Members of one of the most interesting of the new ecclesial realities – the Focolare Movement – are inviting one and all to come and celebrate the second anniversary of the death of their founder, Chiara Lubich, on 13 March.
On the second anniversary of the death of Chiara Lubich (the founder of the Focolare Movement), it is interesting to see what impact this woman from a small northern Italian town has on the world.
Chiara was a woman who did the little things well and who allowed God to do great things with her life. As a young woman, (in the 1940s) she felt a call from God asking her to give Him the whole of her life. She replied with a decisive ‘yes’, without knowing what this would mean, other than the fact that she was marrying God and therefore could expect great things from Him.
When Chiara died in 2008, many men, women and children wrote about the effect Chiara had on their lives. She was a Catholic laywoman who lived in community, but countless people of different ages, backgrounds and beliefs from almost every country in the world felt deeply understood by her and recognised in her their teacher, inspiration and guide.
Only in the centuries to come will we truly understand Chiara Lubich and her gift to humanity. However, we can already recognise her not only as a spiritual leader but also as someone who, through this charism of unity, launched a transformation of the world in economics, politics and philosophy as well as other fields.
The Focolare arrived in Perth in 1972 with a young local family, followed by communities of men and women who came from different parts of the world to help inspire this revolution of living the Gospel. They lived, worked and shared their experiences of putting the Word of God into practice.
This life has produced many fruits. There are also many people in WA who would say that Chiara Lubich’s charism of unity has transformed their lives too. Susi O’Brien from Samson writes:
“Meeting the Focolare has done so much to change my life completely from the path I was travelling. I was a ‘nominal’ Catholic, who diligently went to Mass on Sundays, Reconciliation twice a year, occasionally said prayers, and ignored God for the rest of the time.
Listening to Chiara explain that we could all do God’s will, in each present moment, and that this was a path to sanctity, opened my eyes and challenged me. It did not matter if I was studying, cleaning the house, working, etc. I have found a relationship with God that I never dreamt possible. He is present in my life in every moment – if I make my number one priority to love – everyone – then He is always near.”
Jessica Kenny from Tuart Hill writes:
“Chiara Lubich began the Focolare Movement during WW2, a very stressful time when she saw the challenge to keep on loving and keep faith. Life might not be WW2 in 2010 (or for some it might be metaphorically!) but it can be very stressful in a myriad of ways.
Understanding Chiara’s journey and finding the Focolare challenges me to ‘keep on loving’ or to ‘return to loving’ and keep my faith, persevere, in ways I never understood before.
“This has changed my life in every way. It is my focus, has created much personal and family healing, and has taught me more about love than I ever knew or understood before. It is my love of Christ that keeps me loving, and the Chiara ideal that keeps challenging me to love in every instance of my life and not just in the times I feel like it.
“She has been one giant step in my Christian path.”
The Focolare will be celebrating the second anniversary Mass for Chiara Lubich on Saturday, 13 March at 3pm at the Little Sisters of the Poor, Glendalough. Everyone is welcome.