Feb 2019 212

Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Gibraltar 3 - 11 February 2019 Torchlit Processions Monday 11 February

Editorial selected by Fr. Stuart Chipolina

Are you ready to let God into your life

every day?

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 Image: Our Lady of Lourdes Torchlit Procession © John Hickey

Fr. Stuart examines the habits of those who reap the rewards of Faith and perseverance

H

ave you ever thought about the things that we all do every day?

I’m not talking about things that you do once in awhile, or once a month, or even once a week. I’m talking every, single day. Maybe you read the newspaper every day. Maybe you make your bed every day.

Maybe you use your keys to lock or unlock something, every day.

Maybe you eat breakfast every

2

Tweet with us!

@uponthisrockmag

day. Maybe you exercise every day. Maybe you watch television every day. A lot of people do.

That list of things that each one of us does every day is probably longer than we’d first think. And that list of things that ALL of us do every day, is probably much shorter than we think. Most all of us sleep some every day, but we know that on any given day there are people who aren’t sleeping for one reason or another. Most of us eat every day, and yet, we know there are people who routinely go more than a day without eating. Probably more likely, we all drink something every day. To not do so would make you dehydrated. Most all of us go to the bathroom every day. We won’t get into that here.

And hopefully, all of us brush our teeth every day. When I was a boy, I knew a boy in our neighbourhood who hated to brush his teeth. He always said that when he got older he was going to be monk, because he had heard that monks don’t have to brush their teeth. I don’t even think the boy was Catholic. Plus, let me assure you, even monks have to brush their teeth. Monks live in pretty close proximity to one another, and they would not have bad breath for long when in training in a monastery!

On the Feast of the Presentation, which is normally

CAN’T wait, and CAN’T be put on the back burner. Sometimes God wants us right now! We’ve got to make God more and more a part of our daily lives. What do we have to do to make that happen?

You know, not brushing your teeth every day, not taking a shower every day, not eating right every day, not exercising every day, not getting enough sleep every day, all of these things can get us into trouble

on or around the 2nd of February, we hear the story of Simeon and Anna. And the Gospel tells us that both Simeon and Anna went to the Temple every day, because both of them believed that one day, they would see the Messiah there. They went every day! The Gospel says, in a nice way, that they were both older. So this is something that Simeon and Anna had done for a long time. And of course, as we just heard, they are both rewarded for their Faith and their perseverance, by the fact that they do get to see Jesus on the day that He is presented to God in the Temple. God fulfils His promises to Simeon and Anna. All those days, all those trips, all that time they spent at the Temple, they get to see the Messiah that will save them and us. It must have been quite a day.

one way or another. So too, not letting God into your life every day can cost you. We can miss out on so much! Don’t let that happen. Let God fulfil His promises to you every day!

May God bless us especially on the Feast of the Presentation, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…

First published on St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church online.

Simeon even says, “Lord, now I can go in peace, my eyes have seen the salvation.”

This Feast Day and this story has got to make all of us think, how much is God a part of our lives every single day? We don’t all have to come to the Temple every day, like Simeon and Anna did. And yet shouldn’t there be some acknowledgment of God every day in our lives?

God has made promises to us, and we have made promises to Him. How can we remember those promises if we go on day after day without even remembering God? This is why we’ve got to find some time for God every day in our lives. God wants us in communion with Him all the time. What if Simeon and Anna decided NOT to go to the Temple that day when Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the Temple?

They would have missed out!

Are we missing out on a lot of great things, all because we’re NOT there for God? Sometimes we really do need to show up. Sometimes our presence can make all the difference in the world.

Sometimes our prayer life and our relationship with God

About the artwork:

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is a painting in oil on canvas by Sebastien Bourdon from circa 1644, currently in the Louvre, Paris.

The scene is one of every day life in the temple, Anna and Simeon hold the infant Jesus at the altar, while a figure is looking at the turtle doves they have brought as gifts.

The artist, Sebastien Bourdon was born in Montpellier, France.

He was initially apprenticed to a painter in Paris but in spite of his poverty he managed to get to Rome in 1636; there he studied the paintings of Nicolas

Join us on Facebook

Poussin, Claude Lorrain and Caravaggio, until he was forced to flee in 1638. Bourdon’s facility rendered him adept at portraiture and landscapes, ruins, mythological and history painting like other members of Poussin’s circle who were working in Rome.

In 1652 Christina of Sweden made him her first court painter. Bourdon spent most of his working career outside France, although he was a founding member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1648.

He died in Paris in 1671.

3

4

Upon This Rock is online

LOUISA AGUILERA

2018

Diocesan Crib Competition received this year - a record breaking year - it has been very encouraging seeing new families coming forth year after year, as well as schools and places of work.

Well done to all !

Crib Building Traditions

WINNER Elderly Care Day Centre, Daffodil House

For the first time in the history of the Diocesan Crib Competition the ‘Best Crib’ title has been won by the same entrant two years in a row.

W

inner of Best Crib was the Elderly Care Day Centre at Daffodil House, Waterport Terraces.

The elderly began making their crib as far back as September 2018, as it was a totally ‘knitted crib’, and by totally I mean palm trees, ground, homes, animals and figures.

Sadly, some of the elderly who took part in this venture, never saw their success as they had already passed away by the time the judging was held in December. When the Elderly Care Day Centre were contacted informing them of their success, the Judges and Crib Organizers were informed of those who had passed away and they were given a special tribute by the other members of the group.

Very fitting indeed.

Congratulations to all those who took part in all categories.

Both groups of Judges found

it extremely difficult to decide on single winners in each category. Two whole days were dedicated in visiting and judging and finally deliberating to reach the final result. All Entries received a Certificate describing their Crib receiving a ‘Highly Commended’ from the Judges, whilst overall Best Cribs received Prizes.

A total of 26 entries were

Through the ages, the Nativity has been depicted in many different media, both pictorial and sculptural. Pictorial forms include murals, panel paintings, manuscript illuminations, stained glass windows and oil paintings.

Gibraltar’s creative crib builders have awed the competition judges with their inspiring use of materials. Freestanding sculptures, grouped into a Nativity scene or crib, are seen inside or outside churches, homes, public places, places of work and schools. The scale of the figures may range from miniature to life-sized. These Nativity scenes derived from acted ‘tableau vivants’ in Rome, although St. Francis of Assisi gave the tradition a great boost.

Acted scenes evolved into the Nativity play and many schools in Gibraltar continue with this annual Christmas tradition.

Geraldine Celecia Customs EPU

www.uponthisrock.gi

5

Schools Winner Scouts 1st & 4th Pack Bishop Fitzgerald School St. Anne’s School

St. Joseph’s Church

Loreto School

St. Teresa’s Church

Schools Winner Bayside ALC Dept.

St. Bernard’s Junior School 6

Tweet with us!

St. Bernard’s First School @uponthisrockmag

Schools Winner Governor’s Meadow Live Crib

Amy Montiel

St. Joseph’s First

Join us on Facebook

7

2018

Diocesan Crib Competition: Homes

Dorothy Fitzgerald

Olivia Cocklan

Alexis Bishop Chichon

Jaylen Cook

Muriel Edwards 8

Sophie Celecia

Socorro Cortes

Maddie Newnham

Zoe Alvarez

Upon This Rock is online

House Winner Fernando Seromenho Jessica de los Santos

Isabella Perez

www.uponthisrock.gi

9

By Josué Villaión

‘We know now – say Syrian students helped by charity Sponsored by

UP to 300 Syrian university students in war-torn Homs are now able to continue their courses, thanks to help from a leading Catholic charity.

C

hristian student Sandra Satmeh told Aid to the Church in Need that the charity’s university grants are invaluable for families impoverished by the civil war.

She said: “It is a big help to our families, since we barely have enough to eat or to pay the rent on our homes.”

Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, ACN has given more than £3.2 million to support school and university places.

Thanking the charity for its support for university students in Homs, young student Pascal Napki said: “We know now that we are not alone.

10

Tweet with us!

@uponthisrockmag

“This gives us the motivation to complete our studies and at the same time to help those who are most in need here in Homs.”

Civil engineering student Anaghem Tannous also stressed how education was helping Christians in a region devastated by war.

He said: “There has been a great deal of suffering in Homs, and many families have lost everything in the war.

“Being able to continue with my studies is what has helped me to remain hopeful and stay happy through these years.

The Bishop Carmel Zamitt appeal: Helping Christians in the Holy Land

that we are not alone’

“Now I want to be able to deepen my knowledge and help other people here in my country.”

Wissam Salloum, 21, a software engineering student, said: “I’m in my fourth year.

Hopefully next year I will graduate, but I would like to

continue my studies in order to avoid being sent to war.”

Syrian men can be conscripted at 18 for an open-ended period, unless there is only one man in the family or they are studying

at university.

Mr Salloum added: “Many thanks for your help. There are many of us facing difficulties, but you never failed us with your support.”

Photographs from Homs, Syria. Left: University students supported by ACN; Right: Sr. Joseph Marie Chanaa with university students receiving ACN help (© ACN).

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.

11

Anna Bensusan reports that GibMissionAfrica provides meals for 23,000 children every day, please donate if you can.

Wonderful

Renditions E

The annual GibMissionAfrica Carol Singing and Fundraising event was held on Saturday 22nd December 2018 outside Morrison’s Supermarket.

12

very year for the past 11 years at least, a group of friends have set up outside Morrisons and have been carol singing to raise funds for GibMissionAfrica, formerly called Fr. George Grima’s Missionary Institute.

They would like to send a huge thank you to Morrisons for always allowing them the use of their forecourt for this event.

Anna explained that this year was particularly successful as they had another group joining in, The Rendition Singers, this extra help allowed the group to collect more funds. The general public was extremely generous, as always, and a record amount of money was raised, for which they are very grateful.

“Despite the untimely passing

of our dear Fr. George Grima last year, GibMissionAfrica is very much alive and we are working very hard to continue to raise money to help thousands of poor, starving children around the world, providing meals for over 23,000 children every single day whilst funding projects such as building new orphanages and schools in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.”

If you would like to find out more about GibMissionAfrica and its work, visit our website: gibmissionafrica.com or Facebook page: GibMissionAfrica Gibraltar 2017, ‘Like’ the page for regular updates and information.

If you would like to donate money to GibMissionAfrica…

Upon This Rock is online

‌here are the bank details: Bank: Gibraltar International Bank Account holder: GibMissionAfrica Account No. 11021001 Alternatively, a donation can be sent by post to: GibMissionAfrica c/o Ms Maribel Arias 56 Kingsway House Alameda Estate Mobile: +350 57561000

www.uponthisrock.gi

13

SAMUEL

The continuing serialisation of a story by Manolo Galliano.

- God’s Special Gift

This is the story of Samuel, a child with a mental disability and his encounter with Jesus, who became his very special friend.

Continuing from Issue 211

Chapter 4

From the day that his carer died and he had run away in grief, falling into the arms of Jesus, the lives of Samuel and his family had changed immeasurably...

“Samuel, Samuel!” He heard somebody calling his name repeatedly, but it sounded very far away and he tried with all his might to shut out that insistent voice. He felt so very happy where he now was, and he didn’t want anything or anybody to interrupt this glorious feeling of peace.

There he was, running barefoot over a wide expanse of green pastures carpeted with flowers of all shapes and colours under a brilliant blue sky. He turned around and saw a large flock of sheep and their lambs frolicking playfully under the swaying palm trees. He moved stealthily in their direction and started to chase them; as they scattered about he suddenly noticed the tall figure of a man, dressed in a dazzling white robe.

Samuel approached him fearlessly and saw that the man’s face seemed to shine like the moon at night. Shielding his eyes, he looked up at him and immediately recognised him as Jesus, his very special friend.

He was almost certain now that he was the one who must have been calling his name so insistently and so he spread out his arms wide in welcome to him. Suddenly, he felt himself being shaken roughly, “Samuel, Samuel, do wake up!” He opened his eyes cautiously and stared with complete surprise at his sister, Rachel, bending over him. Sadly, he realised that it had just all been a dream.

Samuel reacted angrily, “I hate you!” he exclaimed loudly as he tried to hide his head under the blanket, “Leave me alone or I’ll tell Papa! I want to get back to Jesus, he’s waiting for me!”

Rachel, realising that it would be useless to argue with her brother when he was in such a mood, started to nudge him and tickle him until he could stand it no longer. In the next instant, he had leapt up from bed and began to chase his giggling sister

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.

14

Tweet with us!

round and round the room. His petulant anger soon dissolved into shrieks of laughter and after a while, feeling quite exhausted, they both slumped down on the floor holding each other tightly.

Suddenly, Samuel cupped his sister’s face in his pudgy hands and gazed into her dark hazel eyes, “Rachel, I don’t think I hate you anymore.” His sister looked at his solemn little face and burst out laughing, “And I think I love you more and more each day, even if you are a silly lazybones!” she said, “Now, seriously, you must get dressed whilst I prepare something for you to eat, because, today, if you are a really good boy, we might be going to see Jesus”.

Samuel could hardly believe his ears. “Hurrah! I’m going to see my friend again!” he shrieked, jumping up and down excitedly.

“Come on, quick, let’s hurry up before he goes away without us!”

Rachel smiled as she left the room, thinking of how happy her brother was nowadays and how much their whole lives had changed since their first encounter with Jesus.

Without doubt, the greatest transformation had become most evident in their father who seemed to have found, at long last, the peace and joy that had been lacking in his life for so long.

But possibly the greatest change affecting them all had been the fact that within the last few weeks they had moved, bag and baggage, from their native town of Nazareth and settled in the town of Magdala, on the shores of Lake Galilee. The decision to move had been

@uponthisrockmag

taken by their father, after much soul-searching, as a direct result of the dreadful incident the previous year when Jesus had almost been killed by an unruly mob.

It was true that their present house, situated on the outskirts of Magdala, well away from the smoke and smell of its dye works, was much smaller than their previous home. However, the cooler weather more than made up for it and it was a constant joy to be living beside the clear blue waters of the lake and be surrounded, wherever one looked, by so many green fields and orchards.

When deciding where to set up their new home, Jacob had taken into account the fact that Jesus had recently made nearby Capernaum, and the surrounding towns and villages, the centre for his preaching. In this way, they would have a greater opportunity of learning more about the Master, as Jesus was now popularly called, and in some measure attempt to put his teachings into practice.

Even now, at this very moment, her father was up in Nazareth, making all the final arrangements to sell their house and lands, and, what would have been most surprising to anyone who had known him previously, she knew that he intended to give a large proportion of the proceeds to the poor. In his absence, Rebecca had been left in charge of Samuel and of their new home, helped by just a handful of servants.

Whilst she was thinking about all these recent events, Rachel, who was a very practical young woman, was also busying

Story so far can be found at uponthisrock.gi/articles herself packing a basket with barley loaves, pickled fish and some fruit. She well knew that her brother had a most voracious appetite, and if as expected, they were to spend a good part of the day following the Master, then there might not be much of an opportunity to buy any food at any of the villages or towns nearby.

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by Samuel rushing into the room, clutching his beloved flute, and exclaiming, “Quick, quick! Let’s go, before we are too late!” With that, and completely forgetting that he had not had any breakfast, he started pushing and shoving his sister impatiently towards the door. Rachel just had time to clutch the prepared basket and quickly throw a shawl over her head before hurrying away with her brother towards the shore in the direction of Capernaum.

They skipped along the main highway, hand in hand, watching with increasing curiosity and amusement, the antics of a pair of brightly coloured kingfishers trying to catch their early morning meal. The birds would fly up high into the sky, wheeling and soaring overhead, and after seemingly stopping in mid-air for a split second, would suddenly swoop down, diving into the still waters of the lake and appearing moments later with small shining silver fish in their beaks.

After a while Samuel, who had by now tired of watching this never-ending display, managed to wriggle free from his sister’s grasp and sprinted with all his might along the road, heedless to Rachel’s frantic pleas to stop.

So engrossed was he in trying to get away, that he accidentally bumped heavily against a tall woman, walking immediately in front of him.

For a moment, she appeared to be about to lose her balance and fall down, but steadying herself, she turned around sharply and looked long and hard at Samuel who stared up at her fearfully, expecting to be told off severely for his unruly behaviour. Realising that he was only just a little boy, and by then having got over her initial surprise, she took him gently by the elbow and amidst peals

of laughter, cried out loudly, “Who does this little billy-goat belong to?”

At that precise moment, Rachel arrived hurriedly on the scene and grabbing her brother by the scruff of the neck, apologising for what had happened.

“Don’t worry, my dear,” the woman told her, “I realise it was just an accident and that he didn’t mean any harm.” Then, turning to Samuel, she asked him, “Now, I’m sure that you are not really a billygoat, are you, little boy?”

Samuel, having by now recovered his confidence and realising that she was not really angry with him, retorted, “No, I’m not! Samuel is who I am!

And when I tell my friend Jesus what you have called me, he’s going to be very cross with you!”

Rachel felt more and more

embarrassed about all this and would have given her brother a well-earned scolding there and then, if the woman hadn’t reacted by laughing out loud at hearing his reply.

“Well, I’ll tell you something,” she said, bending down beside him, “As Jesus also happens to be a very good friend of mine, we’ll do one thing. You don’t tell him what I called you and I,

for my part, won’t say anything of how you pushed me just now.

Is that a deal, Samuel?”

He thought about it for a moment and then replied, “Yes, alright”.

With that, he planted a very wet kiss on her cheek and taking her hand he said “Come on, now.

What are we waiting for? Let’s hurry up before Jesus goes away without us.”

To be continued…

An Advent Adoration

His Lordship Bishop Carmel led an Advent Adoration organised by Emmaus Youth Group and Mission 2020 at The Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned last December

Join us on Facebook

15