Written by Susan Staffier, Michael Parker, Mary Adams
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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.”
Arkansas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License..