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A rebirth for Mariapolis Peace in the Philippines

A rebirth for Mariapolis Peace in the Philippines

Jan 13, 2021 | Non categorizzato

One year after the eruption of the Taal volcano in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, reciprocal love is the foundation for rebuilding both places and relationships in the Focolare community. “Life continues at Mariapolis Peace,” says Ting Nolasco, focolarina at the Movement’s centre in Tagaytay, Philippines, explaining how the Focolare community there lives today, one year after the eruption of the Taal volcano on January 12. “We are living reciprocal love among us with an intensity we’ve never experienced before, perhaps because of the great sufferings that we have had to face together. These have made our relationships deeper and simpler, our love and care for each other more tangible and concrete, and our smiles and willingness to stop and listen to each other more spontaneous and natural.” The volcano’s destruction, which saw the surrounding area covered in ash and mud for kilometres, with displaced populations without food, water or electricity, did not prevent the rebirth of both places and communities. Rather, these were renewed by the need to rebuild structures and relationships together. “Seeing the outpouring of generosity from people from all over the world donating aid,” Ting continues, “and seeing the convoy of trucks arriving in the morning from faraway places to help people in the affected areas was overwhelming.” The focolarini, young people, religious and families who live at Mariapolis Pace were forced to evacuate, and some lodged in a house that was later transformed into a logistics centre for the distribution of aid. Once the emergency was over, they dedicated themselves to rebuilding, which was an opportunity to see the generosity of many people at work: families, students, people who had received support from the centres offered to help, even risking their own safety, “as an expression of gratitude and reciprocity for what they had received”. Now, even the surrounding area seems reborn. “Our surroundings, once grey and seemingly dead, have now exploded into a riot of colour and an abundance of green,” says Ting. “Flowers, trees, fruit and vegetables are growing more vigorously thanks to the natural fertilizer that the falling ash mixed into the soil has brought. “It’s a resurrection experience.” A few months after the eruption, however, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic brought the community to its knees once again, yet without stopping its journey of rebirth. “There was a drive to live for others,” says Ting, “especially for those who are engaged on the front lines. The children prepared postcards to show their love and appreciation. “With the help of our families, we made 2,500 visors to distribute to hospitals, health centres, the Red Cross, municipalities and schools. “In return, donations came in, which covered expenses and allowed us to purchase additional relief goods and distribute money to families. In all of these cases we felt the hand of God at work. “God allowed us to face these two apparent calamities so that we could experience his immense love and see the goodness in people’s hearts.”

Claudia Di Lorenzi

“He never disappoints us”

Jan 11, 2021 | Non categorizzato

In Italy and in many parts of the world the TV Movie “Chiara Lubich, love conquers all” was very well received. What struck so many was the coherence and faithfulness with which Chiara followed her own path. Here is a text in which she herself reveals the core from which everything started. [The letter to the Hebrews] says: “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus” (Heb 12:1-2). Life is often something of an obstacle course. There are trials and the most varied sufferings. That is why we must keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, or rather on Jesus Forsaken. And this time I would like to say a word especially to those people – and I have some in mind – who are undergoing spiritual or physical trials and tell them: “Look to Jesus Forsaken and you will find the answer.” Indeed, Jesus Forsaken is a model of how to overcome trials. One aspect of Jesus Forsaken, and perhaps one of the most painful, is that of someone who, after having imbued their entire spiritual life with faith in God’s love, finds themselves feeling abandoned by Him due to some circumstances. Even here, even in this situation, they must look to Jesus Forsaken. Didn’t Jesus say that everyone would abandon him, but the Father would always be with him? Yet in his forsakenness the very opposite occurs. The Father seems to forsake him. It is terrible, it is tragic. And what does He do? He utters a loud cry, but then he abandons himself to the Father. This is what we must do in these circumstances. These are times, I think, that are worth very much before God. Jesus, with his forsakenness, completed Redemption. By uniting ours with His, we will accomplish our purification and help who knows how many people. Jesus Forsaken is truly the solution to every problem. We will never be disappointed by Him, but rather find in Him the explanation of all our trials. So take courage! Keep your gaze fixed on Him to overcome every obstacle in the race of our lives.

Chiara Lubich

(From a telephone conference call, Mollens (CH), 14th August 1986)  

The Economy of Francesco

Jan 9, 2021 | Non categorizzato

We hear from young people who were part of the event – which is now an international movement – the Economy of Francesco. https://vimeo.com/490823909

Forgiveness as the basis for unity

Jan 4, 2021 | Non categorizzato

The start of the year is a good opportunity to begin again in interpersonal relationships. In the following text Chiara Lubich proposes a radical strategy: a complete amnesty in our hearts to let Jesus dwell there and create cells of unity in the world. What I want to focus on today is unity. Unity must triumph – unity with God and unity among all people. The way to achieve this is to love everyone with that merciful love which characterized the Focolare at its beginnings, when we decided that each morning and all through the day we would see every person we met – at home, at school, at work, everywhere – as a new person, brand new, deliberately not remembering any of their short­comings or faults, but covering everything over with love. That is exactly how this month’s Word of Life invites us to love: to forgive seventy times seven times; to reach out to everyone we meet with a complete “amnesty,” with universal forgiveness in our hearts; and then to “make ourselves one” with them in everything except sin and evil. Why should we do this? To obtain the same wonderful results the Apostle Paul was seeking when he said: “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. … I have become all things to all people“. (1 Cor. 9:19-22). If we “make ourselves one” with our neighbour, as Paul recommends, which will be easier when we have this forgiving attitude, we will be able to pass our Ideal on to others. And once this has been accomplished we can have Jesus present among us, the risen Jesus who promised to remain with us forever in his Church, and who allows us to almost see and hear him when he is in our midst. This must be our main work: to live in such a way that Jesus may live among us – Jesus, who is victorious over the world. For if we are one, many will be one and the world will someday be able to witness unity. …

Chiara Lubich

(Taken from a telephone conference call, Rocca di Papa, 15th October 1981)  

TV Movie on Chiara Lubich:  how to watch it outside Italy

Jan 3, 2021 | Non categorizzato

Exceptionally, the film “Chiara Lubich – L’amore vince tutto” can be seen on RaiPlay anywhere in the world at the same time as the film is broadcast. Thanks to Rai and Eliseo Multimedia, in an exceptional way, the film “Chiara Lubich – l’Amore vince tutto” can be seen on RaiPlay (usable on any device, after registration) anywhere in the world at the same time as the film is broadcast (Sunday 3 January from 21:25) and on demand for the next 48 hours. So far, the following schedule has been confirmed: Monday 4 January: New York 07:30 PM Los Angeles 04:30 PM B. Aires e S. Paolo 09:30 PM Tuesday 5 January: New Delhi  01:35 PM Bangkok  03:05 PM Sydney 07:05 PM Tokyo 05:05 PM Manila 04:05 PM Jakarta 03:05 PM Wednesday 6 January: Peking 09:20 PM Bangkok 08:00 PM New Delhi  06:50 PM Tokyo 10:20 PM Manila 09:20 PM Jakarta 08:20 PM Thursday 7 January: Los Angeles 08:00 PM Friday 8 January: Johannesburg 09:35 PM All times are local. For Europe: The film will be openly available (not encrypted) on Raiuno via satellite across Europe (not geo-blocked). This is the list of European countries which receive Rai Uno (not single operators). ALBANIA, ARMENIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, BOSNIA , BULGARIA, CROATIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, ESTONIA, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, GEORGIA, GREECE, HUNGARY, ICELAND, KOSOVO, LITHUANIA, LUXEMBURG, MACEDONIA, MALTA, MOLDAVIA, MONACO, MONTENEGRO, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, RUSSIA & CIS, ROMANIA, SERBIA, SLOVAKIA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND  

Focolari Communications Office

 

“Caring” heroes

“Caring” heroes

Jan 1, 2021 | Non categorizzato

Four stories of those who “dare to care” every day: because there is no need to wait for World Peace Day to build a more united world. “May we never yield to the temptation to disregard others, especially those in greatest need, and to look the other way; instead, may we strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, “to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another” The concluding words of Pope Francis’ message for January 1st 2021, the 54th World Day of Peace. .These words are a revolutionary programme for the lives of people and peoples for 2021 in which infinite hopes for peace are placed; a peace which goes from the fight against poverty, to a greater dignity of the person, to working to resolve all forms of conflict, and lastly (but not least) the safeguarding of the planet. We start this year 2021 with stories we have entitled ‘caring heroes ‘: people like us, or those who live next door to us, who have not missed out on precious opportunities to love and be close to others in the most diverse areas. The operating ground for caring is vast: it is as big as the world. Teens for Unity (Mexico) – “We wanted to carry out a project that had both a social and environmental impact, and we came up with the idea of collecting plastic cups to donate to a foundation that takes care of people suffering from cancer, to help them with the proceeds of our collection. In this way we have helped to respect the environment by recycling plastic and helping these people undergoing treatment. To date we have made 23 deliveries with a total of one million cups collected in less than a year! In addition to this we have collected recyclable waste and, with the proceeds, delivered food to the hospital, clothes to people with limited resources and helped nursing homes. We also planted trees in some parts of the city. Sandra Mugnaioni (Italy), a retired teacher – At the Copernico High School in Prato, she has been carrying out a number of projects for about 20 years that make students ‘active citizens’. One of the most interesting projects is that of Peer Educators: the students choose a theme, in agreement with the teachers who support the project, which is different each year: they research the theme, explore the various facets of the chosen theme, then decide what to do. Last year the theme was what is called ‘ecomafias'”. At the end of the course, 700 students from the city’s high schools performed a play, Gardugña, (the Spanish for Our Thing). “In this way the students gain an awareness and the skills to become peer educators, even to those most in difficulty. Then these peer educators, once they graduate, continue to look for opportunities to do good and they do not let their teachers off the hook, so much so that the experience, in high schools and elsewhere, is shared and built on by an increasingly larger group of teachers”. Rolando (Guatemala) – Rolando is the owner of Spokes Cafe . Two years ago, he visited a shelter near his neighbourhood and met Madelyn, to whom he offered work as a barista.  He explains: “We try to make our café a springboard for young people like Madelyn, teaching them a trade, so as to break that vicious circle and prepare them to face the world with dignity. Often, they decide to go on to university, and this fills us with joy”. Madelyn is 21 years old and went to the shelter with her sister. Those who live there are mostly young victims of abuse and exploitation. Some have even been part of a human trafficking scheme. Although the young women are safe in this shelter, many suffer from the stigma attached to living in such a place, and rarely manage to find decent work. Madelyn says that she has always found it difficult to communicate with people: “I still have a long way to go but I am learning little by little. Working here I have discovered a sense of responsibility and that behind every customer there is a person. This job has marked a turning point in my life”. Maria Liza (Philippines), Chief Prosecutor, Tacloban – The Social Development Centre for Children (SDCC) is a shelter for children located in the northern part of Tacloban City, the island that was severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Today, the centre is in dire straits due to lack of funding. Maria Liza recounts:  “So, we went to our mayor and proposed, to start raising funds to cope with the lack of food and medicine, but we also took on board reporting instances of child abuse. But the most important achievement was that we managed to bring the centre to the attention of the public. If we hadn’t gone in there, no one would have admitted to what their living conditions were like.  This has created a kind of public ‘concern’ so that the city administration can really take care of these children”.

Stefania Tanesini

For the full stories visit the United World Project webpage