Summary of Activities of the FOCOLARE TRUST NI

The Focolare Movement (www.focolare.org) is an international movement, inspired by the gospel, working for unity in all spheres of life and for the relief of any kind of poverty by promoting the life of the Gospel particularly the words of Jesus: whatever you did unto one of the least, you did unto me and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. By practicing and promoting a Gospel-based life and social projects related to it, for over sixty years the Focolare Movement has drawn together people from all Christian traditions and from many of the world’s religions, alongside people with no formal faith, who share the aim of building a united world.

The commitment to the ideals of the Focolare Movement involves all the branches of those who live in the Focolare Centres to the branches of New Humanity (NGO – www.new-humanity.org), New Families, Youth for a United World, Youth for unity, religious persons from various institutes and adherents to the Focolare Movement.

There have been members of the Focolare in Northern Ireland since 1972 and since 2004 there have been fulltime dedicated members (focolarini) who began a small Focolare Centre based in Randastown, moving to Belfast in 2010.

The leaders of each branch of Focolare Trust NI meet on a regular basis to foster the formation of their members which help to promote unity in the family, in youth life, in the workplace and enable people to become builders of a society based on mutual love and respect. This involves working on projects, fundraising, providing courses in ecumenism, interfaith and intercultural dialogue, parenting and other social related topics.

The Focolare aims to create a new culture, the culture of giving and sharing, as a remedy to the dominant culture of having so that all people can walk together towards the unity of human family.

In order to meet these ideals, Focolare members  work with several groups of adults and youth. In Belfast a number of groups meet regularly to deepen and study the Gospel in order to shape their lifestyle and activities on Jesus’ life.  They provide mutual support in bringing their initiatives and projects forward.

The following are some activities carried out by the Focolare NI:The project “Let’s colour our city with love” involves young people and adults who want to make a difference in the physical, moral and spiritual well-being of the areas where they live. Different groups “adopt a grey corner” of their town and try to improve the quality of life of those people of our society who by reason of their youth, age, disablement or social-economic circumstances are in need. Some of the activities included in the Project “Let’s colour our city with love” have been:

recreational afternoons for elderly people in the nursing home in Randalstown. This initiative is giving not only new joy and hope to the old folks and staff there but is helping the youth in their relationship with a different generation.

Several times a group of young people supported by the adults of Focolare NI went to Ardmoulin Hostel on the Falls Road, Belfast, to animate an afternoon of games and songs for the children and the single parents there and to deliver some goods (toys, DVD’s, books – items that the young people and adults collected and wanted to share with the families there). In one of those occasions a mother of one of the children in the hostel said to us: “Today is the first time that my boy engages with other people. I’m so moved.” The manager there was very happy and asked us to come back. Recreational afternoons of this style will be one of our future activities, in which the young people of the Focolare will engage regularly.

The international Run4Unity Project 2005 and 2008 (a project launched by Focolare worldwide) also happened locally and gathered more than 200 youth from all over Northern Ireland. Our event connected in a live link-up to the youth involved in the same Run4Unity project in several cities in UK and in 89 countries all over the world. All the young people linked in this worldwide relay race fund-raised for the international School-mates project that gives scholarships to children in the poorest areas of the world (www.school-mates.org). In 2012 the national Run4Unity event took place in Stormont Belfast with young people from all over Ireland gathered with religious and political leaders to demonstrate their commitment to live and work for a more united world. See Run4Unity Stormont 2012

We are involved in facilitating dialogue between communities and groups so that together we can establish relationships of fraternal communion and common witness. In Northern Ireland in 2004 and in 2007 we organized  local meetings as part of the International “TOGETHER FOR” event with the participation of groups and communities from different Churches (Methodist,Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Orthodox, Lutheran, Salvation Army and Catholic) who met together to witness that we are the one family of God and how as a Christian community we can improve the life of our local area and have a positive impact on society. This event fired all the 100 participants with great enthusiasm and a further workshop was organized in August 2009. This workshop was based in Corrymeela Community in Ballycastle and  coordinated also by Corrymeela, l’Arche and Swords of the Spirit communities. It has now become an annual event.

Focolare NI started a parenting course on 22^nd of Feburay’09 that involved 10 couples  and was offered by trained and experienced facilitators. Through this course parents are supported in developing a better relationship with their children, set boundaries in the home and work together.

Study-lessons on Christian social doctrine, on ecumenism, on the study of great religions of the world and the study of contemporary philosophies are held regularly for the education and training of the members.

Focolare NI is also linked with schools in the greater Belfast area to give regular study- retreats on Gospel-based life.

Once a year there is a launching-event/conference for adults and a specific one for youth, to make the wider community aware of our work and designed to bring about universal fraternity.

In Newry area the Focolare group promotes family life as an important contribution of a functioning society. The members are finding ways of dealing with family problems (husband-wife relationships and parents-children relationships) in the light of the evangelical love that generates unity in the family and in society. Focolare members committed in family life share their experiences and help with families in need.