Focolare Movement: its origins

The first stirrings of a vision that would found the Focolare Movement were felt at a time when the destruction, hatred and violence of the Second World War were raging even in the city of Trento, in northern Italy.

Chiara Lubich, the foundress and president of the movement, together with a group of young friends, discovered that the only ideal in life that cannot be destroyed is God, who is Love, and they rediscovered that the entire Gospel life is rooted in the new commandment of love.

They decided to build their lives on this commandment and their first reaction was to reach out to help and serve the poor people of Trento. Soon, many others were associated with the little group of these young girls, who were aflame with their Ideal, the love of God.

People started to call them "focolarine", a term from the Italian word "focolare", which means hearth or family fireside, and hence the name given to the movement that was being born.

The Focolare Movement spread throughout Italy; then it reached Europe and today it is present in 182 nations in all continents and reaches over five million people.

In the phrase "Father, that all may be one" (Jn 17: 21) Chiara foresaw her mission for unity and universal brotherhood. Since the 1940s, this movement started bringing people together, turning diversity into mutual enrichment.

It contributes to discovering the principles of truth and love present in all cultures and religious beliefs. Based on the spirit of unity, which changes the way people relate in society, the movement proposes the opening of new roads in the fields of economics, politics, art and culture.

Over the years, the movement has established 33 little towns, bearing witness to a society renewed by mutual love. The movement operates 26 publishing houses with periodicals in 22 languages.

Chiara Lubich has received 12 honorary degrees, various honorary citizenships, and international awards, among which the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (1977), the Unesco Peace Education Prize (1996) and the Human Rights Prize from the European Council (1998). In February 1999, Chiara visited Malta to receive an honorary degree in Literature and Psychology by the University of Malta.

She is the author of more than 40 books on the spirituality of unity, many of which have been translated in different languages.

In 1967, Chiara Lubich founded the New Families Movement, a branch of the Focolare dedicated to the world of the family. This movement has been present in Malta since the late Seventies.

Members of New Families wish to bring unity into their family life, aiming at renewing every relationship. The unity that the two parents build day by day is a determining reference point for the children.

The generation gap is transformed into a positive exchange of gifts based on reciprocal love. These families are open to the needs of others through hospitality and adoptions.

They share with families in need. They are ready to listen. Many couples on the verge of separation or divorce, through their contact with them, have found the courage to start again, to enter into dialogue and rebuild their relationship.

The message of New Families in Malta reaches about 800 persons. New Families groups meet regularly in four localities.

Young couples are also attracted to this way of life, and New Families contribute to the local courses held for engaged couples preparing for marriage. New Families in Malta are involved in the diocesan and national commissions for families and actively collaborate with other movements to promote the positive values of the family.

Solidarity is lived not only locally but also with needy families in other countries. Families from Malta also participate in the Adoptions at a Distance project to help finance the upbringing and education of children in poor countries.