The Focolare community day on Sunday 23rd March was marked with variety, internationality, but most of all, an atmosphere of family. People from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Lithuania, Ukraine and Italy were among the 80 or so people who filled the Focolare Centre in Prosperous. The morning programme, where adults and children were together, featured music, a game with balloons, throwing a huge ‘dice of love, a minute of silence for peace (Timeout), and a focus on this month’s word of life: ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye’. (See Word of Life March 2025 @FocoB ).
In mixed age buzz groups, participants enjoyed a moment of introspection as they considered how they had or had not lived this phrase from the Gospel this month. One man commented that he liked the emphasis in the commentary of reviving a practice of the early days of Focolare: to see the people we meet – at home, school, work etc, as new….. covering everything with love. A woman studying psychotherapy shared how this introspection and non judgemental approach to people was perfect for counseling.
In the afternoon, the children and young people had a separate programme involving, among other things, games and planting trees, while the adults focused on the second pillar of the Focolare’s spirituality: the Will of God. An audio visual presentation lead to an exchange of powerful stories from life highlighting the freedom and creativity released in people when they do God’s will. (see The Will of God | Ep.2 “On Point: A Guide to Living a Spirituality of Unity”). The day concluded with some local news – two recent retreats for Confirmation classes in Curryhills; an upcoming Ecumenical meeting in Rome next week to be attended by 14 delegates from Ireland from the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist and Catholic Churches; and an upcoming presentation of the Join the Dots Together initiative to NI Executive Office Committee next week. Join the Dots together involves over 100 faith groups who are working together for climate justice and peace.
