Belem: a Seminar that went Beyond Expectations

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Thursday, 04 March 2010 11:32

One-hundred twenty-five participants from all over Brazil, at the Formation Seminar on Cooperation Projects for Development

Belem: a Seminar that went Beyond Expectations

As Leo Andringa earlier announced on this site, from Jan. 30 - Feb. 6, 2010, the first "Formation Seminar on Cooperation Projects for Development took place in the small town of "Mariapolis Gloria", in Belem, Brazil. The seminar was organized and carried out together with the non-profits Action for a United World (AMU), Action for New Families´ (AFN) Adoption at a Distance, the International Commission of the Economy of Communion (EoC) and Youth for a United World (GMU). The seminar was appropriately held in Brazil, remembering that since the beginning of the Focolare Movement´s spread, the start of social works was one of the country´s characteristics. On this fertile ground, the work of AMU took hold with projects of integrated development (for example, the Magnificat project in Maranhão) by AFN, with support through Adoption at a Distance (for example, the Santa Maria School in Recife), the timely interventions of the Youth for a United World in emergency situations, and the EoC´s creation of new jobs and support given for families in need.

The seminar was attended by 125 people, coming from all over Brazil, with various qualifications and professional experience and lots of expectations. There were two main goals: come together to bring about a culture of development and cooperation that is characterized by reciprocity, identifying how the characteristics originating from Chiara Lubich´s charism influence particular behavior in this field; and contribute to forming local workers with the ability necessary to elaborate and manage development and assistence projects.

Economia e carismi: un incontro necessario

Written by Luigino Bruni Friday, 05 February 2010 11:28

Economia e carismi: un incontro necessario

di Luigino Bruni
pubblicato su Unità e Carismi n.5/2007

L'autore  sviluppa in questo articolo il contenuto di un suo saggio (Milano 2006).

“Oggi arriva la salvezza nella nostra parrocchia: una famiglia con sei bambini, tutti handicappati” (Don Milani).

Occhi che sanno vedere

È sempre più urgente riscrivere la storia economica e civile dei popoli prendendo sul serio il ruolo, civile ed economico, dei carismi.

Che cos’è un carisma? Sono molte le definizioni possibili. In queste pagine per carisma intendo un dono di “occhi diversi” capaci di vedere cose che altri non vedono, occhi che vedono di più e di diverso dagli altri. Colei o colui che riceve un carisma, è capace di vedere dei valori laddove gli altri vedono solo disvalori, bellezze in bruttezze, doni in problemi.

L’azione dei carismi è vasta e potente, ricopre e permea di sé il mondo, è come il sangue che scorre nelle vene delle storia. Le religioni sono da sempre luoghi privilegiati nei quali i carismi fioriscono, perché vi trovano un terreno particolarmente fertile; ma l’azione dei carismi va ben oltre i confini visibili delle religioni, è ciò che di più laico si possa immaginare.

Restando solo nell’ambito economico, pensiamo, per fare solo qualche esempio in età recente, ai tanti uomini e donne che si sono impegnati per dar vita al movimento sindacale, alle cooperative, ai fondatori di casse di risparmio, di casse rurali, che, ieri come oggi, continuano a trasformare problemi in risorse e in opportunità, grazie agli “occhi” diversi con cui guardano il mondo e le persone.

Economia e carismi: un incontro necessario

Course in Economy, Ethics and Finance

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Friday, 22 January 2010 16:56

The Philosophy Department of the Salesian University is promoting the first:
Course in Economy, Ethics and Finance

Course in Economy, Ethics and Finance

Thursday, February 18, 2010, corresponding to the beginning of the second semester of 2009/2010 academic year, the first course in Economy Ethics and Finance (FA0333, 5 ECTS) will officially begin, held at the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome. Lessons will be held on Thursday afternoons from 15:00 - 17:30.

Professors are: Mons. Mario Toso (Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace); Prof. Alessandra Smerilli (Professor of Political Economy at the Pontifical Department of Educational Science, "Auxilium" of Rome); Prof. Luigino Bruni (Professor of Political Science at the University of Studies Milano-Bicocca and at Sophia University Institute in Loppiano, Florence); Dr. Antonio Fazio (already Governor of the Bank of Italy and honorary doctorate in Moral and Social Theology at the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome).

Brazil - Belem, 30/01-05/02/2010

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Wednesday, 13 January 2010 13:17

The first formational seminar for all of Brazil, which involves EoC, AMU, AFN, and YFUW, from January 20 to February 5, 2010

In Belem, in North-East Brazil, a formational seminar on the management of projects which collaborate to development

The seminar on the formation in management of projects which collaborate to development will begin January 30 in Belem. It´s a seminar which brings together all of Brazil for the first time and which arose from the collaborationb etween the International EoC Commission, AMU, AFN and YFUW. We ask Leo Andringa of the International EoC COmmission to tell us something about it.

How did this initiative begin?

It arose from a concrete need. Within the collaboration that already exists between the International EoC COmission and AMU over the last few years, to help manage the business profits which are destined to aid activities for those in need in the project, there was always a more clear need to have adequately prepared people on-site to management the development projects that they follow. Various parties showed the need to provide those who are locally appointed with formation in this very important aspect. And so, a formation project with various phases began, already since April of 2009.

Specialization in Civil Economy and Non Profit 2009-2010

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Monday, 11 January 2010 16:05

Specialized Course in Civil Economy and Non Profit: Registration Deadline Extended until February 5, 2010

Embark in the world of non-profit

University of Milano-Bicocca - 2009-2010 Academic Year

Objectives: This specialization is geared towards young graduates who want to prepare themselves to work in the Third Sector and to workers who want to deepen their competence in management of non-profits, particularly social cooperatives, NGOs and associations.

The specialization course hopes to offer specific training with respect to civil economy and the management aspects related to NGOs (administration and management, juridical administration, project development and human resources). Candidates will find themselves in an economic science that incorporates ethical and social values.

Download announcement (soon in English)

A School of Communion

Written by Danilo Cerelli Wednesday, 02 December 2009 15:17

Danile Cerelli participated in the first EoC Summer School last September in Rocca di Papa. He shares his experience with his friends and with us of EoC Online.

A School of Communion

Right away, I was touched by the school´s international characteristic. We came from pretty much all over the world and were people of all types: students, entrepreneurs, professors, workers from all of Europe (Italy, France, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic to name a few) and from various other continents (Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines).

Charisms in Communion - second day

Written by Alberto Frassineti Wednesday, 18 November 2009 23:28

The second day of the "Charisms, Economy and Management" convention

Charisms in Communion

By our correspondent Alberto Frassineti

The morning opened with a presentation by Sr. Alessandra Smerilli (Professor in the Pontifical Department of Educational Science in Rome) on the theme: "The economic and civil significance of charisms".

She highlighting the specific characteristics of charismatically-generated works while considering: that they arise to respond to a specific need, that they are characterized by gratuitousness and reciprocity, are not transmitted by "techniques" but by encouraging the birth of vocations, and they have the specific characteristic of beauty even while remaining simple. Then, Smerelli put in light the need to live the three levels of Love (in the sense that Benedict XVI specified in this encyclical Deus Caritas est) - Eros, Philia and Agape - within the works and among those who work for them.

Charisms and today´s challenges - First day

Written by Alberto Frassineti Tuesday, 17 November 2009 23:57

Report about the first day of the "Charisms, economy and management" convention - experiences and reflections from the perspective of the Economy of Communion

More than 70 are present here, from about 12 congregation and institutes, plus numerous lay-persons who work or collaborate with works that belong to religious congregations. The goal of the convention was to give space to reflections and exchange of experiences on how the EoC, together with other proposals, represents a good answer to the new and important challenges which the charismatic realities, orders and religious institutes are currently facing.

Italia - Incisa Valdarno (FI), 26/10/2009

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Tuesday, 20 October 2009 12:04

Continua la sfida della formazione di donne e uomini “nuovi”, aperti ad un dialogo a tutto campo con la cultura e la società

Sophia: Inaugurazione Anno Accademico 2009-2010

Lunedì 26 ottobre 2009 ore 10.30 - 12.30
Auditorium di Loppiano
Incisa in Val d'Arno (Firenze)

Interverranno: Mons .Giuseppe Betori, arcivescovo di Firenze e la presidente dei Focolari, Maria Voce

Sophia al suo secondo anno: laboratorio di novità e prospettive:

Un nuovo centro accademico, capace di coniugare fede e ragione, per favorire una visione più ampia e integrata, tesa al dialogo con le altre religioni e culture e alla crescita intellettuale e interiore delle giovani generazioni è stato l’augurio di Benedetto XVI un anno fa, nel suo messaggio in occasione dell’inaugurazione dello IUS, neonato istituto universitario che ora dà il via al suo secondo anno accademico e che offre una laurea magistrale in “Fondamenti e prospettive di una cultura dell’unità”.
vedi programma

The World Council of Churches sent a message for the Summer School

Written by Antonella Ferrucci Friday, 25 September 2009 21:54

Dr. Samuel Kobia, Secretary General of the General Council of the Churches of Geneva, sent us this message

Message to the participants of the EOC Summer School 

a few excerpts

To the Seminar on Economy of Communion, Castelgandolfo, Rome, Italy

Dear friends, sisters and brothers in Christ,

The parable of the judgement of the nations in the Gospel of Mathews (25:31-46) makes it clear: What we have done to the least in the human family, we have done to Christ. Christ identifies with the poor and marginalized of this world. We find Christ among them. Social justice is a matter of faith and a Gospel imperative. Reading the recent papal encyclical Caritas in Veritate, I am grateful for the great consensus among major church traditions that we have to focus on the needs of the poor, the role of labour and the relationship with creation.