“Focolare” is an Italian word that means “hearth” or “fireplace.” In Trent, in northern Italy, ‘focolare’ was the place in the house where people would feel the warmth of the family.  And this was what people started calling the first community where Chiara Lubich and her closest friends lived.

Ever since its beginnings, the Focolare community has been at its best when it has the warmth of a family. Its message of oneness and unity, inspired by the Gospel, has also been likened to a fire that inflames hearts and enlightens minds.

Focolare is a spiritual community, and most people who are a part of it are religious. The original inspiration for Focolare was given to Chiara Lubich and her early friends, who were Latin Catholics. Eventually, the spirituality grew to include people from various Christian Churches, other world religions, and others with no religious tradition. The Catholic Church recognizes the Focolare as an ecclesial movement.

The movement is not in itself a church; it’s a worldwide community. The Catholic Church approved it officially as an ecclesial movement. Still, there are people with no religious affiliation, believers from many of the world’s faith traditions, and Christians of a variety of denominations who are part of the movement as well. If they belong to one, each goes to their own church or place of worship.

Being Christian or Catholic is not required. There are people with no religious affiliation or tradition, as well as the faithful of other world religions, who are part of Focolare too.

Focolare is not limited to any age group, and there are specific programs organized by age or stage of life. For example, there are groups for children, teenagers, young adults, married couples, and the elderly, as well as groups by profession.

Focolare is a worldwide community with its own spirituality and culture. In fact, you could say that Focolare builds culture: a culture of giving, a culture of unity. In practice, this leads to different social projects and outreach activities that are organized locally.