admin

With the slogan “Our closeness to God… our closeness to the other”, the Focolare Movement held its annual gathering, the “Mariapolis”, on July 10 at the Talitha Kumi school, with a wide participation of faithful coming from different areas of the country.

The gathering featured a spiritual and cultural programme, focused on strengthening the relationship with God and on translating faith into daily life founded on love, unity, and service towards the other. All of this through meditations, testimonies, dialogue meetings, and community activities, held over the course of three days.

The Focolare is a way of life, not only a spiritual movement: it offers me the tools through which I can face life and live in the peace that Jesus desires for me. (Ghassan Shalabi, Haifa)

We are Christians in the Holy Land and for us it is of fundamental importance to belong to the Church: we need to feel united to one another, to be a single soul that calls only to love, peace, and security. (Majd Shalabi, Haifa)

The theme of the Mariapolis as a whole is very profound and touches each of us: our closeness to God is our closeness to the other, and the more we draw near to the other, the more we draw near to God. All the words I have heard, every principle and content of the Mariapolis teach me to return to being the Nardin that I am, with my pure heart, and to draw near to people who might even hurt me, but through whom, nonetheless, I draw near to God. (Nadine Soudah, Jerusalem)

The “Mariapolis” is one of the most important annual appointments organised by the Focolare Movement, since it brings together people of different ages and backgrounds in an atmosphere that reflects its mission, founded on fraternity and on the building of bridges of dialogue and peace. (Nasri Kumsieh, Beit Sahour)

The human being needs to be nourished, in body and in spirit. Here, at the Mariapolis, I feel that I receive this spiritual nourishment, I benefit from the sharing of experiences, I meet new people — every person I meet I consider as Jesus Christ. Here one truly feels part of a family.

These moments are extremely important for us Christians here in the Holy Land, because starting from the Covid epidemic, but perhaps even before, and then with the wars that followed one another, we have gone through difficult times. Moments like this summer gathering are for us like a beacon of hope, where we feel closer to God and also closer to one another. (Dominik Berberich, Slovak Republic)

In a time in which the need for dialogue and solidarity grows, this gathering came to reaffirm the importance of the spiritual initiatives that bring the faithful together around the values of the Gospel, giving them the strength to face the challenges of life with a spirit of hope, and strengthening their presence as witnesses of peace in society.

Original post published in cmc-terrasanta.org

The project “Together WE Connect”, promoted by the Focolare in the Holy Land in collaboration with various institutions, is an educational program addressed to the youth that aims to strengthen active citizenship, the culture of care, inclusion, participation and cooperation. Students of the seventh, eighth and ninth grades participate in the program, developing their personality gradually and assimilating the contents in an increasingly deep and effective way over the course of three school years.

“We address different topics with them every week, such as bullying prevention, conflict management and prevention of substance use. Beyond this formation, we also try to offer different moments, such as art, music and dance. Today, precisely, this day wants to offer the same values, under the aspect of sport, so that they can then bring them where they live and change, we hope, the society that surrounds them.” (Marco Desalvo, Focolare)

Marco also speaks of the challenges that they can encounter, but we can clearly see the notable progress that these young people are making. The objective is to form them so that they become leaders and guides for the new generations.

“We met several times to realize this sporting activity, preparing various activities based on team games, on sporting spirit and on collaboration, to see which group manages to create the most beautiful game, not just who wins. This creates a beautiful team spirit, new acquaintances and a positive energy, bringing joy and serenity to these students in the difficult conditions that they are living.” (Nader Al Qass, Talitha Kumi School)

“We came to the Talitha Kumi school for this activity within the framework of the program “Together we communicate”. For a year and a half we have been learning these things and also last year we were very active in the program. We have learned to discover ourselves and I have discovered aspects of my personality that I did not know. We are different, each one comes from a different city, but we collaborated, played together; we created beautiful friendships and met truly special people.” (Arouba Hamid, Holy Land School – Bethlehem)

We participated and we made acquaintance among students coming from different schools, becoming more and more sociable. We already knew each other, but thanks to this activity the relationships have strengthened. They also taught us what bullying is and how sometimes it can lead to serious consequences or psychological problems. We learned mutual respect, respect towards those who are older than us, to avoid offensive words and to be active and sporty.” (Yousef Horani, Latin Patriarchate School – Beit Jala)

For the leaders, also the organization of the days is a reason for joy. This edition dedicated to sport brings with it a fundamental theme: teamwork, respect for others and, naturally, victory.

We focused on three rules to follow during the activity. The first is “I”, that is: I have a vital and very important role within the team and I can offer something to the group. The second is “you”, in the sense that every person is part of the team and we must collaborate. The last is “we”: we must not forget that you and I are part of a group and we must cooperate and love each other.” (Nicole Qumsieh, Beit Sahour)

The project “Together WE Connect” strengthens self-confidence, encourages participation in community activities and promotes dialogue as a tool to resolve conflicts, improving peace and collaboration.

Original post published in cmc-terrasanta.org

The event took place on Saturday afternoon, beginning in the courtyard of Catholic Action in Bethlehem.
Music, activities, moments of prayer, and testimonies contributed to creating a wonderful atmosphere of faith — a manifestation of Christ, the giver of all charisms and gifts.

ANNE MARIE
Organizer – Regnum Christi
It was a moment to be together, to pray together, especially in this Jubilee Year.
At first, we thought of inviting only the movements and new communities, but then we decided to open it up so that everyone could take part in this Pilgrimage of Hope.
After all, we all need to live this time of joy, consolation, prayer, and unity, which brings benefit to each of us.

In procession with the Jubilee cross, the participants walked along Star Street, stopping at the Milk Grotto, always accompanied by the Bethlehem scout group.

Inside St. Catherine’s Church, a moment of adoration was held, and the sacrament of reconciliation was celebrated.

LORENA GADELHA
Shalom Community – Haifa
As a community of the Holy Land, we can testify that hope and unity are possible even in this land so wounded and marked, and that it is possible to celebrate together as Church.

FRANCESCO ZURLO
Focolare Movement – Nazareth
I think that in the Church we are like children who gradually learn to get to know one another.
And it is a great richness to be able to do that — and to do it together.

The Eucharist was presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who expressed great joy in seeing so many representatives of movements and new communities gathered in Bethlehem.

The Franciscan community of Bethlehem, represented by the Guardian, Fr. Marcello Cicchinelli, welcomed the religious and civil authorities present.

In his homily, the Patriarch stated that, for him, this event is a fruit of the diocesan Synod and represents the sense of belonging to the Church that transcends borders, creating bridges of dialogue and mutual collaboration.

H.B. Card. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
ORIGINAL EN
You are a new movement, the new communities, new realities in the life of our Church. We have, in a way, a freedom, let’s say, from the past that the old institutions, maybe not always have. The institution tends to preserve. But the Holy spirit is saying, continuously in the church, new realities that help us to do what the saints are supposed to do, as I said, to look outside our borders, to help us see what we not always see immediately

For Lina, who lives in Bethlehem, this meeting of charisms within the context of the Jubilee demonstrates the power of prayer lived in unity of heart.
“We all came to pray for peace and to ask Jesus, born in this place, for a heart full of hope.”

LINA CANAVATI RAHIL
Communion and Liberation
Our mutual unity allows us to see that we are not alone in the world.
On the contrary, many people pray with us so that peace may reign over all the earth.

Original post published in cmc-terrasanta.org

July 27-August 3, 2025

A small group of young people from the Holy Land lived a truly extraordinary experience this summer. They write:

In this blessed and special year, despite the destruction and ongoing wars, we decided to participate in the Jubilee of Youth held in Rome, Italy, at the beginning of August. There were six of us from the Middle East: five from the Holy Land – from Jerusalem, Haifa and the village of Jish in Galilee – and a young woman from Egypt.

We left for our pilgrimage on July 27, filled with joy and with the desire to live a spiritual and human experience on a personal and also collective level with the whole Church. We asked for the blessing of peace for our countries and we included in our prayers all the young people who would have liked to come with us, but did not have the opportunity.

At the beginning of our trip, we visited the beautiful city of Assisi. It never stopped raining, but this did not prevent many young people, especially from different and distant countries such as Brazil, from visiting it. We entered the Church of St. Clare of Assisi and the Church of the Exile of St. Francis of Assisi, where the tomb of (now Saint) Carlo Acutis is located, convinced that holiness is not a distant dream, but a choice that each of us can live. We asked for many blessings for the young people of our countries, for our families and for the whole world.

We visited Loppiano, the permanent international little city of the Focolare. During our tour we discovered the symbolism of the Theotokos Church (= the Church of the Mother of God). It is a Jubilee Church, with a unique architecture that helps deepen the spirituality of the Focolare which is based on the charism of unity and Jesus forsaken. Renata Borlone, a focolarina who has been proclaimed “Servant of God” is buried in the church and we asked for her special intercession.

The only law of this city is the law of mutual love, which makes this Church a true Marian shrine because of Jesus in the midst of its citizens (cf. Mt. 18:20). He truly dwells in this city, which is the greatest miracle.

While in Loppiano, we also visited the Sophia University Institute and the “Centro Ave” Ceramics Art Center where we admired the professionalism, great care and harmony with which the works of art are made.

We were very impressed by the fact that those who visit the city of Loppiano, even for an hour, and make the commitment to live mutual love are considered citizens of the little city.

In Rome, from July 31 to August 3, we joined a larger group, an international group of Focolare youth from Italy, Eastern Europe, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, the Middle East and beyond. We visited various churches and heard about the life of Cardinal Van Tuan, a true martyr of Christian hope.

In St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, we participated in a prayer vigil entitled “You are a rock”. (You are Peter)

In the Basilica of St. John Lateran we passed through the Holy Door, one of the “signs” of the Jubilee journey.

The journey ended with a pilgrimage with all the young people present in Rome for the Jubilee of the Youth. We walked to Tor Vergata to experience a special evening with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. It was a moment full of joy marked by life experiences, hymns, Q&A with the Pope and adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The pilgrimage ended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, with Holy Mass presided by Pope Leo XIV, in the presence of a million young people from all over the world.

Impression of one of the participants: Maria Nakhleh (from Galilee).

The prayer vigil at Tor Vergata, the hymns and silently prostrating myself in the presence of the living Son of God in the sacrament of the Eucharist, despite the large number of young people present, touched me deeply. My heart was filled with gratitude to all the young people who are part of the Church, my Mother.

I was happy not to come to the Jubilee alone, but to participate with other people who have become friends along the way, and here I quote the words of Pope Leo XIV, during the two days he spoke to us: “Friendship can truly change the world. Friendship is a path to peace (…) There we find happiness: when we learn to give ourselves, to give our lives for others. (…) Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Don’t settle for less. Then you will see the light of the Gospel grow every day, in you and around you.”

On this journey I learned that hope is the certainty that the Holy Spirit guides the Church and this revives hope in my heart.

By drawing closer to the mystery of the Father’s mercy, I become (I feel) a new creation.

And I realized that I can choose, despite the circumstances of my life with so many difficulties, darkness, uncertainty and pain… to continue to walk as Mary, the Mother of God, did, because our hope is alive: Jesus is risen. It was a journey full of many gifts and encounters.  Many assured us of their prayers for us and our country and offered their difficulties for us and for peace in our country. I was grateful for the opportunity to participate, near the stage, on the evening of prayers with Cardinal Zuppi, in the Vatican, and also grateful for the many people who opened their homes to us with so much love.

On Thursday, May 8^th, 350 people filled the Auditorium of the Terra Santa College to celebrate the conclusion of the first year of ‘togetherWEconnect,’ a project sponsored by the Focolare with the goal of forming young people capable of promoting a culture of fraternity, reconciliation and dialogue – a culture of encounter.

Each school shared some of the activities they had carried out and the impact of the experience they had lived since the beginning of the project. The main topics – self-knowledge and personal development, conflict management and intergenerational dialogue – were explored through moments of formation, activities, projects and games.

The international musical groups, Gen Verde and Gen Rosso, directed three days of workshops with more than 100 young people, underlining the same values that had characterized this first year, through music, dance and theatrical performances.

The final celebration was a mosaic of color, music and testimonials: proof that ‘together we really connect’. Together we can also be a sign of hope here and now, today.