March 2019 213

• Take a fresh look at Lent!

There is beauty all around us, we must preserve it for the next generation.

• Disconnect to reconnect!

A Testimony and Report from the Young Adults’ Retreat

Editor, Fr. Stuart Chipolina

Fr. Stuart thanks everyone who contributed to the success of the St. Paul’s Parish Our Lady of Lourdes Novena last month.

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Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes has been preached in several parishes in Gibraltar for many years, to a huge and loyal following, culminating in a candle lit procession on the Feast of Our Lady of Europe, 11th February.

St Paul’s Parish Procession visits the hospital (photo above).

Generations of pilgrims have travelled to Lourdes from Gibraltar, and more recently a statue of Our Lady of Europe has also been processed there in the great underground basilica on International Day, on or near her feast day of the 5th of May. Photos contributed by St. Paul’s Parish parishioners.

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: Hiking on ’Disconnect to Reconnect’ Retreat. Photo Courtesy: Emmaus Youth Groups

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update

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ear readers, I am writing on behalf of the Mission 2020 Team with an update of some of the exciting events we have planned this year in the build up to the actual 2020 mission.

Already in February we were so blessed to have had Fr. Gavin Landers, a young dynamic priest from the Salford Diocese, leading a retreat for young adults “Disconnect To Reconnect”, (see overleaf)based on the Gospel of John in the beautiful surroundings of Finca la Alcaidesa. Though the temperature was quite low during the weekend, there was a Rosary walk and a two hour hike to warm us up. Plenty of singing, masses, confession, healing service, great fellowship and plenty of food and cups of tea to keep us all happy, warm and satisfied. We had a visit from our Bishop and Fr. Piotr on Saturday afternoon and we were really grateful for their presence.

Fr. Gavin was kept very busy as he visited Bayside and Westside school, meeting pupils and giving his testimony and teachings to very receptive children.

The youth arranged ‘A wine tasting evening with the Saints’ a fun event where wining and dining was combined with a teaching about three different Saints in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Continued page 11

HOPE

cordially invites all

Expectant Mothers Family and Friends to a

MASS at Sacred Heart Church on

Monday 25 March 2019 at 7pm

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Ongoing Christian Study and Formation

Last month another group of ladies successfully completed their ‘Women of Grace’ course at St. Paul’s Parish.

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his is the third year that the popular ladies formation course has been facilitated by Yvonne Cruz at St. Paul’s Parish Church.

A Retreat for young adults was held last month in the beautiful surroundings of Finca de Alcaidesa

St. Paul’s Women of Grace Course Graduation

One of the participants, Pamela Catania gave a beautiful testimony of her experience: “I have always prayed to God and I believe that prayer is very important. When I prayed I usually directed my prayers to Jesus or God and occasionally to some saint. However, even though I knew that Mary is

important, I didn’t usually pray to her, apart from doing the rosary (and even then, I tended to do the divine mercy). I felt that I needed to get closer to Mary and this is what prompted me to do the Woman of Grace course.

Well, not only have I become closer to Our Lady but I have also had my eyes opened to many

other aspects of our faith and it has inspired me in more ways than one. It totally surpassed all my expectations and as a bonus I now have a group of sisters in Christ who I know I can always count on. I highly recommend that anyone who feels they would like to get more in-tune with their faith, do this course.

guiding us every step of the way.

He knows the plans he has for us and with faith and trust, together with his unfailing love, all can be accomplished. He is ‘The way,

The truth and The life’. John 14:6. Alex B. Contact us on 56984000, @EmmausGibraltar www.catholic.gi/youth

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See also front cover photo.

he ‘Disconnect To Reconnect’ retreat at La Finca has been an amazing and incredible experience.

It’s been a lovely opportunity to get together, meet new people, but more importantly partake in spiritual reflection. Fr. Gavin’s talks and workshops were beautiful and inspiring. This retreat has truly shown us the love that God has for each and every one of us, as well as, the need to trust in God unconditionally, knowing that he will be with us,

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Give us this day O

n Friday the 1st February, 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

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Wedding Anniversaries in 2018.

Speaking at the event, Bishop Carmel said The Church needs to present the truth, beauty, and joy of the vocation of marriage, while at the same time, showing deep pastoral care, sensitivity, and compassion for those who have experienced failed marriages.

It is possible for a husband

and wife to live the vow to love one another in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, forever, until death do they part. I thank all our anniversary couples for your witness to God’s love. Your marriage is an icon of God’s love for us. You mirror that love which is faithful, fruitful, and forever. No doubt you have experienced challenges in your

married lives. The important thing when couples experience difficulties is to remember that God has united them in the sacred bond of marriage, that He is the foundation of that bond.

One of the problems that we face in our society is the decline in the number of marriages.

Many young people are opting to cohabitate without marriage.

Louis & Kitty Pereira Celebrating 63rd Anniversary

Sergio Manuel & Teresa Martinez Celebrating 60th Anniversary

Victor & Maria Delores Risso Celebrating 60th Anniversary

Albert & Maria Del Carmen Barnes Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Eliott & Janet Frederico Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Robert & Mary Elizabeth Gerada Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Pepe Louis & Caroline Gracia Celebrating 50th Anniversary

John & Mari Carmen Jones Celebrating 50th Anniversary

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our daily love.

Photos: Angela Sargent

Schools Winner Governor’s Meadow Live Crib Anthony & Carmen Lima Celebrating 50th Anniversary

James & Christine Nunez Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Douglas & Olympia Reyes Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Stanley Paul & Violet Riley Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Francis & Sylvia Sheriff Celebrating 50th Anniversary

Dick Joseph & Marilyn Josephine Azopardi Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Manuel & Dorothy Durante Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Joseph Anthony & Maria Elena Falero Celebrating 40th Anniversary

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James & Anna Ferro Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Kenneth & Maria Del Lourdes Lucas Celebrating 40th Anniversary

James & Giovanna McKay Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Brian & Freida Lourdes Perez Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Derek Alfred & Patricia Sene Celebrating 40th Anniversary

Raphael & Magdalena Tosso Celebrating 40th Anniversary

They question if it is possible to make the definitive decision to marry, to love one person forever. There is a fear to make a definitive choice, a life decision.

We live in a culture of the

temporary, of the provisional.

Dear couples, you bear witness that the definitive commitment of marriage is possible, that the permanence of marriage is not only possible, it is beautiful.

Mark & Romaine Alcantara Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Stephen & Elizabetta Cary Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Robert & Moira Peliza Celebrating 40th Anniversary

“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.�

Clive Albert & Marie Carmen Zammit Celebrating 40th Anniversary When one grows slack, becomes indifferent, withdraws, refuses to forgive, or stops praying, the marriage will go off course. The good news is that with effort the joy and peace of

Alan & Tracey Banda Celebrating 25th Anniversary

William & Gillaine Bear Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Xavier & Stephanie Buhagiar Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Christian & Geraldine Celicia Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Colin & Giselle Charlton Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Giles Joseph & Gillaine Celebrating 25th Anniversary

St. Paul writes to the Romans:

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Clive Albert & Nicole Lopez Celebrating 25th Anniversary

David & Giselle Martinez Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Nicholas & Sabina Pitaluga Celebrating 25th Anniversary of engaged couples that when they pray the Our Father and say “give us this day our daily bread,” they can also learn to pray:

Jason & Wendy Robba Celebrating 25th Anniversary the married life can be restored.

There are crosses in every vocation. But the Lord is

Ernest & Cludia Victory Celebrating 25th Anniversary always there to help us carry the cross and move forward.

Pope Francis said to a group

“Lord, give us this day our daily love.”

This is the true bread of the soul which sustain us in

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Fabian Joseph & Elaine Marie Reyes Celebrating 25th Anniversary going forward, the Holy Father says. So, anniversary couples and all married couples here today, I invite you to pray that simple prayer: Lord, give us this day our daily love.

May the Lord continue to bless all of you with His love!

Dear anniversary couples, may Mary and Joseph, who teach us the splendour of married love, accompany you on your journey and intercede for you always!”

The Celebrations were organised, as in previous years, by the Christian Family Movement.

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Lent

… its more than a diet The season of Lent often means different things to different people as they observe this time.

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hilst ashes on the forehead is a symbol of repentance, Lent is often observed by fasting and self denial.

Some see this as a time to diet, a chance to get fit for health’s sake, with a dash of vanity perhaps, maybe even drop a dress size, whichever reason, it’s an acknowledgement of the season. Others take a spiritual inventory in order to become more Christlike, a process early Christians called “theosis”, becoming by grace what God is by nature.

Ash Wednesday does

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have a modern day appeal.

We traditionally ‘give up’ something that we find indulgent and comforting. It is often chocolates (that’s me!), alcohol or caffeine, but what about gossip? Habits that run to excess often start to control our lives.

Talking of excesses brings me rather neatly to the environment and how Pope Francis has ranked it’s destruction as a sin. He accuses man of turning the planet into a “polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth”.

Strong words that surely we must heed. Our oceans are

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being choked by plastics caused by our own selfish and irresponsible behaviour.

Plastics are all around us, on the bus, train, plane, shops, schools, home and work, they are everywhere.

The raw materials for today’s plastics can be made from the hydrocarbons in natural gas, oil or coal. They have limitless uses!

We fell in love with plastic bags in the 60’s and our relationship has developed until now they have become an indispensable part of our daily life. Just look around you, start with your own home. We

Text and orange grove photo by Anne Mesilio discard in the region of one trillion plastic bags annually, a staggering number. As so often when we have put our faith in the wrong things, the affair has turned toxic, an existential threat.

Recently in Gibraltar an initiative was started to make February a plastic free month.

But Lent starts on the 6th of March, let us carry that forward and “Give up… to clean up”.

We need to encourage each other to do this as it is all too easy to be lazy. Talking recently with my 11 year old granddaughter I was pleasantly impressed with her awareness of the problem of pollution.

In her home the different bins are lined up for recycling items and it is strictly adhered to.

She has first hand awareness of this very important need!

It is time for us all to really focus on it, especially as last Autumn the UN issued a stark 12 year warning in which we must redress the balance of nature of which we are the custodians. It is imperative that we find new ways to create less pollution and removing single use plastic would be a very good place to start. In fact, it is starting with the small manageable things that shake us out of our ‘comfort zones’just another way of saying we are lazy! We cannot be lazy about what we bequeath to the next generation in 12 years from now, the clock is surely ticking. The early Christian

Continued from page 3 It gave Fr. Gavin a chance to meet and socialise with those who would be attending the retreat.

We continue to pray for Fr. Gavin’s ministry and vocation and God willing he will be back in Gibraltar during the summer.

Some more information of events coming up: During the Fridays/Saturdays of Lent we will be visiting the different parishes to pray the Stations of the Cross, parish dates to be confirmed through parish news-

mystic John Chrysostom; “no act or virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much time you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes or sigh continually, you do no good to others, you do nothing great”. I love that, ‘sigh continually’, so true when you reflect on it.

Recently, I spent some time away in Spain when the weather was very Spring like. The scent of the orange blossoms saturated the balmy air and the trees were laden with succulent bounty.

Strolling among vibrant orchards was a joy for the silence that wrapped itself around me like a comforting shawl. “Be still and know that I am God” was a whisper in my parched soul. There is beauty all around us and we must preserve it for the next generation. Yes, it is right to be appalled at plastic choking our God given planet but that is not enough. No, it is time to stand up and be counted this Lent, we can do it, “Give up… to clean up”, it starts with you, and me.

give up to clean up we will personally be calling all those who committed to the mission last year after the ‘Call to Holiness’ weekend to invite them to attend, we really recommend this as it

will spiritually challenge and transform us and our parishes.

This will be held in the Leisure Centre at the Cinema where we will be showing Fr. Mallon’s teachings. Continued page 15

letters.

On Sarurday 16th March we are having a Parish Transformation training day based on Fr. James Mallon’s “Divine Renovation” book and handbook (a life changing, tour de force book, a true gem)

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The Cursillo Team Leaders write…

Happiness

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e all know how great it feels to receive gifts, however, the joy of receiving does not last long.

Our lives are richer when we share, and that great inner joy comes from helping others to better their lives. Truly giving from the heart fills your life with joy and feeds your soul. Giving provides a reward that is far more valuable than the gift. True joy lies in the act of giving without expecting anything in return.

Thousands of years of human history confirm that achieving fulfilment, and happiness in life comes from making others happy, and not from being self-centred. Mother Teresa is a famous example. She found fulfilment in giving of herself to others. She helped change the expression on dying people’s faces from distress and fear to calmness and serenity. She made their pain a little easier

to bear. When people are asked why they give, a lot of them say, because God wants me to, it makes me feel better about myself, others need and I have enough to give, I want to share, it’s only right. The reality is that giving makes you feel very pleased with yourself and happy inside.

When you are focused on giving to others you are less likely to become focused on your own concerns and difficulties. A lot can be achieved by stepping out of our own environment and seeing how other people live. Your worries and difficulties may not seem as important when compared to other people’s suffering.

Giving is one of the best investments you can make towards achieving genuine happiness.

True giving comes from the heart, with no expectation of anything in return. You will find that the more you give, the more you

will receive. Our Lord said “Give, and it will be given to you, a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over--will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38) If you find yourself feeling unhappy, try making someone else happy and see what happens. If you’re feeling empty and unfulfilled, try doing some meaningful and worthwhile work and see how you feel. The catch is that you must do this work with passion and enthusiasm.

It’s the joy and love that we extend to others that brings true happiness or union with God. When we give, we reap the joy of seeing a bright smile, laughter, tears of joy and gratitude for life. We know that if people gave just a little more of their time, skills, knowledge, wisdom, compassion, wealth and love, the world would be

a more peaceful and healthier place.

The rewards of giving are priceless. If you want to have happiness, you need to give happiness. If you want love, you need to give love. It is only in giving that you receive. No matter what your circumstances in life are, you have the ability to give.

The Cursillo Movement is all about giving, that is one of our core principles and Christmas time is a great time to put this into practice. Every year we assist Mgr. Charlie Azopardi in putting together bags full of vegetables and fruit that he then distributes together with other bags full of Christmas goodies to the underprivileged in Gibraltar. This takes place one evening at St. Theresa’s Church, just a few days before Christmas and this year we also enjoyed the assistance of boys and girls from the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.

Fund raising events are also

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.

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Through Giving

extremely important as these provide the funding to be able to hold our Cursillo Weekends, it also allows us to make donations to other worthy causes in Gibraltar. Recently we donated £200 to Nazareth House. During the Christmas period we also had our traditional Children’s Party and the Cake Stall outside the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned.

Yes, giving makes you happier, but don’t take our word for it, try it out for yourself.

If you would like to experience true joy, join us at one of our Cursillo Weekends, our next weekend event is a Cursillo for men which is being held from the 21st March till the 24th March at the Europa Retreat Centre.

If you would like to attend please contact us on us on 58008885 or send us an email on cursillogibraltar@gmail. com and we shall send you an enrolment form.

We look forward to hearing from you.

God Bless Cursillo Team Leaders

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The Bishop Carmel Zammit Lenten appeal: Helping Christians in the Holy Land

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Home never to be

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t the service, parishioners packed into St. Mary’s Church, in Krak des Chevaliers (Al Husn) village, and received ‘Jesus is my Rock’ stone tablets and bottles of holy water to signify the completion of repairs to houses devastated during a two-year campaign of violence at the height of the war.

Christian families in Syria, forced from their town by extremists, celebrated their homecoming on Thursday February 14th, with a ceremony marking the reconstruction of their houses.

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Presiding at the ceremony, Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Nicolas Sawaf of Latakia, thanked Aid to the Church in Need, which funded the programme to repair 55 houses.

He said: “Given everything that the people have suffered, the violence and the hatred, who would have thought these houses

John Pontifex writes…

coming forgotten would be constructed?

“For me it is a dream and my sincere thanks to Aid to the Church in Need.”

Reflecting on how neighbours were implicated in the attacks on the Christian homes, he added: “We must remember we as Christian citizens of Syria have a special mission of love, compassion and reconciliation.

“We should not hate our enemies, we should forgive them.”

Presenting the ‘Jesus is my Rock’ tablets to representatives of each family, Fr. Andrzej Halemba, ACN Middle East projects coordinator, said: “These tablets will remind you that you are not alone, that God is always

with you and that the friends and benefactors of ACN are always praying and supporting you.”

Among those who received a tablet was Hasan Marmari, 60, who returned to his home a few weeks ago after ACN completed repairing it.

Mr Marmari, who described how his son, George, went missing five years ago during military service, said: “Of course there is still so much pain and suffering for so many of us but to be finally back home and able to re-start our lives is a huge step forward and an important sign of hope.”

The Christian area of Krak des Chevaliers village came under attack in 2012 when extremists,

including Muslims in the district, turned on them as part of the rebels’ campaign to take the nearby medieval Crusader castle, of crucial strategic significance as they sought to gain a stranglehold over the region.

As well as repairing the houses, ACN restored St. Mary’s Church, which dates back 900 years and which was badly attacked and desecrated during the violence.

Since the conflict began in 2011, the charity has completed nearly 750 projects in Syria, such as emergency help for displaced Christian families in the Valley of the Christians, which includes Krak des Chevaliers village.

Continued from page 11 Starting at 9am the film will be followed by workshops and we will serve lunch. Please, please, all are welcome come and be transformed.

We have an outreach day planned for the 4th May DETAILS TO BE CONFIRMED, BUT PLEASE

KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS as this event will need many helpers and much planning but will be an amazing and exciting day, where we can all give witness about our amazing faith, Another event planned is a Rosary Around The Rock on the 5th May on the feast day of Our Lady of Europe with prayer posts all around the Rock. More info to be shared at a later date via our parishes, as we will need all your help as we would like all parishes to come together

and take part. So please make a note of that weekend and keep it free as God will need your help.

We are very excited about these events and will keep you updated via the magazine as well as the parish news letters.

So for now please pray for all these events and quoting our beloved Pope Frances “We are all a mission on this earth; that is the reason why we are here in this world” God Bless you all, and please contact me, Joanna, for more information 58008446.

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.

Photos opposite page © Aid to the Church in Need. Top, Returning home owner Hasan Marmari with his ‘Jesus is my Rock’ tablet and a bottle of holy water. Right, Fr. Andrzej Halemba (ACN Middle East Projects Coordinator) and Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Nicolas Sawaf of Latakia at the ceremony where ‘Jesus is my Rock’ tablets were given out www.acnuk.org Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation directly under the Holy See. As a Catholic charity, ACN supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in need through information, prayer, and action.

The story of Samuel is scheduled to continue next issue.

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.

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