A citadel surrounded by green
35 kilometers from Paris stands the newly begun citadel of the Focolare in France. It is surrounded by greenery, in the Parco d’ Arny (Bruyeres-le-Chatel). The population is quite diverse in this area, made up of just over a million people. It is a rural setting, endowed with high tech industry,
The cathedral, mosque, and large pagoda, give an idea of the religious diversity of population. Bishop Dubost, the local bishop, met Chiara Lubich personally during the Synod in Rome; and now he was warmly welcoming Maria Voce and Giancarlo Faletti. For the bishop, the citadel is a “chance” for the diocese, and he hopes that these “spaces of life” that testify to the love of God increase and multiply. He underscored the cultural importance of having the Nouvelle Cité Publishers in the region.
The day continued with a visit to the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is the spiritual center of the capital.
In the evening there was a meeting for young people in a very familial atmosphere. Maria and Giancarlo were flooded with questions: How do you live in a society where time is such a rare thing? Maria Voce responded: “Have the freedom of someone who knows that she is loved by God and act accordingly.” And, after stressing the importance of having respect for everyone, whatever their beliefs, she encouraged the youths to live in the freedom of the children of God who push ahead and dare to take risks, and are open to whatever the future may hold.
On the next day, May 12, they visited every corner of the citadel. After visiting the town of Bruyeres-le-Chatel where they admired the magnificent 11th century Church of St Didier, Maria Voce and Giancarlo began their tour with a cup of hot coffee at the “guardian’s house” where there are two flats which have been renovated to accommodate guests. From there they went on to the “main house” which houses the women’s focolare and a family that moved to the new citadel.
They continued their tour visiting the premises of Nouvelle Cité Publisheres: typography, editing, local administration and shipping. Maria Voce speaks French very well and so the meeting with the employees was very spontaneous and direct.
At the conclusion of the visit, the president of the Focolare strongly affirmed her certainty: The Focolare town of Arny should be a showcase, an “expo” of God, not so much because of the buildings but through the witness of mutual love which you live, and which must shine beyond France. Now beyond the gloom of the day, another sun is shining, especially for the people involved in this promising project of our newly born citadel.
Southern France, 6 – 8 May 2010 Thursday, 6 May 2010. Visit to the Mariapolis Center in St Pierre de Chartreuse where more than 2,000 people are welcomed each year. “This centre is a jewel,” said Emmaus, which carries its name so well: The People of God.” In the afternoon, Maria Voce and Giancarlo were with the Abbot of the Great Chartreuse, the Reverend Father Marcelin. It was a meeting and communion marked by the memory of Chiara. Change of scene: From the great silence of St Pierre to the noisy traffic of Lyon! But the same active presence of God was present in the evening at a meeting between Maria Voce and Giancarlo and a group of leaders from various Movements from the South of France as Maria Voce underscored that “the essential thing would be to share what we live interiorly, to live this communion, this mutual love which later allows everyone to discern – with the help of the Holy Spirit – what should or shouldn’t be done, and how it should be done.” Friday, 7 May 2010, Lyon, the Capital of Gaul Following a short tour of the city, three significant events marked the afternoon and evening: An interview with Maria Voce on RCF (French Catholic Radio) where she talked about the specific charism of this movement and its “Marian profile” in the heart of the Church and of Humanity. Then there was an encounter of profound communion with Cardinal Barbarin, during which was mentioned the current interest of the Church concerning the forthcoming beatification of Chiara Luce Badano, and the Focolare Movement’s ecumenical dimension. The evening ended with a meeting for young people. It was a moment of joy and free expression. Maria Voce and Giancarlo replied to several questions, including one on true love: “What does it mean to give and not want anything for yourself, to serve instead of making use of others to serve your needs?” It was an intense moment born from the life and needs of young people in today’s world. Then there was the conclusion with celebration, souvenir photos, and the profound joy which was visible on every face. Saturday, 8 May 2010 In the morning, Maria Voce and Giancarlo met members of the focolares of Southern France. It was a special moment of communion in which joys and sorrows were shared, forging strong bonds of unity around the One Treasure for whom they had each given up everything: God. In the afternoon there was a meeting for the community, with about 500 people from the regions of Lyon , Drome-Ardèche, French Riviera, St Etienne, Montpellier, Toulouse, Aurillac, Corsica, Isle de la Reunion. After a presentation of the groups, many of the issues that have so strongly influenced these regions were described through experiences made by some of the participants including a Muslim: injustice, sharing, openness, tolerance and fundamentalism, fear, responding, safety, crisis, violence , commitment, stress, truth. With their lives, the members of the Focolare Movement saw that they were able to offer real and authentic answers to each of these problems. Maria Voce concluded her visit in France urging everyone to look at people and events through the eyes of God, recognizing the miracles God works both within our lives and around us.
The first of the little towns of the Focolare Movement (there are now 33 of them existing in different parts of the world) has celebrated its 40th anniversary. Situated among the hills of Tuscany in the province of Florence, Loppiano is in the municipality of Incisa in Val d’Arno. This little town thrives with schools, business enterprises, art centers and now counts close to 1000 inhabitants from 70 different nations, that range from Russia to Portugal, from Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt to Burundi, Congo, and South Africa, from the USA, Mexico, Patagonia, Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines to Australia and New Zealand. Peopled by students, university professors, professionals, crafts people, agriculturists, artists, families, religious and diocesan priests, Christians of different Churches and faithful of other religions, Loppiano is indeed a prototype of a new society founded on the evangelical law of love. A little town that reflects an ideal of unity and peac People who have given life to a new philosophical, ideological or spiritual current usually dream of building a little town that could reflect their ideas. This is also true of Chiara Lubich, foundress of rhe Focolare Movement. In 1962, while she was on a visit to the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln (Switzerland), which has stood as one of the centers of Christian influence in the development of European civilization, she had the intuition that modern little towns would have emerged all over the world, made up of houses, schools, factories, etc. Over 40,000 visitors go to Loppiano every year, and together with Loppiano’s inhabitants, they contribute to composing that design of unity which is at its foundation. The church of the little town is named “Mary, ‘Theotokos’” (Mother of God) Loppiano’s 40th anniversary was marked by the inauguration of the church, dedicated to Mary, Theotokos ( Mother of God). The solemn ceremonies took place at 11 a.m. on October 30 (Saturday), 2004, presided over by Cardinal Ennio Antonelli (Metropolitan Archbishop of Florence) and Bishop Luciano Giovannetti of the diocese of Fiesole. The entire project enjoyed the support of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. The Church is a project of Ave Center The Ave Center, whose headquarters are at Loppiano, designed and followed up the construction. The Ave Center is entirely made up of women artists (a sculptress, 3 architects and 3 painters). The church, which delicately stands out against the hills, is shaped like a large inclined plane which rises from the ground and soars to the peak of the construction. It is crowned by a bell tower, which is covered by a golden triangle symbolizing the Trinity. How the idea was born; about the ecumenical chapel In the interior, at the center of the presbytery is a broad stained-glass window in vibrant shades of blue that serves to protect the golden tabernacle. Sculptress and designer, Ave Cerquetti, says, “Through the form of the church, I wanted to express the greatness of Mary, the Mother of God, Mary who is therefore great beyond all imagination, as the Church confirmed during the early Councils. Yet she is like an inclined plane that gently goes from the earth up to heaven, to God.” On the first floor of the bell tower, there is the ecumenical chapel. 
In this church, Mary is not honored by Christians alone To the right as one enters the church, one sees an image of Mary and the Child, decorated in gold leaf and semi-precious stones. It is a gift from India, created by a Hindu artist. Also present at the ceremony was Master Pra Maha Thongrattana, a Thai Buddhist monk. His stay at Loppiano in 1992 proved to be decisive in opening a fruitful dialogue between the Thai Buddhist monks and the Focolare Movement. 
The new church also contains the remains of Renata Borlone Renata (1930-1990), had been a builder and co-director of Loppiano for many years. Her process of beatification is underway. The “Lionello Bonfanti” business park Also marking Loppiano’s 40th anniversary is the construction of the business park, through the support of 5,615 stockholders under the management of the “E.di C. S.p. A.” Society (Economy of Sharing Society, Limited) which was formed in the year 2001 (www.edicspa.com). Similar business parks are already operating or are underway in Brazil, Argentina, USA, Portugal, France and Belgium. These parks were born to give visibility to the Economy of Communion, which is the driving spirit behind 800 business enterprises existing all over the world, of which 270 are in Italy.