[New City Magazine – February 2019, page 7]
This year Europe will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the first summer gathering of the Focolare in 1949, with a large Mariapolis in Tonadico in the Dolomites, Northern Italy. It will last from 14th July – 11th August 2019. However, it will consist of four separate events each lasting a week with up to 600 participants each time.
Each of the four weeks will be in English and Italian with other European languages provided during specific weeks (see chart below).
History
The Mariapolis first began in 1949 when Chiara and her first companions went to rest in the mountains near Trent. Each year numbers grew until in 1959 more than 10,000 people from 27 nations, and from as far away as Taiwan and Brazil gathered at Fiera di Primiero. From then on there have been numerous Mariapolises held throughout the world.
Activities
The main purpose of every Mariapolis is to build a ‘city’ where everyone lives the mutual love that Jesus asked of his disciples. This can be lived whatever the activity: workshops, seminars, trips, games, crafts, liturgies and meditation…
Accommodation
A variety of accommodation has been pre-booked for this event in the area: hotels, retreat centres, apartments, camping etc. This is a peak period in the year for an already popular holiday attraction. Therefore participants will need to book accommodation through the event organisers. Also contact Carlo Poggi for information about groups going from GB: carlo.poggi1@gmail.com
The Mariapolis in Wales 24-26 May 2019
For further information about the Mariapolis in Wales this year, contact Margaret Wilkerson:
2019.unity@gmail.com
Dates and available languages:
14.7.19 – 21.7.19 English, Italian, Slovenian, Czech, French
21.7.19 – 28.7.19 English, Italian, German, Croatian, Polish, Dutch
28.7.19 – 4.8.19 English, Italian, Russian, Slovakian, Lithuanian, Portuguese
4.8.19 – 11.8.19 English, Italian, German, Hungarian, Romanian, Spanish
Further information: www.europeanmariapolis.org
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