Apr 21, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Earth Day 2021: all set for the 51st United Nations World Earth Day. Live for the whole world to view on 22 April on www.raiplay.it 13 hours of direct livestreaming for the protection of creation. The 22 April 2021 marks the second episode of #OnePeopleOnePlanet – the multimedia marathon to celebrate the 51st Anniversary of World Earth Day, with 13 hours of live streaming – from 7.30 a.m. Italian time – on www.raiplay.it which can be viewed all over the world. #OnePeopleOnePlanet is the result of the efforts of two organisations – Earth Day Italy and the Focolare Movement – that gave life to the Village for the Earth at the Villa Borghese (Rome) which was unexpectedly inaugurated by Pope Francis in 2016 following the historic Paris climate agreement. Here are the words of Pierluigi Sassi, president of Earth Day Italy, interviewed by Lorena Locascio. Pierluigi, what can we expect this year for the second episode of #OnePeopleOnePlanet? “For the 2021 version we are putting young people first, because for the first time ever the United Nations are inviting young people to be present at the Climate Conference. So we are involving young people who have finally raised their heads and finally begun to make their voices heard, not only as the generation that will inherit this planet but also as the people who can bring about change because it is something they feel strongly about. (…) Our other commitment is to vigorously pursue the 17 goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We think that by building bridges towards 2030 and then trying to create international links we can accelerate the process. What we would like to do is create lots of points of contact with the five continents, telling wonderful stories of people who are committed to the cause in every corner of the earth. (…) The third point is innovation for sustainable development. It’s the moment when the entrepreneur is faced with a blank sheet of paper and prepares to describe not only his business model but also the rules of the game, and is much more sensitive to the issue of sustainability. So innovation is the great challenge of the future”. What are the new or special features this year as compared to last year? “This year we wanted to include a module called VIP – Very Important Planet, where the VIPs are not the people we chase for autographs, but the planet that needs help from those people. So we’re asking a lot of people from the worlds of entertainment, sport, culture and art to help us with awareness-raising messages. This will help make our marathon much more fun because when we talk about important things there’s a risk that some may find it boring so there will be lots of music, lots of fun with the aim of mobilising and touching the heartstrings of our listeners to try to produce a little more change through this game”. This year part of the programme will also be dedicated to talking about #Daretocare; what can you tell us about this… without giving too much away? “First of all, we have to say that the meeting with the United World Project (UWP) of the Focolare Movement, and therefore the meeting with such an important mobilisation, which is so widespread at an international level, gives us great reason for hope. Seeing so many young people in hundreds of countries committed to unity, which is also one of our themes: #One PeopleOnePlanet says a lot about the fact that we are talking about one single human family, the unity of people with one sole planet, hence the importance of safeguarding our earth: it has certainly been a wonderful moment to find the UWP soul. This network of people already supported us last year with communications. It is a network that has been extraordinarily committed to this #Daretocare campaign on the theme of COVID and on the theme of the solidarity emerging from it. We want to talk about these bridges for the common good on an international level, about the importance of coming together to achieve common goals and protect the common good. Putting man back at the centre and telling stories of courage and pride in doing good has been a very beautiful experience. I can’t wait to see the final product but I can already sense something very beautiful.” So the appointment is for 22 April 2021 from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. (Italian time) on the www.raiplay.it website which is visible to the world and on the OnePeopleOnePlanet website to celebrate this important day together with the One People One Planet marathon.
Lorenzo Russo
https://www.youtube.com/embed/VQE-ezBeAT8
Apr 19, 2021 | Non categorizzato
This is the question we asked Prof. Alberto Lo Presti and Dr. Elena Merli, members of the Igino Giordani Centre, editors of “Igino Giordani: an unarmed hero” (Città Nuova Publications). So many biographies have been written about Why another one? Elena Merli: The previous biographies cover a limited time span of Giordani’s life. The first biography was written in 1936; then there was the one written by Tommaso Sorgi, a friend of Giordani who studied him in great depth. Sorgi wrote an inspired and detailed biography that deals with Giordani’s life from birth to 1948. Other biographies analysed Giordani’s life from a particular perspective: historical, spiritual, political…. They are all valuable; they are a great richness, but this biography deals with a holistic perspective of his life. It speaks about aspects that were very little explored until now, namely: his family life, his deep relationship with Chiara, the particular period of intense illumination that was “Paradise ’49”. Even his experience as a member of the Dominican Third Order had not yet been explored in depth. Some of the political background of his life had not yet emerged, nor were some of his intimate choices and delicate passages of his personal life. I would like to point out particularly the novelty of a chapter dedicated to what he jokingly called “Giordania”, that is, his family. I think many will enjoy reading about the secrets of Igino’s lively family situation. The first thing that strikes you in this book is its prestigious preface signed by Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic. Why him? Alberto Lo Presti: It is good to know a few things from behind-the-scenes. First of all, Sergio Mattarella knew Igino Giordani personally, and he says something about this in the preface. Then, one must remember that his father, Bernardo Mattarella was the author of the first biography written in 1936. So, all this helped to ask him write the preface. Then, we think that Sergio Mattarella is interpreting the role of President of the Republic as a source of unity in Italy and in the international field. During this health crisis, he has been a figure of stability and high morality. Giordani gave witness to unity in politics and harmony among people. The parts of the book dedicated to his political commitment describe his behaviour during the war and in the post-war period, under bombings and fascism, amidst the rubble of reconstruction and social distress. Those times were not any calmer or more peaceful than the ones of today. Giordani’s steadfastness can still help us to understand where to go today. This volume is the result of intense archival research work. Do we know everything about Giordani now? Elena Merli: We have an impressive amount of material, documents, correspondence, and also audio and video recordings of many of Giordani’s talks, public and confidential ones, transcribed and sorted out. All these proved extremely useful to discover details about his personal life. Who knows how many more new and interesting discoveries we can still make by exploring the archive! Many are already in this book. I’ll mention just one: details about Giordani’s last years, when he lived in this building, the International Centre of the Focolare Movement. At that time, the Focolare community of Antonio Petrilli occupied the first floor of this building, and in 1974, after the death of his wife Mya, Giordani moved to live with this community. These unpublished details reveal Igino’s faithfulness to community life and the depth of his humanity. To whom is this book addressed? Alberto Lo Presti: It addresses all those who want to solve the mystery of mysteries, that is, of how to be totally donated to God while immersed in the ordinary things of the world. Giordani managed to do this and he traced the way for us. He always questioned himself about it ….. but when he met Chiara Lubich he also found the answers. For Igino, Chiara was the answer to all his existential questions. He studied early Christian writers, medieval theologians, modern theologians, great spiritual figures, yet he found the answers in Chiara and in the spirituality of communion. I would like to recount one of the many anecdotes, which many do not know; one can find it in the book. Giordani had such a great desire to donate himself to God that at the end of the 1920’s he joined the Dominican Third Order. But he was not satisfied … the rule for members was at least one Mass a month, a sermon by one of the monks and nothing more. He wanted to be more involved in religious life. So he submitted his idea to the monks: rent a flat where they could all meet: “you in your cassock (the monks’ cassock) and we, (the lay members) in our trousers. Thus, we can have some community life together”. He was told that this was not in the norms of the Dominican order and it stopped at that. What Giordani yearned for at the end of the 1920’s became a realty through Chiara; it was the focolare. Yes, in 1928 when such episodes happened, he was dreaming of the focolare. Incredible, isn’t it?
Edited by Lorenzo Russo
. If you would like to buy the book, please visit the web page of Città Nuova Publications
Apr 19, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Referring to a sentence from Scripture, Chiara Lubich reflected on the Holy Journey of life inviting us to check up every now and then, in front of God, on how far we have reached on the journey. Uppermost in my mind today is a desire for to take a closer look at how we are doing in terms of our commitment to reach holiness. A few days ago a focolarina brought to my attention a beautiful sentence from the Psalms, that proclaims a beatitude I’d never heard of: “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage” (Ps. 84: 5 NIV). “Pilgrimage?” What pilgrimage is Scripture speaking about? It is of course our journey towards heaven and God; and thus, our journey toward holiness, which will lead us to heaven. … So then, have we really set out on this holy journey? In this present moment, are we moving onward? … Let’s each pause a moment and put ourselves before God; and for his glory alone, let’s take stock of the situation. Have there been any results? Have we improved, for instance, in doing God’s will? Are we any better at loving? What about our mutual love? … If the answer is yes, then let’s give thanks to God and keep going. If the answer is no, let’s thank God that we still have time to start afresh. Then, onward! We really want to experience together the happiness of the Holy Journey!
Chiara Lubich
(From a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa, 3rd September 1981)
Apr 18, 2021 | Non categorizzato
An afternoon dedicated to Igino Giordani (1894-1980) politician, writer, journalist, co-founder of the Focolare Movement. On Sunday, 18 April 2021, at the International Centre of the Focolare Movement in Rocca di Papa, Rome, Italy an event took place remembering Igino Giordani 41 years after his death. Giordani was a rich and multifaceted figure – a politician, a member of the Constituent Assembly and then of the Italian Parliament, a journalist, a writer, and, with Chiara Lubich, co-founder of the Focolare Movement. The event included a presentation of the sculpture by the artist Peter Kostner which is dedicated to Giordani and of the new biography “Igino Giordani: an unarmed hero” edited by Alberto Lo Presti and with a preface by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella,. It is published by Citta Nuova’. The programme was live streamed and was enriched by personal testimonies recalling Giordani. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezq3Sak8Pbg
Apr 14, 2021 | Non categorizzato
On Sunday, April 18th, Igino Giordani, a politician who inspired the social commitment and ideal choices of many, a writer and journalist, and co-founder of the Focolare Movement, will be remembered through live streaming. The latest biographical book will be presented and a sculpture dedicated to him will be inaugurated. A man of dialogue and deep faith, a supporter of universal fraternity, a builder of peace, a politician, a journalist: Igino Giordani (1894-1980) is all this and much more. April 18th, 2021 will mark the 41st anniversary of his death, and the Igino Giordani Centre has organised an event to commemorate his life. A personality who continues over time to arouse interest in people of different ages, geographical, political and cultural backgrounds calling for commitment to build a better society. The event will be broadcast in live streaming ( https://live.focolare.org/ ) from the International Centre of the Focolare Movement (Rocca di Papa, Italy) on Sunday, April 18th, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. (Italian time) with the possibility of following it in Italian, English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. Giordani was a journalist and writer, but he played a very important role in Italian politics. In fact, after World War II, he made a valuable contribution to laying the foundations for the nascent Italian Republic in a period that was not easy for the country, i.e., close to the world wars. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly, a witness to politics as a service to peace and to a more just society. With this in mind, there will be some testimonies from those who have translated Giordani’s wisdom into bills or political initiatives in favour of dialogue and the common good, or those who have understood what choices are right to make in order to oppose policies that threaten peace among peoples. During the event, the latest biography by Alberto Lo Presti (ed. Città Nuova Italia), entitled “Igino Giordani. Un eroe disarmato” (Igino Giordani. Igino Giordani, an unarmed hero), with a preface by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella. This biography helps to rediscover the sense of an authentic political and social commitment. The biography is as gripping as a novel. Mattarella writes about Giordani: “His lively faith, his evangelical consistency, the fervour with which he fought for social equity, freedom and peace shook many consciences and promoted action and thought, both in the dark times of Fascism and in the years of democratic reconstruction. He became a builder of peace in the dialogue between people, between religious confessions, between peoples and States … He thought of Europe as a continent of peace, after having been the scene of devastating wars. He wanted his country to be a bridge. And he himself tried to become a bridge to bring people closer, connect them, recompose them”. A sculpture dedicated to him by the artist Peter Kostner will also be inaugurated. The work, which will be placed in the garden of the International Focolare Centre, depicts Giordani sitting on a bench. In the last years of his life, in fact, he often sat on a bench in the park. During the international meetings held at the Centre, many young people and adults would come up to greet him and talk to him. And the bench became a place of encounter and dialogue. During the event some testimonies will recall those conversations in which Giordani listened with humility and patience, not sparing advice drawn from his fruitful life experience and enriched by the charism of unity.
Lorenzo Russo
Apr 12, 2021 | Non categorizzato
When the efforts we make to overcome our selfishness are done out of love for Jesus crucified in the present moment and we do what God wants of us immediately afterwards, we can experience the fullness of life of the Risen Lord in us. We might ask: is it possible to experience the presence of the Risen Lord and the consequent outpouring of the gifts of his Spirit – life, light, peace, love, consolation, ardour, and so on – not only when there are two or more people united in Jesus’ name, but even when we are alone? How? At what price? By embracing Jesus Forsaken in each present moment. This extraordinary experience prompted us to look deeper into the Scriptures and the Church’s teachings. And they confirmed that it was true. But which Jesus Forsaken – as we would say – should we embrace in each present moment? The one our Christian life requires of us in denying ourselves and taking up our cross, if we want to follow Jesus. Therefore, we need to say yes and quickly embrace every suffering that comes our way – our own cross. But we also need to embrace the suffering that comes from our efforts to deny ourselves and in the struggle against our selfishness and the so-called desires of the flesh (overeating, impurity, quarrelling, jealousy, and so on) so that love triumphs in our hearts. When we love these efforts out of love for Jesus crucified in the present moment and we do what God wants of us immediately afterwards, we can experience the fullness of life of the Risen Lord in us, even on our own. His light comes into each of our hearts. His peace fills us. His love is enkindled in us, and with it, consolation, calmness, a taste of Heaven. In other words, everything changes. Our soul is clothed anew. … This is what we want to do: to love Jesus Forsaken always, immediately, and joyfully; not only in our daily sufferings, but also in the effort involved in overcoming our selfishness. This is exactly what Igino Giordani meant when he wrote the following poem, shortly after he had embraced our spirituality: “Mi son messo a morire e quel che accade non mi importa più, mi sono messo a gioire nel cuore desolato di Gesù”, [I have set about dying, and what happens is of no matter anymore, I have set about rejoicing in the desolate heart of Jesus]. To die to ourselves so as to rejoice with Jesus; to die with Him forsaken, so as to live with Him risen from the dead. So let’s remember these words: “I have set about dying” and let’s welcome the death of our selfishness ten or even a hundred times a day, so as to give the people we meet the joy of encountering the Risen Lord.
Chiara Lubich
Taken from a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa, 3rd November 1983
Apr 10, 2021 | Non categorizzato
After the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement, Assemblies of a number of its branches were held: those of the men and women focolarini, that of the diocesan priests who belong to the Movement and those of the men and women Volunteers of God. The theme that each of the assemblies had in common was the focus on dialogue on all levels. The General Assembly of the Focolare Movement took place from 24 January to 7 February 2021. The roles of President, Co-President and of the governing bodies were renewed and the guidelines and action for the next six years were defined. The Assemblies of the focolarini and focolarine, the focolarini priests and the Volunteers of God were subsequently held, all online. Focolarini and focolarine. The Assembly for the men focolarini held from 9-13 February was composed of 121 members spread across 5 continents including an Anglican focolarino from London, a Coptic Orthodox focolarino from Cairo and a Muslim focolarino from Algeria. In its report of the last six years, the International Centre for the Focolarini shared with great honesty the challenges, painful aspects as well as the very promising developments regarding the life of the Focolarini all over the world. The final document characterises the focolarino as a man of God constantly listening to the cry of humanity today. Flavio Roveré from Brazil was reconfirmed as the person responsible for the men focolarini. At the same time 136 women focolarine met. From a question posed by Agnes van Zeeland, who was previously responsible for this branch as to whether the time has not come to “go out” more to the world and its wounds, a passionate dialogue ensued. The new person responsible, Noreen Lockhart (Great Britain), was described by the Co-President, Jesús Morán, as “someone who has dialogue running through her blood, someone who is used to resolving conflicts”. Focolarini priests. The Assembly of focolarini priests was held from 1 to 5 March with 74 participants, including some invited guests, such as a minister from the Swedish-Lutheran Church. Reviewing the key words of the 2014 General Assembly, “Go out – Together – Well-prepared”, the person responsible Fr Antonio Bacelar presented in his report the steps taken, the processes initiated, the prospects to be developed, such as the need to act more and more together with all the vocations of the People of God. In the final document which is intended to be “a road map”, dialogue based on listening to the Holy Spirit emerges as a priority. Fr Antonio Bacelar (Portugal) was re-elected for a second term as the person responsible for the focolarini priests. Volunteers of God. The two Assemblies of the men and women Volunteers of God were held from 17th to 21st March with a total of 356 participants present online. The words “courage and forward” addressed by the new President of the Focolare, Margaret Karram, to the two Assemblies, highlight the particular vocation of the Volunteers to face future challenges of humanity in order to change the world according to “the law” of Gospel-based love. The starting point for the two final documents was Pope Francis’ invitation to the General Assembly to “be a living expression of the founding charism and to remain faithful to the original source by striving to rethink and express it in dialogue with the new social and cultural situations”. Juan Ignacio Larrañaga, a volunteer from Spain, and Fanny Bava from Italy were elected as the new persons responsible.
Lorenzo Russo
Apr 8, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Arthur George Baum left for heaven on February 4th 2021 at the age of 92, in Augsburg, Germany. He was born on May 18th 1928 in Hinckley, a town in the county of Leicestershire, in the heart of England. Single, a Volunteer of God and a member of the International Volunteers of the Focolare, he worked for many years at Vatican Radio, people there have beautiful memories of him. In the last month of his earthly life, he was in a nursing home as he underwent surgery on his femur, fractured after a fall. He was one of the first Volunteers of God and formed the first nucleus at the International Volunteer Centre. He was renowned for his humour, which was obviously English, but he was also very tidy, one might say German, and as precise as someone Swiss, but above all he managed to overcome obstacles with Italian genius. Hèctor Lorenzo (God’s Volunteer and Arthur’s friend) tells us that, even in tragic physical situations Arthur could add humour. One evening after 11 p.m., he received a phone call: ‘It’s Arthur, I have a haemorrhage in my leg’. Hector, with his wife and son, rushed to Arthur’s flat and, after initial assistance, immediately called an ambulance. Before getting into the ambulance, Arthur uncovered his mouth from the blankets that had sheltered him from the cold and confided to Hèctor: “You know, I’m missing something”. Hector asks him what? And he said: “My hat!”. For the last ten years he was happily settled in Germany. Those who know Arthur know that he loved the strong winds of Ireland and the north of England, was moved by a flower, sang Tyrolean songs and some Elvis Presley themes. He rejoiced in the silence of Gothic churches or Gregorian chant, appreciated warm wine in winter and made a small amount of the drink ‘mead’ which he could not help but share with his friends. He also shared hot goulash and some oriental cuisine. He was very demanding in building a strong unity in the nucleus of Volunteers: he always started by loving everyone first in order to generate mutual love, always finding an intimate dialogue of mercy. Hèctor recounts: “Having been a companion in the same nucleus at the Volunteers’ Centre and living with my family next door to Arthur’s flat, we were enriched by his unique personality and evangelical witness. Our son, Julián, says: “Arthur is his name, but you could call him Humility, Generosity, Welcoming”. Arthur was a man of distinction, of essential words, of intimate religiosity. He knew how to move from serious reflections to healthy irony; to distinguish constructive attitudes from useless or harmful ones. His eloquent smile will always express gratitude.
Lorenzo Russo
Apr 7, 2021 | Non categorizzato
As announced in the press release of 23 December 2020, the Focolare Movement has commissioned GCPS Consulting to conduct the investigation into the abuse cases against J.M.M., a former member of the Focolare in France. Although J.M.M. has been prosecuted in relation to one victim, it is understood there is a large number of other victims who may wish to speak about their experiences within the Focolare Movement. GCPS Consulting is an independent body that specialises in helping organisations to ensure the safety of children as well as vulnerable or ‘at risk’ groups and to improve their abuse prevention and reporting systems. It also conducts independent investigations and case reviews on behalf of organisations. The Inquiry began in January 2021 and will close at the end of the year, when its results will be made public. Work has already begun listening to victims and gathering witness testimony. To find out in detail the terms of the investigation GCPS Consulting has made public the relevant section of the contract, published on a dedicated Inquiry website As stated in the document, there are the four main elements of the Inquiry: – To investigate the sexual abuse crimes committed by J.M.M., reviewing the details and assessing the context; – To establish the degree of knowledge of these events on the part of Focolare’s persons in charge at the time and/or subsequently; – To provide recommendations on the current arrangements put in place by the Focolare in France and elsewhere for the protection of minors; and – To produce a public report outlining the findings of the investigation and the recommendations that stemmed from it. In order to ensure that the Inquiry process is as victim-centred as possible, GCPS Consulting has shared and evaluated the proposed process with some victims to ensure it meets their expectations. It has also provided a contact page on the Inquiry website dedicated to receiving testimonies, requests, or suggestions from the victims and anyone wishing to get in touch with the Independent Inquiry. The Focolare Movement encourages anyone with information relating to J.M.M to make contact with the Inquiry via this webpage . It is possible to contact the GCPS Inquiry team confidentially by phone, email or using the site’s contact form. In order to guarantee the full independent nature of the investigation, the Focolare Movement has accepted GCPS Consulting’s invitation to maintain a “press silence” on matters related to J.M.M.’s case until the final report is published. Therefore, from now on the decision to make statements or respond to media enquiries relating to this abuse case will be solely at the discretion of GCPS Consulting.
Stefania Tanesini
For the Media: contact GCPS Consulting for this case: info@gcps.consulting
Apr 6, 2021 | Non categorizzato
After the audience of the Focolare General Assembly with Pope Francis what lies ahead for the Focolare Movement. In this Link up we take stock with Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare and Jesús Morán, co-president. https://vimeo.com/529523835 This is the link to Patrick Gilger’s reading of Pope Francis’ address to the members of the General Assembly of the Focolare Movement. Fr Patrick Gilger is a Jesuit, doctoral candidate at the New School for Social Research in New York. He is currently studying various Ecclesial Movements.
