Sep 16, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
“When I was ten years old an event occurred that turned out to be a turning point in the life of my family and in my personal life. My father underwent a very serious liver operation. I remember some mornings in the summer when I would accompany him, with my mother, to the promenade of Syracuse, Italy, for a walk. After a brief period in which he appeared to be recovering, suddenly as a storm came the crisis. And one night he fell asleep forever. When I saw his motionless body, his face paler than usual, I couldn’t cry. I was like stone. At ten years old, the thought of asking why never entered my mind, neither was I able to pray. In later years I realized that all my friends had a father who protected them, but not me. And the situation of orphan-hood weighed on me a lot.
Five years later, through a friend of mine, I met people who had made the Gospel their code of life. In their apartment – the Focolare – one evening I met Marco, the first young man who had followed Chiara Lubich. And he told me about the adventure of unity. His words so full of life, of the living Gospel in daily life, really hit me. I was no longer an orphan, I now had a Father who took care of me. In fact, in the years that followed I found a hundred fathers, a hundred mothers, a hundred brothers and sisters (see Mt. 19:29). I suddenly realized that I had to put the Gospel into practice, so I began at school, listening with love to that somewhat boring teacher, sharing my notes with my classmates who needed them.
A few years later, prompted by this wonderful discovery of God’s personal love, there began to grow in me the desire to give myself to him, and the experience of the Focolare was opened up to me. I lived for twenty six years in the Focolare in Vienna and then there were continual short visits to Czechoslovakia and Hungary to meet with people of the Movement there. These were the years in which there was a wall between us but what united us was the Gospel, because this is what they were thirsting for more than for freedom.
And we had our share of adventures during those trips. Once in the border area, opening the boot of the car for the usual checks, I realized to my horror that we had accidentally loaded a large suitcase full of videos, writings and slide photos of our communities. These were all “forbidden” materials. Strangely, the police gave a superficial glance (not noticing my terrified face) and told us that we could proceed. Everything turned out fine for our friends in Budapest who were able to have the necessary means to know about the spread of the Gospel around the world. On this and on many other occasions I saw God’s love watching over my steps, even when I didn’t do things as well as I should have.
The Genfest was held in Budapest in the beginning of September. It was such a joy for me to see. I remembered the days when we were meeting in the ‘catacombs’ with the young people, in a family home. It was officially prohibited to gather together groups of more than five people. In the midst of the tourist season we would be able to meet sometimes on weekends at a country cottage or at Lake Balaton. There, surrounded by tourists, we would be able to talk about the spirituality of unity and about our experiences of living the Gospel.
Today many of those teenagers, families and priests are actively involved in this new life in the Movement. Jesus in His powerful strength is the Light that always shines through, even when the doors are all closed, even now, as He did then.”
Sep 14, 2012 | Non categorizzato
On 13 September 2012 the annual meeting for 300 delegates of the Focolare Movement from around the world began with a welcoming speech by president Maria Voce.
The conference will run until 6 October 2012 and include a three-day retreat that will focus on one of the cardinal points of the spirituality of unity: love for neighbour. This theme will be deepened by drawing on texts and speeches by Chiara Lubich, and will be presented by Maria Voce and by reflections and testimonies of the participants. They will share their life experiences of the Word of the Gospel, which was the previous year’s theme for all the members of the Movement. There will also be a presentation and reflection on Benedict XVI’s Year of Faith by Irish theologian Fr Brendan Leahy and focolarina Dr Lida Ceccarelli. This first phase of the meeting will conclude with an international internet link-up that will involve Focolare communities spread throughout many countries.
On Monday 17 September 2012 work will begin on the various topics: the New Media and the transformation of society, the identity of the “focolarino” and his or her specific contribution – in the light of the charism of unity – to the Church and society, and a presentation on the development of the Movement in a few countries (Canada, USA, Latin America). There will be a presentation on the recent Genfest 2012 in which the young people took the lead. It is a sign of the importance with which the Focolare look to the future generations as a future that is already present and an encouragement for the entire Movement. On 26 September the Holy Mass will be presided over by the Bishop of Frascati, Raffaello Martinelli.
During this meeting Citta Nuova will release its new book, “La scommessa di Emmaus, cosa fanno e cosa pensano I focolarini dopo Chiara (“The Challenge for Emmaus: What the focolarini are doing and thinking in the aftermath of Chiara”).
Sep 11, 2012 | Non categorizzato
“If each one of us were to share with at least five other young people what we have lived during these days in Budapest, then perhaps we really could change the world.” This was courageously spoken by one Palestinian Muslim from Jerusalem who then concluded: “Don’t forget to pray for the situation in Palestine.” His words were echoed by an Algerian, also a Muslim: “If it was possible to live these days with young people of so many ethnic groups, cultures, languages and religions, then it can also be done in the places we live.” These words were spoken on the last morning of the Genfest, which was dedicated to interreligious dialogue.
Among the main protagonists of the Genfest eventwhich took place in the Sports Arena, there were also Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus who were directly and personally involved in the organization of the event. On Sunday morning as the Roman Catholic young people attended Mass in the great St Stephen’s Square, young people of other Christian Churches took part in liturgical services organised by their own Church: there were members of the Orthodox Church from 8 Patriarchates and Churches, Coptic-Orthodox, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists and members of the Pentecostal Church. The Holy Supper, which the Lutherans and members of the Reformed Church celebrated together, was presided by Pastor Zoltan Tarr, Secretary-General of the Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church.
For the faithful of other religions an alternative program was provided which allowed them to meet for sharing experiences of their commitment to dialogue in everyday life. This interreligious gathering really took the hearts and minds of all who attended. It turned out to be quite a special moment that strengthened the bridges amidst the diversity of religions and cultures. The moderators of the assembly included an Algerian Muslim, a Japanese Buddhist and a Jordanian Christian.
The hall became a living kaleidoscope. There were people from USA, Uruguay, Japan, Thailand, India, Algeria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territory, Macedonia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, France, Italy and other countries. Among them were Jews, Muslims, Mahayana and Theravada Buddhists, Hindus and Jainists and representatives of the Tenri-kyo, a nineteenth century religion from Japan. There were also some Catholic young people among them who wanted to share this moment with their friends.
Representatives from different religious traditions shared how they are already trying to build peace and universal brotherhood in their daily lives. There were young people from a Jewish group of laity in Uruguay who are working for human rights; the commitment of Algerian and Macedonian Muslim youths in living out the values of universal brotherhood in their daily lives at work and at university; social projects that were organized by a Gandhi organization in southern India. The young people belonging to Tenri-kyo described their efforts in trying to bring joy to the world; the Buddhists of the Myochikai shared about their project involving youth training in ethics promoted through various interreligious networks, particularly that of the Rissho Kosei-kai which organises several peace programs, including the “Donate-a-Meal Fund for Peace“.
After nearly two hours they concluded with a minute of deep silence in which each of them prayed in their hearts according to the words and sentiments of their own faith for peace in the world and the work for universal brotherhood, and that they would be true builders of bridges. While leaving the gathering two young Jewish young people from Uruguay commented: “This was an incredible experience! We must work together for bringing this spirit to wherever we are.” Two Hindus said: “There are no words to describe what we have experienced in these days.” One Japanese Buddhist commented: “I’ve found the strength to face the difficult situations with love.” and together with some others he shouted: “Let’s bridge!”
Sep 7, 2012 | Non categorizzato
Greetings of the Holy Father to the young people who had participated in Genfest 2012
Sep 4, 2012 | Non categorizzato
My name is Sam and I come from Thailand. I am a Buddhist and I got to know Youth for a United World through a Buddhist friend of mine. Being and working with them, I saw how it was possible to be truly brothers and sisters, even though we have different faith beliefs.
In October last year, there was severe flooding in my country. The destruction was massive and incalculable. It will take a very long time to rebuild what was lost, because houses, factories, whole villages and cities were under water for various months in different parts of the country!
An extraordinary thing that happened was that this terrible calamity also brought about a great sense of solidarity among all the Thai people. It was an unexpected phenomenon. The country had just come out of a long period of political struggle which had at times been violent because of the elections. Perhaps you remember seeing soldiers shooting and dead bodies on the street. Instead, the flood reunited everyone.
The floods affected me personally. The water had flooded the entire neighbourhood where I lived. I didn’t have much to lose because I lived in a small apartment, but others even lost their lives through electric shocks. People rushed frantically to escape the danger and found refuge at a reception point.
Together with the Youth for a United World we went to help the people who had found shelter in one of the reception centres. There elderly people as well as children. Some had left their homes in the clothes they were in, not being able to carry anything with them. Some were in a state of shock, a few were seriously ill. It was a terrible scene! So, we tried to help in practical ways, but also encouraging those who were demoralised, giving out food and toys to the children and playing with them; we tried to share in their hopelessness.
The most important thing at the time was to help save the city of Bangkok, the capital from the floods. Students and many other people set about strengthening the banks of the rivers and canals and building barriers to divert any water that overflowed. We too went to fill bags with sand that was delivered by big trucks… When we got to the place where the sandbags were being prepared we worked day and night in the mud. The sand was dirty and stank: it was a real race against time. People came from all over the city at all hours.
It was exhausting work and we also had to miss out on some meals and sleep. The ideal of a united world kept us going. We built and repaired the banks of the canals that protected the capital of Bangkok, but even better than this was the friendships and fraternity that was built amongst everyone and which still remains. In the end the flood passed but what remained was the joy of having given of ourselves to build a more united world. This might mean getting our hands dirty in the midst of the mud, but the greatest joy was in giving and in loving!
