Nov 2015 173

St. Paul’s newly rebuilt Parish Church, Gibraltar

Dear Friends

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November is traditionally the month when we pray in a particular way for our deceased loved ones.

he earliest Scriptural reference to prayers for the dead comes in the second book of Maccabees. The books of Maccabees were among the latest written books found in the Old Testament. They recount the struggle, of the Jewish people, for freedom against the Seleucid Empire, around 100-200 years before the birth of Christ. They are written from an Orthodox Jewish point of view. The second book of Maccabees tells how Judas Maccabee, the Jewish leader, led his troops into battle in 163 B.C. When the battle ended he directed that the bodies, of those Jews who had died, be buried. As soldiers prepared their slain comrades for burial, they discovered that each was wearing an amulet taken as booty from a pagan Temple. This violated the law of Deuteronomy and so Judas and his soldiers prayed that God would forgive the sin these men had committed (2Ma 12:39-45).

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: Old Bridge at Mostar: (See SFO article) Photo Courtesy Wikipedia User:Fer.filol

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This is the first indication in the Bible, of a belief that prayers offered by the living, can help free the dead from any sin that would separate them from God in the life to come. It is echoed in the New Testament when Paul offers a prayer for a man named Onesiphorus who had died: “May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day”(2Ti 1:18). The cave like tombs under the city of Rome, which we call catacombs, bear evidence that members of the Roman Christian community gathered there to pray for their fellow followers of Christ who lay buried there. By the fourth century, prayers for the dead

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are mentioned in Christian literature as though they were already a long-standing custom.

The practice of praying for the dead is firstly rooted in Christian belief in the everlasting life promised in Jesus’ teachings, and foreshadowed by his disciple’s experience that God had raised him from the dead.

After death, even though separated from our earthly body, we yet continue a personal existence. It is as living persons that God invites us into a relationship whose life transcends death. Praying for the dead has

further origins in our belief in the communion of saints. Members of this community who are living, often assist each other in faith by prayers and other forms of spiritual support. Christians who have died continue to be members of the communion of saints. We believe that we can assist them by our prayers, and they can assist us by theirs.

Our prayers for the dead begin at the moment of death. Often family members will gather in prayer around the bedside of the person who has died. The Order of Christian Funerals includes a Vigil Service for the deceased, which can be held in the home, in the church, or in a chapel,

the funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal (which generally takes place at the burial site).

The prayers express hope that God will free the person who has died from any burden of sin and prepare a place for him or her in heaven. Death remains a mystery for us–a great unknown.

Yet Christian language evokes a hopeful imagination in the presence of death, an assurance that our love, linked to Christ’s love, can help bridge whatever barriers might keep those whom we love, from fully enjoying the presence of a loving and lifegiving God. God bless †Father Stuart

FUNDING AVAILABLE

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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.

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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Convent Christmas Fair l 26th November: 12-7pm

l Charity Stalls l Great Raffles

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n Thursday 26th November this year, the Convent will once again host it’s Christmas Fair.

This annual event, held in the historical setting of the Convent, raises money for locally registered charities.

The selected charities this year are:- The Saffron Rose 4 Rett Charitable Trust, Down’s Syndrome Support Group Gibraltar, Autism Support Gibraltar and Pathway Through Pain.

The doors open at 12 noon, once inside you will find over 40 seasonal stalls, many run by local charities as their own fundraising effort, offering an array of crafts, gifts, Christmas cards and decorations. In the Cloister you will find a cafe offering refreshments throughout the afternoon. Festive music will be playing culminating in the Loreto Convent Choir singing Christmas carols at 6pm. Mulled wine and mince pies will be provided by the Red Cross Committee for you to enjoy whilst you listen to the singing.

Santa will also be in his Grotto from 2pm offering gifts for the children.

The fair will host two great raffles. The first, a Honda MSX 125cc motorcycle kindly donated once again by Bassadone Motors; Tickets cost £2 each and will be available at the Fair and also at The Piazza on Thursday 12th November and at Morrison’s on Saturday 21st November. The second, on

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the day, will offer many prizes donated by local businesses.

Both raffles will be drawn at 6.30pm on the day.

There is something for everyone, so come along and join us and get into the Christmas Spirit whilst supporting local charities.

Entrance is just £2 for adults and under-12s get in free.

Look for updates on the website (www.convent.gi) and follow us on Facebook (ConventChristmasFair) and Twitter: @Convent_Gib.

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embers of the Gibraltar Secular Franciscan Order took part in the ‘Clean Up the World’ weekend in September this year.

According to the campaign website, there were 7 groups active in Gibraltar, including local youth clubs.

Clean Up the World is a community based environmental campaign that inspires and empowers communities from every corner of the globe to

clean up, fix up and conserve their environment.

Now in its 22nd year, Clean Up the World, held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries annually, making it one of the largest communitybased environmental campaigns in the world.

Since the first Clean Up the World campaign in 1993, the improvements achieved, due to the efforts of millions of concerned volunteers around the world, have been astounding. Clean Up the World is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations and is supported by, and collaborates with, a range of partner organisations in various countries.

See more at: http://www. cleanuptheworld.org

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London Sunday 11th October 2015

Gibraltar Day Eve Mass His Lordship Bishop Ralph Heskett, our Diocesan Administrator, presided at the traditional Mass at Our Lady of Dolours Servite Church in Fulham, where bonds with the people of Gibraltar were forged during the Evacuation years. The Mass was held the evening before Gibraltar Day in London last month.

Friends of Our Lady of Europe were able to see her replica statue which resides there, ensconced in its new home, a converted confessional which has been beautifully lit and decorated with contrasting material.

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Charismatic Renewal | Michelle Moran’s Message

“RISE!”

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n the 10th of October, Michelle Moran, the President of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Service (ICCRS), addressed the Gibraltar Catholic Charismatic Renewal on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the movement in this country.

The Anniversary Celebrations took the form of a three day weekend event at the Catholic Community Centre, to which speakers from all around the world were invited.

The event was well attended, and very well organised. The Bookshop, Core Groups, Greeting, Intersession, Kitchen, Music, Order, Praise Ministries and RSC Ministries took care of the logistics of hosting such a big event, as well as recording the talks, and running the shop.

In her talk Michelle Moran

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found herself reflecting upon how God is changing our lives so we can change the world. Saying “What is the purpose of the Charismatic Renewal? So that the Lord can change the World!” and continued “I want to remind you of that, because sometimes we think the purpose of the Charismatic Renewal, is for us as individuals, so I can sit in a prayer meeting and sing songs, or so I can go to a healing service.

God is on the move, he is on the move in the power of the Holy Spirit, and this movement of the Holy Spirit is what we are celebrating today, 40 years of the Charismatic Renewal here in Gibraltar.

I think this is a great occasion to celebrate and reflect. I have been the president of ICCRS for nearly 10 years now and the first year that I was President we were celebrating 40 years of the Charismatic Renewal in the World. I went round to many countries preaching a message of ‘Life begins at 40!’ I won’t repeat that for you, but what I would like to say this afternoon is, that it is very good to look back. We need to know where we come from because we are a people of history,

we need to know our history as not all of us were around at the beginning of the Charismatic Renewal, some of us have come into this grace recently and take our place in the history of what God is doing at this time. We look back with gratitude. When John Paul II gave us ‘Novo Millennio Inuente’, he said ‘Look back with gratitude, remain steadfast in the present, and look to the future with confidence.’

I believe that God is more interested in our future than our past. Because we often fall into the trap of looking back with nostalgia and thinking things were better than they were, we remember the high points but we don’t always remember the low points, and maybe that is a good thing, but our God is a God of destiny, and he has a future planned out for us. The question is for us, what is the Lord asking of us, here in Gibraltar what is the Spirit asking for us in the next year, the next season, the next moment in time?

I am deliberately saying in this ‘season’ because we know about the beginnings of the Charismatic Renewal in 1967, we know that as a world wide movement of the

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Spirit we are going towards the Golden Jubilee which is getting closer all the time now. But what I want to say to people here is that this grace of the Charismatic Renewal began in the 1960s but what we need to be open to, is the breath of God’s Spirit moving us now in this season. Only you can answer the question “What is the season of the Spirit here in Gibraltar?” You need to be discerning that with the Lord.

But what I do know is, God is leading his people, he is guiding them in the ways of renewal, in the ways of restoration and ways of bringing revival to the whole world.

In scripture the number 40 is very symbolic, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness. We might reflect on this and find a pattern. When the Israelites were set free from slavery they came into a great freedom, and I know for many of us when we came into the grace of the Charismatic Renewal, we felt

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a great freedom, we discovered the grace of something more alive within. So it was with the Israelites when they were released from the things that held them down, from captivity, they crossed the Red Sea and they came into a great freedom of God’s people, but then we know they spent 40 years walking around that desert, and we know geographically it does not take 40 years to walk around that desert, so you could say that they were going round in circles. I won’t ask you if that is a familiar thing in your life. There is nothing wrong with routine, but sometimes, like those Israelites going round in the wilderness, we find ourselves just endlessly repeating the same things for no purpose.

God wants us to do new things, one sign of the Holy Spirit is the gift of new life, a mark of moving in the Holy Spirit is that we are moving in that newness of life. Where we are gradually being transformed, and converted, and healed, and

set free, its an ongoing thing. So if we think about the Israelites in the wilderness, what was the purpose of that? I think those 40 years were the preparation or the training time for the place where the Lord wanted them to flourish, which was a mission, he had to take them to the promised land. And I think if we look at the scriptures, and I hope you all have your Bibles with you today, because we need to hear the Word of God in our praise, the singing is great, the dancing is great, but it is even greater to hear the Word of God. We need the Word of God in scripture to be declared in our praise because that releases other things. We need the Word of God declared prophetically because that opens up the heavens for graces to come down. I’m just reminding you of things you already know.

Lets look at Joshua, the first three chapters. This was the end of the 40 years, Moses, who had been the leader and who had suffered so much, and who had journeyed with them and persevered with them, never got into the promised land. I do believe he died as a

man of vision, because the Lord showed him the land he saw it in his Spirit and I believe he died in contentment. But at the beginning of the Book of Joshua, we get the news that Moses is dead, and then these words that I believe are for you my friends! ‘Rise! It’s time to cross the Jordan.’

After 40 years the Lord says ‘Terrific, now you are ready for the new things, now you are ready for the new move of the Spirit, “Rise!”

There is no time to sit back and say “When we were younger we had so much more energy!”’ I know the feeling! And its true! But the Lord

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ICCRS | Michelle Moran’s Message wants us, whatever age we are, however long we have been in this movement of the Spirit, he wants us to be a people who do as he commands. And what does he do? He says ‘Rise and cross the Jordan.’ After 40 years those Israelites had come to a very strategic place, they could see the promised land. The problem is when you have been in the desert, and you come to the river, what does that feel like? Good?

Yes! It feels fantastic, we made it.

It was good for me to come into the hall last night and see such a lot of people, it’s right that we do celebrate that, but the danger is now that we can settle for ‘Lets stay by the Jordan river, we have learned how to do this Charismatic ‘thing’’ but the danger is that we stay with the comfortable. I want to tell you that the Jordan river was not a comfortable place. Although it looks very refreshing and there is water flowing, there are also all kinds of animals hidden that will come out and attack you. Why? Because the Lord says ‘Rise, it is time to move on.’ I want you to hear the invitation this afternoon, that you have done well, you have got through the desert, that you are now at the strategic place, and the Lord has strategic things for you to do. In your groups, this is what you should be doing now, asking “Lord, 40 years, what now? We are ready to rise. We are ready to move. We are ready to go wherever you lead us. Please speak to us, show us the things that are in your heart, so that we can continue

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to move forward in the grace of the Holy Spirit. And so then this movement of 40 years won’t just be something where we had a nice party, but it will be something where we say ‘That is the meaning of the new things that the Lord has started to do here in this country!’

If we look at the book of Joshua a bit further on, he of course tells them ‘Be strong, be fearless.’

This morning our sister told us not to be afraid of our weakness, our inadequacy. Because St. Paul tells us ‘When I am weak, then I am strong.’ Don’t be afraid if you are weak. We live in a world where you are not nearly allowed to say exactly how you feel. You have to pretend. So when someone asks you ‘How are you today?’ you answer ‘Fine, thank you.’ But honestly, on many days, my real answer would be ‘Well I’m just about standing up!’ Because we all live normal lives and we do get tired, we do get exhausted, we are coping with difficult things, but when I am weak I can be strong in the Lord.

In November 2013 ICCRS held an international gathering in the Holy Land, we called it ‘Prophetic Consultation’.

We brought together 160 leaders to listen to the Lord, to what he would say to us as we journey towards the Jubilee, so the title seemed like a good idea when we were planning the event. But as time got closer and as people started arriving I thought, ‘This could all go wrong.’ On the second day, we were due to gather at 3pm to start

our afternoon meeting, in a basement room in a hotel in Jerusalem, and there was a power cut! There was no light, no windows, no air conditioning, no microphones and we were translating into many languages.

It was one of those moments when we had to ‘Wait on the Lord!’

And we started to pray from the Spirit. On the back wall there was a very large wooden Cross, and I could just see someone had gone and lifted that cross off the wall, and from our praise in tongues a prophetic word came, and the word was ‘Charismatic Renewal, you have no more power!’ And as the word ‘power’ was spoken, everything changed, the lights came on, the air conditioning came on and the Cross of Jesus Christ was being held up in our midst. The invitation was to come to the Lord, to come to the Lord who knows what it is like, on a Friday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, to have no more power. ‘Come to me and I will give you power!’

To be continued

“Do U ... whatever that you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law” (Mt 7:12).

Nazareth was small in biblical times; the population is thought to have been between 200 to 400 people. It was the home of Joseph and Mary. Here the Angel announced to her the virgin birth of the Messiah, here Jesus grew to manhood, and from here he began his public ministry. The consensus on the name ‘Nazareth’ seems to be “A branch that shoots forth” which comes from Aramaic, a name I can relate to, as His teachings have certainly reached out to encompass Christians globally.

However, more locally, on the Rock, is Nazareth House. It began twenty eight years ago as a soup kitchen. Run by volunteers, it catered for the needy, on a daily basis, for several years. It has moved premises and expanded somewhat since then. “Give us this day our daily bread” is reflected in the year round generosity which volunteers at Nazareth House are never short of.

In Nazareth of old, two meals each day was the norm, with bread as the main food. Light breakfasts of flat bread, olives and goats/sheep’s cheese were eaten at mid morning, whilst evenings saw a more substantial

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Local Charity | Nazareth House | Anne Mesilio

nto Others... meal prepared. Such as vegetable stew, fruit, eggs or fish.

Nazareth House emulates this practice (probably unwittingly) serving tea, coffee and toast at 9:30am followed by a cooked lunch at mid day. There are shower facilities for those who want, even a change of clothes.

This service is not available at weekends, but on Christmas day a traditional dinner is served.

Volunteerism is a solid means of engaging people in tackling challenges which benefit society at large, and team work allows people to obtain results in unselfish caring ways.

With this in mind, I called in at Nazareth House recently and met with two of the volunteers.

Conchita has been there from the beginning and Susan for almost as long. Here are two ladies who have experienced the difference volunteers can make in people’s lives. Their devotion to this work shines through the rather sad and dilapidated premises from which they tirelessly work. I felt the place was crying out for a make

over. The welcome people are accorded here is not in doubt, but the lack of proper care to the building is overlooked. This observation is my own as neither ladies referred to the fact that the building has fallen prey to some neglect.

Christmas is coming, the traditional season of giving and I must say, a recent appeal on Facebook for food, clothes and toiletries, has exceeded expectations to everyone’s delight. There is a need all year round to honour the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, and if anyone can spare some of their time, please offer to help brighten up Nazareth house. No matter the range of services, provided by local authorities for the community, it comes down to volunteers and the difference they can make in peoples lives, which is, I think, just people doing what is not expected of them.

Are you one?

Contact Conchita Ramirez, Tel: 2 0 0 7 0 7 2 0 or 2 0 0 6 4599

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Diocesan Youth Ministry

Gibraltar Catholic Youth

Upcoming Events | Year of Mercy | October Recap

Emmaus

Prayer Group

Retreat

The Emmaus Youth Prayer group will be hosting a retreat for young people on the weekend of December 4th.

The popular annual retreat provides an opportunity for young people to come together and share in a weekend of fellowship, prayer and praise, before the busy Christmas period.

This year’s retreat will be based on the upcoming Year of Mercy.

Visit the Emmaus Prayer Group Facebook page for more information.

CYMFed

The Diocesan Youth Ministry will become a member of the Catholic Youth Ministries Federation of England and Wales. The federation seeks to help shape and support Catholic Youth Ministries in England and Wales and now Gibraltar!

To find out more visit cymfed. org.uk

After School Club Launch

Next Monday sees the launch of the much anticipated After School Club at the Youth Café in the Catholic Community Centre.

The After School Club will have three main focuses. Our work space allows students the opportunity to work through any homework they may have.

Should the students require any

King of Hearts

Feast of Christ the King 22 November

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help we have put together a team of dedicated volunteer teaching professionals whom will be on hand to guide students. We will also have social and media spaces where students can relax and enjoy some social activities, watch a film and work together on Community projects and fundraising initiatives.

The club will operate on

Monday, Wednesday and Friday between from 4 - 5:30pm and from 5:30 - 7pm for year 6 and 7 students. Tuesday and Thursday will cater for year 8 and 9 students also in two slots between from 4 - 5:30pm and 5:30 - 7pm.

Application forms available from schools and the Cornerstone Bookshop on Main Street.

The Diocesan Youth Ministry would like to invite all our young people and our wider community to come and celebrate mass together on our first National Youth Sunday.

The event will take place at St. Theresa’s Church at 6pm on Sunday evening. Following Mass we will move to the patio for some food and social time.

This event is not only a celebration for Youth but also opportunity for all of us to come together and share a prayer for the very broken world we live in.

It is important that we remind the

Youth that, locked inside them is the desire and potential to make a significant difference in the very special path that God has carved out, just for them.

“With all that is going on in the world today. All the persecution, homelessness, hunger and desperation, we, being the powerful community that we are, must come together and tackle these challenges head on. Our youth are not the hope for tomorrow but the change of today and together, our first action must be prayer.” Diocesan Youth Coordinator.

National Youth Sunday Sunday 22nd November

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Dr. Monique Risso | Family Matters

The Family Support Foundation helps couples and families to discover their incredible potential for love and life.

The story of the beginnings of the Foundation goes back as far as World War II and the imprisonment of a young seminarian, Kazimierz Majdański, with a group of other Polish clerics and priests in the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany.

It was there where at the end of the war Majdański and those from the group who survived, entrusted themselves entirely

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to St. Joseph.

When they were pleading for a rescue from the camp, they made a vow to create a Work of Mercy and to take a special care for families if they survived.

This mission filled the life of later a priest and then bishop and archbishop Kazimierz Majdański. Both his scientific and pastoral work in Poland and abroad was becoming increasingly focused on the family.

He founded several institutions (some of them together with a Polish medical doctor, Monika Wójcik) to serve the family.

One of them was the Institute (and later Faculty) for Studies on the Family in 1975—part of the Catholic University, later named Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, after the famous Polish Primate of the communist era. In 1986 he founded the Secular Institute of Consecrated Life of the Holy Family, consisting to this day of priests and lay consecrated men and women. The statutes of this new Community were presented to St. John Paul II and gained full papal approval and blessing, thus crowning the effort of Archbishop Majdański’s life to create an environment (both intellectual and spiritual) that offers human and religious formation to parents and children.

The Institute offers year-round days of prayer and reflection in its multiple centres in Poland. It also organizes summer retreats in its house on Wolin Island, with a program designed for

CHRISTIAN FAMILY MOVEMENT ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

25th, 40th, 50th & 60th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations at the Cathedral 29th Jan 2015

Couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversary in 2014 are invited to join in this celebration and renew their vows. Cut out (or photocopy if you prefer) this form and hand it in to the Catholic Bookshop next to the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned not later than the 16th January, forms will also be available at the Catholic Bookshop.

Mr. & Mrs.: _________________________________________ Forenames: Husband _________________________________ Forenames: Wife______________________________________ Née: ________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ E-mail: _____________________________________________ Tel. Home: __________________________________________ Tel. 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 or the detail or scanned form emailed to: duos@gibtelecom.net as soon as possible and not later than Friday 15th January.

For further information or queries contact Denise Duo on Tel: 200 43386 Mob: 57021000 e-mail: duos@gibtelecom.net entire families. It includes education through arts, crafts and adventure for the children—to give the parents time for their own retreat activities—and ends with a

great knight tournament using historic garments.

The Family Support Foundation was started in 1997 by the Institute of the Holy Family as part of the Institute’s mission to serve the family. It was founded

by Archbishop Majdański, Dr. Monika Wójcik and Fr. Jarosław Szymczak (a member of the Institute, lecturer at the Faculty and co-author of the Foundation’s Love and Life Programs).

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CALL YOU HAVE RECEIVED L I V E I N A M A N N E R WO R T H Y TO T H E

A little more from a report from the Second European Secular Franciscan Order and YouFra Congress held in Moster, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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he group enjoyed their last day of intensive work at the Congress on Saturday 22 August.

We had an inspiring and dynamic lecture about Prayer and the Eucharist as a source of strength for our calling by Fr. Josip Vlašić, OFM. He gave us the key for a ‘Life of Prayer’ life, based on five stones (the amount that David had when he defeated Goliath) these stones, or pillars, he said, are the Eucharist, Confession, the Word, Devotion to Our Lady and the Rosary and Fasting After this lecture, more countries shared their presentations of their ‘best practice example’.

In the afternoon we worked in groups discussing the preliminary document that had been drafted about the conclusions we had arrived at while in the working groups throughout the congress. These conclusions will be available for all to read when ready.

For me the topics of the Conference, group work, round table, and testimonies of best practice example could be summarised as follows.

1. Life of Prayer - to foster a closer relationship with Christ especially through the Eucharist.

2. The fraternity as the perfect place where we can live the

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Gospel and learn to love. We cannot live just for ourselves, but also for others. As members of OFS and YouFra we are called to ‘embrace the leper’ in everyday life as St. Francis did.

3. We need to protect life from conception, to work to alleviate the plight of the poor, locally and wherever the spirit leads us! Different projects were presented. It is devastating to see the amount of poverty that still exists, but we found encouragement when we saw the work of different fraternities in a variety of areas. In my work group we also discussed at length the very distressing plight that refugees and immigrants face nowadays and the need to pray and where possible act in their favour.

4. Family - setting a good example. The importance of the family and the need to promote family life. Raising children in the faith especially by praying together, open communication and forgiveness.

5. Social and Ecological commitment - developing our spirit of service…

“Think Global-Act local” For example, recycle, try not to use plastic, use ecological cleaners, dispose of mobile phones and other electrical items properly, buy food produced locally where possible, say no to buying more than what you need, don’t waste water and other resources.

Study Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si”.

6. For our team it has been an eye-opener to have met many YouFra coordinators from many countries. Some have small fraternities but others, such as Italy and Mostar, have many fraternities with thousands attending meetings twice a week. There is an urgency to pray for the Youth, our hope for the future.

In the evening we went to the city to see the Traditional dances of Bosnian and Herzegovinian folklore group ‘Fra Bernardin Smoljan’ from Mostar. We had a Reception, farewells and socialising, there were many

photos and hugs from old friends and also bonding with new brothers and sisters who will all remain united in the Lord and in St. Francis.

Here we share the last of the comments we have received from members of the Gibraltar team on different aspects of the Congress theme: Dianne’s Impressions of the Congress: It was a real privilege to be invited to go to Bosnia and meet all the other Franciscans from around Europe who organise OFS & YouFra. All in all it was a very full week with a lot of meetings, presentations and workshops but extremely rewarding to be able to learn from each other and share our thoughts and deeds. By the way, I had no idea just how much the Gibraltar fraternity did until I saw Christine’s presentation!

Bosnia is still a very poverty stricken country and it wasn’t until my taxi driver got lost, and we spent hours looking for our accommodation, stopping at every student digs in the whole of Mostar (penance) that I was able to see the great poverty, the worn and torn buildings that most people were still living in. Many of the buildings still had large bullet holes spattered all over the walls and some still showed signs of bomb explosions from the past.

Communism hit the people hard and the effects of their pain still show through today.

The YOUTH however are a completely different kettle of fish! Ever since the end of communism, the church has been able to build up the faith again and the young people

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have taken to it like a duck to water, with thousands of YouFra members throughout the country. Their optimism and joy shines through and is a stark contrast to the past. I want to point out here that because Bosnia isn’t part of the EU the church still has a free hand to be involved in the schools, youth clubs, theatre groups and life in general which is probably one of the reasons why it’s grown so vastly since the end of the war.

Another reason may be the fact that they have Medjugorje where Our Lady appears, (attracting thousands of pilgrims a year).

We were very blessed to be able to go on the Friday before we left. Anyway we finally found our way to Apparition Hill which isn’t as easy as it looks to climb up as it’s so rocky. I think by this time we were thinking the same thing ‘There’s no way we’re going to make it back in time for the main mass outside’ and ‘Please Our Lady help us to not miss mass’. Never say miracles don’t happen as when we got down to the bottom again and still had a fair trek to go to get back, a taxi appeared from nowhere and told us to get in!!

All 7 of us jumped in and some of us were nearly squashed to death! But we made it back in time for Mass. Thank you Our Lady! But it doesn’t stop there.

Once we were all seated at mass the next thing is a whole flock of little birds came out of nowhere and landed in the trees right next to us where we were seated and were all chirping away. To me it was another gift from Our Lady and St. Francis, in recognition of all the Franciscans there!

(Dianne Fisher OFS)

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A VISIT TO MEDJUGORJE

CONTINUED FROM ISSUE 172

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME

F

or the five faithful friends it was very important to visit the shrine of the Rosa Mystica.

They had been praying that particular devotion for 28 years, but the apparitions are no longer happening at that site, so the ladies also wanted to see Medjugorje.

Adriana Bear, Eileen Borastero, Lillian Risso, Susan Olivero and, an old friend from England, Sister Valerie O’Donnel said goodbye to the friends they had made in Montichiari, Italy, and boarded a flight to Croatia.

Why Medjugorje?

The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) gives a short history of the events at Medjugorje, but they are cautious and do not attempt to settle any open questions, neither does Upon This Rock, so with the Church jury still out on the apparitions there, why did Adriana, Susan and their friends want to join the hundreds of other people, from Gibraltar and thousands from around the world, to go there?

On June 24, 1981, six children in the town of Medjugorje, began to experience phenomena which they alleged to be apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This apparition had a message of peace for the world, as well as a call to conversion, prayer and fasting. Also entrusted to the children were secret messages about events to be fulfilled in the future. These ‘secrets’ confided individually to different visionaries, have not been revealed to the public. The apparitions themselves have continued almost daily since 1981, with some of the now young adults continuing to experience them regularly. Originally they occurred on a hilltop near the town, where a large Cross exists, commemorating the Redemption. The news that Our Lady might be appearing immediately began to attract pilgrims to Medjugorje, first from

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the surrounding countryside, and then, despite the communist government of that day, from Europe and the whole world.

The ladies speak of their time there with great feeling, they spent their days in prayer and hardly felt the need for food or rest. The statue to the right has been weeping and the fluid is collected and believed to have miraculous properties. Adriana spotted a cloud shaped like the Holy Spirit above the Hill of Apparitions (top right).

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by The Cursillo Team Leaders

ULTREYAS T THE IMPORTANCE OF

WITHIN THE CURSILLO MOVEMENT

he ultimate goal for Christians is to become living proof of God’s love, and act as a catalyst for change in our society.

It is evident that this cannot happen by simply attending a 3 day Cursillo weekend. The Cursillo weekend represents the first, essential step along the way. The key is what happens after the weekend, during the post Cursillo period known as the 4th day.

During the 3 days of the Cursillo, the attendees discover that the essence of our faith and our lives, is contained in the light of God that shines in our hearts. They leave the Cursillo with the desire to live their lives illuminated by this light, and to transform this light into a beacon

of love, which will consume their entire lives, and will light the way to God for others. But we do not live our lives in an unending Cursillo weekend.

We live our lives one day at a time and every day we must renew our acceptance of Christ’s invitation to “Come and see the goodness of God”. It is only then that we can confidently respond to His command “Go out to the whole world, proclaim the Good News”.

The Cursillo Movement recognises that the revelations and the enthusiasm of the weekend, need to be nurtured and deepened, so that the individual and the community gain maximum benefit. It is for these reasons that the Cursillo Movement provides regular meetings known as Ultreyas.

‘Ultreya’ is a Spanish word, derived from the original Latin, meaning onward! It was commonly used by pilgrims to greet and to encourage one another along the way.

This word is now used by the Cursillo community to signify the regular meetings, usually weekly, which are held after a Cursillo experience. The Ultreya provides continuity by contributing to the maintenance of the Cursillo spirit and by revealing the reality of the living Church.

The agenda for each Ultreya can vary quite significantly from one to another, but they all typically include a period of time for group reunions. Often the Cursillo Movement celebrate Mass together or organise a Eucharistic Adoration session,

in other sessions we have guest speakers or we have members of the Team of Leaders with a short talk on matters of interest.

The Group Reunion is a small group, usually 3 to 6 people, of Cursillo friends that meet on a regular basis. In a climate of friendship, members share their experiences based on the three tenets of Cursillo life; Prayer, Study and Action, or based on a passage from Scripture.

The sharing of these real-life experiences serve as examples to all of us of the challenge which Jesus lays before his followers. As its name implies, the Ultreya, which is held every Monday at St. Theresa’s Church, is a call to move forward and to keep the flame of the Cursillo burning brightly. As we make attempts to bring Christ into our various environments, we will sometimes become frustrated.

The Group Reunion provides the continual support we need in order to persevere as a part of God’s plan. To help spread the Kingdom, there is nothing which can compare to the sharing of God’s graces among friends.

Eucharistic Adoration is adoring or honouring the Eucharistic Presence of Christ.

In a deeper sense, it involves “the contemplation of the

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Mystery of Christ truly present before us”.

During the Eucharistic Adoration sessions, we open ourselves to the Lord’s Graces which flow from the Eucharist.

By worshiping the Eucharistic Jesus, we become what God wants us to be, like a magnet, the Lord draws us to Himself and gently transforms us. In its fullest essence, Eucharistic Adoration is “God and Man reaching out for each other, at the same time!”

As Catholics, we believe that Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament is given the same adoration and devotion that is accorded to Christ. At the beginning of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a priest removes the sacred host from the tabernacle, and places it in the Monstrance on the Altar, for adoration by those present.

‘Monstrance’ is the vessel used, in the Church, to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host during Eucharistic adoration or benediction. These adoration ceremonies traditionally include Scripture readings, hymns, prayers and time for silent

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adoration.

Pope John Paul II in one of his homilies said “It is pleasant to spend time with Him, to lie close to His breast like the Beloved Disciple (cf. Jn 13:25) and to feel the infinite love present in His heart ... If, in our time Christians must be distinguished by the ‘art of prayer’, how can we not feel a renewed need to spend time in spiritual conversation, in silent adoration, in heartfelt love before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament?”

If you would like to be part of the Cursillo community and participate in our weekly Ultreyas, as a first step why not join us at one of our Cursillo weekends at the Retreat Centre.

The next Cursillos are being held from the 12 - 15 November for Men and next year for Women from the 14 - 17 April.

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.

God Bless.

Cursillo Team Leaders

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