Manolo takes us deep into the Cathedral’s past.
Peace on Earth
Dear Friends Life can be crazy at this time of year.
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often need to get away from the craziness and centre myself in the true meaning of all the festivities. You may find yourself in a similar frame of mind. Many people find meditation helpful. There are different types and methods.
I suggest a Christ centred meditation for this Christmas season. Find a quiet place to sit and calm your anxious spirit. Forget, for a while, everything that is tugging at you, that demands your attention. Just for now, since it is a season of love, meditate on Jesus, the source of love. Since it is Christmas and there are likely to be nativity scenes all around, remember where the baby Jesus came from. Remember that God became flesh and blood and came to live with us in the form of Jesus
Christ. The angels proclaimed His birth. A star shone over Bethlehem and wise men began their quest to find the newborn King. Jesus was born to live a perfect, sin-free life. He came to teach peace, good will and love for one another. While gazing at the baby in the manger, let’s not forget that Jesus grew up. He became a man and faced the difficult preordained mission laid out for Him. He endured persecution, wrongful prosecution, suffered beatings and the painful death of the cross. He could have avoided the cross. He could have called 10,000 angels to free Him, but He stayed in order to take the sins of the world to that cross to pay the price for sin - so that we don’t have to. He lived a perfect life because we cannot. We mess up all the time. God the Father accepted Jesus’ death as the sacrifice for sin for all time. Jesus defeated death for us. He was resurrected, and now sits at the right hand of God. He lives to intercede for us. Intercede means: to act on
Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock.gi. Production Editor: A. Sargent: angela@europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd. as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is handdelivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar. Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. You’ll find exclusive Christian gifts in the WebShop. COVER Photo of Manolo Galliano, courtesy of J. Bugeja, The Gibraltar Chronicle.
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Peace on Earth
Sharing a Christmas Meditation with you
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behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups Take time to think about the Lord of lords, King of kings praying only for you. He prays that you overcome temptation. He prays that you recognize the source of salvation and that you keep your eyes fixed on Him. Jesus will come back to this earth, not as a baby, as a grown man, a King - the Sovereign Lord, Mighty God.
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This is my meditation:-
From Hebrews 12:1-2 I will run this race with perseverance and fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. From Deuteronomy 11:18 I will fix God’s word in my heart and mind. I will keep it deep inside me so that I will not forget. From Psalm 141:8 I keep my eyes fixed on my Lord. I look for help and find my safe place in Him.
From 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 I will fix my eyes not on what is seen - all of my momentary troubles and worries - but on what is unseen. What is seen will soon be gone but what is unseen is eternal.
From Hebrews 12:2 I will fix my thoughts on Jesus. He is the centrepiece of everything I believe. I will think carefully about this Jesus, who went through so much so that I could be saved from this dark world. Now that is a reason for a joy filled Christmas season.
Have a peaceful and joyous Christmas, God bless, †Father Stuart
FUNDING AVAILABLE
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MIS
The Christian Mission Trust provides local Christians with donations for evangelistic SI O N T R initiatives and outreaches. The Trust is ecumenical and has provided money to many groups, individuals and churches during the last 12 years. It is run by a Board of Trustees. We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity. Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar.
Goodwill to All
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‘Under the shadow of the Crescent and the Cross’ Photo: J. Bugeja, The Gibraltar Chronicle
A serious history with amusing anecdotes. Couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversary, or who had been married for more than 60 years in 2014, are invited to join in this celebration and renew their vows. Cut out (or photocopy if you prefer) this form and hand it in to the Catholic Bookshop next to the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned, not later than the 16th January, forms will also be available at the Catholic Bookshop. Mr & Mrs:___________________________________________ Forenames: Husband__________________________________
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The book is dedicated to the memory of two great Gibraltarian historians, who are both interred in the Cathedral, Padre Juan Romero de Figueroa, and Bishop Charles Caruana.
aretaker Heritage and Culture Minister, Steven Linares, officiated at the launch of a new book on the history of the building of St. Mary the Crowned, by Heritage Trust trustee and former Director of Culture, Manolo Galliano, at the Garrison Library last month. Manolo needs no introduction to regular readers of Upon This Rock, having been a contributor from time to time over the years, and he is to be congratulated on the publication of this beautiful book entitled ‘Under the Shadow of the Crescent and the Cross: the turbulent history of Saint Mary the Crowned, Mosque, Church and Cathedral’. The work has been carefully researched and the footnotes feature an extensive Bibliography
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and Glossary, making it both an accessible volume and an important history book worthy of serious study. However this is no dry tome, Manolo’s sense of humour pervades the pages, anecdotes interspersed with historical detail make this an entertaining read, guaranteed to elicit a chuckle from the reader from time to time, or even raise an eyebrow at the goings on of former inhabitants of the building in the olden times. The work is beautifully illustrated throughout, with photographs taken by another Heritage Trust trustee, Victor Hermida. Every Catholic family in Gibraltar should own a copy of this book, and be able to relate the contents to visitors to the Rock.
Forenames: Wife______________________________________ Née:________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ E-mail:______________________________________________ Home Tel:___________________________________________ Work Tel: ___________________________________________ Mobile:______________________________________________ Date of Marriage:_____________________________________ Church:_____________________________________________ N.B. If marriage took place outside Gibraltar please produce a copy of the marriage Certificate when handing in this form. This form should be handed in at the Cathedral bookshop or the details or scanned form emailed to: duos@gibtelecom.net as soon as possible and not later than Friday 15th January. For further information or queries contact Denise Duo on Tel: 200 43386 Mob: 57021000 E-mail: duos@gibtelecom.net
Peace on Earth
Goodwill to All
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Saints and Angels
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n the 31st October, the children of the ‘Little Angels’ play and prayer group, met at the Catholic Community Centre for a Saints and Angels fancy dress party. The weekly stay, play and pray formal, we tell them a bible group was started by Davina story, then they illustrate it. We Porro and Christine Grech, both have a break for a drink and little snack, and after we have alumni of the Women of Grace some active games, where they Foundational Study Course, can jump around and make as over a year ago. Meeting on much noise as they want, and Thursdays after school, they are we finish off with the William filling a gap between School and Gomez arrangement of Ave Church. Maria, they have been learning Christine Grech, who has this from the beginning and are trained as a Classroom Key getting quite good.” Worker for ages three to eight, explained “What we do is less
LITTLE ANGELS PLAY GROUP JOIN US FOR ART AND CRAFTS, SINGING AND STORY TELLING. 4 - 5PM EVERY THURSDAY AT THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY CENTRE ‘BOOKSHOP’
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GIBRALTAR DIOCESAN CRIB COMPETITION 2015
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e encourage families, groups and work colleagues to set up a CRIB in this HOLY YEAR OF MERCY.
Competition Entry Forms can be obtained from the Cathedral Bookshop and at St. Theresa’s Sacristy. Forms need to be returned by Wednesday 16th December. Judging will be on Friday 18th December from 3pm. Winners will be notified and Presentation of Prizes & Certificates will be held during the Children’s Christmas Eve Mass on 24th December at 5pm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT FR. CHARLIE 58522000 or LOUISA 58008677
Peace on Earth
Year of Mercy Preparations
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he Holy Door, at St. Peter’s Basilica, was unsealed last month, in preparation for opening it when the Year of Mercy begins, on the feast of the Annunciation of Mary. Workmen chiselled away the bricks which have sealed the door since the special Jubilee year of the Millennium. They also removed a time capsule containing the keys, which had been sealed up too. The door will be opened on December 8th and remain open until November 20th, 2016, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. As happens during all jubilee years, papal basilicas will also open their Holy Doors. But this year, Pope Francis asked all dioceses in the world, to also open a special ‘Door of Mercy’ for their own celebrations of the jubilee. Pope Francis’ papal bull announcing this jubilee, called ‘Misericordiae Vultus’ covered three themes:
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The need for Christians to extend God’s mercy throughout the world
Suggestions for how to celebrate the year, such as going on pilgrimages, making efforts to be more merciful toward others every day, and going to Confession
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A call to conversion to criminals and to people part of corrupt organizations.
ext Lent, the document says, Pope Francis would like every diocese in the world to participate in “24 Hours for the Lord” an initiative he began this year to encourage prayer and confession. He will also send out ‘Missionaries of Mercy’, priests to whom he will grant authority to pardon the few sins reserved to the pope to forgive as “living signs of the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon.”
Goodwill to All
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A Dream
Come
True
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By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC he Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of our dreams, especially during Advent and Christmastime. Ever since my conversion to Catholicism in 1992, I have felt that Mary, as my spiritual mother, helps me prepare for Christmas. Often in late Advent, my life is hectic — especially now that I am a priest and have to prepare liturgies, homilies, and various other seasonal events for Jesus’ birthday. Yet, even in the midst of the busyness, I have always found the time to contemplate the
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Divine Child, in the womb of Mary, as they make their way to Bethlehem. What a wonder! Imagine: Jesus is living in Mary and she can feel His every heartbeat, move, and turn. What a joy it would have been, to hear Mary sing a sweet lullaby to her Divine Son growing within her body. The angels must have been in ecstasy when Our Lady raised her voice in song! St. Faustina, too, had a deep understanding of how the Virgin Mary could help her prepare for Christmas. When I first read the Diary of St. Faustina, I was surprised to note the number of times St. Faustina mentions this very point (see Diary, 785, 792, 829, 840 and 1398). Even while being driven through the large city of Kraków in Poland, St. Faustina reflected deeply on the journey of the Mother and Child to Bethlehem (see Diary, 844). By meditating on the Incarnation of Jesus in the womb of Mary, we glimpse just how much God loves us. God became man, so we could become children of God. St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians sums it up perfectly: “In the fullness of time, God sent forth
His Son, born of a woman ... that we might receive the adoption of sons” (4:4-5). Christmastime is the season when we celebrate the Incarnation of God’s Son “born of a woman.” And it is also a time when we contemplate just how special this particular mother is for us. To Dream of a Mother One of my favourite ways of understanding the holiness and beauty of Mary, the Mother of God, comes from an explanation given by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. In his typical storytelling fashion, he invited his audience to imagine they were allpowerful and had the ability to create their own mothers. Seems like a crazy idea, but there is a great point in it. Okay, so you now have all the power in the universe. I’m quite certain that, with your unlimited power, you would create and fashion a mother who was the kindest, gentlest, most compassionate, most understanding, holiest, and most beautiful woman. What child would not want his mother to have such qualities to the greatest degree?
Well, the point of Archbishop Sheen’s story is that, though we do not have the power and ability to create our own mother, Jesus, the Eternal Son of the Father, did! Just imagine: The Eternal Son knows that He is going to come into the world as a little, adorable baby, so He has to prepare a woman to be His very own mother. What a wonder! How holy and lovely Our Lady, the Mother of God, must be! From the very beginning of the Church, saints and mystics have tried to capture in writings and paintings the holiness and beauty of the Mother of God. For example, there is the tradition that St. Luke the Evangelist was an artist and painted many images of Our Lady, trying to capture her holiness and beauty. Also, men like St. Ephrem the Syrian tried to explain the wonders of the Mother of God through poetry and hymns. Saints and scholars in the Middle Ages would devote entire books to the topic of Mary’s Divine Motherhood. In all of world history, the most painted woman by far is Mary. And it is precisely her role as Mother of God that we see depicted, for
Peace on Earth
most of these paintings go under the title Madonna and Child — the image of Mary intimately holding her Divine Son for us to behold. The Dream Becomes Reality So, where do we see the profound preparation that God put into creating His own mother? It is exactly in the gift of her Immaculate Conception. What the Immaculate Conception means is that Mary is completely pure, without sin, and created to be the mother of the Son of God. Thus, there is an intimate connection between the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the Christmas mystery. Interestingly, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) always occurs in Advent. It is almost as if the Church wants us to remember that Mary’s Immaculate Conception is God’s way of preparing her to be the worthy Mother of His Divine Son. After all, how could God’s most holy Mother have any share in sin? For her to be in bondage to sin and, at the same time, be the Mother of Jesus would be a contradiction. Mary’s entire being points to Jesus. The Immaculate Mother of God is that pure and holy vessel that always leads us deeper and deeper into the saving mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God. Mary is Our Mother As if this were not enough, God shows His profound love for us in not keeping this most holy and beautiful of mothers to Himself. On the contrary, Jesus is so good to us and so concerned about our welfare that, at the cross, He gives Mary to us to be our spiritual mother (see Jn.
19:26-27). What a gift! By the very fact that Jesus gave Mary to us as our mother, it is very important that we invite Mary into our spiritual lives. Preparing for Christmas with Mary is an ideal time for us to do this. In giving birth to Jesus, Mary is also giving birth to every human person who will become a brother or sister of Jesus, her first-born Son. This is why Mary is both Mother of God and Mother of the Church; she gives birth to the whole Christ, that is, the Head (Jesus) and the members of His Mystical Body (the Church). So, as we prepare for Christmas with Mary, let us desire to become like Mary in her purity and holiness. God desires our hearts, too, to become a resting place for the Baby Jesus. Through Mary’s intercession, we can learn how to quiet down our busy lives and make our hearts a manger — even more, a tabernacle — for Jesus. St. Faustina understood this well when she stated: “O Mother, Virgin, purest of all lilies, your heart was Jesus’ first tabernacle on earth” (Diary, 161). By turning to Mary as our spiritual mother and imitating her love of Jesus, may our hearts also become a tabernacle for the Holy Infant this Christmas, especially when we receive Him in Holy Communion.
Father Donald Calloway, MIC, is Vocation Director and Superior of the Marian House of Studies in Steubenville, Ohio. He is the author of The Blessed
Virgin Mary and Theology of the Body (Marian Press). This story originally appeared in Marian Helper magazine.
Goodwill to All
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Fr. Stuart speaks out about the new St. Paul’s.
“It is yours, it is you
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n Sunday 1 November, Monseigneurs Paul Bear and Charles Azzopardi concelebrated an Inauguration Mass at St. Paul’s with Parish Priest, Father Stuart Chipolina. The special celebration was to mark the end of the building works to refurbish and extend the church. In answer to a few questions, Fr. Stuart explains what it was like to see his parish church rebuilt. Who was the first Parish Priest? Fr. George McGrail was appointed Parish Priest when the church was built in 1975 and remained until 2003 How long have you been Parish Priest at St. Paul’s? I was Inducted as Parish Priest in 2004 Why was it felt necessary to expand the Church? The Parish was built originally just for Varyl Begg Estate. Now, with all the new estates, it has gone from being the smallest parish in Gibraltar, to the biggest. The parish stretches from Portland House to Mid Harbours and from city walls to the sea. The church was too small to meet the needs of the number of people that would ideally be coming to the church from that area. I first spoke to Fr. Caruana 10 years ago, to ask for a new church, at first we looked at alternative sites, intending to
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build from scratch, but that was going to cost many millions, all the options we looked at were too expensive. Then we looked at the current church again as it is built on Church land, and decided to make the best of what we have and extend the building. Apart from yourself, who was responsible for the works? The builders were JBS, and Steven Pratt was the project manager, the JBS team has had a lot of personal interest in getting everything done right and bringing the project to fruition. What was the most surprising thing about the rebuild? The most surprising thing was when they painted the ceiling white, because it changed the church completely and I was surprised how much you could change with just a lick of paint. But then when they put the windows in, it all became so light and bright, the whole atmosphere of the church has changed, and this is what people remark on the most. How long has the refurbishment taken, from start to the inauguration? From Tuesday 7 April To 1 November. Was the church closed at all during that time? It was only closed for 5 days, I took the opportunity while we were all away on the clergy retreat, to close while they finished laying the floors and polishing them. It looks like there is a mix of old and new tiles? That’s right because we found tiles very similar to the old ones and only had to buy new for the extensions, the old tiles were polished and hopefully in time the new ones will age and
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you won’t see the difference so much. How hard was it to carry on, business as usual, during the building works? It has driven me up the wall to be perfectly honest! Not so much just saying Mass, as you can say Mass anywhere, in a field, anywhere, but what has been so hard is trying to keep the devotions going, and meetings for the different groups. I had to balance the workmen’s requirements with the parishioner’s, and this has been difficult, it has been hard on the people, to give up meetings that have been running for maybe 30 years, I realise that, but I think they will find the wait and the sacrifice will have been worthwhile. Now that it is nearly finished, are you pleased with the result? I am pleased, because it has been 40 years since anything has been done for the church. I am pleased because I have been able to keep it simple and modern and a place where people can feel at home, and I am pleased because I have had to wait for 10 years for this. It has been a dream come true. I know that I have contributed to building a church in more ways than one, that alone makes me satisfied and I hope God is as well. It is simple, that is not a criticism on traditional architecture, but I feel very strongly that the church is about people and I did not want the people to be distracted. It helps me to pray to be in an environment that is simply decorated. To see a Michelangelo painting is a wonderful thing, but it is not something that helps me to pray.
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Why is the tabernacle moved away from the central Altar in many modern churches? There is an argument for both ways, for having it on the high alter and having it to one side, but for me it was important to have a chapel dedicated for the blessed sacrament, the whole church is Holy but to have a special place, a Holy of Holies. This is His area where people can come and pray in peace, sometimes the church is a noisy place and this is where people can come and be in peace. It is also good for security, to protect the blessed sacrament which is the most important priority. Liturgically also, it is good because it allows more flexibility as to what we can do on the altar. My intention is to start a time of permanent adoration, on Fridays from 8 - 1pm, and see how it develops. Prayer sustains any church. Why have you chosen the icons, and not a crucifix to adorn the main wall of the altar? The main Icon is Jesus the teacher, and we will have one each side of St. Peter and St. Paul. Icons are not only works of art but also a window of grace. People are drawn, not just by the artistic beauty, but by the
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Peace on Earth
who have done this!”
invitation to an encounter with God. To what do you attribute the success of this parish? I work with the advantage of having a big parish in terms of numbers, so therefore there are a lot of youngish families. I have tried to make it an inclusive parish, I have tried to make people feel at home. If you feel marginalised by the church, the whole point of being a church in the community loses its meaning. I have tried to make people feel included as active members and encouraged groups to meet without anyone having a monopoly, the facility is used equally by all. Is there any outreach to the new parts of the parish? The plan is to have the blessing, then the next step is to consecrated the church, but as part of the consecration, I want some kind of parish outreach to take place, it is a huge grace that we will be debt free and so we can start to plan for the consecration straight away. Is there anything you would like to say that we have not touched on? This is all done for the parishioners, I am here today but the nature of our Mission is that we can never be sure where
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we will be called to serve in the future, I hope that I will be here for the rest of my Priesthood. To be quite honest, when I was offered the parish 10 years ago I had some hesitation, but I can sincerely say I am in love with the parish now, and I know that the parish loves me in spite of my shortcomings! I am very very happy here, but the parish and the parishioners will endure, so I have done everything with them, and with their wishes in mind, to accommodate as many different groups’ requirements as possible within the building. All the extras, beyond the actual building works, have been contributed by the parishioners themselves, with tremendous generosity. For instance the wrought iron lamps, the tabernacle and the new furniture. I held two special collections and had it not been for the people, it would not have been possible to purchase these things. I administer this church but it does not belong to me, it belongs to the people, when they say to me “Congratulations” I say “No, it is yours, it is you who have done this!”
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Is it any wonder the children cry? Anne Mesilio writes
as problems to be solved, re-directed, tear gassed, met with armed guards, herded and hustled from place to place, robbed of the dignity they deserve as human beings.
How can we not empathise when the migrant spirit is in all of us?
Jesus was born a refugee because of the decree issued by Caesar Augustus, (the first of its kind) for a census to be taken of the entire Roman world, which today would encompass most of Europe.
Families were required to register in their historical tribal town, rather than where they lived, and Joseph belonged to the house of David. With Mary, heavily pregnant, they had made the three day journey to Bethlehem. Arriving late on a cold evening, they were faced with the harrowing prospect of being unable to find shelter. Many others had made the same journey and arrived before them, so a futile search revealed there was no room at any of the few inns in the small town. Sheer numbers had overwhelmed it in this unprecedented event. Desperate for Mary, Joseph found a stable, warm from the animals within it, and here she gave birth to her son Jesus. Being wrenched from their homes was traumatic, but then came the flight into Egypt to escape Herod’s brutality, and two years of wandering before it was safe to
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return home. This happened over 2,000 years ago, a very real story which echoes around us today. The numbers of forcibly displaced people world wide has reached a staggering 60 million. The war in Syria continues to be the biggest driver of migration, as desperate families flee for their very lives. There is on going violence in Afghanistan, Iraq, African nations and a forgotten struggle in Eritrea (Horn of Africa). “I realise there are political problems everywhere, but in Eritrea it is unique” says Habtu Zere Maram, one of a thickening flow of Eritrean refugees who have crossed the border into Sudan. “It’s like the Middle Ages. Now we are in the 21st Century, how can we live like this? You can’t speak, there is no freedom, and you cannot say whatever you want to say. I dreamt of leaving, because I want to live free. Most of the Eritrean people think the same thing.” This country has been ranked the ‘worst in the world’ for its dismal litany of human rights abuses. These include forced labour, arbitrary arrests, torture, repression of religious freedom and disappearances. All of which have people fleeing in their thousands. They are being washed up on Europe’s shores in the hope and expectation of finding better lives. They are being seen
Is this becoming fortress Europe? What’s happened to Jesus’ command to his followers to welcome people of no social standing, the poor, the sick, the outsider? The methods used to deter immigrants beggar belief, building of high walls, closing borders with razor wire, whose purpose is to prevent the passage of humans, the points are sharp enough to rip and grab onto clothing and flesh. Then there is tear gas, chiefly used in riot control to force crowds to disperse, exposure causes streaming eyes and burning of eyelids and throat as well as excessive coughing, an excess of mucus coming from the nose, eyelids and throat is also common. People often report that they feel disorientated and dizzy just after breathing it in.
When they are refugees fleeing war and persecution, they are specifically entitled to legal protections under international law and to moral protections, because they’re human beings who desperately need help.
It is high time that people understand that problems cannot be solved by erecting walls, by arming oneself to the teeth, or by deploying more troops; in other words, merely through military solutions. The leaders of the world can play a great role in ensuring this. They can pioneer a unifying,
Peace on Earth
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peaceful, loving spirit while emphasizing love, compassion, unity, solidarity, friendship and brotherhood. Vast numbers have reached our shores. Among them children, thousands of miles from home, wandering from country to country, sleeping rough, hungry, cold, often separated from family members in the melee along the way. Try and imagine how desperately frightening that must be! They are without shoes, adequate clothing, no security, exposed to the risk of abduction and abuse. They are being cruelly robbed of childhood as war violates children’s rights. They need protection from violence, abuse and neglect. They have a right to live in dignity and develop their future potential. They lose trust in adults and become prisoners of their future. They are children first, migrants/refugees second. Winter is closing in, adding to the misery which has already enveloped thousands. Last Christmas day the Italian navy rescued over a thousand people, one woman gave birth and five bodies were recovered on that one day. Pope Francis exhorts us to “Be aware of getting too comfortable! When we are comfortable, it is easy to forget other people”. The Holy Family did not have
it easy that first Christmas. They were strangers, cast out of home, alone and frightened. They were relying on the kindness of strangers, just as all the thousands who flock to our shores, where Europe’s leaders squabble over what should be done about this influx of vulnerable people. It is a new, old story, one with which we have not reached a consensus on yet. “Peace calls for daily commitment”, Pope Francis has said, “it is not a balancing of opposing forces … a façade which conceals conflicts and divisions”. The family is the greatest treasure of any country. We MUST help and ask nothing in return. Christmas spirit is Christ spirit and the children especially need parents much more than presents. Join me in a heartfelt prayer this Christmas time.
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“Lord, give us the Grace to renew the gift of Peace which was given to us that night long ago. No wonder the children cry out at our neglect. Enfold their suffering in your mantle of love and forgive us our failures, and let your Peace rule our hearts. Amen.” Visit the Catholic Relief Services website for details of how to help refugee families w w w. c r s . o r g
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PHOTOS
FROM
THE
INAUGURATION
Richard Martinez talks about his calling and what it is like to study for the Priesthood in Cadiz.
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eaders may recall on Facebook in September, Richard Martinez announced his intention to embark on a new phase of his life, saying “I leave for Cadiz this afternoon to start my studies for the Priesthood, at the Seminario Conciliar San Bartolomé…” In a truly charitable act, Richard has been open to sharing the start of this journey with us and invited Upon This Rock to send some questions: When did you first feel called to the Priesthood? My first thoughts came in the second half of 2007; I had attended a Cursillo de Cristiandad in late March that year followed by a Charismatic Renewal Seminar. As some of you may remember, I had already been involved in establishing a parent’s support group, assisting those who unfortunately had seen their marriage and family life break-up; this started early 2003 and I had written various articles for the local press and had been interviewed on radio/ TV. My involvement in urging for a change in family law
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proceedings led me to stand at the 2007 elections, which helped foster a cross-party overall view on the need to update laws and procedures; this indeed happened after those elections. From then on I became progressively more involved in helping out in my parish, St. Paul’s, various prayer groups and at times taking part in the religious programme “In Him I Trust”. During 2008 I also contemplated the possibility of a religious life, and visited Buckfast Abbey in early 2009, and a few times more since. W h a t t r i g g e re d t h a t calling? A mixture of the above and the ‘silent’ pull one feels from listening to little expressions from those around you and the time spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. There was one instance in particular that had a significant influence; a pilgrimage to Rome, and our attendance at Vespers led by HH Pope Benedict XVI, on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall, on the 25th January
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2010. Fr. Stuart w a s leading the pilgrimage and Fr. Derek, whilst studying in Rome, joined us that evening. It’s difficult to explain, but an inner feeling of conversion and urge to serve God and follow Jesus through the Gospels burned in me. Like St. Paul himself on the way to Damascus and the disciples on their way to Emmaus; something hits you and you don’t know quite what or why! You discover slowly as time goes by that there is more to life; an eternal life outside our own realm in this life. On returning, I continued assisting Bishop Devlin at the Cathedral, until September when I went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Following the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles, visiting the places where they stood and Jesus preached and gave His life for our salvation, only increased my yearning for a greater discernment as to whether I had, or not, a calling and vocation to the priesthood; I’d also visited Buckfast again in April that year. Have you always felt sure, since that time, that this was the path for you? One can never be quite sure what God has in store for you; whatever that may be, will slowly develop and unwrap itself on a parallel as you move through your daily lay life and your daily involvement in your parish. The deep feeling and sense of wanting to serve God develops and it gets to a point that you feel there are enough indicators to tread slowly onto the next step of the ladder.
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Where did you work before this? My work life has been primarily in the Airline and Travel industry, from where a lot of people may also know me, especially the years I spent managing one of the current airlines serving our community. After my nine months with Bishop Devlin, I had another short spell in lay work, from October 2010 for a couple of years. But my inner feeling and desire was to be in Church, assisting my parish priest and being involved with our parishioners and the daily life of our church community. One might have thought that back in lay life one would have slipped away, but the feeling only got stronger; first and foremost in my mind every day was to be in my parish from early morning, I managed to juggle my prayer life from very early in the morning at the parish, prepare for Mass, assist in any way possible and serve Mass, a quick coffee and then on to my lay job. I would return in the evening and during the weekends; it had become a way of life. In September 2012 the opportunity arose to serve our Church by assisting Bishop Ralph; I had to make a decision, so I left my lay job and re-arranged my way of life; this gave me the opportunity for a greater involvement in my parish. I knew that God would answer me somehow; I was waiting for the second instance tribunal decision on my marriage annulment, the first decision had come through in May 2012, which would then open the doors to the final step before seminary; and this came through in September 2013. By January last year I had formally spoken to Bishop Ralph about
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how best to next proceed, and a personal visit was arranged for me to visit the Beda college in Rome, which caters for English speaking late vocations. I visited on the 25th of May, which is when the College celebrates the Feast of St. Bede. I was originally meant to have gone during the Paschal Triduum, but the college postponed my visit to their feast day. Unfortunately in between these dates, as we all know, we had the unexpected news that Bishop Ralph was being translated to the Diocese of Hallam, where he is now bishop. He is still our Apostolic Administrator until a new bishop is appointed but, as usually happens under these circumstances, decisions tend to be stalled pending the appointment of a new bishop.
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Why did you choose to study in Cadiz? Cadiz wasn’t a choice as such, as you can appreciate from your last question, but a calling within a calling lets say; circumstances led me here. The unfortunate circumstances in which we found ourselves in as a diocese had a direct impact on my own discernment and what would happen next; Bishop Ralph was leaving and the appointment of a new bishop could take time. A decision on my going to seminary couldn’t be taken, and so a time would come that I would need to rethink my future. In mid July of this year, chatting over a coffee with Fr. Francois, he had suggested the possibility of speaking to the bishop of Cadiz; after I’d discussed the possibility with Fr. Stuart and with Bishop Ralph’s blessing, Fr. Francois explained my life circumstances and current situation with Bishop Rafael in Cadiz. continued on page 22
Goodwill to All
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NEW HOUSE APPEAL CALPE TRUST
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FOR A BIGGER PLACE FOR PATIENTS TO STAY IN LONDON his year we have been remembering the evacuation of the Rock’s civilian population, now 75 years ago. The Gibraltarian identity was forged, hardened like steal in a furnace, during the 1940’s throughout the Second World War, and after the Evacuation, when the residents of the Rock fought for their right to return to their homeland. During the struggles that ensued in the 60’s and 70’s, the closed border days, the harder things got, the tougher the people of Gibraltar became, resisting a common enemy with dignity and perseverance.
In the early 90’s this spirit of working together for the common good, was galvanised by a group of friends who had been in the unfortunate predicament of having to seek medical treatment in London, and who had found themselves stuck for somewhere to live. Then as now, Gibraltar residents referred for hospital outpatient treatment in London, by their GHA consultant, must find and pay for emergency accommodation (the cost of which can usually be refunded by the GHA on application). So the Friends set about forming the Calpe House Charitable Trust, and worked together, with the
Government of the day, to raise funds for a permanent facility, where patients might stay during their treatment in London. It was opened with the words: “Let it be a Home from Home”. Since then, Calpe House has provided for the accommodation needs of patients on over 5000 visits to the UK. In spite of ever more procedures and treatments being available in Gibraltar, there does not seem to be any fewer referrals for specialised treatment to London, on the contrary, we all seem to know someone who has been in that situation, either family or friends. It is quite certain that
when George Porral drew the original logo, shown here, he never envisaged that there would be a requirement for THREE houses! But that is exactly what the Trust purchased earlier this year, and it is hoped the new facility at Norfolk Square will keep up with the demand, as ever more people are sent to London for outpatient treatment. Calpe Trust is funded entirely by the people of Gibraltar, either directly through donations, or indirectly through the GHA. In order to meet the costs of refurbishing the buildings that have been acquired, and converting them into selfcontained flats suitable for patients’ accommodation, the people of Gibraltar must once again find that battle tried spirit of determination. Gibraltarians of the new millennium must rise to the challenge afresh, as their parents did in building this Nation, we must dig deep in our pockets, so as many as possible of our people can find a place to stay in the new Calpe House, a ‘Home from Home’ in their time of need. Now of course it is even simpler to make a real and lasting contribution, as Calpe Trust moves with the times and invites new Friends to join them by to setting up a monthly payment, providing the Trustees not only with immediate funding for the works in hand, but also a long term budget to aid them in planning for the future. The ‘Calpe House Needs Your Help’ campaign will be launched at the Lobby of the Houses of Parliament at 12 noon, on the 18th of December. It is hoped that every adult resident of Gibraltar will want to contribute at least £2 a month to donate to the new Calpe House at Norfolk Place, and from that day onwards a year of fundraising activities will ensue, to further help out with the construction and maintenance works.
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where Gibraltar patients stay in London
NEEDS YOUR HELP
with building works at the new house in Norfolk Square
JUST £2 A MONTH
We all know someone who has been diagnosed with a condition that requires specialist treatment in London. To keep up with demand, Calpe House Trust now have a bigger place in Norfolk Square. This needs some building work to prepare the flats. Because it’s enough stress just being sick, help us to help the patients, join the Friends of Calpe House.
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Your donation will help make this ‘Home from Home’ in London ready for use. Text ‘CALPE’ to 54040117 and arrange for a regular donation to the Friends of Calpe House. *Accommodation is allocated to Gibraltar residents, in liaison with the GHA, on a first come first serve basis and is subject to availability. Friends of Calpe House are not entitled to priority.
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ST BERNARD’S
PARISH
PILGRIMAGE TO ASSISI AND ROME OCTOBER 2015
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Anabelle Codali writes hen Father Victor Ghio suggested a pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome, we felt a mixture of trepidation and excitement. We started our pilgrimage in Assisi, staying at a cosy hotel by the name of Frate Sole, it was simple but adequate for our stay. Through our very own Fr. Ghio we discovered the history, spirituality and legends of Assisi and the surrounding areas that impacted on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The beautiful Porziuncola at the Basilica of Maria Degli Angeli is an amazing site and visitors can perceive the intensity of the Franciscan spirituality and that
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of the other great saints who have blessed this land. Assisi is a delightful, friendly town. After dinner some of us decided to explore. We sat in the central piazza of Assisi, enjoying a gelato under the moonlight, with the night sounds of the town surrounding us and the beautifully lit St. Mary of the Angels at our feet. We were lucky to be able to travel to Subasio, and the monastery of Saint Benedict, located amid spectacular natural scenery. The church is covered in beautiful medieval frescoes. It was with some sadness, but also excitement, that we left Assisi, stopping at Castel Gandolfo for lunch on the shores of the lake, with its stunningly breathtaking view of the Umbrian valley stretched below. Leaving behind
Assisi’s serenity, Rome was a jolt, it was frenetic; big, crowded and hot. On our first day we met our Gibraltarian tour guide in Italy, Ana Serra, who proved that only a Gibraltarian talks our language. Her tours included the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and some sites of Ancient Rome such as the Coliseum and the Forum. Ana couldn’t have made the tour any better. Her passion for her work and desire to share the treasures of the Vatican and Rome with us were wonderful. Seeing and learning about it all through her eyes and words made it so much more meaningful to us. Of Ana I will say that she is all that one could hope for in a tour guide: highly knowledgeable, prepared and personable, with a natural ability to convey information so that it is educational and entertaining. I can understand now that you need to walk the streets of Rome to experience what Rome is about, everywhere you look there is a contradiction of sorts with new and old buildings and ancient monuments all side by side. It is an incredible place and many people believe that you either love it or hate it in equal portions. I still haven’t made my mind up on that one. One thing is for sure; comfortable shoes are essential. The designated free afternoons where used by some to explore on their own, others needed rest and recuperation, or like me, to enjoy a coffee at a nearby cafe. One of the afternoons I took the group for a tour of Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain and then again more gelato. Exhausting but well worth it and I hope my fellow pilgrims enjoyed my dipping
into the job of tour guide. We were very lucky that, not only is Hotel Cicerrone conveniently situated near Vatican City and within very easy reach of many places, it also has a lot of lovely restaurants on the same street offering real Italian food. Every day there was a different type of pasta, a different sauce and more gelato. Having our very own Fr. Ghio was a delight as he was a guide to the city itself, having experienced the delights of living in Rome, and working there, he was able to share a
Peace on Earth
lot of information with us. He celebrated Mass every day and helped our pilgrims with different encounters. It is thanks to him that we were able to have lunch with Monsignor Miles. Although many pilgrims already knew him, for me it was a privilege and I felt truly blessed that he was able to give his time for us, knowing just how busy a schedule he has. Our last day in Rome was the day of the Pope’s audience and in the words of one of the pilgrims “What
a special day that turned out to be.” We were truly blessed and more than one pilgrim was overcome by tears. In the afternoon we visited the catacombs and had a wonderful tour. The miles of tunnels and tombs are impressive. We saw no bones and although not spooky, there was a bit of commotion as Fr. Ghio tried to bring the atmosphere to life, in a very interesting way. Although I am a seasoned traveller, having enjoyed many trips in my life, this was my first pilgrimage, and I hope that it
will not be my last, because this has been a truly spiritual journey that has helped my Catholic Faith come alive. When I was asked to write a short report of our trip, the first thought that came to mind was that I hoped that my fellow pilgrims got a deeper understanding of each other and of their own spiritual life. Finally a big thank you to Nena Gaggero and her team at Blands who ‘fine-tuned’ Fr. Ghio’s ideas for the trip, and helped us solve all those little issues that came about.
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HOW ONE
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Angela Sargent writes erry PitalugaLancaster discovered Analiese had learning difficulties when she first started school. It was noticed that she didn’t know her colours and her behaviour was unusual and erratic, while not exactly disruptive, she would talk in the middle of class, and even walk out of school. Gerry read an article about ADHD in a magazine and it seemed to fit with Analiese’s symptoms. At that time there were no support systems in place at the school and the condition was not taken seriously by the Education Department. The family found a specialist in the UK and sure enough Analiese was diagnosed as having the condition and prescribed medication. Within twenty minutes Gerry noticed the difference. They had left the specialists office and gone to get the bus and for the first time, Analiese sat still in the bus stop. What was more she started to read all the signs around her in the London street. The specialist said that was the proof that the diagnosis was correct because if it was not so, the medication would have the opposite effect, making a normal child hyper! Well the family thought the problem was solved, for many
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children, ADHD medications curb restlessness, impulsivity, and inattention well enough for them to flourish at home, school, and on the playground. But the drugs can also prompt common side effects, such as low appetite, stomach pain, or sleep problems. So after two years of severe side effects, weight problems, and her hair falling out, her parents took her off the medications. Analiese was eight years old then, and they tried to control her symptoms with diet, for instance cutting out sugar, but that was not effective. Analiese was now in middle school and again the school did not accept the diagnosis, they did not support Analiese, they implied that the parents were making it up. The government did help them to go to UK for the annual reviews for a couple of years, but when there was no improvement in her condition this assistance was removed. So with no medication and no support
from the school or education department, they were left in limbo for years. They themselves funded the annual visit to the specialist for review, but there was very little improvement as she was not on medication, or getting any extra help. At the end of her time at middle school, her parents were told that Analiese would not get very far, she might achieve a couple of GCSE’s but they should not expect too much of her. Basically she was written off as not having the ability to go on to further education. One good thing did come out of her years at middle school. That was the time she met her friend Roslynn. Many youngsters with ADHD symptoms struggle to keep friendships going, but in Roslynn, Analiese found a best friend, and they are still good friends today, a friendship that has lasted 14 years. Analyse explains how she reacted to being told she had no prospects of achieving the qualifications required for further education, “Once I got to Westside, I realised I wanted to go to Uni and I was prepared to put the number of hours in each evening that it would take to do one question in my homework, and prove everyone wrong. I love drama, and I felt at home on the stage. I really wanted to pursue this one subject that interested me, and this kept me going.” Analyse always believed in herself, her love of Performance Drama which provided an escape from her problems and
issues, as she could ‘be someone else for a while’. Finally in her third year in Westside, the school accepted her diagnosis, she was given a mentor to help her and she was allowed extra time in exams. The concept of going on to study Drama at Uni provided a huge incentive for her to work hard, improve her grades, and prove everybody wrong, and eventually attained 10 GCSE’s Grades A to C. She went on to start her AS courses, she chose Performance Studies, History and English Literature. The last two being very heavy on reading,
TRAFALGAR PHARMACY 48-50 Main Street, Gibraltar. t: 200 71710
Peace on Earth
which proved challenging for her. Yet her courses went quite well, working with the mentor in weekly sessions helped her to focus and she learned to plan her work. But six weeks before her AS exams, the education department cut back on her mentoring and extra time in exams because she was doing so well, she was not taking medication and they said there was nothing to justify the extra help. They said she must have ‘grown out of’ the condition. However the mentor she had been working with helped in her own time, out of school hours, in those vital weeks leading up to her taking her AS-levels. But struggling to do the exams in the normal one or two hours meant she did not get all the questions finished and her grades reflected this. Her AS results of C, D & E were not enough to get her a place at Uni. Analiese took a year out and worked at Capurros in the accounts department. Around this time she also started a new course of medication which has helped her without the terrible side effects of the earlier drugs. She resat her AS-levels and
improved her grades to C, C & D and on re-applying she got an unconditional offer from Anglia Ruskin University to study Drama & Film. “I had not done as much as the other students in Film, I was starting as a beginner in Uni, having to play catch up the with others who had studied it at A-level, but when I had learnt the vocabulary and history it went better. What I find interesting is more the theory of film, the way you can take what you want from a film that might have one message, and with different interpretations, give different messages. The course was a mix between theory and practical. But the technical aspect did not interest me so much. I also really love History, and did consider it for a University course, but it did not have enough of the practical side of being on stage which was what I really enjoyed. My ideal project would be acting in a historical drama.” I asked Analiese if things have got better for pupils with ADHD in schools now. Even now they assume it is some thing closer to Autism and
are not aware that it is not a disability, it just does not fit it in with their way of teaching and that person is excluded because they need to work at a slower pace than the rest. They label them as Special Needs and let someone else deal with it. Gerry adds “It is a much maligned condition.” Analiese explains that “in the UK they are much more accepting of the fact that you have it, no requirement to continually prove it, I had a mentor throughout Uni. If I had not had that, I would have left all my work to the last minute, and not had the help to plan my time and organise myself.” There is no doubt that Gerry and Alan fought for their daughter at every turn throughout her school career, and that Analiese has been particularly motivated, but in another family where the student was not as motivated or the mother so determined one wonders if the outcome would be the same. I asked what the future holds for Analiese, “In September I am planning to continue my
studies, to do PDC in Special Education Needs, followed by a Masters in Drama Therapy. I want to introduce drama as a way of learning for special needs pupils. Analiese wants to help others who are struggling with what she went through at school. We wish her all the best in her future career.
Photos clockwise: Analiese on graduating with her parents Alan and Gerry and her brother Laurence. Analiese with her friend Roslynn recently, and the girls when they were at middle school.
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SOME PHOTOS FROM THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEWLY EXPANDED AND REFURBISHED ST. PAUL’S
Richard Martinez
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Within a week he asked to see me, and I had an interview with him and the rector on the 4th August, the feast day of St. Jean Marie Vianney, patron saint of priests. I thought this would be a process of various visits, and maybe starting next year, but it turned out to be an on the spot acceptance. He asked me to formally request his diocese to accept me for priestly formation at his seminary, and this I did on the 6th August, the feast day of The Transfiguration of our Lord. How many years will you have to study for the Priesthood? The course is usually six to seven years, but shortened to four for older seminarians. Are you finding the studies difficult? They are quite difficult, especially at my age, but seminarians and staff alike are extremely helpful and considerate.
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How is your daily routine organised? Our routine is quite intense; Monday to Friday the seminary bell goes at 7am and we are in the Chapel at 7:30am for Mass and Morning Prayer, breakfast follows at 8:15 and we have a short break until classes start at 9am. During the day we have six 50 minute classes with a short break before midday and lunch at 2pm. Between 4 - 8pm we have personal study and prayer time Monday to Thursday, then we all meet in the Chapel again for an hour’s Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Evening Prayer and dinner about 9:30pm. After dinner we have a short break and meet together one last time for Night Prayer at 10:30pm. We then each go to our rooms and maintain ‘The Great Silence’ until breakfast the following morning. On Friday we are sent out in pairs to our Pastoral Placements. I have been assigned the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Chiclana, a 30 minute bus drive from here. I leave about 4:30pm and am usually back by 9ish. I join a Catechists meeting at 5 to plan the class for the day, then assist in a Confirmation preparation class at 6 and a youth group at 7, and sometimes we also have Mass or Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Friday evening is free and we have to be back at the seminary by
11pm. Weekends are a bit more relaxed, our wake up call is at 8:30am. On Saturday we have Morning Prayer at the Seminary church followed by Mass, breakfast and some free time in the morning before our group Rosary followed by lunch and study time. In the evening after dinner those who can manage to stay up a little longer get together and watch a film or go for a walk. On Sunday its back to our Parish Placements. I leave for Chiclana at 9am and am usually back by 2pm, we help out with the kids at Mass, as Altar servers and with anything the Parish Priest may ask of us. We serve the 10:30 and midday
Mass. The afternoons are free until we all meet again in the chapel at 8:30pm… And so it goes, time flies… Do you have free time to explore the area? Not a lot of free time, but enough to get to know Cadiz well, especially the old town where we are, opposite the Cathedral. What do you miss most while being away from the Rock? My family, friends and my parish. What is it about being a priest that particularly appeals to you?
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The sense of serving, rather than being served; the contact with people of all walks of life, and knowing that people look to you in time of need and distress, simply being there for them. What is your greatest fear about your studies? I try not to fear them! Which of the Saints inspires you the most, and why? Of the Apostles, St. Paul, for his conversion; St. Benedict for his rule and early monasticism; St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross for their determination and perseverance, among many, many others.
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The Church offers a huge number of different Missions, which path most appeals to you at this time? I always imagined myself serving in a parish, wherever the bishop sent me, and just simply being there serving the needs and sufferings of the people who turn to you. What message would you give to a young man who is contemplating giving his life to Christ? Always follow your heart, speak to a priest, persevere; the Lord calls each and every one of us in a particular way. We just need to hear Him in the silence of our
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soul and say, Lord here I am! Is there anything else in your heart you would like to tell us about this new phase in your life? To thank you for inviting me to share my journey with your readers, and especially thank Fr. Stuart and all the parishioners of St. Paul’s, for the wonderful and loving welcome I received during my short visit, and although I was unable to be there for the inauguration of the new extensions and blessing of the refurbished church, as I was away on retreat, but my prayers, thoughts and heart certainly were. I will be back for Christmas
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from the 23rd December to the 10th January and I am looking forward to sharing our Christmas Liturgy and Festivities in our newly refurbished church, together with Fr. Stuart and all the parishioners, taking this opportunity to visit and celebrate with family and friends. Please keep me in your prayers, thank you, God Bless you all.
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