No half measures

300 youth intrigued by sanctity got together in Chicago, asking themselves: Is sanctity possible in today's society?

Upon reaching this city, the first thing that strikes you is the urban skyline with its lit-up skyscrapers. Chicago, the third largest city in the US with its 3 million multiethnic population (9 million if you include the suburbs), is the city with the second largest Polish population in the world. It also has particularly numerous Greek and Italian communities.

Throughout the decades – at times centuries – these cultural groups have maintained a clear identity within their characteristic neighbourhoods. Recent generations, however, have contributed to increased integration.

Some neighbourhoods have had serious public order problems and sometimes you’re told not to cross certain streets if you want to avoid trouble. But in Illinois and throughout the Midwest religious values and traditions are still strong and families strive to pass them on to their children.

Shortly after its arrival in the USA 50 years ago, the Focolare Movement was instituted in Chicago. The

Focolare’s youth members of this city organized a meeting for their peers which took place on Saturday afternoon in North Riverside’s Village Hall.
They invited friends and acquaintances as well many other young people through personal contacts, Facebook and the internet. It was difficult therefore to estimate the possible turn-out. The programme was courageous: a presentation of Chiara Luce Badano’s life enriched by experiences of local young people in their everyday environment of school and work. A young ballerina came from Ohio for the event and presented the audience with an elegant piece of dance. Another young artist sang a song she wrote about Chiara Luce and her sainthood.

This inspired Maria Voce’s opening lines when she herself took to the stage to greet the young participants. She underlined that God continues to call each one of us to be saints today and that he does this through people like Chiara Luce who show us how to become saints with the help of others: family and friends who live for the same ideals. The Focolare president concluded by launching an appeal without half measures: “Do you want to be a saint? Then why not do it?” The response was a standing ovation, a sign that the message really struck a chord. We can’t deny that today in the Mid-West and through out the world there is a thirst for sainthood.

By our correspondent Roberto Catalano