Focolare in the US and Canada

Living for Unity in the US and Canada

Political dialogue in the family

Political dialogue in the family 1280 720 Matteo Pota

Lori and John Chesser have been married for many years and lean towards two opposite political parties. In this interview, they share what positive political dialogue means to them and how the spirituality of the Focolare helped them to deal with their differences. The interview took place during the webinar Dare to Dialogue, sponsored by Living City Magazine and New City Press.

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Summer Mariapolis 2021

Summer Mariapolis 2021 4074 2625 Matteo Pota

This year the Summer Mariapolis gatherings are online. You can choose among three dates.

  • July 10/11: More info coming soon
  • August 7/8: More info coming soon
  • August 28/29: More info coming soon

To know more about Mariapolis click here.

The Human Face of the Migration Crisis: a Faith-Based Response

The Human Face of the Migration Crisis: a Faith-Based Response 1920 1080 Matteo Pota

5/4/2021
Online Event

The scale of human migration can be overwhelming—estimates are that more people are on the move in our time than at any time in human history. To each “number” there is a human face, a person made in the image of God. How can people of faith respond to this crisis in tangible ways? How can the Bible inform our response? To look at these and other questions related to the migration crisis we will be joined by a panel from across North America with a variety of experiences and perspectives on migration.

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Women in Leadership: Reflections on the life of Chiara Lubich and the thought of Pope Francis

Women in Leadership: Reflections on the life of Chiara Lubich and the thought of Pope Francis 1920 1080 Matteo Pota

4/13/2021
Online Event

You will have the opportunity to listen to an incredible panel of speakers that will reflect on the impact that the thought of Pope Francis and the legacy of Chiara Lubich are having on the Church. The New York Times called Chiara Lubich “one of the most influential women in the Catholic Church.” And she was even more than that. Her spirituality has touched millions of people worldwide from different Christian churches, religions and cultural backgrounds. Pope Francis has been an active advocate for the leadership of women and has introduced women into many positions of governance in the Church.

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PANELISTS

SALLY AXWORTHY was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Holy See in September 2016. Her previous roles include time as Joint Head of the North Africa Department, Head of the Great Lakes, East Africa & Somalia Department, and Director of Corporate Services in India. Mrs Axworthy took up her appointment in September 2016.

FRANCESCA DI GIOVANNI is an Italian lawyer who has worked in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See since 1993. In January 2020 she was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs in the Section for Relations with States, becoming the first woman to hold a managerial position in that branch of the Roman Curia.

MAURIZIO GENTILINI, is the author of the recent biography “Chiara Lubich: Prophet of Unity”. He is an historian and archivist. He currently works at the National Research Council in the Department of Human Sciences.

AUSTEN IVEREIGH is a British writer, journalist, and Fellow in Contemporary Church History at the University of Oxford. He is author of two biographies of Pope Francis: “The Great Reformer. Francis and the making of a radical pope” and “Wounded Shepherd. Pope Francis and his struggle to convert the Catholic Church”. He recently co-authored with Pope Francis “Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future. In Conversation with Austen Ivereigh”.

ELIZABETH WALLIN is the Founder and Executive Director of Project Lia, a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to creating and developing a sustainable, community-oriented program for women impacted by the justice system. For the past four years, Elizabeth’s sole focus has been to redistribute community resources, elevate the voices of those directly impacted by the issue, and bring in business in support of the mission.

Embracing our (in)abilities: Learning community-building from people with disabilities

Embracing our (in)abilities: Learning community-building from people with disabilities 1920 1080 Matteo Pota

3/22/2021
Webinar

American culture thrives on a certain type of attitude: “You can do it if you try!” Yet, these last twelve months of the pandemic have upended these expectations and made us aware of our limitations and inabilities. Could we learn from those in our midst who live with more consciousness of their own disabilities?
In this webinar, you will hear insights from four panelists from across the globe who will share stories and reflections on the intersection between building community and living with disability.

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PANELISTS

  • Luca Badetti, PhD, promotes human growth and transformation through inclusive community belonging. Combining his background in disability studies, clinical psychology and theology, he teaches at Loyola University Chicago John Felice Rome Center. He is the author of “I Believe in You: Wisdom from community with persons with disabilities on believing in ourselves and the other
  • Lillibeth Navarro is a spiritual mentor, advocate, activist, speaker, writer, peer counselor, local and state commissioner both in the Philippines and the United States. She is the Founder & Executive Director of CALIF (Communities Actively Living Independent and Free).
  • Stephanie S. and Jen O. are part of the Cleveland L’Arche Community, where people with and without intellectual disabilities share a common journey.