The Most Rev Don Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, celebrates Youth Mass to mark the 10-year anniversary of Chiara Lubich’s death at St Mary’s Cathedral on 18 March. Photo: Matthew Lau.
By Matthew Lau
The Focolare movement have this month marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Chiara Lubich on 18 March.
An informative session titled “Mary and Social Transformation” was held in the St Mary’s Cathedral hall, followed by a Memorial Youth Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton.
The quintessential Chiara Lubich is the foundress of the Focolare Movement, and is regarded by many as one of the most influential spiritual figures of the 20th century.
The Most Rev Don Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, celebrates Youth Mass to mark the 10-year anniversary of Chiara Lubich’s death at St Mary’s Cathedral on 18 March. Photo: Matthew Lau.
The Most Rev Don Sproxton paid tribute to Lubich in his homily.
“The spirituality of unity was something that rose in her heart and in the hearts of her followers. People began to see the change, they started to see how this God and love was changing their hearts and preparing them for a mission,” he said.
“Chiara died in 2008 … she was quite inspirational in how she would teach the people what she called ‘the ideal’. To live united to Jesus, to be His manifestation of God’s love for humanity.”
Young members of the Perth Focolare Movement. Photo: Matthew Lau.
Bishop Sproxton said Jesus, as the forsaken one, became an encouragement to Chiara and her devotees.
“He went to the cross willingly, obeying Himself to the suffering of the cross and to His dreadful death; He showed Himself to be our true High Priest, and that way was effective.
“We can become perfect too, not just in a moral sense. But we become perfect when we achieve the goal or the destiny that the Lord had in mind for us,” Bishop Sproxton added.
Coris Taffertshofer, member of the Focolare movement, speaks at an open session titled “Mary and Social Transformation” in the St Mary’s Cathedral hall. Photo: Matthew Lau.
The Mass was concluded with a rendition of I Know You Are Here by members of the Focolare, and with a Prayer for the Faithful by Alida O’Brien and Andrew Wei.
Founded in Trento, northern Italy in 1943, the now international organisation is present in 182 nations and has more than 140,000 members.
Lubich traced out a way of religious and civil holiness that can be practiced by anyone. Her mortal remains rest in the chapel of the Centre of the Focolare Movement in Rome.
Aida Barbosa, member of the Perth Focolare Movement, said people do not have to be part of the Focolare to benefit from it.
The 2018 Mariapolis – which literally means “city of Mary” – was organised by the Focolare Movement to offer a way for believers to pause and reorient, while enjoying the company of others in a relaxing environment.
Chiara Lubich’s 10-year Memorial Youth Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on 18 March. Photo: Matthew Lau.
The Mariapolis event was held at the Orchard Glory Farm Resort in Chittering Valley from 2 to 5 March.
It is a three-to-four day gathering where people of all ages and backgrounds spend time together and try to live the Gospel as a family or community.
For more information about the Focolare Movement, visit: focolare.org/en/focolare-worldwide/oceania/australia