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“Mixja flimkien…. ta’ familja, qrubija u tama”: dan kien is-suġġett għall-Mariapoli 2025, li saret fil-Qawra Palace Resort & Spa, fl-ewwel weekend ta’ Marzu, fis-sena meta l-Knisja universali qed tiċċelebra l-Ġublew tat-tama, u meta l-Moviment tal-Fokolari qed jidħol aktar fil-fond dwar il-qrubija ma’ Alla u mal-proxxmu.
Għal ħafna, il-Mariapoli hi appuntament ta’ kull sena, iżda anki din id-darba kien hemm min ħa sehem għall-ewwel darba; fost dawn familja miċ-Ċina u xi familji mill-Pakistan li jgħixu hawn Malta. Sa mill-bidunett tal-Mariapoli, wieħed seta’ jħoss arja ta’ familja, fejn nies ta’ kull età u minn kull qasam tal-ħajja sabu ruħhom flimkien f’ambjent fejn tħossok ‘l bogħod mill-ħajja tas-soltu u aktar qrib lejn dak li l-qalb tixxennaq għalih.
Anki n-numru sabiħ ta’ tfal u teenagers li ħadu sehem fil-programm imħejji apposta għalihom, taw is-sehem prezzjuż tagħhom biex tinbena l-esperjenza sħiħa tal-Mariapoli. Din l-esperjenza sempliċi u fl-istess ħin profonda kienet waħda li saħħet is-sens ta’ familja fejn wieħed seta’ jkompli jiskopri l-ġmiel tal-arti tal-imħabba u jikseb qawwa ġdida biex iħares ‘l quddiem b’tama.
Il-kant tassew sabiħ, il-mużika, l-uċuħ tan-nies, l-ambjent akkoljenti….. dan kollu għen biex is-sala tal-Mariapoli tinbidel f’oasi ta’ serenità fejn wieħed seta’ jilmaħ ukoll dak is-sens ta’ stennija li kull Mariapoli ġġib magħha.
Il-higħlights fil-programm tal-Mariapoli
L-introduzzjoni qasira fl-ewwel jum kienet bħal ħolqa f’katina li għaqqdet xi ftit mill-istorja tal-bidu tal-Moviment tal-Fokolari mar-realtà tad-dinja li qed ngħixu fiha llum, fil-waqt li qanqlet lil dawk preżenti biex ma jibżgħux jibqgħu joħolmu fl-ideal ta’ dinja magħquda fejn ilkoll nistgħu ngħixu tassew bħal aħwa, bħala familja waħda. Il-Mariapoliti kienu mistiedna jieħdu sehem fi “Human Library” fejn kellhom l-opportunità li jingħaqdu ma’ xi wieħed mit-tmien gruppi fejn sar sharing dwar diversi aspetti tal-ħajja. Tista’ tgħid li dan kien l-ewwel pass fil-mixja ta’ dawn il-ġranet li saħħaħ il-qrubija u kattar it-tama; kien pass li wassalna biex inkomplu niskopru dejjem aktar li matul ħajjitna aħna nistgħu ninsġu storja li hi umana u divina fl-istess ħin.
Is-Sibt filgħodu kien kollu ddedikat għall-qrubija ma’ Alla u mal-proxxmu. L-għodwa bdiet b’mument qawwi ta’ riflessjoni mħawwar bi ħsibijiet, ħin ta’ skiet, esperjenza u mużika, li fakkruna f’diversi modi li permezz tagħhom Alla jqarribna lejh u lejn xulxin. Kien apprezzat immens is-sehem ta’ David Hickey, fokolarin mill-Irlanda li għex il-Mariapoli magħna. Hu mexxa t-tieni parti ta’ din l-għodwa billi qasam l-esperjenza tiegħu fid-dawl ta’ dan is-suġġett.
Il-programm tas-Sibt wara nofsinhar kien kollu ffukat fuq iċ-Ċelebrazzjoni tal-Ġublew tat-Tama. Wara spjegazzjoni bi tħejjija għal din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, il-Mariapoliti bdew il-pellegrinaġġ mill-Qawra sal-Knisja ta’ Sant’Agata, ir-Rabat, fejn anki ħadu sehem fil-Quddiesa li kienet iċċelebrata min-Nunzio Appostoliku, il Mons. Savio Hon Tai-Fai SDB. Kien mument solenni li fih inħasset ir-realtà ta’ Knisja fil-mixja tagħha lejn l’Ut Omnes … li jkunu lkoll ħaġa waħda.
Wara l-konċelebrazzjoni tal-Quddiesa tal-Ħadd li tmexxiet mill-Isqof J. Galea Curmi, panel magħmul minn żgħażagħ u adulti qasmu diversi ideat u esperjenzi li wrew kif l-impenn ta’ qrubija jista’ jkun rimedju għal dinja mifnija bil-ġrieħi tas-solitudni, tal-indifferenza, tal-individwaliżmu….
“L-għeluq tal-għajnejn quddiem il-proxxmu, jagħmilna għomja anki quddiem Alla……L-imħabba hi d-dawl waħdieni li jdawwal mill-ġdid dinja mudlama u jagħti kuraġġ….” Dan il-kliem ta’ Papa Franġisku li kien ikkwotat minn Margaret Karram, il-President tal-Moviment tal-Fokolari fit-tema li kitbet dwar il-Qrubija, kien ikkwotat ukoll fil-konklużjoni tal-Mariapoli flimkien ma’ xi punti oħra minn din it-tema.
Meta tkun għext esperjenza daqshekk sabiħa u l-Mariapoli tasal fi tmiemha, kważi b’mod spontanju jiġik li tistaqsi: u issa la noħorġu minn hawn, x’ser jiġri? Kien biżżejjed ftit ħin ta’ riflessjoni, biex wasalt għat-tweġiba li sibtha f’dak li għexna matul dan il-weekend stess. Ħassejt vuċi fija tqanqalni biex nibqa’ miexja qrib tal-oħrajn u flimkien magħhom: “Ibqgħu mexjin, jiena magħkom!”. U ftakart li aħna ġejna maħluqa biex inkunu ta’ don għal xulxin, imsejħa biex inkunu bnedmin ta’ tama, u fuq kollox li għandna ċ-ċans tad-deheb li nħobbu ‘l Ġesù f’dawk kollha li b’xi mod insibu ruħna qrib tagħhom!
Vivienne Attard
Servizz fotografiku: Anthony Dimech
[:en]“A journey of family, closeness and hope“—this was the theme of Mariapolis 2025, which took place at the Qawra Palace Resort & Spa on the first weekend of March, in a year when the universal Church is celebrating the Jubilee of Hope and when the Focolare Movement is delving deeper into the theme of closeness to God and to our neighbours.
For many, the Mariapolis is an annual event, but this time, too, there were those who participated for the first time—including a family from China and some families from Pakistan who live in Malta. From the very start of Mariapolis, one could feel an atmosphere of family, where people of all ages and from all walks of life found themselves together in an environment that felt removed from daily life and closer to what the heart truly longs for.
The significant number of children and teenagers who took part in the program designed especially for them also played a valuable role in building the full experience of the Mariapolis. This simple yet profound experience strengthened the sense of family, where one could continue discovering the beauty of the art of loving and gain new strengths to look ahead with hope.
The beautiful singing, the music, the faces of the people, and the welcoming environment all contributed to transforming the Mariapolis hall into an oasis of serenity, where one could also perceive that sense of expectation that every Mariapolis brings with it.
Highlights of the Mariapolis Program
The short introduction on the first day served as a link in a chain, connecting some of the history of the Focolare Movement’s beginnings with the reality of the world we live in today. It also inspired those present not to be afraid to continue dreaming of the ideal of a united world, where we can all truly live as brothers and sisters—as one family.
Participants were invited to take part in a “Human Library” where they had the opportunity to join one of eight groups and share experiences on various aspects of life. This was, in a way, the first step on the journey of these days—one that strengthened bonds and increased hope. It was a step that led us to further discover that, throughout our lives, we can weave a story that is both human and divine at the same time.
Saturday morning was entirely dedicated to closeness with God and neighbour. The morning began with a powerful moment of reflection, enriched with thoughts, moments of silence, personal experiences, and music, all reminding us in different ways how God draws us closer to Him and to each other. A highly appreciated contribution came from David Hickey, a Focolarino from Ireland, who lived the Mariapolis experience with us. He led the second part of the morning by sharing his own experience in the light of this theme.
The Saturday afternoon program was entirely focused on the Celebration of the Jubilee of Hope. After an introductory explanation in preparation for this celebration, the participants began a pilgrimage from Qawra to the Church of St. Agatha in Rabat, where they also took part in the Holy Mass, celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr Savio Hon Tai-Fai SDB. It was a solemn moment in which the reality of a Church journeying toward Ut Omnes… – that all may be one – was deeply felt.
Following the Sunday Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Bishop J. Galea Curmi, a panel of young people and adults shared various ideas and experiences that demonstrated how a commitment to closeness can be a remedy for a world wounded by loneliness, indifference, and individualism.
“Closing our eyes before our neighbour makes us blind even before God… Love is the only light that can illuminate a dark world and give courage.” These words of Pope Francis, quoted by Margaret Karram, President of the Focolare Movement, in her reflection on “Closeness”, were also cited in the conclusion of Mariapolis, along with other key points from this theme.
When you have lived such a beautiful experience and the Mariapolis comes to an end, it is almost instinctive to ask: And now that we are leaving here, what will happen? A brief moment of reflection was enough to find the answer in what we had just experienced throughout the weekend. I felt a voice within me urging me to keep walking close to others and together with them: “Keep walking, I am with you!” And I remembered that we were created to be a gift to one another, called to be people of hope, and above all, that we have the golden opportunity to love Jesus in all those we encounter along our path!
By Vivienne Attard
English translation: Mario Falzon
Photo credit: Anthony Dimech
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