Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Focolare President
Maria Voce at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York,
during the Thanksgiving Liturgy for the 50th Anniversary
of the Focolare Movement in North America. Photo by CB Hanif
By C. B. Hanif
I am acquainted with many genuine, loving Christians. Start with my dear, departed mother. And her mother. And hers. So it’s saying a lot to say I know no more genuine Christians today than the members of the worldwide Focolare movement.
As Christ Jesus talked and walked, so does this primarily Catholic lay community that is observing the 50th anniversary of its presence in North America.
Early members of this movement, founded by the late Chiara Lubich, emerged in 1943 from WWII bomb shelters in Trent, Italy, having clung to their Bibles and the realization that God is love. Since then they have proceeded to exemplify, in every corner of the globe, Jesus’ prayer: “May they all be one” (John 17:21).
Today the Focolare practice the “spirituality of unity” — the Gospel message of love of neighbor — in more than 180 countries, along with their Christian friends of other denominations, with their friends of different spiritual traditions and with others who claim no particular faith.
Recently 1,300 Focolare members and friends — including more than a dozen from Hialeah to Boca Raton to Vero Beach — trekked to the “50 Years of the Focolare in North America” commemoration at the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Civic Center.
It was part family reunion, part Hollywood musical extravaganza, part spiritual counseling session. But mainly it was an exposition of “the art of loving” championed by the Focolare since those days of war destruction. Of particular note was the video of departed Focolare and friends as their words flashed across the screen:
“When I fail, I know I have to get up, shake off the dust, and start over.”
“Holy Spirit, would you hold my hand.”
“The idea is splendid; only in Heaven will we understand it fully.”
“Do whatever you can, but with Love.”
Among those departed was the blessed lady Lubich. Also Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, who was eulogized as “America’s Imam” when he died in 2008, six months after his friend Chiara. It was their mutual admiration, their appreciation for the importance of families and young people, their humanitarian unity that connected me and innumerable other Americans with the Focolare.
Most Focolare are observant Catholics, which makes their acceptance — rather than simple tolerance — of other spiritualities all the more commendable.
So not surprisingly, dozens of non-Catholic friends joined in on Sunday, April 3, as the commemoration shifted to Manhattan for a 50th anniversary Thanksgiving liturgy at the majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
There the main celebrant, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was accompanied by other heavyweights: Cardinals Edward Egan, William Keeler and Theodore McCarrick, and Bishops Charles Grahmann and Michael Mulvey. The church’s warm embrace of this ecclesial movement was evident in Dolan’s beaming smile and arm upon the shoulders of Focolare President Maria Voce. Also in the words of congratulation and encouragement read from his eminence Pope Benedict XVI — just as the late Pope John Paul II had smiled on Chiara Lubich’s efforts.
“The Spirituality of Unity — a Gift for Our Times,” was the title of one of several other Focolare 50th events. It’s hard to give enough thanks for their championing this approach to spirituality.
“What Would Jesus Do?” is what the Focolare routinely do: Be the first to love. How can any sincere recipient do other than respond equally graciously, or better?
Let’s pray that it becomes even more contagious.
The Focolare Movement
For more on the 50 years of the Focolare Movement in North America, see www.focolare.us; for info on South Florida activities, contact Mercedes Mont,
C.B. Hanif is a writer and inter-religious affairs consultant. Find him at www.interfaith21.com.
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