Dec 2012 138

O Come let us adore him! Christ the Lord!

JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND

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Fr. Stuart’s Foreword: “Dear Friends...”

Why was it necessary for the Word of God to become flesh?

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e needed a saviour who could reconcile us with God. Throughout the ages Christians have professed the ancient Nicene Creed: “He became man for our sake and

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We wish you a joyful Christmas

for the sake of our salvation.”

The eternal Word became flesh for us so he could offer his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world through the shedding of his blood on the cross.

supernatural joy

The greatest gift...

The Word became flesh to show us the infinite love and tender mercy of God for us sinners.

In the feast of Christmas we celebrate present realities – Jesus Christ our redeemer who reigns in heaven and who also lives and reigns in our hearts through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit. And we commemorate past events – the birth of the newborn Messiah King and his manifestation to Israel and to the gentile nations. We thank and bless God for the way in which he has saved us from the power of sin and the curse of death and destruction by sending his son to ransom us and give us pardon and abundant life through the gift

and working of the Holy Spirit.

Today we celebrate the birthday of our King and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God wants to fill our hearts anew with joy and gratitude for the greatest gift he could possibly give us – his beloved son Jesus.

What can we give thanks for in this great feast of the Incarnation?

We can praise and thank God, our Father for the fact that the Son of God freely and joyfully assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. Jesus came to release those enslaved to sin, and to open the gates of paradise once again. This day the Holy Spirit invites us to make haste – as the shepherds of

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. Stuart Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.eu Production Editor: A. Sargent angela@europeaxess.com Cover Photo: “The Nativity” by French artist Noel Coypel, Features an Adoration of the Christ Child.

Bethlehem did – to adore Jesus our King and Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ is our eternal good shepherd who guides and cares for us unceasingly and who gives us abundant everlasting life and union with the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This day the whole community of heaven joins with all believers of good-will on earth in a jubilant song of praise for the good news proclaimed by the angels on Christmas eve: Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).

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

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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he joy of Christmas is not for a day or a season. It is an eternal joy, a joy that no one can take from us because it is the joy of Jesus Christ himself made present in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (see Romans 5:2-5). The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which no pain nor sorrow can diminish, and which neither life nor death can take away.

Happy & Blessed Christmas to you all

Fr Stuart

group or charity, call Tel: 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar.

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.

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A message from His Lordship Bishop Ralph Heskett

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his will be the third year that I thank all the people who are involved in producing Upon This Rock magazine, which is now embarking on its twelfth year.

This was an excellent initiative of my predecessor, the late Bishop Charles Caruana who asked for a Diocesan Newsletter to be produced in the millennium year, and the first issue was the Christmas issue 2000 whith Fr. Stuart Chipolina as editor.

With the economic climate continuing as it is, I am especially grateful that businesses have kept faith with the ven-

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The Year of Faith: a moment of grace for those who live and promote the faith

ture, for without them it would not be able to exist.

I know that there are many individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to facilitate the sponsorship we receive, to provide the so important photographs, write formative

and informative articles and to proofread each issue before it goes to print. There are those involved in I.T., logistics and distribution, ensuring the copies get delivered round Gibraltar and via the online version, all around the world. I am very

We wish you a joyful Christmas

grateful for all their time and effort.

The Facebook community has also shown a growing interest from young adults in receiving updates from the Upon This Rock page.

The magazine, in its online

marking Upon This Rock’s 12th Anniversary Edition.

and offline forms has an important role to play in the year ahead. We are already under way with the Year of Faith that His Holiness called for, and through these pages the Church can reach out to the whole community and announce the plans we have for the coming months, and report on events as they come to pass.

When the Apostolic Nuncio visited Gibraltar earlier this year he spoke about the great treasure we have, in particular the ability to live together in peace and harmony, even though our small population is made up of families from

diverse ethnic backgrounds, different faiths and none. Perhaps this is the greatest gift we are not only able to offer one another but also the world beyond Gibraltar. And so I hope I can count on your support as we move forward in a spirit of co-operation, and I call on the intercession of Our Lady of Europe as I pray that the Year of Faith may bring a moment of grace for those who live and promote the faith.

Photos taken at the Mass on the Eve of Gibraltar Day in London, opposite page and top this page: Grace Lourdes Torres. This page, after Mass photos: Mike Brufal.

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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Inviting Christ bac Anne Mesilio reflects on how hard it is these days, to find the true meaning of Christmas.

“I bring you good tidings of great joy….for there is born to you this day in the city of David….a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”. (Luke 2, 10-12). hristmas day binds us all together in time, remembering a lowly manger in a stable cold where the world hardly noticed the birth of a child.

No ordinary child either but the Prince of Peace, the Son of God made Man. The Christmas festival falls in December’s

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bleak mid winter and if we take the Christ out of Christmas, December becomes a colourless, desolate, austere and barren month. Since that holy night in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago much has been done to help us recognise the true spirit of Christmas, and yet, commercialisation has obscured the real message. There is an irony here because gift giving began that long ago night with Christ’s gift of himself to us.

This time of year, one of the most anticipated holidays in the calendar, becomes a frantic round of activity, buying and

wrapping presents, buying and writing cards, cooking, baking, decorating homes and offices and on it goes. It is a familiar ritual in which all of us will have participated and are geared up to do so again. No harm here, it is the excess we subscribe to that bothers me. St. Thomas Aquinas, a ground breaking writer of the 13th century and one of the finest theologians in western thoughts tells us: “Gluttony denotes not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire, leaving the order of reason wherein the good of moral virtue exists”.

It even goes deeper than that, as consuming too much harms health and interferes with abilities to carry out ones duties. It derives from the Latin,’gluttire’ to swallow more than you need, in other words, wastefulness. The expectation of consuming exotic foods and drink makes gluttony a sin because it takes away from the needs of the poor being met.

Reflect on the many ethnic wars

which result in malnutrition and hunger resulting in the unjust distribution of resources between peoples, the arms trade, and ecological issues, which dehumanise the suffering.

When do the excesses of Christmas cross the line to become gluttony?

Keeping a perspective at this time of materialistic extremes is important and getting off the Christmas rollercoaster may be more difficult than it seems. It is a time of giving and receiving and we do not relish being found wanting. How do you keep Christ in your shopping trolley when the spirit of Christmas can be waylaid by the materialism of the many tempting displays urging us to buy beyond our needs? ‘Tis the season to be sure for retail orgy, this ‘excessmas’. “Except for excess decorations, excess commercialism, excess carolling and excess cheer, I heartily approve of the Christmas spirit”, (William Feather). As your

Sunday Lunch with Santa on the 16th and 23rd December At the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel

Santa will be waiting with a personalized gift for each child. After every one has met Santa a roast meal and children’s menu will be served.

The fantastic Happy Days Children’s entertainers will then work their magic with the Children whilst Mum and Dad enjoy a relaxing lunch!

BUFFET MENU

Vegetable Soup * A Selection of Salads, Seafood Melon and Serrano Ham * A Buffet of Roast Meats, Seasonal Vegetables, Potatoes, Rosado, Pizza, Chicken Nuggets & French Fries * A Selection of Cakes and Pastries, Nuts and Fruits, Ice Cream and Sweetie Buffet

£24.00 per adult (14+ years) £15.00 per child aged 3-13 Children under 3 free of charge CALL 20070500 to reserve your table

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We wish you a joyful Christmas

ck into Christmas hand follows your eyes to reach out for one more purchase… stop….think….do I really need this? We have witnessed huge storms lay waste to vast areas around the world leaving people destitute. Ironically, it is wind and water especially, which has wreaked havoc leaving people in urgent need of clean drinking water. 2013 has been designated UN International Year of Water.

Water, the elixir of life, no life can exist without it, it unites all living beings. Go online and find a way to help and donate the money for that unnecessary gift.

Your gift will help bring a lifegiving resource to many needy families.

Spread the true message of Christmas and stretch out your hand for Christian cards. Trim your shopping list, this is not a competition. Give the gift of yourself to a lonely friend or relative. Yes, buy those extra few ingredients that will allow you to invite someone in need home to share Christmas dinner.

The best presents cannot be wrapped. Ticking off your list as you add that extra bottle of wine remind yourself to warn friends and family of the dangers of drinking and driving. Urge them to consider the paramedics and police who have to deal with the Christmas fallout which may leave distraught and bereaved families.

Perhaps the store is playing those lovable but inane songs, Jingle Bells and Rudolph for instance, and this opens a longing in you for more sacred Christmas music which you cannot find

on the shelves. May I direct you to Handel’s Messiah, (1741) originally written for Easter and the Hallelujah chorus which has become immortal praise; “For he shall reign forever” or one of the excellent local concerts.

Recently I listened to a rendering of the Coventry Carol; written in the 1500’s it tells the story of King Herod’s massacre of the Innocents, part of Christmas but often overlooked. “Herod the king, in his raging, charged he hath this day…..all children young to slay”. This haunting mother’s lament is echoed all around us today for children ‘lost’ to abuse, kidnapping, trafficking, child labour, countless living in fear and helplessness, oh how does this happen, where is our compassion?

It should be at the heart of our Christian life, but it has to be manifested in action. More online work for you, would you help sponsor a child this Christmas for the little that extra, unneeded present would cost you?

With a little effort keeping Christ in Christmas is achievable.

Midwinter has from ancient times been a time to party. The harvest is in, and the shortest day brings hope for new light in the long dark nights, a promise and hope for the future. Christmas day is set apart

for celebrations but Proverbs 23; 20-21 warns us; “Do not join those who drink too much wine, or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags”.

It is Christmas and I am loathe to leave you with this dire warning uppermost in mind, so please let me wish you the peace that is Christmas and may it be your blessing all year through.

Christmas Concert

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armonics choir was founded by Phillip Borge in 2010. Phillip, who has a strong passion for music, classical in particular, has studied at The Royal College of Music, London.

This year Harmonics choir joined Albert Hammond to record backing tracks for two of the songs included in his latest album Legend II. These songs will form part of the programme at this year’s Christmas Concert. “The concert is full of timely favourites including well-known carols and villancicos also including music composed within the last 10 years.”. As is usual in concerts organised by Harmonics a substantial portion of the proceeds will be going to charity.

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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An exciting new way to help the environment, support a valued

Recycle your old phone

What if you could clear out all your old mobile phones and know they are going towards a good cause?

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ust over one year ago we ran a story in Upon This Rock about who makes our Rememberance Day Poppies.

Anne Mesilio went to investigate and discovered that for nearly 90 years, The Poppy Factory in Richmond, Surrey, has been making poppies, crosses and wreaths for the Royal Family and the Royal British Legion’s annual Remembrance Day appeal. Since 2007, The Poppy Factory has also been placing wounded, injured or sick ex-military personnel of all ages and from a variety of armed forces backgrounds into jobs beyond the Factory and all around the UK. Tom, who is featured on the poster on this page, is ex-Royal Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, and currently a Telephonist, Office Assistant and Trainee Counsellor, at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire.

Tom says “The Poppy Factory gives ex-servicemen back their pride.” He joined the army as an electronics apprentice when he was 15 and served for 26 years, working all over the globe. When he left the army, he worked as

a test engineer for the Channel Tunnel train, as a workshop manager and in aviation. “I never imagined I wouldn’t work TOM shares his story but four years ago, I had to have my left leg amputated below the knee and suddenly I was unable to do the job I loved,” Tom explained.

After many operations, Tom found himself in a wheelchair and had to learn to walk again with a prosthesis. He was unable to go back to the work he loved as an engineer. “The work ethic you learn in the army never leaves you, so I kept looking for jobs. I thought about volunteering at the National Memorial Arboretum, but then discovered through BLESMA that the Arboretum had paid employment available. With the help of The Poppy Factory, my first year was sponsored and I got the job. I love the work. It’s a big change from engineering, there’s less pressure and it isn’t as much of a challenge but I have great work friends. I am training for a qualification in counselling and I hope, when fully qualified, that I’ll be able to help ex-Service

Sheriff Electrical Contractors Ltd.

Electrical Contractors Office 40/42 Cornwall’s Lane,

Tel: (350) 200 79353, Fax: (350) 200 74515 E-mail: sheriffgib@gibtelecom.net Fire Services Division 3 Cornwall’s Parade, Tel: (350) 200 40583, Fax: (350) 200 74515 E-mail: sherelec@gibtelecom.net

A. A. Sheriff (Wholesale) Ltd.

Retail 51 Engineer Lane, Tel: (350) 200 78065, Fax: (350) 200 74515 Wholesale Unit 12A, Watergardens, Tel: (350) 200 73083, Fax: (350) 200 40585 Planet Mobile Unit 12A, Watergardens, Tel: (350) 200 50063, Fax: (350) 200 40585 Offices 40/42 Cornwall’s Lane, Tel: (350) 200 40583, Fax: (350) 200 74515

E-mail: sheriffgib@gibtelecom.net Warehouse Unit 14, The New Harbours, Tel: (350) 200 41836, Fax: (350) 200 46344

E-mail: wisco@gibtelecom.net

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We wish you a joyful Christmas

charity and clear clutter. Angela Sargent All phones have a value, working or not, they can be recycled and raise funds for The Poppy Factory.

TEXT ‘OLD MOBILE’ TO 56000766 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE A PHONE men and women to overcome the difficulties they can face when leaving the army.”

In order to fund their activities The Poppy Factory have tapped into a valuable resource. Readers are probably aware that old mobile phones have a value, either just a few pennies for the precious metals and components, or perhaps a few £s for a phone that can be reused and sold on.

The Poppy Factory have teamed up with a specialist mobile phone recycling company called ‘forgottenmobile.com’. Forgotten Mobile provide the tech services, they will remove all data on the

phones and destroy any SIM cards left in them if people have not done this themselves before donating them.

In the case of a corporate phone donation, they can give a report to show the phones have been datawiped, so if your company has an inventory of obsolete mobiles, this offers a great business solution, and helps a great cause.

Upon This Rock magazine will send the old mobiles back to the UK via the Gibraltar Services Post Office who have said they will support the initiative for The Poppy Factory.

In order to donate your old

phones just text ‘OLD MOBILE’ to 56000766 and someone will call you back and let you know where and when the next phone drop off will be.

If you would like more information, or to arrange for several company phones to be securely disposed of in this way, please call Angela on 20079335.

Year of Faith News

12 HOLY HOURS: Dei Verbum

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time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Reflection and Benediction held at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned each month.

In December we will be reflecting on the 2nd Vatican Council document Dei Verbum. The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation with Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This month the Holy Hour be led by St. Joseph’s Parish at the Cathedral on Wednesday 19th, at 7.00pm.

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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Ralph welcomes Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop o Mennini, who met with Parish Representatives and Groups at the Catholic Community Centre 5th Oct. 2012

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We wish you a joyful Christmas

Anne Mesilio catches up with Annie Green

Would YOU volunteer to help W

hilst enjoying a chat with Annie Green I was really impressed to hear her enthusiastically telling me of another successful recruitment drive for the Appropriate Adult Scheme.

This Scheme provides support and assistance to juveniles who have been detained by the police and who do not have an adult who can attend on their behalf. She explained “We now have eleven volunteers who can be called upon by the Royal Gibraltar Police around the clock”. She expressed her satisfaction that the “correct training now been given” and the sending of a Childline manager to UK who on return will facilitate training future volunteers here at home.

As our chat developed it became clear that volunteerism was at the heart of this conversation. This is considered an altruistic activity as people in a community offer their time to help improve the quality of life for those less fortunate. They are the backbone of charitable organisations that would not function without this generous

band of people. “Volunteers are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless”.

Childline Gibraltar’s mission; “to end all forms of cruelty to children in Gibraltar” is now in its seventh year providing much needed services to children and young people at risk. At the heart of their work is the free telephone service Helpline, open every day of the year between 6pm-10pm where a friendly and totally confidential service is offered to all who call.

In order to provide the relevant services which are entirely funded from donations there is an on-going need for fund raising.

“Our work continues to develop and we would love to welcome new blood to our fund raising team”, Annie was telling me whilst emphasising “we have a really superb team, all very experienced and while raising funds is important, we do have fun doing so”. She went on to tell

Gibraltar Diosesan 2012 Crib Competition

Judging in Schools will be on Mon 17th December 2012.

Judging in Homes, Places of Work and Clubs etc., will be on Tue 18th December 2012.

Entry Forms can be obtained from Cathedral Bookshop and St Theresa’s Church Sacristy.

Schools’ Entry Forms need to be handed in by Thursday 13 Dec. All other venues by Saturday 15 December latest.

Entrance Fee £5 per crib.

Winners will be contacted and Prizes will be presented during the Children’s Christmas Eve Mass at 5.00pm on the 24th Dec. at St. Theresa’s Parish Church.

(For more information please contact Maria Louisa Aguilera on Mob: 58008677)

me about the hugely successful Diamond Jubilee ‘Big Picture’ event. It was a huge picture of Her Majesty the Queen, the official image that the Jubilee committee authorised, cut into tiny pieces which could be purchased for £1 to make up the big picture like a jig-saw puzzle. This raised over £2,000 and boosted the profile of Childline within the community. “We became aware of issues that may not have come to our attention otherwise”, Annie explained. Smaller fund raising is always happening and she paid tribute to Michelle Stafford and the ladies who run “The Lounge” in Queensway Quay who “are always very supportive and keep abreast of the work of Childline”.

A cheque for £250 was presented as a result of recent fundraising efforts.

Christmas is coming and Childline’s innovative group of fundraisers have thought up the idea of a Giant Advent Calendar made up of colourfully painted boxes behind which the prizes will be hidden. Look out for this unusual and fun generating event outside all the prominent places e.g. Casemates Sq, Piazza, hopefully outside the Convent providing another opportunity to raise awareness and much needed funds. You may purchase your ticket at any of these places from volunteers on the day.

“We have identified the need to have on-going training for volunteers as every new issue comes along, e.g. cyberbullying.

We need to keep abreast of these in order to be able to advise people”, Annie was explaining, and went on “in order to justify the time and expense of training we are now asking our volunteers to commit to two shifts per month”. Commitment is a strong word and it is easy to balk when

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

? it is mentioned. You may feel that your gift of ‘volunteering’ is enough, but, this actually needs commitment in order to offer continuity to the organisation. It is an undertaking freely offered and needs to be faithfully carried out. “Actually, volunteering for our fund raising committee is not so huge a commitment as for the Helpline or Appropriate Adult Scheme, so if you have time to spare…..contact the Childline office “, she invited.

Our chat was nearly over but Annie had time to mention; “we have engaged a qualified teacher to help with raising awareness in schools but we need a volunteer who would be prepared to accompany our Childline educator to assist with the programme to deliver awareness, for instance, how to be safe online, this would entail a couple of hours per week” Could that person be you?

Our Vision A society in which all children are loved, valued and able to fulfill their potential.

In other words, a society that will not tolerate child abuse - whether sexual, physical, emotional or neglect.

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Fr. Jonathan de La Santa Cruz

Walking in the

100 YEARS

Our Lady

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he pages of the Gospels make us aware of the central role which the Virgin Mary plays in our salvation. From her consent to the Incarnation (Lk1, 26 -38) to her acceptance of her son’s death at Calvary. (Jn 19, 25-27) Mary has always proved to be the perfect example of how one should obey and acknowledge God’s will.

Since the early days of Christianity she has been venerated as the Mother of God (Council of Ephesus year 431), because Our Mother who was most pure, lived at all times according to God’s will. The love of the Christian world for Our Lady grows day by day inspired by the wonderful example of her

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We wish you a joyful Christmas

life as Mother of God and a loyal follower of the Lord.

The Marian dogmas within the ‘Life of the Church’ have been based on the Sacred Scriptures.

This, together with the devotion to Our Lady shown by God’s people, has led past Pontiffs to solemnly declare such tenets of faith. We refer in this case, to the devotions to Our Lady of Lourdes. This began with her eighteen apparitions which, according to St Bernadette Soubirous (1844 – 1879), took place in the grotto of Massabielle, on the shores of the Gave River outside the town of Lourdes at the foot of the Pyrenees.

In accordance with Church belief, the message of Lourdes is an invitation for us to live the

Faith for with

of Lourdes Gospel and accept the Salvation Our Lord offers us. One of the motives for these apparitions was the conversion of sinners. This conversion is essential if we are to receive Divine grace. Lourdes reminds us of the Prodigal Son (Lk154, 11 – 32) It is repentance and a consequent turning to God that will lead to the healing of the soul.

For this reason, the message of Lourdes is still relevant today.

Mary, Our Mother, shows us that the best way to follow in Christ’s footsteps is to renounce sin and embrace our faith whatever the outcome. Of vital importance too, is the healing of the sick at Lourdes. Christ came to heal our suffering and we are well acquainted with the curing of the blind, the deaf, and the crippled in the Scriptures.

The devotions to Our Lady of Lourdes and other such examples in the history of the Church, reveal Mary’s love for those who believe in her Son. She is seen as a model of faith and charity. For the past 100 years, here in the Diocese of Gibraltar, men and women, young and old, in fact all believers, have been inspired and encouraged by the human and divine values God has presented through Our Lady of Lourdes.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has named this the ‘Year

of Faith’. It is important during this time to raise our eyes to the Mother of God because we can learn so much from her. We should remember that she has been with us during good and bad moments, during difficult and prosperous times. She has formed part of our religious culture during 100 years of faith. Lourdes reminds us of God’s sanctifying presence. He looks after His children, helping the sick, the underprivileged and the poor in our community.

The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, on the 11th of February is also, very appropriately, the World Day of the Sick. This is a time when, through His Mother’s intercession, Christ heals mankind’s physical and spiritual needs. Every year, therefore, we Christians here in Gibraltar celebrate this day. This is a time when we invoke the help of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Immaculate Conception, she who draws us nearer to her Son, the Saviour of the World. This year should be a particularly significant one for us, one of blessings and thanksgiving since it commemorates a hundred year of history, tradition, love, forgiveness, fortitude and gratitude.

Together with the Queen of Heaven, we the faithful in Gibraltar rejoice at the wonders Christ has worked through the

humble woman from Nazareth.

She has become a model of virtue, an admirable intercessor and a mother to all Christ’s followers.

We celebrate 100 years of faith, of hope in God, of trust in Our Lady’s willingness to intercede for us.

True devotions to Our Lady reveal, above all, a real trust in Christ, Lord of History and Saviour of Mankind.

The Sacred Heart Church will be celebrating the 100 years devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes at the novena from 3rd to 11th February 2013. Additionally, a Concert will be held at the Church at 7pm on 24th January to celebrate the

centennial devotions.

Entrance will be by programme only, free of charge, although at the end there will be a retiring collection.

Diocesan Pilgimage to

LOURDES to celebrate the feast of OUR LADY OF EUROPE

By AIR: 29th April- 3rd May

€850 p/p – Single Supp: €80 p/p.

Flights from Malaga 4 nights Lourdes on Full Board Deposit by 30 Nov ’12 ...........€250 p/p Payment by 31 Jan ’13 . .......€ 300 p/p Balance by 28 Feb ’13. € 300 p/p twin . ................................. € 380 p/p single

By COACH 28th April- 4th May € 525 p/p – Single Supp € 175 p/p 2 nights Madrid in Bed & Breakfast 4 nights Lourdes on Full Board Deposit by 30 Nov ’12 .........€ 125 p/p Payment by 31 Jan ’13 ........€ 200 p/p Balance by 28 Feb ’13 .€ 200 p/p twin . ................................. € 375 p/p single MORE INFO: Bishop’s Office: Tel 20046178 St. Paul’s Church: Tel 20077135 bishop@gibdiocese.org

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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The Cause of the Beatification of Sr. Maria de los Dolores

Now we just need Could this nun, who fled the Rock as a teenager, be the first Saint from Gibraltar?

The Documents were signed and sealed and Fr. Samson Silloriquez Subaldo OAR will deliver them to Rome. Photos William Jardim and Marie Antonia Richardson.

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n Saturday the 10th of October, His Lordship Bishop Ralph Heskett, participated in the Closure of the Dossier of the Cause of Sr. Maria de los Dolores del Amor de Dios at the Parish Church of Santa Maria la Coronada in Medina Sidonia.

The congregation was swollen with over 100 pilgrims from Gibraltar. The re-discovery of the links between the holy woman of Medina Sidona and Gibraltar is almost a miracle in itself. The enclosed Augustinian Recollects Sisters there, who have very limited communications with the outside world, were preparing to celebrate Sr. Maria’s 100 year

We wish you a joyful Christmas

anniversary. And so the nuns prayed that after all this time, some contact might be made with her mother country where she was known as Simi Cohen. Their prayers brought Henry Earle knocking on their door, he had seen a leaflet about Sr. Maria and hearing she was from Gibraltar, he was filled with curiosity and decided to visit the convent.

From that day forth coachloads of people from Gibraltar regularly made pilgrimages to the Convent with Fr. Grima.

They would take petitions and ask the Sisters to pray for special intentions, and of course always leave laden with the delicious, home-made pastries

del Amor De Dios

a miracle

made there. The Augustinian Recollect Sisters are in no doubt that Sr. Maria was a Saint, The process of her Canonization was opened on November 18, 2001, in the presence of Monsignori Antonio Ceballos and Charles Caruana, who were then Bishops of Cadiz and Gibraltar. Now, after the meticulous work of the Tribunal constituted on that occasion and the testimonies of the witnesses and the judgment of the experts in History and in Theology, the time for the closing of the process has come, in the presence of HL Mgr Rafael Zornoza Boy, Bishop of Cadiz and Ceuta the Head of Tribunal, Mgr Pedro Velo Gonzalez Judge Delegate - Mgr Antonio Alcedo Ternera Promotor - Mgr Jose Luis Caburrasi Fernandez Notary.

Historical Experts included Teresita Peralta and Theology Experts included Mgr Paul Bear. The Postulator sworn and charged with delivery of documents to the Vatican, was Father Samson Silloriquez Subaldo OAR. Fr. Françios Sante-Marie has taken up support for the Cause in Gibraltar.

The only thing we need now is a miracle and The Prioress Sr. Lourdes Lejo, after thanking all present for their support,

she requested that Simi’s intercession be invoked to obtain graces, a request that was met with applause.

Peace and Joy to all Mankind

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Confused about the popular image of womanhood?

The dignity of the Christmas is often a stressful time for women, so much is expected in the home and workplace...

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wo Catholic sisters fedup with the mainstream expectation that women must “expose themselves” to be culturally relevant have teamed up to start a magazine that celebrates what they call the beauty of a “Christcentred femininity.”

Dignitas Magazine — polar opposite to the how-to sex and fashion manual Seventeen — does not present women as orgasm-seeking sex dolls, but as God’s masterpieces of beauty endowed with great dignity.

Catherine and Abby Pelicano,

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both in their early 20s, told LifeSiteNews in an interview that they wanted to start a magazine that spoke to women about “owning their God-given value.” They wanted to present a counter-cultural, Christian perspective on the value and dignity of women.

“We were reading about the value of the human person in the eyes of God,” Abby said. “But looking around at the culture, we did not see that played out.

We didn’t see people, especially women, owning their God-given value.”

Catherine said that she became interested in “human dignity” during her high school years.

Her interest exploded into a passion after she attended a Theology of the Body youth conference and heard about “God’s plan” for how men and women are to live as men and women.

The two sisters started reading and dialoguing with each other on the concepts of dignity, value, true beauty, femininity, and what it means to be a woman created in the image and likeness of God. They asked one another what these concepts meant for women.

“Our discussions were so

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powerful,” said Abby. “It was life changing for us to take-on these thoughts and questions about the dignity of womanhood, what it would mean to be a Christ-centered woman.”

The longer the sisters read and talked, the more they wanted to share what they discovered with other women.

“We wanted to shout out: ‘Hey ladies, we have dignity that comes from God.’” The sisters decided that the best way to share their ideas was to start a new kind of magazine. Catherine possessed writing and editing skills. Abby was a graphic designer and photographer by trade. The sisters teamed up, pooled their resources, and produced the 68page premier issue of ‘Dignitas Magazine’ last April with a trail-blazing statement on the inside flap: A stroll through the mall or a glance at the magazines in the

Dr. Monique Risso shares editorial from LifeSiteNews

Christian woman

check-out line will give you a clear idea of what our culture promotes as the ideal image of womanhood. The plunging necklines and disappearing hemlines of clothing in store windows tell you that to be a woman you must expose yourself to the world.

Mainstream women’s magazines encourage this message by upholding edgy and provocative women celebrities as images to aspire to. These messages combine with hundreds of others to portray an ideal of womanhood that when tested proves unfulfilling, unattractive, and ultimately untrue.

“Our Catholic faith presents a nobler image of womanhood.

“The truth about our dignity

from God gives us a powerful incentive to say ‘no’ to fashion trends that expose our bodies, and the beauty of Christ’s call to holiness motivates us to abandon the ugly provocativeness of our culture’s ideal womanhood. In their place, we discover the joyful challenge of dressing attractively yet modestly so as to affirm the worth of our bodies, as well as the fulfilling pursuit of an authentic life of virtue, especially the virtue of chastity.

The sisters stated that the the purpose of Dignitas Magazine is to “seek the truth about womanhood as God intended it to be, to encourage Catholic women to authentically live this truth, and to promote it in the world.

The sisters strive in their magazine to cultivate what they call a “very holistic approach” to the dignity of women, showcasing the beauty of authentic femininity, both inward and outward. Flipping through Dignitas, the casual reader will find articles on pro-life matters, a section on fashion, articles on the beauty of fertility, stories from the saints, and stories of real woman living out a Christ-centered femininity.

“If we have dignity that comes from God,” said Abby, “then

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that should impact how we dress, how we talk, how we present ourselves to the world.”

The pages of the first two issues of the online magazine have been viewed over 40 thousand times by people from every continent.

“It’s been so amazing to see how universal the theme of dignity is and how women from very different walks of life have been able to latch onto it and identify with it,” said Abby.

“A fifty-year old woman told us that she ‘just loves’ that our magazine is out there and that she wants to share it with her daughters and nieces.”

The sisters hope one day to bring Dignitas to print if they

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can raise the money. They say that if enough people showed interest in supporting the magazine, they would have it printed “in a heartbeat”.

Nneka Bosland, a big fan of the magazine, told LifeSiteNews. com that God-fearing women “who are under so much pressure to be ‘sexy,’ immodest, immoral, and promiscuous” need a magazine like Dignitas to encourage them to “try to live a virtuous life and ‘enter through the narrow gate.’”

“Dignitas showcases the

beautiful life of purity, chastity and modesty that Christ has to offer,” she said.

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Contact Clare! clare@goodcounselnet.co.uk Tel: +44 207 723 1740

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The Four Evangelists

St Mark -

Interpreter of Peter M

ark’s is often referred to as the ‘Second Gospel’ because of its traditional listing after Matthew.1 Though one of the Synoptic Gospels, until the 19th Century greater significance was given to Matthew and John ; a view based on St. Augustine’s statement that Mark had been a “follower and digester” Historical criticism of Matthew.2 radically altered this view. Mark is now, by “overwhelming majority”3 considered the earliest Gospel written.4 Indeed, Mark is accredited with being responsible for “a new type of literature,”5 the gospel genre, neither history nor biography but a profession of faith.6 After Vatican ll, it became Cycle B in our liturgy. In the Magisterium, the Gospels have “a special pre-eminence.”7

“He took the blind man by the hand...”

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In the Church’s early days, little was written down. The teaching was done orally by “eyewitnesses and

Julio Alcantara’s scholarly notes

professing the Faith ministers of the word.”8 But, as the Church grew throughout the Roman Empire, oral transmission was not sufficient, especially in a Hellenistic world used to having things in writing.9 Some accounts of the miracles and teachings were written down before the full Gospels were put to paper. Luke speaks of “many others” drawing up “accounts of events”10 The Synoptic Gospels’ two-Source hypothesis identifies some 335 verses ascribed to a source named Q.11 The Church holds the Evangelists selected “some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing” given the situation of their churches but always told “the honest truth about Jesus.”12 They wrote “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”13 God chose to make known “the hidden purpose to His will,”

through His Son, “the eternal Word.”14 The word of God shows its power “in a most excellent way” in writings of the New Testament. Christ manifested His Father and Himself by “deeds and words”15 and the Gospels are “the principal witness” to the “incarnate Word, our saviour.”

The Church holds, “with absolute constancy,” to the Gospels being of Apostolic origin, faithfully handing on what Christ did and taught. 16 Given their centrality to our Faith, it is not surprising they are subject to microscopic, sometimes aggressive, scrutiny.

The shortest of the Gospels, tradition holds Mark’s was written before AD70, in Rome, at a time of persecution and martyrdom. Its audience was mainly Gentile, unfamiliar with Jewish customs, and it was meant to help them stand steadfast.17 This Gospel is “an anonymous composition,” its

author making no claim to being an eyewitness.18 From very early on, tradition ties the Gospel to two names: Peter and Mark – “Petro narrante et illo scribente.”

Papias, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Eusebius, Origen, Jerome, all attribute the Gospel to Mark, writing as “the interpreter of Peter.”19 Whether or not the Evangelist was the “Mark my son”20 identified

by Peter; it is clear the author drew on a source close to the events.21 At the raising of Jairus’ daughter; at the Transfiguration; and at Gethsemane, only Peter, James, and John were chosen witnesses.22 Mark demonstrates a first-hand knowledge that concludes he was privy to special information from an eyewitness. The intimate details when relating the cure of Peter’s mother-in- law; and the fullness of the account of Peter’s denials further confirm the traditional

view of the Gospel bearing Apostolic authority, with Peter as the source .

The most important textual problem however concerns the genuineness of the last twelve verses (16:9-20). Mark ends his Gospel at 16:8 an ending that Eusebius and Jerome attested to. The language of vv 9-20 is very different from the rest of the Gospel and “not composed by the evangelist.” His abrupt ending would seem to direct his readers “to complete the Gospel in their lives”. Whatever may be, the Council of Trent defined these verses as canonical, hence inspired, and accepted as such by our Church.

A sophisticated document, Mark planned his Gospel with great skill, using simple, direct language, a rough style of Greek, the lingua franca of the day. It is described as “very vivid,” with a “colourful, descriptive power”

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The Four Evangelists

St Mark

creating a “breathless narrative.”

Its uniform style leaves no doubt Mark was a real author. Arranged in a “brilliantly artistic” pattern, not always in chronological order, it groups incidents of the same kind, emphasising not

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Jesus’ teachings but the mystery of His person. This is “ the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” linked directly to Old Testament prophecies, right from the start.

The church at Rome was a community that had suffered persecution and internal divisions. Disciple ignorance and Pharisaic confrontation, persecution and betrayal, are prominent themes in Mark. Mark 13 warns His disciples of the trials and tribulations to come.

Discipleship will not come easy, he is to “renounce himself” and to take up his cross and follow me” The disciple’s way is one of humility, renunciation, and service. Christian respect and social responsibility are today particularly enshrined in the Vatican II document, “Gaudium et Spes” One senses an urgency in Mark, perhaps brought about by the persecutions in Rome, moving straight into Jesus’ public ministry. The seeming harshness of the message is tempered by the revelation of Christ’s mystical powers. He is God’s “beloved Son,” withstanding testing by

Satan. The miracles demonstrate His might and His power over nature. They are given great emphasis and narrated with great detail, covering almost a quarter of the Gospel. He is, at the same time, a very human Christ, approachable and loving.

His compassion; anger at incredulity; triumph; admiration for faith; love for a wouldbe disciple; sadness : depict a popular Jesus with unaffected naturalness; a man commended “by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him.” Mark often intercalates a story between another story to emphasise their meaning e.g. the disciples’ failure to understand who Jesus is, and the cure of blind man at Bethsaida.

Sacra Pagina 2 p.3. 2.SP2 p.3.3Catholic Truth Society 2 p.4.4New Jerusalem Bible p.1183.

5 NJB p.1183.6CR p. 3.7Dei Verbum para 18. 8Luke 1:2. 9SP2 p.4. 10Luke 1:1. 11SP2 p.4. 12DV para 19. 13John 20:31. 14DV 2, 4. 15DV 17. 16DV 18. 17New American Bible p 1065.

18 SP2 p 38. 19New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia pp 3 - 4 .201 Pet 5:13.

21 NACE p 4. 22Mark 5:37 / 9:2 / 14:32 -33.

Forthcoming events

Year of Faith Pilgrimage to Fatima

I

n conjunction with the Year of Faith called for by the Holy Father, there will be a Diocesan Pilgrimage and Retreat to FATIMA next year led by His Lordship the Bishop and Fr Stuart.

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The full programme will be available soon, but the itinerary will include a visit to the Church of the Eucharistic Miracle in Santarem.

The pilgrimage will be between the the 21st and 25th of February next year, and it will cost 240 Euros per person (with a 50 Euro Single Supplement) If you are interested contact either Fr Stuart or Richard Martinez on Tel 20077135

Catholic charismatic renewal retreat Last weekend in January 2013 With PAdre ‘Chus’

C

hus Villarroel OP is well known in the Spanish speaking world for his special gift of preaching which has developed over more than 35 years in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Father Jesus Villarroel (Chus) was born in Tejerina, León, in 1935. He entered the novitiate of the Dominicans of Ocaña.

The studied Philosophy and Theology at Avila, in Germany and Switzerland. He completed his studies with a doctorate of philosophy in Rome. He has devoted many years to teaching in the faculty of the Dominicans of Alcobendas, and some courses at Pontificia de Salamanca.

For the past 18 years he has worked intensively with the Charismatic Renewal, especially in preaching and retreats, and for 8 years as the National Coordinator. Padre Chus has been busy, too, with other pastoral work in the parish of Jesus in San Blas for 3 years. From 1987 until recently he was a parish priest in the parish of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Madrid.

For more information contact Frances Moreno 5422000 or Susan Goldwin 20078212.

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Christian Family Movement

Please use the form below if you would like to take part in the Celebration.

For further information please contact Denise on Tel: 20043386 or Mob: 57021000.

Anniversary Celebration Participation Form

25th, 40th, 50th & 60th wedding Anniversary Celebrations at Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned on 1st February 2013 at 7.30 pm Mr. & Mrs.: ________________________________________________ Forenames: Husband _ __________________________________ Forenames: Wife_ __________________________________________ NeĂŠ: __________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _ _____________________________________________________ e-mail: ____________________________________________________ Tel. No. : Home_________________________________________ Tel. No. Work ______________________________________________ Mobile_ _______________________________________________ Date of Marriage : _________________________________________ Church:_______________________________________________

N.B. If marriage took place outside Gibraltar please produce a copy of the marriage Certificate when handing in this form This form should be handed in at the Cathedral bookshop as soon as possible and not later than Friday 11th January.

Alternatively e-mail above detail or form to: duos@gibtelecom.net

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