Dear Friends... Editorial selected by Fr. Stuart Chipolina
...How does the
resurrection of Jesus Y
ou might think that the answer is obvious, but that is not what everyone thinks.
Some will say, “So what? Even if Jesus was raised from the dead, and there are witnesses to that fact, then what has that got to do with you and me.” One way to look for an answer to this question is to consider again the story of the conversion of Cornelius and his family. In the first reading today Peter
2
make a difference for us? addresses them. It is through Peter’s expression of the good news of Jesus Christ that we see how we are connected to the resurrection and how we receive salvation. Salvation is probably not a very much-used word nowadays. Do we really need salvation, after all most of our problems can be solved by a visit to the doctor, the bank manager, a therapist or someone else. We may need to be saved from ourselves but that is as far as any idea of personal
Tweet with us!
salvation goes, as our society has little concept of sin. Many of us feel that our future is in our own hands: we can become anything we want to be. This applies not just to career or personal relationships, but also to sexuality and gender. In the time of Jesus the term salvation encompassed many things. There was salvation from foreign oppression, in which Cornelius as a Roman soldier was instrumental, and also there was salvation from sickness,
@uponthisrockmag
famine or from demonic power. In fact one needed to be saved from everything from war to sin. In most ancient cultures different gods dealt with specific areas of need and these gods were appeased by offerings and sacrifices. Although a pagan, Cornelius was different; he glimpsed the true God in the God of the Jews. Theirs was a god who cared for his people and Cornelius prayed to their god and gave alms to the Jews. He was rewarded with
a visit from an angel and the message that his prayers and alms had been accepted. He was also commanded to seek out Peter. By means of a vision Peter learns that God’s salvation is available to non-Jews and that the laws relating to diet and ritual cleanliness do not prevent them from becoming followers of Jesus, and that if they believe in him they will have their sins forgiven through his name. The Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard Peter’s words, and Peter commanded them to be baptised. This may not be what was expected or even hoped for, but sin is another word for being separated from God; and this gulf between God and his creatures was overcome by Christ’s death and resurrection. That is why St. Paul can say we should look for heavenly things; because we are now living in the way God wanted us to live, in harmony with him, if only we can see that to be the case. The sad thing is that being reconciled with God is not always in the forefront of our minds as we celebrate Easter Day. Many people are so far from God that they don’t catch glimpses of the divine in the ordinary matters of everyday life, yet we believe that if we seek the God of truth then that God will come to meet us in everyday things. Just think for a moment what our world would be like if people saw each other as places where the Spirit of God dwells. If we saw others as gifts from God and that God dwells in them, our attitude would change to those who live in far off countries as well as those nearer home. We would stretch out the hand
of friendship and cooperation; there would be more peace and less war; education would be for everyone throughout the world; and children would not die for lack of food or clean water. The resurrection makes a difference now not just in the world to come. Mary of Magdala brought the news of the empty tomb to Peter and the beloved disciple, who then raced to the place where Jesus had been laid. Peter saw the grave clothes of Jesus but not much else. Nevertheless these traces of the Lord were enough for him to see and believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. In looking for the Lord they were rewarded with the gift of faith in his resurrection. ‘Seeing is believing’ took on a new meaning at that moment. Cornelius saw in the life and worship of the Jews enough of
the presence of the true God to seek more, and found salvation for his family in Christ. As the redeemed People of God we are able to see with eyes of faith glimpses of the heavenly things that await us. So, Jesus’s resurrection matters to every single one of us, just as it did
to Cornelius and the apostles, because we now see clearly that if we die with Christ, then we will rise with him. Article first published by Fr. Malcolm McMahon O.P. www.english.op.org/torch/ eeing-salvation April 2017 Photo credit: italkcafe.
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. Cover Photo: Lara Smiddy Page ©A.Sargent
Join us on Facebook
340 Page Likes
3
4
Upon This Rock is online
Church News by Devin Watkins
Mary Mother
of the Church
Pope Francis institutes a new Marian celebration to be held Pope Francis frequently visits Rome’s famous Marian every year. icon ‘Salus Populi Romani’ in
T
he Holy Father has inserted the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, into the Roman Calendar on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday.
Pope Francis has decreed that the ancient devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, be inserted into the Roman Calendar. The liturgical celebration, B. Mariæ Virginis, Ecclesiæ Matris, will be celebrated annually as a Memorial on the day after Pentecost. In a decree released last month by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah, its Prefect, said the Pope’s decision took account of the tradition surrounding the devotion to Mary as Mother of the Church. He said the Holy Father wishes to promote this devotion in order to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety”.
‘Mother of the Church’ in tradition The decree reflects on the history of Marian theology in the Church’s liturgical
the Basilica of St. Mary Major, especially before and after pilgrimages abroad.
established that ‘the Mother of God should be further honoured and invoked by the entire Christian people by this tenderest of titles’”.
tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers. It says Saint Augustine and Pope Saint Leo the Great both reflected on the Virgin Mary’s importance in the mystery of Christ. “In fact the former [St. Augustine] says that Mary is the mother of the members of Christ, because with charity she cooperated in the rebirth of the faithful into the Church, while the latter [St. Leo the Great] says that the birth of the Head is also the birth of the body, thus indicating that Mary is at once Mother of Christ, the Son of God, and mother of the members of his Mystical Body, which is the Church.” The decree says these reflections are a result of the “divine motherhood of Mary and from her intimate union in the work of the Redeemer”. Scripture, the decree says, depicts
Mary at the foot of the Cross (cf. Jn. 19:25). There she became the Mother of the Church when she “accepted her Son’s testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal.” In 1964, the decree says, Pope Paul VI “declared the Blessed Virgin Mary as ‘Mother of the Church, that is to say of all Christian people, the faithful as well as the pastors, who call her the most loving Mother’ and
www.uponthisrock.gi
Votive Mass now made a fixed celebration Then, in the Holy Year of Reconciliation in 1975, the Church inserted into the Roman Missal a votive Mass in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. With the present decree, Pope Francis inserts that celebration into the universal Church’s liturgy as a Memorial on a fixed date. The Congregation for Divine Worship has published the official liturgical texts in Latin. Translations, the decree states, are to be prepared and approved by local Bishops’ Conferences before being confirmed by the Congregation.
HOPE
cordially invites all
Expectant Mothers Family and Friends to a
MASS at Sacred Heart Church on
Monday 9 April 2018 at 7pm 5
Bishop Carmel’s Lenten Appeal
A Generous Gift
young
O
Lara
n Tuesday the 27th February His Lordship Bishop Carmel received a very generous donation on behalf of Aid To The Church in Need (ACN) at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned. Nine year old Loreto Schoolgirl, Lara Smiddy Page, had heard about the plight of the Syrian children when watching a television news report. She was moved to compassion for the young children who she saw in such dire straits with so little security, loosing their homes, and at risk of injury or even dying in bombing attacks. She decided to sell her toys, books and games to raise funds at the Rotary Club Car Boot Sale in Morrisons Car
6
Tweet with us!
@uponthisrockmag
Park on the 18th of February. Lara explained “We raised over £200, and made a lot of children very happy.” Lara specifically wanted the money to go to “the charity that works with the children in Syria who are in dire need.” Yvonne took up the story “We are donating £250 to ACN, the Catholic Charity who work in the region.” His Lordship the Bishop in return thanked Lara for her great generosity and presented her with a book that describes what ACN is doing all over the World saying, “I’m sure when going through the book, you will learn a lot about how the Charity are helping others, and how you are helping with this, and you may like to show your friends, that they may get inspired themselves and do something too. When I was looking at the website of
Angela Sargent reports
from
Page ACN just yesterday, one of the things they said was that when it comes to helping them, there is no limit to what one can do by using one’s imagination. They mentioned several things like coffee mornings, marathons, and various things to attract attention and raise funds but they never suggested what you did, which is giving up your toys to help these people. I’m sure that your spirit of generosity will continue to grow with you, God knows how much you will do to help others in the future.” Bishop Carmel continued “I read an article written last week by Sr. Annie who we helped last year, now she has moved from Aleppo to Damascus, and she described what it was like. She said schools had to close, there was no point in carrying on, it was like living in Hell, with bombs raining down all the time and nobody was safe, ‘But’ she said, ‘we have hope! Sometime all this will end.’ Obviously, we don’t know when that will be but like all suffering it will come to an end and she asked us to pray for that. These donations are very important because these people are suffering and they need help to eat, for medicines, for light, electricity, water. ACN provide this sort of help they fix churches and convents, they help the people both spiritually and pastorally.”
AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS
His Lordship said “We have no idea what it means to suffer, living here in Gibraltar. We read about it and we are sorry for them but we have no idea what it means to suffer like that. So I can say that you are an inspiration to others.” Lara was accompanied to the presentation by her parents Yvonne and Nick Page, and members of the newly formed ACN (Gibraltar) Charity.
Sr. Annie Demerjan works with the charity ‘Aid to the Church in Need’ in Syria, she described how young families are struggling in war torn Damascus. She explained that because of rampant inflation: “Life has become expensive 100,000 Syrian pounds (£140) is needed for medicine and rent every month. None of the families can afford this – they earn less than half this amount. “It is very difficult for people to find work here and those who do work, earn very little. This is especially true for the old people.” The world is largely silent in the face of Christian persecution. The scale of the problem is so great, silence is no longer acceptable. Persecuted Christians need YOU - and all of us! Together our prayers and actions can make a difference. You can PLEDGE YOUR SOLIDARITY by: • Praying ACN’s Prayer found in leaflets in your local Church, or your own prayers for Persecuted Christians in danger. • Sharing this article and Christian Persecution facts with others so that all understand the need.
Join us on Facebook
Donation Details:
Bishop Carmel Zammit Lenten Appeal for‘Aid to the Church in Need’, Gibraltar International Bank, Account Name: ‘Trustees RCC/CAN’ Account Number: 00812022, Sort Code: 60-83-14.
340 Page Likes
7
Prayer and Fasting
The Cursillo’s Lenten Retreat
T
he Cursillo Movement is generally known for our weekend retreats, but over the last few years we have held a number of one day retreats focusing on specific themes. This year we decided to help the community prepare for lent with a retreat focusing on the importance of prayer and fasting during this period.
8
The event was held at the Catholic Community Centre on Saturday 17th February starting at 10am in the morning and it was open to everyone. The agenda for the day included talks by the Clergy and Cursillo Team Leaders, personal testimonies, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, loads of singing and the event ended with a beautiful Mass celebrated by Fr. Jonathan. We were fortunate in having the presence of both Mgr. Pardo and Fr. Jonathan who both addressed the well attended event during the course of the day. Mgr. Pardo spoke about the meaning and importance of lent and Fr. Jonathan spoke about how prayer and fasting are an important element in this period within the Roman Catholic calendar. Our Music Ministry, as always, delighted those present with beautiful and emotional songs that everyone could join in on. Refreshments were provided during the course of the day and everyone was asked to bring a packed lunch with them. During the course of the day we heard how the Lenten period, which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter, is a time for prayer and self analysis to consider our values, as a result of which we live our daily lives. During lent we should consider some fasting, not only from food but also from those things that attach us to the materialistic values of this world. Lent is a period for more prayer, not just reading prayers but talking personally to God, not only in Church but also at home or work, wherever you are since God is everywhere. The real aim of Lent is, above all else, to prepare us for the celebration of the death and Resurrection of Christ, the better the preparation the more effective the celebration will be. We can only effectively relive the mystery with a purified mind and heart. The purpose of Lent is to provide that purification, by weaning us away from sin and
selfishness through self-denial and prayer, by creating in us the desire to do God’s will and make his kingdom come by making it come first of all in our hearts. We should not think of Lent and fasting as what we must give up and rules we must follow but as a means for gaining increased spiritual growth and wellbeing. The highlights of the day were definitely the Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Mass. The Eucharistic Adoration involves the contemplation of the mystery of Christ truly present before us and during the session those present were able to open themselves to the Lord’s graces which flow from the Eucharist. There was definitely a general crescendo during the day leading us to the Holy Mass, as Pope Paul VI said “The Mass is the most perfect form of Prayer” and this certainly proved to be the case. The Lord promised us “For where to our three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Mt. 18:20) and he certainly delivered on his promise as his loving presence was felt throughout the day. We now revert to our usual function of organising weekend retreats, we have three coming up this year. From the 10th till the 13th May we have a Cursillo weekend for men and then later on in the year we have a Cursillo weekend for women, from the 11th till the 14th October and
Upon This Rock is online
photos and words Cursillo Team Leaders
another one for men from the 15th till the 18th November.
If you would like to attend please contact us on 58008885 or send us an email on cursillogibraltar@ gmail.com and we shall send you an enrolment form, we look forward to seeing you there.
God Bless, Cursillo Team Leaders
www.uponthisrock.gi
9
Renewal of
O
n the 2nd February this year at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, His Lordship Bishop Carmel presided over a celebration of Renewal of Marriage Vows for couples who had celebrated landmark Wedding Anniversaries in 2017.
Photos: Jeremy Duo
The Celebrations were organised, as in previous years, by the Christian Family Movement. Couples who have celebrated their 25th, 40th, 50th and 60th Wedding Anniversaries were invited to take part.
FUNDING AVAILABLE
The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic 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.
Marriage Vows Joseph & Ilma CELECIA Celebrating 60th Anniversary
Manolo & Violet RUIZ Celebrating 60th Anniversary
Nicolas Francis & Maria Dolores CELECIA Celebrating 50th Anniversary
John & Evelyn Noelia DIAZ Celebrating 50th Anniversary
Thomas Albert & Maria Cristina DYER Celebrating 50th Anniversary
Peter & Dorothy Sonia OTON Celebrating 50th Anniversary
Patrick Ernest & Sylvia REQUENA Celebrating 50th Anniversary
John & Yvonne SHEEHAN Celebrating 50th Anniversary
& Anniversary
A
fter the Church Service couples were invited to the Catholic Community Centre for refreshments. If you or someone you know is celebrating their 25th,
40th, 50th and 60th Wedding Anniversary this year, and would like to take part in these special celebrations early in 2019, please contact Denise Duo on Home No. 20043386 or email: duos@gibtelecom.net for more information and an application form.
Eric John & Rosabelle ABUDARHAM Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Mario & Anamaria CORTES Celebrating 40th Anniversary
John Andrew & Yvonne Anne CRUZ Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Henry & Maria Luisa DURANTE Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Hugh Victor & Elizabeth Anne GHIO Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Donald Ernest & Doria Jessica LATIN Celebrating 40th Anniversary
John Bruce & Lizette Teresa LESLIE Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Nigel Albert & Louise Rose PARDO Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Charles & Antonia Pilar TRICO Celebrating 40th Anniversary
Celebrations Gino Angelo & Margaret Pamela CATANIA Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Paul & Soraya CHINI Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Trevor & Katherine GALIA Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Ian James & Jennifer Pincho GARCIA Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Simon Marcus & Joanna LETT Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Norman & Giselle NEALE Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Jose Luis & Caroline VALDIVIA Celebrating 25th Anniversary
Paul Ian & Mayte VICTOR Celebrating 25th Anniversary
He is It has been a custom in the Easter liturgies since the early Church, especially in the East, this short greeting when the priest proclaims “He is Risen” and we joyfully respond “He is risen indeed”!
14
Risen! Painting sma-church.org
Anne Mesilio
T
hese words capture the unimaginable, unbelievable and yes, preposterous truth of Christ’s Resurrection.
They are the joyous message of Easter and we share this incredible truth with each other
Tweet with us!
on Easter Sunday morning. His death was not in vain. He has the power to overcome death, giving us our own hope for salvation and our resurrection into eternal life. “He is Risen”. It has been said the sun danced on Easter morning and why would it not for the sheer joy
@uponthisrockmag
of seeing the stone rolled away and an emergent Christ in all his glory. Triumphant. There is an awakening and expectancy around and it is often like rumours of a great happening. New beginnings in a dash of sunlight, a chirping bird, gamboling lambs, give a hint
of something great a-stirring. There is something, take a moment to stop, listen, feel the new energy forming. Wake up to this Easter energy which we have been preparing for during the forty days of Lent. Our world is a broken place and Gods plan for us did not end at the Resurrection. Oh no, this is where we start to acknowledge our sins and embrace a new life times journey to follow in his footsteps. It will not be easy but the hope of Easter Sunday morning should keep us going. Our materialistic society lends a difficulty in relating to the spiritual side of Easter and the incredible message “He is Risen”. It raises uncomfortable questions about life and death which we would rather shy away from. There may be a truth about a new life, but hey, we need the spiritual message of Easter to accept the joyful one. Pope Francis: “What would happen to us if God did not always give us the chance to start over”. Easter is a time of celebration and families get together to share and enjoy this lovely time. A strong family is the foundation of society which nourishes its youth and healthy adults. With a stable family a society grows in goodness and beauty. It is a way of infusing acceptable social behaviour, cultural norms. Sadly, this type of dynamic is less in evidence
these days as divorce rates rise. Those celebrating 50/60 years of marriage may be a fading reality but should be a source of inspiration in a changing world. There is severe stress on families these days which Pope Francis recognizes; “In many cases parents come home exhausted, not wanting to talk, and most families no longer even share a common meal”. There is too a modern day blight on our souls as suffering humanity flee their homes, sometimes leaving behind spouses, children, in a desperate scramble and yes gamble, seeking shelter from this brutality but sadly not always finding this succour. “Often, however, such migration gives rise to suspicion and hostility, even in ecclesial communities, prior to any knowledge of the migrants’ lives or their stories of persecution and destitution. In such cases, suspicion and prejudice conflict with the biblical commandment of welcoming with respect and solidarity the stranger in need.”
Join us on Facebook
(Pope Francis’ Message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 3, 2014) To be nurtured in the bosom of a loving family is a treasure beyond reckoning. The Risen Christ invites us not to ignore those less fortunate. Pope Francis will impart his
traditional Easter blessing from the Vatican with the words; “Urbi et Orbi”. For the city and the world. He has said that Easter brings; “A sign in the midst of so many calamities; a sense of looking beyond, of saying don’t look to a wall, there’s a horizon, there’s life, there’s joy”. Lets live it!
Photo: Easter Crafts egg baskets 2017
ART AND CRAFTS, SINGING AND STORY TELLING. 4 - 5pm EVERY THURSDAY AT THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY CENTRE BOOKSHOP
340 Page Likes
15