Sometimes a special meeting can transform a life and revive a family. “My husband and I never talked about important things”- a couple from Burkina Faso said after having participated last Spring at an event in Loppiano( FI) “Family Highlights” and also at the School for Families held immediately after at Castel Gandolfo-.” At every minimum contrast , he slammed the door ad went out of the house. But when we came back from Rome we initiated a radical change. Our dialogue has become constructive and and our relationship has regenerated”.

“Family Highlights” from the 11 till 12 March, 2017 was an international event; not only because there were families from all continents but because during the year, in many places in the world, there were many meetings which prolonged this unique experience in time and space, by remembering Chiara Lubich on the 9th anniversary of her leaving for Heaven and also what the Ideal of Unity offers to family life.

Meetings such as the Mariapoli in Australia and in Siberia ,which lasted more than a few days, the latter promoted by a family who had just re-entered after a stay at the Loreto School, such as the school for families in Egypt and Angola; there were also many manifestations in Brazil where young people were involved in addressing educational issues. In Venezuela, the focus was on “strengthening love and hope in contrast to an environment of hatred and violence”.  In Vietnam,  there were Buddhist families at the weekend in Ho Chi Min City. Other events were held in Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Texas, New Zealand, Singapore, China, Pakistan, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya. The day long event of the Opera in Lebanon was concentrated on the Family, and was organised in collaboration with the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, by starting a project of study on family issues in partnership with the Sociology Faculty. One of the last events held was in Germany where different immigrant families took part and are now part of the New family group. In Peru the manifestation at Arequipa  titled “ The Family in a Society which is changing”, was held in October in the prestigious St. Paul’s Catholic University . The diocese has declared that the year 2018 will also  be “a year dedicated to the Family”, confirming how much this small institution is important to Society.

At the many appointments taking place during the year, the 50th anniversary of New Families was celebrated, and attention was refocused on “the Work of the Family”, which- according to Chiara-
is to keep love always burning in our homes, by rekindling those values which God gave to families, and generously and tirelessly taking them all over the world. Her intuition “The Art of Love” which is testified by many experiences, has shown that it is possible to regenerate a family structure, block and prevent a crisis, face up to pain and problems. “Understanding that Jesus Christ has gone through the pain of separation”, said a young bride who had been left by her husband, “gave an immense value to my suffering which has been embraced by the families who know me.
I am grateful that these families exist and never give up”.

The commitment in support of needy families was felt very strongly, as was the formation of engaged couples and the accompanying of families in crisis, also the services provided at different levels in the territory. All this together with a concrete initiative to twin up with with families from different countries, gave a solidity to this historic consignment from Chiara in 1967, “Put on your shoulders the most troubled and suffering part of humanity”, the Founder of the Focolare Movement said, entrusting to New Families the sufferings and challenges which affect family life:
separations, widowhood, abandonment, children who are left for years in orphanages.

Joy is the characteristic commune emotion at these events and the certainty that the construction of a United World depends also on families; which even if they are fragile and imperfect, if they are renewed from the inside, can offer the world the light and love which can heal it.

Giovanna Pieroni