Sharing Joys and Sufferings

Dear Readers,

Our magazine continually gives us an opportunity to share joys and sufferings, as we live out that spirit of family that Chiara Lubich left us as her legacy. This month the Focolare’s General Assembly will elect its next president to succeed her.

Regarding those joys, ten years ago Pope John Paul II invited ecclesial movements to gather together for the first time in history. Since then, there has been a productive exchange among Catholic movements that was then extended to other Christian churches as well.

In May there was a study seminar on ecclesial movements attended by 150 Catholic bishops, sponsored by the Vatican Council for the Laity. “Go out and meet the movements with much love,” Pope Benedict told them, adding that ecclesial movements and new communities “are not a problem. They are a gift of the Lord, a precious resource to enrich our whole Christian community with their charisms.”

Then there are the sufferings that we also bear together, such as in those regions recently affected by natural disasters—China, Thailand and Myanmar. Young people across the world are carrying out a great variety of initiatives to raise funds and help.

Finally, we’re grateful for the recognition that Living City has recently received from the Catholic Press Association for the U.S. and Canada and the Knights of Columbus. Amy Uelmen’s article “An Alternate Lens on Crime” (April 2007) won the third-place 2008 CPA Award for Best Interview, and Carol Spale’s “The Village with a Caring Heart” (May 2007) won the McGivney Award. Both were announced in May at the Catholic Media Convention in Toronto.

Best wishes for an insightful summer. May these pages bring you a breath of fresh air.

-Clare Zanzucchi, Editor