A Focolare Youth Meeting or Gen School with a holistic approach to youth formation was held in Mariapolis Peace during the Holy Week, last April 14-16, in preparation for the International Genfest or Youth Festival of 2018.
The National Gen School celebrated focal points of Chiara Lubich’s life and charism dedicated to universal brotherhood, in spiritual preparation for the GenFest 2018.
Convened in Mariapolis Center, Tagaytay, were 140 dedicated young people from different regions (zones) of the Philippines participating in the four-day school entitled Refresh: A New Beginning.
Leaders from various sectors of society who took to heart the ideal of unity were invited as speakers, and they presented an incredibly in-depth approach to “renewing the hearts of men by renewing structures of society.”
Beneath the movement’s purpose
In line with the theme of the year on “Jesus Forsaken,” Renata Casas and Reuben Banaag, Focolare Directors of Manila, explained Chiara Lubich’s concept of the Forsaken Jesus and how the late foundress realized that it was the “secret” for achieving unity. The Abandoned One, described as God’s window to humanity, brings into each of our hearts “unity”. As Chiara recalled, “All that happens around me happens for me, it’s all a choral rendition of the love of God for me.” This phrase resonated in discussion groups where different challenges facing the Gen, and what other Gen units from different cities were doing to address these challenges, were all highlighted.
More so, the embodiment of structure and the background founded upon the roots of the Focolare Movement in its General Statutes, were pointed out as the ideal’s set of guidelines by Nar Plaras and Father Chun Boc Tay, Focolare Directors of Tagaytay Mariapolis Peace. They stressed Chiara’s words in the first page of the Statutes which state that “Continual mutual love which makes unity possible and generates the presence of Jesus among those gathered in his name, is for the members of the Work of Mary, the basis of their life in all of its aspects; it is the norm of norms, the premise to every other rule.”
Rome Vital, of New City Press engaged the Gen to identify their “most hopeless” case in small groups as a discussion starter. With a number of personal insights, the Gen managed to come up with alternatives in order to turn the most hopeless struggle into a “hopeful” and manageable one.
A topic on leadership lively given by PMAP Awardee Lito de Guzman. Lito, who embraced John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership elaborated each level. He defined Chiara and other prominent leaders who dealt with transcendence in developing other people as leaders.
Bordering beyond
It will be the first time that an international Genfest will be held outside Europe, hence, the School had its way to kick start the Filipino Gen’s anticipation in preparing for such a huge event.
Updates coming from the Filipino Gen organizers were primarily favored the idea of collecting more diverse and concrete experiences, challenging local Focolare communities to come up with activities that would immerse the participants into the reality of the Philippines and Asia, preparing them for the 3-day event of Genfest, Manila, in 2018.
A forecast of 15,000 people around the globe who will be accommodated in the World Trade Center of Metro Manila, Philippines is expected to grace Gen Fest 2018 with the theme, “Beyond all Borders.” Definitely something Filipino hospitality would look forward to. All kinds of preparations such as accommodation, transportation, food, sponsorships and solicitations, pre-Gen Fest events and activities, program and logistics, marketing, and communications.
Moreover, since the event will run a day longer compared to previous GenFests as disclosed by the organizing committee, a higher budget is needed for the preparations. They shortlisted probable caterers who could serve food for the number of participants expected with bio-friendly packages.
Working on to establish an interfaith celebration and to gain participation from a number of new youths from other organizations and schools during the GenFest, some committees are planning to meet and hold dialogues with different Catholic associations, as well as with ecumenical and inter-religious groups as recommended by Vic and Vicky Lahoz, and Asela and Ted Arago, who are in charge of dialogues in these fields in the Focolare Movement in the Philippines..
On the other hand, a group of representatives gave updates on the upcoming auditions for a choir/band, the pre-Gen Fest activities, and the need for translators, apps, and before-event information to spice-up the actual Gen Fest.
For the Gen Fest, a major celebration for the young people of the world, the Marketing Team wants to take advantage of social media to spread the word, and involve new youths. This will soon begin 365 days before the actual event.
