BELIEVE
IMPORTANT, PRACTICAL, PRINCIPLES FOR DIRECTING YOUR HEART TOWARDS GOD AND
IN
Dear Friends
Jesus said “Believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light” (Jn. 12:36). But don’t think of the volume of the Holy Spirit radiating from Jesus as the amount of water that flows from the waterfall at the quarry. I believe it is in reference to our God being a fountain of glory that the Bible says “The God of glory thunders” (Ps. 29:3). The prophet Joel wrote “The Lord roars from Zion” (Jl. 3:16). The Bible also says “His voice was like the sound of many waters” (Re. 1:15; 14:2 and Ezk. 43:2). David wrote about the “sound” of God’s waterfalls (Ps. 42:7). David drew close enough to God that he could hear the roar of the fountain of God “How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance” (Ps. 89:15). It is no wonder that the Bible says of God,
“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” (Is. 44:22).
Let me emphasize again that grace is the reason you can drink (receive from God): “You give them to drink ... For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Ps. 36:8,9). When you think of the radiance of our Lord, nurture a belief in the vast volume of His Spirit that flows from Him. Don’t let yourself think of Jesus as a little fountain! Reassure yourself of God’s provision for you to be able to draw near. Once you learn to stay there, the result will be a river of His Holy Spirit flowing around and through you (Jn. 7:37-39). Just so you don’t miss it, believing in your access to God, loving His presence radiated upon you, and believing the intense closeness of all His glorious attributes...
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 handdelivered 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. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. You’ll find exclusive Christian gifts in the WebShop. COVER PIC: The People’s Pilgrimage © Bullit Marquez/AP/Press Association Images
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Light
ENJOYING HIS PRESENCE MORE INTENSELY.
THE ...These are three of the most important practical principles I could give you for directing your heart toward God and enjoying His presence more intensely. Nurture faith to believe and freedom to receive by thanks for the truth about God and your access to draw near with nothing between you. Teach Yourself to Keep Your Focus on God
When you look at a mountain you don’t conjure up an image of a mountain in order to see it. You just open your eyes and look. The same applies with God. David is our best example, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). You can nurture your faith enough to “see” like David did. Our Lord Jesus prayed for us that we would be able to see His glory—even while we are still living “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before
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the foundation of the world” (Jn. 17:24). When, by faith, you believe you are before the Lord, take time often to consciously trust that you are turning the eyes of your heart to look at Him—in all His glory. Contemplate each and every one of all His attributes as you look at His presence being shined upon you. Praise Him while you are looking at Him in this way. This point is very important because it will strengthen you against temptation, and will help you to stay turned toward God and loving Him. God commands us to see “Thus says the Lord, Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it” (Je. 6:16). Directly related to this Old Testament passage are some things that Jesus promised us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt. 11:28-29). I don’t believe it is possible to find rest until we learn to let God quench our thirsty desires. Doing so, requires that we “come to Him” and “drink.” Again let me say that I am not talking about visualization here. I am only saying we should trust that we are looking at Him. David said “For Your loving kindness is before my eyes” (Ps. 26:3a). The Bible also says “We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Your temple” (Ps. 48:9). When you are trusting you are looking at the Lord, contemplate His loving-kindness and all the attributes of His Holy Spirit being radiated upon you. When you look with your spiritual eyes, you don’t have to try to
conjure up images. With a heart full of faith, simply trust you are looking at His radiance. Trust you are looking at His power, love, kindness, majesty, wisdom being shined onto you here. Look at all of who He is as He shines His presence upon you. Look while resting—not while reaching and straining. The reason David felt safe was because “my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave me defenceless” (Ps. 141:8b). He also wrote “My eyes are continually toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net” (Ps. 25:15a). The scriptures are clear that applying the principle of “looking” at the Lord should be an important part of any Christian’s spiritual life. Rest into seeing better and better all the time. Your Heart Follows Hard After What You Treasure
Let me say it again because the principle is so important “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt. 6:21). The more you treasure something the more single-hearted is your pursuit. Don’t miss using this principle to your advantage. Since your heart follows hard after what you treasure greatly, direct your heart to love your access before the Lord, that you can stay before Him, and that you can enjoy so much of His presence—because of His abundant grace. God is always a radiant fountain of the Holy Spirit. He NEVER stops giving. Remind yourself to think often about these things and thank
God with great joy in your tone of voice. And, LISTEN to yourself as you do that. Your heart is like a wild horse that needs to be tamed. Bridle your heart to turn it toward God. But then take the bridle off and let your heart run free. You don’t have to bridle yourself when it comes to God. You don’t have to hold back on how much you thrill your heart and enjoy His grace to lavish His presence on you! God doesn’t hold back with you. He NEVER stops being a fountain. You just have to get close enough to get wet! Use any discipline you have to your advantage. But focus your effort on growing in your faith, love, and delight toward God. By doing so greater discipline will come naturally. Don’t just drift along thinking you should just let your love toward God grow as a response to Him. Be INTENTIONAL about it!!! Thank the Lord often that you don’t have to settle for so little—I have to do this often or my love grows cold and I get dull toward God very quickly. Loving God is just too important for a passive approach to growth. Take action! Become a wise and understanding teacher. Make your heart your best student. Determine to have fun getting your heart to hear the many reasons that you don’t have to be afraid, and that you CAN love and treasure God more.
God bless you, and have a restful and peaceful summer. You deserve it! +Fr. Stuart
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As Upon This Rock went to press, Pope Francis was meeting with dozens of environmentally friendly mayors from around the world who were to sign off on a Vatican declaration calling for their national leaders to approve a “bold climate agreement” that keeps global warming at a safe limit for humanity.
P
ope Francis had invited around sixty mayors to a two-day climate conference at the Vatican.
The final declaration was expected to state that “humaninduced climate change is a scientific reality and its effective control is a moral imperative for humanity.” The document calls for financial incentives to transition to low-carbon and renewable energy and shift public financing away from the military to “urgent investments” in sustainable development. Pope Francis will meet with participants in the workshop entitled ‘Modern Slavery and Climate Change: the commitment of the cities’ which has been organised by the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of
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Sciences and Social Sciences, Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo. Among the speakers at the meeting is the governor of the U.S. state of California, Jerry Brown, who is currently serving an unprecedented fourth term in office. In a press interview he spoke about why the state of California is a pioneer in the struggle against climate change and what impact he believes Pope Francis’ encyclical can have in the U.S. today. Governor Brown says the Pope’s encyclical Laudato Si’ breaks really important ground in pinpointing the inter connectedness of human beings with other species and the natural world. He says
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“Human-induced climate change is a scientific reality and its effective control is
a moral imperative for humanity.” Pope Francis
Governor Brown, serving an unprecedented fourth term in California says his four years as a Jesuit seminarian gave him a very valuable point of reference as he tries to make sense of the world. hopefully the world will listen to the Pope’s u n d e r standing of the existential threat caused by the human disruption of climate patterns…. At the heart of the market system, he notes, is “not only the production of goods but also the production of desires”. In just 130 years, he recalls, we moved from no cars at all to a billion vehicles, but our “materialistic and individualistic self-reference” becomes unsustainable at national level. Brown insists we need the Pope’s clear call to “profound change in the way we deal with one another and with other forms of life”. In the United States, Brown continues, each person produces an average of about twenty tons of greenhouse gases–compared to about
two tons in India, one and a half tons in Vietnam and around nine tons per person in China. The required energy revolution is “a bitter pill to chew on”, Brown admits, and some so-called “market fundamentalists” see anyone–including the Pope– suggesting fatal flaws in the current American system as attacking what is perceived to be the essence of American modernity. Governor Brown recalls that California had terrible air pollution, so from the time of his predecessor Ronald Regan “we have been tackling these pollutants”. Today the State derives 25% of its electricity from renewable sources, like solar, wind, and geothermal, not counting hydro or nuclear energy, but Brown has called for a further 50% reduction in petroleum use in cars and trucks in the next 15 years. He notes that oil companies are resisting this challenge: will the short term needs of some companies destroy the possibilities of future generations, he asks?
Speaking of the current droughts that California is suffering from, Brown says the heightened temperatures add to the drying of the soil and forest fires and he warns “it will get worse…” Finally Governor Brown recalls his four years spent as
a Jesuit seminarian in the late 1950s, just before the Second Vatican Council. He says the experience gave him a point of reference “that I find very valuable and very instructive as I try to make sense of the world as it has evolved since”. Philippa Hitchen/Vatican Radio
The Pope’s message resonates particularly with low lying island communities, and the poor. The People’s Pilgrimage is a response from the human heart to climate change. It’s a way for everyone – of all faiths and none – to share our hopes and fears, and a call for action
on climate this year. It’s not owned by any one organisation, it’s been inspired and started by people around the world, of diverse faiths, doing everything they can to lift up the local and human stories of climate change. Peoplespilgrimage.org
COME ON LET’S
Celebrate!
40th Anniversary of the CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL in Gibraltar. With
MICHELLE
MORAN Celebrate! Fr. Raul
President ICCRS
Fr. Mario Fr. Pepe Marquez, Inmaculada Moreno, and our local clergy. (from Colombia),
Weekend 9-11 October 2015 Friday from 20:00 - 23:00, Saturday 10:00 - 20:00, Sunday 10:00 - 14:00
C elebrate and Sing!
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ROSARY RELAY ANNUAL GLOBAL
Msgr. Charlie Azopardi led the Sixth Annual ‘Worldpriest.com’ Global Rosary Relay for Priests in Gibraltar, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, at 9.30am on 12 June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Pope Francis’ Apostolic Blessing, for the Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests, was conveyed through Secretary of State to The Most Reverend Michael Neary Archbishop of Tuam, Ireland, the Episcopal Advisor to Worldpriest.
T
he Holy Father asks you to convey his cordial greetings to all taking part in the “24 Hour Rosary Relay for Priests’’ and to assure them of his spiritual closeness. He prays that our Blessed Mother may always guide and protect priests who are consecrated to the joyful and indispensable mission of proclaiming the Gospel and offering God’s people, through the celebration of
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the sacraments, the closeness, the word and the strength of Christ (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 121). With great affection and appreciation for priests, His Holiness commends them and those joining in this event to the loving intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, and willingly imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of grace and peace. Cardinal Pietro Parolin
During the event, 84 participating shrines, in 46 countries, prayed a particular mystery of the Rosary at a particular half hour on the day, in thanksgiving to God for our priests and to implore the protection and loving care of Our Lady, Mother of all priests, for all her priestly sons. With the coming of midnight on 12 June 2015, the entire world, had been encircled in prayer for our priests. Worldpriest.com hopes to
l Maria Immaculad a, in Cali, Colombia “provide for the advancement of the Catholic faith through developing and maintaining a central resource website, which supports the multiple and various aspects of the priestly ministry, and facilitates the renewal and strengthening of the Catholic faith worldwide”. The worldpriest.com website has been set up with one aim to unite priests and laity, so that everyone can come into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. It
is hoped that Worldpriest.com will be a place where you get answers to questions of faith, where you can find information on Church Teaching, resources to support our priests, prayers for all occasions and together we will discover the truth of our faith - that God loves us, he provides for us and is with us in every situation. Resolve to join us next year, find ‘worldpriest’ on Facebook to support the movement.
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Photos from The Shrine of Our Lady of Europe courtesy Stephen Ignacio / The Gibraltar Chronicle
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POPE FRANCIS SENT HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING
Photos: Easton, Ma. USA & Cali, Colombia courtesy worldpriest.com
l Gibraltar
FOR PRIESTS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN THE DIOCESE OF GIBRALTAR
Bernard of Clairvaux
S
August 16 aint Bernard of Clairvaux, was an Abbot and Doctor
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of the Church. He was born in 1090 and died in France on August 20, 1153. He was Canonized in 1174, and is the Patron of Beekeepers, Candle Makers and Gibraltar Parents are often surprised by their children. Bernard’s wealthy parents were no exception. At the age of twenty-two Bernard decided to become a monk. He chose to join the recently formed Cistercian order in a poor, crumbling monastery called Citeaux. The older monks there lived a strict life of prayer, silence and penance. The Cistercian movement, founded by Robert of Molesmes in 1098, is significant because it marked a return to a strict Benedictine rule. The Cistercians were also the first order to have a written constitution, the Carta Caritatus, which defined the roles of monks within the monastery. The monks were divided into two groups, the choir monks whose
lives were spent focusing on prayer, and another who focused on providing food and shelter for the monastery. The monks at a Cistercian monastery lived frugal lives that were secluded from the outside world. These new monks brought vitality to Citeaux. Within three years Bernard was sent to start a new monastery in a place that came to be named Clairvaux. During his busy years as abbot, Bernard received visitors and letters asking for advice and help. Because of his ability to settle disputes, Bernard was called on to travel to various countries to give advice on Church and government affairs.
This year St. Bernard’s parish will be celebrating their Saint’s day on Sunday 16 August, all are welcome to join them for Mass at 10.30am and for nibbles in the Parish Hall afterwards.
September 11-13 All are welcome. St. Bernard, pray for us!
Text: Condensed from copy found on St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Madison, USA.
O N E O F O U R PA T R O N S A I N T D AY S I S I N A U G U S T
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Renewal in the Church
WHAT IS THE
CURSILLO MOVEMENT? “To explain what a Cursillo is to someone who has never experienced it is, at best, difficult.”
O
CH
ften, for those who have experienced a Cursillo it is still somewhat mystifying. This is not because the Cursillo Movement is a “secret” organisation. The reason behind the mystery is God. No one can fully explain how God touches each person in His special unique way throughout the various elements of the Cursillo Movement. For many years Catholics looked upon evangelisation as “something the Protestants did” Today, in Church, we hear a great deal about evangelisation. Still for some of us, we automatically think of this as going out twoby two with Bible in hand and knocking on people’s doors. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the Cursillo Movement
R ISTI A
we approach evangelisation as a very natural act within each of our daily activities. We realise that whilst most people would like to live their lives in a Christ-like manner, the pressures of the world often make this difficult. The Cursillo Movement provides a method and a technique to provide each of us with the tools, the mentality, the strength, and the support to make this natural type of evangelisation possible. The Cursillo Movement is a movement of the Catholic Church. The Spanish word Cursillo means short course and is often associated with a three day weekend. The proper name is Cursillo de Cristiandad (short course of Christianity). However, there is much more to the Cursillo Movement than just a three day weekend. This
FUNDING AVAILABLE
US
T
N
MIS
The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic SI O N T R initiatives and outreaches. The Trust is ecumenical and has provided money to many groups, individuals and churches during the last 12 years. It is run by a Board of Trustees.
Movement originated in Spain in the 1940s. It began when a group of men dedicated themselves to bringing the young men of their city of Mallorca, Spain, to know Christ better. It developed as they prayed and worked together and as they talked together, sharing their thoughts about the state of the world and the effectiveness of their efforts to bring the light of Christ to it. The Holy Father, Pope Paul VI gave his approval to the Cursillo Movement appointing St. Paul as the official Patron and Protector of the Cursillo Movement.
In today’s world it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christianity to penetrate the many areas of our every day lives.
Can it live there? Can it grow there? Can it transform the world in a way that is more fruitful than the past and in keeping with the times? The Cursillo Movement thinks so. It proposes no new type of spirituality, but simply a method
through which one’s spirituality may be developed, lived and shared in any area of human life where there are Christians willing to dedicate their lives to God in an on-going manner. The movement of Cursillos in Christianity is a powerful instrument of renewal in the Church. Its aim is to concentrate closely on the Person and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Cursillo gives those who attend it, a living understanding of basic Christian truths and the desire to serve the Church. It provides a means to continue the Christian formation that begins in the three day weekend. Often people do not attend a Cursillo weekend through fear of the unknown. They have heard stories of people being brain washed, of being locked in over the weekend and this could not be further from the truth. There seems to be an air of mystery around the movement, they believe it to be a secret society and there is nothing secret about it as you can find out everything you would like
We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity. Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar.
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Left: All the Popes have encouraged the work of the Cursillo Movement since it began Below: Adoration at St. Theresa’s Church
to know about it on the internet. The Cursillo weekend begins on a Thursday evening and ends on Sunday evening. During those three days, those attending live and work together, listening to talks given by people who have gone through a Cursillo previously and priests. They also share the Eucharist and pray together daily. The priest who is the “spiritual director” and the team who lead the Cursillo weekend spend weeks working and praying
together in preparation. The Cursillo takes careful planning because the time is short and the subject extensive.
The talks during the weekend aim to help us understand how we can bring Christ into our everyday lives and how Christianity is simply a way of life, each talk is followed by a discussion period.
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Learn the skills for natural evangelisation. The Cursillo is an encounter with Christ, that sounds too simple but it’s not. Think about it, a real meeting with Christ. If that is understood then the power, beauty and joy of the Cursillo Movement will be understood.
The activities after the three day Cursillo are known as the “fourth day”. During this time, perseverance is important, just as it is in any method of renewal. In the Cursillo Movement the community spirit is continued after the three day weekend through the “Ultreya” or reunions of the community. These are held every week at St. Theresa’s Church as a means of growth in understanding and commitment within the Christian community. Reunions of smaller groups of
friends are also held in order for them to encourage one another in spiritual improvement and the Christian way of life. In the past, the Cursillo Movement was primarily thought of as a source of individual spiritual growth. Today, we must realise that this individual spirituality is just not enough, we must add to that spirituality the need for our society to be apostolic. Our Church needs us to be apostolic, our world needs us to be apostolic, but most of all, our Lord wants us to be apostolic.
Why not join us for our next Cursillo weekend at the Retreat Centre?
The next women’s Cursillo is 15 - 18 October and from 12-15 November for men. If you are interested please contact us on 58008885 or send us an email on cursillogibraltar@gmail. com and we shall send you the enrolment forms, we look forward to seeing you there. Cursillo Team Leaders.
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Emmaus Youth Ministry
Above: Jason Ballard and Ben Woodman
Gibraltar Photos: The Alpha Lounge by Paul Passano
“Today’s youth are a savvy, diverse, and fast-paced generation who are seeking relevant truth...”
L
ast year at the Simply Youth Ministry Convention, Mark Oestreicher sat down with a sharp young Canadian youth leader named Jason Ballard. Jason wanted to talk about the series of films he and Ben Woodman had created for Youth Alpha. He talked about raising a quarter of a million dollars (or something like that) to really do it right, flying around the world to film on location. He spoke passionately about what they’d created, and his frustration that the films weren’t getting any
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meaningful distribution in the States. A couple of months later, Mark finally got around to watching the films and says he was ‘blown away’! Alpha, in case you’re not familiar with it, is an open-handed and low-coercion approach to evangelism, originating in England. The format is a series of exploratory meetings with people interested in talking about Christianity. There’s no bait-andswitch, there are no high pressure tactics. In England and Canada, Alpha has a seen great traction, a Canadian youth ministry friend
of mine recently ran a Youth Alpha course and found he had more teenagers coming than normally attend his youth group. But here’s what I particularly noticed when watching the film series: the ‘Basics of Christianity’ topics are things that ALL youth workers would want their groups to be talking about! Sticky Faith and the National Study of Youth and Religion have shown us that even regular attendees of most of our youth ministries really don’t know what they believe, and if they can articulate a belief set, we might be surprised that it’s not exactly orthodox Christianity (even if they think it is). So Mark Oestreicher and The Youth Cartel decided to become a distributor of the Alpha Youth Film Series. Ultimately, they’d love to see youth workers use it as a way to engage unchurched
teenagers in dialogue about Jesus and Christianity, but Mark really believes it’s a one-of-a-kind resource for the basics of the faith, also for any youth group– it’s SUPER high quality Mark says “you won’t be embarrassed”. Here’s the official description: The Alpha Youth Film Series is twelve video sessions designed to engage students in conversations about faith, life and Jesus. Today’s youth are a savvy, diverse, and fast-paced generation, who are seeking relevant truth and personal acceptance in a world that seems to offer both in things like money, fame, sex, drugs, sports, media, education, and careers. For many young people, Christianity is so ‘ten years ago’–‘a boring religion that my parents believed’, but is no longer relevant in this 21st century culture.
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How can we make the timeless message of the Gospel applicable and interesting to our post-modern youth?
Text: Shortened and adapted from http://whyismarko.com/alpha-film-series-for-youth
Topics covered in the Film Series: Life: Jesus: Cross: Faith: Prayer: Bible: Follow: Spirit: Fill: Evil: Healing: Church:
Is This It? Who is He? Why Did Jesus Die? How Can We have Faith? Why and How Do I Pray? Why and How Do I Read the Bible? How Does God Guide Us Into Full Life? Who Is the Holy Spirit and What Does He Do? How Can I Be Filled With the Holy Spirit? How Can I Resist Evil? Does God Heal Today? What About the Church and Telling Others?
“In short,” Mark concludes, “I strongly encourage you to check this out.” Check it out in Gibraltar at the Alpha Lounge, the Catholic Community Centre, Mondays at 9pm. Mark Oestreicher is a partner in The Youth Cartel, providing services and resources for individual youth workers and organizations. For more info about the Alpha Youth Film Series, go to:
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Love Life! W
ith the first beat of the drum of the Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Gibraltar’s 30th Anniversary Games were underway. Right behind the Band and leading the Parade of athletes was Jan Lopez, one of the flag bearers. This was fitting as Jan has been part of Special Olympics for the past thirty years, that is, right from the beginning of the Programme in
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Have Fun! Gibraltar. It was a heart warming moment watching the Parade, a re-enactment of previous years, yet it was new and vibrant again with present athletes and memories of those who have left us. The athletes paraded with smiles and waves, their united front illustrating the power of acceptance, of individuals accepting each other, as they are. Those in the stands applauded their welcome for this example of Special Olympic spirit.
Families of those with intellectual difficulties personify this spirit too, as they accept their child and find a way to live meaningful lives. Jan’s mother Elizabeth; “when we heard Special Olympics was starting in Gibraltar we felt it would be good for Jan, help him interact with people, get him out more, and it really has, he became interested in sports, in fact over the years he has been involved in aquatics, athletics, horse rid-
ing, bowling, bocce, and pool. He is a member of the Gibraltar Pool Association, Special Olympics has been marvellous for him”. This seems to epitomise the gift that Special Olympics gives families, otherwise they would be alone in their struggle trying to make difficult lives worthwhile. This year, we welcomed for the first time a team of 7-a-side footballers and four swimmers from Catalunya, an autonomous
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community in N.E. Spain, and old friends from Barbate also joined us. This year, as part of the Opening Ceremony, we asked for three athletes, representatives from Gibraltar, Catalunya and Barbate, to take the Oath in their own language.
The crowd really showed their appreciation as three athletes, Juan Jesus Guillen from Barbate, Marc Brull from Catalunya and Nolan Baglietto from Gibraltar eloquently and clearly read
out the Oath. “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”.
It was particularly emotive when Marc from Catalunya declared “Vull guanyar, pero si no ho aconsegueixo deixeume ser valent en l’intent”. This sharing is what Special Olympics is all about, learning from each others differences and above all celebrating these. The ethos of sportsmanship has been inextricably linked to the Special Olympics since it’s first World Games in 1968. Through participation in sports the athletes find the courage, strength, and heart to overcome difficulties, it is about achieving one’s personal best and the Oath is a poignant reminder of this. Pope Francis has reflected on the promise of sports “it is beautiful and meaningful that young people and adults find in sports and participation in competitions, including at an international level, an incentive to live their lives fully”. He was
speaking at an audience for Italy’s 150 athletes, travelling to Los Angeles to compete in the World Summer Games this July. From Gibraltar too, a 42 strong team of athletes, coaches and Unified Partners are headed to California with competition on their minds in Aquatics, Athletics, Bocce, Bowling, Equestrian, Golf, 7-a-side Unified Football and a first for World Games and Gibraltar, Open Water Swimming. Reading this list you might wonder about disability and the attitude barriers which hamper acceptance. These have been eroded over the years, since those first Games in Chicago, and today we see the fruits of these endeavours, especially in this 30 th Anniversary year for Gibraltar. Now we see and celebrate athletes of diverse ability who are the best example of Special Olympic spirit in the world. In working together we all have something valuable to offer each
other. “Love life! Have fun”. was the Pope’s message to Special Olympics and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics said “You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence, you send a message to every village, every city, every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory.”
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EDITORIAL FROM CHASTITYPROJECT.COM
I
S E X
n its proper context, God loves sex. He could have gone with the stork or the cabbage patch, as procreative means, but God had other plans. Often times it seems that the topic of chastity can be summed up as “No!” In fact, chastity at its core is all about “Yes!” By trusting Christ and following His plan, we discover what the devil is trying to hide. Consider This Example: Most blow dryers come with a tag that states “do not use under water.” Why, you ask? Apparently enough multi-taskers out there thought they could wash and dry at the same time. The manufacturers were then obligated to inform everyone that this is a very bad plan. Does anyone become angry with the blow dryer people? Do you throw up your hands in anger proclaiming “Who are they to tell me how to use my blow dryer?” Of course not! They
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have only provided you with this guideline because they made the blow dryer, and they have insight into how it works. I am sure you are free to use it in the shower if you would like, but the creators would like to warn you that it won’t be a happy ending. Perhaps your Creator desires to advise you in the way you use His masterpiece. This isn’t just to prevent disaster, but also so you can use it to glorify Him. That’s because marital sex is sacramental: That’s right; I just put the words “sex” and “sacrament” in the same sentence. One way of understanding a Sacrament is to think of it as an outward sign of an inward grace. God gave us the Sacraments so that we wouldn’t miss the extraordinary things that He wants to do in our lives! It is a way that we get to see, hear, feel, and experience a supernatural reality that is happening within the depths of our souls. In the Sacraments we
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& Chastity BY K ATI E HARTFIE L SUGGESTED BY DR. MO NI Q UE RI S S O
are given a chance to physically witness a greater spiritual reality. The sexual act within the context of marriage can also be thought of as a visible sign of an invisible reality. It is meant to make us holier in order for us to use our bodies to give glory to God.
This means that
sexual intercourse
is a moment
where a couple
receives grace!
In marriage we can be sanctified through sexual union! In the sexual act of marriage, God joins with His creation in order to create: It is in the sexual act that we become co-creators with God. Stop and think about that for a moment. Mind. Blown. We can glimpse into the mystery of the Trinity by looking at the structure of the family. In the Trinity, God is revealed as an eternal communion of life-giving love. In marriage this gift of self is expressed on a human level in the union of a married couple. Sex was created as an outward manifestation of an inward reality: Love. The potential of this exchange is so powerful that nine months later, you give it a name. No, God didn’t choose the stork; He decided instead to involve us in His creative power. Now, if you were the devil, where would you focus your most strategic attack on mankind? The devil has succeeded in making sex seem so casual, yet simultaneously making us believe that it is dirty. The average person probably has no idea that there is anything holy about it! If sexuality is meant to unite
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us to God by way of the family, then Satan certainly believes in making a great effort to distort this reality. Imagine that God’s plan for love and marriage is like an amazing feast. The Lord is diligently preparing this banquet for you and can’t wait to usher you in as soon as He is ready! On the other hand, the devil tries
to dissuade you from waiting by enticing you to feast on the raw meat. We have the freedom to wait for what is to come or settle for the quick and easy. God has incredible plans for you, the question is: will you say yes? Katie Hartfiel is an author and speaker dedicated to sharing the intense love of God. She
graduated Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she received a degree in Theology. She served as a youth minister for seven years in Houston, where she now resides with her husband, Mark, and two daughters. Find Katie’s first book ‘Woman in Love’ and more resources at womaninlove.org.
If you would like to find out more about God’s plans for you and your future husband within a sacramental marriage, Dr. Monique Risso may be able to help. Dr. Risso MB ChB MRCGP General Practitioner. The Creighton Model Fertility Care System Practitioner, and NaPro Technology Physician. The Specialist Medical Clinic, Unit 7, First Floor, ICC Building, Casemates Square, Gibraltar. Tel: +350 200 49999. www.ladyofeuropefertilitycare.com
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