Mar 22, 2017 | Senza categoria
STREAMING by Česká Televize – Cardinal Dominik Duka OP, Archbishop of Prague, relatives and friends of the Focolare Movement, announce that the funeral of Cardinal Miloslav Vlk will be held Saturday, March 25, at 11.00 am, in the Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert in Prague. He will be buried in the Archbishops’ tomb in the Cathedral. Miloslav Vlk, Archbishop Emeritus of Prague and Primate Emeritus of Bohemia, is the 62nd successor of Saint Adalbert and in the 35th Archbishop of Prague.
Mar 13, 2017 | Senza categoria
A missionary Church that lives the Gospel and shares its life with the people of God: this is the direction his pontificate is moving towards, expressed clearly and prophetically in the Evangelii Gaudium. “This regards the progressive and hard-fought awareness, Piero Coda explains, “in line with the Church’s way of being present in the world, and its mission which has to be, from top to bottom, measured on Jesus’s style.” Four years after his election, we still have not recovered from the surprise his words, style and gestures arouse in us. We find it hard to realize what is happening. With radical clarity, he evidently inspires his ministry to live the “sine glossa” – with comments and compromises. We know that the formula is that of Francis of Assisi, which undoubtedly is why Jorge Maria Bergoglio felt God’s inspiration to take his name in this particular moment of the world’s history: to declare the spirit with which he wants to animate his service as the Bishop of Rome. He says this formula orders us not to measure the Gospel according to our own yardstick but to open our hearts and minds to the endless measures set by the Gospel. But isn’t this what the Church of all time is called to? So what novelty is there? To tell the truth, in every epoch conversion and reform assume a tone and pursue a path which, being the same as always, are those and only those that respond to the queries and wounds of the time we are called to live. If the conversion we were asked of yesterday, is in a sense, the very same as that which we are called to today, and yet today, it is something else compared to yesterday under the profile of its historical expression and implementation, it is because we are called to respond to God’s voice that reminds us precisely of those words of Jesus which the Spirit wishes to highlight and make us concretise now. It will be a response to the challenges and wounds of the present. It is a matter of a progressive and hard-fought awareness, according to which the style (that is, the content and form together) of the Church’s presence in the world and its mission have precisely been measured from top to bottom, according to the style of Jesus. I was really deeply impressed by the words which Romana Guarneri with her distinctive sense of history, said to me in a feeble voice just before she died: “Christianity still has to blossom.” I think that this affirmation can be interpreted in the sense that the time has come, in which from the roots of faith in Christ, a fresh, innovative flower can and must bloom, and which can amaze us again with its rare beauty, and give us new life. What in the end does 2,000 years of history mean? Has not Christianity expressed itself only in the existence and philosophy of Europe and the West? Of course, the expressions have been providential and precious, but other than definitive and absolute. In all that Pope Francis has put in motion in the Church, the real issue at stake is huge. It may even be decisive for the Church in the unprecedented season awaiting it. Vatican II was not only a point of arrival, but more of a point of departure. None of the extraordinary heritage of Tradition has been lost, but all has to be reset in a disarmed listening to the Holy Spirit’s inspiration today. What God expects of the Church today – he said, not by chance on the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Bishops’ Synod, is enclosed in one word: synod. It is a walking together of men, women, youths, adults, and the elderly. It includes the various vocations and charisms in the Church, and different Churches, cultures religions, and visions of the world. All are involved – no one is excluded, starting from those who in some way are discarded. The mystical sense of “we” is the perfume, truth and measure of justice of a Church that “goes forth.” It is the yeast of that new cultural paradigm of that urgently postulated and invoked epochal change we are called to be the protagonists of, under penalty of the collapse and disintegration of the human adventure. Four years from his election we can say with simplicity, conviction and gratitude: Pope Francis is a gift for all of us, not only for the Catholics. This is because he urges us to become men and women that as the people of God, choose the morning star of the pathway, and as our existential and liberating code, nothing else but the beautiful, good, and joyful news of the Gospel. It will light up the fire – today as 2000 years ago – in the heart of the world.
Feb 3, 2017 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
It has been a month since central south Chile has been gripped by wildfires that have swept away half a million of hectares of forest land. Eleven have died and 1,100 have been displaced. Thousands of homes have been burned, mostly in Santa Olga 500 km south of Santiago, a region of 5000 inhabitants that was completely destroyed. The causes of the catastrophe vary: a heat wave with historic temperatures, the dry weather, the intense drought and the winds that have fed the hundreds of fires that broke out in the Andes, backbone of the Americas. It happened within the mountain chain between the Pacific and the Andes that makes the geography of this land very difficult to travel. Some forty air tankers and helicopters and more than 4,500 fire fighters were not able to control so many fronts. Two fully equipped air giants are also at work against the fire: a Boeing 747 Supertanker capable of spreading about 70,000 litres of different liquids, and an Ilyushin-76 that was made available by the Russian government and is capable of launching 30 tons of water. Fire crews have been sent from Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Spain, Portugal, France and Venezuela. The number of natural disasters between 2010 until now has been striking, beginning with the 8.8 earthquake followed by a tsunami that caused 535 deaths and millions of Euros in damage. At least three large volcanic eruptions followed all that. In 2015 a new earthquake registered 8.4 on the Richter scale . . . In 2014 and this year wildfires struck the areas around Valparaiso, a port city 115 km from the capital. There were many victims and damages into the 4 millions. It seemed impossible, but in 2015 there was the flooding of the Atacama Desert, the most arid place on earth. The mire carried away entire villages, roads, bridges and 28 people. And now there are more wildfires fanned by the drought… There will be time for investigations into the cause and, in some places, fraud has not been ruled out. But now is time for action. The flames have not been able to devour the solidarity that has been set in motion in so many ways: collections of basic goods, the Hogar de Cristo organization that has launched a 1.8 million dollar fundraiser for rebuilding, and others who have taken on the cost of the Supertanker. One mother who coordinates a collection among families said: “They’re our brothers and sisters, we have to help.” Only a few houses have been left standing in Santa Olga, but a Chilean flag appears over the smouldering rubble, an unfailing sign in the midst of the destruction. It stands for rebuilding and turning to nature again for a place to live, work and fulfil dreams. These souls will work hard with that age old patience of those who create their own history with sweat and tears, enveloped in a natural environment that has nothing to offer them. Alberto Barlocci Latest news from Focolare communities in regions that were hit by the wildfires Marilyn and Juan report: “It’s already been 19 days since, with the help of countries from around the world, we have been fighting against wildfires in south central Chile where many Focolare communities are located. Now, after a superhuman effort, because of the strong winds more than 80 wildfires that are still burning are reigniting fires that had already been put out. Several villages where many Focolare families are found have been completely evacuated. For several nights locals along with firefighters and volunteers keep watch in order to keep the fire from growing. There are so many experiences of solidarity especially for people who are on the ground, like Manuel and Silvia, Volunteers from the Focolare who live in Chiguayante, an area completely surrounded by the fire. They were forced to evacuate their house because of the impending danger. Together with their children and neighbours they risked their own lives to “clear” the land so that the fire wouldn’t be able to spread. Even though the situation is now under control, there is always a danger that the wind will change direction. Victoria, Jorge and their three children live in Tomè which is also in danger. With their children and other young people they collected basic goods to share with people who have lost everything, and took those goods to the most isolated regions where it is difficult for help to arrive. Father Alex from the Russian Orthodox Church and a great friend of the Focolare, lives in Hualqui, a small village. He celebrates the Holy Mass in Chiguayante where his community is located. The fires took his village with great force and blocked the roadway so that he had to return on foot to assist the people who were still gripped by fear. There have also been experiences of solidarity in the Focolare communities that are far from the fires. The linked up on whatsapp and in just a few days truckloads of help arrived. We are seeing the great capacity of the people to respond in the face of difficulty with resilience and very touching acts of solidarity. It’s powerful to see the beaming smiles of all the people who have helped, and to feel that there is truly “more joy in giving than in receiving.”Before every action, we renew the unity among ourselves so that we will be more prepared to love the people that are in need. Every night at 22:00 we united in prayer to ask for the miracle of rain, and many others unite with us in this prayer.”
Jan 23, 2017 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
I came across a letter of Fr. Christian de Chergé a few days ago, on his 20th death anniversary. Christian was the Prior of the community of Trappist monks of the monastery of Nostra Signora dell’Atlas in Tibhirine (90 km from Algiers). In 1996, he and six other monks were kidnapped and then killed. On 1 August, Bishop Pierre Claverie, the Bishop of Orano was killed. That was really a “black decade,” as people called the civil war that exploded in the1990s. The monks were French and like the other “foreigners” were the direct targets of the “ mountain brothers,” name that referred to all those who had gone into hiding to take up their arms following the annulment of the 1992 elections. The Islamic Salvation Front, a political party that was dispersed and declared illegal, was about to win the elections. In my mind I often see their smiling faces, during those moments we lived together. We all took part in that particular vocation of the Church in that country, to which we felt we had been sent to testify to the Gospel, at the service of those people. It was a simple, poor Church, but its testimony shone in the hearts of many friends, mostly Muslims. Already then in Algiers, 99.99% of the population followed Islam. The Archbishop of Algiers, Paul Desfarges, said that, “The Church is for the people, a Church of Encounters.” But going back to the letter of 3 December 1994, it seemed to me like meeting Christian once again, or one of the monks in our focolare house in Tlemcen, where they used to spend a night, to then resume the journey towards the monastery they were about to found in Fèz, Morocco. Those were evenings of intense dialogue and joy of getting together, feeling like brothers and of sharing and understanding, in this mutual commitment toward the people that hosted us. Even if we had different callings, our hearts beat in unison. That atmosphere of danger surrounding us, encouraged us to go ahead. In fact, there was talk about a possible momentous departure of the members of the focolare of Tlemcen, which then did not occur. And Christian had written: «We all thought that you would stay longer to testify to a convivial offer, a boundless sharing of life, and a friendly openness that enables our hearts to vibrate in unison beyond the barriers of religious affiliations. You made the message of the Gospel your very own and you have deeply imprinted this message among us. And we rejoice with you for this greater humanity which your Charism has given to our Church. It was such a joy to meet at your “focolare” house. Many monks were able to make use of your hospitality when they passed through on their way to Fez. All of us still savour the thought of experiencing it all again! In these times we all need to be able to count on this “fire” kept alive in the common room. It will be a bit colder at Christmas if you will no longer be here… Our lives are in God’s hands… and our motives to remain, conform to those that have allowed us to live here. For you, as for us, the situation has not changed. THANKS once again to each of you and our fraternal communion today and for always. Christian». We had talked about the courage to remain… but for those who, like us had lived that harsh situation in person, I would rather speak of the courage to remain faithful to a calling and share it with a section of humanity, which we already felt an integral part of. It was a Fidelity of love. In the hearts of those who knew the monks, Bishop Claverie, or the other nuns and religious killed in those years in Algiers, they continue to speak to us of the Gospel lived and deep friendships with a people they had made their own. Giorgio Antoniazzi
Jan 8, 2017 | Senza categoria
Migrants We watched the first disembarkations in our cities. Today the initial receptions were moved to the courtyard in front of the municipal gym next to our home, and so from my balcony I could watch the long lines of migrants with bare feet or in singlets and shorts, waiting to pass through the first checkpoint. Suddenly it became very windy and the temperature dropped. I could no longer stand still. I had to do something for these brothers already harshly put to the test. I went out and noted an acquaintance among the members of the surveillance team, and learned from him that they were short of clothing. I returned home, and with my husband, put together what we thought could be useful, and after a few trips, delivered all to his friend, to be distributed. Also other acquaintances who we had notified, added other clothing. It had started to rain, but almost all had now received some clothing. Many smiled at us saying “grazie” (thank you in Italian), perhaps one of the few words they knew. Raffaella (Italy) Fund gathering When I found out that the father of a big and poor family needed an urgent operation but did not have the means to pay for it, I felt Jesus was prodding me to do something. With some friends, I made the effort to start raising funds, involving also our colleagues at work. Once I gathered the necessary amount, I accompanied the sick man to the hospital, and paid for the relevant treatment. The operation was a success. I can’t say if the joy of that family was greater than ours. I think that also small gestures contribute to building peace. N. Y. (Jordan) Neighbours The neighbour in front of our house was sick and needed many treatments. Her husband had gone on pension ahead of time to take care of her. My husband and I felt we had to do something and became their friends. While conversing with them one day, we ended up talking about our faith. We found out that she had stopped going to Church due to the incorrect behaviour of some priests; the husband instead, did not have much time for anything else due to work. When I recounted how God had come into my life, my neighbor started to ask many questions, and deduced that perhaps, illness itself could be a bridge that God was offering to her, as a means to move away from the heavy and sad atmosphere reigning in that house. She also started to give more care more to her looks. One evening her husband confided: «There is no medicine that can give serenity, and for some time now we are exploiting this asset». L. M. (France) BY: Oreste Paliotti
Jan 7, 2017 | Focolare Worldwide, Senza categoria
An enriching evening of classical, dance, pop, contemplative, jazz, a musical and a buffet. The fourth edition of the benefit concert was promoted by the Focolare’s Youth for a United World in Vienna and by young people from Mor Efrem of the Syro-Orthodox community. Two hundred people showed up in spite of the freezing night temperatures of December, to support Syrian refugees. The “Singing Voices Choir” comprised of young people that included some Spanish speakers wished everyone a “Feliz Navidad” with song and dance. David Watzl presented Aktion Weitblick, a project that offers aid to refugees inside Europe and on its borders. He had spent two weeks at a refugee camp in Turkey where, with a group of volunteers from Aktion Weitblick, he organized afternoon games for children, classes in hygiene and many other activities. The Ishtar Syrian Dance Group brought the concert to a close with lively eastern dance that got the whole audience moving. Afterwards, a tasty buffet provided an opportunity for actors, visitors and refugees to mingle and know one another, and to plan future projects. The evening ended in a warm and fraternal atmosphere. Compiled by Young for Unity, Vienna, Austria
