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marriage journey for thirty years JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND
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A Note on the illustration:
This image is widely available on the internet, but is not attributed to the original artist. It shows the risen Christ, in robes of dazzling white, stepping out of a dark tomb. The top of the stone, which has been rolled away to allow his passage back into the world, is highlighted making the form behind his shoulder reminiscent of an angel’s wing. 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. 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.
Cover: Joe and Brenda Cortes lead their team at Marriage Care into the Service’s 30th year in Gibraltar, on 1st April 2014.
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.. from Death to Life Fr. Stuart’s teaching on Christ’s Resurrection
It is always appropriate to celebrate life, but more so during Easter when we celebrate Life himself.
J
esus said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” He“came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.” This years Easter cannot but have a special meaning for us as we have seen, and continue seeing, that life is not always valued in the way God wants us to value it. In order to better understand the saving meaning of the Resurrection, it is necessary to consider what happened to Jesus. John Paul II, in a catechesis on the Resurrection, says it simply but densely “Christ’s resurrection was an event consisting essentially in a passage from death to life” (General Audience, March 1, 1989). What is important is to understand what kind of life, for it is not just a matter of coming back to the same biological life he had before, but rather the Resurrection is the irruption of new life, divine life, in Jesus’ human reality. It is life in God. Number 646 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “Christ’s Resurrection was not a return to earthly life…Christ’s Resurrection is essentially different. In his risen body he passes from the state of death to another life beyond time and space. At Jesus’ Resurrection his body is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: he shares the divine life in his glorious state, so that St. Paul can say that Christ is ‘the man of heaven.’” That is why when he appeared to his disciples:
“He invited them to verify that the risen body in which he came to them was the very same that was tortured and crucified. At the same time, however, that body possessed new properties. It had “become spiritual” and “glorified”, and therefore no longer subject to the usual limitations of material beings and of a human body. Jesus entered the upper room despite the fact that the doors were shut; he appeared and disappeared, etc. At the same time, however, that body was authentic and real. The proof of Christ’s resurrection is in his material identity” (John Paul II, General Audience, January 25,
1989).
You cannot give what you do not have. It is exactly because Jesus has a new life and is permeated by the divine in his bodily dimension that he can promise the resurrection of our bodies. The catechism explains the new life Jesus Christ leads us to:
By offering himself at Calvary, and by the Resurrection which confirms that offering and makes it efficacious, Jesus becomes the source of new life for everyone. He is not just alive, but life-giving (cf. 1 Cor 15:45), a source of life for others.
“Finally, Christ’s Resurrection –and the risen Christ himself– is the source of our future resurrection: ‘Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep… For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive’ (cf. 1 Cor 15:20). The risen Christ lives in the hearts of his faithful while they await that fulfillment. In Christ, Christians ‘have tasted… the powers of the age to come’ and their lives are swept up by Christ into the heart of divine life, so that they may ‘live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 655).
St. Paul reminds us that it is thanks to baptism that we participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. Christian life demands that we shun sin, since it is the only way to acknowledge the power of Christ’s death on the cross, and that we dedicate our life to God: “As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:10).
Perhaps those who combat life do not understand that God gives us biological life and human life in order to transform it into eternal life. Blessed John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae clearly affirms: “The life which Jesus gives in no way lessens the value of our existence in time; it takes it and directs it to its final destiny: ‘I am the resurrection and the life… whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (Jn 11: 25-26). A blessed life filled Easter to all, God bless you Fr Stuart
“By his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life, is above all, justification that reinstates us in God’s grace, ‘so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life’ (cf. Rom 6:4). Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ’s brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection ‘Go and tell my brethren.’ We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection” (n. 654).
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What Gibraltar’s Women of Grace
have to say:
Johnnette ®
Dr. Monique Risso and the
I
n his latest document, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis talks about women’s “sensitivity, intuition and other distinctive skill sets which they, more than men, tend to possess.” He mentions “the special concern which women show to others, which finds a particular, even if not exclusive, expression in motherhood.” In another sentence, he talks about the “feminine genius.” The time is right for Women to step up to their role in the Church. Here are some reactions from women of Gibraltar who have been studying the Women of Grace® programme: Yvonne Cruz I am enjoying every moment of the Women of Grace® course, meeting new people, sharing our work done at home. I love reading the stories of Saints, and most of all I love Johnnette’s inspiring talks, which are shown on video every other week. I am still a long way from finishing this study programme but already feel how much good its doing to me. I am looking forward to listening to Johnnette because she is a Holy and inspiring woman, a wife, mother and grandmother, trying to spread the word about Jesus who is our Hope, and give those we serve hope in a world that is
“
cordially invite you to the Women of Grace Retreat with
Johnnette Benkovic on
Saturday 5th April 2014 08:45 - 13:45 With Adoration and Confe ssion and
Sunday 6th April 2014 08 :45 - 13:45 With Holy Mass at the
Catholic Community Ce ntre, Gibraltar struggling through a lot of darkness. Lorraine Lima The Women of Grace® course deepened my understanding of the Catholic faith, the Holy Mass and the Sacraments. I am looking forward to hearing Johnnette as she is an example of God’s ‘special agents’ in this new millennium. Nyoka Catania The Women of Grace® course taught me the importance of the role of women in the world, in our families, at our workplace and with our friends. We can bring God’s love to all. We can not only be a mother to our children but also become spiritual mothers, helping mankind. I’m looking forward to seeing Johnnette because she has inspired me and I admire her and her strength. I can see God working through her and it is a gift to see her live in Gibraltar.
“
“
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Merche Vasquez Imossi The Woman of Grace® course gave me a better sense of my self worth. It strengthened my role in life, past and present and encouraged me to live my future life with a greater purpose and with the security that God is always with me. It also taught me to understand better the great love God has for us and to appreciate the wonderful role that his mother Mary had in his life and ours. It has also helped me to approach my brothers and sisters with more tenderness and understanding and to better understand the importance of forgiveness. It is wonderful and a privilege to have Johnnette visit us. I really look forward to her talks as I know for certain that she will bring great messages
to each and every one of us. Listening to her will deepen our faith and help us continue on our spiritual journey. Maria Luisa Dali The Women of Grace® course has been a great experience for me, it has made me more aware of the role women have in the Catholic Church. I’m really looking forward to meeting Johnnette and hearing her speak as there is so much more to learn, to become a better wife, mother and Catholic. It’s a great blessing to be able to go to this retreat, even though I have just started the course, and it is a great privilege to be able to play the guitar there too. I must also say that I am looking forward to furthering my studies and I’ve shared my experiences with two wonderful women who have become friends!
“
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Let’s create a
better It is our responsibility as adults to make sure our children use Internet resources safely and appropriately.
W
ould you let your child wander into the ocean unsupervised and unaware of the dangers that lurk beneath the sparkling blue? I think not. There are a few rules to staying safe in the ocean and it is really important to have a basic understanding of safety etiquette before getting in the water. The ocean can be a dangerous place even for the most experienced surfer. The World Wide Web has been with us since 1989 and it has truly changed the world by becoming the most powerful communication medium ever known. With instant access to over one trillion (and growing) public pages it has touched the lives of billions of people. Surfing the net refers to browsing around the contents of the Internet. The term was coined from the ironic term channel-surfing where one randomly changes TV channels using a remote control. Surfing the Internet is usually seen as fun, dangerous, or a tremendous waste of time, depending on who you ask. All of the above is true, but what is also true is that the Internet has
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opened up access to information at the click of a mouse. It is worth learning a few basic rules on staying safe. February 11th each year has been designated Safe Internet day and this year’s strapline was; “Let’s create a better Internet together”, to help promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children. Childline Gibraltar support the day “as we deal with this issue on a daily basis, especially as we are about to launch our online service in the next few weeks”. I had met up with Annie Green from Childline and as always it was a delight to listen to her talk with enthusiasm about her work. “Social media is important these days and this is in response to the way in which children get in touch with us”. I expressed a few qualms here, with reference to privacy and her reassurance came swiftly “we have gone through checks and balances rigorously and we can still give our guarantee of the confidentiality which is the cornerstone of Childline”. This is indeed reassuring as calls to Childline cover all forms of abuse; online abuse, bullying, cyber bullying, relationship problems, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, as well as concerns about family and friends, all of which need to be dealt with sensitively. The whole community is responsible for safeguarding children and it
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Internet an award winning online ‘Surf Safe’ campaign from brazil is advisable not to wait until a problem presents before taking action. This can start with making sure adults have the information needed to deal safely with the issue. Parents or guardians need to understand how important it is to monitor how their children use social media. Remember
when we were told never talk to strangers? Nothing’s changed. Annie advised me of the following website, (CEOP) Child Exploitation Online Protection Unit and having had a browse (surf) I can recommend a visit for children and adults alike. The Royal Gibraltar Police
Anne Mesilio writes
have produced a booklet called Safe Surf with clear information on safely using the Internet. “Remember… your child’s best online protection is YOU”. Copies of the printed booklet are available from New Mole House. Childline has been in Gibraltar since 2006 and have developed and expanded their services to the schools and community. Annie feels very strongly that “young children need to have a voice and whilst they can be wary of speaking to an adult, we are here for them and they can speak to us in complete trust”. She feels that the level of support within the community shows that “our work is valued
”
together and our ambition is to enhance our education service. A qualified teacher has been engaged who will take the programme to youth groups, like the Guides, Brownies and Scouts. The Helpline service is available 365 days a year and “we can only do that with the help of our dedicated volunteers”, Annie generously acknowledged. The Appropriate Adult Scheme and the Education Programme mirrors the vision;
”a society in which all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential”
Childline 8008 Helpline Review 2012 -13 781 Calls received. 64 Average per month. 120 Persons referred on to agencies. 48 Of which were adults. 716 Calls of diverse category. 47 Number of volunteers.
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Providing fuel for the
marriage journey for thirty years
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M
arriage Care’s thirty years of service to Gibraltar were marked on the 12th February with a reception for people who have been involved with the local centre over the years. His Lordship the Bishop attended, the Chief Minister, Government Ministers and the CEO, of Marriage Care, Mark Molden, as well as
the head of Counselling and Supervision, Bridie Collins, from Marriage Care UK, who were in Gibraltar for the occasion. The celebration was held at the Tasting Room at My Wines, Chatham Counterguard. Marriage Care UK also held a series of meetings with counsellors, His Lordship the Bishop, and others who will be instrumental for the future development of the Gibraltar Marriage Care Centre. Thirty years ago, when the divorce laws were going to be amended, it was felt by both the
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Photos: Clare Bensadon
Angela Sargent
Church and the Government, that there was a need for a professionally trained group of persons to offer counselling to couples in the hope of finding reconciliation before separation or divorce. This resulted in the Gibraltar Counselling Service being set up with a group of nine persons successfully completing a course of studies to become relationship counsellors. Bridie Collins is the Director of Relationship support, she has been a counsellor for 18 years and is responsible for overseeing the training and providing ongoing support and career development for 200 counsellors. They work to the standards set by the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), which is a membership organisation and a registered charity that sets standards for therapeutic practice and provides information for therapists, clients of therapy, and the general public. Their membership is comprised of counsellors and/ or psychotherapists who work to BACP standards. Mark Molden describes himself as “the new kid on the block” as he has recently taken on the role of CEO of Marriage Care, but he is not new to caring for children and families and has spent a
decade in similar roles. He is now heading up a small staff team with responsibility for 50 active groups, in England and Wales and ours here in Gibraltar. “Ever since I joined it has been a priority to visit every group, and that is what brings me here to Gibraltar at this time, as well as supporting the change at the top of the local group as Joe and Brenda stand down.” While the Marriage Care Counselling Service has its home in the offices above the book shop in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, the Service is available to anyone, of any creed and none, in any relationship, from the age of 16 upwards. Another important role of the Marriage Care Service, Mark explained, which is specifically provided for Catholic couples, is the Marriage Preparation Course, which is run in partnership with the Church and local priests. “We invite couples to stand back from the wedding itself, and to consider what will help them keep their marriage healthy and alive.”
“So much emphasis is put on the wedding day, but it’s like spending £20,000 on the front door of your new home, when you walk through that door, there is so much more to be done.” Continued on page 14
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Bishop Ralph Heskett writes A Journey in Five Fridays with Bishop Ralph Heskett
Lenten Homecoming
Find the Healing in
Pastoral Letter appointed to be read at all Masses in
“It is not O
The Lenten Homecoming Talks Continue: Friday, 4th April The Father Friday, 11 April Becoming the Father
...but we
nce again, we join the Christian family throughout the world, on the annual Lenten pilgrimage that will lead us to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection at Easter. Each year, it is a journey in which we are asked to pay greater attention to the call to live a truer and more authentic way of life, and to be more open to receive the forgiveness and mercy of our God. The Church asks us to focus on our need for repentance and forgiveness, not to promote a morbid curiosity in us about our faults and failures, but rather to help us live out more fully the joy of being God’s
adopted sons and daughters in Christ. The Scriptures reveal to us the loving kindness of our God. Many of the psalms, for example, speak eloquently of the peoples’ experience of God’s forgiveness and compassion:
It is he who forgives all your guilt, who forgives every one of your ills. (Ps 102. 3)
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins. (Ps 102:12)
The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. (Ps.144.8) Happy the man, whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted. (Ps.32:1-2)
Our Lady in Madeira Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Presentation of the Statue of Our Lady of Europe to the Diocese of
Madeira
11-18 July 2014
Bishop Ralph Heskett and Msgr. Charles Azzopardi will concelebrate a special ceremony in the Cathedral in Funchal. 10
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• Coach transfer to Faro • Direct flight Faro to Madeira • Accommodation 7 nights at the Carlton Pestana 5* Hotel • Excursions optional. • Accompanied by
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£850
Tel: 20012750
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the
Sacrament of Reconciliation
the Diocese on the First Sunday of Lent, 8th & 9th March, 2014.
easy... must!”
Pope Frances on Confession
The good news for us is that God’s mercy and forgiveness have passed into the Church and are generously celebrated in the sacraments. Baptism is the first sacrament that forgives our sins and introduces us to a lifelong relationship with God. The greatest sacrament of reconciliation is the Eucharist, which binds us closer to God and to the Church as we stand before the Cross. However, it is the Sacrament of Reconciliation that is the ordinary and sure means of forgiveness for us when we are separated from God and from one another because of our sins. Speaking at his first Angelus message, Pope Francis said, ‘The face of God is that of a merciful Father who is always patient with us.’ Nowhere should this be more clearly seen and celebrated than in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is there that the Father restores to us the life He has poured into our hearts and reclaims us as his sons and daughters. Like many listening today, I grew up at a time when regular confession was taken for granted as a necessary and important part of the Christian life. This is no less true today. Over the years, however, I have not always experienced the compassion of Christ and the joy of forgiveness through the celebration of the sacrament. Despite this, by God’s grace, I have kept faith with the sacrament. Sadly, I am aware that bad past experiences still keep some away from the sacrament. Yet others stay away because of
the fear of confessing their sins for a variety of different reasons. These words of Pope Francis may be of some consolation ‘It is not easy to entrust oneself to God’s mercy because it is an abyss beyond our comprehension. But we must!... He forgets. He has a very special capacity for forgetting. He forgets, he kisses you, he embraces you and he simply says to you ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and sin no more.’(Jn8:11) So, whether you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, or stay away because of a bad past experience, or out of fear, I invite you to celebrate the sacrament during this Lenten
time so that you may know the joy of forgiveness and experience the kindness and compassion of our God. To facilitate this, there will be a priest available in the cathedral every Monday to Friday at 11.45am-12.25pm and on Saturday 11am-12.25pm and 6pm-6.30pm during Lent. Our priests in the parishes will be delighted to celebrate the sacrament with you, on request. I pray that this Lent brings you closer to the joy of God’s mercy beyond anything you can ask or imagine! Yours sincerely in Christ, the Redeemer, †Ralph, Bishop of Gibraltar
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Pope Francis hears confessions at World Youth Day in Rio last year.
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Maria Louisa Aguilera o.v.
S S
ainthood Despite our faults, we are all saints in the making.
t. Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, wrote “to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”
(1 Corinthians 1:2). He would have written that same letter to all of us because the Corinthians were struggling to make their faith active in their lives, just as we are. If we talk about becoming a saint it has to be with a small s — But none of us can make ourselves saints. None of us can even say the name of Jesus in faith without his grace. It is God who reaches out to us, not we who first choose God. God reaches out to us every day in a million ways, so grace is always there. It all starts with God and it ends with God, and in between there are nothing but God moments, although we may not always recognize them as such. All saints are filled with the love of God. They have chosen God above all others and made a definite commitment to Him. All known saints love other human beings, since we are reminded how we should see Jesus in our brethren - it cannot be any other way. In the First Letter of John (4:20) we read “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates
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his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Saints are humble, willingly and lovingly attributing to God all that they have and all that they will ever be. They are also people of prayer. The saints are not perfect. Each of the saints had human faults. They made mistakes. Even at the end of their lives, they still found themselves in need of contrition, pardon and reconciliation. If we look at the lives of all the saints, we can certainly find faults. Far from discouraging us, this can give us courage. Perfection is not what we are striving for, God does not want perfection, unless it is as perfect a love as possible. As lay people, we must recognize our call to holiness. There are no class distinctions in the Church or in the Christian life. Nor are there any obstacles in the lay life that prevent one from striving and achieving a deep spiritual life. Maria Louisa Aguilera o.v.
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Popes John Paul II and John XXIII to be declared Saints on Divine Mercy Sunday
L
ast July Pope Francis said that he would canonise his two predecessors, after approving a second miracle attributed to John Paul II. John Paul II, the first nonItalian pope for more than 400 years, led the Catholic Church from 1978-2005
Pope John was pontiff from 1958-1963, calling the Second Vatican Council that transformed the Church. John Paul II is a favourite of conservative Catholics, while John XXIII is widely admired by the Church’s progressive wing the decision to cannonise both at the same time may be seen
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carrying the Church forward on both wings. John Paul II stood out for his mediafriendly, globetrotting style. He was a fierce critic of communism, and is credited with helping inspire opposition to communist rule in eastern Europe. John Paul II has been on a fast track to sainthood since his death, when crowds in St Peter’s Square chanted “santo subito”, “sainthood now”. During his own papacy he simplified the process by which people are made saints, and created more of them than all previous popes combined. John XXIII is remembered for introducing the vernacular to replace Latin in church masses, making them more available to the people who could hear them in their
own language, and for creating warmer ties between the Catholic Church and the Jewish faith. David Willey reported from Rome for the BBC to say that Pope John XXIII was in many ways similar to Pope Francis, a humble, down-to-earth man with a fine sense of humour. It is understood that Pope Emeritus Benedict is expected to be present at the canonisation ceremony. The double canonisation with two living Popes present will be the first in the Church’s history. It is to take place on the feast of the Divine Mercy, Sunday 27th April. When asked why he had chosen this date, Pope Francis answered that it was because a new “age of mercy” is needed in the Church and in the world. Two miracles have been officially attributed to Pope John Paul II - the number usually needed for canonisation. The first miracle was the apparent curing of a 49-year-old French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand. She had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, the same malady which afflicted the pope himself in his later years. The second miracle came on the day of John Paul II’s beatification by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI. A Costa Rican woman reportedly made an “inexplicable recovery” from a serious brain illness, and the only explanation was believed to be the fact that
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her family had prayed for John Paul II’s intercession. Pope John XXIII was beatified by John Paul II in 2000, and Pope Francis used his prerogative to waive the requirement of a second miracle in his case.
Adapted from an article that first appeared on the BBC NEWS website and augmented with information from the Catholic Herald website.
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Angela Sargent
Providing fuel for the
marriage
journey for thirty years continued from page 9
Bridie added “Its providing them fuel for the journey, for every job you get training, except your marriage, which is the most important, so we are there to give them the skills to help them
14
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through difficulties. They will have a support network, and we encourage them to accept that every relationship encounters rocky patches, and to come back early, before the relationship reaches crisis point.” Mark underlines that there is no stigma attached to looking for help at these difficult times, we all need help for the journey and it is absolutely normal to experience ups and downs, it is a very wise decision to get professional advice. The investment of time and energy made in the correct preparation for marriage and ‘after-care’ counselling as required, is richly repaid by the rewards and benefits of a long term, stable relationship. It is like an insurance policy against marriage break-up, the financial consequences to the partners, and the hardship endured by the children.” The family unit is fundamental
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to the health and success of the wider society. Economically for every pound invested in Marriage Care, returns nine pounds in funding saved in benefits paid out in the case of breakdowns. Research shows that employees in emotionally stable relationships perform better, and physically, scientists have shown that heart surgery patients show a speedier recovery if they are in a good relationship. Public Health improves where families are happy, and if only a small percentage of the total Health budget were spent on Marriage Care it would work as a significant preventative medicine for the whole community. Mark points out that “Marriage is the only Sacrament that is not bestowed upon the person by the Priest, the bride and groom are the ministers of this sacrament. They bestow the sacrament of marriage upon each other. The priest or deacon is the official witness of the Church. The assembly (led by the priest) are their witnesses. As people of prayer, their demeanor at the liturgy sets the tone for the worshipping community. The couple invite God to share
in their marriage, and the people present are called upon to help support them. So who works at Marriage Care? Anyone can come forward, they need help in all aspects of running the centre, from making the tea and helping with the admin. Training is given for those wishing to become counsellors, both locally and in the UK, the volunteer counsellor follows a professional development. “Counselling methods are always developing local counsellors go to the, UK to train, and from time to time Marriage Care professionals come to Gibraltar to give specific courses, for instance, there is Emotion Focussed Therapy sometimes known as EFT in which clients are helped to better identify, experience, explore and make sense of, transform and flexibly manage, their emotional experiences. We, are constantly updating our services.” For more information on training as a counsellor, or to ask for help with your relationship, leave your name and number on the Marriage Care answerphone T:200171717
Revisited
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Tina Kirkby
Transformation into uniqueness
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Sand Artists: A. Sargent & C.Chandler
Why
does love make the tears flow? could possess the freedom of being the creWhy when the Creator has ator’s child, with all that he has given us? made us all different do we ache to be like Fear of the opinion of others is the greatest others? barrier to the release of God’s plan for our Why are we afraid to ‘be’ the gifts that have own uniqueness. However if we trust Him been given to us and allow them to mold us we can set out on a path that will encourinto the ‘we’ that God wants? age us to be just that. I am different because What great fear lies hidden in the recesses of that is what God wanted. We are part of a our being, that pro- whole body, but the Red Sand Heart A heart is drawn on the seaduce a blockage to arm does not look washed sand. The area within the our freedom to grow or behave like the heart is left as the sea sculpted it, with gentle wavelets, the artists into transparent leg, as St. Paul tells walk around the outside. They pour small spirals of sand as they spriritual children us in his letter to the go. The artwork is totally unique. of our creator? Ephesians 4:7-12. Why and for what Let us stand victorireason do we live ous upon the word our lives under such and be unique and restriction when we different.
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A Journey in Five Fridays with Bishop Ralph
Lenten Homecoming
A
couple of years or so before his death in 1996, Henri Nouwen wrote a book entitled, “The Return of the Prodigal Son - A Story of Homecoming” after a chance encounter with a poster of Rembrandt’s ‘The Prodigal Son’ and a visit to the original painting in the Hermitage, in St. Petersburg.
It was an encounter that was to change his life.
Bishop Ralph invites you to join him for five Fridays during Lent at 12.25 Mass in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned and journey with him in the company of Henri Nouwen to hear his story told through the painting.
The Lenten Homecoming Talks Programme Time and Place: Cathedral St. Mary the Crowned 12.25 Mass Friday, 14th March Friday, 21st March Friday, 28th March Friday, 4th April Friday, 11 April
Beginning the Journey The Younger Son The Elder Son The Father Becoming the Father
JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND
‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’ is on order at the Cornerstone Bookshop for those who would like to own a copy. (The book is not required reading for the talks.)
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