ROME, OCT. 29, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Little Town of Loppiano, the first of 33 centers of the Focolare Movement, is marking its 40th anniversary.
Situated on the hills of Tuscany not far from Florence, it has schools, industries and craft centers and a population of about 1,000 people from 70 countries.
Residents include students, teachers, craftsmen, farmers, artists, families, religious and priests, and non-Christians who form a new society based on the Gospel law of love.
More than 40,000 visitors go to Loppiano every year. On the occasion of the anniversary, the center’s church dedicated to the Mother of God will be consecrated and opened this Saturday. The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, archbishop of Florence.
“We felt the church in stone should come after we had built the community of living stones,” Focolare founder Chiara Lubich said when the foundation stone was laid on May 15, 2003. “It comes last to seal the town, to be the summit, the symbol of the people who live here.”
On the first floor there is an ecumenical chapel. A picture of Virgin and Child painted by a Hindu artist and embellished with precious stones and gold was brought here from India.
The Focolare Movement promotes spiritual and social renewal. It was founded by Lubich in 1943, based on the spirituality of unity rooted in the Gospel. It spread worldwide and has more than 2 million members and friends of various creeds.
