L’attrattiva del tempo moderno

Ecco la grande attrattiva

del tempo moderno:

penetrare nella più alta contemplazione

e rimanere mescolati fra tutti,

uomo accanto a uomo.

Vorrei dire di più: perdersi nella folla,

per informarla del divino,

come s’inzuppa

un frusto di pane nel vino.

Vorrei dire di più:

fatti partecipi dei disegni di Dio

sull’umanità,

segnare sulla folla ricami di luce

e, nel contempo, dividere col prossimo

l’onta, la fame, le percosse, le brevi gioie.

Perchè l’attrattiva

gel nostro, come di tutti i tempi,

è ciò che di più umano e di più divino

SI possa pensare,

Gesù e Maria:

il Verbo di Dio, figlio d’un falegname;

la Sede della Sapienza, madre di casa.

Chiara Lubich

GEN ROSSO - Tournée in Brazil and WYD 2013

From May 16 to July 27, 2013, the Gen Rosso Group is in Brazil on a very special tournée presenting  its  “Strong without violence” project.  In Europe,  about 500,000 young people have already participated in this initiative, whose  goal,  recognized and funded by the European Union, is to contribute towards strengthening against violence, isolation, drugs, bullying, and many other various kinds of  subtle but painful experiences of oppression.

 The focal point of this project is the musical “Streetlight”  which narrates a true story, that of Charles Moats (1951 - 1969), who grew up in the ghettos of Chicago and remained faithful to his gospel-related ideals, despite the difficulties and the hatred he encountered.  He decided  against violence and  he sticked to his choice in a very coherent way, even at the cost of his own life.

In Brazil, young people recovering from various addictions in therapeutic communities are involved in “Streetlight.”  They come from the communities of “Fazenda da Esperanca”  and also  from other ecclesial or social realties  such as the Association for the  Protection and Assistance to Prisoners ( APAC),  the Mundo Novo Sem Drogas Movement,  the Casa do Menor de Nova Iguaçu (RJ), Canção Nova and the Shalom Community.

Who are the Y4UW?

We are the “Youth for a United World (Y4UW) Movement” founded by Chiara Lubich in 1985. It is part of the wide ranging Focolare Movement. Our ages vary from 17 to 30 and we come from different walks of life. In fact, our main characteristic is universality. We are youth from all over the world and we belong to different ethnic groups, nationalities and cultures. Many of us profess different creeds, whilst some of us do not have a religious belief; however we are all passionate protagonists striving for universal brotherhood.

This trend is slowly penetrating the youth milieu, which is called to face the numerous challenges brought about by a culture that exalts provisional values, relativism and individualism, especially in the West.

It is a void in the hearts of many young people that longs for fullness, prompts the search; in order to seek an ideal in life which is worth living for: to contribute towards building a united world.

It is exactly in this daily challenge that young Christians have the opportunity to consolidate the choice of Jesus as a model and the Gospel as a code of life.

In accepting the united world project, young people belonging to different religions are continuously prompted to faithfully measure up to the doctrines of their Religion, like for example in living by the Golden Rule: “do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Mt. 7:12)

Young people of other convictions share with enthusiasm every concrete initiative in favour of the neighbour, thus expressing the highest human values.

The strong spirit that animates the Y4UW brings about numerous actions both on the local level as well the international level. Very briefly, these actions consist of:

Quick interventions in order to assist victims of earthquakes, floods, famines, wars... In recent months, for example, we are committed to helping malnourished children in Ivory Coast and Uganda, flood victims in Nigeria, Thailand, the Philippines, Italy, and assisting families in Syria.

On the local level, the Y4UW carry out all kinds of micro-projects, all aimed at building fraternity in their city, neighbourhood, school, university... There is a growing enthusiasm in fulfilling actions of fraternity in all the five continents: works in favour of street children, homeless, abandoned elderly people, handicapped persons, prisoners, immigrants... in each place of course, according to the most urgent needs of the area.

 Since 1996, the Y4UW celebrate the “United World Week – UWW” on annual basis. The UWW is the Y4UW proposal to cities, to institutions, to all in order to promote unity and peace at every level. Many activities are concentrated during these UWW days in order to influence the public opinion and witness together that building a united world is possible. An internet link-up provides for simultaneous connection of around 4.000 points on the globe.

Genfest 2012: Last September, about 12,000 young people from 104 countries gathered in Budapest, Hungary to celebrate the 10^th Genfest in history. Through the social networks, we were linked-up to around half a million people. The title of the event: “Let’s Bridge”, that is, let’s build bridges with all and the result was clear: we all left Budapest with steadfast conviction that a united world is possible!

Fully aware it is not possible to build a united world on their own, the Y4UW work together with all men and women of good will, collaborating with all those committed for the same goal.

GMG 2013: festa dei giovani a Rio de Janeiro

Uno sguardo sulla Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù e il contributo dei giovani del Movimento dei Focolari

Rio de Janeiro si prepara ad accogliere 2 milioni di giovani per la XXVIII Giornata Mondiale della Gioventù. Ma non solo. Accoglierà anche Papa Francesco che, nel suo primo viaggio apostolico, incontrerà i giovani a Copacabana per la Via Crucis e nel Campus Fidei per la Veglia e la Santa Messa conclusiva.

Francesco visiterà alcune “periferie” brasiliane, come la comunità della favela di Varginha, alcuni giovani detenuti di Rio e inaugurerà un nuovo complesso per tossicodipendenti nell’Ospedale San Francesco di Assisi, una delle eredità sociali della GMG.

Non poteva mancare una visita al Santuario di Aparecida – dove nel 2007 si è svolta la V Conferenza Generale dell’Episcopato Latinoamericano e dei Caraibi (CELAM) – che ha prodotto l’importante e significativo Documento di Aparecida, regalato dal Papa ai Capi di Stato latinoamericani che gli hanno fatto visita nelle ultime settimane.

Il 21 luglio, presso la Pontificia Università Cattolica di Rio de Janeiro, avrà luogo un incontro interreligioso con 200 giovani ebrei, cattolici e musulmani provenienti da tutto il Brasile. Sebbene preceda l’inizio ufficiale del programma, ne è considerato parte integrante. L’arcivescovo di Rio, mons. Tempesta, aprirà l’incontro. Lo scopo è arrivare a proposte di azioni concrete per superare pregiudizi e dare visibilità a quanto già si fa in Brasile in questo ambito. A Rio, un gruppo interreligioso di giovani si trova mensilmente percorrendo un cammino di arricchimento e conoscenza reciproca.

We Need to Talk!

Written by Luigino Bruni

Good relationships at work are based on mutual respect and understanding. Why don’t we dedicate time to listen to one another? Long standing institutions prove it is beneficial.

Employed workers suffer from general anxiety due to the high rates of unemployment. In Southern Europe employees are increasingly unsatisfied (Ipsos, TNS-sofres). 68% of French workers state that the quality of their working life decreased between 2008 to 2012; among those who are 35 to 49 years old, 75% express their discontent. Middle-aged workers, usually half way through their career, suffer from chronic dissatisfaction.

The motivations to work vary through time. During the first years of a new career people are excited and enthusiastic. After twenty years in the same office of an organization, the enthusiasm dies out. Without new and more compelling motivations, workers become weary and cynical. The above mentioned survey indicates that average public sector employees are the least enthusiastic about their work.

Workplaces are filled with discontent middle age workers. Much of the research done in this area reveals a U-shaped graph correlating happiness and age. The point of minimum happiness hits around 45 years of age. From this age, workers’ happiness increases if they have good health and social relationships.

Vanity Fair nomina il Papa “uomo dell’anno”

Per Elton John: “Francesco è un miracolo di umiltà nell'era della vanità”

Di Antonio Gaspari

ROMA, 15 Luglio 2013 (Zenit.org) - Il settimanale Vanity Fair ha dedicato la copertina del numero di luglio (n° 28, 17 luglio 2013) a Papa Francesco. Con la foto intitolata “Francesco Papa Coraggio”, la rivista ha nominato in anticipo il Pontefice “uomo dell’anno”. Secondo Vanity Fair, infatti, i primi cento giorni di Papa Francesco lo hanno messo in testa "ai leader mondiali che fanno la storia”.

Molto interessanti i commenti, soprattutto tra coloro che non sono cattolici e che hanno espresso nel passato critiche alla chiesa. Elton John, ad esempio, ha scritto che “Papa Francesco è per la Chiesa cattolica la migliore notizia da diversi secoli a questa parte. Quest’uomo da solo, è riuscito a riavvicinare la gente agli insegnamenti di Cristo”. “I non cattolici come me – ha aggiunto il cantante – si alzano in piedi ad applaudire l’umiltà di ogni suo gesto” perché “Francesco è un miracolo di umiltà nell’era della vanità”.

Andrea Bocelli, il cantante che a causa di un incidente è diventato cieco a dodici anni, ha raccontato che quando ha sentito le prime parole di Papa Francesco gli si sono riempiti gli occhi di lacrime. “Papa Francesco – ha raccontato – è entrato così nel mio cuore, lo ha conquistato con la sua autentica umiltà, con la forza disarmante della sua fede, con tutto quel vissuto che illumina le sue parole e addolcisce il timbro della sua voce.”

This is the great attraction

This is the great attraction
of modern times;
to penetrate to the highest contemplation
while mingling with everyone,
one person alongside others.

I would say even more:

to lose oneself in the crowd
in order to fill it with the divine,
like a piece of bread
dipped in wine.

I would say even more:

made sharers of God’s plans
for humanity,
to embroider patterns of light on the crowd,

and at the same time to share with our neighbour
shame, hunger, troubles, brief joys. 

Because the attraction

of our times, as of all times,
is the highest conceivable expression
of the human and the divine,
Jesus and Mary:
the Word of God, a carpenter’s son;
the Seat of Wisdom, a mother at home."

Chiara Lubich (Meditations)

Meeting Caserta 2013: Medaglia del Presidente della Repubblica

Vanno avanti i preparativi del meeting a Caserta, presso il Villaggio Meeting PalaVignola, dal 29 luglio al 2 agosto!

“LEGALITA’ – Protagonisti della nostra terra” – è il titolo del meeting promosso da noi giovani del Movimento dei Focolari di tutta Italia che vedrà convergere da tutto il territorio nazionale. Tutte le informazioni principali sono già presenti sul sito web www.cantierelegalita.org.

Il 18 giugno abbiamo ricevuto una lettera dal Presidente della Repubblica, Giorgio Napolitano, il quale ha voluto omaggiarci della medaglia presidenziale come suo premio di rappresentanza, donandoci i suoi migliori auguri per il successo della manifestazione.

Programma del Meeting:

Le mattine saranno dedicate tutte al campi di lavoro e all’impegno sul territorio di Napoli e Caserta, attraverso attività ecologiche di risanamento ambientale e restauro urbanistico, agricole nelle terre confiscate alle mafie, animazione in quartieri con marcato disagio sociale, visite presso realtà aziendali e del non profit per conoscere esperienze di buone pratiche;

La santità veste jeans - Sanctity wearing jeans

WORLD YOUTH DAY RIO 2013 – EXPECTED SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Date	Time	Activity
Sunday 21st July	08:00 – 13:00	Interreligious Event at the Catholic Pontifical University – PUC – Gávea Rio area – Some Youth for a United World (Y4UW) from Rio are preparing for this event. Go down at Siqueira Campos Metro Station and proceed by bus.
Tuesday 23rd July	08:00 – 20:00	Vocational Fair at Quinta da Boa Vista in the São Cristovão area – A stand prepared by São Paulo Y4UW. (Close to Maracanã Metro Station). From 14:15 – 16:15: there will be an on-stage presentation of the Focolare Movement; the life story of Chiara Luce (book and show); of Sophia University Institute; of “Escola Civitas” and workshops on: “Possible relationships between science and religion – from a Mathematical perspective.”
	08:00 – 20:00	Focolare Movement exhibition stand with the distribution of Chiara Luce’s book by “Cidade Nova” at “Largo da Carioca” Metro Station. “Cidade Nova” exhibition stand & book sale at Rio Centro:
	19:30	Openning Ceremonies: Official Holy Mass celebrated by Msgr. Tempesta and Msgr. Rylko at Copacabana Seafront.
Wednesday 24th July	08:00 – 20:00	Vocational Fair at Quinta da Boa Vista in the São Cristovão area – A stand prepared by São Paulo Y4UW (Youth for a United World). The location is close to Maracanã Metro Station.
	08:00 – 20:00	Focolare Movement exhibition stand with the distribution of Chiara Luce’s book by “Cidade Nova” at “Largo da Carioca” Metro Station. “Cidade Nova” exhibition stand & book sale at Rio Centro:
	09:30 – 13:00	Catechetical session: animated in Portuguese by the Y4UW from Mariapoli Ginetta, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte. Locality still unknown.
	15:00	A meeting with Chiara Luce: at the “Grande Sala da Cidade das Artes” in Bairro de Barra da Tijuca. Go down at Siqueira Campos Metro Station and proceed by bus to Alvorada Station.
	18:00	A meeting with Chiara Luce: at the “Grande Sala da Cidade das Artes” in Bairro de Barra da Tijuca. Go down at Siqueira Campos Metro Station and proceed by bus to Alvorada Station.
	20:00	Gen Rosso Concert – “Indelible Dimension” at the Convention Centre  – Rio Centro – at the Catholic Expo. Go down at Siqueira Campos Metro Station and proceed to Alvorada Station and take secondo bus.

Summer School Internazionale 2013

Dal 25 al 29 agosto 2013 a Tonadico di Primiero (Trento): “Per una cultura del dialogo tra le civiltà. Le risorse delle scienze umane davanti ai conflitti”

Parlare di “civiltà” al plurale significa accettare in maniera convinta e profonda la presenza dell’altro e conferirgli la stessa dignità che si attribuisce a noi stessi. Pensare e praticare il dialogo significa considerare questa pluralità come una ricchezza e stimare la diversità come la possibilità di aprire l’uno all’altro aspetti sconosciuti del bene e della verità. Il mutuo riconoscimento e rispetto, il dialogo, l’arricchimento reciproco, sono dunque la norma. In questa prospettiva, invece, i conflitti vanno considerati come ostacolo da superare, o come eccezione o patologia. Ma le scienze umane si costituiscono secondo questa prospettiva? Oppure hanno scambiato i ruoli della norma e della sua violazione, così che è il conflitto ad apparire come “normale” mentre la pace viene resa secondaria? E con quali conseguenze sulla capacità delle scienze stesse di comprendere i conflitti, di gestirli attraverso regole, di sanarli? Forse un profondo ripensamento delle scienze umane, nelle loro fondamenta e metodologie, nei loro obiettivi, si rende oggi necessario.

The GOLDEN RULE in action

Source: Focolare

By living the Golden Rule (“Do to others what you would like them to do to you; do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you”in the Focolare community of Acquaviva delle Fonti in southern Italy, people share the family spirit with others who are living far from their homes and loved ones.

They come from the most varied backgrounds, lands and cultures: Albania, Ukraine, Georgia, Morocco, Senegal, Romania, Nigeria and Belarus. Like many of their fellow countrymen and women they are leaving behind dramatic situations, as well as their loved ones in the hope of finding work and a better future for their lives.

They have landed in Acquaviva delle Fonti, a town of the Bari province which, like other southern Italian towns, has become the destination or crossing point for many who are dreaming of a better life. The Focolare community here has for some time felt summoned by their presence: “We had it in our hearts,” they write, “to see to it that these many foreigners/immigrants would feel welcomed in our city.” Personal relationships were established, bonds of friendship that overcame barriers and mistrust. “Three years ago,” they say, “we decided to organize a festival that we could all share during the Christmas season, so they could breathe in a bit of family atmosphere instead of the loneliness and marginalization that many unfortunately experience.” Our friendship became deeper and deeper. And now the Christmas festival has become an annual tradition. In what we call the ‘the people’s festival’ our friends now feel free enough to extend the invitation to other foreign friends, and we are more than happy to welcome them.”

Programma GMG a Rio de Janeiro dal 21 al 28 luglio

Data	Ora	Attività
Domenica 21 luglio	08:00 – 13:00	Evento Interreligioso nella Pontificia Università Cattolica – PUC - Rio quartiere di Gávea – Alcuni/e Giovani per un Mondo Unito (GMU) di Rio stanno nella preparazione. Stazione Metro Siqueira Campos e poi collegamento con pullman.
Martedì 23 luglio	08:00 – 20:00	Fiera delle Vocazioni nella Quinta da Boa Vista nel quartiere di São Cristovão - Stand preparato dai GMU. Stazione Metro Maracanã. Dalle 14:15 – 16:15: presentazione dal palco della Fiera: cos’è il Mov. Dei Focolari, chi è Chiara Luce (vita, libro, spettacolo), presentazione dello United World Project, Istituto Sophia, “Escola Civitas” e workshop: “Possibile relazioni fra scienza e religione - uno sguardo della Matematica”.
	08:00 – 20:00	Tenda del Movimento nel “Largo da Carioca”: distribuzione del libro di Chiara Luce da “Cidade Nova”. Stazione Metro Carioca. Anche nel Rio Centro: Tenda “Cidade Nova”
	19:30	Ceremonia di Accoglienza con Mons. Tempesta e Mons. Rylko a Copacabana.
Mercoledì 24 luglio	08:00 – 20:00	Fiera delle Vocazioni nella Quinta da Boa Vista nel quartiere di São Cristovão - Stand preparato dai GMU - Giovani per un Mondo Unito di São Paulo. Stazione Metro Maracanã.
	08:00 – 20:00	Tenda del Movimento nel “Largo da Carioca”: distribuzione del libro di Chiara Luce da “Cidade Nova”. Stazione Metro Carioca. Anche nel Rio Centro: Tenda “Cidade Nova”
	09:30 – 13:00	Catechesi: animazione di una catechesi in portoghese fatta dai GMU della Mariapoli Ginetta, Brasília e Belo Horizonte. Non sappiamo ancora il locale.
	15:00	Spettacolo di Chiara Luce al “Grande Sala da Cidade das Artes” in Bairro de Barra da Tijuca. Stazione Metro Siqueira Campos e poi collegamento con pullman fino alla Stazione Alvorada.
	18:00	Spettacolo di Chiara Luce al “Grande Sala da Cidade das Artes” in Bairro de Barra da Tijuca. Stazione Metro Siqueira Campos e poi collegamento con pullman fino alla Stazione Alvorada.
	20:00	Concerto Gen Rosso – “Dimensione Indelebile” nel centro di Convegni – Rio Centro – nell’Expo Cattolica. Stazione Metro Siqueira Campos e poi collegamento con pullman fino alla Stazione Alvorada e poi ancora un’altro pullman.

WYD is fast approaching

Source: Focolare

A very intense programme with the over two million youths who are expected to attend, World Youth Day is also the first big event for Pope Francis.

“This is an invitation to be with the Pope as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus.” “We willingly and joyfully respond to this invitation.” Wherever the Church is, that is where we must be. The WYD broadens your horizons. It changes you and helps you grow in the faith. And so we are strengthened in our daily difficulties: at school, at work, at home and so on. The WYD leaves a permanent mark in the hearts of all the youths who’ve ever attended one, and we are certain that the same will happen here as well.” The speakers are Maria and Leandro, two young people from the Focolare in Rio de Janeiro. They are on location and actively involved in the preparations of this grand world event, but they express a commitment that involves the Focolare in various ways around the world.

What awaits the pilgrims who will be there on July 22-28? There are five main events planned for this pilgrimage:

• July 23: The World Youth Day Opening Mass in Copacabana.
• July 25: Welcoming Ceremony with the Pope on the shores of Copacabana, first encounter between Pope Francis and the millions of young people from five continents.
• July 26: Way of the Cross in Copacabanapresided by the Pope in the main park. The fourteen stations will retrace the path of Jesus with readings based on the great problems of today’s youth.
• July 27: Prayer Vigil with the Pope at the Fidei di Guaratiba Campus. Among the fifty artistic groups that will animate this prayer vigil, there will also be the Gen Rosso international band that will present its musical “Streetlight” involving two-hundred youths from the Fazenda da Esperanca and other communities. Gen Rosso has been on tour in Brazil since May 2013: seven cities and more than a thousand youths have been involved on stage, in the presentation of the show to another ten thousand spectators.
• July 28: The closing Mass at ten o’clock, celebrated by Pope Francis, marking the end of the World Youth Day and announcing the location of the next WYD.

“By the way while walking-2” “عالماشي”

A “fragment of fraternity” that shapes the UNITED WORLD PROJECT.

Location: 

Amman, Jordan

Date:

14 June 2013

One-Day Event – involving 65 young people with 15 promoters

Description:

Youth for a United World (Y4UW) group celebrated the United World Week 2013 by organizing "عالماشي- 2" as one of their social/environmental activities. Around 65 youth participated in the event that took place in different districts of Amman. The event included different phases, each participant tried to spread his/her desire to commit and make Amman a brighter and more colourful city! Our activities included: painting pavements, cleaning streets, distributing paper bags for cars’ garbage and distributing environmental brochures to the pedestrians, thanks to Greater Amman Municipality who have been a great support. The United World Project was launched at the end of the event where each participant planted a flower bush as his/her commitment to build a UNITED WORLD.

Beneficiaries:

Local residents and pedestrians

In collaboration with:

Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), TOTAL Jordan, Umnia Telecommunication, Royal TV, Radio Hawa Amman, Petra News, ITALFOOD Industry (Maretti), Saidawi Website Design and Press

Results:

Not only is Amman cleaner with less trash and more colours, but also it has influenced the local community some of whom also decided to help us out. Furthermore, many participants have committed themselves to live the Golden Rule which says “Do to others what you would like them do to you” by signing the petition of the United World Project.

Evaluation:

This activity has been a boost to the participants’ enthusiasm to work even more for our local community especially after seeing all the positive reaction from the community and the media.