Not only has Livio hired 6 Muslims to join the 300 laborers who work in his shop which manufactures chromium and copper-plated mufflers, and spare parts for cars, motorcycles, and wheelchairs for the disabled. He is also the animating spirit behind the \u201cFriends from Marene and Thereabouts Group\u201d (in Cuneo, Italy), which has chosen the \u201cGolden Rule\u201d (\u201cDo to others as you would have them do to you\u201d [Lk 6, 31]) as its motto. Another independent group has sprouted from \u201cFriends of Marene,\u201d with a completely Senegalese membership from Piedmont (Italy) as well as from Senegal itself. \u201cThe two groups collaborate, and one thing leads to another,\u201d says Livio. Then he adds: \u201cThe story begins 10 years ago. In 1995 I attended a Focolare meeting at Loppiano (in Incisa Valdarno, province of Florence, Italy) which welcomed people of non-religious convictions. There I heard about the Christian art of loving, an ideal of life that was meant for everybody. When I got home, I told my wife that I wanted to try something different, an experience I had never tried before in my life \u2013 that of loving without any self-interest. We are still practicing it now, with the help of our four children. \u201cThe group was formed in 1997. We found a place where we could meet weekly. Now, people of all ages, colors and creeds come, together with their families, neighbors, relatives, friends and employees. People are always inviting others. We meet to listen to and help each other, and help other people, as well. \u201cThis was how the Muslims arrived, too. The first Muslim we met was in great need, so we decided to employ him, since \u2013 rather unusually – we had a very big order to fill and we did actually need another worker. We also helped him find lodgings. He fit in quickly, and he introduced his friends to us. Through our Senegalese workers we learned that many of the African immigrants in our area were natives of a region in their country. We became friends with one of them, together with his wife and children. He later spread our ideal of life in his own country. He and his friends always tell us that when they are with us, they feel at home.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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