An International Conference, by
invitation, of five hundred persons, born of an idea matured between the
Ecclesial Movement, Renewal in the Spirit (Rinnovamento nello Spirito
Santo) and the Oblate Sisters of the Holy Spirit.
Place: Lucca; Church of Sant’Agostino,
on the tomb of Blessed Elena Guerra; two conference halls; in the Big
Square (Piazza Grande) in front of the Municipal Theater.
Proposed dates: from the afternoon of
Friday, September 30th to lunch of Sunday October 2nd 2005.
A possible title: “The 1900’s: the
Century of the Holy Spirit? A historical Re-Visitation – First hand
testimonies”.
Focus: Two great “periods”, two
historical areas of reference, on either side of the great watershed of
Ecumenical Vatican Council II: 1) from Blessed Elena Guerra to John XXIII;
2) from Paul VI to the present day.
Witnesses: Leading figures of the
1900s, men and women who, in docile obedience to the Holy Spirit,
accomplished works of a highly “charismatic” nature or brought about a
reawakening of faith and charity in various fields (church, social,
cultural, scientific and political).
Speakers: Short interventions from
historians, sociologists, prelates, leaders and Founders of social works
who sow “seeds of the Spirit” in the Church and the world.
Observers and guests: Men and women
of good will, who have no commitment within the church but are
“strategically” positioned in various spheres of civil society, and desire
to to come to an understanding of the 1900s in a spiritual light.
Recipients in ecclesial circles:
Theological institutes and faculties, Dicasteries, Congregations,
Movements, “lay Universities” (Departments of the Humanities and of
Religious Sciences).
Recipients in lay circles:
Representatives of Parliaments, Cultural Accademies, Centers of Scientific
research, Federations, Mass media and Newspapers.
Organization: In a spirit of
authentic fraternity, with an informal, celebrative and moderately
“academic” style, talks ( to be short and diverse) will be programmed and
interspersed with prayers to the Holy Spirit, audiovisual projections,
songs, dance, moments of sharing with the assembled participants and in
small groups.
Actual development of the project
The municipal
administration of Lucca has become partner of the initiative. The Mayor
has already involved offices and consultants of the town to support the
organisation even economically. The Town Council will be looking for
Sponsors.
Together the Pontifical
Council for the Laity, which desires to collaborate directly with the
Project, four Vatican Dicasteries have already shown their interest and
assured the presence of their respective Presidents: Pontifical Council
for Culture, Pontifical Council for Inter-religious dialogue, Pontifical
Council for the Oriental Churches, Congregation for the Evangelisation of
Peoples.
The Focolare Movement
and the Community of S. Egidio, through their Founders Chiara Lubich and
Andrea Riccardi, are co-organisers of the project.
Up to date, the
following have given their availability to collaborate in the preparation
of the Project: theologians Piero Coda and Jesus Castellano; journalists
Vittorio Messori and Sergio Zavoli, Paolo Scarafoni - Rector of Regina
Apostolorum; the following bishops: Costanzo, Lambiasi, Semeraro, Comastri
and Pennisi
