Living for our Cities

Dear Readers,

In his speech in June to the United Nations conference on the World Financial and Economic Cisis, UN General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann proposed that a new era for the earth and humanity is before us. It is, he explained, what the mystic Pierre Teilhard de Chardin called “planetization” rather than “globalization.” Chardin suggested that the evolutionary process has taken us through various spheres to a new one called the “noosphere.” It comes from the Greek noos, meaning union of the spirit, the intellect and the heart.

Along this vein, “human beings and peoples will discover and accept each other as brothers and sisters as a family and as a single species capable of love, solidarity, compassion, non-violence, justice, fraternity, peace and spirituality,” Brockmann said.

The prophet Jeremiah had urged his people: “Promote the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you. Pray for it to the Lord, for upon its welfare depends your own” (29:7). And Stevie Wonder’s song, Living for the City, also cries out this theme, “I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow and that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow.”

We too share this hope, and we’ve dedicated this issue to living for our cities.

But how can our cities and towns become a better place for generations to come?

The Focolare spirituality of unity offers a response to today’s challenges by inspiring us to live out Jesus’ mandate to love one another. In this mutual love he promised to be among us, and he will be able to transform every negative into a positive. United in reciprocal love, great things can be accomplished as people of all ages, featured in this issue, can testify. Their stories, beginning on page 6, can be an inspiration, a call to action and a source of hope for everyone.

So take courage … and enjoy,

Clare Zanzucchi