Mercy, Pope Francis emphasises the global reach of the Jubilee Pope Francis, speaking about the special jubilee Year of Mercy that he launched on December 8th last year, is reminding Catholics that it’s designed to be lived all around the world and not exclusively in Rome. He said, during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square later in December “The [Holy] Door indicates Jesus himself who said ‘I’m the door: if one goes through me, he [or she] will be saved’ Going through the Holy Door is the sign of our faith in the Lord Jesus, who didn’t come to judge us, but to save us.”
An estimated 10,000 holy doors were opened in Catholic churches around the world, including two in Gibraltar, one at the Cathedral and one at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe. The opening of these holy doors means that everyone— including refugees in Iraq,
underground Catholics in China, and prisoners in the pope’s native Argentina—can receive the jubilee indulgence associated with passing through the Holy Door, something that up to the ‘Great Jubilee’ of 2000, only pilgrims who travelled to Rome could do. In Catholic jargon, these indulgences, considered “plenary indulgences”, remove temporal punishment for sins, as long as the recipient also goes to confession, receives Communion, and prays for the pope. When Pope Francis officially inaugurated the Year of Mercy by opening a holy door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, he was the first of an estimated 10 million faithful who will pass through this door, over the course of the next year, in a rite of pilgrimage dating back centuries. The Holy Father then opened a second door in Rome, in St. John Lateran Basilica the following Sunday. Both heavy bronze doors, full of meaning and marked by tradition, are a contrast with
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: Secular Franciscan Order Pray for Peace at St. Bernard’s Church. Photo: A. Sargent
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all ar ound the Wor ld
Image: Vatican Television Centre
B a n g u i , C e n t r a l A f r i c a n Re p u b l i c
Aleppo, Syria many of those opened around the world since. The first door outside of Rome was opened by the pontiff himself in the cathedral of Bangui, the capital of wartorn Central African Republic on the first Sunday of Advent. “The Holy Year of Mercy came early to this land, a land that for many years has been suffering” the pope said in late November, “all the suffering countries in the world, that are going through the cross of war, are also represented in this land.” Despite the conflicts, at times fuelled by religious extremism, many dioceses in those countries managed to open their own doors. In Baghdad, the capital of Iraq,
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Bishop Jean Sleiman opened a holy door in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, surrounded by hundreds of refugees fleeing from the terrorist Islamic group Daesh. On Opening the Holy Year, Pope Francis said mercy always trumps judgment. Patriarch Luis Raphael Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, opened a Holy Door in Baghdad. The thousands of threatened Christians living in Ankawa, part of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, have a holy door in the cathedral church. Speaking to Vatican Radio, the Reverend Behnam Benoka of Iraq said that “living mercy here seems difficult, but not impossible for a Christian.
This (being persecuted) doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility of opening your hands, not only to your brothers, but also toward those who persecute you.” In war-torn Syria, at least three doors were opened: in Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia. The one in Aleppo was opened in the parish of St. Francis,
recently struck mid-Mass by Daesh. It’s the only church still standing in the area, one of the few left in the city. Aleppo has been under siege for years, with the army, the rebels, and the terrorists all fighting for control, often leaving the population with no water, electricity, or fuel. Continued page 10
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VISITORS FROM CADIZ
n December 7th 2015, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe at Europa Point, the Rector of the Seminario Conciliar San Bartolome, in Cadiz, Padre Ricardo, celebrated Mass for the Seminarians visiting Gibraltar, who included in their number our own Richard Martinez. The students were accompanied by Vice-Rector, Padre Andres on this visit to the Rock which had been organised by Mgr. Charles Azzopardi and Fr. Stuart Chipolina. They were able to visit some of Gibraltar’s
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churches in addition to celebrating Mass at the Shrine which was very special, with those present from our Diocese being treated to a full sung Mass, an unforgettable event as the Seminarians’ powerful baritone voices filled the tiny Shrine in prayer. After the Mass a replica of Our Lady of Europe was given to the group as a gift for the Seminary in Cadiz. Regular readers will know that Richard Martinez is studying for the Priesthood, and hopes to complete the four year course in Cadiz, only a few hours drive west of Gibraltar.
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Genevieve Bossino at Isolas has come up with the concept of coordinating, through their payroll department, a voluntary £2 per month donation from members of staff from both Isolas and The Fiduciary Group. Genevieve explained “Isolas and Fiduciary staff members are very committed to supporting local charities, and this is such a worthwhile cause, something that so many face, that we are more than
happy to help in this way.” We understand that Gibtelecom have offered help with telecoms services, and The Gibraltar Chronicle has offered to print fundraising leaflets and newsletters.
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The Trustees were hugely touched by the fantastic response from the public, and cross Party support from senior politicians. Already since the launch of the appeal, the Trust has received many kind offers of support, including independent fundraising initiatives.
Isolas staff rise to the £2 per month challenge
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n 18th December 2015, The Trustees of the Calpe House Charitable Trust launched their “Calpe House Needs Your Help” Campaign.
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1 The Calpe House Trust has helped over 5000 GHA sponsored patients’ visits to London 2 The current property is proving to be too small to accommodate the demand 3 The Calpe House Trust has purchased three new buildings in London 4 The new properties are Grade II listed and located in Norfolk Square, just 3 minutes walk from Queen Mary’s Hospital in Paddington 5 The new buildings cost £8.5M to buy 6 Work has started on the refurbishment, which will provide 38 ensuite rooms 7 The new building will be lighter and brighter with large common rooms and kitchens 8 The refurbishment will cost £5M
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If you would like to help build Calpe House please call Charles Marfe (top right) on Mob: 54040117, or visit the website www.calpehouse.org and click the ‘DONATE’ button, this will link you to a page where there is an option to select a monthly payment of your choice. R ISTI A
FUNDING AVAILABLE
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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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Love and
Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story? Julie Filby writes In honour of St. Valentine I’d like to share a story about love—natural, instinctive, humble love.
One Saturday morning as I was huffin’ and puffin’ through a workout at the rec. centre, I noticed a man in his 50s helping another man, who appeared to be in his 80s, manoeuvre through the maze of cardio machines. They settled at the stationary bikes. St. Valentine was thought to be an Italian priest who secretly carried out weddings against the will of the Roman Emperor, Claudius II at a time when marriages were banned, as the Emperor wanted all the young men to join his army. Fr. Valentine was caught and imprisoned, but he had very many friends amongst the youth, tradition holds that the notes he sent to them were signed ‘Your Valentine +’
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The duo were clearly father and son: same build, same facial features, even the same hair—except one was starting to gray, while the other was completely white. One appeared healthy and fit, while the other was stooped and shuffled as he made his way across the room. When they reached the bikes the younger man gently helped his father get positioned, and sent him off at a nice easy pace. He then sat on the bike next to him and the two pedaled side-by-side. I was struck by the
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Mercy in the family care, attentiveness and respect apparent between the two. I’m guessing this is a love affair that began the day the son was born. Perhaps this love story could be more accurately described as a storge story. In his book “The Four Loves” author C.S. Lewis explained that, even though we only have one word for love in the English language, it takes on many different forms. Storge (in Greek), or affection as Lewis calls it, is described as the fondness through familiarity, especially between family members. It’s the most common, the most instinctive, and the most humble love, because it exists between parents and children. It “turns a blind eye to faults … and is kind and forgives.” Thank God for this steadfast love that’s shown to us not only when we’re perfectly lovable, but also when we’re not-as-easy to love.
It’s the accommodating love that a grown child extends to an aging parent, when Mom or Dad can’t get around like they used to; an understanding love that allows parents to simply smile and nod at their teenager who thinks she knows it all; and a patient and nurturing love deep in the heart of a mother as she and her son make their way through his Terrible Twos.
Lewis said this comfortable quiet love “... opens our eyes to goodness we could not have seen ... without it.” I think most parents would agree, our children open our eyes to a love we’ve never known before—a natural, instinctive, humble love that is possible because of God’s fatherly love for us.
Enjoy St. Valentine’s Day with your loved ones!
Julie Filby, wife and mother of two (ages 8 and 5), is a reporter for the Denver Catholic Register newspaper. She also enjoys blogging at Mother’s Musings about the simple ways Christ is unmistakably present in every-day family and work life. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter. She also contributes to CatholicMom.com and Catholic Lane.
CHRIST THE KING SEMINAR
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22 - 24 APRIL 2016
hrist the King prayer group are delighted to announce that David Payne, author of ‘The Gift’ will be the main speaker at their annual Seminar, which will be held on the weekend of the 22nd, 23rd & 24th of April this year. David Payne is the Director of Catholic Faith Exploration (CaFE), see www.faithcafe.org based in the Westminster Diocese, London. Since being encouraged by the Vatican, CaFE have been producing TV quality DVD resources for parishes and schools which are used in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia. David is an ex-drug addict who
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found freedom through a Life in the Spirit course 30 years ago and since then has been helping Catholics to get more out of their own faith. He recently received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis for the popular DVD course on the Holy Spirit called ‘The GIFT’. He is an inspiring and entertaining speaker, the author of four books and regularly leads parish missions and retreats around the UK and beyond. His wife Giovanna, is also a gifted conference speaker, they are no strangers to Gibraltar as they both led seminars here in the mid 1990s and loved every minute of their time on the Rock! Contact Joanna 58008446 or Jeannine 54014042 to reserve a place.
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WALKING WITH JOHN
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ur first steps, we do not remember them, but they are remembered for us. In our young lives, this was probably the most anticipated and remembered
moment, one that caused excitement and delighted laughter, as we took our first tottering steps, on our own, into the unknown. There was no stopping us after that of course; we set our feet firmly on life’s highway, to go where we would. We take it for granted, this miracle of walking, we only miss it when suddenly, for any reason, we cannot take those steps which denote our independence. We just do not think about it, we just do it, it is as simple as breathing and we do not think about that either. Walking is so every day! Then “accidents happen now and again, just when you least expect, just when you think that life is ok, Fate comes along to collect”. These lines are from the much loved TV character Thomas the Tank Engine, yes, really, and they will resonate with many in real life.
One such person is John Shephard, Sports Reporter with Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation who, over a year ago, on the 21st of December 2014, suffered a devastating stroke. He was 42 years old. He spent eight and a half months in hospital, literally fighting his way to the day he managed to return home. His mother, Nicky, shared with me how they, his parents, pulled together as a “unit of three”, totally supporting his efforts to recover. It was hard work, 24/7, but they had total confidence in John’s strong will to survive this life changing event.
What is a stroke? It is literally a brain attack, which can and does happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, depriving the cells of oxygen, and they begin to die. Movement, memory, speech and muscle control can all suffer, depending on which area of the brain is affected. Recovery depends on the degree of damage caused, more often than not, stroke survivors will have some loss of function post stroke. Stroke survivors are people like John, who courageously fight to be the best they can be after such a cataclysmic event. A stroke not only affects the person who is afflicted, their nearest and dearest, be they parents, spouse, siblings or children, will be affected by default. It has a ripple effect which, spreading out, touching the lives of friends
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How we can look out for each other. and work colleagues too. John has paid tribute to the support he received and valued, without which his journey would have been far more difficult. The support of family and friends during a crisis, has long been seen to have a positive emotional effect on people as well as a measurable improvement in recovery time. The encouragement of friends and co-workers, can motivate people who have been ill, to take steps to be more active and get back to work more quickly than those who do not have a strong support system. On December 19th last year, almost a year to the day after
his stroke, John set himself a challenge; “to walk from here to there and back”. A 10km walk, proving to himself and others, that “there is life after
stroke, life is not over, I’m the proof”. He felt he had come a long way from the day that changed his life in a heart beat. “This is just another stage in my rehabilitation back into life.” Courageous and spirited words which struck a cord with me. He put out an open invitation to meet outside the Tercentenary Hall, on what turned out to be a lovely Sunday morning, and walk with him (or even jog or run). Ironically a ten mile road race was starting from the same place, just ahead of John’s walk. Undaunted, he strode out, setting a pace which meant business. Many, including me, joined him and his ever supportive parents, his children, 16 year old Lauren and 11 year old Rhys. As I walked my thoughts sped back in time to another stroke journey and the difficulties and pitfalls along the way, paved with heartache and sadness and the utter soul destroying rejection which made it such a lonely road. There was none of this for John as he strode along accompanied by family and friends, all paying tribute to his courage, and eager to support
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By Anne Mesilio
him all the way. I cannot stress enough the need for (unstinting) support. Caregivers, be they a family member, friend or neighbour, play an important role throughout the post-stroke recovery process, starting from day one. In deciding to do the walk, John was showing what scientific studies have proven, that walking, that most basic of human activities, is beneficial to the mind, improving memory, lifting the spirits, and boosting self confidence and positive thinking. He is thinking “wellness” not “illness”. Your road ahead, John, is paved with all our good wishes for your good health.
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Mercy, all ar ound the Wor ld
Continued from page 3 The apostolic vicar of the city, Bishop Georges Abou Khazen, said that for the Christian community still living in the city, the door represents “a defence against the evil attacking it, the
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protection of God.” Several more doors were opened in refugee camps throughout the region. Asia News reports that in China, underground Catholics also celebrated the opening of the jubilee year. In many underground dioceses there are no churches, but Catholics gathered to reflect on the Misericordiae Vultus, the Bull of Indiction of the Holy Year. According to the news agency, some underground dioceses are thinking of building a door in a home or in a patio. But Francis’ decision to have holy doors in every diocese is significant, not only for those suffering under war or oppression, but also “discomfort and alienation.” For instance, a door was
opened in the Church of Padre Nostro in Rome’s Rebibbia prison on the day Francis opened the jubilee. The next day, Bishop Luis Guillermo Eichhorn opened a door in a prison in Ituzaingó, Argentina. During the ceremony, he said that “even the door of a prison cell can become a holy door when a pilgrim begs for mercy and mercy to God.” Eichhorn’s words are a quote from the Bull of Indiction which called for the jubilee to be an opportunity “for great amnesty,” intended to include those who, despite deserving punishment, “sincerely wish to re-enter society and make their honest contribution to it.” “The mercy of God is able to transform hearts, and is also able to transform bars into an
experience of freedom,” the bull written by Pope Francis says. Many Catholic hospitals too, have opened a holy door, such as the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesú Pediatric hospital in Rome, located less than a mile from St. Peter’s. On Friday, Francis will go to a refuge for homeless people, run by a Catholic charity next to Rome’s major train station, to open the “Holy Door of Charity.”
One month of Mercy
The Holy Father has a busy year ahead, with an action packed schedule in February alone: 2nd — Presentation of the Lord: The feast commemorates the Biblical episode when Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the temple in keeping with Jewish law. This year, February 2nd also marks the close of what Pope Francis had designated as a “Year of Consecrated Life,” so expect him to reflect on the role of women and men religious in the Church. 6th — Padre Pio: The famed Capuchin stigmatic’s image, renowned for his compassion for suffering, is greatly venerated around the world and Pope Francis will celebrate a jubilee day for Padre Pio prayer groups. In effect, it’s a chance to take the Year of Mercy to the people. 10th — Ash Wednesday: Francis opens Lent this year by commissioning a special corps of priests known as “Missionaries of Mercy,” who will be his ambassadors for the jubilee. They’ll have authority to forgive sins reserved under Church law to the Holy See,
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Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
such as abortion or desecrating the Blessed Sacrament. 12th-18th — Mexico: Papal trips to Mexico are always memorable, drawing vast crowds and generating wild
border from El Paso, where Francis is expected to make a major statement on immigrant rights, right after Americans have chosen candidates in Iowa (February 1st) and New Hampshire (February 9th). 22nd — Jubilee of the Roman Curia: Pope Francis made many reforms in December 2014. This year he may lay out a vision of what a reformed Vatican bureaucracy, enthusiasm, and certainly a trip by history’s first Latin American pontiff shapes up as a mega-event. The trip will end with a stop in Ciudad Juarez on the 17th, just across the US
animated by mercy, might look like. Pope Francis has composed a special prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. In the prayer, the Holy Father entreats the Lord to make the Jubilee of Mercy a year of grace so that the Church, “with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.”
The Pope’s Prayer for the Year of Mercy Lord Jesus Christ,
you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you, sees Him.
Show us your face and we will be saved.
Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;
the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal,
and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:
let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. 924 Friends
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Lifestyle Changes for Lent
NO MORE APPLE PIE There is nothing simple about weight loss, inching back from obesity, but hundreds of hours research as well as hints and tips I’ve received from various professionals have led me to believe its never too late to start! Water
The human brain is 90% water, and it does not take very long, especially in our Mediterranean climate, before dehydration starts to affect the brain’s performance. Water is the
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largest constituent of our blood, 83%, and our muscles are over 70% water. Our internal systems are water cooled and water lubricated. The first lesson I learned on my journey back to health was from Dr. Batmanjhelidj who wrote about ‘Your Body’s Many Cries For Water’ in 1992. When this book was recommended to me in 2006, over a million copies had already been sold worldwide. So many of our illnesses and ailments are caused or worsened by a lack of water. Very often, the first thing they do when you are taken in to hospital, for any reason, is put you on a salt water drip, because rehydration will do a great deal towards healing your condition, whatever caused it in the first place. So how much water should we drink? There is an iPhone app called WaterMinder and
according to the programme’s calculations based on my height and weight, I should be drinking over 3 litres of water a day. It is not easy to drink that much water. I have taken to using a large 700ml glass for my drinks, at this time of year these are green or Earl Grey teas taken black with lemon, 4 of these plus a small 200ml coffee daily completes my water goal. It took some time to work up to achieving that daily.
Diet
As my weight spiralled upwards, so my health spiralled downwards. Yet I had tried Weight Watchers, Wheat Free, the Okinawa Programme, Macrobiotics, and Paleo. All to no avail. At the end of the day, I just did not know what I was doing wrong. Imagine my surprise when I found the right professional to advise me, and was told after a week’s diet diary, that I was not eating enough! How often is that the case? How often do we meet big people who insist they only eat very little and less than many lean folks? The best investment I ever made was in a Personal Trainer. She listened to my preferences and designed a diet exclusively for me. Interestingly, I had been nearly there! By going Wheat Free for a year I had cut out a lot of starchy foods, biscuits, cakes, bread and potatoes. And I had already started cutting out sugar, but now I was to embrace the No Added Sugar doctrine as I cleaned up my diet. As many meals as possible are taken using only primary foods. Fresh fruit and vegetables,
meat, fish, nuts and dairy form my staple diet, oh and 70% Chocolate. What does this mean in real life? Well, yes, it means for me, meals cooked from scratch. Vegetables for lunch, prepped the day before, and you guessed it! No more apple pie! I still take pure locally sourced honey and combined with a little fruit and plain yogurt, it makes a sweet treat to die for... although actually... it wont kill me, while lots of my previous choices may have! This diet rich in vegetables, results in a much healthier digestive system, its just good all round!
Supplements
There is a big difference in all of our bodies, and I discovered that I was low in Vitamin ‘B’. This was affecting my nervous system and I found I became emotional at the drop of a hat, but a few days after starting on the ‘B’ Vitamin Complex, I started to feel the difference. My mood was more robust, monthly cycles did not get me down like before. The person that advocated the Vitamin ‘B’ Complex was convinced that all women would benefit from a
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Angela Sargent daily dose. I was fortunate that, right at the beginning of my radical health review, my Doctor packed me off for, what they call in American movies, ‘a full blood work-up’ to identify any deficiencies. I was ‘borderline’ high in cholesterol, and low in Iron and it was this that was affecting my energy levels.
Exercise
The ‘borderline’ cholesterol verdict prompted the Doctor to advocate 30 minutes walking daily. This was another lifechanging health tip. I work long hours, and to build in half an hour of time spent just on me was going to mean a big change. But I was under doctors orders, and with this cast iron excuse, I geared up with a pair of walking shoes. I realised that I was going to have to MAKE TIME and the only way I could do that was by getting up earlier each day. I set my alarm and downloaded another app, Runkeeper (it tracks all types of exercise, not
just running) so I could log my walks. Well, before too long I was building stamina and now I’m at the gym several times a week, swimming during the summer, and exploring new sports like Stand Up Paddle boarding! I’m proud of my perspiration and get a great buzz after a good workout. I really appreciate that ‘me’ time, often before dawn in the winter time. It goes beyond improving my physical well being, as it really helps with my morale too.
Prayer
This is low down on my list but high in my priorities, in fact, prayer led me to all these breakthroughs. Prayer is a constant, and even before the going gets tough, start praying! On the exercise bike, a session can be measured by the Chaplet of St. Michael. Fasting from sweets can be dedicated to the many requests for prayer we receive every day on Facebook, or to the situations that we hear on the News, or for the Pope’s intentions.
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to get lean in 2016... and beyond:
1 Water, find out how much is enough for you 2 Invest in a Personal Trainer 3 Need Supplements? Get your blood checked! 4 Low Carb Diet 5 No Added Sugar 6 30 minutes Exercise Daily - start walking 7 Keep up your Daily Prayer Routine 8 Practice Sleep Hygiene 9 Keep it up! Do all the above, consistently I love my time in quiet meditative or contemplative prayer, and at this time of the year, after the pancakes, the Passion of Christ. We are asked to repent, which literally means to ‘re-think’. Making these changes to my lifestyle has required a lot of ‘re-thinking’ about what was right for me.
Sleep
So what is ‘Sleep Hygiene’? Well, just like I was advised to clean up my diet, I have learned to treat my bedroom time with respect too. No mobile phone or laptop in the bedroom. No TV. Never anything work related. Just soft music, soft lighting,
and keep it tidy. Clutter free. Whenever possible I don’t set the alarm, but I do go to bed early enough to wake naturally.
... and repeat!
Consistency is Key! Logging my progress, the support of my family and my Trainer, help me persevere. I’ve learnt its never too late, the rewards are there to be had in health and vitality and I started noticing the difference quickly. I am no expert, this is just what is working for me. Perhaps it could work for you? Many thanks to Leanne Child, Physical Trainer for bringing it all together for me.
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La Linea de la Concepcion Groups
Santiago Parish
I had a dream.
It was while I was studying my Women of Grace Foundational Study Course in Gibraltar, we had nearly finished, with about a month to go, the weekly programme had been extended due to the retreat with Johnnette Benkovic. Meeting her personally was a great blessing, it was a brilliant weekend and the retreat was a great success. In my dream I was doing the Course in Spanish. When I was telling Monique Risso about my dream, to my great surprise Monique said “Maria Louisa, you might have a calling.” I replied “No, its only a dream.” But then, when I got home, I had a message from a friend in Spain, we had not been in touch for months, I told her about my dream, and she got very exited and asked me to go and meet her and tell her all about the Course. I thought it would be better to wait until I had finished, but she insisted, so I went to La Linea and met her. After which she spoke to her priest, Padre Mario, in Santiago Parish and he was very interested too, so Monique went to talk to him and he ordered the books in Spanish. It took months before the books arrived, but the ladies were so exited to start that we began meeting and Padre Mario offered to join us and gave us talks on different Marian apparitions, while I talked about the different aspects of the Course. At last we started in January 2015 and worked right through the year, with breaks for
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Maria Luisa Dalli shares what it has been like to facilitate Women of Grace Courses in La Linea Easter and Summer holidays, completing the Course in November. In the beginning we laughed a lot as I kept saying things in English, but now I have learned to speak better Spanish. In the photo above are Padre Mario, Maricarmen, Merche, Toñi, Angeles, Doris and myself. One of the ladies, Rose, is away in Cadiz but when she returns they will hold a Graduation Ceremony. The Course has been a great success in La Linea, and I have been abundantly blessed, loved and cared for by all, transforming me into the person I am today. The Course has made me aware of so many things in my life, bringing me closer to our Holy Mother Church and Our Lady, knowing she carried baby Jesus in her womb and we all too carry Jesus within us when we receive the Eucharist. That certainly has made me more aware of my words and actions, as I strive to become a better person, living a sincere and Christian life in positivity: to share the love of God with others and to be an example, with the strength of Our Lady. My life has changed so much, with many new blessings, like in June I was asked to facilitate another Course in La Linea, in the San Pedro parish (see photo top right) with Marie Carmen, Isabelle, Yolanda, Maite, Maria and Rosa (who is not in the photo). It has been special facilitating there. We started with Padre Juan
San Pedro Parish
Enrique, the parish priest who has now been transferred to Cadiz and Padre Paco has taken over. Two ladies from this second La Linea group, Yolanda and Maricarmen, (see photo below) hope to become facilitators to the mothers of the children doing their catechism classes in the near future. They may also help out with the group in Gibraltar. This year we hope to start the first Spanish language Women of Grace Course in Gibraltar. Thirty ladies have expressed an interest and we will be meeting in the Catholic Community Centre. I don’t know how to thank the Lord and Our Lady enough for another great blessing. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Monique for bringing the Women of Grace Study Course to Gibraltar, Fr. Charlie for letting us use the Catholic Community Centre, he is always there to help others, and Padre Mario for his time and support. So many blessings have come
from this, I have been joining the Cenacles they hold on Saturdays in La Linea, in each others homes, all the clergy from La Linea participate. They have asked me to attend Parish meetings in Benalup and Medina Sidonia, and meet with the Delegado Catequista of Cadiz and Ceuta. Then I have been joining in with the preparations for the Easter processions, the Hermandad de Medinaceli in Santiago Parish, to experience the processions first hand. There are no words to express how hard they work for this. Both La Linea groups joined together with other ladies, making forty ladies in total, for the St. Louis de Monfort Consecration to Our Lady, so many blessings were shared through this experience. God bless you all and please keep us in your prayers too. As Upon This Rock goes to print, a Women of Grace Study Course has started in St. Paul’s Parish facilitated by Yvone Cruz in English.
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hildren can start to develop their spiritual lives from a very early age. Learning about our Faith and building their own relationships with Jesus Christ, gives them invaluable resources to combat and better endure the trials and tribulations they will face later in life. It is a wonderful and valuable gift for any parent to give their child.
Davina Porro Gavan and Christine Grech, assisted by those parents and grandparents who wish to stay for the session, teach their young students through art and crafts, song and action, at a one hour weekly play group. We can only show a few examples here, but if you would like to know more about the Group, please find Davina on Facebook or just come along.
LITTLE ANGELS PLAY GROUP JOIN US FOR ART AND CRAFTS, SINGING AND STORY TELLING. 4 - 5PM EVERY THURSDAY AT THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY CENTRE ‘BOOKSHOP’
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