Perth joined Wellington in being one of the first cities in the Oceania to begin a week of worldwide celebrations on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the passing of Chiara Lubich, Catholic founder of the ecumenical Focolare Movement.
The sense of communion, deep joy and thanksgiving were palpable at the Chapel of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Glendalough on Friday, March 14, with a Mass concelebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton and Fr Richard Smith from Our Lady of Grace, North Beach, in the presence of Anglican Bishop David Murray.
In his greetings and reflection at the beginning of the Eucharistic Celebration, the main celebrant, Bishop Don Sproxton referred to Chiara’s holiness and to a possible miracle waiting to be approved.
He encouraged everyone to always pursue unity in their personal life and with those around them, with the same openness as Chiara did.
During his homily, Emeritus Anglican Bishop David Murray, Director of the Centre for Spirituality at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, recounted his personal encounter with Chiara and the spirituality of unity.
“It was as if my inner life was waiting for permission to come to expression in a way of life that sought to live the Gospel in unity through love,” he said. He also shared of his involvement with the Ecumenical group of Bishop Friends of the Focolare Movement and he talked about some of the key points of the Spirituality of Unity: “From Chiara’s teaching and writing I am learning that God has taught us some very deep things by living them himself in Christ…Only by emptying ourselves, as Jesus has done, can we have room for our neighbours needs … and their love.”
““Becoming one” means letting go of lots as Jesus did. It means embracing with Jesus the moment of his suffering and forsakenness and discovering that all things are made new in him in that moment. Becoming one also contributes to the dynamics of a group.[It] enables the light of God, Jesus in the midst, to guide group dynamics, conversation and decision-making… to create Holy Communion… Holy common union”.
The congregation was made up of people from a variety of backgrounds and mix of ages, with people from different Christian denominations or rites, such as the Anglican Church and Greek Orthodox Church.
The refreshments that followed the Mass offered further opportunities to continue building bridges while experiencing the joy and peace that comes from the presence of Jesus in the midst of his people.
Many also prayed for the event, such as the Sisters of the Schoenstatt Movement who offered an hour of Adoration at their Shrine in Armadale.
Similar events have taken place in other capital cities in Australia: in Melbourne, with a Mass celebrated by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Mgr Greg Bennet, followed by a program with the Anglican Bishop Philip Huggins, former Assistant Bishop in Perth and currently Assistant Bishop for the North Western Region of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne; in Sydney, with a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral presided by the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Bishop Peter Comensoli and followed by refreshments; as well as in Adelaide.
Further afar, around the world, in small communities and in large metropolises many paused to thank God for the gift of Chiara Lubich to the human family; there has been book launches, concerts, and other cultural events throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In Pretoria, South Africa, Dr. Kobus Gerber, General Secretary of the Dutch Reformed Church, spoke about Chiara’s contributions to Ecumenical dialogue.
In view of the upcoming Synod on the Family, Chiara’s passion for the family was the central focus of events in Luxembourg and Spain.
The Muslim Noor Centre in Toronto, Canada, hosted a discussion about Chiara’s contribution to interreligious dialogue.
On March 20, at Rome’s Pontifical Urban University, several prominent representatives from a range of world religions gathered for a Conference entitled “Chiara and Religions, Together Towards the Unity of the Human Family.”
The event was followed by an Interfaith Symposium attended by Christians and faithful of other religious traditions, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists and Sikhs.