A beautiful journey of dialogue began with a group of young Italians.
In May we found ourselves in a preparatory zoom with a small group, which was followed by another with a larger group in which questions, questions and themes were collected for further in-depth analysis. The theme of the dialogue was a discovery and a challenge for many of the participants.
With great pleasure we saw that the young people did not stop at that meeting and moved forward with reflection. So we were able to collaborate in the preparation and then participate in the day which took place in person in Padua on Sunday 28 November 2021 (we connected via zoom for the entire duration of the meeting). WHO you can read an interesting contribution by Roberto Catalano, who has been involved in interreligious dialogue for many years and was present at the meeting, in his blog.
We report the letter written by our friends at the end of the work to thank the Association that collaborated in the organization.
The training day promoted by the Gen 2 - Young people of the Focolare Movement - present in the Veneto area has just ended.
Born from the desire to find tools to build true relationships despite the diversity that crosses and sometimes fragments our society, the day focused on dialogue as a means for a profound encounter between people of different cultures, faiths and traditions.
During the morning the focus was on the value of dialogue and the development that it had in the history of Chiara Lubich and the Focolare Movement, starting from the definition that John Paul II had given to its members as 'apostles of dialogue'.
Several experts, present or connected via zoom, allowed us to touch on the most salient points of this tool, which does not erase, but presupposes one's identity while requiring the full acceptance of others. The experience of one of the guests present, who lived almost thirty years in India, in contact with a totally 'other' culture, gave depth and allowed us to vitally understand the deeper meaning of what was being exposed.
In the afternoon the assembly was divided into four groups. In each of these, thanks to the presence of the guests, it was possible to delve deeper into different aspects of four of the dialogues present within the Focolare Movement (dialogue between different movements and associations within the Catholic Church, dialogue with Christians of other denominations, with faithful of other religions and with people of non-religious beliefs), in a vital and fruitful exchange.
The day left in those present a seed of hope and the intention to engage in dialogue in daily life, aware that it does not end in 'doing', but rather represents a dimension that must deeply permeate the being.
Armida and Ferdinand