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DEAR FRIENDS...
Building on A SOLID W
hy does Jesus set figs and grapes against thorns and
brambles? The fig tree was the favourite of all trees for the people of Palestine. It symbolized fertility, peace, and prosperity. Grapes, likewise, produced wine, the symbol of joy. Thorns and brambles were only good for burning as fuel for the fire. There’s a proverbial saying that you know a tree by its fruit. Likewise a person will produce good or bad fruit depending on what is sown in the heart. Charles Read said: “Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Charac-
“Every one who hears my words and does them”
ter, like fruit, doesn’t grow overnight. It takes a lifetime. Jesus connects soundness with good fruit. Something is sound when it is free from defect, decay, or disease and is healthy. Good fruit is the result of sound living – living according to moral truth and upright character. The prophet Isaiah warned against the dangers of falsehood: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness (Isaiah 5:20). The fruits of falsehood produce an easy religion which takes the iron out of religion, the cross out of Christianity, and any teaching which eliminates the hard sayings of Jesus, and which push
the judgments of God into the background and makes us think lightly of sin. How do we avoid falsehood and bad fruit? By being true – true to God, his word, and his grace. And that takes character! Those who are true to God know that their strength lies not in themselves but in God who supplies the grace we need to live as his disciples. The fruit of a disciple is marked by faith, hope and love, justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. Do you cultivate good fruit in your life and reject whatever produces bad fruit? Jesus told another story about the importance of building on the right foundation to reinforce his
Upon this Rock magazine is published by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor Fr. Stuart Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.eu Production Editor: A. Sargent angela@europeaxess.com Cover: Strait of Gibraltar- Perspective Submitted by Eddie Lucas (Interbuild)
To advertise: This magazine is hand delivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements call Tel: 200 79335. Church Groups or Charities: If you would like to have an article considered for publication, please send it by e-mail to the production editor at the address above. Enquire for details of sending high resolution digital images to illustrate your article.
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 reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements.
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Foundation
lesson about sound living. When Jesus told the story of the builders he likely had the following proverb in mind: When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever (Proverbs 10:25). What’s the significance of the story for us? The kind of foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether we can survive the storms that are sure to come. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry river-bed, is a sure bet for disaster! Jesus prefaced his story with a warning: We may fool humans with our speech, but God
cannot be deceived. He sees the heart as it truly is – with its motives, intentions, desires, and choices (Psalm 139:2). There is only one way in which a person’s sincerity can be proved, and that is by one’s practice. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Our character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested. Do you cheat on an exam or on your income taxes, especially when it will cost you? Do you lie, or cover-up, when disclosing the truth will cause you injury or embarrassment? A true person is honest and reliable before God, themselves, and their neighbour. Their word can be counted on. What foundation is your life built upon? God Bless you, Fr Stuart
While digging under the floor level of the Byzantine church shown here, the archeologist learned about the structure of the floor foundations. Underneath the mosaic floor are two layers of plaster. The plaster covers a thin layer of rocks. Under the layer of rocks lie progressively larger stones. Under these larger stones is bedrock. He remarked “It was interesting to see how they constructed foundations. These foundations obviously worked given they are still intact almost two thousand years later.”
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Cover Story: Charity Marathon Climb - September 26th 2009
The Pillars of Hercules Climb For Alzheimer’s
A group of 12 locals are planning a challenging 12 hour marathon to scale the top of Jebel Musa and the top of the Rock. On the 26th September 2009, a group of twelve local volunteers have set themselves the unique challenge of climbing the two Pillars of Hercules in a mere 12 hours in aid of the Gibraltar Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Group. The twelve taking part, Eddie Lucas, John Montegriffo, Ian Torrilla, Frank Da Costa, Adrian Moreno, Willie Linares, Tony Loddo, Joe Norton, Danny Gabay, Paul Maclaren and two young determined ladies, Nicky Patterson and Rosemarie Peach
kindly agreed to provide his services free of charge which has meant the volunteers do not need to rely on taking a scheduled ferry crossing to Algeciras; but instead will depart in their own time and return as soon as they complete the climb and descend Musa. Interbuild is providing the cost of a trained guide as well as the cost of the minibus and insurance cover for all those involved. Amco Gibraltar is sponsoring the tee-shorts for the participants. The trek will start by 8am and the volunteers expect to be back and at the Top of the Rock by 8pm. Jebel Musa, sometimes incorrectly referred to Atlas or Mount Abyla, is 860 metres in height, almost exactly twice the height of Gibraltar (426 metres) and its north face is dry and devoid of vegetation. The final meandering goat’s path leading to the
hope to raise awareness (and money) for their hard work and will be lobbying for sponsorship across all sectors of Gibraltar’s business community. By mere coincidence, the 21st September 2009 is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Day. The group will sail across the strait of Gibraltar in Hire-UShop Mark Reid’s luxury yacht on Friday 25th September to Ceuta and spend the night there before departing by minibus early the following morning to the foot of Jebel Musa. Mark
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summit is of loose rock and poses the biggest challenge but the prospect of getting wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and of Gibraltar will make the attempt well worth the effort. Once they descend, the group will take a light lunch before embarking for an exciting two and a half hour sail back to Gibraltar where, it is planned, they will be dropped off in Rosia Bay. From here the final leg to the top of the Rock begins and all going to plan, the participants will celebrate their achievement with a waiting crowd of family and friends. The Gibraltar Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Group is a recently established charity and is run by a very hardworking group. A lot of time and effort is given freely so that others who follow do not experience what they have had to endure deal-
ing with an Alzheimer’s patient in one’s own family. This support group will do everything in its power to support these patients and their families. The stigma attached to Alzheimer’s needs to be eradicated and this can only be done with public awareness campaigns and in this respect, the Group is focusing and relying on the upcoming World Alzheimer’s Day on
the 21st September 2009, when the group will be in town to help and advise anyone affected by Alzheimer’s or Dementia. All monies raised by the Pillar of Hercules Challenge 2009 will help towards the realization of the aims and objectives of the Support Group.
Aloysius Alzheimer, (14 June 1864 - 19 December 1915) was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of “presenile dementia”, which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer’s disease.
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Community
A Day to Celebrate the
“My child, from your earliest youth choose instruction, and till your hair is white you will keep finding wisdom” (Ecclesiasticus 6, 18).
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hen we were children there was no time to think about the future: there was always somebody to do that for us. Nowadays we live in a society stressed out by work and by all kinds of pressures. Nevertheless, it is necessary that we stop to think about all those people that, in one way or other, educated us with their wisdom. Unquestionably, there are many
things that could fill us with knowledge, like a good book, Internet (used with discretion), the studies and degrees we can obtain; but moreover, the experiences that we gain during our life are priceless and essential to us. Life is a gift from God, but, are we aware of this reality? Or, on the contrary, we are making ourselves indifferent to the many gifts we receive from the divine Providence? It is time to open
our eyes and see that, despite our many difficulties and weaknesses, God’s mercy and love for us is great. All of us have or have had parents, grandparents, an aunt or uncle, or even a friend who have reached an old age: Maybe we can see in them a Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, who raised an offspring in their late years; perhaps a Zechariah, whose many problems have made him unable
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to understand God’s work in his life, nevertheless, had persevered and never lost faith. Or possibly there is somebody who reminds us of Anna the prophetess or old Simeon, who awaited patiently the fulfilment of God’s promises in their lives. To all these dear people we unite with pleasure in a thanksgiving prayer, because they have been to us instruments of love, constancy, faithfulness and courage. Christ is walking among us and it is time to open our doors with forgiveness and happiness, with the joy and peace of knowing we are God’s children. Every 26th of July Grandparents’ day is celebrated, honouring Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. On this day we not only pay tribute to those men and women who have grandchildren, but to all who have be-
Elderly We Thank God and England
come the elders of our society. On this lovely occasion a special Mass was held on Sunday, July 26th at Mount Alvernia House for the elderly to celebrate the lives of the residents and of all our senior citizens, asking God to bestow His blessings upon all of them.
“We Thank God and England..� is the title of a book about the evacuation of the Gibraltar civilian population during World War Two. The book is a result of six years of research with historical photos and information very kindly made available by many historical institutions. The bulk
of the photographs have also been very kindly donated by those who were evacuated and their families who are anxiously waiting to see the publications of their personal contributions for this charitable project. Joe Gingell, the author of the book, remarks that without the wonderful response and encouragement received from all those who have helped him it would have been impossible to complete his book. Joe is dedicating the book to all cancer victims. His has pledged that ALL the proceeds obtained from the sales are to be donated entirely for cancer related charities. Joe wishes to take the opportunity of appealing through this article for donations to finance the printing of a book. Although the publication of this book has been thought primarily for the purpose raising funds for cancer related charities, it is
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also intended to serve as a document of historical interest for the whole community, researchers and students. It is hoped to launch the book about mid October this year with an inter religious ceremony in memory of cancer victims and all those who died during the evacuation. Any person, business, firm or association wishing to make a contribution towards the cost of printing this book should make cheques payable in the name of Gibraltar Branch Cancer Research UK, c/o Barclays Bank , 84-90 Main Street, Gibraltar. Joe wishes to thank in advance those who have taken the time to consider his request and any willingness to support this historical project dedicated to cancer victims and in aid of cancer related charities. For further information please contact Joe Gingell on 20074601 or by e-mail: leiandchar@gibtelecom.net
Childline Gibraltar
CHILDLINE GIBRALTAR 11 Actors chosen from a group of 25 applicants.
This summer Childline Gibraltar has been preparing to film their first locally made advert. In June, following a recruitment drive the Production Team was formed, and since then they have developed a storyboard, recruited and auditioned actors and coached them so that the filming can now begin. The 11 actors were chosen from a group of 25 applicants who auditioned in July. They were chosen after they showed that they had the relevant acting skills necessary to fill the vari-
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ous roles in the production. The actors who will feature in the film production are: Leah Bell-Jones, Simon Bolland, Alicia Brand, Janelle De La Rosa, Kaigan Garcia, Natalie Anne McCarthy, Jenny Parker, Nifa Sellors, Rueben Victor, Larisa Volitskaia and Alba Wink. Caroline Olivero, Lead Manager of Childline Gibraltar, said ‘‘Childline is extremely grateful for the enthusiastic and talented group of students who joined the Production Team. We are also grateful for the support and expertise provided by
article sponsored by saccone & speed (Gibraltar) Ltd.
Anne Mesilio
BUSY WITH FILM PROJECT Martin Nusa, from Gold Productions, for his involvement in the project. Without this team, which has been working so hard, we would not have been able to make our vision of producing this advert a reality this summer’’. I went along to a rehearsal for the playground scene which was to be filmed the following day, 7th August. Caroline Olivero talked me through; “we have developed different scenarios which children of various ages might encounter, e.g., this one being rehearsed now is a playground bullying scene.” Alba Wink, just ten years old and pupil of St. Josephs School was being ‘bullied’, and very realistically too under the able coach-
ing of Antonia Bates. Alba told me she was ‘ok’ with the part and was more nervous about the filming! Caroline went on to explain; “students who have studied film, media and drama at University have been recruited for the specific skills required, e.g., drama for acting coaches etc.” Antonia Bates, the acting coach for this scene is a vibrant Scottish lass who has finished her acting degree. “This was a great opportunity for me as I really want to become an acting coach, and as well I happen to believe that Childline should be more open and accessible. I am pleased to have helped, and besides the children are really good to work with.” The production team; Johann Chipol, Colin Pons, Rebecca Viale and Joel Francis on camera, as well as Caroline Llambias, Amee Freyone and Courtney Caruana as drama coaches. Also taking part; David and Katrine, and Chris Grech as Director.
A relieved but very pleased Caroline, grateful to all who have helped, all volunteers, was looking forward to September and the launch of this film in the local media which will include the local Childline website and Facebook. It will also be shown in school during the next academic year. “This will help to promote the services available through Childline Gibraltar to children and young people letting them know they can turn to us, and always in complete confidence.”
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Spotlight on Nathan Baldachino
Jesus Christ Superstar
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera tells the story of the final days of Jesus as seen through
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the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
n this daring production which became an Oscar nominated box office hit in 1973, Judas sees Jesus as ‘only a man’ and not as the superstar the multitudes seem to have turned him into. “We have stoned you for no good work but for blasphemy; because you being a man, make yourself God.” John; 10:31. Nathan Baldachino is an 18year who in June had just sat his ‘A’
levels and took on the role of Jesus in the Alpha Groups production of Jesus Christ-Superstar. Was it difficult for an eighteen year old to interpret the part of a 33year old man? “I had never acted before, this was my first time on stage and I was aware that it was a huge role. However, it had been a dream of mine to one day play this role and when my sister drew my attention to Facebook where
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people were invited to sign up for audition, I did so at once.” Nathan went along to rehearsals where Miquel Gomila, Musical Director, asked all the men to take turns singing the parts of Jesus, Judas and Pontius Pilate. This way it was easy to suss out peoples limits and vocal range. One month of nervous waiting later Miquel asked Nathan “do you think you will be able to manage the part of
Jesus?” and his answer was on empathic ‘yes’. Nathan has been ‘involved in music since I was 5-6 years old when I started playing by myself, always with my keyboard.” He was 15 years old when he joined a band with some mates who were looking for a singer. “I played and sang the intro to Bohemian Rhapsody and a week later I was in.” They went to play at Rock on the Rock in Town Range and Alan Alman was impressed with their rendition of Black Sabbaths “Paranoid.” “You guys (Sideeffect) are pretty good, carry on practising.” This was ‘music’ to Nathan’s ears and soon they played their first gig but split up fairly soon after. With another group, “Untamed” he “did fairly well for a while, recording a demo for Warner Bros in Madrid,” but he explained, “it had to be recorded in Spanish and the Spanish market is very limited and difficult to break out of, so we did not do much after that and split up.” In school Nathan’s teachers supported his love of music and he wrote a rock song which included the vocals, guitar and organ
Anne Mesilio parts. At age 14 years he took part in the first Gibraltar Festival for young Musicians playing “Phantom of the Opera” on piano without a music sheet. The adjudicator’s feedback was one word, ‘spectacular’., and he encouraged Nathan to keep going and consider taking music lessons. He did for a while and learned to read and write music but ‘GCSE’s got in the way.’ This did not seem like a background to take on such a demanding role as Jesus Christ and Nathan considers himself an ‘underground’ person who keeps to himself a lot. So, how did he manage it? “I understood the Biblical story of Jesus, a human being with despairs, doubts, and sometimes intolerances. For instance, in the Temple scene he was very angry and one of my worries was would I be able to act out that emotion without offending anyone. Ok, so he was angry, well let’s make him angry without being too dramatic, and it seemed to work.” He went on, “again at the Last Supper he was very angry , “one of you denies me, one of you betrays me,” and
Click News
Read the Bible in the original online
(in character) I am walking toward Judas, “why don’t you do it?” It was fairly tough but with a strong relationship between all the cast we managed it.” Jessie Alvarez as Judas was ‘pretty fantastic’. Jesus showed his human side again when he was jostled by the lepers, “there’s too many of you, there’s too little of me, leave me alone,” making him just a man, albeit a very special one. Is there anything you have learned from playing this role? “Oh yes, I have learned a new maturity, to be thoughtful before I act, calmly weigh the consequences and try to have no regrets.” By now Nathan will have obtained his ‘A’ level results but intends to take a ‘Gap’ year before considering college. “I need to learn some life skills, get a job, save some money, and,” here he smiled happily, “form a new band and play some gigs as this experience has taught me to be more open with others. Good luck in all you do Nathan.
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hat better way to alay those doubts than to study the original pages of the bible yourself in Greek online? The image above shows a page from the website, www. codex sinaiticus.org. There you can browse through 800 high resolution scans of
T : 2 0 0 7 9335
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the earliest surviving Bible. You can browse through and study your favourite passage in Greek and in many cases an English translation is also given for each verse. The page above is focused on Phillipians (4,4). “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say: Rejoice”
Catholic Traditions
Marriages Love of
In the town of SirokiBrijeg in Herzegovina not one single divorce has been recorded among its 13000 inhabitants.
Not one single family has broken up in living memory. For centuries, because of the pressure of the Turks and then the Communists, the people suffered cruelly as their Christian faith was always threatened. They knew through experience that salvation comes through the Cross of Christ and that is why they have indissolubly linked marriage to the Cross. They have founded marriage which brings forth human life on the Cross, which brings forth divine life. The Croatian marriage tradition is so beautiful that it is beginning to take hold in Europe and America too. When a couple is preparing for marriage, they are not told that they have found the ideal partner. No! What does the priest say? “You have found your cross, and it is to be loved, to be carried; a cross not to be thrown away but to be cherished.� I know if
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engaged couples were told this in my home country of France, they would be struck dumb, but in Herzegovina, the Cross represents the greatest love and the crucifix is the treasure of the home. When the bride and groom set off for the church, they bring a crucifix with them. The priest blesses the crucifix which takes on a central role during the exchange of vows. The bride places her right hand on the crucifix and the groom places his hand over hers. Thus the two hands are bound together on the cross. The priest covers
Built on the Christ their hands with his stole as they proclaim their vows to be faithful according to the rites of the church. The bride and groom do not then kiss each other, they rather kiss the cross. They know that they are kissing the source of love. Anyone close enough to see their two hands joined over the cross understands clearly that if the husband abandons his wife or if the wife abandons her husband they let go of the Cross, and if they abandon the Cross they have nothing left. They have lost everything for they have abandoned Jesus. They have lost Jesus. After the ceremony, the newly weds bring the crucifix back and give it a place of honour in their home. It becomes the focal point of family prayer, for the young couple believes deeply that the family is born of the Cross. When a trouble arises or if a conflict breaks out, it is before this cross that they will seek help. They will not go to a lawyer, they will not consult a fortune teller or an astrologer, they will not rely on a psychologist to solve the problem. No, they will go straight before their Jesus,
before the cross. They’ll get on their knees there and in front of Jesus they will weep their tears and pour out their hearts, and above all exchange their forgiveness. They will not go to sleep with a heavy heart because they will have turned to Jesus, the only One who has the power to save. They will teach their children to kiss the cross every day and not to go to sleep like pagans without having thanked Jesus. For the children, as far back as they can remember, Jesus has always been the friend of the family, respected and embraced. They say “nighty night” to Jesus and kiss the cross. (As Fr. Jozo says “They go to sleep with Jesus, not a teddy bear”). They know that Jesus is holding them in his arms and that there is nothing to be afraid of, and their fears melt away in their kiss to Jesus.
Reprinted from the monthly letter of Sr Emmanuel available on www.childrenof medjugorge Taken from GOOD NEWS, The magazine of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Issue No. 159, May/June 2002. Image: Wedding guests mingle after a Croatian marriage.
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Stewards of the Earth
Building Insulation gets interesting when it makes a better world for our children and saves us money now.
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any local construction professionals along with developers attended a seminar on thermal insulation at the Elliot Hotel on the 30th July. Interbuild has been established in Gibraltar for over two decades and continually strive to bring innovative products into the construction arena. Products that were introduced at the seminar included internal and external thermal insulation systems which are not only environmentally friendly, but also economical. As distributors for STO Products in Gibraltar, Ray Llufrio of Interbuild introduced Gerard van der Horst, the STO
sales representative for this area. Of particular relevance were systems for internal and external refurbishments as well as for future developments in Gibraltar taking into account that heating energy requirements are being tightened up in EU laws, aiming at losses of as little as 15% kWh/m2 in the near future. It is possible to construct a building using STO systems that will render it temperature neutral, where the ambient heat of the residents, plus whatever appliances they use is sufficient to heat the property, due to the minimal heat loss through the building itself.
Humble Beginnings STO started with a Lime Kiln Works. Gibraltar once had many of these ovens which were used to produce lime for white-washing buildings and painting water cisterns to keep them clean and free from bacteria. This kiln in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve probably dates back to the late nineteenth century.
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With Conscience
Guests from the development and construction industries in Gibraltar attended the Interbuild STO Seminar at the Elliot Hotel. Whilst STO is a multinational organisation, it began from humble beginnings with origins at a simple Lime Kiln Works producing whitewash and other coatings for buildings. However, the German based STO went on to supply products to the construction industry throughout the world, and has been involved in many high profile projects such as the Royal Opera House in London, and Raffles in Singapore. Gerard van der Horst emphasized that while the company has the resources to supply customised solutions for such larger undertakings, their fully automated plant can supply small orders of just 2- 3 pallets. STO products have been used in Gibraltar be-
fore, but sourced from outside the EU. Now Interbuild, working closely with Gerard, the STO area representative, can supply these products in Gibraltar, as well as providing consultancy to developers and training and support to installers. In this way Interbuild hopes to ensure that the people of Gibraltar benefit where these products are used reducing emissions which in turn
One of many prestigious STO installations: Raffles, Singapore work toward reducing the impact cluding heavy lorries. It had got of global warming. Due to their to the point where the restaurant extensive research, STO prod- guests could not hear themselves ucts offer good flood protection speak. STO insulation systems and can withstand hurricanes. were installed and effectively Another characteristic of the in- cut down traffic noise from the sulation systems, both for new street, allowing the business to build and retrofit installations, thrive again. are the sound insulation proper- This article does not do justice ties. Gerard gave an anecdotal to the STO story but more inforexample of a very old restaurant mation can be found at www.sto. which was situated on a main com/evo/web/sto/31230_EN road, over the years the road had Any questions? Please do not become an important traffic ar- hesitate to contact Ray Llufrio tery for all types of vehicles in- on +350 58931000.
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