From the beginnings of the Focolare in Pakistan, many have felt called to live the spirituality of unity and have later created communities in different parts of the country.
The story of the Focolare in Pakistan begins in 1965, when Giuliano Ricchiardi, then a member of the Christian Brothers, arrived in Khushpur to direct the national catechist training school. Khushpur, a large Catholic village founded by missionaries, became the first soil where the Focolare Ideal of unity was sown. Soon after, Italian focolarinas Giovanna “Giò” Vernuccio and Maddalena Cariolata, passing through from the Philippines, spoke of the spirituality of unity to students and teachers. Their words planted seeds that would grow into a movement.
In 1968, Giuliano, together with Italian focolarini Guido “Cengia” Mirti and Giò Vernuccio, and Fr. Filippo Comissari, PIME, from Hong Kong, organized the first Mariapolis gathering in Khushpur. Priests, sisters, laypeople, and even Archbishop Joseph Cordeiro of Karachi[1] joined. It was a moment of grace, and many felt called to live for unity — including a young participant, Stella, who discovered her vocation to be a “focolarina” at just 15 years of age.
From these beginnings, young women like Martha Lal and Ivy Rose Gabriel felt the call to follow Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement. Soon, they left for their formation as focolarinas in the Philippines, supported by Giuliano. Though he later fell gravely ill, Chiara sent companions to ensure he was not alone. Eventually, Giuliano recovered, and his journey led him to the priesthood in Augsburg (Germany), fulfilling a long‑held desire to join the Focolare community fully.
Even when no permanent community existed in Pakistan, the Word of Life[2] arrived faithfully from the Philippines, sustaining priests, sisters, and laypeople. Giuliano returned briefly in 1971–1972 to serve in Faisalabad,[3] strengthening ties and encouraging vocations before departing again for Italy. Around this time, Stella also left for Manila to continue her formation.
In the years that followed, Fr. Rufin Anthony of Khushpur became a key figure. Sent by his bishop to the Priests’ School of the Focolare in Grottaferrata (Italy), he became a priest focolarino and later translated the Word of Life to Urdu. He accompanied others in their discernment, helping new vocations emerge and sending young Pakistanis abroad for formation.
By 1976, the first women’s focolare center opened in Lahore,[4] led by Marina Pracchia, an Italian focolarina, with Martha Lal, Ivy Rose Gabriel, and later Stella John. In 1980, a men’s focolare center opened in India, with Pakistan and India forming one zone until 1983. In 1984, Pakistan became its own zone, with new members arriving to strengthen the community. Soon after, a focolare center was established in Karachi, responding to requests from local bishops. By 1986, another focolarina, Daniela Bignone, arrived, and eventually, a men’s focolare center was opened in Pakistan with Roman Rosatti and Andrew Camilleri.
Stella John
[1] The largest city in Pakistan, a premier industrial and financial center
[2] A passage from Scripture proposed to the members and friends of the Focolare monthly for reflection and application in their daily life
[3] The third most populous city in Pakistan, a primary industrial center of the Pakistani province of Punjab
[4] The second largest city in Pakistan, one of its major industrial, educational and economic hubs
