415 men and women Volunteers attended the Assemblies of the two branches of the Focolare Movement , representing the 23,000 members worldwide. The meetings were held in Castel Gandolfo (Rome) last 22 – 26 October. Their specific vocation comes to light: while sharing the difficulties of all, they are called to irradiate the light of the Spirit with concrete actions, preparing themselves constantly to face present-day challenges, in all fields of life. They took stock of the path they have undertaken over the last six years, in terms of both spiritual growth and also in social works achieved and in the commitment to diffuse the culture of brotherhood in the various sectors society. Besides the 223 women volunteers and the 162 men volunteers from the five continents, with 17 languages under simultaneous translation, there was also a big group of guests., among which were members of various Churches. «Your presence here is vital, since this makes us all ecumenical, universal in the full sense of the term » – affirmed Maria Ghislandi, international outgoing directress in her opening speech. On 23 October – precisely during the work sessions – was the anniversary of the 1956 events in Hungary: following Soviet repression, for which Pope Pius 12^th appealed to all to bring God back into the world. As a response to this plea, Chiara Lubich’s inspiration, “God’s Volunteers”were born in the heart of the Focolari Movement. Maria Voce defined them as «a concrete and mature reality», underlining how – they bring the IDeal of unity to the factories, offices, families, in society with its suffering, pain, wars  – the Volunteers recall the Eucharist, in its being love which takes flesh. She invited them to become, in unity with the entire Focolari Movement, capable of bringing messages of truth and hope, as Pope Francis said during the last Synod. Co-President, Jesús Morán recalled that the particularity and beauty of the Volunteers lies in being “mediators” of the the Charism’s light, so that all may enter into all the structures of the movement. This is demonstrated by the experience of people of various continents and professions, situated in the most different environments and fields of work: public administration, justice, public relations, immigration and reception, the world of education and legality. He continued: «We are involved in going out, but you, with your vocation, are in the frontline in bringing the dimension of the global-person that has to be born  ». In the sessions that followed, the volunteers from Syria and other Middle East countries testified that this type of “global-person” who believes in the revolution brought about by the charism of unity, already exists everywhere.. During the five days, there were work groups that gathered the motions from the zones with the aim of drawing up proposals, suggestions and programmes to be presented to the plenary session of the Assembly. Two themes the works will focus on are: vocation /training, with commitment to social work, the New humanity organisation, dialogues with the ecumenical, interreligious world, persons of no religious affiliation and culture and local communities. The Men Volunteers’ Assembly reelected for a second mandate, Paolo Mottironi, 50 years of age, Italian, married and two sons, a public servant.  . The Women Volunteers voted Patience Félicité Mollè Lobè, 57 years of age from Cameroon, a widow, civil engineer and engaged in politics. «I see in all I have lived –Patience confided– that God was preparing me for a plan of love I was not aware of ». And Paolo Mottironi concluded: «We are writing the story of our lives with a new chapter construed along the lines of the previous pages. Help us to be always, more than ever, a service. »