“Called that is, sent: the beginning of mission.” This was the theme of the Beginning of the Year Day for CL adults from Lombardy, held in Milan on Saturday, September 21. Ten thousand people attended, over four thousand people connected from six other cities in Lombardy. This was followed by 26 other Beginning Day throughout Italy and 141 abroad in 73 nations.

DOWNLOAD THE TEXT OF THE BEGINNING DAY

In his introduction, the diocesan head of the Fraternity, Francesco Cassese, reviewed the steps taken by the movement this year. Education in the Christian faith, to live life as a vocation, is the “the first fundamental purpose for the existence of the Movement," emphasized the president, Davide Prosperi, in his intervention, “We are chosen, called by an Other.” “Called by name” and the object, like the Samaritan woman, of ”a freely given and undeserved love ” Called together "through a human encounter that has placed us in the life of the Body of Christ, in a communion," “the unity of the believers.”

THE TESTIMONY OF HUSSAM ABU SINI

What is the new step on this journey? “Communicating to everyone the content of this faith,” beacause "it is necessary to become aware that we are called" for a "historical task within the life of the Church and the world.” This task is mission. “To bring the fact of Christ and therefore the fact of Christian communion,” as Fr. Giussani says in Una rivoluzione di sé. La vita come comunione (1968-1970) [A Revolution of Self. Life as Communion (1968-1970)], aware that we have “nothing to offer except what we receive in turn.” This was the case for Mr. and Mrs. Franz and Franziska Jägerstätter, who were witnesses, in front of everyone, to the “diversity” of faith. Through a “yes” that “it is not enough to say once, "but a thousand times, every day."



A road possible to all, to Peter two thousand years ago as it is today to Hussam Abu Sini, head of CL's community in the Holy Land, who, by video link from Haifa, testified what has characterized his life as a father, husband and doctor since the day he met the movement: being “sent by someone, to someone, with someone.”

A path possible for everyone, for Peter two thousand years ago, as it is today for Hussam Abu Sini, head of the CL community in the Holy Land, who, via video link from Haifa, testified to what has defined his life as a father, a husband and doctor since the day he encountered the movement: being “sent by someone, to someone, with someone.”