The Focolare centre in Curryhills, Prosperous was awash with back packs for the homeless at its community meeting on Sunday 17th November 2024. Appropriately it was the ‘World Day of the Poor’, and while Pope Francis had lunch with 1,300 people in need in Rome, in Prosperous too the sharp focus was on concrete love of neighbour, particularly those living in poverty.
In the morning buzz groups involving people of all ages including children, meditated on this month’s word of Life – “They all gave out of their wealth; but she out of the her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.” (Matt 12:44) A myriad of stories from life flowed from the small group sharings involving visits to nursing homes, the sharing of time (without being in a hurry), reaching out to neighbours and above all building relationships. A little boy told of how he had shared a pencil with the boy sitting behind him. A woman who works as a carer spoke of a new way of looking after someone who could not speak. Instead of telling this lady what was planned for the day, she asked her “What would you like to do today?” She made several proposals. The lady scratched her when she didn’t like a proposal. Eventually they found and carried out an activity that she wanted to do. The carer could see she was happy.
After lunch the adults reflected on one of the cornerstones of the Focolare Spirituality – Love of Neighbour. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHjrEw1mjKg ) while young people and children helped fill backpacks for the ‘100 Backpack Appeal 2024’ in support of Merchant’s Quay Ireland.
Meanwhile in an adjoining room, others created beautiful handmade cards in support of a project encouraging parishioners in a Dublin parish to write messages to people who may be lonely. After a time the children gave way to the adults who took over the filling and checking of backpacks and exercised their (often unrealised) artistic potential decorating the sheets and envelopes
By the end of the day 60 backpacks were either completed or checked for missing items.
“It was great to work together and a great joy to achieve so much,” said Marian Byrne, “Now we need donations to buy missing items to complete 34 of the backpacks prepared and we look forward to receiving 40 backpacks already promised. Our target of 100 Backpacks by 9th December is now possible, thanks to everyone’s generous help and support”
Brendan Gallagher, one of the MCs of the day added, “Pope Francis has described the Church as a ‘field hospital’, and in the focolare community, we too want to be a place where we can help one another and others to heal the wounds that we all experience in the world of today. A community where we can accompany one another and where can accompany those wounded by addictions, poverty, homelessness and the loneliness that people of all ages can feel in a world dominated by the smart phone and the lack of real human contact.”
Focolare’s next community gathering, which is open to everyone, will take place on Sunday 15th December 2024 at the Focolare Centre, Curryhills, Prosperous, Kildare. “We hope it will be a real moment of Christmas joy, peace and hope.” said Ann Gavin from the Focolare centre.
