Sunday, September 2, 2012. The lights have gone out in the Budapest Sport Arena after it had witnessed the tenth edition of Genfest. Thousands of young people are now returning to their homes to be “bridge builders” among their own people, to spread the ideal of brotherhood.
September 1, the second day of Genfest was also a day filled with talks, music and dance, movement and colours to represent the building of bridges. “Let’s bridge” hand gestures were continually exchanged, acquiring an even deeper meaning by the end of the day.
Make a plan: The first phase in building bridges is, of course, to make a plan. Bassem from Egypt described the conflicts following the events in Tahrir Square. There was talk of social exclusion, as highlighted by the experience of Plinio in Brazil. But the experiences shared during the event call for a protest which is non-violent. We can face the problems of today’s world in a different and positive way, and always in line with the Golden Rule, “To do unto others what you would like others to do unto you,” in order to build brotherhood and peace, especially in difficult situations.
Get your hands dirty: Get your hands dirty digging through the mud is the next phase. Some young people from Thailand took these words quite literally, recounting how they went to help victims of the flood that had devastated their country. This commitment involves reaching out personally to people in need. Ricardo from Chile and the young people from Indonesia and Sweden shared similar stories under different circumstances.Lay the foundations and plant the pillars: Then it was time to talk about laying the foundations. Here the young people were given the opportunity to relive the experience of Chiara Lubich, through a theatrical monologue that included her address to the United Nations. The message was clear: a choice of God who is Love that stirs us to love others. The Golden Rule expressed by the Christian Scriptures: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12). And this expressed in different ways by the sacred texts of the other Great Religions.
The experience of some Christian and Hindu youths from India confirmed the possibility of living the Golden Rule, together with a young married couple from Switzerland, and Nacho, a young Argentinian who left a promising career in football to dedicate his life to the service of others. These were courageous choices, often against the current, but always bringing about the fullness of life.
To complete the bridge: The completion of the bridge is the next phase. It’s an image of the unity that flows through daily situations in life.
It involves the cornerstone that keeps the bridge’s arch from collapsing: loving even when it is painful. This was illustrated by some young Italians who work at a center that offers help to illegal immigrants. Their presentation also had photos and voice recordings of their friends. Then Adhelard and Ariane from Burundi talked about their work in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Bujumbura.
And Kaye from the Philippines shared her experience of separation in the family.
These ongoing situations, lived with love, allow those involved to experience a fullness of life even in sorrowful situations.
Cross the bridge: Thus solid foundations are laid that allow for safe crossing, the final phase of this metaphorical process. And a bridge provides also access to many roads.
Issa, a Christian from Nazareth and Noura, a Muslim from Jerusalem know how true this is. They meet regularly, together with other Christian, Muslim and Jewish youths, to know one another better and to pray for peace.
The joy among the 12,000 youths was indeed great as they flowed out of the Sport Arena in the evening, in a symbolic march towards Budapest’s Chain Bridge.
Thirty seconds of silence passed before the go-ahead was given to the biggest international flash mob in history. Someone shouted “Go!” as the young people exchanged colourful scarves on which they had each written a phrase along with their name. It was a moment of joyful and festive confusion. Then there was another cry of: “Stop!” and they were allowed to unfold their scarves and learn about “The gift that God wanted to give them,” as one tearful youth said after reading the message, “God loves you immensely.” “Today we begin to live for peace,” another said. “Let’s bridge” was written in all the languages. “I place on my wrist the bracelet (a short string distributed to all as a sign of the pact to ‘bridge,’) not to be a conformist, but because it makes me commit myself,” said one young man.
Looking into their faces, I found it really possible to believe that. Perhaps Budapest will be able to write in its history about this unusual and non-violent revolution that has taken place here today.
The final morning of September 2 was spent in St Stephen’s Square, at the very heart of Budapest where there was the Holy Mass for the Catholic young people. Youths from other Churches celebrated their own services in other locations around the city, while 160 Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu youths also found a prayer room prepared for each group. At the conclusion they all gathered together for a moment of silence and recollection for peace: the Time-Out.
The next appointment is in Rio de Janeiro. Two Brazilian youths got up on stage and invited everyone to World Youth Day 2013 in their country. Every participant left with the commitment to building fraternal relationships among groups and individuals in the 104 countries from which they hailed. From Budapest to the world!
Focolare Information Service
September 1, the second day of Genfest was also a day filled with talks, music and dance, movement and colours to represent the building of bridges. “Let’s bridge” hand gestures were continually exchanged, acquiring an even deeper meaning by the end of the day.
Make a plan: The first phase in building bridges is, of course, to make a plan. Bassem from Egypt described the conflicts following the events in Tahrir Square. There was talk of social exclusion, as highlighted by the experience of Plinio in Brazil. But the experiences shared during the event call for a protest which is non-violent. We can face the problems of today’s world in a different and positive way, and always in line with the Golden Rule, “To do unto others what you would like others to do unto you,” in order to build brotherhood and peace, especially in difficult situations.
Get your hands dirty: Get your hands dirty digging through the mud is the next phase. Some young people from Thailand took these words quite literally, recounting how they went to help victims of the flood that had devastated their country. This commitment involves reaching out personally to people in need. Ricardo from Chile and the young people from Indonesia and Sweden shared similar stories under different circumstances.Lay the foundations and plant the pillars: Then it was time to talk about laying the foundations. Here the young people were given the opportunity to relive the experience of Chiara Lubich, through a theatrical monologue that included her address to the United Nations. The message was clear: a choice of God who is Love that stirs us to love others. The Golden Rule expressed by the Christian Scriptures: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt. 7:12). And this expressed in different ways by the sacred texts of the other Great Religions.
The experience of some Christian and Hindu youths from India confirmed the possibility of living the Golden Rule, together with a young married couple from Switzerland, and Nacho, a young Argentinian who left a promising career in football to dedicate his life to the service of others. These were courageous choices, often against the current, but always bringing about the fullness of life.
To complete the bridge: The completion of the bridge is the next phase. It’s an image of the unity that flows through daily situations in life.
It involves the cornerstone that keeps the bridge’s arch from collapsing: loving even when it is painful. This was illustrated by some young Italians who work at a center that offers help to illegal immigrants. Their presentation also had photos and voice recordings of their friends. Then Adhelard and Ariane from Burundi talked about their work in a refugee camp on the outskirts of Bujumbura.
And Kaye from the Philippines shared her experience of separation in the family.
These ongoing situations, lived with love, allow those involved to experience a fullness of life even in sorrowful situations.
Cross the bridge: Thus solid foundations are laid that allow for safe crossing, the final phase of this metaphorical process. And a bridge provides also access to many roads.
Issa, a Christian from Nazareth and Noura, a Muslim from Jerusalem know how true this is. They meet regularly, together with other Christian, Muslim and Jewish youths, to know one another better and to pray for peace.
The joy among the 12,000 youths was indeed great as they flowed out of the Sport Arena in the evening, in a symbolic march towards Budapest’s Chain Bridge.
Thirty seconds of silence passed before the go-ahead was given to the biggest international flash mob in history. Someone shouted “Go!” as the young people exchanged colourful scarves on which they had each written a phrase along with their name. It was a moment of joyful and festive confusion. Then there was another cry of: “Stop!” and they were allowed to unfold their scarves and learn about “The gift that God wanted to give them,” as one tearful youth said after reading the message, “God loves you immensely.” “Today we begin to live for peace,” another said. “Let’s bridge” was written in all the languages. “I place on my wrist the bracelet (a short string distributed to all as a sign of the pact to ‘bridge,’) not to be a conformist, but because it makes me commit myself,” said one young man.
Looking into their faces, I found it really possible to believe that. Perhaps Budapest will be able to write in its history about this unusual and non-violent revolution that has taken place here today.
The final morning of September 2 was spent in St Stephen’s Square, at the very heart of Budapest where there was the Holy Mass for the Catholic young people. Youths from other Churches celebrated their own services in other locations around the city, while 160 Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu youths also found a prayer room prepared for each group. At the conclusion they all gathered together for a moment of silence and recollection for peace: the Time-Out.
The next appointment is in Rio de Janeiro. Two Brazilian youths got up on stage and invited everyone to World Youth Day 2013 in their country. Every participant left with the commitment to building fraternal relationships among groups and individuals in the 104 countries from which they hailed. From Budapest to the world!
Focolare Information Service
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