New City - Science

   Summer 1965. It was a sunny afternoon on the Italian Alps. Giovanna Vernuccio had just returned from the States, after five years of hard work to spread the spirituality of unity in that immense country. That day, Chiara Lubich called her up. “Let’s go with Foco (Igino Giordani) to visit the Blessed Sacrament.” When they reached the little church of Ala di Stura, a precious and small baroque building, Chiara turned to Giovanna and asked: “Do you know you are not going back to the US?” “Really? And where am I going?” “To the Philippines,” Chiara answered.
Giovanna didn’t even know where that country was. So when she got home she looked it up on the map. Actually she had heard about it before, because a certain Fr. Taschner used to send to the focolarinos in the States many experiences of young people on the Word of Life. Then one day someone remarked that probably a focolarina would be going to the Philippines. And in her heart, she thought: “Maybe I’ll be the one to go?” Now it seemed that Someone was answering her…
   Some months later, on February 15, 1966, Giovanna (nicknamed Giò) joined two Brazilian focolarinas, Madalena and Doni, and two Italian focolarinos Cengia (Fr. Guido Mirti) and Silvio, for the Mass. Chiara came to greet them before the beginning of their Asian adventure. In the end she said to Giò: “Remember that our ideal is Jesus Forsaken.”
   That evening in their luggage they packed some clothes, and included a typewriter and a tape recorder. They were ready to for the trip.

   Giò and Silvio had lived in the States and knew how to speak English; the others knew almost nothing of the language. But they were certain that Someone would look after them. After all, weren’t they working for him?
First stop: Pakistan. A La Salle Brother who had met the movement was waiting for them. For him it was a dream come true to see so many focolarinos! And so for two days he accompanied them. They were able to meet Cardinal Cordero, and speak at the seminary.
   Next stop: Bombay. It was a Sunday, and although they had only a few hours, Cengia wanted to find a church and celebrate Mass. However, before leaving the airport, he realized that something was dripping from his luggage. It was the wine he had brought to celebrate Mass with!
Anyway Bangkok was already waiting for them, with its hot tropical weather. Fr. Ponchione, a Salesian, welcomed them and escorted them to a hotel. Completely exhausted after the long trip and their stopover in Pakistan, the whole company spent the day sleeping. Actually Cengia also managed to meet with Sr. Maria Turelli, a Salesian sister who would do a lot to spread the spirituality of unity everywhere she went.
   Now it was Tuesday, February 22. After having been received so well in Pakistan and Bangkok, the group was awaiting a similar reception in Manila. But when the plane landed at 10 p.m., no one was around. But they were so sure that someone would arrive that when a wealthy Filipino businessman they had met on the plane offered help, they politely declined. However, he insisted on waiting with them for their friends. Three hours later, when no one showed up, he offered his car and paid for a taxi to bring them to Pius XII Catholic Center. It was their first encounter with exquisite Filipino hospitality.
   The next morning they saw Mother Deolindis, then a Holy Spirit sister who would later found the congregation of Workers of Christ the Worker. She came to meet them together with Marigene Lola and a German SVD Brother. Marigene would later become the first Filipino focolarina.
   Cengia and Giò went up to Tagaytay, where Fr. Taschner was preparing himself, waiting for the telegram confirming their arrival! “He was not the least surprised by the little mishap. The great missionary that he is,” Giò says, “he was accustomed to these incidents.”

From that day on, they traveled constantly—wherever Fr. Taschner would bring them. And he had many friends who wanted to personally meet with the “angels who came from Italy.” This is how several people were invited to the meetings. Already on Saturday, February 26, a group at St. Isidro Parish was gathered to listen to this odd group of foreigners, some of them speaking only Italian, and still the people were captivated by “how they were very much united.”

Santiago (Santi) Rillo was there with his wife Speranza. He sat beside Cengia, but at first, did not realize Cengia was a priest. “I was only there accompanying my wife because it was evening, and I became interested, for they were talking about putting religion into practice, not just praying and praying . . . I didn’t have much religious background and so I liked that kind of ‘practical’ religion.”
Santiago is now 88, and from that Saturday night in 1966 he has been involved in the Focolare. Not without his moments of doubts, though. Once he decided he was not made for this kind of life and went to Cengia to tell him of his decision. But Cengia encouraged him, “Santi, I am a bigger sinner than you, but Jesus came for sinners, so also for you and me. Don’t give up. Keep on trying.” Santiago thought that this was reasonable enough. He said, “Okay, I’ll keep on trying.” Now, 40 years later, he concludes: “To this day, I’m still trying. I’ve kept on trying and today I’m still here after almost 40 years, and I like it.”