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Sep 3, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
(from left)Fr P. Foresi, Igino Giordani, Canon Bernard Pawley & Mrs Pawley, Chiara Lubich, Eli Folonari
In the 60s, when Beatlemania was taking Liverpool by storm, the Focolare Movement’s spirituality of unity was making inroads right there. It came about through Fr Green, a Benedictine monk, who asked Chiara Lubich and Fr Pasquale Foresi that the Focolare open a house in Liverpool. The Archbishop of Westminster, Msgr John Heenan, advised them to start off from this city where Catholics had reached 40% of the population, while in the rest of Great Britain they averaged 10%. “If you succeed in Liverpool, where it’s much easier, you’ll succeed everywhere else,” said the Archbishop.
And so it was that Mari Ponticaccia and Maria Egger became the first two Focolare members to establish themselves in England in November 1963. They rented a tiny apartment which was spartan in its furnishings. In fact, the only pieces of furniture were their suitcases! But little by little, things started to arrive and eventually they moved into a proper house. From its humble beginnings in Liverpool, the Focolare Movement spread to the rest of Great Britain.
However, even prior to this, contact had been made from overseas. Some of Chiara’s first companions, such as Eli Folonari, Valeria Ronchetti and Doriana Zamboni, had already been making trips to the UK from Belgium, Holland and France in order to meet with people who had got to know the Focolare. In 1961, by means of these personal relationships, the first group of people from England participated in a Mariapolis in Belgium. And turning over the photo-album, one notices that way back in 1959, at the Mariapolis of Fiera di Primierio (in the Italian Dolomites), there was already an English participant.
Once the Focolare was eventually established in Liverpool, Mari Ponticaccia found work as a teacher of French whilst Maria Egger worked in an old people’s home. In 1965, in that small apartment composed of just two rooms, Chiara Lubich came to visit. She was invited to speak in the Anglican Cathedral of Liverpool to 50 priests in an era when ecumenism was practically non-existent. The event raised eyebrows even more so because it was promoted by a woman.
The adventure that had begun had ecumenical characteristics and the Focolare community, right from the beginnings, presented itself composed of people belonging to different churches. They were small communities built on authentic personal relationships, true friendships, mutual love, and there were meetings and annual Mariapolis gatherings which gave them formation in the new spirituality.
In 1967, a Focolare centre was opened in the heart of London because a house was made available for a year. The Movement developed steadily, and by the late 70s there were Focolare centres established also in Scotland – in Glasgow in 1976 and in Edinburgh in 1982.
Chiara Lubich with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
Chiara Lubich visited England eight times and she always regarded this country as having a leading role in ecumenical dialogue.
In 1977, quite unexpectedly, Chiara was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion at the Guildhall in London. There, Chiara shared her experience in front of various religious dignitaries and she had the profound sensation that all those present, even those of other faiths, were one family. The Focolare Movement subsequently embarked on promoting interreligious dialogue.
Chiara Lubich’s last trip to England was in 2004. She was welcomed warmly by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. During every visit to England, in fact, she had the opportunity to meet with the Primate of the Church of England and to dialogue personally with ecumenical leaders and leaders of other faiths. This commitment to building universal brotherhood was also extended to the political arena. During her visit in 2004, Chiara met with a group of parliamentarians from both Houses.
Today, the Focolare Movement in the United Kingdom numbers 7,000 adherents, of which 1,700 belong to churches other than the Catholic Church.
Within this historical context we would like to mention Maria Voce’s first visit to England currently taking place. Maria Voce is the current President of the Focolare Movement and her program includes meeting with the local Focolare community in London on 3 September, and an “Open Day” with ecumenical and religious leaders.
By our correspondent Aurelio Molè
See also
Focolare Information Service
From our archives – photos of Chiara Lubich in Great Britain
Below: Arrival of Maria Voce in London airport on 1 September 2011
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Aug 27, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
“…We had to wait for the appearance of three stars in the sky, the sign that Saturday had ended. Only then could we start. The appointment was in front of a large hotel in the centre of Buenos Aires, where some of the Jewish friends who came over from the United States, Europe and Israel were staying. After three hours travelling, we arrived at the Mariapoli Lia, in deep night.
“The first day of the Jewish-Christian symposium. The participants are around eighty from various parts of the world. The atmosphere is very high, with reciprocal listening, and friendly relationships. Several of us have met in previous symposiums, especially that of Jerusalem. The chosen theme is that of identity and dialogue, two realities that enter into each other: identity is the fruit of relationship. There are very profound presentations from the philosophical, anthropological, and psychological point of view, with names that are remembered: Martin Buber, Emmanuel Lévinas, Victor Frankl, Paul Ricoeur…”
“… I realise increasingly that interreligious dialogue cannot be improvised; preparation and refineness of soul are required. It is participation in the work of mediation done by Jesus between heaven and earth, and between the divisions of human beings. So as to fill every divergence and bring unity, he became that “nothing” of love that allowed unification without there being anymore any diaphragm.
“… If night in the Argentine Pampas is silent, with stars that shine mutely, the day is full of the singing of a thousand birds. Nature seems to participate in the feast among us in this symposium. We become aware of an increase compared to the previous three: a profound knowledge, more trust, and a love which is more sincere. It seems a dream. Today, next to the usual conferences, the dialogue meetings for different ambiance: the world of Justice, of communication, of education…
“… the strong affirmation of one’s identity can generate conflict. Only the reciprocal “non-being” in front of the other, as expression of love, makes “being” the other and makes one find oneself fully in the most profound religious identity: being love. Another intense day. It seems almost superfluous to speak of dialogue amongst us, so profound is the unity achieved. When the Rabbis speak one feels the wisdom of centuries.
“… I delivered my talk: the Crucified, Icon of Extreme Love. The greatest love, Jesus said, is that when one gives one’s life for one’s friends (Jn 15, 13). Thanks to this extreme love, every person becomes his friend. He gives his life also for those who are his enemies. It is the new view required to build universal brotherhood: see all as brothers and sisters for whom one is ready to give one’s life: see a friend in every person one contacts. Chiara Lubich has translated this extreme love of Jesus with a simple and demanding expression: “make oneself one” with the other, or rather understand him deeply, enter in his world, share his sentiments. It is the preamble for every dialogue. Chiara has applied this teaching of hers in the field of interreligious dialogue, placing herself in the disposition of listening to members of different religions, so as to understand them from within their culture.
“…the symposium was concluded at the seat of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, at Buenos Aires. There were present Jewish and Christian civil and religious dignitaries. It was thus highly represented. We part feeling called in person to accomplish a work of mediation between tendencies, positions and experiences that are sometimes contrasting in between themselves. The way- we have understood in these days – is to be only a presence of love, without any pretences, or judgements, being of service, until we become that “nothingness of love” that allows us to come together.”
From the diary of Fr Fabio Ciardi (OMI)
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Aug 23, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
Around one hundred persons belonging to different Jewish communities in Argentina and the Focolare Movement, met, on the 15th August, to celebrate the XV Day of Peace, as is done every year in this month, at Mariapolis Lia, the little town of the Focolare in Argentina, situated 250 kms from Buenos Aires, deep in the Pampas. The initiative has the aim of strengthening the reciprocal commitment for Jewish–Christian dialogue in this country. Every year they share reflections, and most of all experiences, as well as the most awaited moment of all – meeting around the olive tree brought from Israel and planted in the citadel around 15 years ago. This tree has become the symbol of the friendship and commitment to building peace together, Jews and Christians. In a brief summary of the path followed in these years, the thrust given by Chiara Lubich was recalled when she spoke in 1998 at the seat of the International Jewish Institute B’nai B’rith. On that occasion Chiara underlined the common points existing in the spirituality of the Focolari and in the Jewish tradition. 
Concurrently, around 180 youths participated in three round tables about tolerance, peace and freedom, and subsequently communicated to all the participants the conclusions and the commitments that were undertaken. Many messages of adherence were received for the occasion, amongst which that of encouragement and applause for the initiative from the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who highlighted the work of the focolari in interreligious dialogue in all the world. This edition of the Day for Peace was characterised by its internationality, by the presence of the participants of the IV Jewish–Christian symposium, programmed for the 22nd-25th August, also at Cittadella Lia. In fact, participants were present from Israel, Switzerland, Italy, United States, Messico, Perù,Uruguay, apart from those who came from different cities in Argentina.
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Aug 21, 2011 | Non categorizzato
Marilen Holzhauser, one of the first focolarine explained: “For us every object we have has to have a reason or purpose”. From the start Chiara Lubich and the first followers in her adventure have had their own style in living, dressing and home furnishing which was simple and moderate. They understood that beauty revealed in the mystery of a flower that consumes only what it needs and in this way its real beauty. Beauty becomes the splendour of the Truth. The harmony reflected in simplicity makes us discover ‘the beauty which will save the world’ and that world will save beauty. In the Letter to Diogneto, referring to the first Christians we read: ‘Living in the Greek and Barbarian cities, as we each have, and adapting ourselves in each place to the customs of dressing, eating and so on, we give witness to an admirable and undoubtedly paradoxical way of living.’
Dina Figueiredo, "Eucharist" - St Clare Hospital, Trent, 2004
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Aug 8, 2011 | Focolare Worldwide
One hundred and ten priests from twenty African nations met in Nairobi from 27 July to 4 August for a “Panafrican Conference of Focolare Priests”. The meeting was entitled: “In God’s Family the Church: A Way for Priests Today”. Through discussions in workshops and plenary sessions, they explored some of the challenges facing the Church on the African continent. What united these priests from so many ethnic backgrounds at a small Focolare town near to Nairobi in Kenya? They wished to contribute to the rediscovery and actualisation of God’s design for this continent, in the light of the evangelical lifestyle proposed by the Focolare Movement, which has been present in Africa for nearly forty years. The president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce, welcomed the priests in a written message at the opening of the conference: “I heartily wish that the presence of the Risen Lord in your midst may be the Light for understanding how Jesus desires priests to be in this day and age, and how they can serve the Church in our most beloved Africa, which has so much to offer to the whole world.” The conference gave living expression to the potential of the African clergy today. It also underscored the average age of the attendants – thirty-five – many of whom are already in positions of responsibility. 
In an Africa which some of the participants described as the “Africa of crises”, the idea of the family, which is so central to African social and ecclesial culture, took on new intensity and light when viewed from the perspective of mutual love and evangelical unity. The discovery of Jesus Crucified and Forsaken as the key to reconciliation and peace, led them not to feel that the challenge was a utopia, but to enter into the wounds and to become protagonists on the road of renewal and of communion which have the measureless love of Christ as their standard. The meeting was based on listening and sharing, with moments for reflecting and examining in study groups. And there were plenary meetings for sharing and discovering ways to incarnate their vision in a culturally liveable proposal for the Church in Africa. The meeting was interspersed with real life experiences that were “offered,” as one attendant wrote, “not in the form of scientific accounts, but in a family style which was nevertheless not disorganized, and had much to offer for meditation.” 
This renewed in them their calling to rediscover themselves as men of God who are called to evangelize Africa with the weapons of the spirit, of love and of unity. Also through their ability to go against the current, as the Nunzio Apostolico of Kenya, Paul Alain Lebeaupin stated during his presentation. The Archbishop of Mombasa, Boniface Lele, invited the participants to a great openness and mutual assistance among priests so that they may be coherent servants among the Family of God.” The nations represented at the conference stretched from the Atlantic to Indian Oceans and embraced the austral and central regions of Africa: Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Madagascar. Compiled by the Secretariat for Priests of the Focolare Movement
