The horror of the plight of the people of Gaza was not far from our minds as we gathered for the Focolare summer event, “Mariapolis” in Harper Adams University in Newport from 24th –27th July 2025. “We are doing something profoundly political by doing something profoundly spiritual [here at the Mariapolis],” said Rev. Dr. Callan Slipper, Chair of Churches Together in England (CTE). “And its ripples will go out. We have a chance here to begin building the alternative world, building a world of mutual love.” Rev. Slipper, who has also visited Ireland, north and south, for ecumenical events, was speaking during an Anglican Eucharist at the start of the three-day event, which had as its theme “Called to Closeness”.
Every morning, an aspect of ‘Closeness’ was explored: closeness with God, with suffering and the closeness and mutual love which brings about God’s presence. After the reflections, the 300+ participants of all ages had the chance to live out the theme of the Mariapolis – on the campgrounds where families had pitched their tents, in the college apartments, during the lively Ceilidh and while pooling talents for a wonderful show on the last night.
A chance coincidence this year was the reunion of three of the first members of the Focolare in Ireland, all Dubliners: Susan Gately, David Hickey and Angela Manning. Their meeting in Newport was reminiscent of the early years of the Focolare in Ireland, when the first groups would habitually travel to England each year, as the Movement wasn’t large enough to hold its own event in Ireland until the mid-seventies. Susan now lives with her husband Aidan in Prosperous, Co. Kildare, near the Focolare’s little town in Curryhills; David is a member of the Birmingham Focolare; while Angela has settled in London. Their reunion brought much reminiscing, but also offered a chance to share their experience of peacebuilding in Ireland with others, contributing to the event’s theme of “Closeness”.
Afternoon workshops, walks, games and outings, peppered with lively discussions, created and cemented bonds of friendship. During a presentation on Sunday morning, David said, “We need to celebrate our similarities but also our differences. This is a sign of entering into true dialogue which involves the polarities.” Sometimes, he admitted, we can’t celebrate the differences between us, but we can celebrate the other person as Jesus to be loved, no matter how much we disagree.
The workshops ranged from practical skills like decorating plant pots and baking unleavened bread, to sessions on prayer, building closeness at work, ecology, ecumenism, closeness to children in an online world, interfaith dialogue and seeking hope amidst the challenges of our world.
At the Saturday Ecumenical Service for Peace, interspersed among heartfelt prayers and petitions, participants shared moving testimonies of building peace at work and in everyday situations. A notable and touching feature of this Mariapolis was the presence of several families spanning generations – one of whom represented four generations together.
As she left the event, one lady summed up what many felt: “To be honest, I came here really despairing at the state of the world, but I leave with hope and joy in my heart, determined to build the peace.”
by Susan Gately
Thanks Susan for a great report