On February 23rd and 24th the Shalom Catholic Community, Emmanuel Community, Nuovi Orizzonti and Focolare gathered at the International Youth Center in view of the synodal journey. Communion, participation and mission – key words were evoked in the dialogue and sharing among the new charisms.
“To create a positive imagery that enlightens the mind, warms the heart and grants strength to the hands once again,” the expectation expressed by Pope Francis, in view of the beginning of the synodal journey was shared by the participants of the meeting, as stated by the participants of the meeting.
Besides the immense joy that flows in my heart in weaving new and precious friendships, I have experienced in these meetings, a very rich performative formation regarding the life of communion of the Church. I witness in a special way the beauty of the communion of generations and the importance of communion for the mission, reports Father Saulo Dantas, a member of the Shalom Catholic Community who participates in the meetings since 2019 when he was still a seminarian
The newly ordained priest also recalls, “In the course of our meetings, I was countless times deeply enriched by the initiatives and wisdom of my “older brothers”, who with their experience and docility to the Spirit, have been maturing in the ability to discern the path along which the Lord wishes to lead us.”
Marc St-Hilaire, from the Focolare movement, also shared the joy and richness of sharing of these encounters. For him, sharing the challenges and joys of his charism’s journey of evangelization, as well as listening to and learning from others’ testimonies, is one of the most important elements of the meetings, especially the last one in February.
The theme worked on and matured in the last meetings has been the importance of working together also in initiatives of evangelization, “because our communion does not simply aim at ourselves, but has meaning as long as it is oriented toward mission,” explains Father Saulo.
A true kairos of: “communion”, “fraternity” and “mission”, which manifests the springtime of the Church, according to the beautiful expression of St. John Paul II regarding the new movements and communities.