7/28/2019 Davao Archbishop Exhorts Mariapolites 2

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Davao Archbishop Exhorts Mariapolites: Strengthen Yourselves

to Be Ready to Face the World

REMASE, Davao City. Archbishop Romulo Valles, Archbishop of Davao, exhorted the participants of

the Focolare Movements annual summer gathering called Mariapolis to draw their strength from this

Focolare community experience to prepare themselves to face the world whose values are contrary tothat of the gospel.

This he said to more than 400 Mariapolites or participants of the Mariapolis from different parts

of Mindanao gathered at Saint Francis Xavier Regional Major Seminary, Catalunan Grande at the end of

the Holy Mass he concelebrated with Davao Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando and four other priests

from Davao City.

Each year, the movement holds a spiritual retreat called Mariapolis, which means city of Mary,

in order to deepen and strengthen their life in the Focolare spirituality of unity. This year, they focusedin a particular way on Chiara Lubichs teachings on the love of neighbor (Mk. 12:31) as taught by

Jesus to his disciples in the gospels and explained through the writings of the saints, Church Fathers and

popes.

This years Mariapolis carried the theme: The Other, Another Me. Christians in fact are calledto love their neighbors as themselves, and in this way, they enter the very being, so to speak, of the other

persons up to the point of considering and treating them as another self.

The Mariapolis gathered peoples from all walks of life including other bishops, priests, families,

youth children and seminarians for three days committing themselves to build evangelical unity together

in an atmosphere of a family where everyone is made to feel welcome and important being another

Christ to be loved.

The participants came from as far as Butuan, Mati, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, SultanKudarat and parts of Davao del Norte, del Sur and Davao City. Among the bishops who came to grace

the gathering were Archbishop Emeritus Fernando Capalla of Davao, Bishops Guillermo Afable of the

Diocese of Digos and Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan.

In his concluding remarks, Archbishop Valles encouraged the participants through words of

appreciation for the contribution of the Focolare members in bringing theircommunitys spirit of unityin the dioceses and parishes and in different areas of society where they are present.

The Focolare Movement or Work of Mary, is an ecclesial movement born in the heart of the

Catholic Church, although it also counts as adherents people from other Christian denominations, other

religions and even people who have no particular religious beliefs but are committed to work for the

good of humanity.

It began in 1943, in Trent, Northern Italy, during World War II and it rapidly spread to other

countries in Europe and other continents. It arrived in the Philippines in 1966 and a center was opened inDavao City in 1987.

-The Focolare Community of Davao-