Home \ EoC magazines \ EOC Newsletter \ n° 29 \ The EOC after 18 years

The EOC after 18 years

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Thursday, 08 October 2009 14:33

The EOC after 18 years

By Alberto Ferrucci
From Economia di Comunione - una cultura nuova" n.29 - September 2009

n28_pag._03_alberto_ferrucci

On May 29, 2009, the EOC project reached adulthood, and with the encyclical “Caritas in veritate”, it seems like a sign that in this same year the universal Church recognized it as its own. Today, Chiara, who announced the project 18 years ago and gave it to us, admires it from heaven “already” as it should be, as one of the pearls of her charism. Now it´s our turn to bring it ahead, day by day, towards what it should be, conscious that this isn’t only for us. Since the very beginning, the EOC was thought of for all of humanity, who, now in crisis, awaits it more and more each day.

To spread the project, it´s necessary to know how to elaborate, transmit and enhance its messages with the concrete experiences of those who already apply it. Therefore, there is need of concrete experiences, theoretical and media-savvy elaboration, and the availability of the media. With this motive, we commit ourselves to always keeping the website, www.edc-online.org updated and translating the content in real time, currently done in five languages.

The Economy of Communion was born to help the needy and form people in the culture of giving. Our magazine wants to document the spiritual and material results, spread the theoretical reflections that come from it and which mark the reciprocity towards all who support the project. It is translated in various languages, and beginning with this issue, the Italian version will be sent to all who are shareholders of EdC Spa, the business which manages the Italian Industrial Park named after Lionello Bonfanti, located alongside the Movement´s small town of Loppiano.

Various times in the past, we have provided news in the magazine about the amount and the destination of the businesses´ shared profits and the contributions from private individuals. While, in 2008, this information was published in a specific report, this year we´ve dedicated an issue of the magazine to the report so that the data reaches a more vast and international audience.

This is not, however, only a collection of tables full of numbers and graphics. We also want to report the result of the analysis and reflections about various aspects of the project over these years. We´ve done this by presenting experiences about the life of communion, within the businesses and in the environments in which they operate. Our reflections on how to use the funds for the formation to a culture of giving have also been added, as well as those on how to truly help people in need, respecting the paradigm of fraternity and doing everything we can to help them pay back the loan as soon as possible, avoiding dependency.

There is also a description of various projects geared towards creating new jobs for people in need and formational activities on the culture of communion, particularly those taking place at the University Institute Sophia at Loppiano. There, 50 graduate students coming from different parts of the world are now starting the second year of the Masters Program in Culture of Unity. Following the first year focused on the theological-philosophical sphere, they are now delving into politics and economy.

The tables that summarize the profits gathered and how they´re used, both from businesses and personal contributors, show the amounts nation by nation. Instead, in the final graphs, we´ve added data regarding what type of intervention was made.

It´s our pleasure to see that, with respect to previous years, notable progress has been made in the creation of new jobs. And thanks to the collaboration with AMU, we´ve taken a step forward in defining, organizing and assisting projects in various parts of the world.