By Theresia Titus
Members of the Focolare Movement have last week gathered for centennial birthday anniversary of their foundress, Servant of God Chiara Lubich at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 15 March with Auxiliary Bishop of Perth Donald Sproxton.
A meeting titled ‘Celebrate, Explore, Reflect’ was held before the anniversary Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Hall.
In his homily for the occassion, Bishop Sproxton, who celebrated the Mass, highlighted Chiara’s inspirational journey in founding the Focolare Movement, emphasising her passion for peace and unity for the world – which had won her numerous prizes – through the Gospel.
Born under the name Silvia Lubich, she died on 14 March 2008.
“It was following a pilgrimage to Loreto, to the house of the Blessed Virgin that Silvia adopted the name Chiara and from that time onwards that was the name by which she has been affectionately known,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“The Focolare Movement was an idea inspired by her to create a new type of community for the Church. It was to be a community of people, laity and consecrated, who would live in total commitment to God in their various vocations.”
Bishop Sproxton explained that the idea of the Movement was appealing as it promotes “unity and fraternity” in the world as the word Focolare comes from an Italian word “for the hearth, where a family gathers and the bonds of relationships are deepened”.
Bishop Sproxton believed that “the vision of Focolare is appealing for the way that its members are committed to reaching out to others and engaging with them”.
“Chiara was astounded by the way Focolare grew in her lifetime,” Bishop Sproxton said.
“In a speech, she gave in 1977, she said: A pen never knows what it will write, a brush never knows what it will paint and a chisel never knows what it will sculpt. When God takes someone into his hands to accomplish a new work in his Church, the person does not know what she will do. I think this might be my case: I’m only the instrument.
“The spirit of Focolare, as we have experienced it in this Archdiocese, has meant that its members have been engaged in supporting and building relationships with all Christians through the WA Council of Churches and in being present at so many initiatives of combined religious and civic leaders,” he explained.
Bishop Sproxton emphasised that “enduring message and living of peace and unity must be a feature of the Christian faith” which is “front and centre” in the meeting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
Bishop Sproxton explained it is When Jesus waited for the woman at the well and offered her way of the true faith, the division between the Jews and Samaritans was decimated.
“Jesus was not interested in religious divides and barriers that destroy,” he said.
“By asking for a drink of water, he showed that barriers have to be dismantled. The faith that he offered was everyone is to be recognised as a brother or sister, and that dialogue has the greatest value.
“The way of dialogue [to establish] peace and unity is the way of Jesus. The fruit of his engagement with one Samaritan woman brought many other Samaritans to faith in Jesus. This was pointed out to the disciples and it was to be one of the lessons that they learnt from their Master,” he added.
At the end of his homily, Bishop Sproxton reminded the congregation that it is important to use the rest of Lent period to reflect on their commitment and faith in God, as well as their actions and conscience to achieve peace and unity.
“God can take each of us, like a pen or brush or chisel, and with the weak instruments that we are, he can do the most astonishing work,” he concluded.