Mar 2016 177 by EuropeAxess Media

Dear Friends

...the God we meet in the pages of the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, as an angry judge, unforgiving, ready to condemn people for the smallest infraction of his commands. They like to distinguish between this God and the God revealed by Jesus, a merciful Father who takes care of us and always shows his love and concern. Anyone who takes the time to study and meditate on the Bible will discover that this opposition is false. The God who showed himself to the people of Israel is the very same God that Jesus bears witness to by his words and acts. At the centre of God’s dealings with these people is the story of the Exodus. It is a story that tells how God entered into the life of a group of slaves, far from their home, liberated them from their oppression and brought them to a beautiful land where they could be free. This story reveals a God who listens to the cry of the poor, who wants people to live to the full, to be

Many people imagine...

happy, a God who can always do something new to break the bonds that keep us captive. In short, it tells of a God of tenderness and mercy. Isaiah explains that this in fact is what makes God different from human beings. Human beings often respond to being rejected by others by rejecting in their turn. We find it extremely difficult to forgive those who have hurt us deeply. But according to the prophet, God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours. If a person recognizes his or her mistakes and turns back to God, God will always welcome that person. Our relationship with God can always begin anew. This is what we call forgiveness. God can act in this way because his behaviour is not determined, or even conditioned, by the actions of his partner. As the Source of life, God can always find within himself the energy of love in order to respond to evil with good. The Christian teachers of the first centuries understood

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: Pope Francis. Photo: Johnny Bugeja

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Image: Sacred Heart Parish Lourdes Procession Photo, The Gibraltar Chronicle / J. Bugeja

Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28

this, but they expressed it by a difficult term, one easy to misunderstand. They said that God is impassible. If this word meant that God were indifferent to human pain, unconcerned with the struggles and suffering of creation, then of course it would not describe the God we meet in the Bible. It would be a great blasphemy. Instead, this curious term attempts to express how God is above human ways of thinking and acting. It is a way of saying that nothing we do can ever cause God to love us less. Unlike us, who are so often affected by the responses of others, who can see our good intentions melt away when other people reject our advances, God

is always faithful to who he is. God is and will always be a God of mercy. God will always keep on loving, even when people respond to his love with indifference or rejection. As Brother Roger, the founder of the French Taizé Community used to say “All God can do is love.” This faithfulness of God to his identity is a source of great comfort. It means there exists a Rock to which we can always cling for support. In a world where everything seems unstable, where we are so often unsure where to find happiness and meaning, there is Someone we can always turn to and know that we will be welcomed with joy. Like the father in the story

of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11ff), who runs out of the house to embrace his son who has wasted all his inheritance. The father’s attitude does not change because of his son’s foolishness; all the father sees is his beloved child “who was dead and has come back to life.” Where do we meet this God of unchanging mercy? Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus reveals to us in all fullness the God who never tires of doing good, who always makes possible a new beginning for those who come to him.

What changes in my life when I realize that God will always welcome me with love and joy? What would it mean concretely for me to “seek” or to “call on” God; where and how do I find him? God bless you Fr. Stuart

Sacred Heart Church Mass for

Expectant Mothers

Organised by HOPE Monday 4th April 7pm

Expectant Mothers family and friends cordially invited to attend 921 Friends

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2016 Seminars

The Christ the King Prayer Group presents

David Payne I

t is that time of the year when I put pen to paper, taking the opportunity of inviting readers to attend the annual Life In The Spirit Seminar run by Christ The King Prayer Group. This year we are very excited that David Payne has been able to find time in his very busy schedule and has agreed to fly over for the weekend seminar as our guest speaker. David is the director of Catholic Faith Exploration (see www.faithcafe.org) based in the Westminster Diocese, London. He has a very powerful testimony and has been helping

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Is there more to life?

Catholics to get more out of their faith since he did his own seminar 30 years ago. He is an inspiring speaker and author and he recently received an Apostolic blessing from Pope Francis for the popular DVD course called ‘The Gift’ www.thegiftofthespirit.org and his latest the ‘New Big Picture Course’ (www.thebigpicturecourse.org) is proving to be extremely popular. He is very excited to be coming back to Gibraltar as he was here in the 1990s to give the Life in the Spirit Seminar. So I strongly encourage you to please attend and hear this

amazing speaker. The Seminar starts on Friday the 22nd of April at 8pm. Saturday is a full day and it finishes on Sunday at lunchtime. All meals are provided and although it is non-residential, if anyone has a genuine need to stay overnight, accommodation as well as lifts can be provided. As well as the talks, there are workshops which are private and confidential, where you can open up as much as you want, or not at all. It is all very relaxed and any issues or questions can be aired in a safe environment. So please take the step in faith and attend the weekend. You might think you have no need for God in your life, or have no worries and are doing OK. On the other hand you might have lost your faith and be carrying heavy loads of sickness, bereavement and family problems... I truly believe Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart... Allow him in and he will love you and give you the meaning and comfort that you are seeking. Please don’t hesitate to call me Joanna on 58008446 or Jeannine on 54014042 if you have any questions and would like to register for the seminar. God Bless Joanna.

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2016 Seminars

Christian Unity “The miracle of unity has begun!”

Reflections on the movement fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit to restore unity among all Christians

by Cassius Soares, Executive of Youth With a Mission’s ministry – Kerygma re you willing to let the Holy Spirit lead you into a unity with other Christians, which moves you out of your comfort zone?

Acts 11:19-26 The hand of the Lord was with them. Acts 11:21

History is filled with unlikely pairings that work amazingly well. Think, for instance, about food pairings: bacon and chocolate, caramel and salt, bananas on pizza—and the list goes on. Or think about the way opposites often attract in marriage: the slob and the neat freak or the outgoing one and the shy one. Well, in ancient Antioch, another kind of pairing, but no less unique, appeared: Jews and Greeks sharing the same religious convictions. Historically, there was a great enmity between these two groups, and in a city as big as Antioch, they could have easily kept to themselves. There were plenty of synagogues to go around, as well as more than enough Greek temples. Yet in the midst of this divided city, the Holy Spirit touched the hearts of Jews and Gentiles alike, making them into “Christians” (Acts 11:26). When word reached the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem, they were intrigued and perhaps a bit skeptical. Would the Gentile Christians dilute the purity of the Jewish Christian’s faith? Would the Jewish Christians look down on their Gentile brothers and sisters? Such a potentially volatile and delicate situation needed some attention. So they sent Barnabas to learn. Though this was clearly a unique pairing, Barnabas could see that it was God’s doing, so he “rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord” (Acts 11:23). Just as the Holy Spirit created an unlikely pairing in Antioch, he is doing something similar today. He is encouraging Christians from different faith traditions to come together and pray for greater unity. For example, in a video he recorded on a Pentecostal pastor’s iPhone, Pope Francis addressed a gathering of Pentecostal leaders [see photo above]. “Let’s move forward,” he urged them. “We are brothers; let us give each other that spiritual embrace and allow the Lord to complete the work he has begun... The miracle of unity has begun!” Whenever Christians from different traditions, whether in ancient Antioch or in the cyberspace of today, come together, it’s a sign that “the hand of the Lord” truly is at work (Acts 11:21). Today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us to pray and work for Christian unity. Let’s ask his help to overcome the caricatures we have built

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up (often based on misinformation), our prejudices and our fears, to truly love, accept and welcome our brothers and sisters from other Christian traditions. Let’s instead learn about the wonderful things that God is doing in and through their lives, recognise the hand of the Lord at work and rejoice and encourage them in the Lord. May we become witnesses of our own “unique pairings” with our brothers and sisters in Christ! “Holy Spirit, thank you for my brothers and sisters of all faith traditions. Please come and make us one!”

“How to walk hand in hand, when you don’t see eye to eye” Seminar on effectively working together across the Catholic / Protestant divide

8pm Friday 21st October 2016 to 8pm Sunday 23rd at the Europa Retreat Centre, Windmill Hill Speakers will be:

Bruce Clewett

Youth With A Mission & Co-founder of Kergyma

Rob Clarke

CEO of Spirit Radio Ireland and Co-founder Kerygma

£40/€55 - Residential To register your interest: email sarah@kteams.org or phone 54032797 www.uponthisrock.gi 5

Divine Mercy Sunday: the Sunday after Easter Day

The Feast of MERCY The Physician If a physician knew that with a new method available to him on one day of a year, he could heal as many people as he could gather together in one place with a serious cancerous condition, and if he was told that the procedure would only take about an hour or two at the most, and if he was told about a book of instructions that outlined the way to heal this cancer, wouldn’t there be a serious onus on that physician to get hold of that book as soon as he could to study the method, in preparation for this momentous occasion? Shouldn’t that physician then, find as many ways as he could, to get as many sick people to come to his place of healing on this wonderful day. Well the priest is that physician. The book is the Diary. The day is Mercy Sunday. The method is Divine Mercy.

The Better Face of God John Paul II said at the canonisation of St. Faustina, “by this act today, I pass on the message of Divine Mercy to the new millennium. I pass it on because I want people to know the better face of God, and that of His Divine Mercy, and through it, the better face of their brethren. The light of the message of Divine Mercy which the Lord wished to renew in the world, will be as much a beacon of hope for the third millennium, as the apostles were in the first”. He said that in future this Sunday would be known throughout the world as Divine Mercy Sunday, and that priests and the laity should avail of it, in this time of special grace. In todays world, it is demonstrably clear that man has failed to listen to God and the world needs this new prescription for healing. This is obviously why Jesus (the

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chief physician for all our spiritual illness) has found it necessary to show us a new way and has given us this extraordinary message revealed through St. Faustina, with extraordinary promise’s attached to help heal modern man and bring him back to a healthy faith.

The Image of Divine Mercy - Vessel of Graces He has given us a new Image of Divine Mercy, from which he promises great graces will flow wherever it is exposed and venerated. An Image which is to be a fount of healing, that we can continue to come to, and replenish our health, strength, and belief, with the graces that flow from it. We can fill our vessel which is our body and soul with a new spirit of well being and faith, this feeling of well being, through faith, that erodes so easily in today’s world. The Prayers of Divine Mercy He has given us a new and powerful formula to achieve this, through powerful prayers, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which if said sincerely and reverently, gives us the extraordinary opportunity to offer up to the Father, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of His Dearly beloved Son, which is the sacrifice, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. What a powerful prayer this is, a prayer with a power that may be second only to the power of the Mass. He also promises that if this prayer is said in the presence of a dying sinner, regardless of whether they take part or not, will save that sinner from hell. The Conversion prayer which if said sincerely, at the moment of three o’clock, with a contrite heart, and with faith, on behalf of some soul,

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Image: Fr. Stuart celebrates Mass in Montecassino Photo, J. Bugeja

will result in a promise from Jesus to come into the life of that soul. The Proclamation or spreading of the Message, has the wonderful promise attached, ensuring the saving of your own soul, if you help spread His Mercy in Deed, Word, and Prayer. The Feast of Mercy Then there is the greatest promise of all, a day of healing for all, no matter how ill your soul is, on the Sunday after Easter, the Feast Day of His Divine and Infinite Mercy, for those who comply with the simple steps desired by Jesus to show our obedience and belief in Him. This promise is manifest by a complete healing of the soul, making it as whole and as well, as the day of our Baptism. On this great Feast of His Divine Mercy we also receive the unique Spirit of Divine Mercy. It is this Spirit of Divine Mercy that will heal the wounds of the human heart. It is this Spirit of Divine Mercy that will

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heal the sickness that separates us from God. It is this Spirit of Divine Mercy that will heal the distrust that separates us from each other, and it is this Spirit of Divine Mercy that will restore the Fathers love for us, and our love for the Father. What a wonderful occasion the Feast of His Mercy is.

of the Feast of Mercy conflicts with the Church’s liturgy during the octave of Easter, the answer is that Jesus chose this day because it is already a day of celebration of His Divine

Mercy, and therefore does not conflict with the liturgy of the day. The Scripture lessons on Low Sunday already centre on God’s Divine Mercy. The Gospel for the day

Feast Approved by Vatican Remember the Feast of Divine Mercy is not anymore a private devotion. It is a public feast formally established by Pope John Paul II. This approval was given to the Church on the 5th May 2000 in the form of a Decree, issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship, and the Discipline of the Sacraments. It will be celebrated as an official feast day on the Sunday after Easter forever more. As the feast has been approved by the Holy See, it is now open to any Bishop to establish it in his own diocese, or for a Bishop’s conference to establish it for the whole of a country. Clearly the Pope was himself eager for the Church everywhere, to formally celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy, but it is up to the Bishops to establish it as a liturgical feast day, in each country. To answer any doubts that this celebration

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has always been of Jesus appearing in the upper room to the Apostles and bestowing authority to forgive sins, and the responsorial Psalm for the day, has always been Psalm 118 which sings of the mercy of

God enduring forever. If you read St. Augustine, you can see that in the ancient Church, the Sunday after Easter was held as a great feast day in celebration of the merciful love of God, which he said was

displayed in all the events of the Paschal Mystery. St. Augustine called the Sunday after Easter, “a day that is a compendium of all God’s mercies”. Divine Mercy Sunday is not a new feast that conflicts with Easter but

the renewal of an ancient feast of the Church, that celebrates Christ rising from the dead and thereby bringing everlasting life to mankind, which is the ultimate act of God’s Divine Mercy.

How to Prepare for the Feast of Mercy - the Sunday after Easter Day

The following are the simple steps requested by our Lord in preparation for the Feast, so that the Father will grant you complete healing of the soul. On Mercy Sunday, go to a Church where they are being fully obedient to the desires of Jesus and follow the steps He asked of us in the revelations for this day.

The revelations in the Diary of St. Faustina make the following quite clear: (1) The Feast should be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter (2) It should be preceded by a Novena of Chaplets of Divine Mercy beginning on Good Friday (3) An act of mercy should take place in our lives, on each day of the novena, as part of our preparation for the feast. We should be merciful to others in our words, deeds and prayers. Merciful Word: forgiving those that you have a grievance with Merciful Deed: is to carry out some work of mercy or donate to a work of mercy Merciful Prayer: to say prayers for sinners in need of God’s Mercy (4) The Image of Divine Mercy should be ceremoniously blessed on the day (5) We should demonstrate publicly our trust in Jesus, Divine Mercy.

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This can be carried out by kissing or touching the Image, and saying the words aloud “Jesus I trust in You”. This can be done either during the celebration, like the kissing of the cross on Good Friday, or as people leave the Church, if numbers attending, prevent it during the ceremony. (6) Confession and Communion on the day: If confession is not possible on the day, it should be as close to the day as possible. The important requirement is that your soul should be in a state of grace on the day. St. Faustina made her confession in preparation for the feast on the Saturday before. Communion, as always, should be accompanied by complete trust in Divine Mercy. (7) The Sermon by the priest on that day must be on God’s Mercy that is the mercy which God the Father bestows on us through Jesus Christ His Son. (8) We must contemplate, on this day, the Mystery of our Redemption as the greatest revelation of Divine Mercy towards us. This is also a day of extraordinary opportunity to bring erring souls with us in spirit, to the throne of Gods mercy, with petitions of prayer, and offer these souls up to Jesus when He promises to heal and strengthen them. Jesus said “I yearn for souls, on the day of My Feast, the Feast of My Mercy, you will bring faint souls to the spring of my mercy, where I shall heal and strengthen them”.

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Images. The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Rome. Photos, J. Bugeja

2016 Gibraltar Diocesan Pilgrimage

to see Pope Francis and Padre Pio

ot only did this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pilgrims to Rome enjoy a fantastic visit to the Vatican Basilicas, where they attended Mass with the Holy Father, and were seated only a few yards from the altar, but also they visited the

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Shrine of the Capuchin friar, Padre Pio (above) where they were able to venerate the corporeal remains of the holy man where he lies in a crystal case in San Giovanni Rotondo. It is estimated 7,000,000 pilgrims visit the Shrine each year.

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LET’S JOIN

he Cursillo Movement is actively supporting the Year of Mercy which commenced on December 8th last year. A Jubilee Year is when the Catholic Church, across the world, takes approximately a year to focus on forgiveness and healing in a special way. Catholics are encouraged to join together in prayer, go to confession, and share Catholicism with others. The purpose of a Jubilee Year is to help people grow spiritually, strengthen their faith, encourage works of service, and to promote unity within the Catholic Church and society in general. The last Jubilee Year prior to this one was in 2000, called by Pope Saint John Paul II. In promoting the spirit of the Jubilee Year, and specifically praying together, the Cursillo Movement contacted the Youth Prayer Group and discussed the possibility of holding a joint prayer meeting. Discussions commenced late last year and a date was agreed for Monday the 25th January. Coincidentally,

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both groups tend to hold their prayer meetings on Mondays, so it was relatively easy to co-ordinate, but what nobody predicted was how special this event was to be. Many of us miss out on so much because we only pray by ourselves, yet, when Jesus gave us an outline for prayer, he spoke about praying together. There is power in group prayer, if you are not praying with others then you are not getting the support you need and you are missing out on one of the major benefits of being a Christian. Jesus says “whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them (Matthew 18:19-20). That’s the power of praying with other people. The evening commenced with some prayers led by the Youth, followed by some joint work groups focusing on the theme ‘Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy’. The groups were asked to jot down on a sheet of paper everything that came to mind

when they thought about Mercy. The surprise was to come later when all the sheets were put together to produce a beautiful picture of the face of our Lord. The event ended with a beautiful session of Eucharistic Adoration led by Father Charlie. That evening was living proof of the benefits to be derived by praying together. Further events are planned for this year. Every month, the Cursillo Movement are dedicating one of their weekly prayer meetings to the Year of Mercy. The next meeting will be held on Monday 21st March at 9pm at St. Theresa’s Church, everyone is welcome, in fact if you are thinking of attending why not bring a friend. On Friday the 18th and Saturday 19th of March, the Cursillo Movement are holding a weekend retreat at the Europa Retreat Centre. This retreat will also focus on the Year of Mercy and it promises to be a brilliant event. There will be prayers, singing, adoration, personal testimonies, group sessions and talks by the clergy. There is no

entrance fee, tea and coffee will be provided, although attendees are asked to take a packed lunch on the Saturday. If you would like to attend please book your place by phoning 58008885 or 54005877, everyone is welcome, you do not have to have experienced a Cursillo Weekend to attend. During the months of April and May the Cursillo Movement will be holding their popular Cursillo Weekends. As is customary, separate events are held for men and women. The weekend for ladies is being held from the 14th to the 17th April and the men’s weekend is being held from the 19th to the 22nd May. At times people miss out on attending a weekend through fear of the unknown, if you are one of them, here is some information about what happens during the weekend. The event begins on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday evening and consists of a series of talks given by laypeople and the clergy. The events are held at the Retreat Centre.

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TOGETHER IN

In an atmosphere of friendship and joy, you’ll have an opportunity to:

PRAYER

• Gain a better understanding of yourself (Encounter with Self) • Experience the presence and love of Jesus (Encounter with Christ) • See how personal and spiritual growth can be enhanced through a caring Christian community (Encounter with Others)

Spiritual topics to be introduced on the weekend include:

• The lay person’s role within the Church • Meaning of grace and sacraments

• Importance of prayer, study, and action • Christian leadership • Our call to bring Christ to others • The importance of supporting one another in our efforts to live an authentic Christian life There is no charge for the weekend, although donations are welcome. It is important to note that, no one is ever refused the opportunity to attend a Cursillo Weekend for lack of funds. If you are interested in attending please contact us on 58008885 or send us an email on cursillogibraltar@ gmail.com and we shall send you the enrolment forms. No one is too far away from God and/or the Church or too well informed or too spiritual to experience a Cursillo, so we look forward to seeing you there. God Bless. Cursillo Team Leaders

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The Quality of MERCY Anne Mesilio writes...

Are you up for the challenge?

eaders will recall that when Pope Francis opened the doors of Banqui Cathedral, in the Central African Republic during his visit there last November 2015, he was also opening an extraordinary Year of Mercy. The Central African Republic was home to one of humanities earliest civilisations until, in the middle of the last millennia, the slave trade decimated this ancient society. Its history is strewn with poverty, human abuses, civil wars, torture and, despite independence, this sorrowful country is in dire straits.

Stricken by the suffering Pope Francis encountered, he recognised that the only path to peace is through mercy, mutual forgiveness and reconciliation. Now, that seems a tall order in this world of woe and strife and ‘man’s inhumanity to man’, but it is for this very reason the Pope is leading us towards an understanding, that mercy is not only shown by God, it should also be shown by us. He made Banqui the spiritual capital of prayer for mercy. What is mercy, and what is required of us during this year? Let’s start with Shakespeare (1564-1616), “The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.

It is twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes” (Merchant of Venice). It costs nothing to show mercy, it is not earned, it is given. From the Latin word ‘misericordia’ meaning pity/ misery and ‘cor’ meaning heart, we need to relieve a heart full of misery. This can be caused by sin, physical or mental illness, unemployment, betrayal, abandonment, divorce, and as Europe reels from the unprecedented influx of refugees, people robbed of their homes, livelihoods and dignity.

Mercy calls into practice a willingness to help anyone in need.

Mercy is a theological concept, that may seem abstract, but should be seen as compassion, forgiveness shown when it is within one’s power to punish or harm. This is true mercy, given willingly, in the name of our shared humanity. “It is an attribute of God himself”. (Shakespeare). A Jubilee year is celebrated by the Church to receive blessings and pardon from God, as well as the remission of sins. Usually

R ISTI A

they draw pilgrims to Rome, and in the past extra doors were opened to accommodate the expected crowds (they became known as Holy Doors). This year, in a departure from the norm, becoming a hallmark of this Papacy, Pope Francis has asked for doors to be opened in local churches throughout the world, so that “the Jubilee is in the entire world, not just in Rome”. Since the throwing open of that Holy Door in the heart of Africa, many have followed suit worldwide. Here in Gibraltar, at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, we have our own open door. Spurred by curiosity I walked through this door and turned to look back. Framed in the doorway was a view of the Crib (see photo in January’s magazine, page 3) and I was struck by its significance in this Holy Year. Where God is born mercy will flourish. Jesus came to share our lives, and the Crib reminds us of this great mercy, so selflessly bestowed. The gift of peace radiates from the Crib and reminds of the Pope’s words “May we never get used to the poverty and decay around us. A Christian must act”. What would really stand out this year, as an act of unparalleled Continued on page 15

FUNDING AVAILABLE

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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Our Lady of ourdes Novena

n the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes the faithful of the Diocese, who had been attending one

or other of the Novenas, braved the rain to carry Our Lady in procession round their parish.

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Photo: The Gibraltar Chronicle / J. Bugeja

The Sacred Heart procession paused at the recently renovated John Mackintosh wing of the Old St. Bernard Hospital. Some

of the elderly residents from the facility came down to the front of the building to receive a blessing from Mgr. Paul Bear.

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Our Lady of ourdes Novena

ne of the participants, of the St. Paul’s parish Novena in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes, said that it had brought many blessings. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit

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Photo: The Gibraltar Chronicle / J. Bugeja

Lourdes in France, to drink or bathe in the healing waters at the foot of the cliff where the young visionary, now Saint, Bernadette Soubirous heard Our Lady say “I am the immaculate conception.”

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Continued from page 12 mercy, would be to see Europe welcome the many refugees who suffer cold, poverty and rejection. Especially the innocent children, travelling in frightening and inhuman conditions and at risk of their lives. There is a dignity in every human life that needs to be protected. This, for me, raised the thorny question of abortion. Mercy given here needs to be tangible and gritty because the tragedy of abortion has led to insensitivity in welcoming new life. Many women bear scars in their hearts as a result of this agonising and painful decision. Perhaps in this Year of Mercy it would be, well, merciful, to take a closer look and remember that mercy ‘is twice blessed’. The Pope has declared that those who have procured abortion may “with contrite heart seek forgiveness for it, especially in this year of mercy”. A life has been taken, which must cause sorrow in heaven, because God made every one of us in his image and likeness; “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”. Yet, God readily forgives those who, with a sincere heart, repent and ask for forgiveness. There is richness in bestowing mercy, and throughout this year a Jubilee Indulgence may be gained by performing works of mercy, making a pilgrimage, by acts of penance and fasting. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy… For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust” (Psalm 103:8, 14). I cannot help but wish that our Church

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leaders would have taken careful note of that during the Family Synod in Rome recently. The question of divorced and remarried Catholics, who have been banned from receiving Communion, seems a very harsh judgement. How cannot a caring and merciful Church, understand and put into practice, the true mercy and transformative powers of God? Having had to divorce or be divorced is a struggle, and barring those who have had to experience it, is to cut off a source of hope and comfort, just when it may be needed most. In this Year of Mercy it may be time to take another, less judgemental look, at those who are deemed worthy of this (undeserved) disgrace and disapproval. If we look into our hearts we may not have to range too far from home to grant this gift of mercy. It costs nothing to forgive once we come to terms with the need and to act can make us richer in character, a ‘feel-good’ factor in modern parlance.