JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND
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Dear Friends
Jesus Cares
What can Ephrem of Syria teach us today?
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eople in desperate or helpless circumstances were not disappointed when they sought Jesus out. What drew them to Jesus? Was it hope for a miracle or a word of comfort in their affliction? What did the elderly woman who had suffered greatly for twelve years expect Jesus to do for her? And what did a grieving father expect Jesus to do about his beloved lost daughter? Jesus gave hope where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!). A 4th century church father, Ephrem the Syrian, comments on this miracle: “Glory to you, hidden Son of God, because your healing power is proclaimed through the hidden suffering of the afflicted woman. Through this woman whom they could see, the witnesses were enabled to behold the divinity that cannot be seen. Through the Son’s own healing power his divinity became known. Through the afflicted woman’s being healed her faith was made manifest. She caused him to be proclaimed, and indeed was honoured with him. For truth was being proclaimed together with its heralds. If she was a witness to his divinity, he in turn was a witness to her faith...He saw through to her hidden faith, and gave her a visible healing.” Jesus also gave divine hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child. It took considerable courage and risk for the ruler of a synagogue to openly go to Jesus and to invite the scorn of his neighbours and kin. Even the hired mourners laughed at him in scorn. Their grief was de-
void of any hope. Nonetheless, Jesus took the girl by the hand and delivered her from the grasp of death. Peter Chrysologus, a 5th century church father comments on this miracle: “This man was a ruler of the synagogue, and versed in the law. He had surely read that while God created all other things by his word, man had been created by the hand of God. He trusted therefore in God that his daughter would be recreated, and restored to life by that same hand which, he knew, had created her...He who laid hands on her to form her from nothing, once more lays hands upon her to reform her from what had perished.” In both instances we see Jesus’ personal concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal and restore life. In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each person he meets. Ephrem of Syria was a 4th Century Syriac deacon God Bless you, and theologian. He was declared a Doctor of the Fr. Stuart. Church and is widely venerated as a saint.
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Corpus Christi 2012
Contemplating Christ in S t. Paul’s experience of contemplation and the power of prayer, as recounted in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, provided the central theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s catechesis, during his general audience held in the Paul VI Hall in Rome last month.
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Paul did not respond to the voices questioning the legitimacy of his apostolate by enumerating the communities he had founded, nor did he limit himself to recounting the difficulties he had had to face in announcing the Gospel. Rather, the Pope explained, “he pointed to his relationship with the Lord, ... which was so intense as to be marked by moments of
ecstasy and profound contemplation”. Indeed, the Apostle says: “I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me”. Thus the Apostle of the Gentiles helps us to understand “that all the difficulties we meet in following Christ and bearing witness to His Gospel can be over-
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come by opening ourselves trustingly to the action of the Lord. ... St. Paul clearly understood how to face and experience each event in his life, especially those involving suffering, difficulty and persecution; at the moment we feel our own weakness the power of God becomes manifest, a power which does not abandon or leave us alone but becomes
the midst of our reality.
our support and our strength”. “As our union with the Lord grows and our prayer becomes more intense, we too come to focus on the essential and to understand that it is not the power of our own means that creates the Kingdom of God, but God Who works miracles through our very weakness”, the Pope said. The intense contemplation of God which St. Paul experienced was, like that of the disciples on Mount Tabor, “enthralling and tremendous”. Contemplating the Lord is “enthralling because He draws us to Himself, seizing our hearts and carrying them aloft to His heights were we experience the peace and beauty of His love. It is tremendous because it exposes our human frailty and inadequacy, the fatigue of defeating the Evil One who ensnares our lives”. “In a world in which we risk relying only on the power of human means, we are called to rediscover and bear witness to the power of prayer, through
which we grow day by day as do all things through Him Who fact sent me scurrying to Wikiour lives are conformed to that of gives us strength”. pedia where sure enough I read Christ”, said the Holy Father. He The Holy Father went on: “The that on October the 11th 1521, then went on to recall the Nobel more space we give to prayer, early on during the King’s reign, Prize-winner and Protestant our support the more Pope Leo the Tenth conferred andwe ourwill see our lives theologian Albert Schweitzer strength”. transformed and animated by the the title on the King in recogniwho said that “’Paul is a mystic“As our real power of the God’s love. This tion of his book ‘Defence of union with and nothing more than a mystic’, is whatand happened, forbecomes example, the Seven Sacraments’, which Lord grows our prayer a man truly enamoured of Christ to Blessed Teresa of on the defended the sacramental nature more intense, we Mother too come to focus and so united to Him as to ableessential to Calcutta in contemplating marriage and the supremacy and towho, understand that it is not the of power say: Christ lives in me. St. Paul’s discovered the ultimate Pope. Of course you of our Jesus, own means that creates the Kingdomof ofthe God, mysticism was not founded only reason incredible might say, the rest is history, but God Whoand works miraclesstrength throughtoour very weakon the exceptional events of hisness”, recognise Him in the poor and but what brings this 491 year the Pope said. life, but also on his intense daily abandoned, despite her fragile title, bang up to date, is that The intense contemplation of God which St.old Paul relationship with the Lord, Who figure.was, like that of the disciples onrecently experienced Mount during the Jubilee year, always supported him with HisTabor, “The contemplation of Christ inContemplatat Lambeth Palace, Her Majesty “enthralling and tremendous”. Grace. lifeisdoes not distance us from asked ing theour Lord “enthralling because He draws us that we remind ourselves “In our own life of prayer we to Himself, reality”, the Pope concluded. “It and Ialoft quoteto‘the seizing our hearts and carrying them His Church has a too may experience moments of us even more involved duty toofprotect theItfree practice heightsmakes were we experience the peaceinand beauty His love. particular intensity in which weis tremendous human affairs, the our Lord, all faiths’. becausebecause it exposes humanoffrailty and inadequacy, the feel the Lord’s presence more fatiguedrawing us tothe Himself in prayer, Before could become indigof defeating Evil One who ensnares our Ilives”. keenly”, Benedict XVI added. “In a world enables us to remain to all and even while the Cathoin which we riskclose relying only onnant, the power of human means, “But it is important to remain we are our brothers and sisters Hiswitnesslic Creed wasofonprayer, replaythrough in the called to rediscover andinbear to the power constant and faithful in our relalove”. back of mytomind somewhere, which we grow day by day as our lives are conformed that of Christ”, I tionship with God, especially in ofFather. the things that touched heard Mother Theresa said theOne Holy He then went on to recall the Blessed Nobel Prize-winner and moments of aridity, difficulty and me theologian was her title, ‘Defender Calcutta’s words she said, Protestant Albert Schweitzer whoofsaid that “’Paul is aas mystic and suffering. Only if we are seizednothingofmore the Faith’. David Hoare “There isofonly oneand God than a mystic’, a man truly enamoured Christ soand united by the love of Christ will we beto Himinformed overChrist the phone HePaul’s is Godmysticism to all; therefore as to ableme to say: lives that in me. St. was notit is able to face adversity, as Paul founded this title onevents Henryof his important that on everyone is seen only onwas the bestowed exceptional life, but also his intense did, in the conviction that we can the Eighth with by the thisalwaysassupported equal before always daily relationship thePope, Lord,and Who himGod. with I’ve His Grace.
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Corpus Christi 2012
Bishop Ralph Heskett processes the Blessed Sacrament from John Mackintosh Square to the Cathedral. Readers may like to know that there are ‘hours’ available at the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, contact Frances Moreno Tel: 20077138 for more info.
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“In our own life of prayer we too may experience moments of particular intensity in which we feel the Lord’s presence more keenly”, Benedict XVI added. “But it is important to remain constant and faithful in our relationship with God, especially in moments of aridity, difficulty and suffering. Only if we are
seized by the love of Christ will we be able to face adversity, as Paul did, in the conviction that we can do all things through Him Who gives us strength”. The Holy Father went on: “The more space we give to prayer, the more we will see our lives transformed and animated by the real power of God’s love.
This is what happened, for example, to Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta who, in contemplating Jesus, discovered the ultimate reason and incredible strength to recognise Him in the poor and abandoned, despite her fragile figure. “The contemplation of Christ
in our life does not distance us from reality”, the Pope concluded. “It makes us even more involved in human affairs, because the Lord, drawing us to Himself in prayer, enables us to remain close to all our brothers and sisters in His love”.
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World leaders encourage ecumenical and interfaith initiatives
Defenders of the Faith
“The church has a duty to defend the practice of all faiths” H.M. Queen Elizabeth. One of the things that touched me, as I sat watching the television coverage of Her Majesty’s Jubilee Celebrations, was her title,
‘Defender of the Faith’. David Hoare informed me over the phone that this title was bestowed on Henry the Eighth by the Pope, and this fact sent
me scurrying to Wikipedia where sure enough I read that on October the 11th 1521, early on during the King’s reign, Pope Leo the Tenth conferred the title on the King in recognition of his book ‘Defence of the Seven Sacraments’, which defended the sacramental nature of marriage and the supremacy of
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the Pope. Of course you might say, the rest is history, but what brings this 491 year old title, bang up to date, is that recently during the Jubilee year, at Lambeth Palace, Her Majesty asked that we remind ourselves and I quote ‘the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths’.
Angela Sargent
Three Royal Photos: Left: Prince Edward with the Governor, Ministers, and their wives. Below, members of the cast of ‘An Audience with the Queen.’ Both photos by Tessa Imossi Below Left, Her Majesty receives a bouquet of flowers from Tessa Imossi in 1954.
“There is only one God, and He is God to all.” Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Before I could become indignant, and even while the Catholic Creed was on replay in the back of my mind somewhere, I heard Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta’s words as she said, “There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said’ she continued ‘we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic.” The World Day of Prayer for Peace on Oct. 27, 1986, was one of the most remarkable events in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. It epitomized that pontiff’s historic opening to other faiths, the legacy of which is now known as the “Spirit of Assisi.” Last October’s Assisi gathering drew in another group traditionally resistant to the appeal of interfaith activity: those who profess no religion at all. Among the guests chosen to speak in Assisi’s Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, along with the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Archbishop of Canterbury, was the Bulgarian-French psychoanalyst Julia Kristeva, one of four nonbelievers in attendance. In this way Pope Benedict opened the dialogue
to non-religious “seekers of the truth”. Gibraltar has the high moral ground when it comes to interfaith matters, Alistair Mansfield, the Command Chaplain British Forces, currently posted at the King’s Chapel, was enthusiastic about Her Majesty’s initiative, given at Lambeth. “We too in Gibraltar are behind this,” he said, “we would like to support this, there will be an interfaith event presided by the Governor, as Her Majesty’s representative on the Rock, at the Convent Cloister with representatives from the Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths at 5.00pm on the 1st of July. Gibraltar has been attracting divers worshippers since Phonecian times, who have continued page 12
Sponsored by
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Edmund Rice Kaputula Youth Training Project Appeal for Sponsorship
Br. Tito Chincota presents a Christian
Youth Training in Z
Br. Chewe Stephen gave the following frank report:
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ambia is in Southern part of Africa. The country has the population of about thirteen (13,049,400) million, 80% of which are unemployed. The copper mines in Kabwe have been closed since 1994 resulting in widespread unemployment. Kabwe is a city of 79,000 thousand people most of whom live in compounds. [This was the term used for homes built in an
enclosure by mining companies for instance, for workers’ accommodation but now refers to vast urbanisations of mud brick housing on the outskirts of cities, the people there, once employed, are now trying to improve their lot, in spite of the financial climate.-ed] Those who do have employment work mostly for the government. Apart from the many schools which are still not enough, the town has a large army barracks. Others find employment in hotels, banks, licensed premises and other business centres as well as services. A major employer was a textile factory, which closed a few years ago, leaving a thousand without work. Kabwe is an employment black spot. Kaputula compound is a large and very poor compound located to the North East of Kabwe adjacent to the army barracks. It is estimated that more than five thousand people live here, more than 85% of whom are unemployed. This information was obtained during an informal meeting that
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was held with the residential development committee (RDC), parents, youth and children. The RDC looks into the issues that are affecting the residents of Kapula. The meeting was held to get to know the young people and identify their needs. Role of Christian Brothers The Christian Brothers have been in Zambia since 1964. They have been involved in running secondary schools in Livingstone, Mazabuka and Mongu. The Brothers have also been involved in projects for disadvantaged youth. Courses at the Edmund Rice Centre Now we have our Centre called Edmund Rice. This Centre was officially opened on the 16th of March 2012. We run computer lessons where we cover the basics in Word, Power-Point, Publisher and Microsoft Excel. In ‘Entrepreneurship’ we teach how to write a business plan and man-
Brother Tito Chincota with Brother Stephen Chewe
Brothers’ training project run with the local people
a Zambian compound agement skills. The ‘Communication’ class is equally important covering all types and means of communication, human development and sex education as well as issues that young people go through while they developing, how HIV/AID is transmitted, its impact on young people and their experience of living with people who are infected. These courses run for three months and each intake has 45 students. From the time we started we have trained 400 young people in the above mentioned courses. Apart from this, the project has another programme for education through sports. Here, on average, we have about 80 - 100 children and youth who come to play football, volleyball and netball. A ‘right to play’ is achieved in this manner. The importance of education through sports projects is to give young people a place where they can explore their talents and where they can spend their free time. All our youth who come to recreation are encouraged to go to school. HIV/AIDS is addressed through sensitisation on the danger it poses to society. Sports activities help prevent young people from becoming involved in unhealthy behaviour such alcohol and marijuana.
limited recreational facilities or youth workers. There are also few parents who monitor their children or have sufficient knowledge on education. They are too busy looking for food, often leaving their children alone. Many children are orphans, in our group at the moment and we have 50% being supported by their uncles, aunties and mostly grandparents. HIV/AIDS is rampant. How are these problems being addressed? It is clear that young people need help to address their problems. We have already seen a reduction in teenage pregnancies among youth. Having a youth facility available and youth workers has led to better learning and understanding among the youth. Parents have started monitoring their children, gained an understanding of the importance of education and making time for their children. This is being achieved through the courses and having a recreation facility for activities such as football, dancing, debate,
Photos Clockwise: Far left: Br. Stephen, Location of Zambia on African Continent, The opening of the Edmund Rice Centre in March this year, a computer class, the ladies football team. and aerobics. this project is to give underprivileged youth a voice and to build Impact and outcome of the their confidence. ongoing project Young people are becoming re- What is the local contribution sponsible and productive citi- to the project? zens, putting there time to better The community is closely inuse. More teenagers, and young volved in the land arrangesingle mothers are coming back ments with the local government to school. The whole purpose of and they have just acquired
What is the problem? Unemployed teenagers who roam the compound with nothing to do are vulnerable. Frequently, they get into trouble with the law and the girls are the most vulnerable, resulting in early pregnancies, prostitution, alcohol and marijuana abuse. The compound has
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World leaders encourage ecumenical and interfaith initiatives
58 years of service
Main photo: 1954, Her Majesty the Queen, escorted by Willy Isola, walks up towards Tessa who is stationed below the Eliott Memorial. Insert: Tessa Imossi celebrating the Jubilee weekend in June 2012 at Queensway Quay. has spent a lifetime serving in When Mrs. P. Smith the Brown Willy Isola had told her, and cont. from page 9
found sanctuary on its shores. While World Leaders lead the way and inspire us, there is valuable work to be done by the humble, ordinary people, who beaver away, largely behind the scenes not asking for or expecting any share of the limelight. But sometimes just such a person is thrust into the public gaze, and so it has been for Tessa Imossi.
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Owl of the 5th Brownie Pack looked around her girls in 1954, she clearly saw a strength of character in Tessa, for she chose her to represent the others, holding station at the top of the steps under the Eliott Memorial as the Queen alighted from her car below at the bottom of the steps. Loads of Scouts lined the avenue and they were all cheering, but Tessa had been briefed. “Don’t look at the Queen, you must watch me,”
only move when I give the signal.” And so, obedient to the last, Tessa kept her gaze on Willy, not looking at the Queen at all, until finally he winked at her, and she was released to step forward. “I gave her my biggest smile ever, and she took the bouquet, saying “What beautiful flowers, thank you very much!” (see photo previous page) and with that I curtsied, stepped back and joined my pack.” Fifty-eight years later Tessa
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various charities, in the Red Cross as her mother did before her, and most recently, helping at the Gibraltar Society for the Visually Impaired. These past days she has again been thrust into the limelight by the UK Media, an excellent ambassador for one of the many families whose loyalty to their Faith, in spite of times of hardship and adversity, has remained as strong as the Rock they live on.
Edmund Rice Kaputula Youth Training Project Appeal for Sponsorship Continued from page 11 10,000 square metres of land for the project. They are also providing labour, security, advice and organisation skills. How will the project be monitored? By whom and when? The project will be monitored by the residential development committee chairperson Mr. Kalimukwa who lives near the site. The local Christian Brothers’ Community will be active in the monitoring of the project and Br Stephen Chewe will be present on a daily basis. The money is received through the Christian Brothers leadership team. The Brothers Leadership team will be seeking reports and will be visiting the site. The mission development officer will visit occasionally and will be interested in the accounting Procedures The Board of Management will meet regularly to consider progress. What risks have you identified and how will you ensure that these risks do not disrupt the project?
At present there is a dependency culture among the young and not so young. Some will see the Centre as a way of making money for themselves. To counteract this we will ask all groups to register their activities with the Management of the Centre and Management will monitor how all groups will use the Centre. Robust action will be taken against any group who attempts to use the Centre for personal gain. Theft of computers and computer peripherals – strong window grids and strong doors with strong locks. No person will have keys to the Centre unless authorised by the Management. No person will be allowed to remove keys from the Centre other than the manager. Keys for the Centre will be locked in the Safe. Damage to building, furniture and equipment – we don’t anticipate that this will be great as the Centre will be fully supervised at all times. Theft of garden produce such as vegetables – those managing their own plots will not take too nicely to people stealing from them and they will ensure that other family
members will protect their crops. Lack of support from Kaputula Community – as we are trying to change a culture we believe that it will take time to build up strong support from the community. However, we do believe that the community will in a short time say a year or two see that the Centre is bringing about a huge change in the lives of young people. Young people will be employable, will be taking part in games and producing food and the level of theft and petty crime and serious crime is beginning to decrease. Computers are old and may give trouble any time. The Precautions that have been put in place to counteract the above issues. Since we have involved the community in the need Identifications and analysis we know that people will not destroy the property because it theirs. We believe that if a good service is being provided, the local community will continue their support. After all they have been consulted and involved at every level and this is seen in the acquiring of land and drawing of the plans. The community has been brought on board from the outset of the project and they are the ones who requested computer lessons, games and the construction of the various facilities, having now achieved these goals, they will be motivated to protect the property. We would hope to put a fence around the site and the local community would give support. The money that we collect from students is used for maintenance of the com-
puters
and
replacing
them.
Why does the Edmund Rice Centre need sponsorship? The Christian Brothers have been working with young people in Zambia in schools since 1964 and they have been successful. Even this project will succeed if we can get sponsorship. The Brothers understand the economic environment in which they are operating. This puts them at an advantage in coping with any situation that may threaten the success of the project. They have also expertise in the area of youth and the person running the project has a Bachelors of Arts in Youth majoring in community development. Their Charism also involves working with the poor. There is also community involvement in the running of the project. Child Protection The person in charge of our Child Protection Policy is Mr Sackson Kavimba, a qualified person in Social work. The policy states in part that Edmund Rice Youth Project in Kabwe is committed to the Gospel values, beauty and dignity of each person. Edmund Rice Youth Project is committed to respecting the rights of children and a child is anyone below the age of 18. If you could offer any support to the Edmund Rice Youth Project in Kabwe, contact Angela Sargent on Tel: 20079335 for more details or email the Brothers direct.Tito: afchincotta@ yahoo.com Br Stephen Chewe, mwambachewe@yahoo.com
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Bioethics
The Infertility Issue Fr Jaroslaw Szymczak gave the following presentation at the World Family Congress in Madrid on 28 May 2012.
I
t is no accident that the issue of infertility appears in the session devoted to the culture of life as opposed to the culture of death,between abortion and euthanasia. It seems that contraception would be the most suitable topic to fit in between the two subjects. The organizers of this conference, however, selected on purpose infertility as the venue where the conflict between the two cultures takes the sharpest form. And even though there are, fortunately, many people fighting
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for the life of the unborn or the old, contemporary public opiniondeemed in vitro fertilization (IVF) as the expression of struggle for life (Nobel Prize), and not as just another, how truly tragic, manifestation of the culture of death. In 1999 in St. Louis, Blessed John Paul II said: “Today, the conflict is between a culture that affirms, cherishes, and celebrates the gift of life, and a culture that seeks to declare entire groups of human beings – the unborn, the terminally ill, the handicapped,
and others considered “unuseful” – to be outside the boundaries of legal protection.” The former culture was described by Pope Paul VI, and then by John Paul II, as civilization of love and life. That civilization has as its principles:
April we were alarmed by the news coming from Portugal. In more than 20 municipalities, no child has been born for the last two years and in some municipalities only one child was born. In future, they will travel 80 km to the nearest school. “At the root of these negative phenom• the primacy of ena there frequently lies a corruption of the idea and the experson over things, perience of freedom, conceived not as a capacity for realizing • the primacy of the truth of God’s plan for marriage and the family, but as an being over having, autonomous power of self-affirmation, often against others, for • the primacy of one’s own selfish well-being. ” mercy over justice, (FC 6). What does that all have to do with infertility? With the suffer• the priority of of the married couples who ethics over technology. ing desire... Yes, what do they deContemporary utilitarian philossire, in fact? Do they want to beophy shows an overtly anti-life, come parents or to have a baby? “contraceptive” mentality (see This is where the potential parFC 6): the plague of pregnancy ents make the decision which termination, surgical sterilizapath to choose: the civilization tion, and the ever increasing of life or death. If they choose divorce rate. In the last days of to have a baby rather than to be a
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Fr. Jaroslaw Szymczak, PhD
parent, we deal with the inverted priorities: the primacy of technology over ethics (IVF: infertility poses a challenge to technology, which should bypass the dysfunctional organ), the primacy of things over person (we’ve got the right to HAVE a baby, if we are married, or a couple, or a single woman who wants to have a baby [late in] her career), of justice over mercy (because we invite to our life only the children who meet the appropriate criteria: they should be healthy, as we have “placed such an or-
der;” we’ve already got a girl, so now it “should” be a boy; the babies with defects should be removed). What is infertility from a wider perspective? Infertility is a common, global and increasing problem. One in every 6 couples worldwide (WHO) hoping to have a baby, experiences difficulties achieving or maintaining pregnancy, serious enough to seek medical intervention. The reasons behind the increase of infertility problems are not entirely understood, but lifestyle and the use of oral contraceptives are known to delay pregnancy.
• further information on NaProTechnology and FertilityCare can be obtained from: Dr Monique Risso MB
ChB MRCGP mrissofertilityspice@hotmail.co.uk General Practitioner and NaPro Technology Physician Specialist Medical Clinic, Unit 7, 1st Floor, ICC Building, Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 49999 www. ladyofeuropefertilitycare.com
Prayers for Children
Consecration of all children, even those yet unborn, to Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
P
arents should pray the consecrations below for each of their children, in the case of parents yet to be blessed with children, they should substitute ‘my unborn child’ in the place of the chlid’s name. Parents can render no greater service to their children than to implore their salvation, and indeed, they will of necessity render almighty God an account of their efforts in this regard. O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to Thy Most Sacred Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of (my child’s name). I surrender him/her to Thy sweet yoke and place him/her at the foot of Thy Cross. I offer Thee for him/her the most loving Heart of Thy Most Holy Mother Mary, which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts, and I beg Thee by her merits to show Thyself to him/her a Saviour. O Mary, Mother of Jesus, I come to Thee as an unworthy parent, and I humbly consecrate to Thy Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, now and for eternity, the soul of (my child’s name). I offer Thee for him/her the most adorable Heart of Thy Son Jesus, who is the life, love and joy of Thy own Heart, and I beg Thee by the infinite merits of the Divine Son, Thou who art our Mother in the order of grace, to obtain the grace of salvation for my child. O glorious St. Joseph, I come to thee and ask thee to take under thy special protection (my child’s name). I consecrate him/her to thee today, that through this consecration he/she they may become your foster child. Guard him/her, guide his/her steps in life, and form his/ her heart after the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. O glorious St. Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the child Jesus was lost, protect him/her for time and eternity. May you be his/her father and counselor. Preserve him/her from the corruption of this world, and obtain for us the grace to be united in Heaven forever.
Amen. Adapted from a prayer by St John Eudes and other sources.
Pre gnant? Considering Abor tion?
A G M nnual
eneral
eeting
Contact Clare! clare@goodcounselnet.co.uk Tel: +44 207 723 1740
Wednesday 4th July 2012 John Mackintosh Hall, Lecture Room at 6pm Please come along and let us know how you would like us to support you best. Gibraltar DYSLEXIA Support Group, P.O.Box 1359 Free phone: 8099 / Mobile: 54007924 Email: info@dyslexia.gi Website: www.dyslexia.gi Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
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