Mind, heart and hands for fraternity

Jun 28, 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

One week before the Genfest, from June 28th to July 5th, more than 400 young people will participate in the Pre-Genfest, a series of social activities in 20 different locations in Southeast Asia. The Pre-Genfest is a laboratory of social work for youth who want to have an experience of intercultural exchange and contribute to social change. Participants will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves to work in marginalized neighborhoods, social centers, and to participate in ecological and environmental activities. The Pre-Genfest will also provide opportunities to go beyond social borders by visiting orphanages, prisons, and to interact with people from other cultures and religions. Young people will be immersed in the various social and cultural situations of the cities where the Pre-Genfest will take place. “The purpose of the Pre-Genfest is to offer to the youth, who are coming to the Genfest in Manila, the opportunity to have an experience —in miniature— of universal brotherhood. It also aims to open their hearts to the social realities that other people are living in different areas, perhaps kilometers away from their homes,” explains Romè Vital one of the coordinators of this endeavor. Each location will have a different flavor. “We want to give the possibility, for those who are interested, to know more about the cultural diversity of our people in Asia,” says Vital. Some people will be exposed to the peripheries of fast pace city-life of megalopolis such as Hong Kong and Seoul, and others will visit rural areas in Masbate, or Pangasinan in the Philippines. Some will experience first-hand interreligious dialogue in cities such as Chiang Mai, Thailand; Medan, Indonesia; and Yangon, Myanmar, and others will participate in ecological activities such as helping harvesting rice in Hanoi, Vietnam; or cleaning up some beaches of Palawan, Philippines, a well-known tourist destination. A socio-cultural walkthrough in history is also part of the program in many locations. In Seoul, Korea, for example, participants will learn the background of the events that brought to the division of North and South Korea, and experts will conduct workshops to learn how building peace in different locations has repercussions all over the world. Interreligious dialogue will be also part of the program. In Coimbatore, India, participants will be offered an intercultural and interfaith social experience guided by Gandhi’s motto “be the change you want to see,” In Taipei, Taiwan, the youth will interact with indigenous inhabitants of the island, and in Aklan, Philippines, participants will go beyond social borders of race and ethnicity through an immersion with the community of Atis (Aetas) – an ethnic tribe that is believed to be the original settlers of the island of Boracay. Other locations include Mumbai, India; Ho Chi Min, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand; and different cities in the Philippines such as Baguio, Cebu, Dumaguete, La Union, and Tacloban. The collaboration with organizations such as Bukas Palad, and Façenda da Esperanza in the Philippines, and the Shanti Ashram in India, among others, was fundamental in the preparation of the Pre-Genfest. According to Vital, the Pre-Genfest will have an indelible impact in the life of the youth who will participate as they realize that building a united world starts with concrete actions. In fact, Pope Francis —during his visit to Loppiano on May 10th, 2018— pointed out the importance of training “oneself to use the three languages together: of the mind, of the heart and of the hands,” which is a fundamental element in the formation of new generations. He also invited the Focolare Movement to be “in service to all, with the gaze that embraces all of humanity, beginning with those who in whatever way are relegated to the peripheries of existence.” By the time the Pre-Genfest participants will arrive in Manila for the Genfest, they would have experienced in a small scale what universal brotherhood means and how to build a united world with their own hands. This experience will surely contribute as a leaven to make the Genfest an expression of the united world we want to build together. Vital encourages to participate in the Pre-Genfest “with an open heart,” in that way this experience will be an “experience of God” as Chiara Lubich defined the Genfest. María Clara Ramírez

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Coffee: an opportunity to go beyond

Jun 12, 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

Some months ago in Milan, the Youths for a United World got together to plan an initiative which would focus on Genfest 2018 in Manila, Philippines. It was then that they revived the idea of selling coffee, as was done on the occasion of the Genfest of 2012 in Budapest. After obtaining a special price from a wholesale distributor, they created the labels which featured the guidelines of the activities and logo of the event. They decided to designate the funds obtained to: support the Filipino people struck by Typhoon Vinta last December, help those arriving in Manila from the farther countries, and add to the funds for general expenses in the organisation of the Genfest. One of the youths of Milano recounted that the idea came up when “we asked ourselves how we could spread the news of the Genfest here. Being an event to promote brotherhood among people, which covers material and interpersonal relationships, it seemed that one of the most representative elements was this desire to socialize, stay together, and as in our culture, share time enjoying a beverage or some coffee: that break you take during the day, which can become the occasion to exchange and share ideas, and to go beyond…” This time it was easier than in 2012, since we already had our contacts. After deciding how to go about it, we contacted the supplier and received 4,000 packets of coffee in a month’s time in the central depot of Milan. In the meanwhile, in the various parts of the region, around 20 people volunteered to create small storage in their homes. The labeling process was done by them and “it became an occasion to get together and dine together, […]. We did this not only in Milan but also in other regions where youths and families are helping one another. Lastly, this activity created many opportunities to meet people we haven’t seen for some time, thus consolidating fraternal relationships.” For further information: caffe2018manila@gmail.com Source: United World Project

Joyful anticipation

May 8, 2018 | Focolare Worldwide

«What did you do when you were my age? What games did you like best?». 10-year-old Luis Francisco from Mexico, now in Loppiano, has these questions in mind as he awaits the arrival of Pope Francis. Together with all the residents of this international Focolare town, Luis has been counting the days to May 10th since early February when the Pope’s secretary first announced this surprise visit to the Christian communities of Nomadelfia and Loppiano, both located in the Tuscan hills. Pope Francis is coming in person to see how life is lived “in the school of the one and only Master”, as he once described Loppiano, the first of 24 Focolare towns around the world. Focolare President, Maria Voce expressed “surprise and profound joy” at the news of this totally unexpected visit. Loppiano is full of life, its streets illuminated by the happy smiling faces of young people who came in their hundreds to spend the last week of April together. With thousands more, they have just celebrated the all-Italy “Genfest” on May 1st when their joy could not be dampened even by the threat of rain. Now, as the big day approaches, the atmosphere of hopeful anticipation is becoming even more palpable. Video camera in hand, we walked through Loppiano, speaking to residents as they carry out their daily duties in this countdown period to the papal visit. Benedetta came to Loppiano for formation in the school of the Focolarine (the consecrated members of Focolare). She is welcoming the Pope’s visit as a personal gift from God as it comes on her own birthday. «No matter how short the visit, I hope he finds a family. That’s what we try to build among us every day». Since 1966 Loppiano has been home to Gen Rosso, a band inspired by Chiara Lubich’s desire to spread the message of a more just, peaceful and united world through music. The musicians strive to express this spirit in their own lives and not just in their songs, with a lifestyle of communion and fraternity. Michele Sole joined Gen Rosso a few years ago. He is preparing to sing “Sweetest of Mothers” on the steps of the town’s church dedicated to Theotokos, Mother of God. Michele is grateful to the Pope for having «the courage to take the name Francis. I don’t know how easy it was for him to choose a name which means preferential option for the poor and the least». The notes of “Turn on peace” float through the air, as Gen Rosso rehearse nearby with fellow Loppiano-based performers, the distinctively international band Gen Verde. The artist Ciro, born Roberto Cipollone, has lived in Loppiano since 1977, where he exercises his gift of transforming discarded and waste objects into captivating works of art. This artist breathes new life into trash items. From his workshop emerge sculpture, craftworks and paintings, created in the fusion of an artistic imagination with love for the natural world. Ciro’s perspective on the forthcoming visit: «I hope the Pope may find some of his innermost desires fulfilled here». Aranza came to Loppiano with her family from Mexico to participate in the “Loreto School” for families of different countries and languages who together deepen their knowledge of the spirituality of unity. The annual courses which run from September to June provide a unique experience of cultural exchange and mutual enrichment. Aranza’s question to the Pope would be: «How can we young people best overcome the conditioning stereotypes the world tries to impose on us?». Natalia, is a Brazilian student attending Sophia University Institute in Loppiano. She would like to ask the Pope about the role of young married people in the Church. So many different questions, hopes and wishes, united in such joyful anticipation. Chiara Favotti

LIVE STREAMING from Loppiano on 10th May at 10.00 (CEST) http://live.dev.focolare.org Vatican Media Live: from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon  

http://vimeo.com/268796719