By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai: As an answer to Pope Francis’ invitation to dedicate November 19 as “World Day of the Poor” by increasing our deeds of love towards the poor, Focolare Movement India is set to launch a new project called “DIL”(Deeds that say I Love).
“The aim of DIL is to create a ripple effect of love around us by doing deeds and sharing them so as to encourage people of all ages and walks of life to do the same,” Valentino, a member of Focolare, said.
The Holy Father has announced the first World Day of the Poor on November 19. He has urged the whole Church, and men and women of good will everywhere, to turn their gaze on this day to all those who stretch out their hands and plead for help and solidarity. This Day is meant to encourage believers to react against a culture of discard and waste and to embrace the culture of encounter.
At the same time, everyone, independent of religious affiliation, is invited to openness and sharing with the poor through concrete signs of solidarity and fraternity.
“Love is creative so get started, let’s open our hearts, eyes and hands. A two-week project to live and to share, involve yourself and others. At the end of the project we would like to send our compilation of DIL to Pope Francis,” Valentino said.
The Focolare Movement has been in India since 1980 and today has communities and centers in Bangalore, Goa, Darjeeling, New Delhi, which promote activities and meetings for adults, families and young people.
Various social projects are flourishing around the Focolare communities, engaged in child education, improving conditions for women, supporting families in economic difficulties. Particular emphasis is placed on the spread of the values of “universal fraternity” among adolescents, reaching young people of all religions.
The Focolare Movement is an international organization that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood, founded in 1943 by Chiara Lubich.
India has 1.25 billion people. Its population could soon exceed China’s. It is a rapidly developing country with one of the biggest economies in the world. At the same time, there is tremendous illiteracy, poverty, and malnutrition. Its enormous religious variety includes the 80% Hindu majority and a 2.3% Christian minority. It is understandable that among the Focolare dialogues in a process in this land, the most developed is to promote interreligious dialogue.