There was an amazing atmosphere  during the Mariapolis gathering from 27th- 30th June in Delahotel, Búðardalur, West Iceland Iceland. The small but close-knit group of 18 people enjoyed the joy of being together with Jesus in our midst, amidst breath-taking scenery and beautiful weather. Under the theme of “Called and Sent,” our days were filled with spiritual input, sharing experiences, games, crafts, swimming, late-night chats in the hot tub, prayer, walks, singing, and dancing. The intimacy of our small group allowed us to deeply connect with each other’s stories, feeling like one big family.

Many of our community members, unable to attend due to health reasons, were with us in spirit. Friday’s theme of inter-religious dialogue featured a live link-up with the Holy Land. We heard from Letizia, a Focolarina in Haifa, and Ghassan, a Palestinian volunteer, about their experiences of the ongoing conflict and their efforts to build unity with groups like “Women Wage Peace” in Israel and “Women of the Sun” in Palestine. Their resilience and commitment deeply moved us, highlighting the importance of our prayers for peace.

On Saturday morning, Lillian introduced us to Buddhism through a lesson on the four truths by Thich Nhat Hanh, whose teachings resonated with our spirituality of unity.

Delahotel, originally a boarding school, was a perfect venue for the Mariapolis. We stayed in the simpler part of the complex with shared twin rooms and communal bathrooms. The facilities included a large meeting/dining room, a room for Mass and prayer and access to a pool, hot tubs, games, and lounges.

Fr. Denis O’Leary, a cornerstone of our community, had to leave early for an important Mass in his parish. His departure brought Fr. Damian Wyzkiewicz to us, who celebrated Mass on Sunday and stayed for lunch. Impressed by our group, he invited someone to speak about Focolare in his parish in Stykkishólmur and left with the Word of Life, promising to keep in touch.

Each night, we recited the Night Prayer of the Church (Compline) together. In the perpetual daylight of Iceland, we lived the words of Revelation 22:4-5: “They will see the Lord face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again, and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them.”

We hope to return to the same venue next year, inspired to invite many others to share in this profound experience of unity and love.