May 19, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
On 17th May, three appointments, very diverse, but of great significance marked the stay of the president and co-president of the Focolare Movement in Austria. One of them was the visit, including Mass and lunch at the Cistercian abbey of Heiligenkreuz, mystical centre of the Viennese forest. This was followed by the meeting with Cardinal Christoph Schőnborn at the archbishopric of Vienna. Finally, at the Am Spiegeln Mariapolis Centre, an evening activity was held with a large group of “Youth for a United World” who came from various localities of the country. The activity was entitled “Let’s bridge Austria”, one of the introductory stages towards the coming Genfest in Budapest (31st August-2nd September 2012).
The co-president, Giancarlo Faletti, reviewed the day and confided with us “the profound impression made on him by the visit to the Heiligenkreuz, that is a thousand years old abbey, linked to the Benedictine charisma. Its vitality is expressed through its walls, its liturgy, and the very fraternal welcome by the Abbot and those primarily responsible for the Cistercian community.”
The president, Maria Voce told us about the very free and cordial conversation with the primate of Vienna: “The Cardinal has a great respect for the Movement, for what it is doing in Austria, and for the witness given by the Mariapoli Centre. He thanked the male and female focolarini of Vienna for immediately responding and putting into practice his appeal for a course of formation for disciples of Christ. On my part, I thanked him for giving our priests the possibility of forming a focolare in the new citadel. Living together by priests is a topic about which the cardinal appeared to be particularly touched, as he is very concerned that they often live in solitude. He also remembered Chiara Lubich, whom he saw for the first time at the Synod on the twentieth anniversary of Vatican Council 11, to which she had been invited together with Mother Theresa of Calcutta. At the time, he was a young theologian and he did not dare approach these two figures, whom he admired for their charismatic force.”
Both of them spoke about the effervescent evening spent at the Mariapolis centre – more than two hours of experiences, music and dialogue between generations – they agreed: “ It was very beautiful, a real immersion in vitality and enthusiasm. In being open and free from restrictions, the young people resemble all those from every part of the world. It is interesting to look at their eyes, their faces, feel them projected towards the future but also attentive to us, who have more experience behind us. When the Cardinal go to know about them and the Genfest, he was pleased: he observed that youths need these mass manifestations so as not to feel that they are alone and few, but together they are encouraged to witness their faith in Christ.”
By our correspondent Oreste Paliotti
May 11, 2012 | Non categorizzato
The 15th edition of World Unity Week (WUW) entitled “We are ready to bridge” started on the 1st of May, at Loppiano, with a worldwide linkup. In brief, the web has been invaded with photos, videos, notices, proposals and messages to be lived during the days of WUW. This manifestation has been carried out every year from 1996 onwards, and it always leaves its mark on the lives of many youths, involved in actions of fraternity and influencing of public opinion. This mark is made not only at the level of community but most of all on a personal level. The echoes reverberated from Syria to Kenya, from Mexico to Singapore, from Argentina to Italy, from the citadel of Loppiano to Budapest, the city of bridges.
This WUW is a fundamental stage for the Genfest that will take place at Budapest from the 31st August to 2nd September 2012, with the title “Let’s Bridge”. The central moment of the WUW was on the first day with a worldwide direct transmission on its official site and also through the contents gradually transmitted on twitter, facebook, youtube, and blog. Every day, thousands of Youths for a United World (GMU) posted on the net proposals that range from ecology to spirituality. The year of the genfest will end with the 16th WUW on 1st May 2013.
Let us now go on a worldwide tour to get to know the creative answers of many youths, from different cultures, who adhered to the invitation to participate in this manifestation.
These are some flash news:
PANAMA- On 29th April, there were 500 youths in the community of Pacora for the opening of the WUW. There were meditations from Chiara Lubich, Mother Theresa of Calcutta and Gandhi. They also presented the life of Chiara “Luce” Badano. Mons. Yovko Pishtiyski (the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Panama) celebrated the Holy Mass.
BRAZIL- the GMU (Youths for a United World) of Manaus prepared a vegetable soup to take it in the early hours of the morning, to the poor in the centre of the city. Thus they spoke with many of them and shared their difficulties.
CONGO- at Kinshasa, the GMU visited a centre for disabled, and carried out a day’s programme entitled “Build bridges of fraternity.”
HOLY LAND AND ITALY- the GMU of the Holy Land and Italy committed themselves to the project-“Ways of Peace”. A group of youths from the Holy Land who were visiting the Marche and Emilia Romagna regions took part in building bridges between different religions and cultures.
ITALY-At Torino a volleyball tourney was held at night entitled “Enjoy the fluo” Volleyball. It had a particular character: the games were played illuminated only by lamps that rendered fluorescent the t-shirts, field lines, ball and net that had been treated with special varnish. 7 teams were enrolled, with around 90 participants, apart from all those who just came to watch or give support.
Sant’Anastasia (NA) – Together with the association “Lucincitta”, the GMU organised an event called “Something Bright” a musical that relates the life of Chiara “Luce” Badano. 500 persons participated at this evening event that was supported by the local council.
Poggio Mirteto (RI) – Together with the “Bloccoverde Greenaction”, the GMU took forward various interesting initiatives to improve and protect the public green spaces.
SWITZERLAND- at Montet the 3rd edition of “Journee Uni” was held, at which 120 youths from French speaking Switzerland took part. The workshops touched upon themes like the Christian answer to sorrow; the meaning of life; social awareness and how to help a friend in difficulty.
From this WUW, that revealed initiatives that existed already and gave rise to new ones, the project emerged that seeks to “count” the actions for fraternity that are held in the world. It has been called “United World project”. “We wish to create a permanent observatory that measures at 360 degrees the development of fraternity practices,” says Letizia, who forms part of the team that is organising the Genfest. The appointment that the “Youths for a United World” had at the United Nations in New York, on 30th April, has encouraged us to go forward in order that this project is recognised as fundamental in bringing peace and development of peoples.
Links:
1) http://www.loppiano.it/default.asp?s=2&o=343&c=0
2) http://www.genfest.org/
3) https://twitter.com/genfest_it
4) https://www.facebook.com/genfest.it
5) http://www.youtube.com/genfest2012
6) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/
7) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/semana-mundo-unido-panama.html
8) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/settimana-mondo-unito-ways-of-peace.html
9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btj28QqfR4A&feature=plcp
10) https://www.facebook.com/events/229922083782415/
11) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/poggio-mirteto-bloccoverde-greenaction.html
12) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.292443110844466.73272.100002363386774&type=1
13) http://giovaniperunmondounito.blogspot.it/2012/05/congo-smu-2012.html
Apr 30, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
REPLAY 1st May youth meeting in Loppiano LIVE STREAMING EVENT
Read article: http://www.genfest.org/newnews/Lets-bridge-VOLUME-ZERO-has-started
Photo gallery on Flickr
Mar 12, 2012 | Non categorizzato
Young people of today, yesterday and tomorrow, and people of every age, on 11 March were in Castel Gandolfo, for an afternoon dedicated, on the fourth anniversary of her death, to Chiara Lubich and the new generations. There were witnesses from the earliest times of the unique rapport that the founder of the Focolare built up with the generation inspired by the protests of ’68 and who had not hesitated to follow her on the path of a different revolution: that of the gospel. Together with her first companions there were those who had never met Chiara personally but who today are working throughout the world to realize the project of universal brotherhood proposed by her charism. They come from places as far apart as Vietnam and Argentina, the United States and Hungary – indeed, in Hungary from 31 August to 2 September there will be the next Genfest, a worldwide youth meeting. 
A message of revolutionary potential was proposed in six scenarios by the young people that afternoon. The first was dedicated to the theme of change, characteristic of the times both then and now. All expressed their gratitude to Chiara – from Valerio Ciprì who gave voice to the longing of the protests in the 70s that inspired the musical group Gen Rosso, to Antonios from Egypt eye-witness to a revolution under way in his country. Among them was Pasquale Ferrara, now a diplomat involved in various peace projects, and Joao Braz Avis, recently made a Cardinal, called to Rome from Brasilia to head the Vatican Congregation for Religious Life. 
Freedom and justice were made concrete by a different way of looking at material goods that, as Chiara herself recalled in one of the numerous videos that were seen (all of them still up-to-date), ‘cannot move of their own accord.’ But giving time and goods is not the only way of ‘building an earthly paradise’ as Chiara urged in the 70s. This was demonstrated by several people. Giuseppe Milan has given a ‘communitarian’ character to courses held by the Science Department of Padua University, where he is head; Emanuele Pili is a student at the Sophia University Insititute, which has set up an interesting cooperation with Emanuele’s original University of Genoa; Patience Molle, an engineer and the first woman to head the Ministry for Public Works in Cameroon, in her administrative activities has respected the law and been faithful to the values that as a young person she imbibed from the Focolare; and Maria Chiara Campodoni at thirty years of age is town councillor with special responsibility for Sport in Faenza, near Ravenna, Italy. Another milestone was Chiara’s legacy and the tremendous value of suffering – a starting point for other goals. This was expressed in a moving way by Beppe Porqueddu, who was confined to a wheelchair after a motorbike accident when he was eighteen. He has found that his disability has been a ‘spark of social transformation’ in a world that seems to reject any limitation or illness. Today he is a rehabilitation technician and an instructor for workers in the field of rehabilitation. Even though it is rooted in the vision of God as love, Chiara’s message is not addressed only to Christians. On the stage there were also Habib, a young Muslim man; Metta, a Buddhist, who observed how this vision helped her to ‘come closer to the truth’; and Andrea ‘a non-believer more than an atheist’, who laid great emphasis upon the welcome and acceptance he had found. The afternoon was concluded by Focolare President Maria Voce. She put into light that ‘we have not done an act of remembrance or of celebration, but we have live’ and that Chiara was handing on again ‘here and now’ her message to young people. Young people who are called to welcome it and to put themselves on the line by committing themselves: ‘We owe it to the charism and the humanity.’ 12-03-2012 by Chiara Andreola – Source: Città Nuova
Mar 11, 2012 | Focolare Worldwide
Hungary has a very clear identity and it is a centuries-old bridge between Eastern and Western Europe. After the fall of communism it now finds itself in a crucial moment of transition. The country is seeking a new equilibrium between maintaining its specific characteristics and openness to the rest of the world. Speaking to the Hungarian community, during her recent visit, Maria Voce, the current president of the Focolare, invited them to ‘be aware of the many talents you have. Give them and welcome those of other peoples, learning always more how to work together.’
As a result of its geographical location and its past history, Hungary has had an important role also for the Focolare. Already in 1965, following the tragic events of the revolution that year, Pope Pius XII launched an appeal to the faithful throughout the world to ‘bring back God into society.’ Chiara Lubich responded with an exciting initiative: she began the Volunteers of God. In 1996 Budapest hosted the celebrations of their 40th anniversary and in 2006 the city hosted the ‘Volunteerfest’ with 12,000 people who came from 92 different countries.
In 1961, Chiara Lubich, visiting Budapest, was struck by the Church’s enforced clandestine existence. That year a focolare house was opened in Vienna, and from there, in the 70s and 80s, visits to Hungary took place. Contacts were made with people previously met in Italy and Austria. The first Focolare community in Hungary goes back to the years of communism when, between 1981 and 1982, men’s and women’s focolare houses were opened in Budapest.
The Focolare Movement in that difficult moment of history had an important role in supporting relationships between Catholic individuals and organizations, and so contributing to maintaining and developing the faith. Especially important was the role of several families who, with generosity, moved house and brought the Spirituality of Unity to various towns in Hungary and beyond. Thanks also to the commitment of several priests, the spirituality of the Movement spread further afield, transmitting the freshness and genuineness of gospel life.
Their shared suffering also strengthened relationships among Christians from the historic Hungarian Churches (Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran). Today they witness together to a fruitful ecumenical dialogue. The result has been two historic youth events: in 2000 the first ecumenical meeting for young people, organized by young people’s movements, with 3000 participants, and a repeat in 2003 with 16,000 participants. The Spirituality of Unity is spreading by means of books and the magazine Új Város.
The Word Life, which has 15,000 printed copies, is published in weekly newspapers and on the internet and is transmitted by radio.
History, therefore, has prepared the Focolare in this country to do its part in promoting initiatives that witness to the effort to build up fraternity, locally and internationally, run by younger and older people together: ‘72 hours without comprise’, ‘Peace Project Network’, ‘Mission to the City’, ‘Run for Unity’, ‘United World Week’.
In 2011, fifty years on from Chiara’s visit to Hungary, Maria Voce, visited the Movement’s communities, meeting priests, families and young people. She saw the commitment of New Families to work with young couples and how they work together with other associations and with various Churches to support marriage and family life. Maria Voce met with the members of New Humanity, which brings together people active in various worlds: health, economy, politics, sport and education.
But one of the most important meetings was with young people. Indeed, the Movement in Hungary is currently preparing to welcome 12,000 young people from all over the world between 31 August and 2 September 2012 for the 10th Genfest. Budapest will become a workshop of unity for the world. The event is called Let’s bridge and it will help Eastern European countries to ‘build bridges’ by displaying their specific values and characteristics. ‘It should be a huge celebration,’ Maria Voce said to the young people when they met. ‘It should give huge joy to the young people who come… letting them see for themselves that there is nothing more beautiful than the gospel revolution. We’ve seen revolutionaries of another sort: in the fields of art, of music … but a revolution that changes our lives and that can change the lives of others … the revolution of the gospel, the only one that God has really shown us with such power … let’s give all we’ve got to show it also to others!’
Visit Hungary’s pages on Focolare Worldwide!
Websites: Focolare Movement: www.fokolare.hu
Young People for a United World: www.ujifju.hu
Genfest: www.genfest.org
On 17th May, three appointments, very diverse, but of great significance marked the stay of the president and co-president of the Focolare Movement in Austria. One of them was the visit, including Mass and lunch at the Cistercian abbey of Heiligenkreuz, mystical centre of the Viennese forest. This was followed by the meeting with Cardinal Christoph Schőnborn at the archbishopric of Vienna. Finally, at the Am Spiegeln Mariapolis Centre, an evening activity was held with a large group of “Youth for a United World” who came from various localities of the country. The activity was entitled “Let’s bridge Austria”, one of the introductory stages towards the coming Genfest in Budapest (31st August-2nd September 2012).
