The countdown has ended and Genfest 2012 has begun!
Following a year of hard work and great expectation, Genfest 2012 has finally begun in Budapest! There is a festive atmosphere on the streets of the Hungarian capital among friends who are finally meeting one another not on the world wide web, but in person.
On the morning of 31 August an international delegation of young people was welcomed by the Hungarian Parliament together with president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce. The Minister of External Affairs, Martonyi Janos, delivered a welcoming address in which he underscored that: “The challenges are global and the answers are universal and linked to universal values.” Then he added: “We must respond to the culture of hatred with the culture of love.” Then he thanked the youths from Young People for Unity “who have brought such extraordinary projects here. Through their love we discover ours.”
Yesterday afternoon there was the inauguration of Fraternity Corner in one of the public parks of the capital, which the youths had planned and brought about with the collaboration of Budapest’s City Hall. “We would like to give hope to our city,” says Rita, a twenty-five year old Hungarian. And they did it in the presence of the civil authorities and a colourful crowd of several hundred young people who attended the inauguration.
Gergo Jedliscita, an architect, is thirty years old. He is the one who had designed the corner, which is located in the very heart of Budapest’s young nightlife. It has five rectangular marble blocks of different sizes, which stand on a platform in one of the corners of the park. The blocks represent the five continents. On the faces of stone is chiseled the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – written in the major languages of the world, also in Braille. It is meant to be a tangible sign of Genfest 2012’s message to the world.
The day concluded with a performance of the Streetlight Musical by Gen Rosso, before an audience of more than 4,000 people. On stage with the artists there were also 120 Hungarian teenagers who had attended a two-day workshop with the music group.
A hundred and four nations from five continents were represented including a group of 250 young people from the Middle East. There were many Christians from different Churches and around 100 from other religions together with a constant presence of youths with no religious affiliation.
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Genfest 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t82EyPeQ990
How to follow the live transmission of Genfest 2012
Program of the GenfestIt’s not long now before the start of this much-awaited international event! We’ve been inundated with requests from people around the world asking how they can follow Genfest 2012. Here are some details: LIVE INTERNET STREAMING: http://www.genfest.org/live
It will be possible to follow the transmission from the Sports Arena in Budapest in these languages: Hungarian, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. Scheduled transmission times (Central European time):
Friday 31st August – from 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm
Saturday, 1st September – from 10:30 am to 12.30pm and from 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm. The flashmob at the Chain Bridge will be held between 9.00pm – 10 pm.
SOCIAL MEDIA The official channels of Genfest 2012: 
RECEPTION PARAMETERS – Duna World (audio transmission in English, Hungarian and Italian – the official languages of the event) http://dunaworld.hu/eng/reception.html Schedule:
Saturday 1st September
10:00 am – “Opening of Genfest 2012” (a summary of the previous day’s program)
10:30 am – Live from the Sports Arena
3:30 pm – Live from the Sports Arena
5:30 – “Genfest Confert” (from previous day’s program).
.ITALY: TV Channel Telepace will be transmitting most of the program. On Friday, 31st August, Channel TV2000, will transmit the event during its program “Nel cuore dei giorni”, from 5.00pm to 6.00pm (CET) in a slot dedicated to the Genfest 2012. For additional information regarding Genfest 2012, see official website www.genfest.org
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The Genfest 2012 project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. |
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United World: an Ideal Which Makes History
Video: Chiara Lubich, Genfest 1990
Valeria Ronchetti: “Fire and Light”
Anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Valeria Ronchetti personally can testify to the extraordinary spiritual strength of this exceptional woman and of all the first focolarine who began what she liked to call the “adventure of unity” alongside Chiara Lubich: the adventure of making the world become one family; contributing to the realization of Jesus’ prayer: “that all be one” (Jn. 17:21).
“It would be impossible to summarize the richness of Vale’s life in which she was a protagonist in so many areas of Europe and other continents, and in many areas of the Movement,” writes Focolare president, Maria Voce, in the message she sent to the centres of the world, informing them of Valeria Ronchetti’s death.
“We watched her as she strengthened her efforts in developing the branch of the consecrated women religious who live the Spirituality of Unity; her work in favour of communion among the ecclesial movements and new associations; in the worlds of art and sport and media… to mention only a few.”
Vale recounted the story of her life in many different settings and it is all being gathered along with news and testimonies, in order to write a biography about her,” the president went on to say. And it was precisely in telling her story and, in particular, her encounter with Chiara Lubich who, once she met her, was never again able to forget her greeting: “Fire and Light!” This was in reference to her great discovery – as the Second World War was raging – that God is Love and that he loves us immensely.”
We’ve put together a profile,” Maria Voce added, “that will be read at her funeral, which you will be able to watch via internet.”And just as she had dreamt of doing when she was a young woman in the midst of the ruins of the war, she shall be laid to rest together with the other members of that first group who have already “arrived in Heaven”, in a common tomb on which the words of the Gospel are engraved: “And we have believed in Love” (1 Jn. 4:16).
Maria Voce writes: “Many letters are arriving from around the world, from people who are telling us what the encounter with her has brought about in their lives. It’s like a grand chorus of thanksgiving to Almighty God!”
“With immense gratitude,” concludes the president’s message, “let us offer suffrages for Vale, certain that from there above, she will continue to help us keep the fire of the ideal of unity burning in our hearts and that we might bring its light into the world.”
Eli Folonari remembers Fr Novo
My first contact with Fr. Andrea Balbo and another Franciscan friar from the Friars Minor, was on the steps of St. John Lateran’s Archbasilica in Rome, Italy (1953). It was a encounter,including an invitation to the Focolare Movement‘s summer gathering in the Dolomite Mountains. I don’t recall how long he was able to stay up in the mountains, but he returned to Rome with many of us on the same train. Chiara Lubich was sitting with him in his train compartment and she gave him the name Father “Novo” (New).
Then I remember, in 1954, his words were rather crucial for Chiara at Fr. Pasquale Foresi’s ordination, when Chiara was undergoing both spiritual and physical trials.
Later on the superiors of his Order sent him to the Holy Land and it was precisely through the love of Fr. Novo that Chiara went there in 1956. We were a small travelling party: Bishop Pavel Hnilica (Fr Maria), Fr Angelo Bghetto (Nazareno), Fr Pasquale Foresi, Guido Mirti (Cengia), Aletta and I. In those days, the Holy Land was largely in Palestinian territory. With great competence, Fr. Novo toured around the sites associated with the life of Jesus: Jerusalem, Bethany, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Jericho, the Dead Sea…
A week later as we were leaving for Beirut, seeing tears in his eyes, Chiara turned to me and asked: “Would you like to stay a while longer?” And so I stayed behind in the Holy Land for another few months, sharing the Ideal with the Franciscan Fathers and people they knew.
During those years in which the Movement was under investigation by the Church, Bishop Gawlina, Fr Maria, Fr Nazereno and Fr Novo began the Mystici Corporis League to be an umbrella under which the Movement was able to carry out its activities.
There were a few hard years especially for our priests and consecrated men religious. I recall how after the Second Vatican Council, Fr. Novo worked as an archivist with Cardinal Konig for thirteen years at the Secretariat for the non-believers, which had just been erected by Paul VI (and is now called the Pontifical Council for Culture).
In 1962 there was a first approval by the Holy See. But only after a private conversation between Chiara and Paul VI and later John Paul II was the Work of Mary able to express her true physiognomy. In 1990 Chiara declared that the Work of Mary was accomplished and that “Mary” contains all the vocations.
It is a charism of unity which is all Gospel, one which even people who follow different charisms, both ancient and new, are also able to share. The Work of Mary is to be “alter Maria” (other Mary) who brings Jesus to light and, in Him, all His features that the saints have highlighted through the centuries. It brings out the diverse beauty of the Church which is the Body of Christ.
Over time the other branches of the Movement were born: the men and women focolarini, the men and women volunteers, the priests and religious – each of them attached to the Work of Mary in their own way, but all of them carriers of the same charism of unity.
In 1980 Fr Novo was given permission by his superiors to dedicate himself to the consecrated religious members of the Movement. Then he was able to be much more involved in the practical developments: starting a school of formation in the charism of unity for men religious at the permanent Mariapolis of Loppiano; promoting summer gatherings; and creating local secretariats in zones that had consecrated men religious who belonged to the Movement in different parts of the world.
He was a great friend of Fr Silvano Cola who was responsible for the diocesan priests of the Focolare Movement.
When the Abba School started with Bishop Klaus Hemmerle, Chiara invited the religious to be part of it, bringing with them the richness of their own charisms. They included Fr Jesus Castellano OCD, Fr Fabio Ciardi OMI and, first among all, Fr Novo OFM.
Fr Novo remained at the Focolare’s Centre for Consecrated Religious Men, faithful to the ideal of unity, for as long as his health lasted. He had a personal relationship with Chiara also as her confessor. In the difficult moments and in the long trials, he was there for her with exceptional availability. It was he who administered the Sacrament of the Sick to Chiara at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
Now we imagine him in Heaven being embraced not only by the Trinity, but also by Mary, since he helped to build her Work. Now he is with Chiara, Foco, Fr Maria, Fr Nazareno, Fr Massimei, Fr Svastano, Fr Cik and Fr Leonardi who were all members of the first centre for consecrated men religious. Then there were so many focolarini and focolarine who benefited from his counsel, and so many others.
Let us t thank Fr Novo for his faithfulness to the Work of Mary. Just recently he wanted to return to the Centre of the Movement and now he’s buried here in Rocca di Papa, in the common tomb of many first focolarini and focolarine. And on this common tomb are engraved the words: “We have believed in Love”.
Building bridges at the Genfest
“A gathering of thousands of youths from every part of the world, from different ethnic groups, cultures and religions, moved by a common idea that is already a life experience and social action: to build a more united and inclusive world.”
This is the way the official newspaper of the Catholic Church describes this grand event organized by the youths of the Focolare Movement and already underway in the Hungarian capital. The Vatican newspaper also underscores the building of bonds of unity across the board and, in particular, “among groups and Movements, among Christians of different denominations and among faithful of different religions.” The journalist recalls how Chiara Lubich liked to describe the Genfest as a “Waterfall of God” whose source,” the Roman Observer article continues, “is the very inspirational spark of the Focolare Movement itself, the discovery of God who is Love.”
Press Section (Servizio Informazione Focolare)
“Let’s bridge!”: Everyone a protagonist!
There is much expectation now that we are only a few hours away from the Genfest. This year will be the tenth edition of the gathering which was begun from an intuition of Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) while she was on a visit to Loppiano, Italy in 1973. Right from the start Chiara Lubich shared her dream with the young people present: “I’ve always had so much trust in the young,” she said, “they are the world’s future! They are made for the great ideals and are able to follow them with radicalness. The discovery of a Gospel that comes to life and brings about what it promises is precisely what draws them the most. It is the ideal of a united world that fascinates them.”
The young people of the Focolare have been working for more than a year, together with adults from the Movement, in a communion of ideas and professional experiences. Three-thousand volunteers are involved in the event and six hundred actors and technical staff from around the world. We introduce you to a few of them.
Ark from the Philippines: “I’m a nurse and I don’t’ have much experience organizing grand events like this one, but trying to live the Gospel helps me to see each moment – both the positive ones and the negative ones – as an opportunity to love and build relationships of fraternity with the people around me.”
Luca says: “I work in the general production commission, but I studied optometry. Being able to forgive when necessary keeps the needle of the compass always pointed toward the “North” (Upward). It’s extraordinary.”
Zsolt is a Hungarian economist, who will be in charge of one of the lodgings where the young guests will be staying. He can’t hold back his enthusiasm: “I can’t wait to help out at the buffet during the general practice!”
Then there is Lisa who comes from Austria and will be singing one of the twelve songs, composed by the youths of the Focolare from different areas of the world, which won the Genfest music contest. Twenty-seven year old Rafael is a publicist who left his job in Brazil to dedicate himself to the preparation of this event in which he will be co-responsible for the communications sector.
Marua from Argentina confides: “Doing this work” (she is taking care of the Genfest’s Spanish language Facebook page) “I discovered that the united world will not only be happening at the Genfest in Budapest, but we’re already beginning to live it in the preparations, with this team of workers.”Adelard from Burundy will be playing music with sixteen other youths, and Pelusa from Argentings is one of four members of the band “Anima Uno” (One Soul).
Fabricio is a civil engineer from Peru who truly expressed the experience of all: “We have it strong in our hearts that universal brotherhood is not a utopian dream. It’s a lifestyle we’ve chosen and we want to bring it ahead through small concrete actions leading up to the big event. We are aware that we’re young and we don’t have resources on our own, but we’re putting everything we have into it. The journey has already begun!”
There are many fans (between the ages of 18 and 24) following the official channels of the event on social network, in several languages. Every week 76,000 people are being reached.
To follow the event on Twitter, the hashtag is: #genfest.
Visit to Portugal / 5
Permanent Mariapolis Arco-Iris, Portugal, 20.8.2012: Meeting with the men and women focolarini of the zone
Visit to Portugal / 4
Celebration with the Focolare Community
The Focolare in celebration at Fatima
Fatima, 19 August. It was the high moment of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti’s visit to Portugal: the meeting with all the members of the Focolare from every corner of Portugal, including the most distant islands. It was a long-awaited meeting, since it had been postponed for eight months. A true feast in an atmosphere of “rejoicing” that has been the mark of every day of this visit.
“I’ve come to Fatima to entrust the Focolare Movement to Our Lady together with all of you,” the president told everyone. Few people realize that the Focolare Movement was officially approved by the Catholic Church with the name “Work of Mary” because of its nature which is very lay and “Marian”. And so our link to the Mother of Jesus is quite strong, strong as that of the Portuguese. It is this link that forms the very identity of the Portuguese people and reaches beyond religious or secular beliefs. It impregnates the music, the culture, the art, the architecture of their world and their way of expressing themselves. They are people who do things seriously, with sobriety and discretion and harmony. The ancestral relationship of the Portuguese with “Nnossa Senhora” (Our Lady) is quite striking. As far back as 1646, King Dom Joao IV offered his crown to the Immaculate Virgin, entrusting his people to Her and proclaiming Her “Rainha de Portugal” (Queen of Portugal). Ever since then no king has ever wanted to wear the crown that still belongs to no one but Her.”
In the morning after a lively dialogue with 140 Gen3 who together with the adults are committed to living for a more united world, Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti were welcomed to Paul VI Hall by 1,800 members of the Movement who are the main animators of the more than 25,000 people who belong to the Focolare family in this land.
In a growing atmosphere of joy, the various Focolare communities were presented from around the country, and they shared testimonies and projects in this moment of economic crisis, that assist those who are in need. It was a real lesson on living the Gospel. Maria Voce exclaimed: “I seem to see many lights, many burning fires that are spread all over, fires that illumine and warm those who draw near to them.” This was followed by a very solemn moment as the faces of members of the Movement filed across the screen, adults, priests, children and religious who have concluded their earthly journey but continue to give witness with their lives that the life of the Spirituality of Unity is a new way of holiness.
Then there was an open discussion. Miguel (9 years old), asked Maria Voce what she thought when she was elected to be president of the Movement. “It seemed to me,” she replied, “that Jesus was asking me: ‘Do you love me? Do you want to help in bringing Chiara’s work forward? If you love me, I’ll help you!’ Now, what would you have said if you were in my place? You would certainly have said: ‘Let’s do it together then!’” Next the Gen4 handed over to her the money they had saved for the poor and needy children of the world.
This was followed by questions from youths and adults: on how to become involved in the local parish community; how to reconcile work commitments with the Movement and the family. There was a very strong desire in everyone to imitate Mary, to live a more sober life, and to discern a vocation. They also spoke about inculturation and the role of Portugal in the context of Europe and, in particular, the specific contribution of the Movement in this regard. The size of the crowd with so many youths moved Maria Voce to say: “Portugal can certainly say that they have youths! And then here you feel such a strong and particular presence of Mary that you (Portuguese) are able to witness better than anyone else.”
In the afternoon a “Musical” was performed by both young and old. The plot opened with a glimpse into Portuguese history and the arrival of the Focolare Movement in the 1960’s. The main elements of the Portuguese culture were presented: the sacredness of fado music, the famous singing groups from Alentejo in south-central Portugal; the colourful popular dances from different regions and from the islands; modern dance and the songs from the youths. The engaging history was accompanied by images on a giant screen.
The busy day flew by in a flash. Everyone left Fatima with a desire to bring this “rejoicing” everywhere, this fire of Gospel love that was burning in the hearts of all.
By Gustavo Clariá
A light in the aftermath of Fukushima
The message from the 300 representatives of the Focolare Movement’s Youth for Unity, was addressed to the Venerable Kojun Handa, 256th High Priest of the Tendai Buddhist denomination. Among other things, it states: “We feel that we can sincerely assure you all of our nearness and friendship as we renew our commitment to the diffusion of a culture of peace.” Their message had been read at the conclusion of the 25th Meeting of Interreligious Prayer for Peace that was held in Kyoto on 3-4 August thanks to the initiatives of the Tendai School, in collaboration with several religious organizations from Japan. The gathering was entitled “Raging Natural Disasters and the Role of Religious Leaders”. It was meant to be a moment to reflect on humankind’s relationship with nature following the earthquake, tsunami and tragic nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2012.
At the opening ceremonies were present more than 1,200 people, including sixteen representatives from outside religions, and also many religious leaders from the Land of the Rising Sun. The introduction to the event, which included images of Fukushima, highlighted the fact that the natural disaster re-awakened in the people of Japan, and in others as well, the values of prayer and relationships among all.
Pope Benedict XVI sent a message to the Venerable Kojun Handa which was read by Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Among other things, the message states: “The commitment to the cause of peace on the part of religious leaders is of greatest importance (…). I am certain that the work at the Summit and the Symposium that studies the answer of the religious leaders to the natural disasters will bring greater solidarity and mutual collaboration.”
There was also a moment of silent prayer for the victims of war and natural disasters. Very moving was the appeal for help and for prayers from Mar Gregorios Ibrahim, Orthodox Metropolitan, who was able to travel from Syria. This was followed by a series of presentations on how to help the victims of natural disasters and on the positions of the various religions regarding nuclear energy after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The meeting concluded on 4 August at Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, with the ceremony of prayer for peace. Also present at the Meeting were many teenagers and young people from the Tendai. Within this context, Christina Lee who was representing the Focolare Movement, read the message from the 300 teenagers who belong to Youth for Unity. “The theme chosen for this year’s gathering,” the young teenagers write, “is particularly dear to our hearts. In fact, we teenagers are well aware that our future and that of the next generations depend upon the respectful relationship of human beings with the natural environment.” Then recalling the Golden Rule that is present in all the holy books and written in the hearts of all people: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12), they concluded: “We promise to begin living it right away and we ask for your support in spreading this appeal from us among many teenagers of all the religions, because we are certain that every tiny step taken toward peace, if united to many others, will move us ever closer to this goal.”
Yearning for a Revolution
An explosive mixture: 150 Gen from the whole of Portugal (including the islands of Madeira and the faraway Azores) have been revved up for around one year, preparing for the imminent Genfest at Budapest that will unite them with 12000 youths from all over the world. If we add to them the unique setting of the Arco-Iris citadel and the special presence of Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti, we have the explosive mixture of joy and the “wish for revolution” experienced on the 18th August 2012. The youths of the Focolari start, and offer to the President and co-president of the Movement the various initiatives undertaken to collect the necessary funds so as not to miss the worldwide appointment at Budapest: a coffee concert at Porto (at the north of the country) where they shared with 300 friends their dream of a more united world; an “ice cream festival” at Faro (in the south), an open day with 700 participants; and then stalls, car washes, gardening, baby sitter services….everything goes towards their purpose, even if they tell us that in reality: “Everything was an opportunity to establish relationships that are more authentic with our friends and with many youths who now know and want to share with us “the ideal of a united world.” A musical interlude: the band “Contrast” gives a premier exclusive rendition of the song they will play at Budapest, together with the 21 other winning songs of the competition held specifically for the Gen bands all over the world. Immediately afterwards their questions follow rapidly revealing their dreams and ranging from the economic and social crisis to unemployment, lack of commitment, and individualism…They wish to understand the profound meaning of what is happening in the world in which they live and what part they can play in it. “God is love, always!” Maria Voce answers, “When Chiara Lubich made this discovery, together with her young friends, the war was raging, but they were so convinced of it, that they went beyond the difficulties… And today, our firm belief can become hope for others. This is your contribution: witness with your life, bringing to the fore the values of solidarity and unity.” And Giancarlo Faletti added: “Let us put fantasy in motion. Faith in God who is love will help us find new solutions.” “At this moment we communicate the ideal of unity to many youths-say the Gen of Porto- but when are few…can you give us any advice?” Maria Voce has no doubt: “Never stop at the idea that we will not make it, because it is God who takes things forward. Without fear, communicate the ideal of unity abundantly!” “Atheism and agnosticism are very present amongst young people,” say the Gen of Faro, even though they wish to build their lives on true values. “How can we succeed in dialogue and meeting with them?” they ask. “Our ideal is universal,” Maria Voce points out, “Dialogue with facts, with our coherence and with a suitable language. We must know how to give the reasons of our faith; but this is done by first living the Gospel, and then finding the right words.” “What is the most important thing that we as Gen Movement should be doing today?” “We should all be committed to this marvellous cause, towards a united world,” replies Maria Voce. The new forms of media are a help to communication, but you should be careful not to budge from the love that is personal, that requires all our energy.” Giancarlo Faletti adds, referring to the origins of the Gen Movement: “When Chiara founded the second generation, the Gen, she spoke of ‘an evangelical revolution’!’ Let us help each other to always be this living revolution”. From our correspondent Gustavo Clariá
Young People Desire Heroism
Young people always run to a challenge. And if they are not enfeebled by moral entanglements, they are always enamoured by the supreme beauty of God. Then they are prepared to face the most daring battle, the battle of the faith. Then they love the unrewarding risks of purity, of self-denial and dedication. But if they hesitate in front of Christ, perhaps it is because they are only familiar with a deformed image of Him, having been presented a religion which outwardly appears weak, worldly, mediocre, coated in compromise and compressed by so many adjustments, like a secondary, marginal or even half-hidden activity, something senile and boring, panting as it strives to keep up with the pace of the generations. But young people, if they are able to discover the true face of Christ, if they are able to grasp the real essence of the Church, then they are swept away precisely by the risk which the Gospel contains. During the Church’s adolescence the Early Church Fathers had said: “It is a dangerous risk to forget about God.” And young people want to run this dangerous adventure, to jump into the fray of loving God in the midst of the world.
They do not know what to do with a Christianity that has been scaled down to the size of today’s world as if it were some sort of seasonal fashion. They want a Christianity that can be called “great”. They want it immense. And so they are not interested in a Church that is small and reduced, they want a Church that is vast, one into which all humankind can enter in – the People of God.
If there is a lack of vocations it is also because the sum total of hardship and external courage that is often being asked of them is not enough for them. They desire chastity in a society that is incestuous; they want poverty in the midst of this orgy of Mammon; they want love in a society dismembered by hatred.They grow bored in a community in which one avoids or hesitates to speak about union with God, of the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of penitence and prayer; where the life of the Mystical Body is not lived out in a supernatural communion among brothers and sisters and God, as co-citizens with God among the citizens of the world so as to incarnate in the episodic existence of men the graces of the Life that is Divine. To be Christ among brothers for their brothers. Therefore, a religion reduced to mere culture, organizing, apostolic techniques,to asthetic or metaphysical or literary dissertation does not satisfy them at all.
Foto © Centro Igino Giordani
Young people love the more daring missions. They come running as soon as they feel called by a Don Orion, a Bishop Canossa, or a Mother Cabrini. They run to anyone who is willing to offer them purity and sacrifice, service and dedication. In other words, they run towards the heroism of the Cross, the luncay of the Cross.
Jesus goes by and the youths follow Him when they see Him, when the vision of Him is not obstructed by the appearance of others, by proud creatures, super-beings, something more than the others because of their wealth, political power or swollen pride.
Jesus is walking by us now. If we follow Him without ever turning back, without asking to be excused because there are horses to be shoed or cows to be bought, because we have to offer “salaams” to this one or that – then, ipso facto we become young. We become the children for whom the Kingdom of Heaven is made. Let us convert, therefore. By converting we see Him and find the way if we realize that we have been wasting time living our dreams and building our houses of straw. At the end of the new horizon shines a Cross, but it is a sign of victory over death. In Him we discover the Eternal Life.
Igino Giordani, in «Fides», Agust 1955, pp.242-245
Visit to Portugal / 3
18.2012: Meeting with the young people
Video clip: Permanent Mariapolis “Arco Iris” in Portugal
Duration: 14′ 23″. In PORTUGUESE with ITALIAN subtitles
Visit to Portugal / 2
Maria Voce’s visit to the Focolare’s Little Town in Portugal called “Arco Iris” – 16.8.2012
Permanent Mariapolis “Arco-Íris”
The Focolare president and co-president’s arrival at the Portuguese Mariapolis coincided with the feast day of the Assumption of Mary (August 15, 2012) and the liturgy proclaimed the joy of the babe in Elizabeth’s womb. This little “sign” caused the president to remark: “This will be a visit filled with exultation!” The welcome they received at the airport and in the Mariapolis seemed to confirm it. There was a large group to welcome them, with choreorgraphies par with the “creativity of love.” A portico was covered in bright flowers. There was a pair of campinos (cattle herders in traditional costume), music, families and children.
August 16, 2012 was spent touring Mariapolis Arco-Iris, which is fifteen years old. The land in Abrigada that is located 50 km from Lisbon was purchased through contributions from the Focolare commmunity in 1966.
The tour began at the cemetary where they visited the “living stones” of the Mariapolis. There are now eight people resting in there, witnessing to the deep roots of the Spirituality of Unity in Portugal. They paused before the grave of focolarino Eduardo Guedes who was also the first Portuguese Gen. Maria Voce once again entrusted the youths to him, just as she had already done a few days before he died, but this time she included all those who would attend the Genfest.
The tour continued at the Ciudad Nova Publishing House where twelve people are work; 3,000 magazine subscriptions; and a good production of books. “The offices are simple and attractive,” commented the president, while underscoring the importance of the unity between daily life and spreading a message that is valid and credible.
Then they visited the Gen boys and girls and there was an explosion of joy among the thirty young people gathered for the occasion. Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti met with them in the two little houses that are the reference points for all the Gen in Portugal, places where they can visit or spend longer periods of time. Many of them study and work in Lisbon or in the neighbouring areas. Monica is a physiotherapist at a clinic in the Mariapolis: “It’s such a great gift that I can stay here. The presence of Jesus among us, here in the Gen house, with the other inhabitants of the Mariapolis, at work. . . urges me to live the ideal of unity, even when I am relating to other people.” Tiago (twenty-four years old), soon to receive his degree in Medicine: “My main effort is to always try to live in the will of God. In this way I feel that ‘together, we are Jesus’ who is creating this Mariapolis and the life in each one of us.” Maria Voce urged them to offer a living Gospel life to everyone, “that it might explode” everywhere. Each year on the 1st of May around a thousand young people gather for an annual appointment at the Mariapolis.
Next were the families. There are five families at the Mariapolis. “We’ve been here for ten years. We saw the Mariapolis being born,” recount Jose and Conceicao Maia. They were the first family to move into the Mariapolis along with their six children. “We’ve been here for three years,” say Toni and Idalina Nogueira with five children. “We’re so happy! We’re having a new experience as a family and as a community. Every day a few of us take off for Lisbon, some for work and others for school, then we return together to finish our day with Mass in the Mariapolis.” Maria Voce underscored the great importance of the families not only for the Mariapolis, but also for the Church and the world. She affirmed: “What matters is the never predictable novelty of the Gospel life. So always begin again each day without worry.” And Giancarlo Faletti: “Your houses are beautiful, but more important is the journey you have taken as a family, overcoming many difficulties.”
In the afternoon they visited the “Giosi Guella Business Park” which was inaugurated in 2010 with three Economy of Communion businesses that have ten branches in several other areas of the country.
Next was the visit to the attractive Mariapolis Centre, with its meeting hall for 200 people, 60 beds and an average guest attendance of 5,000 people each year.
Future plans reflect the growth of the Movement in Portugal. They visited a piece of land where a house for the Women Volunteers of God is to be constructed. Maria Voce planted a medal of Our Lady on the spot, in an atmosphere of deep joy and emotion. Then there are some other projects including the construction of a series of small houses.
The busy day concluded with the Mass that was animated by songs in the Fado style, which is characteristic of the Portuguese spirit. Among her concluding remarks on that day Maria Voce also said: “Our first day in Portugal was lived in an every-increasing joy.” Then commenting on the Portuguese music style, she recalled Chiara Lubich who had once invited everyone to “interpret” Jesus on earth, and she wished that the “Portuguese Jesus” would emerge from the people of this land as a gift to all the other peoples of the world.” Giancarlo Faletti added: “It was a day filled with God… we have good reason to exult!” Then the president went on to say: “Now let us live the joy. Our Lady still sings the Magnifica even now.”
By Gustavo Clariá
Photos © M. Conceicao / M. Freitas
“Let’s bridge”: A United World, Universal Brotherhood … just buzzwords?
As part of the program of the Genfest, an international youth festival which envisages the participation of young people from all over the world, there will be a session where concrete actions are presented. Here we publish a few of the initiatives which demonstrate how many of these young people are dealing with problems and challenges they face every day.
One experience among many is that of the young people in Colombia, where the rain hasn’t let up for more than a year, with over 500 people who have died and gone missing and nearly 3 million people who have suffered damages. They started from Soacha, a city on the outskirts of Bogotà and together with the adults they organized a campaign to collect supplies and clothing. They also received 200 pairs of boots and a quantity of food that they distributed to the families most in need. Today the situation has worsened, because of illnesses and problems of living together in the camping grounds. They continue to collect supplies and stay close to the people.
Catania-Bujumbura: The bridge between the young people of these two cities was materialized in a keyboard. From a Skype video-call in which the African band “Gen Sorriso (Smile)” (who will perform also in Budapest) sang in Kirundi, the “Galilei” High School youth of Catania (Sicily) came up with the idea of offering them a keyboard. In order to accomplish this they launched the operation “An ice-cream for Burundi.” In the following link-up, an intercontinental virtual concert with drums and guitar (in Burundi) and the keyboard, that for now is still in Catania, but is destined for Burundi’s band.
The challenge of diversity – Buddhist and Christian youth have held 3 symposiums to share one another’s thoughts and experiences regarding topics like commitment for peace and living and transmitting Faith, thus creating a network of friendship and interreligious, intercultural and international fraternity.
72 Muslims and Christians of 5 countries of the Middle East and North Africa will meet for the first timein Budapest and, in record time, they have to put together the choreography that the groups have learnt in their respective countries, thanks to the virtual lessons passed around from one country to the other via YouTube. The same with the youth of India: Hindus of the Ghandian Shanti Ashram Movement and Christians have worked together for months on their dance, which wants to express the diversity of religions and castes present in their country, in a classical Indian style.
Num, a Buddhist girl from Thailand will speak about it on September 1st at the Genfest, while a Christian from Nazareth and a Muslim from Jerusalem will tell the 12,000 young people present what it means to live for fraternity in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and of the difficulty of living together for three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Among them are also young people who don’t have any religious belief, but who share the commitment to live for a united world. But each of them is in the front row, there, where they live, with the problems and challenges they face every day.
The United World Project, conceived and developed by the youth of the Focolare Movement and open to everyone’s collaboration, which will be launched in its first phase in Budapest, aims to highlight and promote fraternity already under way by individuals, groups and nations. It will also start up a permanent international Observatory, recognized by the UN.
Faro
Porto
Lisbon
Roma, 20 de marzo1983: “Hacia una Nueva Humanidad”
Rom, 20. März 1983: „Auf dem Weg zu einer neuen Menschheit“
Visit to Portugal / 1
Maria Voce in Portugal
This time it would be appropriate to say that the time has finally arrived for Portugal! The time has arrived for the long-expected visit of the president and of the co-president of the Focolare Movement to the land of Portugal. The trip, which had originally been planned for last January, was postponed for health reasons. But now neither the fierce summer heat nor Maria Voce’s busy schedule have prevented the Focolare community in Portugal from gathering together to give a warm welcome to the president and co-president Giancarlo Faletti.
There are two antecedents which the Portuguese proudly include in the history of the Movement in this country.
The first goes all the way back to 1948 when Igino Giordani (known as Foco), then Deputy of the Italian State, held a conference at the Geographic Society. During this conference, Giordani, who had met Chiara Lubich only three months earlier and was left fascinated by her spirituality of unity, met then Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, Manuel Cerejeira.
The second antecedent is particularly dear to the Portuguese Focolare community. It was Chiara’s visit to the Shrine of Fatima in 1955 when the Movement had not yet begun in Portugal. She wrote about it in her diary three years later: “It was September 1955 when a truly exceptional circumstance procured for us the great fortune of meeting with Sister Lucia of Fatima. . . I don’t remember much from that much loved trip, which lasted from 8 September (the Nativity of Mary) until 12 September (the Holy Name of Mary), perhaps because my heart was completely taken by the Cova da Iria, where Our Lady had presented her message to the world.”
Many years would go by before Chiara could personally meet with the Portuguese Focolare community at Santiago di Compostela (1989) along with the community of Spain. Later in 2003, she was preparing to visit Lisbon when her health prevented her from going. On this occasion as preparations were underway for the 60th Anniversary of the Focolare’s arrival in Portugal, she wrote to the members of the community who were gathered for the festivities: “Dearest Everyone, I am imagining you all gathered there in Fatima (…). Even though it hasn’t yet been possible for me to be with you, may you feel that I am with you more than if I were there in person. I know that you’ll welcome this opportunity to renew the unity among you. . . to spread Love through the world.”
Now, with Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti in Portugal, it is as if they are fulfilling the desire of the founder.
We shall remain watching and reporting on their visit so that all those interested from around the world will be able to share in the happenings among the Focolare community in Portugal.
By our correspondent Gustavo Clariá
Photos © M. Conceicao / M. Freitas
Roma, Palaeur, 20 March 1983: “Towards a New Humanity”
Video in Italian
Holy Father,
(…) The soul of the New Humanity Movement is the branch of men and women volunteers; their vocation is a total dedication to God without a particular consecration with vows.
Immersed in the world, the most suitable place for their activities, they live the Gospel following the example of the first Christian communities. They wish to emulate their life in this century by being “one heart. and one soul” and, as a consequence, by sharing their material and spiritual goods.
In our world, chilled by materialism and consumerism; impoverished and swerved by hedonism, violence and all existing evils, they try to bring about the fire, the light, the strength and the fullness of life coming from the presence of the Risen Lord. They make every effort, therefore, to see that his presence may shine through them embracing by their daily crosses, they commit themselves through the deepest possible uni¬ty with one another, to generate his presence in homes, hospitals, schools, offices, workshops… everywhere – so that these different ‘worlds’ can be illuminated, guided and supported by him while on their way to renewal (…).
Chiara Lubich
Feast of the Assumption
«To all of you who are gathered in Budapest to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of the “volunteers,” I send my most cordial greetings. It is not by chance that you chose Budapest, the capital of Hungary, as the headquarters of this important meeting. This nation lit the first spark of that reality – one of the most flourishing branches of the Focolare Movement – which would soon burst into flames in Italy, in Europe and all over the world. It was our answer to that longing for freedom, suppressed in blood by those who wanted to uproot God from society and from the hearts of men and women. It was also our echo to the heartfelt appeal which Pope Pius XII launched to the world on that occasion: “God! May this name, source of every right, of every justice, of every freedom, resound in parliaments, on city streets, in homes and factories …”. It was then that women and men of all ages, nationalities, races and conditions, linked by the bond of mutual love, united in order to form an army of volunteers: “the volunteers of God.” You know the story or it will be told to you during these days. Perhaps there are some among you who lived “that story” personally. “Volunteers,” your vocation is splendid! Following the example of the first Christians, as free persons, out of love you made yourselves slaves of Jesus, who awaits your witness in the world, precisely there where He is not known or not loved. 
You are “volunteers of God,” therefore nothing is impossible for you because He is with you. Take advantage of this circumstance to ask Him and yourselves for great things. Ask Him to be able to continue unleashing, through your life, that evangelical revolution based on love, which the world awaits. And do not look upon your vocation only as something spiritual and individual. The spirituality of unity already makes you open to your brothers and sisters! But you are called to bring into the structures of society around you, the divine leaven that can make humanity new in its various worlds, in the world of the family and in the ecclesial world. Let whoever is not prevented from doing so because of age or other reasons, launch themselves then in this splendid lay vocation, for it is entrusted specifically to the laity. Ask God that this world may change also through you and do not be satisfied until you notice in it lasting fruits. All of us in the Movement are with you on this anniversary in remembering, in making proposals, and in launching ourselves. Just as Mary assumed into heaven with her body brought creation into heaven, you too, do not long to enter heaven without a renewed world. Hurrah for the men and women volunteers, pillars of the Work of God in its most beautiful expressions! I am with you, Chiara ». Message for the 40th Anniversary of the Birth of the “Volunteers Rocca di Papa, 6 November 1996 – letto da Dori Zamboni a Budapest il 23 novembre 1996 Fonte: Centro Chiara Lubich
St Claire of Assisi
It was a time of war. Everything crumbled before us, young as we were, attached to our dreams for the future: a home, our studies, people dear to us, our career.
The Lord was teaching us, through events, one of his eternal truths: «All is vanity, nothing but vanity…».
It was that total and multifold devastation of everything that formed the objective of our small hearts, that brought forth our Ideal. We saw other young women launch themselves with sincere enthusiasm into working for the salvation and better future of our nation.
It was easy to talk about the Ideal in that life dead to all that could humanly attract one. We felt that only one idea was real and immortal: God. In the face of that destruction provoked by hatred, the One who does not die appeared more alive than ever to our young minds. And we saw Him and loved Him wherever He was absent: «Deus caritas est.»
Our thoughts and aspirations were sealed by another young girl who in other times, not so different than ours, was able to illuminate with her divine light the darkness of sin and to melt the frozen hearts of egoism, hatred and grudges: Clare of Assisi. She too, like us, saw the vanity of the world, because the Poor one of Assisi, a living example of poverty, had educated her to «lose everything so as to gain Jesus Christ.»
She too, having run away from the castle of the Scifi family, at midnight at the Porziuncola, before taking off her rich garments, had responded to the saint when he asked her: “My daughter, what do you desire?” “God,” she answered.
We were struck by the fact that a young eighteen-year-old, beautiful, full of hope for the future, knew how to contain all the desires of her heart in the one Being worthy of our love.
And we too, just like her, felt that same desire. We said: “God is our ideal. How can we give our whole life to him?”
He had said: “Love me with all your heart…”. But how could we love Him?
“Whoever loves me observes my commandments. Love your neighbour as yourself.” We looked at one another and we decided to “love one another so as to love Him”. The more one “lives” the Gospel, the better one understands it.
Before launching ourselves into living the word of God, just like children get involved in play, even if it was not totally unclear, it was not however alive to our intellect, nor sacred to our heart.
Now every day was a new discovery of the Gospel, by now our only book, the only light for our life.
We clearly understood that everything lies in love, that mutual love “had to” inform Jesus’ last appeal to those who had followed Him, that “consuming ourselves in one” could only be Jesus’ last prayer to the Father, supreme synthesis of the Good News.
Jesus knew that the Holy Trinity was eternal beatitude, and He, the Man-God who came down to redeem humanity, wanted to bring all those He loved into the com-Unity of the Three.
That was His homeland, that was the homeland of the brothers and sisters that he had loved to the point of shedding his blood.
«To become one»: became the programme of our life in order to love Him.
But where two or three are united in His name, He is in their midst.
We felt His divine presence each time that unity triumphed on our human natures, so rebel to die: a presence of His light, of His love, of His power.
Jesus among us.
The first little society of brothers and sisters, his true disciples, had formed.
Jesus the bond of unity.
Jesus, king of every individual heart, because the life of unity requires the total death of every ego.
Jesus in that small group of souls.
And we already said at the beginning: «Yes, the Gospel is the solution to every personal problem and every societal problem.»
He was so for us, having become one heart and one mind; He could be so for more people, for everyone.
And it was not difficult. It was enough to have in our hearts those same desires that Jesus would have had if He were with us; to think each thing as though Jesus would have thought of it; in other words, to embody the Gospel in our own lives, to carry out the Divine will, different for each soul and yet coming from the same God, just as many rays have their origin in the same sun; and unity was accomplished.
The faith and love, that He lived in us, drew us close to all those that He made us encounter every day and this spontaneous love, freely given, drew them to the same ideal.
We never thought of doing apostolate. That word did not attract us at all. Some people had abused it, ruining it. We only wanted to love in order to love Him.
And we soon realized that this was the real apostolate.
Seven, fifteen, one hundred, five hundred, a thousand, three thousand or more people of every vocation, of every social status. Every day they grew in number around Jesus among us.
Our humanity, put on the cross by the life of unity, attracted everyone to it.
Perfect unity lived and still lives among those souls by now spread throughout the whole of Italy and beyond it.
Not only spiritual unity in our passionate quest to be another Jesus, but also a practical unity.
Everything is in common: things, homes, assistance and money.
And there is peace, there is heaven on earth.
Life totally changed.
Throughout the whole city, there is no office, school, store or factory without a brother of sister of unity who works there.
From them shines forth, like the sun, the life of charity that creates a new divine atmosphere, squelches hate and grudges. Many families came together again in peace: others began their life with the Ideal in their hearts. Truly, we are at the beginning of a new era: «the era of Jesus.»
And all of this because the only principle, the only means, the only end goal is Jesus.
Jesus “in” us. Jesus “among” us.
Jesus end of times and of eternity.
Human minds grapple to find solutions to today’s drama. They will not find it if not in Jesus. Not only in Jesus alive deep within in each person, but in Jesus who reigns “among” souls.
They do not have time to discuss because He too clearly shows, to those who are united to others in his name, what “needs to be done” to give real peace back to the world.
There is porro unum necessarium[1] (only one thing necessary) to a soul in its relationship to God.
There is porro unum necessarium (only one thing necessary) to a soul in its relationship with his/her neighbours and this is to love them as oneself, to the point of becoming one down here, in anticipation of the perfect consummation of souls in the One, Jesus, in Heaven.
This is the Christian community.
From «Fides», 48 (1948), n. 10, pp. 279-280.
[1] «…porro unum est necessarium» («only one thing is necessary» Lk 10:42). The quote, in Latin, was commonly used in the early days of the Movement.
A Strong Faith in Syria
Life has become hard for people in many places in Syria: bombings and conflict, fear, rising food prices, scarcity of gas for cooking. It is possible to leave the house, but life has been slowed down by fearful roadblocks. Many Christian families are tending to escape to Lebanon, at least for the time being.
They tell us from Syria: “We were already hoping for a peaceful resolution in November 2011, but things gradually dissolved into the state of affairs that we have today, the country gripped by violence with unforseeable and certain diastrous consequences. For us who believe in a united world it is quite painful to see the lack of any real will for finding a political and diplomatic solution. Right from the beginning of the events we realized, together with many other people in the country, that the priority wasn’t the one acclaimed by many newspapers and Arab and Western satellite news channels: pluralism and freedom but a game of power that is destroying the country at every level, a country known for the way people of diverse confessions have lived together in peace.”
From the first disturbances and disorientation the members of the Focolare Movement saw “the fruits of the Gospel life that has been sown over the decades and the total communion in and among the various communities spread throughout the country. “This trial that our country is living through,” they go on to say, “has brought us back to what is essential in our relationship with God, with the Word and with the people around us. It has manifested itself in a growing effort to depend on Him.”
Believing in God’s love, being attentive and in an attitude of giving ourselves to the needs of the people around them is the modus vivendi for both young and old. The vitality that is found among the young people is quite striking. The Movement’s youth in the city of Aleppo distribute free meals to poor families. They have also begun a support drive among their friends and families, so that they can provide regular food and basic supplies to people in need. Some of the Focolare’s Gen3 (children) have prepared and sold snacks to students who regularly go to the parish library in order to study for their university examinations. The small children, the Gen4, gather and sell bottle caps. The young people from Damascus have held cineforums and meetings in which they try to spread the culture of peace and brotherhood. When the first refugees began to flow into the gardens and schools of the city, youths from the Focolare and others immediately did everything they could to meet their needs.
A series of difficulties had begun for engineer Walid and his wife Sima regarding the contract on their house, the car payments that had to be made and the children’s school fees. We began to be invaded by fear”, they recount, “as we saw that we would eventually lose the house, and Walid had already lost his job. But we gained courage by believing in God’s love, knowing that He would intervene at the right moment. The nex day, in fact, some help arrived for us in the form of some money that corresponded to the chidren’s school fees.” Another family who were left without anything also received help from the villagers. “They offered us everything that was lacking in our house,” Mariam and Fouad recount, who had not seen a paycheck on four months, “even a carpet and a television.”
Just the same, the difficult situation also instilled a lot of mutual fear and mistrust, and everyone looked at everyone with suspicion. Our attitude of building fraternal relationships with everyone went against the current. This is what Rima experienced who works for a project in support of Iraqi women professionals. One day a woman showed up to enroll in the course. Her attire –totally veiled – cautioned prudence. She could have generated suspicion among the other members of the course. With another excuse I found a way not to enroll her, but then a more powerful thought entered my mind: “Jesus loved everyone and came to save everyone without exception. We should also have the same love that doesn’t make distinctions.” And so she did everything she could to trace the woman down and enroll her in the course.
Fahed is a taxi driver. “Now, working is a challenge and a source of growing stress. One day an old Muslim man began cursing against a bombing attack which, in his opinion, had targeted a mosque. I listened to him attentively, then I tried to comfort him saying: “Don’t be saddened, because houses for God can only be built by God.” Four months later the same man got into my taxi, but he didn’t recognize me. During the drive he confided to me that he had been so struck by one of our Christian “brothers” who had said to him that only God can build His houses.”
Youssef is a young gynecologist. Amid the anger of the first disurbances in the country, he at once placed himself at the service of the wounded, going out to assist them where they were. His unusual decision to care for patients of all confessions, at the risk of being misunderstood turned out to be a seed of reconcilliation. A network of medical workers was created around him, who sought to heal both physical and the non-physical wounds as well.
Then there was that young professor who had been recruited by the army a year earlier. Prayer, unity with the other young people who lived the Christian ideal, and his decision to offer his life to God were his daily support, even when it was his duty to go and inform the famlies of fallen soldiers.
Mona is a young woman who fled with her family to a village near the city. Several months earlier she has returned to the city to offer her help at a Centre run by a religious Order that helps children of all confessions to make up school work and, most especially, to recuperate the desire to go on living.
“In my quarter,” recounts Bassel, “just after the first manifestations, real and strong attacks began against the police. Many times, closed in our houses in order to find protection from the bullets that were flying all around us, we grasped the Rosary in our hand, convinced that Our Lady would have protected us. Recalling the power of a prayer said in unity, with a friend we began having the “Time-Out” at eleven in the evening, which is when the clashes usually began. Many people joined us. In spite of it all, we continued to believe that in the end, armed weapons would not have the final word.”
New Moderator of Communion among Bishop Friends of the Focolare
The meeting of Bishop Friends of the Focolare from 1st to 9th August concluded at Forno Coazza, in the Italian region of Turin. Focolare President Maria Voce, who attended on Sunday the 5th, invited Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, the Archbishop of Bangkok, to take on the role of moderator of the communion among the bishops who share in the spirituality of unity coming from the Focolare founder, Chiara Lubich.
Archbishop Francis Xavier accepted the invitation to succeed Cardianl Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop Emeritus of Prague, who has had the role of moderator for 18 years, organizing numerous international meetings of bishops, both of Roman Catholics and of bishops from various Churches. These meetings satisfy the bishops’ desire to deepen their spiritual lives and to construct together the Church as communion hoped for by the Second Vatican Council and recent Popes. The meeting have been held in Castel Gandolfo (near Rome), Istanbul, Jerusalem, Beirut, Augsburg, Wittenburg, London and Geneva – just to mention some of the places.
The choice of Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak should be taken as ‘a sign of the Movement’s universal openness and its attention to the emerging continents and our various dialogues’, as Maria Voce wrote in communicating the news. He will take up the new role at the beginning of October during the international assembly of the Movement’s leaders.
Cardinal Miloslav Vlk expressed his gratitude to Maria Voce for having appointed a bishop from the East, ‘where the spirituality of the Focolare Movement is spreading quickly among bishops too.’ He said his successor had ‘the right experience and background and was very suitable for the task’ and he wished him ‘the strength and creativity needed to guide the communion among the Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement at the same time as fulfilling his commitments as Archbishop of Bangkok.’
For his part, Archbishop Francis Xavier, to the joy of all present, accepted the task with humility, saying that he was comforted by the openness of his brother bishops to give him their support in any way possible.
The participation of bishops in the Focolare Movement, approved and supported by the Holy See as a way of favouring ‘effective and affective’ collegiality among bishops in a brotherly spirit of communion, is purely spiritual.
Source: Focolare Information Service
Hunger to be heard
‘I belong to the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, a contemplative congregation founded in 1866 by Fr Lataste, a French Dominican. When he was sent to preach in the women’s prison of Cadillac, he had the idea of opening up contemplative life also to those women, once their sentences were over, and he founded a community in which ex-offenders, together with women with no criminal convictions, lived a life of prayer and work together on a completely equal basis and drawing a veil of silence over everyone’s past life.
‘The spirituality of unity and the Word lived and communicated made us realize the value and the relevance of our charism better. Once a week we go to the women’s prison in our city of Turin. Just as in Cadillac, we try to give witness to the hope that comes from God. We meet many women, we offer them the possibility of coming to us when they are released on licence, respecting their legal obligations, for example the need to check in with the police on a daily basis.
‘In the prison we listen to their sorrows, their worries, their pains and their unexpected joys. To extend our charism to the world today, we have started spending time with the people of the night: drug users, the homeless, unscrupulous people on the make both foreign and local, who live in Porta Nuova. We offer them friendship with no strings attached and a chance to meet without demanding that they change. “Are you hungry?” I asked young man from Morocco a little while ago. “Yes, I hunger to be heard, to have relationships, not bread. This is a kind of hunger too.”
‘They know and wait for us at Porta Nuova. As in prison, here too we are spectators of the miracles that sharing out Love makes happen. We could tell many stories. One evening I heard someone calling me. The voice, distorted, came from a pile of blankets. It was a boy obviously going cold turkey. “Tell me, sister, was Jesus Christ tall, blue-eyed and blond?” “I don’t know,” I answered, “I’ve never seen him in person.” He carried on, “He is followed and loved by lots of people.” I responded “He also had problems with the people close to him.” “Physically I look like him, but nobody likes me.” I tried to understand why he was so angry. The tears coursed down his hollow cheeks. “Can I stay for a bit?” I said quietly. Sitting on a station trolley, I listened at length to his story. He spoke like a river in spate. Some years went by. Then, one day, while walking along the street, I hear myself being called. I instantly recognize his blue eyes, which now seem clear, healthy. “I still remember what you said about Jesus Christ! Look! I’m still around!”
‘While I am at Porta Nuova, my community supports me by their adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, so that Jesus may pass through my words and I can recognize him in the faces of the women and men I meet.’
(Sr Silvia, Italy)
Excerpt from Una buona notizia. Gente che crede gente che muove – Città Nuova Editrice, 2012
A Story from Syria
“When the problems began in the country, I was drafted into the army for military service. Despite the fear that I felt, I also felt that even this was part of God’s plan for me. What gave me strength was the Word of Life, the only spiritual food I could have. Every once in a while I managed to telephone my family and give them some news. Then I would telephone the focolare and the Gen – other young people with whom I share this path – in order to share my experiences with them.
My troop in which I was the only Christian, was comprised of fifty officers from all over the country and from all confessions. There was a sincere relationship among us, one that didn’t take differences into account, one built upon sacrifice and altruism and generosity on the part of everyone. At the end of November 2011, we were informed that we were to be transferred each to a different part of the country. This created suspension in everyone. I was also wondering how it would turn out for me. Little by little, I began to notice a small voice in my heart that said to me: “Entrust your whole life to God,” and this gave me peace. Before taking leave of one another, we met on the last night for a send-off and to say goodbye to each other. To my surprise each one of us expressed what he had learnt from the other and, in the end, we embraced like real brothers.
From the month of March 2012 I was assigned to taking charge of new recruits, besides notifying the families of fallen soldiers. These are dramatic moments in which I try to share the family’s pain. As far as my work as an officer, I try to act with transparency and promptness, and to see that every decision I make is for the good of the person. For example, one recruit had to be dismissed for health reasons, but someone had forgotten to draw up his papers. As soon as I realized this, I did everything I could to speed up the process, and he could return home as planned. I even worked extra hours in order to finish all the paperwork.
Right from the start, I decided to live as a real Christian bringing love even into this environment. There are always occasions to live my choice in concrete ways, even risking my life sometimes. For example, one time a colleague had to go and pick some new recruits in a far-away city. There was the danger of attack during the trip and she was frightened. I proposed that I accompany her to the place, and so it happened. At the last moment, the administration decided to send me in an airplane.
One day, coming back from Mass, I heard the news that one of my colleagues, a soldier, had been killed during an attack at the bus station. It was a shock that remained with me for days. Recalling that I had given my life to God gave me strength to believe in His love and it rekindled my hope that God could draw good from all this suffering. In a situation like this there is the risk of becoming accustomed to death. One day they telephoned me with a list of soldiers who had been killed. I was mechanically writing down the names, when I suddenly realized that behind every number was a human being and this made me want to begin praying for each of them and for their families. It seemed the only useful thing to do in this tragedy.
My faith each day is a conquest, and my Ideal is put to the test. This is the only weapon I have along with that of living love completely in each moment with the assistance of the many people who are praying for me.”
(Z. M.– Syria)
Bishops with Chiara Luce
The last visitors left a few days ago. A coach of young people from Oporto, the second city of Portugal, accompanied by their bishop, was among them. They came to Sassello, a province of Savona in Italy, to visit the place Chiara Luce Badano had lived and to get to know how she lived the Gospel in everyday life.
Since her beatification in September 2010, the town where the eighteen year-old was born and grew up, has become more and more a place of convergence for young people from all over Europe and beyond. Monday 6 August saw another, quite particular, proof of a fame that is spreading far and wide and of a holiness with universal appeal, because 65 bishops and cardinals from all over the world came to the town of 1900 inhabitants on the border between the Italian regions of Liguria and Piedmont.
Of course, these bishops are friends of the Focolare Movement and live the same spirituality as Chiara Luce. But as they point out to Maria Teresa and Ruggero (Chiara Luce’s parents), Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti (Focolare President and Co-President), from the outset the beatified young woman’s influence has spread beyond the Focolare Movement.
‘Now lots of young people from all over the world are coming,’ Chiara Luce’s mother confirmed. ‘There is one coach after another. Large numbers of boys and girls who don’t believe come to our home and look and listen and when they come out of Chiara’s bedroom they make the sign of the cross, as if taking away a gift from my daughter.’ The bishops, in small groups, also went into the room where she had suffered and died. They saw her king-size bed transformed into an altar by the pain she offered and into a pulpit by her example of suffering transformed into joy.
Monday was the feast of the Transfiguration and Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, until recently in charge of the Pontifical Council for the Family, presided over the Eucharistic celebration at the conclusion of the day at Sassello. He pointed out an aspect of Chiara Luce’s holiness ‘precisely in her capacity to show that life conquers death, showing the transfiguration of the human person.’ Shortly before she died, indeed, she said to her mother, ‘Please be happy, because I am happy.’
Such a large number of bishops all in one go have never been seen before in the town, and the mayor, Paolo Badano (the surname is common there) found himself filled with admiration and pride. He expressed his gratitude to Chiara Luce and, after reading out a message of greeting from Claudio Burlando, the Regional President, he called her ‘the smiling saint.’
The bishops went to the tomb ‘to ask Chiara Luce’s intercession and protection for the path to holiness along the way of the spirituality of unity opened up by Chiara Lubich,’ as Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop Emeritus of Prague, emphasized.
One moment of the entire day seemed to be the climax, both for its meaning and for its symbolism. A brief moment with the Badanos in their garden had been arranged for the large group of bishops. The skies were darkened by clouds and a slight wind was rising. The couple were concerned. The bishops carried on and asked their questions: what kind of young people come here? Does Chiara Luce only have an effect on young people? How do you become a saint? Chiara Luce’s parents drew from their daughter’s wisdom, telling the bishops about things she did or said. It was, as it were, 45 minutes of catechesis by this attractive eighteen year-old girl: almost a foretaste of what she would like to do on earth in the future. In the end a warm sun shone down from the heavens.
‘The Church has now a very contemporary example of what it means to live the Gospel and Christian love,’ commented Archbishop Francis Xavier Kreingsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok. ‘But we have seen the nature of a Christian family that walks in faith during trials, suffering and death.’ Archbishop Francisco Pérez González of Pamplona in Spain agreed: ‘’Jesus has shown himself to the young and uninstructed. I saw it yet again in Chiara Luce and I have reflected on the humility displayed by her parents.’
‘We may be in front of another two saints, seeing the simplicity and wisdom of the Badanos,’ said the Brazilian Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life. ‘Chiara Luce shows us a fulfilled life that teaches the joy found in accepting the unforeseeable plan of God. By choosing love she hit upon the heart of Christianity. Her greatness comes from having remained a normal girl. We need people like her. Young people who don’t go to church find in her an example of normality that takes them to God and then leads them to the Church.’
Before the bishops arrived, Maria Voce had visited Chiara Luce’s room for the first time and had stayed for thirty minutes with her parents. ‘I feel she’s like a sister because of the charism of unity linking us,’ she confided to Maria Teresa and Ruggero. ‘A younger sister because she is a child of the Focolare Movement I am President of and an older sister because, running like an Olympic athlete, she has gone before me in holiness.’
From our correspondent Paolo Lòriga.
focolare.org – ‘A place of welcome for everyone’
In the first four months of this year focolare.org had 477,687 hits, with 1,422,450 pages visited for an average of 1.54 minutes per page. The typical visitor to focolare.org was between 35 and 54 years of age and tended to visit it on week days, especially Mondays, and do so from the workplace. Younger people, however, were reached by means of social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Google+), with a weekly average of more than 30,000 persons.
This is what is shown by the data collected by three students from the Faculty of Institutional Social Communication of the Santa Croce University, Rome, who chose the official site of the Focolare Movement for their research. Their names are Oleksii Fedorovych, Fr Rastislav Hamráček and Fr Tiago José Síbula da Silva. Introducing their research they say that www.focolare.org was set up in 1998, updated in 2006 and had a complete overhaul in 2011. It then received the WeCa Prize 2011 * in the Institutional Websites category. They say, ‘The general mission of www.focolare.org is to be a place of welcome for everyone and, at the same time, it has the task of giving expression, in dialogue with the world, to the unity and the diversity of those who make up the Focolare family and to typical Focolare events.’
Our visitors. The vast majority of visitors, 44%, are Italian speakers. On average on each visit they looked at 2.98 pages, spending 3.45 minutes. Navigations to the site were more by men than women. But this larger amount of men is a reflection of the fact that in general many more men use the internet. If the fact that people navigate to the site from work rather than from home is linked to GoogleAnalytics’s data on loyalty, it indicates that the site is visited especially during weekdays. Indeed, in the period from the 1 January to 30 March, according to GoogleAnalytics, the day with the largest amount of hits is generally, as we have said, a Monday.
Internet traffic. About half the visitors (48.5% in the period between 1 January and 30 March) came to it via search engines. Of these visits 44.2% came from Google with search terms such as focolare.org, Focolare Movement, www.focolare.org and Focolare. 4 % of the visits originated from media such as mobile phones, iPads or iPhones. A large amount (37.4%) came via Facebook.
Who is behind the site? The study analysed the composition of the editors of focolare.org and spoke of a real workforce with a broad range of editors made up of representatives from various Focolare centres, correspondents in every nation, technical experts, news editors, translators and a fixed team of four people together with a part-time worker for social networking.
Contents and the site’s best page. Looking at the site’s contents and observing its ‘informative and formative character’, the researchers emphasize the site’s ‘consistency’ with ‘the values of the Movement’. Appreciation was expressed because it publishes not only news about the Roman Catholic Church but about all of the Churches, world religions, people of convictions not based on religion and about issues of a social nature that offer insights into life in various parts of the world. In conclusion the page of the ‘Word of Life’ is said to be done well, with its Bible quotation and commentary. ‘This page,’ write the researches, ‘has great formative value and is among the best of the site’s contents, gaining many hits and comments from users.’
* Italian Association of Catholic Webmasters
Education & Fraternity: Board of Education and International Meeting
The educational crisis is one of the urgent challenges of our time. There is need for a renewal in formation programs to meet the demands of students who wish to achieve their goals in an era of globalization.
A group of Italian educators, which includes teachers, youth group leaders, psychologists and pedagogists have come together in a “National Board of Education” which, since 2010 has met in Grottaferrata, Rome at the headquarters of the New Humanity Movement which promotes the project in collaboration with “Action for a United World”, “Education for Unity” and “Teens for Unity“.
The latest novelty to come out from the work of the Board has been that of placing on the 2013 agenda an “International Meeting for the World of Education”, which will be held in Castelgandolfo, Italy on 6-8 September 2013. The meeting will gather people who are in any way involved in the world of education: family, school and catechesis, youth groups, researchers and teens. The declared objective is to lay the groundwork, on an international level, through an exchange of ideas, educational approaches and best practices, and to implement projects in various countries.
In Italy the Board publishes online educational, didactic and methodological projects from several parts of Italy, like education for peace, citizenship and comprehension which demonstrate that only an authentic interpersonal relationship of reciprocal giving, can be the principle of every great educational event, capable of favouring the full realization of the personality of each and every one.
Some students from a science high school in the province of Catania are a witness to this. Educational programmes in education for the common good, for appreciating not only the cultural patrimony of the individual disciplines, but the unity of human knowledge and universal values, with the goal of helping students to interiorise the messages and bring about a transformation in their way of life. With the involvement of experts from various fields, meetings are planned with associations involved in the field of development and cooperation and volunteering.
The teenagers themselves become the protagonists of projects of solidarity and sharing, as with the “distant support” project for children who live in difficult situations, but also within the classrooms, sharing their materials, talents, abilities.
Cecilia Landucci teaches literacy in a first class school in the province of Rome. She is the coordinator of field projects with the commission for “Education and Culture” of New Humanity: “The Board is a concrete network of educators. Knowing each other’s experiences promotes collaboration, brings us out of our isolation, favours the spreading of what is already happening and becoming a cultural way of thinking in the field of education within the light of the charism of unity; the elaboration of a project for Italian schools, which can help redefine them.”
Early Letters: At the Origins of a New Spirituality
Chiara Lubich is now being called a great Catholic mystic of our times. In these letters we encounter this mystical side of Chiara who is also the bearer of a charism, a gift from the Holy Spirit in response to the special needs of the Church and of the world. Chiara’s charism is unity, the unity that Jesus asked for us from his Father: “May they all be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity” (Jn 17: 22-23). Chiara saw God’s love in everyone and everything. The light of this discovery enveloped her, and she felt like she was at the center of the Father’s love. This discovery is at the foundation of Chiara’s spirituality which emerges from these early letters. They were written to the young women and others who were drawn by the way she presented the Christian life as a response to God’s love, which was shown to her in Jesus, most especially in his abandonment and death on the Cross. In these letters, the God that Chiara invites us to believe in is Love. The conversion she asks of us is a conversion to Love. Often using the language and style of the saints and mystics of other ages (like Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Francis of Assisi), Chiara communicates her burning desire that “Love be loved,” that “all the world be set ablaze by the fire of Love.” Her words are full of fervor, but also simplicity and practical common sense. For additional information and orders: (New York) www.newcitypress.com ¦ (London) newcity.co.uk (more…)
Living Evangelisation: Three Minute Reflections on Faith
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, Joan Mueller challenges readers to evangelize the modern world by the way they live. As St. Francis said, “Preach at all times. When necessary, use words.” Guided by Benedict XVI’s anniversary letter, Door of Faith, Dr. Mueller offers scriptural reflections on the gift of faith, faith conversion, Mary as a model of faith, and living evangelization. Each daily scripture reading is accompanied by a short reflection and spiritual practice intended to fortify our choice of faith in each moment and circumstance of our lives. This small book is a perfect tool for parishes and individuals who wish to respond to the church’s call to rediscover God as Love, to cultivate a taste for feeding ourselves on the Word of God, and to be the joy that transforms the world.
- “This book invites you to face the faith question in your life in a new and refreshing way. With every reflection, Sister Joan draws you into a deeper understanding of the demands of living your faith authentically. Her insightful reflections and disarming questions are a must-read for all who are sincere of faith, searching in faith, struggling with faith, or enthusiastic about sharing their faith.”
Father Harry Buse, Pastor, St. Leo the Great Parish, Omaha, NE
Additional information and orders: (New York) www.newcitypress.com
New Horizons
Chiara Amirante’s story is the stuff of high adventure. It tells of a soul completely given to God and to the service of those most in need in our society. If you didn’t know it was true, you simply wouldn’t believe it!
Available from New City Press (UK): newcity.co.uk
The World of Sophia University
‘The grain of wheat has fallen into the earth and has begun to sprout, fragile but full of life and rich with promise. This gives cause for great and sincere thanks to those who, with dedication and generosity, have worked to set up the Institute and to help it through its teething pains. As we have gone along, we have realized the beauty, the originality and also our responsibility for the ‘idea’ of a university that Chiara Lubich, with inspired intuition and tremendous trust, committed to our care.’ These are the words of the theologian Piero Coda during a live interview (published in Italian on the Sophia’s site) following the confirmation of his presidency for the next four years. ‘Sophia, today, is a reality.’
How do things look academically? The President explains them:
- in the second cycle, several specialisms have become separate subjects (trinitarian ontology, political studies, economics and management, taken in the wider context of a culture of unity’s human and sociological implications);
- the success of the doctoral cycle and beginning of a post-doctoral ‘school’;
- innovation in teaching methods (‘inter’ and ‘trans-discipliniarity’) and formation for the whole person, and an educational programme;
- inter-cultural and inter-religious openness;
- synergies in research and various forms of collaboration, in the immediate vicinity, nationally and internationally.
The news of the renewal of Piero Coda’s term of office reached the University Institute in July. The decree by the Congregation for Catholic Education had been expected. It was dated 11 July 2012 and sent to Maria Voce, President of the Focolare Movement and the Institute’s Vice-Chancellor. The Congregation’s initial appointment in 2008 had been at the request of Chiara Lubich herself, slightly earlier in the year, on 12 March, just two days before her death.
The election of the President has a specific procedure with a clear purpose: to protect both the total academic autonomy of the Institute and its essential link with the Focolare Movement, while the appointment by the Vatican dicastery overseeing university education emphasizes the Institute’s academic nature.
What are the priorities for his second term of office? Piero Coda replies: ‘The things I am most concerned about are faithfulness to the idea behind the Institute and the growth of a spirit of fraternity animating the various parts of the academic community; the development of its academic project along the lines we have been called to discern and interpret; and the commitment to establish, both realistically and prophetically, a place where it is possible to exercise and to learn the novel approach, the art of ‘thinking together’…
‘The true director is the Spirit of the Risen Jesus who blows and illumines what we strive to do, having dropped all our defences, ready to welcome him with freedom and listen to him with intelligence. Isn’t this what “Sophia” really is? Something so divine because it is so human, and at the same time, something that fascinates, something we wish to love and share with everyone who, in any way, we are called to walk together with towards the united world already beginning to emerge among the contradictions of our times?’
Gymnastic Trials: Looking Good?
Her mother writes: “A. was performing her piece at the end-of-the-year gymnastic trials and many people had come to watch. At one point one of her companions dropped her hoop. A. immediately gave her own to her companion and went to fetch the one that was dropped. Then she re-joined the choreography.
The trainers were open-mouthed with surprise. One of them said to me: “In all my years of training, I’ve never seen anything like this: an athlete who leaves her place in order to cover the mistake of another.” I responded: “It’s love that urges you to go beyond looking good; thinking of others makes you capable of things like this.”
The trainers all congratulated her. Then when were alone my daughter said to me; “Mamma, I didn’t care about looking good. My friend was in trouble and I had to help her.” It made me see how the Gospel that is slowly entering into her is making her a witness of her yes to Jesus. This episode occurred shortly after her return from the Gen4 congress that was entitled: “Love that embraces the whole world”.
(A. F. –Italy)
Brazilian and Italian Sociologists Compared
It was the first seminar to be curated by the Social-One research group outside of Europe in cooperation with a group of Latin Americans from the Anti-utilitarian Movement in Social Sciences (M.A.U.S.S.). On 6-7 July 2012 about fifty people, including professors, researchers and students from various regions of Brazil gathered inOlinda, north easternBrazilwith an Italian delegation. Agapic Action (i.e. action motivated by fraternal and disinterested love) was the central topic of the two-day seminar, and it is also at the heart of the thinking of the group of researchers connected with Social-One. But it is certainly not a common topic for the field of Sociology.
“Free Gift and Agapic Action: Diaologue Towards A New Prospective for the Social Sciences” was the title of the seminar, which was opened by Brazilian Dr. Vera Araujo who underscored the need for new ideas – like agape and free gift – to inspire behaviours and the collective dynamic.
Twelve hours of intense work. Four conferences and four parallel sessions, enriched by an open dialogue that involved all the participants.
There were three Italian presenters: Prof. Michele Colasanto from the Catholic University of Milan who discussed the role of the concepts of agape and free gift in the construction of the common good; Prof. Gennaro Iorio, member of the Department of Sociology and Political Science at the University of Salerno who, after his presentation of a reflection on the theme of agapic action as developed by Social-One, then spoke on the relationship between agape and conflict; Dr. Licia Paglione, member of the Department of Social Sciences and Communication at the Sophia University Institute of Loppiano, Florence who proposed a study of the relationship between the concepts of gift and love, beginning with the work of Russian sociologist P. A. Sorokin (1889-1968).
In the parallel sessions five projects were developed by Brazilian students and professors from several universities, who are familiar with topics under discussion in a Brazilian academic and social setting.
Twenty year old Maria Julia Izidoro speaks of wide horizons, “talking about love in the lecture halls of a university.” For Maria Eduardo Couto: “A wall has come down between the youth and the old “dinosaurs” of the Social Sciences. Here we found ripened scientists who listened to us with such great interest and attention.” Young Lucas Francisco da Silva Jr said that he was “impressed by the idea, given that society is in need of change and of the concept of agapic action in its social interactions, to make the world better.” Saulo Miranda was struck by “the presence of so many young people who are interested and prepared to examine such topics in their academic studies.” Simone Alves made an interesting comment; “I’ve acquired some important theoretic academic baggage here, but the basic thing has really been the experience of love, of that agapic action that I found in the relationships among the people here.”
“This seminar will leave as a legacy,” says seminar coordinator Lucas Galindo, “an openness of mind, heart and spirit in favour of dialogue that is fruitful and allows one to hope that agapic action (love) will have a strong effect on social life.”
August 2012
He reminds us of the reward or the punishment that awaits us after this life because he loves us. He knows, as one Father of the Church put it, that at times fear of punishment is more effective than a beautiful promise.
His aim is that we may live forever with God. This is all that matters. It is the goal for which we have been called into existence. Only with him, in fact, will we reach our complete self-fulfilment, the full realization of all our aspirations.
If we disown him now, when we reach the next life we will find ourselves cut off from him forever. By referring to the final judgment, he emphasizes the tremendous importance and seriousness of the decision we make here. Our eternity is at stake
“Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven.”
How can we best take advantage of this warning and live Jesus’ word? Let us decide to declare ourselves for him before others with simplicity and openness, overcoming our need for mere human respect. Let’s get out of a state of mediocrity and compromise that empties our lives.
We have been called to bear witness to Christ: through us he wants to reach all people with his message of peace, justice and love.
We can bear witness to him wherever we are, whether in our family, at work, among friends, at school or in the many different circumstances of our lives. We can do it first of all through our behavior, through the integrity of our lives, through our purity, through our detachment from money, through our participation in the joys and sufferings of others.
We can express it through our mutual love, our unity, so that the peace and joy promised by Jesus to those united to him will fill our soul even now and overflow onto others.
Perhaps someone will ask us why we act the way we do, why we are so serene in a world that is so fraught with tension. We will then answer with humility and sincerity using those words that the Holy Spirit will suggest to us. In this way we will bear witness to Christ with our words, too, on the level of ideas. Then perhaps many of those who are searching for him will find him.
At other times we may be misunderstood, contradicted, made the object of derision, hatred and persecution. Jesus alerted us to this possibility: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (Jn. 15:20).
We are still on the right path, however, so let’s go ahead to bear witness to him with courage even in the midst of trials, even at the cost of our lives. The reward that awaits us is well worth it; it is heaven, where Jesus whom we love will declare himself for us in front of his Father for all eternity.
Chiara Lubich
Originally published in July 1984
Entrepreneurs Increase: Courses in Chile and Brazil
Cultural Research. These elements are always found in the Economy of Communion (EoC): “When the youth aren’t engaged, there’s nothing, because without them, there’s no enthusiasm, creativity, optimism, gratuity. The youths need to be the protagonists.” These are the words of economist Luigino Bruni, international coordinator of the EoC, and one of the faculty members at the course inRecife. The “EoC schools” have been going on for years in various parts of the world, and they are multiplying:Italy,France,Argentina,Brazil, in 2011 a Pan-African school inKenyaand an upcoming one inPortugal. This week it wasChileandBrazil. A new road was opened inSantiago. There was enthusiasm over the consolidation of a project inRecife. But the DNA is this idealism and action. “At the conclusion of this school, we now imagine that it marks the moment for beginning of EoC businesses in Chile,” affirms Prof. Benedetto Gui, representing the Sophia University Institute, partner school of the EoC in Chile, the first in the land of the Andes. Students at the Silva Henriquez Catholic University of Santiago of Chileand from the University Santisima Conception of Conception were hearing of the EoC for the first time as they gathered on 5-8 July 2012. The initial scepticism gave way to participation in the project, as the youths fromRecife express: “We invite you to live an experience in which values play an important role. This economy isn’t something foolish. It is something beautiful that can be put into practice, something that breaks traditional business schemes and consumerism.”
At the course in Recife they spoke of a “new springtime” for the EoC, where most of the 200 attendees were young people. And there were novelties: the creation of a free consulting group for the planning of new EoC businesses; the opening of a carpentry shop, for the formation of young people at risk, which is to be added on to the three EoC businesses already present at Mariapolis Ginetta in Igarassu, in the metropolitan area ofRecife. The theme of “business parks” of the Economy of Communion was the object of discussion for an entire day at the course, also fighting poverty which is an objective of the EoC. “What makes the EoC different from other economic proposals,” explains one young person, “is that the business person places himself on the same level as the worker, who is his brother and sister. He gives up many things. It’s a radical decision. I foresee a wide horizon ahead of us, hard work, but this isn’t a problem for me.” What Bruni called economy by vocation. (more…)
The Genfest at home
The Genfest enters your home: an explosion of colours, music and life going against the current will overwhelm every corner of the Earth, invading the internet with Twitter, mail, photos, extending the Arena in real time! Participate in the Genfest by launching yourself in the Budapest Arena through live streaming!
Here is the programme!
- Friday 31 August:
7:30 pm Hungarian welcome and an international concert in the arena (transmitted via internet)
- Saturday 1 September:
10:30 am – 12:30 pm programme in the arena (transmitted via internet)
3:30 – 5:00 pm programme in the arena (transmitted via internet)
9:00 – 10:00 pm (approximately) flashmob on the Chain bridge (we’ll communicate via cell phones/mobiles, twitter, facebook, and maybe there will also be live streaming!!!!)
- 2 September:
10:30 am:
In the square of the Basilica of Saint Stephen, in the city centre, a Catholic Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Péter Erdő, archbishop of Budapest.
At the same time, in the various Christian churches present in the city, there will be liturgical celebrations for members of the respective churches.
For the participants of other faiths and of non-religious convictions, there will be moments of sharing for them, which will take place in a place near the basilica.
12 noon: final greeting and time-out for peace
(from 10:00 am to 12.30 pm, it will be transmitted by the Hungarian TV via satellite)
The Genfest throughout the world: organize yourself with your friends and bring the Genfest to your city! Join in the flashmob on the Chain bridge and send us your photos, pictures and mail from the bridge in your city! It will be a worldwide flashmob that will cry out to the world that universal brotherhood is already underway and begins from your home!
For further information write to: communication@genfest.org
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The Genfest 2012 project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. |
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Teens for Unity On The Line: Identikit
A series of images giving an idea of the 5 unforgettable days that 250 teens from Italy, Greece, Turky, Spain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Bolivia and Australia spent together in Loppiano (9-13 July 2012).
Mamma, are we poor?
Like many families they were having economic problems. Back wages and finally layoffs at work. With three young children the future seemed threatening. What were they to do? Measuring their own needs against those of others could seem foolish, but in this case it turned out to be successful. The facts recounted by a mother prove it.
“The children’s baptisms. A simple feast. No wasting money. No candy favours or restaurant. We welcomed relatives and friends back to the house. We’ve been given much and we wanted to share it with those who are less fortunate, giving away a part of the money we received in gifts to a project for newborns in Africa.” But the recent baptism coincided with her husband being laid off at work. They could really have used that 250 € that was given. But they decided to send it to the project anyway.
“Later we learned that the people caring for those newborns had been praying and asking God for precisely that amount of money at a time when there was no money for milk, and that it would cover the cost for up to three months. Not only were we not lacking anything, but I was in need of a coat and a suit and was given a coat and quite an elegant suit, jacket and two dressees, as well as three times as much money as we had given away.”
“There is a constant exchange of clothing going on among several families, especially children’s clothing, a sort of barter operation. When these big packages arrive, we have a little rite: We open the packages together and then we organize the “fashion show”. Nice clothes, very new shoes; my children never had such a filled closet. One day my oldest told her friend about this “fashion show”, and the friend a bit disgusted replied to her: “But how can you be so happy about putting on clothes that other people have already worn? Are you poor?”
Naturally my daughter arrived home disillusioned and sad. We sat down and talked, and we agreed that when she needed something in particular we would buy it, but that it is also beautiful to give and then to recieve what you have, not because we don’t have the money to buy it but because it is good to spend on the poor children, like the ones we adopted in Africa. Not only was my daughter more serene, but she went to bring her piggy-bank and gave me all the money she had inside so that I could send it to her little brother in Pakistan. Then she asked me: “Mamma, are we poor?” I explained to her that actually, during that period we were having some economic difficulties because her father was out of work and because of some back payments I was owed. It turned into an opportunity for explaining to her that we may have been lacking in some things, but still had a house, a car, good food, and especially our love for each other, our many friends – and we were happy. And then she exclaimed: “Then we’re rich, Mamma!”
(F. & M. – Italy)
Together For Europe, in Portugal
This was the message that was launched by representatives from Movements and Communities of Europe, as well as leading figures from the institutional and political landscape who met in Brussels on 12 May 2012. One hundred and fifty European cities were linked up via satellite or internet with the Square Meeting in Brussels for the Together For Europe event, which gathered together 300 Movements and Communities from different Churches. There were many stories of reciprocity shared by those present. There were experiences of incarnating the Gospel with social consequences. Zoom on Portugal for knowing the country better, will welcome the visit of Focolare president Maria Voce and co-president Giancarlo Faletti on 15-22 August 2012. Five Lusitanian cities are involved in the events that are being presented as an occasion for knowing one another better and building relationships of mutual respect and friendship. 
The story from the communities. Lisbon. A hundred and ten youths spread out through the city, to all the tourist spots, distributing flyers with the 7Yeas and descriptions of projects for building a more inclusive Europe, which were being done by seven Movements: Schonstatt, Emmanuel, Cursilhos, Equipas de Nossa Senhora, Verbum Dei, Metanoia and Focolare. In the afternoon there was an event in the Auditorium with 350 people for an open dialogue with several personalities who gave presentations and testimonies on the progress made so far. Porto. There were year-long preparations, in which working together became a true experience of fraternity. The testimony offered by the Bishop of Port, Bishop Clemente, was quite touching: “The best guarantee for the future is this Christian inspiration, in which we, together with other men and women, can be active protagonists.” 
Coimbra. Families as active builders of European unity. Two hundred and fifty people of all ages, from small children to grandparents take part in a walk from Parque Verde to the University, in conclusion to the transmission from Brussels. The characteristic highlight of this year’s edition was the award ceremony for the “At the Roots of Christian Europe” Competition that was geared toward schools and included music, photography, poetry, filming and drawing. Funchal, Madeira Island. This was the first time that the city of Funchal took part in the “Together For Europe” event. Nine Catholic Movements were involved: ACI, ACR, Cursilhos, Equipas de Nossa Senhora, Equipas Jovens de Nossa Senhora, Focolare, RnS, Schonstatt, and Verbum Dei. There was a link-up with Brussels from the University of Madeira and, in a side event, a collection of food staples for the Diocesan’s Caritas campaign “Funchal, a city that supports”. 
Faro, nell’Algarve. Faro (Algarve). Located in the southernmost zone of Portugal, Faro has a large multi-ethnic presence and known for its lack of religious practice. The course taken by the six Movements – Cursilhos, RnS, Fraternal Gatherings Movement, Boy Scouts, Liga de Acao Missionaria and Focolare – had a particular highlight. A hundred and fifty people attended the moment of prayer between Catholics and Orthodox. On 12 May there was a boy’s relay race and a food bank and, at the opening events, some words from Bishop Quintas. An invitation to “Together For Europe” at one of the most popular national TV programmes “Pros e Contras” to take part in a debate entitled, “What are civic organizations doing for the crisis in Portugal?”
The Gen Saver!
How the game is played
Throw a pebble on the page:
- if it touches a lifesaver you earn the number of points shown above the life vest, following the directions written inside the buoy
- if it touches the large colourful fish 100 points are given to the player with the least number of points
- the player whose pebble lands closest to the lighthouse earns 1000 points
Every time we give, we will find happiness again, it will be like having a lifesaver that makes us float with joy!
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