United World Week is currently underway. During this event, young people from around world want to show that peace, solidarity and unity are attainable goals. We publish the story told by Simon, a Paralympics swimming champion, as recounted by his father, a journalist, at the Italian Genfest. He issues the challenge to always fulfil our dreams.
In the midst of many initiatives in the field of social responsibility occurring during the 23rd United World Week (1st – 10th May), organised by the young people of the Focolare, we review the inspiration behind it put to them by Chiara Lubich at the 1985 Genfest.
3700 young people from around the country, along with international representatives from other continents came together in the Focolare town of Loppiano, Italy, for the annual Genfest.
While the Italian national Genfest phase is now underway in preparation for the international Genfest in Manila, we are publishing the memoirs of Umberto Giannettoni, a direct witness to the first youth festival held in Loppiano in1971.
The much awaited meeting for young people at Loppiano will begin on May 1st, along with with United World Week, which, this year, is dedicated to “Generation Zero Hunger”. The week’s events will conclude with the annual worldwide Run4Unity Relay Race.
Loppiano and Nomadelfia are awaiting the visit of Pope Francis this coming 10 May. The community of Catholic volunteers founded by Fr. Zeno Saltini, with which the Focolare shares the vision of fraternity and unity of the human family, visited the Focolare Centre in Rocca di Papa.
An excursion by a group of adults and young people in a land which calls to mind the Holy Land. It’s one of many fund-raising initiatives organised in order to participate in the Genfest to be held in Manila.
This year’s Genfest, which will take place in Manila, Philippines, brings to mind its eighth edition held in 1995. Michelle Sopala, from USA, was among 12 thousand young people gathered at the Palaeur in Rome.
In preparation for the Synod of the Youth, there will be a pre-synod meeting in Rome from 19 -24 March with about 300 youths from every part of the world. Among them will also be Stella Marilene Nishimwe (Burundi) and Nelson Vanegas (El Salvador) of the Focolare Movement.
Genfest 2018: World Trade Center, Manila, Philippines, July 6-8
