Celebrating 50 Years in North America – Growing Communities in Spirituality of Unity

By Imam Mikal Saahir

Imam W. Deen Mohammed and Foccolare founder Chiara Lubich
*Photo courtesy of Imam Ali Rasheed Video & Photo Library

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Focolare Movement began in Trent, Italy, in 1943, in the midst of Northern Italian air raid shelters during the bombings of World War II. Chiara Lubich and her friends read the Gospel by candlelight and set out to live its radical message through their love for one another and for the people of the war torn community surrounding them. Nineteen years later the movement was headed to North America.

In September of 1961, three faithful Focolarini arrived in New York City on a mission of spreading Universal Love based on the Biblical Scripture, John 17:21: “That all may be one.”

Giovanna Vernuccio’s, Antonio Petrilli’s and Sharry Silvi’s arrived in New York and soon occurred the opening of the first Focolare centers in North America, with two in the first year. Encouraged by the above Bible verse and adhering to the words of their leader, Chiara Lubich – “We were born for these words, for unity, to give a contribution to its realization in the world” – a great seed was being planted in America.

Fifty years later, with Focolare centers in many cities in Canada, the United States and Santo Domingo, the 5 million worldwide Focolare Movement’s President Maria (Emmaus) Voce and co-President Giancarlo Faletti began their official month-long visit that began on March 16 and concluding on April 18, 2011.

Maria Voce was elected president of the Movement on July 7, 2008, by the General Assembly of the Focolare. She is the first Focolarina to succeed Chiara Lubich, who died on the 14th of March of the same year. Maria was born in Ajello Calabro, Cosenza, Italy, on July 16, 1937.

She met the Focolare in Rome in 1959 during her studies as a Law student. She was fascinated by their Gospel witness and upon completing her studies and after a short career as the first woman lawyer in her city’s court system, in 1963, she felt the unexpected and “overwhelming” call of G-d to follow in the way of Chiara Lubich.

She immediately responded giving up her promising career and went to attend the School of Formation for Focolarine in Grottaferrata, Rome. Chiara gave her the name Emmaus, and this is how she continues to be known in the Movement.

After visiting with Canadian Bishops, a grand event was held in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. About 2,000 Focolare members, from the West Coast to the East Coast, gathered for a two-day event with Emmaus and Giancarlo. Many Muslims in association with the leadership of Imam W. Deen Mohammed also were in attendance.

The Focolare leaders listened to endless testimonies, bearing witness to “the power that comes from loving the one nearest to you in the present moment.” These testimonies were shared by people of many races, covering a wide age range from young children to senior adults.

Imam Ronald Shaheed of Milwaukee, Wisc., and Sis. Anna Muhammad of Long Island, N.Y., received grand applauds after sharing their statements of testimony.

Imam Shaheed touched the souls of everyone present, saying, “It seems surreal to be standing here, today, speaking to you without the physical presence of our beloved leaders, the Blessed Lady Chiara Lubich and our Honorable Imam W. Deen Mohammed. But it comforts our hearts to know that though they have passed from this earthly experience, they await our entrance into the Paradise.”

Recounting the profound love and respect that Imam Mohammed had for Chiara and the Focolare, Imam Shaheed shared, “I asked Imam Mohammed how he was really seeing Chiara Lubich. He told me that it was his belief that Chiara was an inspired woman and the inspiration she received from G-d had lifted her up above all women on this earth.

These words by Imam Mohammed have guided my thinking about Chiara and her followers, the Focolare, until this day.” Sis. Anna, a teacher for 28 years, shared how using the Focolare “Cube of Love” has benefited both her and her students – advanced and “special ed” students.

“After I got to know the Focolare, I learned of the cube of love in 2004 and have used it periodically to enhance my class management skills and encourage students to be kind and compassionate. “My students have benefited so much from the cube. The results from using the Cube of Love amazed many of the teachers.”

Sis. Anna noted, “A teacher afterwards said to me that she had observed something amazing. The students had been so attentive and engaging. She remarked that this was not ‘normal’ and indeed it was an admirable achievement. “I smiled inside, because I had witnessed many times how children when given the opportunity to share love and kindness are very quick to do so. The cube of love is a very powerful tool in the classroom. I thank G-d and Chiara for inventing it.”

On Sun., April 3, Emmaus and Giancarlo were warmly received by a full house at the St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City. A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving, open to the public, was celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Dolan.

Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore was present, along with other church leaders. Judge David Shaheed of Indianapolis, Ind., participated on the panel titled “Love of Neighbor and the Law” held at the Cultural Event at Fordham University.

They discussed: “How can a profession so often portrayed as exacerbating adversarial tensions draw on a spirituality of unity?” The panelists shared their reflections on how the spirituality of unity sheds light on their daily work and opens new paths in legal theory. (An article on this panel discussion forth coming in Muslim Journal.)

On Thurs., April 7, Emmaus traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the “E pluribus Unum” program that featured a multiethnic, multi-religious community coming together as one people in the service of unity. It was held at Caldwell Hall, Catholic University of America. Imam Talib Shareef gave remarks, and the Muslims of Washington, D.C., were in attendance.

On Sun., April 10, in Chicago, an interreligious meeting with Believers from many faith traditions was held at the historical KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue, across the street from President Barack Obama’s Chicago home.

Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs and believers of other faiths were present and united in the spirit of universal brotherhood emanating from the foundation of the Focolare. Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle and officials from Chicago’s Mayor’s office warmly greeted Emmaus and Giancarlo to Chicago. Songs and skits were performed that emphasized Chiara’s belief in the Bible Verse John 17:21

“That all may be one.” A lasting and reaffirming impression was made upon all in attendance: A real unifying of the human family that respected the distinctions, yet celebrated our oneness, the unity of the human family. For the Muslims attending, it was appreciated that the “pact made between Imam W. Deen Mohammed and Chiara Lubich continues.”

The presence of G-d in the new leadership of the Focolare is strong and vibrant, thus offering the hope that future generations will continue to build upon the oneness that was prayed for in the Scriptures.

Imam Ronald Shaheed captured the collective spirit, when he said, “ … And we pray that G-d blesses us to continue to work together towards the day when we will all be one. Ameen.” Congratulations to the Focolare on its 50th Anniversary of presence in North America.

A special message from His Holiness Benedict XVI, honoring the Focolare was read during the service and is in its full text below.

Message from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI:

The Holy Father sends cordial greetings and prayerful good wishes to the members of the Focolare Movement and their many friends on the happy occasion of its Fiftieth Anniversary of its establishment in North America.

He willingly joins them in giving thanks for the blessings of the past half century and expresses his confidence that this commemoration will lead to an even deeper commitment to the vision of reconciliation, unity and fraternity which inspired the life and work of the late Chiara Lubich.

Conscious of the marked multicultural dimension of the Focolare in North America, His Holiness also prays that the bonds forged with members of the other religious communities will bear abundant fruit for the progress of mutual understanding and spiritual solidarity in the service of the whole human family.

With these sentiments and with great affection in the Lord, the Holy Father commends the members and their families to the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of abundant divine graces.

- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State