By Vanessa M. Puno
The Focolare Movement, a Catholic organization founded by an Italian laywoman, Chiara Lubich, celebrates this year the 50th anniversary of its establishment in the Philippines. The event will be highlighted by the holding of the Focolare Movement of School of Dialogue with Oriental Religions of the Pan-Asian Formation Course on Interreligious Dialogue from March 2 to 5.
With the theme “Harmony among Peoples and Religions Today”, Archbishop Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle will be the keynote speaker. The event will conclude with the closing celebration at Terra Moy, Mariapolis Peace in Tagaytay.
Focolare’s has been engaging in interreligious dialogue with Buddhists, Hindus and Moslems and other faiths for the 50 years of its existence in the country.
Focolare’s New City Press celebrated its 50th anniversary on August 28, 2016, with the theme “New City Press PH, 50 years at the service of a United World”, at San Carlos Seminary auditorium in Makati City. With its mission to propagate the ideal of unity, the New City Press has continued to reach readers with its publications of several books, magazines and reading materials. The Mariapolis Peace in Tagaytay, with its School of Dialogue with Oriental Religions, was established in 1982. Focolare also has social centers, such as Bukas Palad and Pagasa Social Centers, and development projects, which have been instituted for the needs of thousands of poor families.
Last year the Focolare organized two major events. One is a Pan Asian Meeting for Economists on May 25 and 26, 2016, which advocated an Economy of Communion aimed at bridging the social economic divide in the world.
The other event is the World Media Congress 2016, which promoted dialogic journalism to help build peace and universal brotherhood. Organized by New City Press and Institute of Spirituality in Asia it was held from October 10 to 12, 2016.
The Focolare Movement in the Philippines will host the International Genfest in June 2018. The last Genfest was held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2012. This international youth meeting is usually attended by more than 20,000 participants from all over the world.
Humble beginnings
The Focolare Movement came in Asia and in the Philippines amid the spread of communism in some Southeast Asian countries—Vietnam, LaoPDR and Cambodia—and the threat of communism in Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries. Fr. Joseph Taschner, SVD, a missionary priest who met the Focolare Movement-Europe in 1964, had spread the charism of unity and living the Gospel by organizing groups to regularly meet for the “Word of Life” in the Philippines before the pioneers of the Focolare Movement arrived in Manila.
The pioneers of the Focolare in the Philippines were sent by foundress Chiara Lubich. They were Giovanna Vernuccio, Guido Mirti, Silvio Daneo and others in February 1966.
Cause of Chiara Lubich beatification
Several years after Lubich’s death on March 14, 2008, members of the Focolare in the Philippines, and in other countries were jubilant following the opening of the cause of her beatification at the Cathedral of Frascati in Rome, Italy, on January 27, 2015.
The Focolare in the Philippines and in the world who draw inspiration from her saintly life glued themselves to the news of the opening of the cause of beatification.
The postulation commission designated by Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement, postulator, Fr. Silvestre Marques, and the vice postulators, Lucia Abignente and Waldery Hilgeman.
A prayer for intercession of Lubich, now a Servant of God, says: “Eternal Father, source of love, of every light and goodness, we give You thanks for the charism of unity given to Chiara and for the remarkable testimony of it she gave to the Church and humanity, remaining faithful to Jesus Forsaken.”