultures of young people from all over the world. Besides, with other friends, she promoted the Association of African students in Florence that aims to keep alive the awareness of their cultural origins and at the same time promote universal brotherhood. At the beginning of the academic year, a counter was opened to help new students. It offered them assistance in dealing with bureaucratic matters and in facilitating their inclusion in Florence’s social life.

In September 2012, she participated at the Genfest and presently is an active supporter of the United World Project, which would like to show the good that advances and highlight humanity’s slow but unstoppable journey toward universal brotherhood.

Fara has made the words of Chiara Lubich her very own: “Jesus would return today to “die for these people”, to save them from all evils. But Jesus came twenty centuries ago. Now he wants to return through us. Jesus was young: he wants to return especially through young people! “.

50th anniversary of the Focolare in Africa

Feb 11, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

«An extraordinary story, a divine one, which you know well. So many years of faithfulness and commitment from many of you that made that seed grow –sown first in Cameroon. From that seed pieces of humanity renewed by love have blossomed, striving towards the realization of God’s project for the whole large African continent, and beyond». These are some excerpts from the message sent by Maria Voce (Emmaus), the President of the Focolare Movement, to the members of the movement in Africa, who are celebrating this year the 50^th anniversary of the arrival of the Charism of unityin their continent. There were 2000 persons gathered close to Fontem on the 9th February, at Shisong, in the Bamenda Region (North-West of Cameroon) the same place that welcomed the first focolarini who reached on the 12^thFebruary 1963. There were all those who consider themselves as “Chiara’s children”. They had celebrated the Cry Die (the end of mourning) for the founder of the Focolare in January 2009, in that same place. With that event Chiara was solemnly counted among the ancestors, and therefore worthy to be remembered and invoked, because “her ideal of solidarity, spirituality, sharing, and love cannot die”. There were also those who in these years have taken part in the “New Evangelization” action, an integral project started in 2000 by Chiara and the Fon (King) of Fontem, who was the first one to take the commitment, in front of his people, to living the spirit of love and unity that comes from the Gospel. It’s the Fon himself who later on got the other chiefs and noblemen involved. Last Saturday’s event at Shisong started with the Time Out for peace, and continued with the ‘Jubilee celebration prayer’, asking God to strengthen their Faith in Him, keeping in mind the ‘pioneers’ of this adventure (Chiara Lubich, Bishop Julius Peeters and the Fon Defang); to know how to start again with humility to love every neighbour, to walk towards universal fraternity, to increase the fire of charity in every community, in order to be apostles of Jesus’ Testament “That all may be one” (Jn 17,21).   Two of the first focolarini who gave so much of themselves in Africa, Bruna Tomasi and Lucio Dal Soglio, were present through their messages. The reading of their letters and those of others among the protagonists of the beginnings of the focolare (Rosa Calò, Rita Azarian) introduced the documentary: “Focolare, 50 years in Africa”, retracing this journey, interwoven with the experience of Piero Pasolini and Marilen Holzhauser.  For the occasion, a special issue of the African edition of New City was entirely dedicated to cover this topic.   Since the beginning, the Word of God was not merely an object of contemplation, but was instead immediately translated into real choices, in daily life. When the different communities were born, that special atmosphere of family was experienced, a spirit in which it was possible to share even one’s needs. Then many actions were initiated in the continent, including social programmes, schools, and health centres: from the College in Fontem, to nursery schools, primary schools and tuitions programs in Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya; a hospital in Fontem, medical centres in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast; actions against malnutrition; carpentry workshops for the youth in South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Kenya; an agricultural project in Nigeria.   From the beginning of the ’70s, many African youth discovered “Chiara’s way” and therefore a new lifestyle. Like her, Anne Nyimi Pemba (Congo) and Venant Mbonimpaye (Burundi) left everything to follow Jesus, embarking themselves on this new way of consecrated life in Africa.  They were among the first ones, like Teresina Tumhiriwe, from Uganda, Benedict Menjo and Dominic Nyuyilim from Cameroon. Dominic was present at the Shisong celebration, sharing his own experience. Many have followed them in their footsteps. Mafua Christina, Queen of the Bangwa, and Prof. Martin Nkafu, born in Fontem and lecturer of Philosophy and traditional cultures at the Pontifical Lateran University, were also present. They shared their personal experiences, followed with a array by the new generations – children, teenagers and youth– that showed how much today’s experience is in continuity with the Ideal of brotherhood that took roots 50 years ago. “A people born from the Gospel, capable of witnessing of being family beyond their belonging to different tribes, ethnic groups and peoples,” Maria Voce wrote in her message, with the wish of restarting together from this milestone –that will last for the whole year, with a celebration in Kenya at the Mariapolis Piero on the 19th May, during the Pan-African congress of the Volunteers of God, and other events in various African countries.

The country in difficulty was my own

Feb 9, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“Always in search of something that would make me truly happy, I had tried everything. Here I have come to see that the happiness I longed for was never to be found in material things. There was another truer and deeper happines still to be discovered.” When Daniele De Patre arrived at the  Pag-Asa Community Centre he began to experience something that would profoundly change his life. The faces of those people and those poor environments, often seen on television, suddenly became tangible.

In Tagaytay, in the Philippines, homes are constructed with only one room, dirt floors and without running water. Families do not have access to community health care services and there are no employment opportunities.

In this rural area many children are left to themselves and often have no legal identity, so that they are excluded from the most basic social services such as education, health care and economic assistance. They are left at the mercy of inhuman work and criminal activities.

With support from Azione per Famiglie Nuove the Pag-Asa Community Centre carries out numerous activities in the fields of health, education, professional training and provides ongoing support for 400 minors. The clinic is equipped to offer medical care for permanently disabled patients, and this is where Daniele was a volunteer worker, and where he came to know of a new theraputic approach, one based on continual interaction and a relationship of mutual exchange between patient and caregiver. While translating the letters that the children had written to their supporters from around the world, Daniele felt that he was drawn into their world. He perceived their joy, the hardships and hopes of these young children, which he then saw face to face when he personally visited the barrios.

Life in Teramo, Italy, where Daniele comes from, was just a distant memory now, as were those 26 years spent in working and going out with his friends. “Seeing situations of such deeply rooted poverty,” he admits, “was hard to accept. But slowly, slowly I also discovered a solidarity and generosity among the people, that the country in difficulty seemed perhaps to be my own because of its indifference, isolation and closed spirit. . .”

“Once,” he tells, “we reached such a muddy barrio that it was impossible to climb the hill wearing our flip flop slippers, so Heero and I left them at the bottom of the hill at the end of the road. When we came back they were gone, but two days later we found them again at the community centre.” Then he countinued, “I’ll never forget that day on which we went to visit one barrio and it was raining so much that we lost our way, but three children then ran up to us under the rain and were so happy to guide us in the right direction. During those months at Tagaytay Daniele found in each act of generosity what he had been searching for: “Life is far more than what can be measured with numbers.”   

Everything he had in his wealthy life in Teramo was free and taken for granted. Here it had to be obtained under much difficulty: food, clothing, medicines and everything else. “I would like to place my stone,” he writes, “into the building of a world in which me and my brothers and sisters can eat the same way, have the same kinds of schools, the same clothing and time for play without having to sit and beg for alms, to have a roof over our heads, and a bed to sleep in at night, so that finally a more just world will not remain forever just a utopian dream.”

Was I born at Vallo or in Romania?

Feb 8, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Claudio, Antoanetta, Marinella, Giorgio

Vallo Torinese

Don Vincenzo

Asia: training in interreligious dialogue

Feb 6, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“Discovering the Scriptures of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity and how they contribute to peace and harmony” is the title of the course that gathered together 290 members of the Focolare Movement from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Australia and many others from different regions of Thailand. It was a real cross-section of Asia, whose goal was to deepen knowledge of the world’s Great Religions from the East and to be trained for mature dialogue. The meeting was highly anticipated, following the last one that was held in the Focolare’s “Mariapolis Pace” in the Philippines, in 2011. The course was opened by the president of the School of Dialogue with Oriental Religions (SOR), Archbishop of Bangkok, Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithanavanij who stated in his opening remarks: “The different religions consider their scriptures to be sacred in different ways. But there is one thing they have in common, and it is basic: they are all fonts of wisdom.” Competent presenters included: Dr. Seri Phongphit from Bangkok for Theravada Buddhism; Dr. Donald Mitchell for Mahayana Buddhism; Professors Adnane and Mokrani for Islam; Philipp Hu for Confucianism; Stephen Lo for Taoism and Luciano Cura for Hinduism. Bishop Roberto Mallari from the Philippines presented his reflections on the Apostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini. And as a summary of the main theme of the course, Andrew Recepcion, president of the International Association of Missiologists (IACM), offered an illuminating lesson on the New Evangelisation in Asia, in relation to interreligious dialogue. The fact that the SOR was held for the first time outside the Mariapolis in Tagaytay permitted the participants to immerge themselves in Theravada Buddhism which is typical of Thailand and of the entire South East Asia. The approach toward Buddhism was not limited only to delving into its Scriptures at an academic level, but entered into concrete life, thanks to the experiences of Metta and Beer, two Buddhists who have been in friendship with the Focolare since 1980. Deeply moving were the video clips in which Buddhist monks shared impressions concerning their personal relationships with Chiara Lubich, accompanied by personal experiences which they lived after encountering the ideal of unity. It was inspiring to everyone. Professor Donald Mitchell, who could not be present personally, presented his lesson via Skype, linking the SOR of Bangkok with Purdue University in the United States. The atmosphere of communion enabled participants to understand the lessons not only intellectually, but spiritually as well. Many said that they had understood interreligious dialogue on a much deeper level, as a lifestyle and not as an activity to be carried out. The “SOR 2013” was particularly significant for Asia in this Year of Faith; and interreligious dialogue turned out to be a bridge not only to an understanding of other religions and cultures, but an encouragement to understand one’s own Christian faith. Fr. Vicente Cajilig O.P. underscored how the interreligious dialogue of the Focolare Movement offers concrete answers in different ways to the deliberations of the Federation of Asian Bishop Conferences (FABC). The participants returned to their homelands grateful for the ideal of unity that leads them to live their Scriptures, the Word that makes them discover the “true self”. They left committed once again to living the charism of unity more intensely so that they might be a gift within the Church.

Info

Feb 5, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Aotearoa (i.e. New Zealand)

Feb 4, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

It would be difficult to imagine a more liveable place than Wellington. We are here now in the summer, the sun shining and the temperature ideal. In this city that is considered the windiest in the world after Chicago, the wind is not so impetuous. This weekend there is the Sevens Cup, the country’s main rugby tournament. The spectators use masks for this occasion, and this pleases the photographers. Wellington is truly enchanting in every way. At St. Mary’s College in the capital, just above the Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, more than 200 people of the New Zealand Focolare community have gathered this weekend, coming from the two main islands that comprise the country. They are both non-indigenous and members of the Maori population which is the minority. This is the reason for the name “Aotearoa” (the land of the long white cloud). Unlike Australia where co-existence between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples has presented serious problems, here in New Zealand inter-ethnic relations are much less problematic thanks to the combined efforts of civil and traditional authorities. The country now presents itself as a real example of peaceful co-existence. The visitors from Italy were welcomed by the popular anthem and dance of the karana. Choral refrains were accompanied by loud shouts of challenge and welcome as we have also heard from the best ambassadors of New Zealand, the fabulous All Blacks, the most powerful rugby team on the planet. There was a brief but helpful review of history – done in pictures – sounds, dances and testimonies. All of it enabled both local and guest to value and better understand the story of a diverse but united people that thanks to the Christian presence was able to achieve true social cohesion. It is this that has always allowed them to boast of their enviable quality as a people without enemies, who are able to be accepting of  others. It is quite instructive, no doubt about it, especially in these times when immigration is so common, also here, arriving mostly from Asia. “Welcome home!” the band sings, joining European sounds and local rhythms in a suggestive mix. The brief history of the “populace born from the Gospel” of Chiara Lubich, began with words of the psalm: “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (Ps. 2:8). And here we are at the anitpodes of Trent, the ultimate limits. The history began with a Dutch man, Evert Tross and a young New Zealander, Terry Gunn, who had made the decision to live according to the Gospel, following the example of the little school teacher from Trent (Chiara Lubich). The history later continued with the opening of a focolare, with the blessing of Archbishop Tom Williams, now cardinal emeritus of Wellington, who came to know the charism of unity in Rome, 1960, during the Roman Olympics. Later this charism spread to several main cities of the country and to many rural regions. Bill Murray, an elder, a senior member of his tribe, the Ngati Apa testified that: “After having known the focolare I changed quite a bit in my life and in my way of being an elder. The love of Jesus is now an integral part of the way I do things. Every judgement and decision is based on the love that I have learned from Chiara.” The current Archbishop of Wellington, John Dew also recognised the importance of the Focolare for New Zealand: “Amidst the current wave of secularisation, the Holy Spirit has bestowed some charisms for making the message of the Gospel ever new. Here in New Zealand I see that the Focolare has understood the people and their needs, and they know how to act with imagination and courage.”   Then Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti offered some words to the community that had gathered from all the cities of New Zealand, from the extreme North of the country to its southernmost tip: “The trips that I’ve taken have allowed me to know the beauties of many peoples. Imagine you, who live in such beautiful country that is so rich in humanity,” the president began. As happened in Australia, here too the influence of secularisation and multiculturalism has had a strong influence. The youths in the audience brought up existential issues such as the existence of God, the salvation brought by Jesus, a person’s freedom to sin, the strength to change oneself, helping those who are without work or a place to live. . . These are the children of Christian families who bring up these topics, once more highlighting the vast horizons of the New Evangelisation. Maria Voce suggested that finding answers means working together, not asserting prefabricated answers. Such answers point to the love of God as a credible answer and to the life of sharing, of unity, as the method for never falling under the weight of such questions. Other topics included the unbelief and the difficulties of educating people in the faith. Here again Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti tried to give encouragement, suggesting the power of unity as an answer, as a united and adequate testimony for these times and situations. There was another demanding topic: “God seems to be irrelevant in the lives of the majority of people. Therefore we tend not to talk about God. We know that the first step is to love our neighbours, but is it enough? Shouldn’t we also talk? Giancarlo Faletti offered his response to this comment: “We should see Jesus in each individual and therefore every person should be loved as if we were speaking with Jesus. This is basic. After we’ve done this, we’ll feel a need to speak to each person in a way that is appropriate to him or to her.” But there’s more: “We have to discern and choose the correct ways of acting, not doing certain things, or even leaving certain situations. Then we need to explain ourselves in some way. We should be able to see in our life a proclamation of Jesus and of God’s love.”   “In the Movement I can somehow see the Church as it should be. What can we do then so that everyone will experience Jesus in the midst (Mt. 18:20)?” asked one of the Movement’s adherent members. Maria Voce offered some thoughts: “John Paul II once asked something similar about the Focolare: “I see the post-Conciliar Church in you.” What can we do then so that all of mankind can experience Jesus in the midst? We don’t know when, but it will happen because Jesus wanted it by asking unity from the Father (Jn. 17:21). But He asks us to help Him to make this dream come true. Our task is to establish small fires in the midst of the human family, small groups of people who are united in the name of Jesus. There might be only two people, but together: in a school, a hospital, a band, even on a cricket team. Two people only, a small fire. But all these small fires at some point will meet up with the other fires. And then the fire will become larger and larger, even though we will never be exactly sure we’re the fire has caught on. One thing is certain: God is at work. Well, let us also collaborate with Him then by lighting these small fires and keeping them burning.” At least for today, Wellington has become the heart of this “populace born from the Gospel”, no longer the last frontier. By Michele Zanzucchi

Men Religious: “Yes, we live the Gospel!”

Feb 3, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

The participants from the different religious families were about 150, coming from all over Europe and  as well as from Lebanon, Peru and Brazil. This convention for the men religious, organized by the Focolare Movement, was held at the Mariapolis Center at Castelgandolfo at the same time as the convention for the priests and deacons who take part in the life of the Movement.

Giancarlo Faletti, co-president of the Focolare, who was travelling in those days with Maria Voce to Indonesia and Oceania, made his presence felt with a message, in which he highlighted the important role of the religious for the diffusion of the spirituality of unity in those nations: “Once again, I strongly felt a great and deep sense of gratitude towards our religious, who have brought the Ideal of Unity to these faraway lands, sowing the seed of what, with time, has become the family of the Focolare”.

The program was quite intense: the participants met with some representatives of the Focolare International Centre: with Msgr Piero Coda, Dean of the Sophia University Institute, and Marco Tecilla, the first focolarino. Besides, Father Fabio Ciardi from the Abba School (the Movement’s Studies Centre) and the journalist Paolo Loriga from Città Nuova gave their contribution to the program.

A particularly important moment was the exchange with the new generations. The Youth for a United World presented the United World Project, which was conceived and launched during the Genfest, and is now entering a very dynamic stage.

The project for the Meetings in 2014 generated great interest. Entitled “Yes we live the Gospel”, this global project for the new generations in the consecrated life will take place in various parts of the world. It has three objectives: to make known the charism of unity, to make visible the young face of the consecrated life, and to help experience the beauty of the communion among charisms.

Fr Theo Jansen explained the title, “Yes, we live the Gospel”, as follows: Yes, that is the Yes to the Ideal of unity; We, to emphasize that it is done together, not individually, and finally Gospel: the plurality of charisms that many religious families display by their very existence, charisms that flourish again in the garden of the Church when they are together. Maria Voce gave the participants of the congress a slogan, inspired by a well-known writing from Chiara Lubich, which was in tune with this program: “Look at all the flowers. The other is a flower from our garden.”

University, research, commitment and… a smile

Feb 2, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

A young twenty year-old with a beautiful smile, fresh and simple, that’s how Alejandra Giménez looks. She is studying the second year of Medicine in Asunción, Paraguay, where she lives with her parents and a younger brother. With lots of enthusiasm, Alejandra tells about her commitment at the University, in the scientific and student associations. All these commitments and activities obviously take time from her studies, and she needs to leave out many things she would like to do, but she manages all these because she gives the required time to her spiritual formation. That’s why she meets regularly with the other young people from the Focolare, where she finds all the support she needs. But let’s hear it from her. “I attended a Medicine Conference, in which they discussed about the brain death and organ donation and there I decided to organize an awareness campaign on this subject. I got in touch with the Scientific Society of Medical Students at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) and now I have taken up the responsibility of director at the Department of Medical Education. Together with three of my classmates, Eliana Duarte, Aracy Do Nascimento and Lilian Carrera, we studied this topic, and did a scientific research on the awareness and diffusion of organ donation among medical students. This study was selected to represent my University at an important academic meeting in Curitiba, Brazil; and also in September 2013, at an international conference in the United Arab Emirates”. She conducted another research study on the “False alcohol test results” on car drivers. This study deals with common “beliefs” among youngsters, for instance the one that says that using a mouthwash or cough syrup will alter the test results. Road accidents are the major cause of death among the youth in Paraguay, and therefore alcohol, accidents and organ donation are all closely related topics. Alejandra has also been elected to other scientific student associations, and she continued to organize awareness initiatives: one on cardiovascular health, another on breast cancer and on diabetes, to give some examples. Besides all this, she is involved, together with her classmates, in many other projects in the coming year, such as the “Conferences on Research formation for Medical students”. “Of course –she acknowledges–, I do many things and it could be that I won’t be able to accomplish everything, but I prefer to aim high; afterwards, if I am not able to attain all those goals, other classmates will take them ahead”. She has no regrets in spending her energies for others and the smile on her face is a good proof of it!  Source: Ciudad Nueva Uruguay – Paraguay (Dicembre 2012) Our translation.      

Brazil. Fraternity, law and social change

Feb 1, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

A new legal thinking and practical application runs that have succeeded. This is what was presented at the three-day gathering in Mariapolis Ginetta, near to San Paulo, Brazil on January 25-27, 2013. The meeting included 180 lawyers, judges, public judicial ministers, public ministers, public defenders, probation officers, public administration workers, and teachers from all over Brazil.

The numerous experiences that were related corroborated and confirmed the effects of fraternity and its potential. There was the ‘adoption of citizens held without public defence that was carried out in Pernambuco within the framework of criminal law. Here teachers and students offered assistance to detainees who had financial problems. There was the application of alternative penal measures for environmental crimes in the Amazon, through work for the environment that has had the effect of reducing recurrences. There was the work of the core research team of the Centre of Law and Society at the Federal University of Santa Catarina for training in law and the promotion of peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and reconciliation. Family mediation and defence for the weakest members of society, through the interpretation of the law was also achieved.

“Throughout the congress proceedings the many students present were given ample opportunity to voice concerns, questions, discoveries, share experiences and, above all, present their hopes and expectations for a human formation that involves fraternity. At the opening of the congress there was a message from Maria Voce, who is president of the Focolare Movement, a lawyer and among the first supporters of Communion and Law which is an expression of the Focolare’s dialogue with the legal culture. After reminding everyone that “when you live love towards others you respect every law, you interpret the law and you apply it in justice,” she proposed – after decades in which individual rights were held up as the “path to equality” – it was time for a reassessment of our duties since, “without respect for them our relationships are less than correct.” Duties call to mind our responsibility for each other as individuals and as community. This helps to maintain and strengthen the bonds of society.    

In this time of crisis and change fraternity taken as a legal category was shown through the work of the conference to be a lens that highlights and brings about something new. Fraternity involves a turnaround, a reminder to the justice system of the individual human person behind each face. It leads beyond a subjective individual right and opens one to a vision of humankind as “us”. It does not reduce Law to a mere production of norms, but sees it as a tool for healing broken relationships. As Cardinal Odilo Schrerer, Archbishop of San Paulo put it, on the afternoon of the 26th January: [Fraternity is] a proposal of “such great interest, of enormous social importance, crucial for society, culture and civilisation.” He went on to say: “We need to continue digging for the gold so that we can offer this gold to all.”

Those who attended the congress return to their homelands with the mission of spreading the experience they lived here, and the commitments they have made demonstrate this. Other congresses are planned for the University of Santa Caterina and Marilia (SP), in the Brazilia Sergipe Tribunals, in the cities of Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, as well as the formation of a group of regular gatherings for delving further into the research and praxis.

To find out more: www.comunionediritto.org

Australia: a Church open to new challenges

Jan 31, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Catholics comprise 26% of the population in Australia. Therefore they belong to the most widespread Church of the Christian world that brings together more or less half of the country’s human population. The Conference of Catholic Bishops is comprised of 42 bishops under the guidance of the Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis James Hart.

The Australian Church is undergoing many challenges at the moment: growing secularisation (“a real challenge for the civil and religious conscience of the country,” says Bishop Peter Elliott, Auxilliary Bishop of Melbourne); the phenomenon of immigration that brings with it the faithful of other religions (“Our Church is on the way more than any other, because it is mostly comprised of immigrants,” according to the director of Migrant Ministry, Fr. Maurizio Pettena); the accusations being made toward the Catholic Church because of the sexual abuse of minors (“that has removed a lot of credibility from the word of our pastors,” affirms Bob Dixon, director of the centre for studies of the Australian Bishops Conference); because of the teaching of a sexual ethic that the majority of young people do not share (“though there is a strong sensibility, also among non-Catholics for the Christian notion of the human body,” explains Matthew MacDonald, executive officer for Melbourne’s Archdiocesan Office for life, family and marriage.

Some Bishop Friends of the Focolare were invited to the Thomas Carr Center next to the cathedral in Melbourne. This movement is very much loved by the bishops because of its “Marian nature”  Bishop of Sale, Christofer Prowse pointed out.

The meeting had been organised by Bishop Prowse. He recounted his encounter with the Focolare, when he was still a seminarian and had ascertained that the Holy Spirit was working in Chiara Lubich. The fact is that “someone would place the Word of Life under my door . . . Then I came to know the Movement and was able to appreciate it, also for the conciliating character of its ecclesial presence. The Focolari, without ever imposing their intuitions, set in place a great welcome, one based on dialogue and friendship that wins hearts.” He concluded: “I had an extraordinary experience at the Mariapolis on Phillip Island, which very much helped me and strengthened me in the faith. The Holy Spirit works gently but firmly in the Focolare Movement.”

A dozen bishops were present, including Anglican Bishop Phillip Huggins who has known the Focolare since 1990. Archbishop Francesco Kriengsak, moderator of the Bishop Friends of the Focolare and Archbishop of Bangkok, sent a message to the group in which he underscored how “the charism of unity is a great help in bringing ahead the New Evangelisation.”

Bishop Prowse introduced Maria Voce in a climate of simplicity that the Australians know how to create. The Focolare president then presented the Movement’s thought on the New Evangelisation beginning with her recent experience as an auditor at the Synod of Bishops: “The Church has come out poorer in glory and honour following a period of humiliations, but richer of God and therefore more strong.” The Synod particularly focused on the Words of the Gospel that regard love.” And concerning the Synod Fathers desire that the Gospel be brought out of the churches: “I think this has happened in many parts of the world also by the Focolare community, especially because of the presence of Jesus in the midst of His own.”

During the course of the discussion Bishop Elliott told how the spirituality of unity had helped him, especially at the beginning of his ministry, and he asked Maria Voce to say something about Jesus Forsaken and Jesus in the midst. “If you don’t choose Jesus Forsaken you cannot have Jesus in the midst. But when Jesus makes Himself present, the joy arrives as He takes up His dwelling among His friends,” she explained. She was also asked about her trip to Istanbul, “where I experienced that mutual acceptance was possible with the Muslims.” They spoke about the present spreading of the Movement and the frontiers that lie ahead, following the death of the founder. Finally, Giancarlo Faletti offered a reflection on what the Movement proposes to priests and to bishops.

By Michele Zanzucchi

Australia: Evangelising and re-evangelising ourselves

Jan 30, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Australia, a land for the new evangelisation? There are many who believe that it is, because of different reasons. This country is quite multicultural and continues to be so with a recent influx of immigration from Asia; the crisis in the Catholic Church because of the sexual abuse of minors; the persuasive force of consumerism; the presence of youths from around the world and not only children of local families; numerous mixed marriages; the ecumenical and interreligious challenge. The list could go on, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind about the need for an evangelisation in this country as well. But it would have to be first of all a re-evangelisation of the Christian life of the individual.

During the visit of Focolare president Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Faletti, the local Focolare community wished to pause and publicly question itself concerning the new frontiers of evangelisation in Australia and its own contribution toward this. Above all by offering “good practices”, small but great witnesses to ecclesial life, work in public office, living with unemployment, commitment in hospitals, rejecting clientelism, education and family life. The simple Gospel lived in a society where competition is encouraged and in which individualism often wins out over altruism and corporate interests over the common good.

Maria Voce spoke before an audience that included professors and journalists, religious leaders and professionals about the cornerstones of the Focolare’s style of evangelisation, which is to live the Gospel in order to continually re-evangelise ourselves, sharing with each other what the Gospel life has brought about in our lives, finding longer moments in which to experience the power of God’s love together. By acting in this way you finally manage to have a deep impact on environments that before could have seemed impenetrable by the Gospel, from parliaments to factories, from sport arenas to charitable institutions. This evangelisation is one that happens outside the church building. One convincing example was offered by Giancarlo Faletti concerning Rome, Italy. In 2000 after Chiara Lubich had been awarded honorary citizenship, she launched a project for the revitalization of urban life, which she called RomaAmor (Rome-Love).

Maria Voce did not try to hide the fear that the Movement felt at the death of its founder. But the fruits of evangelisation that are, after all, nothing more than the life of the Gospel very soon crushed that fear. These fruits demonstrated that focolare spirit still had much to give to today’s society. This was also noticed by many who attended the recent Synod on the New Evangelisation in which many bishops shared with Maria Voce who was an auditor at the Synod, the many Gospel fruits  that they had seen continuing to come forth from the Movement.

Among those present there was also Professor James Bowler, a well-known Australian geologist, who discovered the remains of the oldest human being on the continent known as Mungo Lady and Mungo Man. Surprised by the great turnout, he commented: “It was a moment of great spirituality and openness. The recognition of the other is the right path for a just and coherent social life.” Professor Anne Hunt head of the Theology department at the University of Melbourne underscored “the importance of the presence of the new movements in the new evangelisation, which are able to open unique and original horizons for the faith and for the Catholic Church in fields that are otherwise deserted, especially in the professions and in the media.”

By Michele Zanzucchi

Source: Città Nuova

Visit in Oceania

Jan 28, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

The introduced themselves with a short video showing the park near the Sydney Opera House, a room at Wellington, a beach on a Pacific island. Some of the Focolare’s local communities offered dances from their local traditions that exuded the natural radiance of the cultures found in Oceania.

January 26-27 2013: Different cultures, traditions, Churches and religions. Oceania is the most cosmopolitan culture in the world. “The Spot” Hall at the University of Melbourne is a spectacle in itself because of its unique architecture and shiny cubes of light, but also because of the variety of people found in the audience. Everyone was an imigrant here, except for the original natives of the Pacific Islands.

Australia Day. Today is the national holiday but the aboriginal population far more prefers the Sorry Day which is celebrated in May. This is the “day of excuses” that was instituted to recall and repair the wounds inflicted on the local populations by colonialism, especially Australia where the impact was most felt by the aborigines. But it also recalls the paths of reconciliation, like the New Zealand one that has led to the creation of effective organisations of ethnic and cultural harmony. Before Sunday Mass, an aboriginal ceremony is performed that recalls the wairua tapu (mother earth), since she is worthy of honour and respect.

The celebration consists in placing hands on a mound of earth placed in the hollow of a large and welcoming bank. The little children together with Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti are invited to place their hands. Then the president of the Focolare receives from the hand of the aboriginal celebrant a wooden blade on which is inscribed a picture of the Australian landscape, the nine territories into which it is divided, according to the cosmogony geography of the Aborigines.

There is the long intense history of the lands of Oceania and there is the history of the local Focolare Movement. And exciting film presented a few moments of this history with the arrival of Rita Muccio in 1967, then the arrival of Maddalena Cariolato, the first locals to welcome the “spirit of Chiara”, individuals and families, youths and the not so young, in Melbourne and Perth. Then there was the “landing” in New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna, New Chaldonia and the Fiji Islands. Some of those people are still living, and some have already “arrived”. Among these are Margaret Linard and New Zealander Terry Gunn. All of them bear witness to having met in the charism of Chiara Lubich the possibility of living the Gospel. With the simplicity and radicalism that characterises this “very new world” coupled with love for neighbour, their lives were changed.

And it was precisely love of neighbour that was the main theme of Maria Voce’s remarks: Just as the three Kings recognized the greatness of the Son of God in a tiny baby boy, so too must we come to recognise Jesus in every neighbour, also beyond appearances. The open discussion that followed immediately took on an existential tone, when a child asked how we can believe in a God we do not see! The youths asked how they were to resist the solicitations of modern society. The elderly discussed their role in the communion among the generations; some brought up questions on how to advance the ecumenical or interreligious dialogue. Serious issues were not avoided, such as the sexual abuse of minors in the Catholic Church, the growing stress in the cities that impedes progress in holiness, the temptation of consumerism that snuffs out witness to the Gospel, the absence of God in people’s lives, and the courage it takes to bear witness to His love.

Maria Voce ended with a wish: “Australia is a big land, we need to bring her love and unity. Our big family cannot live on memories in a photo album, we need to move forward. Then we’ll be writing a new album.”

By Michele Zanzucchi, correspondent

Voices of priests

Jan 27, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

The priests of the Focolare share their experiences during a meeting in Castelgandolfo

“I’m Fr. Carlo, a priest for 22 years in the diocese of Milan. I’ve left this parish community and will soon move to the Focolare’s international school for priests in Loppiano, Italy where I’ll stay for three years or so. In Milan I was often in contact with people, especially children since I was in charge of groups that were preparing them for First Confession and First Holy Communion.

I realized that at the basis of every pastoral endeavour there should be a living love for neighbour, striving to see Jesus in everyone, from the pastor to the Muslim teenager who came to play football at the oratory. I could tell many small stories that demonstrate how these small attentions to each person helped to create a close network of very beautiful relationships, that helped to facilitate many in drawing near to the faith and made the community appealing even to those who were unbelievers. I will share just two episodes.

I got to know Emilio during a chess workshop. His temperament was reserved and he didn’t really fit in with his peer group. To my great surprise at the end of the workshop he asked to join us on a holiday excursion in the mountains. There he began to fit in better with the group of boys, to the point of proving his courage by walking across a rope that was attached to a safety cable at a height of six metres: the “Tibetan Bridge”. His peers encouraged him, chanting his name in chorus and, in the end, he managed to walk the length of the course amid the general applause that gave him much confidence. When he returned home from camp his parents wrote to me saying that they had watched a young boy go off to camp and a young man return.

Then there was Eleonora. She wasn’t baptized. Her parents had preferred to allow her to choose when she was older. She had been invited to catechism classes by the enthusiasm of Maria, a very enterprising classmate who was only ten years old at the time. So Eleonara arrived, accompanied by her mother, who asked the pastor if her daughter could attend catechism classes. About two years later the pastor, seeing her faithfulness to the journey of faith, he decided that the moment had arrived for her Baptism and First Holy Communion, and he entrusted me with preparing her for the Sacraments and with the task of discussing it with her parents, who opened their hearts to me with honesty and candor.

The great day arrived. Eleonora arrived accompanied by family and relatives. We did everything we could to make them feel welcomed. The celebration was simple and very intense. Alongside the godmother were the catechist and friends who had been so important in her journey of faith. When I left the parish a few months ago, her parents wrote me a letter recalling “that unforgettable Sunday in April, the radiant and joyful smile of Eleonora that had illuminated all of us believers and non-believers alike, all who had gathered to celebrate her entrance into the Catholic community. For us it is the indelible image of a faith that goes directly to the heart.”

Loving our neighbours is always a grand adventure, you know how it begins, but you never know where it will lead.

Maria Voce in kangaroo land

Jan 26, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Following the visit to the Focolare communities in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, the visit of Maria Voce and Gicancarlo Faletti now continues in Oceania.

In the first phase of their journey that began on 22 January 2013 and ends on 31 January 2013, several appointments are planned in Melbourne with men and women focolarini for their annual retreat and with who are close to the Focolare in Australia and in the Islands. There there will also be a lively presence of young people  with several acitivities just for them on(26-27 January. Thern there is an encounter with a group of Australian bishops and priests on 20 January.

Diary from Syria

Jan 25, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

In December, Maria Voce, the Focolare Movement’s president , launched an international campaign to stop the Syrian conflict and to ask for peace talks be resumed for the good of millions of unarmed and defenceless citizens: Time out. A minute of silence and prayer for peace, all over the world at 12 noon (local time), now directed particularly for peace in Syria.

Some friends from the Focolare Movement’s community wrote to us from Damascus and Aleppo: “Twenty-two months studded with unspeakable and countless pain that has left its sign. This is how we find our Syria and our people. We crossed the Lebanese border after a smooth travel along mountain roads, which were only recently usable due to the abundant snowfall in the past few days. Notwithstanding a reassuring blue sky, one can sense in the air a feeling of great uneasiness.

The controls at checkpoints are precise; we encounter more than one of them between the border and the outskirts of the capital, before reaching the neighbourhood wherein lives a family that will host us for the next few days, until the small accommodation generously accorded to us by the local Church will be ready. Though we haven’t reached yet, our mobile phones are already ringing or receiving messages from our friends from Aleppo, Hama, and Damascus who wanted to “welcome us” back! The joy is deep, contained, and tinged with anxiety due to an uncertain future. From the outskirts, the sounds of mortar and cannon shots are rare.

The news on TV was not very encouraging. Speaking with one of our friends we understood the magnitude of the game being played at the people’s expense. A game being prepared since years, which intends to distort the structure of the Middle East and in front of which one feels small and powerless. The international and regional politics seem miles away from the people’s suffering, as if it were not considered. And the people were tired. From Aleppo they described in a few sentences via telephone (that miraculously worked! ), the continuing hardships, the biting cold, the lacking water and electricity, the bread that is rare or at an exorbitant price, the blackmails and kidnappings for money in a city that was the country’s industrial and commercial centre. They speak of death that is always at the doorstep and of God’s providential aid. They were exhausted”.

And again: “We’re back from mass and behold the terrible news of the massacre at the university of architecture in Aleppo, due to two missiles that hit it and adjoining places, where besides many refugees were residing. We immediately tried to get in touch with our friends living there: a teacher and two students. Their voices were deeply moved. They recounted of unspeakable scenes. One of them who threw herself behind a car, saw bodies flying in the air and heard the cries of mothers in search of their children. The teacher narrated: “Today was the first day of exams, the bell had already rung and we were collecting the answer sheets. A pupil begged us to give him a few more minutes. He had arrived late due to the blocked roads. My colleagues were reluctant, but in the end I managed to convince them. At least five minutes elapsed before the student handed in his exam answer sheet. We went down to the courtyard and headed towards the exit. I saw the two missiles passing one after the other above me. I would have been exactly in the place they hit. I found the car with a caved in roof and shattered windows. But we were saved thanks to an act of love towards a student.”

Source: Città Nuova  –  Diary from Syria/1 – Diary from Syria /2 – Diary from Syria /3

Selamat Datang! Welcome!

Jan 21, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“It takes around an hour to reach the Singapore Airport from the city of Johor, crossing a river at Woodlands that is actually a sea strait separating Singapore Island from Malaysia. I am in great and youthful company in the car carrying us. There’s Sophie who had just arrived from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. She’s 43 years old, with two children aged 11 and 14, and works with an Arabic airline. She narrated her decision to live as a Christian in a professional setup that is not always easy, not solely for religious reasons but also for the quality of work: “Often I was obliged not to accept gifts and bribes that someone would like to give me because unfortunately in Indonesia, there is rampant corruption.”

Heyliy’s beautiful smile stood out beside her. She’s from another world – from Mumbai in India. She’s been in Singapore since seven years and works as an air hostess with another airline. She’s part of a group of young people of the Focolare Movement. She’s Indian, another’s from Brazil, two are from Singapore, another’s from Mauritius, there’s a Malaysian, one from Macau, and finally, a Korean!

26-year-old Latando and Oktav 28, had just arrived by air from Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Indonesia, where they are studying Italian with commitment, eager to spend a period of spiritual and professional formation in Italy. They have a great hope: that their Muslim friends from Bantul, with whom they had worked a lot after the deadly earthquake of 2009, find a suitable way of development.

Anna, 22 years, is our driver. She lives together with his family in Johor. She’s studying Health management. She’s positive and optimistic by nature as well as by choice: “I believe that the crime affecting my city must be overcome by good police measures, but even more by works of social and political justice”. Finally, 22-year-old Nicolas, Singaporean with her smart phone always ready to go and ringing. She’s an accounts auditor: “But I always try to see faces and people beyond the money. It’s not always easy. Out here it seems that one should live for the money. I don’t agree”.

It’s these people, along with 300 others from Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, who gathered today, 20th January, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral hall in the heart of the city of Johor, to meet Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti who are visiting the region. Many of them don’t know each other due to the vast distances between them. It’s easier for them to meet as Indonesians, Singaporeans, Malaysians… The youth and children made up an overwhelming majority, but there’s no dearth of the “workers of the first hour”, i.e. those from the eighties, when news of the lady teacher from Trent reached out here. A burst of colours, numerous thoughts, so much expectation. Palpable emotions. People who are really diverse but all the same brought together by gospel love and that of Chiara Lubich.

Characteristics of diverse peoples expressed colourfully, emotionally and artistically through dance, music, theatre, scenic representations… A festival of peoples, an exposition of this part of the world that is so varied and rich. Maria Voce observed: “I was struck by the richness of this people who have such an immense potential both expressive as well as spiritual”. A youth from Penang, Malaysia remarked: “I didn’t know that the Focolare Movement communities from neighbouring countries were so diverse, I’d say complementary. I realized that we Malaysians alone wouldn’t know how to be so rich”.

A personal contact is being established between the guests from Rome and the many people who are present. There are intimate questions and in some way, just as intimate answers. It’s a constant call to God’s love and the individual conscience. With an invitation to a kind of “Jubilee year”, in which space is given to forgiveness, to “begin anew”, to look out for God’s grace that arrives… Questions somewhat universal, globalised, which would be valid even if asked in Cologne or Buenos Aires. But with a touch of the local social, religious, and political situation: the difficulty to commit oneself due to the stress of daily life wherein work is the most important value; the interfaith context, particularly Islam; the difficulty of a true altruism; inter-generational relationships; laws that not always favourable to a suitable civil coexistence…

Maria Voce concluded saying: “Only God remains… God needs witnesses and not defenders”. And this is what the life of the Movement means in these lands: to constantly renew oneself in the gospel love and to bear witness to it with one’s own life. To thus reach, little by little, the unity Jesus wanted.

Selamat Datang is written on the meeting hall’s backdrop. It means “welcome.” A few hours together and it’s already a certainty”.

By Michele Zanzucchi, correspondent

Finding God in Prison

Jan 19, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Mirta Zanella, a native of Argentina, from Mendoza, is married and has three children. She has known the spirituality of unity for quite some time now and has experienced that living the Word of God transforms us and also changes the reality around us.

One day her house keys disappeared, along with her husband’s salary and other valuable items. Who could it have been? The theft had to be necessarily carried out by someone close to the family. This caused Mirta great suffering, so much so that she was unable even to pray. Then, remembering that Jesus invites us to forgive, she does so, even for the person who stole from her.

A few days later she learnt that a lady in difficulty who begged for alms in the neighbourhood, and with whom she’d had a friendly relationship, had stolen from a neighbour’s house. While she threatened this neighbour with a gun, her husband stole the goods. Subsequently, even Mirta received serious threats from her and so she called the police to defend herself. The woman was arrested. After the trial that found her guilty of various crimes, she was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

In the following months Mirta’s husband suggested that she go visit her in prison, but this was not part of her plans. “No way,” she answered, also overtaken by fear. Sometime later there was a new request. This time it was the parish priest who invited her to accompany a group of ladies to the women’s prison where, for that matter, the woman who robbed her was also imprisoned. Somewhat confused, Mirta accepted the invitation, remembering the Word of Life: “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’” (Mt. 9,13).

Thus she went with the group to the prison and saw the woman at the end of Mass. In a flash she decided to greet her with a hug. “She started to cry and asked for forgiveness,” narrates Mirta. “I replied that the Lord had already forgiven her and me too. She asked me to pray for her children and I promised to do so”.

From that day onwards, Mirta continued to visit the prison with the priest and others, until she was asked to coordinate the Prison Ministry group. The prison inmates were touched by their concrete love and changed their attitude by making themselves available. They tidied up the chapel by restoring the crucifix and polishing the benches, so much so that Mass can now be regularly celebrated there. Some impressions of the prisoners confirm the changed atmosphere brought about: “I didn’t know how to dialogue with my children. Now I’m able to understand them”;  “I was selfish. I only saw my pain, but I’m trying to be also sensitive to that of the other”; “The place doesn’t matter. Here I’ve discovered God”.

On Christmas Eve, Mirta and her friends organised a gala dinner in the prison and the Bishop went to celebrate Mass. On the one hand it meant forgoing to celebrate the feast with their families, while on the other it gave them a strong awareness of building an even larger family.

Brazil: priests, deacons and seminarians

Jan 18, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

In Brazil, the church recently opted to take more than ever before the form of a “network community”.  It is within this context that the meeting for priests of the Focolare Movement was held from the 3^rd to 10^th January, in the proximity of Sao Paulo.

The meeting was held at the citadel called “Mariapoli Ginetta”.  The 145 priests, deacons and seminarians came from the different regions of Brazil, and also from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.

They kept in the background the appeal made at the recent synod of the bishops to give shape to “concrete experiences of communion, that with the ardent strength of love- “See how they love each other!”-attract the glance of today’s disenchanted humanity;” “wells at which to quench the thirst of men and women and make them meet Jesus.” (Message to the people of God, n.3).

Every day the programme started with a phrase from the Gospel, to be lived, followed by consideration of the spirituality of unity. In order to give precedence to living in communion, plenary dialogue sessions and work in groups were given priority.

Within the context of celebration of the year of Faith, they dealt with the relationship between Vatican Council II and the Gospel promise of the presence of Jesus amongst those united in his name.

It was an urgent necessity for all to give visibility to this presence. They also realised that the Church is called to not only look at itself or present itself to the world with an institutional profile; but rather it is called to dialogue with culture, showing Jesus through mutual love lived between persons.

During the conclusion of the meeting, they expressed the conviction that through the presence of Jesus in community, the church renews its structures and its methods, through authentic relationships and a profound spiritual life.

Moreover, the meeting was an opportunity for renewing the presence of the Focolare Movement in its specific service to priests, permanent deacons, and seminarians in the different regions of Brazil, allowing the formation of numerous groups of communion, with the aim of deepening in everyday life, the charism of unity, as the source of inspiration of their life and ministry.

“Adopt a tree” project in Albania

Jan 17, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Many hectares of forest were devoured by fires in different countries during the European summer last year as was the case in Albania. The Youth for a United World there thought of launching to many of their peers the idea to purchase trees that they would plant together in the burned areas. Hence the project name “Adopt a tree”.

They wrote from Albania saying that “Feverish preparations were being made for this meeting since many weeks with many unexpected occurrences, such as the concurrence with the national holiday of the 100^th anniversary of the country’s Independence. Many universities would remain closed for a few days and therefore many young people would have returned to their home towns”.

Notwithstanding this and the hall with an 80 seats capacity, 140 young people arrived in Tirana on the 28^th  and 29^th November to spend two days as a follow-up to the experience lived at the Genfest in Budapest.

They narrate that “We lived the strongest and most beautiful experience during the preparation made together with a group of young people who had participated with us at the Genfest. They felt as protagonists in the first person. There were some who organized the meals, others the choreographies, singing, testimonies, translation and dubbing of videos, presentations…

“This helped make us a very united group. It gave us the strength to invite our friends by helping them find ways to remain in the city, even if some boarding schools were closed”.

The meeting was entitled “Do unto others as you want others to do unto you”, the noted golden rule present in almost all religions. During the  two-day program, besides listening to the main themes of the Genfest, the United World Project was explained. It is an initiative pursued by the Youth for a United World throughout the world.

They conclude saying that “The young people present were happy with this experience of unity and lived reciprocity. Many thanked us because they have seen that a more united world is feasible, that it is possible to change the reality around us by beginning with ourselves in the first place, and that we are not alone in doing so”.

The Youth for a United World in Albania

Running for elections as Junior Mayor

Jan 16, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“When I heard of the initiative calling for early elections for the junior Mayor of my city, I proposed my candidacy. I was excited to be able to do something and witness my ideal of living for a united world. Immediately we met up with some friends and our party, the IPIF, “Together for the future”, was born. We drew up a manifesto, the logo and then the election campaign began. We were 9 candidates.

I was sure that in the end, regardless of whether I would have been elected or not, I would have learned many things, both in the political sphere as well as in the efforts of seeing Jesus in the other [Mt 25,40 Editor’s note], even if they were ‘competing’ with me.

Above all, I wanted to try to live with my companions, some of whom are non-believers, an experience in the “style of unity”. Finally the election day arrived, but my thoughts were not directed to the votes that I would have received, because I was overjoyed to see all the candidates joking together: it was an atmosphere so different from the one we usually see in these circumstances! Only two of us had obtained the majority of the votes and I had obtained even five more than the other candidate. I was happy with it because I had moved to the city since only a year.

Being a minimum difference, we went to the second ballot and my companion turned out winner. Even if it may seem strange to some, I was happy for him. The competition was a healthy challenge, as we had succeeded, both in the meetings as well as in the election campaign, to help each other, without one overshadowing the other but, on the contrary, exchanging useful ideas. In the end I was nominated president of the Council. Even today, there is maximum cooperation between all and there is no distinction between the majority and the minority, but together we are united to achieve what is important for us and for our school.

Later, on meeting with the ‘adult’ Mayor,  we saw how the ideas of us teenagers are important in helping improve the city! In fact, our request to start the sorted waste collection was taken into consideration and is already being implemented”.

(E. – Italy)

Journey: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia

Jan 15, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Maria Voce’s trip to Johor to meet the Focolare communities is the chance for her to get to know some Asian countries better, in particular Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Indonesia’s motto is ‘Unity in Diversity’ and it expresses the huge ethnic and linguistic variety of the world’s largest archipelago state, made up of 17,508 islands. In all these nations the Christians (of various churches) are less than 10% of the population and the majority are, in Indonesia and Malaysia, Muslim, and, in Singapore, Buddhist and Taoist. More or less during the 60s the seeds of the spirituality of unity began to be spread in this part of the world through religious such as Fr Tarcisio Centis, in Medan (Indonesia) and clergy such as Fr Jose Lai (Singapore), currently bishop of Macau, as well as through the magazine New City and the Word of Life leaflet. In 1991 two focolare centres were opened in Singapore, which have now moved to Yogyakarta in Indonesia, and in 2004 two were opened in Medan. Towards the end of the 80s it was the turn of Malaysia to receive the spirituality. This time it was via Fr Raphael Kang. After that in the 90s there were Mariapolises in Johor and Penang and a Familyfest (as the name suggests, a gathering for families) held in Penang. Some members went to the formation school in Loppiano and to international events such as the gathering for young adults, called Genfest. In Malaysia (in Johor) there is a ‘family focolare’; and various members of the Movement are spread throughout the nation. The seeds of the spirituality have grown, giving life to many small but active communities, which have started initiatives involving people from different confessional backgrounds,

Young people at Penang (Malesia)

Giorgio La Pira International Centre

Jan 13, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Basic support for young people from Asia, Middle East, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe is also offered by entities such as the Giorgio La Pira International Centre. How is this commitment expressed in concrete terms?

The Centre’s director, Mauricio Certini recalls: “In March 1978, faced with the disorientation and loneliness of many foreign students, the Church in Florence wished to provide them a place where they would be welcome with respect to their different cultural or religious backgrounds; a place that would be open to dialogue, where they could help each other in overcoming the difficulties they were facing; a place where they could meet. As Pope John Paul II would later say, a place where they would find the thrust “toward a culturally richer society, more fraternal in its diversity.”   

Both the diocese and the city responded enthusiastically to the proposal of Cardinal Giovanni Benelli, who began by turning for help from Chiara Lubich and the Focolare Movement. Several Focolare families from Florence offered to host students in their homes, for example, and to care for them as their own children. These first volunteers at the Centre opened themselves to love with a universal heart like the heart of God, with the sensitivity of people in today’s world, and the strength of the Gospel.”

Over the years the centre has grown. Now, as Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, former president of the Italian Bishops Conference has said, it is “a true home for the peoples.” It has become a very modern network of persons, associations and institutions. This is where the first foreign student associations began that would later become the basis for the constitutions of the immigrant community, which in the future will soon be arising in Italy at Pisa, Sienna and Arezzo.

“But the real meaning of the centre,” Certini underscores, “is the myriad of faces that we’ve encountered and continue to encounter, of young people from nations that are often embroiled in conflict. It is these that have made La Pira Centre an ongoing laboratory of peace education. These young people returning to their home countries – sometimes ruled by dictatorial regimes – can impose themselves as a real resource for democracy and aspire to belong to the future leadership class.”  

Source: “Toscana Oggi”

Youth for Unity: A Global Project

Jan 11, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

The international Youth for Unity project will begin in Italy and then (July 2014) Argentina.

The reasons for this choice are many, the most important one being that of demonstrating how much the Latin American continent that is comprised of peoples with such diverse cultural roots, has to offer to the world. Moreover at the last project site which was held in the Focolare town of Loppiano (July 2012), the teenager in attendance had expressed their desire to repeat the experience every two years on a different continent.

The idea of beginning at Mariapolis Lia in Argentina came because of the abundant presence of young people that characterizes this Focolare town located on the Pampas. Thus it was chosen to be the place that will host the first phase of the project because of its special ability to welcome the new generations.

The Global Project has two phases. The first will be carried out at Mariapolis Lia where, for four days, the boys from around the world will set up their project site through a dynamic program whose goal will be to learn to “relate” with everyone by overcoming cultural differences, sharing personal experiences and being enriched by those of others – all in a climate of mutual love that allows each and all together, to be formed into world men.

The second phase of the project will take place in a variety of cities of the Latin American continent where there are already social projects that are animated by the spirituality of unity (schools, clinics, child-care centres, elderly care).

This experience will “give witness,” as Focolare president, Maria Voce stated during a visit to Latin America in spring 2012 “that there is no boarder nor ethnic difference that is insurmountable. There’s not anything, not even the Andes that divide us, not even the ocean, nothing, nothing, nothing. We can go beyond all of these things because of our reciprocal love.”

By visiting local sites the boys will be able to enter into local environments, to embrace real challenges, as well as the cultural riches of each people. Within this atmosphere, together with local teenagers who live in these cities, the participants from other countries will be engaged in social projects through contact with native populations in local “culture of giving” projects; for example, in sport, art, and so on. This project was born from a need to look toward the world, after a few years of involvement in the “Let’s Colour the City” project. Because Chiara Lubich would say: “one city is not enough: aim far, at your own country, and at everyone’s country – the world.”     

A bridge with Congo

Jan 10, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

Kinshasa, Moyi Mwa Ntongo Medical Center (Morning Sun Medical Centre) is one of the social projects of the Focolare Movement in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was the recipient of an interesting project promoted by a local optical company in collaboration with the United World Association (AMU). The “Do something for them” campaign was geared towards the citizens of Grottaferrata, Italy. The objective was to collect eyeglasses (many of them damaged), which the optical centre in Grottaferrata would repair, disinfect, classify and pack for shipment to Kinshasa.

Besides the general, gynaecological, paediatric and dermatological medical services that are offered by the Congolese health centre, there is also a fully functioning ophthalmological centre, with a programme for preventing blindness and other services in this field, thanks to the top-class equipment that has been donated. The main beneficiaries of these services are the more than 1,200 children who are served by the school and nutrition assistance programme “Petite Flamme” in both Kinshasa and other cities of the country.

The staff at the health centre has been trained to conduct eye tests on children and provide training in the prevention of blindness to families and teachers. Children requiring eye care or even surgery, are welcomed at the centre and, when needed, they receive free medical treatment. but the cooperation between the peoples of the Northern and Southern hemispheres of our world, would have to become part of a culture of reciprocity that leads them to discover their common brotherhood even in the smallest actions of daily life.

The “Do something for them” campaign has been enthusiastically received by the population, so much so that in very many places in the city of Castelli Romani – schools, churches, offices – the donation boxes have already been filled. The results have been far better than what was expected: On the evening of 5th December, ten boxes filled with eyeglasses were displayed in the library of the Town Hall of Grottaferrata, with boxes and cartons stamped and ready for shipment. The results of the campaign were presented to some friends from Congo who in turn offered a presentation of their land and recounted the activities that are carried out by the Health Centre. Returning to Kinshasa, their baggage was definitely heavier. . . and now they are organizing a shipment with  additional materials.

Compiled by Stefano Comazzi                                                                                                                                                  Projects sector – AMU

Taken from Newsletter Amu – Formation                                                                                                                                January 2013 – Year 4 ° No. 5

Becoming personally involved

Jan 8, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“For four years I’ve been enrolled at the Fine Arts Academy. It’s an environment with a little more than 200 students who in recent years have been suffering economic difficulties. Therefore, there have been protests and the atmosphere has become rather difficult and uncertain. Besides my studies, I also tried to love those who along with me have been going through these financially difficult times. I was offered a job at Student Consulting. On the one hand I wanted to continue helping out, but I was frightened of the commitment. It was a job that would involve a lot of hard work in order to be carried out. In the end I found myself president of Consulting.

Calling meetings and assemblies, preparing reports, drawing up the regulations, attending board directors meetings – this was all new to me. However, I felt that the only important thing was to put myself at the service of everyone.

It turned out to be quite a beautiful experience, a daily commitment that brought positive results each time I was able to go beyond difficulties, as I tried to live the Gospel.

For example: There wasn’t always a good relationship among the professors and the students were suffering because of it. At the request of the students I wrote a letter to our instructors in which I clearly stated the student’s position. Many people told me that I was taking a risk. But following an initial reaction the instructors began to act differently, and my examination results were never compromised.

A year ago the Director, President and Administrative Director changed. Building new relationships with people who are older and hold such positions has not been easy for me. However, there have been discussions that led to greater cooperation and very fruitful and positive confrontation. For my part, it was always a matter of being sincere, precise and listening to all that the others had to say. Trust among us has grown, despite the difficulties.

At the beginning of summer they intended to again raise the taxes and the students obviously disagreed. I understood that the economic situation was difficult, but it was also clear that this would put many in hard times. Thanks to the trust that has been established they called me to speak with them and after many hours of discussing all the options, they proposed reducing bi-annual registration fees by 200€!

Beside my relationship with the institution there is my relationship with the students who are always coming to me with new requests. With the students in my class there were particular difficulties due to a change in professors. In fact, because of his personality, and to force us to improve, every time we confronted him we came back destroyed and discouraged.

It was an effort to listen to everything he had to say and, at the same time, it seemed impossible to establish any kind of relationship with him. But in the end our efforts proved fruitful. In October, several students who knew that I would have to reorganize his office for the examinations, came to give me a hand with the work. It felt like we were preparing for a feast: some helped to move the heavy furniture, some decorated the bulletin boards, some prepared name tags and others painted the wall. . .

When the professor arrived everything was ready, not only the work but also many small details that weren’t really necessary but made everything look so special and beautiful! Before beginning the examination he thanked everyone for the year we had spent together and even confided that   entering the room, he felt at home.

This was like an answer to my efforts at living the spirituality of unity of Chiara Lubich throughout the whole year!”

Jolanta and her Christmas

Jan 6, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

‘Hi! I’m Jolanta, an Orthodox gen from Lithuania. I’ve only been a member of the Focolare Movement for a short time, but have always believed in God and since I was small I’ve lived as part my Church community. This was how it was until the ‘stormy’ period of my teenage years, when I was put off because there were no other young people in my group. I stopped being active and went off on my own way.

‘In Lithuania most people are Catholic, but I am Orthodox and Russian. A friend of mine, knowing that I wanted to give myself to others for God, invited me to get to know his ‘Catholic friends who I think you’ll like.’ I immediately felt at home with them and this feeling grew when I went to the Mariapolis, a meeting of several days with people of all ages, where I found a special atmosphere of unity and mutual love. When I told someone this, I was told: ‘You ought to live it in Church as well.’ I smiled. But it seemed impossible to me.

‘I helped organize a “Youth Café” with other girls, the gen, who share the spirituality of unity. We had theme evenings, ran projects and alternative amusements, which stimulated young people’s commitment, creativity and sociability. In one of the evenings we invited some young people from the Orthodox community and so we started rebuilding a relationship with them. It all went so well that some of them even took part in Run4Unity as well. After this I got a letter from the person in charge of the Orthodox community, inviting me to take part in their activities and share the what I’d done with the young people of the Focolare Movement, because they didn’t have this kind of experience. I was really moved by the letter and straight away said yes.

‘I started going to the youth meetings and I was asked to give a hand with the children’s summer camp. To be able to do this I stopped looking for work, and actually I even turned down several job offers. I set off feeling a bit nervous, because I didn’t have any organizational experience, but I did have an objective: to build bridges of unity. Now I thank God because among all the organizers it was like one big family. That was when I found I actually had three “families”: my physical family at home, the people in my Church and the Focolare Movement. I’m an only child and I was always a bit lonely, but now I have loads of true brothers and sisters.

‘After the summer camp I became more involved with the life of the Orthodox community, and now I go to lots of things, and I even help running some of them. I’ll tell you a secret: we plan to organize a Christmas party, which ought to be in the middle of January (because in our Church we celebrate Christmas on 7 January). This will be a great chance for Orthodox young people and the youth of the Focolare Movement to unite their forces and get an excellent party going.

‘Having come to know this spirituality has given me back my trust in God’s will and when you have this trust, miracles happen every single day. Chiara Lubich used to say: “Life is made up of present moments, and these alone matter for whoever wants to get something done.” ’

A merciful love that unites

Jan 3, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

“I was my father’s favourite daughter,” Mary recounts, “since I was the firstborn. When I was eight years old, I watched my parents argue and fight. One day my father forced my brothers and me to get into his car and leave our mother behind. But she stopped us. I helplessly watched so many terrible things that he did to my mother. Then he left. From that day that I saw my mother and father together, I completely rejected my father.

I tried to convince myself that he didn’t exist anymore. It was a dramatic choice that haunted me during the years of my adolescence. Growing up without a father had an influence on the way I treated other people, especially men.  For several years I studied at an exclusive school for girls. When I went to university, it wasn’t easy for me to be with the boys.

Coming to know the Focolare Movement, I was invited to go to the little town of Loppiano, Italy, where there are people who try to live mutual love and have respect and trust for one another.

It was the month when everyone there was trying to live that Gospel sentence: “Forgive seventy times seven times” (Mt. 18:21). Reading the commentary by Chiara Lubich, I suddenly realized that my heart was filled with hostility towards my father. But it was only when I decided to also begin living it, that in my  heart I felt the “bitterness” slowly transforming into pardon and I felt a strong desire to see my father.

When I returned to Manila, even though there was still an open wound, I found the strength to telephone my father and to arrange a meeting. We spoke for several hours, just the two of us, in a restaurant. I was happy and at peace, even though my mother didn’t agree with our meeting. But she left me free to meet him.

I continue to communicate with Dad, even if it’s not so often. But any time I have an opportunity to meet him, I try to make him feel my merciful love.

Always aware that Mum and Dad will never be able to get together again because he already has another family, I feel that, through my forgiveness, we all remain united. And this fills me with peace.”

Official Genfest website: www.genfest.org

The Netherlands: a chain of text messages

Jan 2, 2013 | Focolare Worldwide

A chain of text messages containing Scripture quotes to end the day together, this was the idea of a small group of volunteers at the Word Youth Day. Among them was Nard, a young Dutch Focolare member, who wanted to have a moment of communion during the day so as to enter deeply into God. All the things to be done and the work for the World Youth Day seemed to get in the way. A combination of the desire to be united and of using the means of communication well meant that the group started a chain of text messages to share something valuable from the day they had just lived. The text chain did not stay in Madrid; it is still going on and increasing numbers of young people are part of it.

This is one of the stories told in a lively and enthusiastic way at the Katholike Jongeren Dag (‘s-Hertogenbosch, 4 November 2012), the annual gathering of Dutch Youth where for many years the Focolare Movement has been actively present both in the crowds and among the organizers.

Many of the Dutch young people still remember when Chiara Luce’s parents spoke in 2010 and Maria Voce’s talk the following year. This year the Gen were present in the organizing committee, as helpers and stewards during the day itself, and with a stand both promoting the United World Project launched at the Genfest and presenting the life of Chiara Luce.

The stand was visited by many of the young people circulating in 2012’s ‘Square of the New Movements’ where the various stands were all grouped together in their own areas. It was a chance to strengthen contacts among the different Catholic groups in the Netherlands.

During the lunch break, a moment when participants had time to go to the stands, the members of the various movements put on a programme to show passers-by how they live and witness to the Gospel in daily life. Of course this included music and performances, and there was also the presentation of the testimony of Eric Mwangi, a focolarino recently arrived in the Netherlands after a period in the international performing arts group, Gen Rosso.

The next appointment with the Katholike Jongeren Dag is at the end of 2013, but everyone wants to see each other again so much that they will also meet at the various gatherings for young people who want to build a better future, from the 35th European Meeting of Taizé youth (Rome, 28 December 2012 to 2 January 2013) to the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro.