KENYA: The Focolare movement taking root in Africa
Maria Voce, President of Focolare Movement
The Focolare Movement is seeking to strengthen its penetration in the African continent. According to Maria Voce, the President of the Focolare Movement, the society hopes to recruit as many African religious, priests, the laity, the young and families to the movement whose core principles are embedded on unity and reciprocal love among the people. “The movement is at the disposal of those who want to deepen their faith” Voce said.
While visiting Maria Polese School for enculturation in Nairobi, Kenya, late May, 2016, Voce met more than 300 members from Kenya, Ethopia, Madagascar and West Africa Countries who are currently learning to enhance a better understanding and incorporation of African cultures and how to illuminate the gospel in these cultures. “African culture can be a gift to all the cultures in the world.” She noted.
She later met with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) Vice chancellor Professor Justus Gitari Mbae to discuss potential future cooperation so as to enable the spirituality of the movement to penetrate the World through the university. “Focolare has a future in Africa, together with the other movements and congregations.” She stated.
Maria Voce also, addressed hundreds of law and Social Science students at CUEA where she encouraged them to give law a human face and seek justice founded on the values of fraternity. “It is not the law that contributes to the common good, but the person who contributes to promoting just laws.” She said.
The Focolare Movement is an international organization that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. Founded in 1943 in Trento, northern Italy by Chiara Lubich as a religious movement, the movement has more than two million followers worldwide.
By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications, KCCB
