A meeting of the local secretariats of the Parish Movement in Germany and Austria was held in Ottmaring, Germany, in the picturesque little town of the Focolare Movement called "New Law". The aim of the meeting was to share their experiences of how the life of unity has developed within a number of their parish communities, in the context of present day society and the radical changes that are sweeping through it. All the experiences focussed on the importance of giving witness to the presence of Jesus among "two or three united in his name" and putting into action the "Art of Christian Loving".

The "culture of giving" is spreading more widely among parish communities. For example, during Lent, in a parish in Lazio, Italy, a group of boys decided to give up buying unnecessary things, so raising LIT. 1.500.000 for the "Emergency Fund for the 7000".

On her First Communion day, a young girl from Piedmont (Italy), distributed holy pictures to relatives and friends, as is the custom, along with a request that they give her money instead of gifts because she wanted to donate the proceeds to a charitable cause.

There are ongoing initiatives and activities being carried out in various parishes in order to help refugees and poor communities in developing countries.

A parish mission held in a parish in Sicily (Italy), and animated mainly by members of the Parish Movement, was characterised by a great enthusiasm and vitality. They visited families, even in those places considered to be dangerous, in order to share their burdens with them. In these neighbourhoods, in particular, there were many extraordinary graces and conversions. The post-mission meetings held in various parts of the parish became transformed into moments of unity and deep sharing on living the Gospel.