An encounter with the Focolare movement at Loppiano

I am just back from Loppiano, the city of fraternity! A city of joy and smiles… A centre of the Focolare movement began a few years ago by Chiara Lubich.  Little did I know how it would all turn out to be, when Prof. Castellano invited me to join him to spend the new year at Loppiano.  All the same, desiring to have an experience of this new movement in the church I agreed to accompany him.  We were eight of us Salesians from Rome, six clerics and two priests.  The experience at Loppiano was a memorable one. 

"In this age of dramatic change, in sharing with humanity the painful birth of a new civilization that is globalised, interdependent, multicultural and multifaith, the Focolare Movement is committed, together with many other forces which are moving in this direction, to build the unity of the human family enriched by diversity.” These are the words of Chiara Lubich and this is what I saw literally in action in the past few days.  Youngsters from all over the world, belonging to all castes and creed, living under the same roof, in harmony and brotherhood.  It was a unique experience!  There are so many things that caught my attention and so many events that really impressed me to the core. 

First of all, the air of serenity and peace that breaths in Loppiano.  There is an indescribable peace and harmony that one experiences in Loppiano.  Everyone greets you with a smile and a friendly word, ever willing to help you and be of service to you in whichever way possible. No one makes you feel bad and you feel welcomed and accepted. Something incredible!

The second thing that struck me is the level of quality that they maintained in all that they did.  Starting from the workshop session in the afternoon on 31, the adoration and thanksgiving service before the midnight, the public gathering on 31 mid-night to welcome 2011, the solemn Eucharist celebration well-animated and well-celebrated on Jan.1, everything had a certain level of quality which was remarkable.  In spite of the differences of languages and cultures, nothing seemed to be an impediment in coming together for a common cause. 

Thirdly, it made me go back to my own roots of salesianity.  Don Bosco who was always in the vanguard of promoting music, art and drama, all to keep the young occupied and thus keep them happy and joyful, (because for him the sanctity consisted in being joyful) had found another expression in the lively charism of Chiara Lubich. 

I think this is exactly the Church of the Third millennium.  This is the strategy that all will have to adopt so that the prayer of Jesus becomes a reality, “that they all may be ONE” (Jn 17: 21).