Crisis & Hope. The Finance Commission of Rome

Jul 20, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

The great financial crisis that exploded in 2008 had very serious consequences for businesses, families, and associations. Though there does not seem to be a way out of the situation, this crisis also rattles consciences and along with the desperation and waiting, it also moves thinking and creates new ways.

One group of workers from the world of finance and banking in Rome have discovered this for themelves. Daria, Domenico, Paola, Rosapina, Sandro, Gabriele and Assunta have been friends for a long time. They have also been working together professionally for some time but, most especially, they have been belieiving in the values of the Gospel and they think that they can be lived out in banks, post offices, credit and insurance agencies, in their fields of work. With the outbreak of the crisis they have each received requests for help to renegotiate a loan, to read a bank document, to make a more sensible investment.

In time, the group gave itself a name, “Finance Commission” and linked itself to the New Humanity Movementof the Focolare in Rome. Their meetings became an occasion for sharing their experiences and for discussing the problems and the crises of conscience that each day every member of the group was asked to face. It gave them a new sense of professional commitment in a work environment that is difficult at times.

One significant fruit of this dialogue has been the “Risparmio & Finanza” (Saving & Finance) Newsletter whose scope is precisely that of providing “professional” assistance to people in the area of economy and finance.

Each newsletter gives an overview of the current financial situation without a lot of technical language and offers a discussion of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church; it announces what is new on the markets, as well as news relating to financial products. “But first of all, the newsletter is an occasion for dialogue through an email address. This work has made us realize that sharing problems and decisions is critical because in our work we often lose the sense of the “common good” because it is subsituted by what we are expected to do.”

The wide diffusion of the magazine through the internet and social networks has allowed us to extend this experience and share it with other business operators and professionals in several regions of Italy: “We’re creating a network community from which there emerges ever more strongly the need to establish a relationship of truth, where communion becomes a concrete work method, which accepts the other with all of his problems and situations. And this enables us to find the most appropriate solutions.”

One example is what Giovanna and Carlo share,whoare from Rome: “Thanks to this online community we were able to help several people in need, with several small no-interest loans that were always repaid with punctuality. The nice thing is that when we were in need, we were offered the sum of money that we needed. It was a matter of 20,000 Euros that we were able to repay with tranquility and it saved us all the time and bureaucracyof doing it through a bank. We can assure you, in our own small way, that the “Give and there will be gifts for you” that the Gospel speaks of is really true and that Providence never makes you wait.”

Evangelizing Ourselves and Others

Jul 17, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

“In 1978 I left for the mission in the Congo. It was a hard moment for me. Africa, the rainforest, a new world to be discovered and loved.” This is how Sr Valeria of the Sisters of St Joseph Cuneo begins her story. She was speaking at the “Charisms for the New Evangelization” Convention being held in Turin on 17 March 2012. Sr. Valeria’s story is intertwined with that of Sr Nicoletta from the same Order. Arriving in Lolo – a small diocese on the outskirts of the rainforest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Sr Nicoletta “discovered a place inhabited by simple folk” mostly fishermen and farmers.

On the other side of the river Sr Valeria had already begun a series of meetings for a group of New Families of the Focolare. Their “serenity, involvement and unity” fascinated Sr Nicoletta and she decided to invite Sr Valeria and the families to Lolo, so that they could share their experiences there as well.

“Then I felt I was also being strongly invited to live the Ideal of unity,” Sr Nicoletta recounts. Families in Lolo began to meet, and the monthly commentary on the Word of Life was translated into the local language. It’s power was stronger than that of many of the ancestral traditions that divide the life of men and women.

Despite the difficulty, the two sisters were also able to find time to meet and share with each other recounting the fruits of living the Gospel. The Bishop as well as their General Superior encouraged them to take things forward. In 1988 the first Mariapolis was held in Lolo with over a hundred people.

Today, even though the mission has been closed down, the Bishop has notified us that many of those families are now very actively involved in the diocese.

Since a few months the two sisters have been living together in the same community in Italy: “We help each other in living the Ideal of unity as it sheds new light on the charism of our founder, Jean Pierre Medaille. All the way back in 1650 he invited us to live the communion with God, among ourselves, and with each neighbour; a communion founded on the Word of Jesus: ‘That all may be one’ (Jn. 17:21).

“This is the New Evangelization:” explains Sr Valeria, “loving and allowing our life to say to everyone: ‘God loves you!’” She also shared about a group of teenagers from the middle school who meet once a month to move along a Christian journey together based on the Word of God. They are brought ahead on this journey by Sr Valeria, another Sister of St Joseph, a Daughter of Our Lady Help of Christians, and a Cottolengo Sister. “There’s much communion among us – she concludes – and the beauty of each charism is brought out.”

Alzheimer’s Cafè

Jul 14, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

«Some time ago I accepted a proposal, which was also a challenge: to become a caregiver to my aunt suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Caregiver This is how I started to take care of her daily, by helping her with the meals and with the cleaning, besides offering her company.

Being near to her I have lived and am living with pain the slow and progressive deterioration of her identity. I accept her relying on me. In moments of lucidity, she asks me to be the one to understand each of her losses. By going through the sufferings, I experienced personally the void the solitude, the fears and the inhibitions. I have also discovered “the emptiness” of the institutions. In this situation I was strengthened by thinking of Jesus Crucified and Forsaken, who continued to love also in the suffering.

Three years ago, I asked the geriatrician, a specialist in Alzheimer and who takes care of my aunt, to deal with this disease together with me in a different way. Through this comparison patient-doctor-doctor-family, the desire to create an Association was born and which will be able to give a collective response to this suffering. At first there were only two of us: the doctor and myself. Then I contacted some friends and ten of them joined. Se we legally constituted an association: “New Humanity – “The house of dreams”. In fact there is the need of dreaming, but if one dreams on his own it is easy that the dream remains a dream. If you are in many, learning to share the sufferings and the needs, then that dream becomes a reality.

The purpose of the Association is to keep alive the attention on the problem of dementia and how to deal with it: Alzheimer is a disease, which we live as a real challenge to accept and to win, with the collaboration of all the protagonists: patients, families, society and Institutions.

Our first task is a course for volunteers and the relatives of the patients with the title: “The Alzheimer’s disease and the other dementias”. Free contribution is given by physicians, psychologists, and hospital volunteers during the meetings and in which thirty persons participate,

At the end of the course, the idea of opening and “Alzheimer’s Café” was born: we wanted to live as a family together with the patients, not in the solitude of the four walls of the house, but in a coffee shop, a symbol of social life! Thus we accompanied them in the bar to share a hot chocolate or a fruit juice. Currently we accompany 35, of whom 20 are suffering from Alzheimer. One of them had not been out of the house for three years and another one did not want to participate because he did not have shoes, he accepted when we told him that he could even come in his slippers.

The news of this initiative soon spread in the city. Shortly after, even the Bishop wanted to pay us a visit to share the festive evening of our first anniversary of the Association, with us. He was interested in our activities even the Department of Social Services, who for a long time had sent us a car with a driver to transport our friends to meet at the Alzheimer’s Café.

In the summer of 2009, we had another idea. In the nearby town of Foggia there is an Institute for promoting horseracing. So we organized a visit to the old coach house and the stables. We have asked the parents of the patients to bring their wedding albums. The time was in fact the one in which coaches were used even for weddings. It was a success and the joy was great. We wanted to repeat the experience with a novelty the following year: we adopted some donkeys who were destined to be put to sleep, to stimulate the relational capabilities of the patients.

Our Association also organizes annual courses for the training of health professionals and support to the patient’s relatives. These courses are increasingly improving and are an occasion to spread the Ideal. Currently we are in 70, between patients and volunteers and we are self-supporting.

Amongst the therapeutic proposals, then we take advantage of aromatherapy and music-therapy. The whole town knows about our experience and like us many are available if we need help. We even thought of offering our service to the town community by giving a training course to foreign caregivers entitled: “Taking care of lost memory.

Read more: Association “The house of dreams” – San Severo (Foggia) – Italy

www.lacasadeisogni.biz

A Mariapolis in Macedonia

Jul 12, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

On 28 June 2012 – 1 July 2012 a Mariapolis was held in the hills that overlook Kicevo, halfway between the capital city of Skopje and the historic city of Ohrid in the south. The guests were welcomed at a unique hotel, a centre for meetings of artists, which was decorated with different types of artwork both inside and in the beautiful outdoor park.

There were some eighty people, especially from the Republic of Macedonia, but also from Kosovo and Serbia. The majority were Catholic and Orthodox family groups, and many Muslims.  

Their four days together were devoted to the Word of God and the dialogue among religions. Dialogue was the keyword at this Mariapolis, as was underscored by Bishop Anton Cirimotic from Skopje, and by Cristina Lee and Roberto Catalano from the Focolare Movement’s Centre for Interreligious Dialogue. The dialogue that the Focolare promotes is founded on its spirituality and the centrality of love. And this finds an immediate echo in other religions and cultures, thanks to the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would like done to you.” This often requires one to take the first step towards others, without expecting any return, an up to the point of giving one’s life.

One day was dedicated especially to the family, with a series of experiences that highlighted the challenges of a globalized world as well as local ones. The family here still holds on to significant values. Together with his wife, Professor Aziz Shehu shared what the spirit of communion signified for him as an academic. Aziz is the father of Le Perle Kindergarten, and he told of how this pilot experiment had made a great contribution to Macedonian society at a time when it was so necessary to work together for true integration.   

Another day was devoted to the youth: a presentation by the young people, followed by spontaneous impressions that were shared on the spot and sometimes quite personal. The young people were accompanied by a choir that formed the background to the whole presentation. There was a dance expressing authentic relationships despite diversity, which had been the experience of the Mariapolis.

One young Catholic woman confessed that she had undergone deep change during the days of the Mariapolis. Her Christianity was they type that allowed her to exclude Muslims, atheists and even Orthodox. But at the Mariapolis she had discovered that persons of different faiths and cultures could live together and that each person with his faith helps to bring some light. “I understood that God sends the sunlight for everyone. Not only for us Christians, and so I should act accordingly.”

Many of the other impressions made the same point: a small girl from Kosovo who came with her mother and brother, only spoke Albanian. She told the audience that she didn’t think she was going to have an experience like this and to be accepted as she had been accepted. A Muslim ministry official said that he was deeply struck by how dialogue was actually lived and now was leaving the Mariapolis convinced that this is the only solution to the problems in Macedonia.

An Orthodox woman artist said she felt perfectly at home in this environment. So too for a young teenager girl who shared how she had discovered that openness to tohers helps us not only to be better Muslims or Christians, but also true men and women.

The departure of the eighty people who attended this summer gathering in Kicevo leaves one with the certainty: This experience has given them the sense that unity between diverse types of people is possible. The left with an increased awareness of being actors in building dialogue in their land.

Prescribing medicines isn’t enough

Jul 11, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

«I’m a doctor and I work in a state hospital. One day the police brought us a man with two bullets in his leg. This was the type of patient that no one in the clinic wants to deal with: a thief caught in the act.

He had been seriously wounded during a clash with the police who had brought him to us.

He was motionless on the bed with no one to assist him; not even his relatives showed up, according to the custom when a person has been thieving.

In most hospitals in Africa it’s the job of the relatives to bring food for the patients, to bathe and dress them, to help them with their daily material needs. In the absence of relatives the patient is totally abandoned. The medical staff is only obliged to provide medical care.

Moreover, the other patients and the medical personnel were not very happy to have this evildoer around. And so he was finding it diffult to find something to eat and, confined immobile on his bed, the smell around him soon became unbreable.

I complained to the Commissioner of Police that they had dumped such a person on us without anyone to help him. “That’s the job of the medical personnel!” was his rude reply. It came to my mind that in other countries caring for the patient does involve the healthcare staff. I explained to my colleagues that perhaps we should take an interest in this patient, but was unable to convince them.

I tried to make the other patients aware that they needed to accept this patient, though I wasn’t very successfully to tell the truth.

At one point I asked myself: “I would exhort others? And myself?” What am I doing for him? Yes, I prescribe medications for him to take. I give him a place on the ward. But this is only what I’m obliged to do. Now I have to do what I would ask others to do, to go beyond the minimum requirement.”

I removed him from his bed and bathed him. “Oh! I haven’t bathed in two months!” he joyfully exclaimed. “How good to feel the rays of the sun on my skin!” Then I paid one of the hospital workers to wash the patient’s clothes. Together with another colleague we changed his mattrass, since the one he had been using was in horrible condition. Finally, I left a bit of money for the patient himself, in case he was needing something.

This gesture of mine bore fruit. The workers, for example, began to take away the rubbish from his bedside. It raised compassion in the other patients also, who now share their food with him.

After a while he was able to leave the hospital. He was cheerful and in high spirits. He told me that he was going to give up thieving. He even followed my advice to go first to the police in order to accept the judgement of the court. He felt that he wanted to accept responsibility for his actions.”

Dr. H.L. (Burundi)

The Philippines: Between Mountain Villages

Jul 9, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

“I’m an elementary school teacher. Often, I’m sent to teach in mountain villages. There are terrorist groups living in these remote areas, who call themselves liberators of the people. It happened that I ran into some of these terrorist squads, but I managed to escape by finding a hiding place in some rocks.

But one time, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hide myself quickly enough. They caught me and brought me back to their camp. For days on end I was put through lengthy interrogations.

Despite the fear, I tried to answer as repectfully and truthfully. One of them in particular tried to indoctirnate me with their ideology. He wanted to convince me to espouse their cause. When he asked me what I thought, I didn’t want to comment. On the following day he repeated his speech. I objected that it was necessary to begin by changing ourselves if we wanted to transform the power structures that seem unjust to us.

‘What should change is the love we have for each other,’ I tried to explain. Perhaps my words touched something inside him, perhaps they made him recall things that he had once believed. The fact remains that after this interrogation they let me go.

Ever since that day I continued to pray for that man and his companions. Recently, to my surprise, I recognized him on television, as the news was given of a terrorist who had handed over his weapons to the military and left the terrorist group.”

Nelda, from the Philippines.

From: “Una buona notizia”, Ed. Città Nuova, Rome, pp. 56, 57.

A book that offers a positive contribution to the New Evangelization, in view of the October Synod. It contains 94 brief stories from around the world.

Studying And Living: Fraternity Amidst Conflict

Jun 30, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

I am hurt by the injustice of it all and, since my culture encourages people to respond to violence with violence, I also found this violence within me and would justify it when I saw it in others.

I’ve come to study in Italy at the Sophia University Institute. I had so many questions. I’m experiencing something new here, something powerful. I took the political direction for my course of study, and I began to enter new surroundings. I discovered, for example, that the principle of fraternity can be a true and proper political category alongside freedom and equality. I’ve understood that fraternity is a choice, an answer that repairs injustice. Here you don’t only study, great importance  is given to experience, and the more you live the more you understand what you are studying.

A few months back, I was enormously shocked by the news that Israel and Palestine had agreed on a prisoner exchange. I had seen it on the Internet that there would be 1 against 1027. It was incredible news! Many of these Palestinians had been in prison for thirty years. I would have desired so much to home in order to celebrate this moment with family and friends. I was really moved. I spoke at length with my fellow students about what was happening in my land and they, who are of different nationalities, feasted with me!

A few of us went to church and prayed for the freed prisoners and their families. But as we left the church one student said to me: “. . . I pray also for that Israelian prisoner.” I didn’t agree. How could she say such a thing! Exchanging one prisoner for a thousand seemed deeply unjust.

When I returned home, I took up my books again but was unable to study. I was furious. A thousand thoughts. . . then a question: what is the sense of a theoretical study of fraternity, if I don’t try to experience it? Maybe I should also pray for this one prisoner and his family. . . I had to overcome many things within me, it was difficult, it cost me much, but in the end I managed to really do it with my heart.

Now, months later I still feel so much gratitude towards those who shared that moment with me, the students and professors at SUI. I’m not merely studying fraternity, but now I’m experiencing it both in my relationship with them and within myself. Samar Bandak – Jordan”.

(Source: official website of Sophia University Institute: http://www.iu-sophia.org )

The Genfest takes shape

Jun 26, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

For the first time, a year after the start of the work, 90 people in all, between authors, producers, choreographers, costume designers, technicians, artistic directors and organizing members, put together the single pieces developed by each section for Genfest 2012.

Now the programme is clear, foreseeing three days that will include a variety of activities. From a concert to the sharing of projects and experiences, from moments of prayer to a Flashmob, to the launching of the United World Project, all focused on the title of the event: “Let’s bridge!” – to activities that will actively engage those who attend in building bridges of fraternity among people.   

The 12,000 seats available are practically sold out. Even if the majority of the participants come from Europe, they are also coming from the most varied places: for example, 2 young people are coming from Madagascar and 180 from the USA and Canada, 160 from Korea, 180 from Argentina and over 250 from the Middle East. The cost for those coming from countries with more economic means has been increased to permit the lowering of costs for those who are coming from countries with less means.

(http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/)

* FRIDAY, 31 AUGUST – Welcome to the 12,000 participants on the large square of the Sports Arena with stands, artistic performances and a sports area. The evening programme will take place inside the Arena with a concert:

• 21 original songs, chosen out of 70 songs composed by young people the world over for the competition promoted by Genfest 2012;
•  6 bands, coming from Argentina, Burundi, Costa Rica, Jordan, Italy and Portugal, will play their own songs;
•  1 band formed for the occasion, with members from Austria, Brazil, Korea, Philippines, Italy and Slovakia, will play for the interpreters of the other songs.
•  On a stage, in the middle of the audience, a DJ will alternate with the programme, with new remixes of the songs from the 9 previous Genfests.

* SATURDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER:

• During the day, at the Arena, the different phases of constructing a bridge will be followed: “Why?” “Take the Measurements,” “Dig into the Ground,” “Build Solid Pillars,” “Reach the Other Side,” “Many Ways” .
• Then the United World Project will be launched, a wide-ranging project in three phases,  with the final goal to promote the creation of a worldwide Permanent Observatory on universal brotherhood and to have it be recognized by the UN.
• In the evening, there will be a march to the Danube River, which will conclude with a Flashmob on the Chain Bridge; the actors will be the 12,000 participants.

* SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER – 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.

There will be 3 hosts of the Genfest, according to the 3 official languages: a Hungarian young man, an Italian young man and a Kenyan English-speaking young woman. All the talks will be given in one’s own language, thanks to simultaneous translation via radio in 27 languages.

See you in Budapest! Will you be there?

Info: www.genfest.org – Area Stampa

_________________________________________________________________________

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.

Places and Trends. Yves’ Choice.

Jun 22, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

“I’m an African studying in Northern Italy. Some time ago I read an article in a magazine in which the author spoke of a “night” that had fallen over Western culture, causing it to lose authentic Christian values. To tell the truth, I didn’t really understand the meaning of the text until something happened that opened my eyes. It was a Saturday afternoon. Some guys who live nearby invited me to to go out with them for an evening together. They wanted to do something different. There were six or seven of us. At first we went to a dance at a local place. At first it was fun, they told me that the music was in my blood and that I really knew how to dance. But I soon noticed that the people around me were dancing without any respect for themselves or for others. They weren’t dancing for the sheer enjoyment of it, but in order to taunt each other with mixed messages. I heard the subtle voice within me telling me to go against the current by dancing with dignity and with love that was sincere. A few hours later, my friends wanted to go to another place. I went along, after all, they were my friends, and I accepted their proposal. We reached a place and went in. Without any time to realize where I was, surrounded by such loud music, psychedelic lights and an acrid odour that was filling my nose, I found myself feeling quite shocked. This wasn’t a normal disco, there were young women there prostituting themselves. I felt disappointed and angry. Without saying a word I turned around and walked out. One of my friends followed me. He insulted me, calling me backward. I didn’t answer him. A few moments later another friend came up to me, not to insult me but to agree with me. Finally another friend slipped out of the place and he also agreed with me. Without saying a word about my Christian beliefs or that I believe in God, they all saw and understood. A few months passed. I never thought about the incident again. One day one of the guys came to me and apologized, telling me that he didn’t want to go to places like that. This experience helped me to more radically understand why it is necessary to risk and say “no” to certain things.” This story of Yves from Cameroon, is one of 94 stories published in “Good News” recently published in Italian by Citta Nuova, as a positive contribution to the New Evangelization. It has a preface written by Maria Voce. The protagonists of these stories are young people, families, professionals, workers, directors, consecrated religious and priests who face daily challenges with the help of the Gospel. A people that believes, lives, moves and engages others, with due respect for the beliefs and experience of all, with the awareness that every human being brings something good to the great human family. Do you have some good news to share?

Ireland: Living a Spirituality of Communion Today

Jun 19, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

In her concluding remarks at an open meeting held by the Focolare in the Royal Dublin Society on 16 June, Maria Voce stated: “The powerful experience lived in Ireland with this Eucharistic Congress is an extraordinary grace that can give the Church of Ireland a new start, and we are all to be the protagonists.” Just before, she and Giancarlo Faletti had met with teenagers who were concluding their Run4Unity that was held in several schools. “What is your favourite mathematical symbol?” the youngsters asked. “The equal sign,” Maria Voce responded, “because in a family, sisters and brothers are all equal.” Giancarlo Faletti preferred the “plus sign”. “Every person is a gift of God, there’s a plan of God on each one of you, and this is what is totally precious.”

The program continued in the afternoon with an  open meeting for 300 people – the seating capacity of the hall, and others stood outside – with many new faces among the Irish focolarini. There were practical applications of the spirituality of communion in the family, at school, and in Church environments. Everything interspersed with pieces of music. Each musical selection was followed by a moment of dialogue on how to put the Gospel into practice and respond to the many challenges of today.

“Is it easier or more difficult to love your enemy when you become old?” on little girl asked. “I think it’s easier,” responded Maria Voce, “because God has placed a small flame in our heart, and the flame grows each time we love. Old people are much helped when they see a child who loves.”

When the word was given to some families, the discussion turned towards the economic crisis: “How can we live in a Christian way, faced with the economic problems of so many people?” Maria Voce recalled the experience of Chiara Lubich at the beginnings of the Focolare in Trent, surrounded by the misery left by the war. By setting in motion love among people, they reached the point of sharing even their material goods, or their personal needs. When they lived the words of the Gospel, ‘Ask and you will receive,’ they asked and received. The problem of one was the problem of all. God intervened through this mutual love: “And this guarantees that work and material wellbeing don’t become a myth, but a  means for loving more and for growing and increasing the communion among all.”

The final round concerned the Church and the relationship with the Church authority. When asked how to live unity with the ecclesiastical authority even in face of the abuse scandal and cover-up, Giancarlo Faletti recalled that it is the authority of Jesus that must grow in every Christian. “It was important for me recently to meet many people who have been marked by this difficult situation in the Church. I met people who felt like they had been robbed of something sacred, who had invested their entire lives in the Church, and now feel betrayed. It’s like investing all your money in one bank, and this bank fails.” “For me this is a call to live the Gospel more strongly,” he continued, “(and) this enables dialogue, a climate of love, which also permits those who carry out an episcopal ministry, to serve the Church, to continue to express a word and to guide us on the way. The moral authority of Jesus lived in His word belongs to all.” Faletti pointed out the example of Saint Catherine of Siena, who lived during hard times for the Church, and had direct contact with the Pope, strongly and decisively urging him to return. But she was able to do this only because she had made room for God in her life”.

By Maria Chiara De Lorenzo

Paraguay: Todo Brillo

Jun 16, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

In 1993,” says Maria Elena Gonzales del Paraguay, “when I first heard Chiara Lubich speaking about the Economy of Communion (EoC), I was left feeling very surprised by the fact that she was inviting businesses to divide their profits into three parts: for the needy, for the development of the business and for the formation of young people in the values of the project based on a “culture of giving” as opposed to a “culture of possessing”. It was like a tidal wave that overturned my life.

At the time I was working in a bank where the profits – as we all know – ended up in the hands of shareholders. I began to think about my managerial qualities for I would one day have to give an account to God and to my neighbor. And so I decided to join the EoC project as a way for me to say “yes” to God, placing my abilities at the service of those around me.

I spoke about it with my children who were still teenagers at the time, and they encouraged me to go ahead with the idea. I didn’t know where to begin, but the answer wasn’t long in coming. In fact, I saw many cleaning workers around, who were being badly paid, badly advised and unappreciated. . . I decided to start a small business with some of them, a cleaning business and we found our first client who is still with us today.

Our starting budget was not prepared well and we didn’t have enough money to pay all the workers. Not to lose the trust of our clients, when I finished my work at the end of the day I would put on my working clothes and finish the cleaning jobs myself. In spite of the great effort it required, I felt I was on the right path.

The Economy of Communion places the human person at the centre according to the principle of doing to others what you would like to be done to yourself, striving – as Chiara Lubich would say – so that love may prevail over personal creativity and the finished product. Of course, there’s nothing magical about all this, it requires daily effort, striving for quality in every aspect: administrative, operative, relational, from the choice of employees who are disposed to adhere to this solidarity vision of economy, and so on.

Throughout all these years, despite countless difficulties linked to social situations and the economy in our country, every worker contributed their little share and we were able to overcome every moment of crisis. It was particularly in “stormy” moments that we felt most supported by God, our silent “partner” as we like to call Him, the “senior company shareholder”, who showed us, step by step, which path to take, through that interior voice that is always easy to hear when one is willing to listen.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work. My daughter also began in Todo Brillo and has now been hired by the bank,” recounts Benita S., who has been working in the business for twelve years.

“I feel important here – concludes M. Lopez. I’ve had many problems and I’ve always found support from the business and so much understanding. I continue to have problems, but now I can handle them. I feel like I’ve grown, I see and appreciate the fruits of my work. I feel part of this large family, which is Todo Brillo” .

Currently the business “Todo Brillo” has 600 employees and we work in all the major cities of Paraguay.”

A New Phase in Ecumenism: Stories from Ireland

Jun 13, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

Kevin McKeague and David McConkey tell their story at a conference

Kevin McKeague and David McConkey are educators who have been working together on several projects for years. The interesting thing is that Professor McKeague is the headmaster of a Catholic school, and Professor McConkey is the headmaster of a Protestant school. And this is not quite the same if you live in Belfast, in Northern Ireland. For years, these two communities were separated, in distinct areas of the city, and during the years of unrest everyone was living in terror. “I heard Chiara Lubich say that the least developed principle of the French Revolution was that of fraternity. When I met David, I saw it as an opportunity to give an injection of love to our community,” says Kevin McKeague. And he proved it with facts. In 2009 when there was a period of peace, thanks to the political accords, the Protestant school was suddenly attacked. No one was injured, but there was much damage. Students from the Catholic school were the first to respond. With help from the young people from the Focolare Movement they put together a concert entitled, “All for all”. Next they held a peaceful demonstration at Stormont, Northern Ireland’s Parliament Building, along with a mixed encounter with the Parliament’s Education Commission. “Following this witness of unity,” David McConkey recounts, “the Minister of Education who for economic reasons had decided not to finance the reconstruction of the school, finally decided to rebuild it immediately: the only school in Northern Ireland to receive funds that year.”

Fr Brendan Leahy

The listening audience was the group of people that had joined the workshop on ecumenism on the day dedicated to this topic at the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin (10-17 June 2012). But what kind of ecumenism are we talking about? Fr Brendan Leahy, Systematic Theology scholar at St Patrick’s College of Dublin and member of the Irish Inter-church Meeting, reminded everyone at the opening of the event: “There are many ways to enter in to the “space” of ecumenism,” he affirmed, recalling the Greek etymology of the term “oikumene” which has the same roots as “house”. “Ecumenism is building a ‘house’ together, in the one Church of Christ”. Ecumenical dialogue as life comes first, therefore. Beginning from the treasures that Christians have in common: the Scriptures, the Creed, the writings of the Fathers of the Church, the Gifts of the Spirit, the witness of living the Gospel. An ecumenism based above all on considering the other as “part of me”, as John Paul II had written in 2001, and on allowing Christ himself to live among those that are united in his name (Mt 18:20).

Many examples of ecumenical life were given. Besides the two principals from Northern Ireland who shared their touching witness, the Reverend Bronwen Carling, a woman priest from the Church of England also spoke. She is now living in Tipperary, Ireland where she animates a group of people from different Christian denominations who meet regularly for deep sharing on the Holy Scriptures, what in the Focolare Movement is known as a Word of Life Group: “By trying to live Christ’s Gospel together, we discovered that we weren’t so different. We discovered the importance of listening to each other. This is what has enabled me to take part in such a “Catholic” event today.”  

What began as a sharing among individuals, transformed into a sharing among groups and, several people from other Movements and Communities from different Churches in Belfast, shared their experience at “Together for Europe”. These included such groups as the Community of Corrymeela, Sword of the Spirit, the L’Arche Community and the Focolare Movement. “We had the feeling that this event that united more than 250 Christian movements and communities from Europe, had taken place just for Northern Ireland.” And so it was that already in 2007 a first meeting was held in the Church of Ireland with 120 participants from 7 different Churches. It was a light of hope ignited in Belfast. And from there the path continued, until last 12 May, when 4000 teens gathered precisely in Stormont. They came from schools of the Republic of Ireland and from Northern Ireland to take part in a worldwide relay race, “Run4Unity” as sign of hope and peace.

The four communities worked together in preparing for this event, involving schools, getting to know each other also through weekend activities amid Corrymeela’s splendid scenery, one community whose scope is precisely ecumenism, reconciliation and peace. “Our sharing deepened more and more, and there was a strong sense of communion. To the point that our togetherness seemed to echo the Last Supper, the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion,” recounts Reverend David Godfrey, who was accompanied by his wife Heather. Thomas Kerr, from the Arch Community underscored one special moment he had lived that weekend: the gesture of washing one another’s feet. This, together with the final pact to “love one another as Jesus had loved us” sealed the journey that had been taken up by the different Movements.

Moving on: After this evening at the Eucharistic Congress: “it becomes clearer that ecumenism is not for specialists, but we can live it, through the dialogue of life, wherever we may be.” These are words of Renate Komorek from the Focolare and moderated the workshop, which echo what had been lived earlier in the Arena, where Prior of Taize Brother Alois, and President of the Focolare Maria Voce, has presented on “Communion in one Baptism” “The conclusions and positions advance also among theologians are not enough, if the people are not prepared,” Maria Voce had affirmed, going on to say: “United by this spirituality, we want to be leaven among all the Churches and to contribute to accelerating their path towards the full communion, also visible, also Eucharistic Communion.”

by Maria Chiara De Lorenzo

Clare of Assisi and Chiara Lubich: Two Charisms in Communion

Jun 12, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

On a sunny 9 June the “Clare of Assisi and Chiara Lubich Meeting: two charisms in communion” occured, It was an event that was meant to to add something to the Clarion Year which recalls the 8th centenary of Clare of Assisi’s conversioin and consecration to God. And it was also meant to attest to the timeliness of Clare’s appeal still today. Hence the desire to deepen the relationship, or better the communion between the charism of Clare of Assisi and Chiara Lubich.

There was a very interesting panel discussion introduced by Mayor Claudio Ricci and the Archbishop of Assisi, Domenico Sorrentino, a variation on a theme in many voices. Professor P. Peter Maranesi, OFM Cap offered a passionate reflection on “Francis and Clare: One Charism, Two Faces,” dealing with its prophetic and revolutionary dimensions that challenged the customs of an era. He also underscored the disruptive innovation of categories such as “mercy” and “sharing” that emerged from Francis’ “conversion”.

He spoke of the spiritual journey of Clare who discovered her identity in the “countenance” of Francis: “… without that face I would have no face. I found God through him. “Theirs was a prophetic opening that led medieval society to discover the person as a way to reach God. The same thing but in different times, has been accomplished through Chiara Lubich. This was discussed by Professor Sister Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A. in her “Charisms reflected in history and in society”. Charisms are not only “freely-given graces”, but they are “eyes through which those who live in disadvantage see something beautiful and great.” Then these charisms become “bulldozers that open new frontiers, pushing back the stakes” of research and involvement.

Moreover, charisms are means for the emergence of the feminine. So it was for these two Clares: Clare of Assisi was able to receive approval for her “Highest Poverty” by the Holy See. Clare (Chiara) of Trent introduced into the Church the great novelty that the president of an ecclesial movement, containing all the vocations, will always be a woman. The accomplishments of Chiara Lubich’s charism are exquisitely secular (like the Economy of Communion), showing how much the charisms of the past and present are like the flywheels, that gradually lead us to a society that is more “humane and beautiful”.

Asthetics and beauty are inherent to the action of a charism. “Chiara of Assisi and Chiara Lubich: the Communion between Two Charisms as a Source of Light” was the theme of the presentation given by Lucia Abignente from the Focolare Movement.  The relationship between these two great woman is contained in what Chiara Lubich envisioned in the charisms: a variety of flowers in the garden of the Church. Their unfolding, in unison and in response to the needs of the times, is a progressive flowering of the Word: “Christ unfolded” in time and in space.

“Holy unity and highest poverty” is the charism belonging to the first; “Unity, which has as its key the exclusive love for Jesus Forsaken”, belongs to the second.

The profound communion among the charisms of the two Clares summons us to live with faithfulness their message today.

“Clare”, “claritas”, “clarify”, words that in the jargon coined by Chiara Lubich are an invitation to inject the light of the spiritual realm into the temporal realm. This was the belief which led, during the second act, the dedication of a large street next to the Superior Basilica of St. Francis, to Chiara Lubich, in order to remind us to “widen our vision”, as the moderator of the round table discussion reminded everyone. In giving his blessing to “Largo Chiara Lubich” Archbishop Sorrentino wished that it should be a “a reminder, a call to people everywhere to consider the streets of the world as places of encounter and dialogue with all.” And Mayor Ricci saw in this “the cobblestones of Assisi, cradle of Franciscanism, coated now in another charism whose style is being family, with economic and social implications.

The day concluded at Metastasio Theatre with the Musical “Clare of God” by Carlo Tedeschi, a lively journey of music, rhythm and dance based on the life of Clare of Assisi and performed by a dance company of young people who were living witnesses of what they performed.

By Victoria Gomez

Maria Voce shares her testimony on the effects of living the Word

Jun 11, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

Participants in the 50 th International Eucharistic Congress (C) CSC Media

There has been much expectation surrounding these days in Ireland, but probably no one expected the first day of the congress to have such an ecumenical tone. Yet, it has been one of the most interesting aspects of this 50th International Eucharistic Congress (Dublin, 10-17 June 2012) that has been promoted by the Catholic Church, but also – becuase of its main theme of communion – involves and openness to dialogue with all the baptized.

Already during preceeding days, during the Theological Symposium (Maynooth, 6-9 June 2012), ecumenical dialogue had entered the field in a similar context. Leaders of several Churches, including Metropolitan Emmanual (Adamakis) from France; President of the European Conferences of Churches; and Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, spoke precisely about the ecumenical vision of the relationship between  Eucharist and ecclesical communion.

 The presentation of Maria Voce one of the speakers at the event,  was framed within this same context. Her presentation was proceeded by that of Brother Alois, the Prior of Taize who, recalling the story of Brother Roger Schutz, founder of the Community, underscored how “the passion that fills their hearts” is precisely the call to work without ceasing for “the unity of the Body of Christ”. He was followed by Reverend Jackson, Anglican Archbishop of Dublin, with the Liturgy of Water and Word, recalling our common baptism.

Maria Voce’s presentation on “Communion in one baptism” were testimonial in style, beginning from her own experience of the Gospel, which began when she was a young student in Law School. She had been fascinated by other young people who had found their fulfillment in living the Words of Jesus. This experience had begun with Chiara Lubich in 1943, and had drawn in millions of others from around the world in the rediscovery of those fascinating words. Citing Luther, Maria Voce recalled: “We must be certain that our soul can do without anything, except the Word of God.” The Word transformed into life, giving witness.

Maria Voce experienced it directly during the ten years she spent in Turkey, a land with few external signs of Christianity, but one where she was able to “experience the beauty of the family that Jesus came to create on earth.” In the 70 years of the Focolare she saw how this typically communitarian and ecumenical spirituality joins those who live it in such a way that they feel like on Christian people. It is a dialogue of life: “Positions and even the most advanced agreements among theologians are not enough, if the people are left unprepared,” Maria Voce affirmed, and she even dared to say: “United by this spirituality, we would like to be leaven among all the Churches and to contribute to accelerating their journey toward the full and visible communion, including Eucharistic Communion”.

Cardinal Ouellet, who had been sent by Benedict XVI as his representative at the Congress, also affirmed that the future of the Church passes through her witness of unity and her dialogue with all humanity. Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin and President of the Congress offered a word to the Irish youths, adding that “the Church in Ireland is on a path of renewal.”

The ecumenical day (11 June 2012) continued with a series of workshops. Among them was: “The dialogue of life in a new phase of ecumenism”. It was conducted by Renate Komorek from the Focolare Movement, and included various guests: Rev. Bronwen Carling, Anglican; two presidents from Northern Ireland, from a Protestant school and from a Catholic school, who have had a long history of collaboration; members of the Arche Community of Corrymeela and people from the Charismatic Community.

Wandering among the stands at the Royal Dublin Society, among 20,000 visitors who have been here over these days, brings to mind the “strength” that keeps us together; to use the words of Maria Voce: “Living in mutual love, which permits the presence of Jesus among two or more Christians who are united in his name. Jesus between a Catholic and an Anglican, between an Armenian and a Lutheran. . . This is how the Church, in a certain sense, passes beyond the confines of church buildings and, in the full communion among all, draws closer to the humanity of today in order to respond to the needs and the questions with answers that only the Gospel can give”.

By our correspondent Maria Chiara De Lorenzo

For more on the Eucharistic Congress see:

The genetic code of communion da Città Nuova online

Report of Maria Voce’s testimony at IEC2012, Monday June 11, 2012 |  Download pdf

Video interview with Maria Voce

Ireland – Unity Beyond Everything

Jun 10, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide

A land rich in history with deep Christian roots that go all the way back to the earliest centuries  after Christ (432), the island was evangelized through the efforts of St. Patrick. Known for its ancient Celtic traditions and its national and traditional song, with U2 and Riverdance, its great literary stars including four Nobel Prize winners, Ireland has also had some sorrowful pages among the leaves of its recent history:the drama of the independence’s war, the violence between Catholics and Protestants and the still open wounds of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

The words of Benedict XVI in the Letter to the Catholics of Ireland  (March 2010) continue to resound: “As you face the challenges of this moment, I ask you to remember the “rock from which you were cut” (Is. 51:1). It is in this context, within this process of purification and rebirth of the Irish Church that the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (10-17 June 2012) is set.

Ireland’s soil has been irrigated with the Movement’s spirituality of unity since 1969, when a woman, Margaret Neylon, on her way back from England spread to those around her the new way of life she had just discovered: based on the love taught by Jesus. She and her son Eddie, who suffered from muscular distrophy, became the soul of the first Focolare community that led to the opening of the first focolare in Ireland in 1971, followed by a second in 1976. Currently there are five focolares in the country and a formation centre has been begun at Mariapolis “Lieta”. This Mariapolis was named after an Argentine focolarina, Lieta Betono, who lovingly devoted her life to bringing the ideal of unity among many people from Ireland, until 2002 when she died of a serious illness.

Many stories intertwine as you examine the history of the Focolare’s growth in Ireland: among them is the story of Sister Anna who decided to bring a group of Catholic and Protestant youths to an international gathering in 1973, the Genfest. Among them was Sally McAllister, who would become the first Irish focolarina. Originally from Northern Ireland, she had decided to join the armed struggle.

But then she discovered the biggest revolution in the Gospel, which gave meaning even to the pain of division and of the violent fratricides of the world.

Today the Focolare Movement is spread at various levels and among persons of all callings. It works in collaboration with other Catholic movements, with members of other Churches and with members of the Sikh community. Since 1991 when the Economy of Communion was born, several businesses have joined the project, for example: Paul Connoly Optomerist, Nettrafic Telecommunications and the Language and Leisure International, English language school.

The Teens for Unity have carried out many projects in favor of peace and hope in the cities: a video documentary in which they present their projects to “colour” the dark corners of the cities; the worldwide baton race, ‘Run4Unity’ which was held in Belfast on 12 June 2012 in front of the Northern Ireland’s Parliament building. Together with projects promoting the Golden Rule through sport in many schools throughout the country, the cube of love for children and the Run4Unity have become part of the official programme in preparation for the Eucharistic Congress.

Chiara Lubich visited Ireland in 2004 when she met Sean Brady, the Primate of all Ireland, various bishops including Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin; Mary McAleese who was then President of the Republic; Bertie Ahern, who was then Taosieach (Prime Minister) and President of the European Union, and the Focolare community. On that occasion Chiara said: “We need to foster unity, unity among Christians who give witness to the faith in a different way today (. . . ) and I believe that this living witness of authentic family life and of the life of faith is one of the most important things that we have to offer for the future of our Land.”

In 2012 Maria Voce visit Ireland together with Co-President Faletti for the International Eucharistic Congress (10-17 June). There she has been asked to present her own Christian experience. Several of the Congress events are  presented by the Focolare: the “Chiara Luce Youth Section”, workshops on the Economy of Communion and the Church as Communion, the open meeting, an Ecumenical gathering in the Anglican Cathedral of St Ann in Belfast on 14 June, which will give a sense of ecumenical dialogue to the entire Congress.

To see Focolare contacts in Ireland visit Focolare Worldwide!