In 1986, at its inauguration, Focolare founder Chiara Lubich wrote in a message: “This city of Mary could be the model of a new humanity where unity has become a reality.” Day after day this plan of unity is coming about. All year round, a great variety of gatherings is taking place at Luminosa for children, families, teenagers, youth, entrepreneurs, men and women religious and priests. At Christm
as time, Luminosa traditionally hosts a unique display of over 100 Nativity Scenes from all over the world. Since 1988 the annual presentation of the Luminosa Award for Unity has been a means of recognizing a person or group whose life and works have given a significant contribution to unity, which is the Focolare’s goal. In 1998, the Center for Education in Dialogue was inaugurated. It promotes seminars and interactive dialogue sessions that are held where experts in ecumenism, Christian-Jewish dialogue, Islam and Buddhism offer an in-depth look at various points. Special events, such as the summer 3-day gathering called Mariapolis, offer families and people of all ages and walks of life an experience of how life can be transformed if love and unity are its foundation. When the Mariapolis ends, people find that it was not only a tremendous weekend, but they have experienced a way of living that they will be able to bring back home. Mariapolis Luminosa hosts the New City Press Publishing House headquarters and the editorial office of Living City Magazine.
