Aug 2014 158 by EuropeAxess Media

JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND

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The King Do you ever feel haunted by a past failure or a guilty conscience?

... ing Herod, the most powerful and wealthy man in Judea, had everything he wanted, except a clear conscience and peace with God. Herod had respected and feared John the Baptist as a great prophet and servant of God. John, however did not fear to rebuke Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother’s wife. He ended up in prison because of Herodias’ jealousy. Herod, out of impulse and a desire to please his family and friends, had John beheaded. Now his conscience is pricked when he hears that all the people are going to Jesus to hear his message of repentance and to see his mighty works. Herod is now haunted by the thought that the prophet he murdered might now be raised from the dead!

Thousands listened to John the Baptist teach. Herod’s wife, Herodius was jealous of the attention he was receiving and feared that the respect shown the prophet undermined the authority of her husband, King Herod.

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who had it all...

... but when King Herod succumbed to temptation, watching Salome dance, his wife, Herodius sprang her trap, and had him behead John the Baptist. A sign of vanity and cowardice   Unfortunately for Herod, he could not rid himself of sin by ridding himself of the man who confronted him with his sin. Herod’s power and influence was badly flawed. He could take a strong stand on the wrong things when he knew the right. Such a stand, however, was a sign of weakness and cowardice. Where do you get the strength of will and heart to choose what is right and to reject what is bad? God is our help and our strength   The Lord Jesus gives grace and help to the humble, to those who acknowledge their weaknesses and their sinfulness, and who look to God for his mercy and pardon, wisdom

and strength. His grace and pardon not only frees us from a guilty conscience, it enables us to pursue holiness in every area of our lives, in our thoughts and intentions as well as our words and actions.

Fight fear with faith   God’s grace enables us to fight fear with faith and to overcome the temptation to compromise good with evil. Do you rely on God’s grace and help to choose his way of holiness and to reject whatever would weaken your faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ? Hope you are having a peaceful summer, God Bless you, † Fr Stuart

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Production Editor: A. Sargent angela@europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd. as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is hand-delivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar.

John the Baptist was no t afraid to speak out about Herod’s lifesty le, and was unjustly arrested and imprisone d. Are we so fearless, or do we look for compr omise?

Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. You’ll find exclusive Christian gifts in the WebShop. COVER PIC: John Pridmore at the Emmaus Youth Prayer Group Retreat. Photo: A.Sargent

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Pope Francis speaks to the Renewal I have been asked to tell the Renewal “ what the Pope expects from you.

A Choreographic Display Organised by

I expect from you that you share with all in the Church, the grace of Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I expect from you an evangelization with the Word of God which proclaims that Jesus is alive and loves all men. I expect that you give witness of spiritual ecumenism with all those brothers and sisters of other Churches and Christian communities who believe in

Jesus as Lord and Savior. That you remain united in the love that the Lord Jesus asks of us for all men, and in the prayer to the Holy Spirit to come to this unity, necessary for evangelization in the name of Jesus. Remember that “the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical … Catholic Renewal rejoices over what the Holy Spirit carries out in the other Churches” (1 Malines 5, 3). Be close to the poor, the needy, to touch in their flesh the flesh of Jesus. Be close, please! Seek unity in the Renewal, because unity comes from the Holy Spirit and is born of the unity of the Trinity. From whom does division come? From the devil! Division comes from the devil. Flee from internal fights, please! They must not exist among us! I want to thank the ICCRS and the Catholic Fraternity, the

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two organizations of Pontifical Right of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, at the service of global Renewal; be committed to preparing the world meeting for priests and Bishops, which will be held in June of next year. I know that you have also decided to share the office and to work together as a sign of unity and to manage the resources better. I rejoice greatly. I also want to thank you because you are already organizing the Great Jubilee of 2017. Brothers and sisters, remember: adore the Lord God: this is the foundation! To adore God. Seek sanctity in the new life of the Holy Spirit. Be dispensers of the grace of God. Avoid the danger of excessive organization. Go out into the streets to evangelize, proclaiming the Gospel. Remember that the Church was born “in going forth” that Pentecost morning. Be close to the poor and touch

“

he first thing is conversion to the love of Jesus, which changes lives and makes of the Christian a witness of the Love of God. The Church expects this witness of Christian life, and the Holy Spirit helps us to live the coherence of the Gospel for our holiness.

in their flesh the wounded flesh of Jesus. Let yourselves be led by the Holy Spirit, with that freedom and, please, do not cage the Holy Spirit! With liberty! Seek the unity of the Renewal, unity that comes from the Trinity!

And I await you all, Charismatics of the world, to celebrate, together with the Pope, your Great Jubilee in Pentecost of 2017, in Saint Peter’s Square! Thank you!

This is a short excerpt of the text given by the Holy Father. (Original text: Italian, Translation by ZENIT June 03, 2014) © Innovative Media Inc.

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Class of 2014

Graduation O

n the 3rd of July, Bishop Ralph Heskett celebrated Mass with the students of the Gibraltar Women of Grace 2014 Course at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. His Lordship also presented Graduation Certificates to the ladies, and awarded Women of Grace badges to former students Christine Grech and Angela Sargent who have volunteered to Facilitate the 2015 Course.

Join us for a chat and a cup of coffee at the Gibraltar Women of Grace 2015 Course Informational Session at 8pm on Wednesday 3rd September 2014, at the Catholic Community Centre Media Room.

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I pray that they will all be

First Joint Prayer Groups Mass for Unity 25 June 2014

one

t was Ascension Day 2014 and I was reflecting on this Christian festival which dates back to 68AD, commemorating when Jesus was ascended bodily into heaven, witnessed by all of his disciples.

This event was physical and visible and certainly miraculous, as Jesus was raised upwards to return in glory to his Father. His disciples were gathered with him by Mount Olivet near Jerusalem, those who, for three and a half years, had been his constant companions, witnesses to his teachings, miracles, his torture and death. He had died, left them, was returned to them after three days and now, forty days later, he was about to leave them again, this time for good. He had talked to them about this but they were simple men, not yet imbued with the Holy Spirit and surely they felt bereft? Jesus had tried to comfort them “Do not let your hearts be troubled…I will not

leave you as orphans, I will come to you” (John 14:18). Small comfort at such a sad moment I would suppose. It was ten days till the coming of the Holy Spirit, in tongues of fire, which turned the apostles into fearless preachers, spreading the Word. They became the living stones, building and creating, giving living witness as they spread the Gospel. At midday on Tuesday 20th May 2014, Bishop Ralph Heskett, accompanied by several priests, announced, at the most emotional and poignant press conference yet, in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, that he had been appointed Bishop of Hallam and would leave us by summer. To say we were surprised was putting it mildly. Suddenly, the apostle’s consternation at the Ascension was understandable; being left without a leader was a scary place to be. Surely Jesus’ first followers must have doubted

Christine Grech was awestruck at the rapid response to her

suggestion that all the prayer groups come together for a joint Mass for Unity. She had felt a strong impulse to do this during the Novena to the Holy Spirit which was held at the Cathedral. Christine turned to Gerard Fabre and between them they sent out invitations and galvanised the prayer groups, resulting in a great show of support for this inspired initiative. Monseigneur Charlie Azzopardi opened his

their ability to carry on. Discussing this with a friend I

was surprised at her reaction, “We are the Church, the priests are the first to say, do not believe in me, believe in Jesus Christ: the Catholic Church is comprised of 1.2 billion Christians around the world, it is a huge organisation, and it will carry on, each of us is a member of a parish, and many also belong to an apostolic movement or prayer group and their work will continue uninterrupted during this time of transition.” Her conviction was persuasive. Living Stones! Of course, this suddenly made sense. “Thou art Peter and upon this Rock...” (Mathew 16:18). “As you come to Him, the living stones … rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him ... you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house...” (1 Peter 2:5ff).

homily with apologies, firstly, that while all members of the clergy had been invited to the Mass, only three were available. Fr. Charlie begged the members of congregation in an impassioned plea for forgiveness for the many times that their priests let them down in this and in other ways over the years. “However,” he said “Prayer is the greatest power on earth, and I believe in the power of prayer, and if we priests are lacking, it is because you do not pray enough for us!” Leaving his audience in no doubt that this initiative is the first call to an ongoing prayer campaign for Unity between

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Being living stones is a challenge. Spreading the Word born of an ancient time has not been easy when modern times have seen men walk on the moon. Our young are an educated elite, independent, full of knowledge, yet doubting. Sometimes I think we are still rooted in the first century and for the Gospel to have relevance today it must be seen to address the many woes of poverty, slavery, injustice etc with which we are plagued. We can only wish Bishop Ralph well in his new appointment. His leaving is a wrench for all of us, and in our sadness at losing him pray so that his future is filled with peace, happiness, good friends and above all the love and protection of Jesus Christ.

all the diverse apostolic groups we have in Gibraltar, for their priests, that they are strong shepherds, and for vocations, that we may find amongst our numbers men and women who will come forward as good leaders. The Mass for Unity was held only a few days after Fr. Ralph Heskett celebrated Corpus Christi for the last time as Bishop of Gibraltar, having being called by Pope Francis to serve in a huge English diocese that had been left bereft of a Bishop. Look out for notices about the date of the second quarterly Mass for Unity.

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Emmaus Youth Prayer Group presents, on Retreat...

...John Pridmore

Tim Azopardi and Jeremy Duo opened the retreat with moving testimonies.

aving attended

the Friday evening talks, which featured two very moving testimonies from members of the Retreat team, Tim Azopardi and Jeremy Duo, I caught up with John Pridmore at the end of the Retreat. There was a crowd around the coffee trolly in the Retreat Centre and he is chatting with ease to the people there, comparing experiences at different Marian shrines around the world. My first question had formed the previous Friday in St. Theresa’s Church, when John bared his soul and gave an extremely powerful testimony. Many of the things he told us about how the Lord had worked in his life, and how he had turned away from a life of a career criminal to the life of an evangelist, deserved a big round of applause, if not a standing ovation, and I could easily imagine his huge frame filling a stage with an audience of tens of thousands, and the pause at the end of each chapter of his story being filled with just such a response. However the congregation in St. Theresa’s greeted his words in silence. I had wondered then how he felt about that, after doing major international ‘gigs’ to huge

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acclaim. His response to my question was that he thought maybe he had now spoken to about three million people, not including television, but that he only went where God called him. One time he had to decide between two invitations, one to speak in a Cathedral in Bristol, and the other from a Parish Priest who wanted him to come and speak to his ex-confirmation class. He prayed about it with the other members of his Community, and they really felt that he should go to the Priests ex-confirmation class, which would at best include a handful of teenagers, and you would never be sure how many of them would turn up. In fact when he got there on the Friday night, there were only two young men. He went through the whole programme just the same as if he would if speaking in a packed Cathedral. It is now twelve years later, and John was able to tell me that “Both those young men are now priests.” So we can never tell why we are called to go to a certain place or what God will be doing in the hearts of those who hear our words. I asked John about his Community. “Well,” he said simply “I went to the Republic of Ireland, and a lot of

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words & pics Angela Sargent

and Divine Mercy

Retreatants enjoyed heavenly music and songs of praise from Gabriella Duo, Simon Dumas, Philip Dumas, Guy Dumas, and Ricky Codali. people were joining me traveling around as we evangelized, and a Bishop gave us a house, in Carrick-on-Shannon, so we founded St. Patrick’s, that’s 13 years ago now, our main charism is evangelization, that’s what we do, we require a seven year commitment from members, and go out to speak in schools and parishes. We also invite any young people, between the age of 18 and 35 who are interested, to spend one year with us.” You worked with Mother Theresa, when did you meet her? “I met Mother Theresa in the Bronx, New York, I was working with the Franciscans there for one and a half years and they work very closely with the Little Sisters of the Poor, I met her several times between May and June or July of that year, it was the same year she met Princess Diana in the Bronx, and she died the following September.” John passes on many examples of the huge love the diminutive Sister exuded, it is clear his life was touched by her and he continues to be inspired by her. As we are speaking, people

From London’s East-End gangland, to St. Teresa’s altar in Gibraltar, meet the man who swapped his knuckleduster for a rosary!

are wondering back and forth through the dining room of the Europa Retreat Centre, many of them greet John, and he has a word for all of them. One young man thanks him for his talk earlier, and finishing with “... very inspiring!” “You have formed connections with all these young people?” I ask, “I try too.” Was his humble response. One girl in a white dress bounces up to us, and he takes out of his pocket a miraculous medal and gives it to the girl, explaining that it was blessed in the Rue de Bac, and about St. Catherine, and how carrying the Miraculous Medal at all times can bring special graces. After she leaves I’m starting to get an inkling that I’m talking to a very holy man, and I ask John how many hours a day he spends in prayer. “Two or three hours, however long it is, it is never enough and I always feel I’m just getting going.” “Which are your favourite forms of prayer?” Continued p14.

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Soul

Mind BODY “I’m not a runner. why would you do that to yourself? Walking is fine! No need to put your joints through all that! It’s boring…”

hese are all the things I used to say. I used to say them... but I didn’t go walking either. In fact my lifestyle had become very sedentary and the inches were creeping on to my waist, the middle age spread was taking hold but it was so slow; so subtle. Had I put weight on? Or had I just forgotten what I weighed the last time I subjected myself to the scales torture… It was easy to stay in denial. It was only when all my clothes felt tight, I started buying larger sizes and even bought maternity jeans to avoid a muffin top (Yes you read that right, I bought maternity

jeans when I wasn’t pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant! They were size 12 maternity skinny jean with a thick elasticated waistband and not the above the belly type though… does that make it any less shocking?) That was when it hit home that things were getting out of control. Five years earlier, when I was 29, I decide to start a “Fitter for Thirty” regime. I put myself on a diet and tried to start running. However I failed miserably, ending up with shin splints (inflammation of the connective tissue that covers the surface of the shin bone) and then I fell pregnant with my second daughter!

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Getting fit flew out of the window and my focus shifted to making sure I had as varied a diet as possible and managing a particularly nasty case of pelvic arthropathy (a very painful sensation of your body trying to

The author wears her ‘aprés-run’ red face with pride.

Special Feature

split itself in two which is most evident when walking). So, 3 years later, when my new baby was 2 years old, I bit the bullet and joined the gym. I could only make it twice a week between work and childcare

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constraints, but going to body pump, spinning or yoga twice a week was surely going to make a difference… no? Well not as much as you might think! My stomach got a bit flatter, my diet got a bit better (your desire to eat junk food declines due to not wanting the effort you put in at the gym to be wasted), but after a year I wasn’t particularly impressed with the results, working out gave me an appetite and although the food wasn’t that unhealthy, I did seem to still be stuck at the same weight and size. I spoke to one of the personal instructors in the gym and he gave me great advice about nutrition and, ironically, exercises that did not require a gym membership or equipment! If I had the money I would have signed up to be personally trained with his diet plan and lunges and resistance based exercises. Then in spring of 2014 I went through a bit of a rough time emotionally, and within a month of not watching what I ate and missing a gym class here and there, I found myself at my biggest size yet (not counting pregnancy obviously). All that hard work, a year at the gym, £33 a month, £5 per session for the childcare… I daren’t even add that up as I may cry because it had all gone to pot in a matter of weeks. I was worse off than when I started! Something had to change! If it was this hard to keep the weight from creeping on, how much harder was it going to be to get it back off if I didn’t get a handle on it straight away? And everyone kept telling me it gets harder as you get older! The Belfast Marathon was

happening at that time, friends of mine were running it, some doing parts of it with a relay team, some doing the whole thing for the first time. Also friends were flying off to Copenhagen to run a Marathon there. Everywhere I looked, people were running… and they were all really fit! Slim, strong and healthy! The thought of a Marathon held no appeal to me at all. But if running did that to people then I was willing to give it another go!! Low and behold, the next thing that popped up in my Facebook feed was an ad for The Color Run, a 5k charity run being held in the Titanic Quarter in Belfast at the end of August that has the added fun of a powdered paint finish line! The distance and the timescale reminded me of an app I’d heard about, ‘Couch to 5k,’ I had a look around on twitter to see if anyone else was doing it. Twitter is my ‘go to’ Social Network for research with answers from real world voices. I soon found someone to ask, got advice on which of the many apps to choose from, and downloaded it for a nosey. Now it’s all well and good to have the intention, having a reason and willingness to go out and start something new is great… but it’s only half the battle, I’d even say it’s only a quarter of the battle! There are a few things that have been monumentally helpful in this endeavour, some I found out through research and some I discovered for myself and wished I’d been told earlier! So here are my tips to getting out and moving.

Kat Chandler writes

1. Shoes!

When I tried to start running the first time, on my “Fitter for Thirty” kick, I started with the cheapest running shoes I could find off the shelf in a big discount store. I told myself that once I’d proved I could stick with the running, then I would reward myself with more expensive, pretty running shoes… I never made it that far… between the cheap shoes and running too fast, I was struck down with those shin splints, running was completely off the table for over a month, by which time I had lost all momentum. Invest in the best shoes that you can afford, buy the right type for your terrain, it makes a difference if you are running, walking or playing football, it makes a difference if you will be on a track, grass, pavement or trail. If you can get your gait analysed all the better! I went to a good sports store (Podium) and ran on a treadmill while my feet were video’d, the sales assistant was then able to see that I had a slight overpronation on my right foot, as if I was compensating for an injury, he showed me which range of shoes I should choose from that would give me extra support. The price ranged from £75 to £120! That seemed like a lot to me, but after researching online and asking around, I had gone to the shop willing to spend anything between £60 to £80 if it helped me avoid previous

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problems, so the £75 Asics were the winners, they weren’t the colours I had wanted (something with a solid bright colour or black or grey) but my vanity lost out to my frugality and I walked away with the best trainers I’ve ever owned! My running partner went out and bought herself new running shoes too, she managed to get nice grey ones for £40 and has had no bother with them, so shop around, there is something out there for different budgets. Comfortable running clothes make a difference too, long loose fitting vest tops and running leggings or three-quarter length tracksuit bottoms have become my most laundered items of clothing!

2. Run with a

Buddy!

Having a running partner is like having a magic trick up your sleeve! The difference between getting yourself out to run on your own and getting yourself out to run with a friend was, for me, the difference between success and failure. When I texted my friend Karen about starting the Couch to 5k app, I got no reply! I thought it may possibly have been the end of a beautiful friendship!! But low and behold, when we met up the next day for our usual Wednesday morning power walk with buggies and coffee, she was all for it! She was planning which nights we could go, who could mind the wee ones and what routes we could run! The amount of times we have said “If it wasn’t for you I’d be sitting on the sofa watching the telly right now” or “If you weren’t here I would have walked that last hill!” I first met Karen when I went to the breastfeeding clinic at our local health centre, my youngest was 4 old weeks and her daughter was 6 weeks. I left my house to walk round, consumed with nerves about trying to be sociable with strangers while trying to keep my colicy baby settled! Continued on page 15

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Anne Mesilio writes...

Let the Games

Begin

orty years ago,

Eunice Kennedy Shriver opened the first ever Special Olympics Games in Chicago with these words. They have reverberated through the years at countless National and World Games where Special Olympics athletes, in her words “In the lives you have lived and the work you have done, in the spirit you have built, you have shown the capacity to conquer the world”. The athletes have achieved this with grace, courage and determination, a willingness to smile and share the joy and a capacity to survive against any odds. For twenty nine years the exhortation to “Let the Games begin!” have set the Special Olympics Gibraltar annual summer Games in motion. The spirit of Special Olympics is shared through competition in athletics, football and aquatics events, often including field events, e.g. Softball throw, Long jump, Shot Put. The athletes reach deep inside for the best in themselves and those who witness this will realise that there are no barriers that cannot be overcome.

The theme for the first ever World Summer Games to be held outside the US in Dublin Ireland 2003, was “Share the Feeling” and as every year our Games unfold this feeling comes alive again. It is evident in the cheering support for athletes who deserve respect, dignity and a chance to showcase skills which have been honed with training, encouragement and love. I have noticed a falling off in attendance at our Games and whilst this is a source of regret to us who volunteer year round, it must be said that the athletes hold nothing back and perform as if on a world stage. From the world stage in Dublin 2003 Nelson Mandela, South African President at the time, declared that the “Flame of Hope” represented “the triumph of the human spirit”. This is always evident in our Games and none more so than this year as the Torch Run race relay to light the Cauldron included a young athlete, Kayden Mena, powering along in his walking frame with a smile that lit up the stadium. We had an ‘Aww’ factor this year as Marvin Zammitt from Gibraltar

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was partnered in the final lap with his fiancée Sarah Caruana from Malta who was competing in our Games this year. Together they lit the Cauldron. There was energy and emotion enveloping our almost empty stadium and it saddened me on behalf of the athletes whose competitive skills did them proud, not to have this more widely recognised and appreciated. We at Special Olympics Gibraltar work tirelessly for inclusion in our small community as the Games celebrate ability and courage and raise awareness for those who stretch themselves to reach their full potential. Sport is a universal language which unites people on and off the field of play, transcending the boundaries of race, religion, ethnicity, social status and economic background. Special Olympics offer people with intellectual disabilities the chance to play, the chance to compete and the chance to grow. It has helped athletes become physically fit, productive and respected members of society. Special Olympics believe in

creating communities around the world, places where each person, regardless of ability or disability is accepted and welcomed by natural inclusion and joyful acceptance of the intrinsic value of all citizens.

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Gibraltar Special Olympics Summer Games 2014

Left The Smile of Courage Above: Sharing the Podium This year, Antwerp in Belgium will host the 2014 European Summer Games which are held every four years. Two thousand athletes from fifty eight European and Eurasian countries will gather in Antwerp from the 9-20 September. Ten Olympic sports are on offer for competition and ten athletes from Gibraltar will compete in three of them. Aquatics: Sallyann Mauro, Glen Wimbleton, John Joshua Buttigeig, Francis Mauro, Douglas Pitaluga. Athletics: Virginia Wink, Marvin Zammitt, Nigel Baglietto. Bocce: Dorrian Zammit, Aloha Finlayson. We wish our athletes well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attemptâ&#x20AC;?.

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Looking back on lent 2014 On Retreat

with John Pridmore

orianne’s Testimony “Well, I have been in UK for my first year in Uni and like many of us when we go away for the first time, I lost my way a bit. This weekend has brought me back to the right path, and it has seemed that the talks have been specially designed for me, for they have been just what I needed to hear. The talks about Confession and Mary have given me the tools I need for when I go back. I am willing to change, and to put right the things that have happened. Now I have the courage to change and am ready to say to God that I will do what He wants me to do.”

Corianne Brooks Continued from page 9. “The Divine Mercy,” he says without hesitation, indicating the child in the white dress nearby us, still staring at the Miraculous Medal in the palm of her hand. “In my community we get up every morning at 3.00am to pray the Divine Mercy.” “But I also love the Rosary, and the Office,” he adds, as if finding it difficult to choose between them, “basically the traditional prayers of the Church, ...and tongues, I pray in tongues and love all Charismatic prayer,

and I love Adoration, and go to Mass every day, it’s basically whatever brings you to God.” In spite of being diagnosed as dyslexic while still in school, and told, when he asked what the word meant, that “It means you are stupid!” by an adult who did not know any better, John has written four books, and “There is another in the pipeline” he tells me with a twinkle in his eye. I ask him about this, and his eyes start to fill with tears, he says “A tiny nun once prayed with me and told me

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I would ‘become a great leader and bring thousands of people to God’ time has shown her prophesy to be true and yet at that time, I could hardly read or write!” John sees each book as having a special message, the first one ‘From Gangland to Promised Land’ tells how John was just another East End ‘face’ with a fondness for violence. And how his life changed forever. John grew up in London’s East End and he started stealing when he was 11 which quickly led to shoplifting and burglary. For his crimes he was sent to a detention centre and youth prison. His work as a bouncer in the West End led him to join some of London’s most vicious ‘firms’, and gave him entry into a dark world of drug dealing and intimidation. The actress from East Ender’s, Michelle Collins wrote the Foreword and in her words, “This inspirational book will blow your mind.” In John’s second book ‘A Gangster’s Guide to God’ he speaks bluntly about the world of deception he was in and openly of his journey and the foundations of his new life. It proves to be a guide to the

spiritual life for modern times and addresses important issues such as forgiveness, freedom, and peer pressure. ‘Journey to Freedom’ explores the topic of inner healing and how to be set free from the wounds of our past. He brings us on a journey to true freedom and acceptance. ‘Consecration to Jesus Through Mary’ is a modern version of St Louis Marie de Montfort’s consecration. John walks us through the life changing experience of consecrating our hearts to Jesus through Mary. So, I find I have no further questions for the super sized saint sitting before me, and explain that I was hoping to see if anyone wanted to give a testimony about their retreat experience. John calls over a young lady, who has been waiting patiently a little way off, to have a few words. He, strikes a deal with her, “You would like to talk with me,” he says, “but first could you give this lady your testimony?” She agrees immediately, (see insert above). If you would like more information about John Pridmore’s community, visit www.stpatrickscommunity. org his four books will soon be available at The Cornerstone Bookshop on Main Street, reserve one with Andrew on Tel: 20050795, or order online from uponthisrock.gi with free Gibraltar delivery. The Emmaus Prayer Group meets every Monday evening in the ‘Media Room’ on the top floor of the Catholic Community Centre, for more information contact Louis Llombard or Sean Ballester.

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Soul

Special Feature Continued from page 11

Mind BODY Once I got on to the main road above my house I saw another mum pushing a buggy in the same direction, I wondered if she was going to the same place as me. I tried to catch up but she was gone like lightening! It wasn’t until we were all sitting in the little room chatting that I managed to get speaking to her and introduce myself as living round the corner. We have been firm friends ever since… and she has never slowed down! Her walking speed is as fast as it is possible to walk! So when we do the walking portions of the app, she sets the pace and stops me from slowing down to an exhausted meander!

3. Walk Fast & Run Slowly!

This is the other reason why my previous attempt to run had failed. I had it in my head that running meant going fast. Granted I wasn’t sprinting, but I was going as fast as it looked like other people were going. I would start off, stretching my legs

towards some unknown finish line, feel great for the first 100 metres and then end up unable to breath, gasping like a fish out of water, with a stitch from my belly to my shoulder and shins on fire! Obviously it occurred to me to go a bit slower, but my pace would always speed up, if I was running on a footpath then my pace would change depending on whether there was anyone in sight! Even now, if I run beside a road, I tend to speed up, trying to hurry to the part of the run that is away from the prying eyes of commuters. But once I started running with a partner, my pace became much more controlled, I didn’t want to run so fast that she would be put off running with me. So when we are going uphill we have a pace of between 13 15 minute miles (min/ mi), downhill no faster

than 12 min/mi. This feels very slow when I compare myself to other runners who rarely seem to run at anything slower than 8 min/ mi. But when i run at that pace, I get this never before experienced feeling… the feeling that I could keep going and going and going!

4. There’s an

App for that!

I ended up going with the C25k Change4Life by NHS

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Kat Chandler

Choices App but they are all pretty similar. I like this one because the narrator is very supportive and shares tips from her own experiences of doing the app! You also don’t need a gps enabled phone to use it, any app compatible iPod or device will work. Having a training plan, gradually going from short runs and long walks to longer runs and shorter walks has been a priceless asset in this project… so the free app is great value for money! I also use Runkeeper, I love sitting down after a run and going through all the stats, how far we went, which parts of our route we go the fastest (always seems to be the third mile), comparing the pace to the last run and seeing the calories burned and miles travelled build up way above and beyond Runkeepers Goal Target marks. In June I logged 28 hours, 6,200 feet of

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Mind BODY elevation (I’m sure you could beat that easily in Gibraltar!), 10,400 calories burned with 26 activities averaging out at a pace of 19 min/ mi, so you can see that I tracked my slower walks with my kids as well as runs, because all of it counts! It is also it’s own little social network, you can share your achievements on Facebook and Twitter, add friends and see, like and comment on their activities, there is even a leaderboard! I love this feature… mostly because I’ve been at the top of mine for over a month! I’ve also invested in a second hand Garmin watch and heart rate monitor, these aren’t necessary, but as my obsession grows, I need to find more ways to geek out about it all! The watch is very handy for keeping an eye on my pace and the heart monitor stats are reassuring to see that I am exercising in the optimal fat burning range. If you are exercising to increase your fitness because of health issues, it would be a great help to make sure you don’t overdo it. If you don’t have any way to use an app, use your watch! Write down the plan for your run, stick it in your pocket, time your 5 min walk, time your first 60 second run… slowing down to get your plan out to remind you what bit comes next can be a nice little excuse for a breather. You can even use the website mapmyrun.com/gi/gibraltar/ to plot the route on your computer before or after your run, it allows you to plot points on a map and it will tell you the distance - there are already a few popular routes logged in Gibraltar. Sorry! Not giving you any excuses to get out of it in this tip!

5. Music!

When we finished week 3 of the app and were looking ahead at what week 4 entailed, we baulked at the thought of the two 5 minute runs that were being introduced. At this point the longest runs we had done were 3 mins and we had found them hard enough! Karen was being driven to distraction by the sound of her breathing and had nicknamed herself Darth Vader! I was struggling to concentrate, constantly looking around me or just feeling like the time was dragging on forever in the silence as we weren’t able to continue our conversation AND breath. We were both pretty convinced that we would need to repeat week 3 before we could move on. We had been walking out of town before switching on the app, it calls for a 5 minute brisk warm up walk as well as a 5 minute cool down walk but we were walking 15 minutes to get to the point where we were comfortable running, we had our phones strapped to our arms to leave a hand free to carry a bottle of water and an earphone in one ear so we could hear the app prompts but still hear and chat to each other. So when the next week came and we were out walking to our off road run route, we decided to give week 4 a go, but when it came to a run, we would stick music on, plug both earphones in and crank up the volume! We ran single file if there was a chance of a car coming, Karen checking periodically to the rear and me keeping an eye up ahead. It worked so well that not only were we able to do all the runs in the plan but we even ran the 5 minute cool down! So have a playlist ready, put the volume up where it is safe to do so and if you need a little help getting up a hill or getting to the end of the run portion of your plan. Just make sure you are aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye out

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for cars, cyclists and pedestrians. I have been listening to the Mumford and Sons album Sigh No More. It’s bluegrass folk rhythms and literary based lyrics can put a spring in my step when heading up a hill like I never would have expected, lines like “Serve God love me and mend, For man is a giddy thing” and songs like “Little Lion Man” and “Roll Away Your Stone” become epic in their ability to lift your feet off the road.

6. Don’t mind the Weather!

When it’s 30 degrees in Ireland, (what is called a heatwave here is the norm for you in Gibraltar), we put ice cubes in our water bottles, wear a peaked hat to protect our eyes and skin from the sun, put sunscreen on and use Vaseline on any skin that can chafe, we run more slowly, hydrate before we go, during and plenty after too, the one thing we don’t do is cancel our run! You could maybe go out later in the evenings

Kat Chandler

in Gibraltar, after the worst of the heat. Make sure to stay safe if running in darkness, wearing bright or reflective clothing. If you are out at dusk you might want to use mosquito deterrent, or cover up arms and legs! (See article on opposite page.) When it is cold we enjoy being able to wear long sleeves and the peaked hats keep the rain out of our eyes. We actually prefer running in the wind and rain because it cools us down! The sense of achievement after a run in the kind of weather that folks wouldn’t go out walking in, is very satisfying.

7. Make a

Habit of it!

The app is set up so you do 3 runs a week, it recommends that you have a rest day between each run. We haven’t had that luxury, between work and having to work around older siblings or partners to mind the 3 year olds, we have only been able to run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Thursdays I do notice my legs hurt a bit more to begin with, but apart from that we have managed OK without the rest days, so don’t let staunch adherence to the training plan suggestions be the reason that you don’t do it at all. Find a way to make it work for you. I’ve developed the habit of stretching my legs for as long as I can after a run, and also the next day. I haven’t given up the gym entirely, I still go one morning a week to do a Body Pump class because I really enjoy it and my daughter loves the gym creche. Find the right times for

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you (and your running partner) and make it part of your weekly routine. You will end up stretching, hydrating and planning your meal times to make sure you get a couple of hours to digest before your run! It ends up becoming a big part of your life, making your whole life more healthy and active.

Understanding Mosquitos Why are some people plagued by these insects and others never bitten? 1. Know your enemy! 5. Lighten up!

Mosquitoes detect the carbon dioxide that we exhale when we breathe. Once they sense it, mosquitoes usually fly in a zigzag pattern through the CO2 plume until they locate the source.

Research shows that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, especially blue. Pull out the khakis and white t-shirt and pack up your jeans and black t-shirts until winter.

2. Take a shower!  6. Go Perfume Free

8. Keep an eye on

that Appetite!

An increased appetite is inevitable with an increase in activity. Your body needs to adjust to the change. You need to have fuel to have energy to burn and you will only get to that Aerobic heart rate Zone where you burn the most fat if you have the energy to keep moving. I have been being more careful with my portion size and focusing on high protein for post-run meals, healthy complex carb snacks like banana and chunky peanut butter when I get hungry between meals or to temporarily replace a meal that would have been just before a run, so that I can wait till after the run to eat dinner. Continued on page 16

That’s right, eradicate B.O. Stale sweat odour makes it easier for a mosquito to find you.

Floral scents are especially attractive to mosquitoes.

3. Keep Calm!

7. Avoid hydroxy.

Mosquitoes first locate potential victims using their sight, and anything moving will be deemed worthy of their attention. While you are walking or running, you will be a target. So it’s best to be prepared!

4. Stay cool!

Think of mosquitoes as heatseeking missiles. The warmer you are, the quicker they’ll find you. Though mosquitoes can’t sense your body heat from a distance, once they get within a few yards, your warmth will lure them in.

mosquito lure, and found his 3-day-old socks were irresistible to them. Specifically, it’s the bacteria that grow on human feet that seems to draw them.

alpha 9. Avoid beer and limburger Lactic acid, which our bodies produce naturally, is a big draw cheese!!  for mosquitoes. Many skin care products contain lactic acid, too, and so might help boost your chemistry with the mozzies. Avoid lotions and creams labeled “alpha hydroxy,” which provide the most lactic acid.

8. Change your socks!

Yes, this is based on actual scientific research. Mosquitoes love smelly feet. Entomologist Daniel L. Kline experimented with using dirty socks as a

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Studies show people who’ve had a few beers score the most mosquito bites at the barbecue. Snack on some limburger cheese while enjoying a beer, and you will open yourself up to an all out assault. Limburger cheese is made with the same bacteria that makes your feet smell. Armed with these facts, we hope you will enjoy a better, bite-free summer! For expert help check out the chemist’s weapons at Trafalgar Pharmacy. insects.about.com (adapted)

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Continued from page 15

9. Pray!

Maybe you think it would take a miracle before you found yourself walking or running for anything more than catching a bus! Why not pray? Not so long ago there was a very public witness of how somebody changed their diet and lifestyle to get fit through the power of prayer and it was reported right

here in Upon This Rock. When Mgr. Charlie Azzopardi had to loose a significant number of kilos in order to be able to go SkyDiving as part of the 2013 fund raising campaign for the Rio World Youth Day Pilgrimage, he did so by praying the Rosary on his exercise machine, and minding his portion sizes. The photo above, with the team in white shirts, was used on the Campaign poster and was taken before the campaign started,

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then the photo to the right shows a much slimmer Father Charlie, kitted up ready for his SkyDive. Aligning your efforts to a higher cause can be a powerful way to achieve results, not just for you but for your chosen charity too!

Conclusion

If you aren’t ready to start running, walk! When we can’t go running because there isn’t anyone to mind one or the other of our toddlers, we get them

Kat Chandler into the buggy and bring them with us! Walking up those hills pushing a buggy is a great work out. And the more you walk, the fitter you’ll feel, the faster you’ll go, the further you’ll get… and eventually you might just want to break into a jog :) Oh and if your interested… I’ve lost a pound a week since the second week of the C25k training plan! I have noticed that my tops are now hanging straight down rather than being pushed out by a belly, I’m not wearing extra baggy T-shirts anymore and the large leggings are feeling pretty baggy around the rear!! Kat Chandler is a graphic designer by profession, who has the pleasure of proofreading Upon This Rock Magazine each month (so you know who to blame if you see an error!) She is writing of her experiences of amateur running for health and pleasure. Please make sure that you get advice from your GP before changing your diet and exercise regime too drastically, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.

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A Page of Condolences

R.I.P. Albert Brugada

any messages of Condolences were sent to Danica Brugada’s Facebook page and to Upon This Rock’s Facebook page which was shared and seen by over 6,800 people. The response is a huge testimony to Albert’s character and popularity. We have printed a few of the comments here: Ginny Cooper “Albert and I would like to say Thank you all for your lovely comments, thoughts and memories. He was a funny, loving man who will be sorely missed by us all in the family, he left us very peacefully in the early hours of this morning [27th June] and now he is rested xxxxxxx” Danica Brugada “Daddy xx” Giselle Diaz “Our sincere condolences to Emily and the family. Derek the boys and myself. Will always remember the fun we all had on the cruise September 2010.” Willie Page “Truly, a Good and gentle man, my condolences to the family R.I.P.” Rosemarie Wahnon “Have known Albert all my life, a great person, will be with George in heaven, no more suffering. My condolences to his lovely wife Emily xxxx.” Kyle Banda “May he R.I.P. my sincere condolences.” Jasmine Ramirez “My condolences to his family, may he R.I.P.” Victor Martinez “A great man.” Monica Bensadon Q buena foto! Parece mentira xxx Geoffrey Stone “Hey sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad. Very likeable man. X” Kevin Cynthia Eagle “Hugs xxxxx” Carlita Sequeira “xxxx... whenever you want... I will always be here for you guapa.” Lauren Wilson “Sending lots of love XxX” Fifi Guerrero Walker “A great gentleman. A wonderful dad and grandad and a wonderful friend of my Dad’s. xx” Danica Brugada “He was indeed. He was a gentleman and fun loving dad/grandpa too. Hope to be as good a parent as he was. xx” Gillaine Borge Yanakieva “So sorry to hear about your Dad, a special man always with a smile on his face, may he rest in peace. xxxx” Lily Perez “A beautiful photo, just the way I remember him. Very sorry to hear about his passing. By the way, how is Mum?” Danica Brugada “Hello Lily, Mum is missing him loads but we’re keeping her busy. His smile radiated such warmth.” Lily Perez “Yes it did, and he has left many good friends behind. Will be missed but remembered. Please give my love to your Mum, I know she is a strong woman and will be well looked after by all of you. xxx” Danica Brugada “I shall relay your message on to mum. Once again thanks for bringing

him home to us. Couldn’t have asked for a better person. Take care. xx” Angie Mccarthy Lumb “So sorry for your loss Danica Brugada, I had no idea. Hope your OK, sending you big hugs & kisses, if you need anything please call me.” Louise Costa “What a lovely photo! He was indeed a very sweet... And lovely person, always with a smile on his face. He will always be with you guapa, xxxxx un abrazo.” xxx Hayley King xxxxx Joe Gomez “A lovely person. Very sad loss.” Patricia Olivera “Danica, cuanto lo siento de tu Padre. Hope you are better. Take care.” xxxx Mercy Olivero Lara “So so sorry for your loss.” x Silke Manuela Bossino “Beautiful picture! I have very found memories of him! He was a nice man indeed!” Xxx Danica Brugada “Thank you, Silke.” xx Carol Boreham “R.I.P.” xx Lillian McCarthy “R.I.P. Albert.” Christine Pons “Sorry to hear this R.I.P.” Charles Zammit “Very sad at the news. R.I.P.” Laura Pizzarello “Sad news. May he rest in peace.” Alfred Hermida “A great friend, rest in peace.” Gail Hernandez “So sorry to hear this. R.I.P.” xxx Monique Risso “R.I.P.” Yvette Bellido-Cassaglia “R.I.P. Albert. My condolences to all the family.” Elliott Phillips “Rest in Peace Albert.” Julia Garcia “My condolences to his family R.I.P. Albert xx” Belinda Milan “R.I.P. with The Lord and Our Lady xxxx” Maria Luisa Dalli “Our condolences to the family R.I.P.” Liz Gonzalez “R.I.P. Albert.” Yvette Aitken “Very sad to hear the news R.I.P.” xx Michael Pizzarello “My condolences to the family. R.I.P.” Josephine Gadd “Our condolences to the family. May he rest in peace, I will pray for his soul and for his family, that God will give them strength to accept his will.” Lorraine Barton “R.I.P. My deepest condolences to the family. Xx” Henry Earle “In our prayers.” Jonathan Ferrary “R.I.P. great man.” Laju Aswani “R.I.P.” Joe Caruana “Always wearing a smile, will miss him great friend. Heard about this too late for his funeral. R.I.P. A man of great stature!” Tracey John Brancato “Our deepest condolences may he R.I.P. Lovely man.” Xxx

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Michelle Gomez “My condolences to the family a sad time for the family.” xx Pauline Gomez “Our most sincere condolences to the family. May he rest in peace. Our prayers are with you.” Yolanda Reyes “R.I.P. Albert. My condolences to Emily and their children.” xxx Brenda M Alman “R.I.P.” Adrian Ellul “R.I.P.” Andy Hunter “How sad, always a gentleman and a ray of sunshine. My condolences to his family & friends.” Violeta De Veras “R.I.P. Albert.” John Albert Diaz “A true gentleman, may he rest peace.” Joseph Rosemary Mir “R.I.P. Albert our condolences to his family.” Joseph Llufrio “R.I.P. Albert.” Carmen Xerri “One of my first pupils. R.I.P. Albert.” Susan Goldwin “Our most sincere condolences to his wife, son, and family, he shall be missed.” Lisette Yeo “Our deepest condolences to the family. You will be sadly missed Albert. R.I.P.” Emilio Tosso “May he rest in peace.” Gisele Lavarello “Just heard the sad news. We shall miss him. Our condolences to Emily and all the family. Our prayers are with you all. Much love.” Lourdes Galliano “My deepest condolences to all his family, may he rest in peace.” Patricia Slater “Always smiling, a great man my condolences to all the family on this very sad loss, he will always be remembered, may you R.I.P. Albert.” xxx Paul Lombard “So sad to hear, my condolences to all the family, may he R.I.P.” Gennie Desoisa “So sad to hear our condolences to his family.”

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