40 artists, 18 songs, 1 idea: Building a more united world through music! This CD includes a unique blend of musical styles; ranging from contemporary to classical,from rock to rap, from folk to an a cappella quartet. CD costs $15.00 + $3.00 shipping/handling Length: 63 minutes (Listen to the CD trailer: http://youtu.be/ZfiJt8cBCZo Proceeds from the sale of this CD will go towards helping the needs of our friends in Haiti.
On May 12th 2012 there will be the 3rd worldwide Run4Unity: an event which, in 2005 and 2008, involved over 100,000 young people in 182 cities. Texas youth are invited to join with thousands of their peers in significant locations around the globe to express their desire for a more united world.
Run4Unity aims to cover the earth with a rainbow of peace and unity and help to spread the Golden Rule: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. Young people involved will be part of a virtual relay race in which the baton will be passed on from one time zone to another and the whole event can be followed by followed via internet.
The virtual baton will pass though many symbolic places: in the Holy Land, for example, youth from Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities will run together in Caesarea Maritima a place of importance for all three faith groups, in Malta the President of the Republic will launch the event, in Northern Ireland the event will take place in Stormount, a place of great significance in the peace process between Nationalists and Unionists.
The marathon will be launched in the Fiji Islands in the Pacific at 3pm local time. At 4pm it will pass to the next time zone. This will continue right up until 3pm in the local time zones of USA and Canada where the marathon will conclude. At events around the world there will be different ‘flash mobs’ that will make the word ‘yes’ in different languages: yes to more peace, solidarity and unity. The youth involved will be connected throughout the day by internet and there will be the possibility to link up with youth in some cities around the world where the event is taking place.
We would love for you to join us in Houston’s event where we want to involve youth from as many communities as possible in saying our ‘yes’ to unity. We will meet from 2pm- 5pm in St. Teresa’s Catholic School in Memorial Park.
Below, along with our contact information, there links where you will find more information as well as photos, videos and messages from Teens4Unity around the world.
For information contact: Kate at 713 869 1571 or email
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El Paso
The El Paso community will also be part of the Run4Unity. You are invited to join them at Eastwood Park baseball field #3 at 8:00 am until 12 pm on May 12. The park is located at 3001 Parkwood Drive. The El Paso community invites public and religious institutions to join them for this event.
For information please call Sandra Castro at 613-3163 or email her at
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The Focolare Movement and the University of St. Thomas will present an event called In Homage to Chiara Lubich on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of her death.
The March 8 event will begin with a memorial Mass at 6 p.m. in St. Basil Chapel celebrated by Most Reverend Joseph A. Fiorenza, Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston.
Immediately following the Mass there will be a reception. At 7:40 p.m. all are invited to attend a lecture discussion entitled "Is Loving an Art or a Command? Trinitarian Love in the Spirituality and Thought of Chiara Lubich" presented by Rev. Thomas Norris and Rev. Dempsey Rosales.
Rev. Norris is Professor Emeritus in Systematic Theology, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ireland and a member of the International Theological Commission. Rev. Rosales, Acosta SSL, STD is an Assistant Professor of the Theology Department at St. Thomas University.
The evening is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Center for Faith an Culture.
The event is free and open to the public. For information call 713-869-1571 or click here for the invitation.
Escrito por Susan Staffier, Michael Parker, Mary Adams
Miércoles 25 de Enero de 2012
There are no translations available.
San Antonio
Each January, the world over, Christians of all denominations gather to celebrate together the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year's theme is: "We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (cf.1 Corinthians 12:51-58)
Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI, president of The Oblate School of Theology, presided over the evening hosted by the school with the contribution of the Focolare Movement. More than 80 Christians from the San Antonio area gathered January 19th, in the Immaculate Conception Chapel on the beautiful Oblate grounds to reflect, pray, and celebrate God's immense love in Jesus Christ.
Dr. Carey Latimore, professor from Trinity University and Associate Minister of Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in San Antonio, read one of the scripture passages.
In his homily, Dr. Scott Woodard, vice president and academic dean of the school, used the texts of Habakkuk 3:17-19, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 and John 12:23-26 to illustrate his point that Christians must be changed, as Jesus himself was changed, through death and resurrection.
A Polish Christmas custom of sharing with one’s neighbor the oplatek, a fragile rectangular wafer carrying the image of the Nativity, drew each to share a fragment and a greeting with his brothers and sisters in Christ, a symbol of the spiritual communion for which all had prayed.
A reception followed the ceremony and all were able to greet one another in an atmosphere of family.
On Saturday December 10th as a preparation for Christmas we held an afternoon of reflection in Houston. It was attended by 111 participants of all ages. The program included mediations by Chiara Lubich, the sharing of personal experiences, Christmas songs, family games and the opportunity to socialize over some Christmas treats.
The afternoon was characterized above all by an atmosphere of pure and simple joy which was expressed by some people’s impressions at the end of the event: One woman said, “This is the most fun I have had in a long time”. Another mom commented, “I am honored to be a part of this spirituality”. Another person commented she immediately felt like she was among people who cared for and accepted her. Towards the end of the program a grandmother got up and shared her thanks for the local Focolare community’s prayers for her grandchild who had been in hospital; she had a real sense of family with the group.
It has become a most beautiful tradition: each fall, children begin pouring the plaster into the molds to make the "Baby Jesus". After the figurines dry they are tinted in different skin tones. The tiny statues are then put into the tiny baskets with straw and wrapped in clear plastic. A meditation of Chiara is tied with a ribbon and attached. Then they go to the church to offer them to the people as a reminder to "keep Jesus in Christmas". This year in San Antonio we went to St. Mary’s downtown. The children were there in full force. In spite of the rain the atmosphere was beautiful with many of them and their parents staying for the entire morning. It was a beautiful way to begin Advent.
Dallas
Although the rain didn’t stop for a moment that morning, the children were able to come to Santa Clara Catholic Church in Dallas. They were extremely happy to be there. They would offer Baby Jesus with a lot of love and people really felt it.
A remarkable experience was that of God’s Providence: Some people didn’t have the $5.00 for a donation, but that didn’t stop the children who give them Baby Jesus anyway, reminding the people that the main idea of the project was "to keep Jesus in Christmas".
Houston
This year we went to Main Street in Houston, with a
large group of children. We met at the focolare house, to renew our desire to do many acts of love and remember Chiara's desire to bring Jesus to all.
People on the street were very struck, many had tears in their eyes, and thanked us saying "God bless".
One young girl said, "This will be the most beautiful gift for my mom".
We also met the Bishop emeritus as he passed by on the street. He was so glad to greet us and asked us to pray for all the people to whom we were offering Baby Jesus.
Our hearts were full of happiness because we had the impression of having done something important, we brought Jesus to so many!
After attending the beatification of Chiara Badano in Rome, teenagers and college students in Houston, Texas, took up the challenge to present her inspiring story to 200 others in Jones Hall at the University of St Thomas on Nov. 6.
The organizers were joined by students from the Teens for Unity Club at Incarnate Word Academy, a club inspired by the spirituality of unity of the Focolare Movement, who had closely followed the events surrounding her beatification.
In less than four weeks, the group put together a band and presented Chiara Badano's life through various artistic expressions, also showing parts of a documentary with interviews with Badano’s parents and friends. For the day itself, they were joined by other Texan youth who had gone to Rome for the events surrounding her beatification, an event that attracted 25,000 people from all over the world.
Chiara Badano was an Italian teenager and member of the Focolare Movement who died of bone cancer in 1990. During his recent apostolic trip to Sicily, in southern Italy, the Holy Father proposed her as a model of holiness for youth everywhere, inviting them to become more acquainted with her.
“Her life was brief, but carries a stupendous message … 19 years full of life and of faith,” said Pope Benedict XVI. “The last two years were full of suffering, but lived in the faith and in the joy that was born from her heart that was so full of God.”
A group of 18 teenagers and young adults from around Texas attended the beatification of the Blessed Chiara Luce Badano in Rome, Italy on Sept. 25.
The Mass, celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love, by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Monsignor Angelo Amato, representing Pope Benedict XVI.
Chiara Luce's parents sat in the front row of the modern church, which was filled with modern music, befitting of a 20th-Century teenager on the road to sainthood.
"The Mass was beautiful," the Texas group wrote in a short message home.
Later that evening, the Texas group found themselves among 8,000 other participants inside Paul VI Hall in the Vatican for the two-hour "Life, Love, Light" celebration. Thousands more braved the rain in St. Peter Square to watch the songs, dances, testimonies and memorial videos on jumbotrons.
You can watch replays of both the Mass and the celebration or read transcripts at live.focolare.org.
The youth worked for months to raise money for the trip through bake sales, barbecue lunches, work, and more. They witnessed the power of God's providence first-hand, and would like to thank everyone who helped them experience this historic moment in the Movement and in the Church.
Though a strong spiritual experience, the Mariapolis wasn't just sitting, listening, and experiences -- it was also fun and games! Hundreds of people, young and old, participated in the Mariapolis game night. And the good times certainly didn't end there. Adults and youth hit the basketball court together and whipped out the board games each night while enjoying smoothies at the Mariapolis Cafe.
Another highlight of the event was learning more about the story of Chiara Luce Badano, a Focolare member who died of cancer at the age of 18. Chiara Luce is being beautified by Pope Benedict later this year and 17 youth from the Southwest zone will make the trip to Rome to be a part of the ceremony. Chiara Luce's story was shared during Youth Fest, n evening presentation put on by the youth. More than three dozen children sang, dance, acted, and share stories and experiences about their faith, concluding the Mariapolis.
Everyone in attendence at the Southwest Mariapolis wants to extend a special "thank you" to the staff at Concordia University for providing the backdrop for what was truly an amazing spiritual retreat!
More than 150 people, from infants to those with silver hair, gathered in the Texas Panhandle town of Borger to reflect on Chiara Lubich's words: "God loves you immensely."
The "Mini-Mariapolis" took place March 6 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where Msgr. Michael Colwell is pastor. Msgr. Colwell wanted to share with his parishioners the spirituality of unity that he describes as a "simple but profound way of presenting the Gospel ideals."
The all-day retreat included meditation, moments of silent reflection, sharing and games.
Sometimes it seems so impossible to live Jesus' words, one participant said. But listening to others talk about how they made it is really inspiring.
St. John holds monthly Word of Life meetings in English on the first Monday of each month following 6 p.m. Mass and on the first Tuesdays in Spanish following the 6:30 p.m. Mass.
The Focolare Movement - The Work of Mary
on the first anniversary of the death of its founder
Chiara Lubich
Invites you to a Mass to be celebrated thanking God
for the extraordinary gift of her charism and her life
The all-day retreat included meditation, moments of silent reflection, sharing and games. 
Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado
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