Dec 2011 126

1Share the magazine with friends all round the world this Christmas at www.uponthisrock.eu JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND friend us on

Dear Friends

Jesus is the True Light of the world

The Jewish Feast of the Dedication is also called the Festival of Lights or

Hannakkuh.This feast was held in late December, near the time when Christians celebrate the feast of Christmas.This is the time of year when the day is shortest and the night longest. Jesus used this occasion to declare that He is the true light of the world (John 8:12). In this light we can see who God truly is and we can find the true path to heaven.Jesus speaks of the tremendous trust He has in God His Father and the tremendous trust we ought to have in Him because He is our good shepherd (John 10:11). Sheep without a shepherd

Father Stuart reminds us how scripture describes God’s word as a

“lamp for our feet and a light for our steps”

Psalm 119:105

2 Share the magazine with friends all round the world this Christmas at www.uponthisrock.eu Share the magazine with friends all round the world this Christmas at www.uponthisrock.eu

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by

EuropeAxess Media Ltd, Gibraltar.

Editor: Fr. Stuart Chipolina: [email protected]

Production Editor: A. [email protected]

Cover: Last year’s ‘Best Crib for a Magazine Cover’ was created by Elizabeth and Eric Walsh.

Their crib also gave an excellent testimony, as it was in the patio outside their home, for all the

residents of their block to enjoy. Photo: A. Sargent

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 hand-delivered 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: 200 79335 email: [email protected] 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. 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.

Jesus is the True Light of the world

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are defenceless against prey, such as wolves, and often get lost and bewildered without a guide. That is why shepherds literally live with their sheep out in the open field and mountain sides. The shepherd guards his sheep from the dangers of storms, floods, and beasts of prey. The shepherd leads his sheep to the best places for feeding and the best streams for drinking. He finds the best place for their rest and safety at night. The sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and heed his call when he leads them to safe pasture and rest.We are like sheep – we become easy prey to forces which can destroy us – sin, Satan, and a world opposed to God and his people. Jesus not only

frees us from Satan’s snares and the grip of sin, He leads us to the best of places where we can feed on the “word of life” and drink from the “living waters” of his Holy Spirit. The sheep who heed the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd, have no fear. He will lead them to the best of

places – everlasting peace, joy, and fellowship with God and his people.

Have a wonderfully blessed Christmas surrounded by the love of those nearest and dearest to you.God Bless you, Fr Stuart

Share the magazine with friends all round the world this Christmas at www.uponthisrock.eu 3Share the magazine with friends all round the world this Christmas at www.uponthisrock.eu JOY TO ALL MEN AND PEACE TO MANKIND friend us on

On the 15th November Bishop Ralph Heskett met with the produc-

tion editor of Upon this Rock.The first edition of the magazine was produced in time for Christ-mas 2000, with the support of Bishop Caruana. After that, each Christmas, His Lordship thanked the advertisers for their support. After taking over the role of Patron in 2010, Bishop Ralph Heskett has kept up the tradition. In fact, displaying a keen insight into the operation, he added this year that ‘There are a great many people without whom it would not be possible to keep it afloat.

He asked them to “Keep faith with the publication, as without your financial support it could not continue.” We mulled over the changes we have seen during the year and one of the big initiatives within the Diocese after His Lordship was installed as Bishop was the compiling of a Questionnaire which was distributed through all the churches.Bishop Ralph said “ I was de-lighted at the excellent response. The answers were very thought-ful, reflective and showed a great understanding about Church. Some answers were really quite

profound. I was very pleased with the quality of response, and it was clear people understood this was not a one-off exercise, but something that will be ongo-ing.” The results were published under two headings: ‘What do we want for our Diocese?’ and ‘What do we need to develop in our Diocese?’ “It is our intention to work through the things that have come up, to prioritize and set objectives and goals, addressing the needs that were identified in practical way.”The introduction of the new Mass has had an impact on all of us, we can no longer recite the phrases, learned since 1974, but have to keep referring to the new Mass sheet.Bishop Heskett finds the new translation, like the curate’s egg, to be ‘good in parts’. Explain-ing, “Some of the sentences are quite long and difficult, but we’ll probably get used to it. Archbishop Nichols said. ‘There are parts we will like and parts

we will struggle with.’ Inevita-bly everyone will not take to it wholeheartedly, some parts are an improvement. The challenge is to be open to the different re-sponses we have and to allow the new text to enrich our worship.”In response to a question about the difference between ‘Of one being with the Father’ and ‘con-substantial with the Father’ Fr. Ralph explained that the former phrase is closer to the Greek translation, and the new phrase is closer to the Latin transla-tion of the Creed. That while it is helpful to understand the philosophy behind both to fully appreciate the difference, to talk of substance is more concrete than to talk about being.’Perhaps consubstantial is more appropriate for a scientific age. Talk turned to technology and inevitably the internet. During the past year facebook has grown exponentially. Upon This Rock created a facebook page over a year ago, under the search term ‘Uponthis Rock’

A CHRISTMAS THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS FORTHCOMING EVENTS

“Keep faith with the publication, as without your financial support it could not continue.”

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In challenging times.


A CHRISTMAS THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS FORTHCOMING EVENTS

with almost 550 friends who receive updates most days, with news and reports that may not always appear in the printed magazine. Although Bishop Ralph does not use facebook himself, he recognizes that it has become a means of social com-munication and as such must be used as a tool for evangelisation.

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CHRISTIAN FAMILY MOVEMENTANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONSThe Annual 25th, 40th, 50th & 60th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations are scheduled for the 3rd of February 2012 at the Cathedral

of St Mary the Crowned, 7.30pm. Couples celebrating their 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversary in 2011 are invited to join in this celebration and renew their vows. Cut out (or

photocopy if you prefer) the form below and hand it in to the Catholic Bookshop next to the Cathedral not later

than the 14th January. Forms are also available at the Catholic Bookshop.

Mr. & Mrs. _________________________________________

Forenames: Husband ________________________________

Forenames: Wife ____________________________________

Neé ________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________

___________________________________________________

e-mail ______________________________________________

Tel. No. Home _______________________________________

Tel. No. Work ______________________________________

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 formThis form should be handed in at the Cathedral bookshop as soon as possible and not later than Friday 14th January. You can e-mail above detail/form to: [email protected]


JUDGING WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY 16

DECEMBER 2011.FORMS CAN BE

COLLECTED FROM CATHEDRAL

BOOKSHOP AND HANDED IN AT

ST THERESA’S CHURCH NOT LATER THAN THURSDAY 15

DECEMBER.------ o 0 o ------

ENTRANCE FEE £5 PER CRIB.

Winners will be contacted and Prizes will be handed

out on Saturday 24 December during the

Children’s Christmas Eve Mass at 5.00pm on the 24th Dec.

For more information please contact Maria Louisa Aguilera at

58008677

Our Links with London Photos: Mike Brufal

Eve of Gibraltar Day Mass in LondonOn the 16th

October His Lordship Ralph

Heskett celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at Our Lady of Dolours, Fulham Road, London. Peter Canessa, the Gibraltar Government’s representative in London said of the occasion, “I feel that having a Mass at Our Lady of Dolours as part of the Gibraltar Day events helped to renew the links between the Gibraltarians and the residents of London, particularly those of Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham. It was generally in these Boroughs that Gibraltarian evacuees, during World War II, were forced to set up their temporary homes. Churches such as this one

GIBRALTAR DIOCESAN CRIB COMPETITION 2011

ENTRIES ARE INVITED FROM HOMES, SCHOOLS AND PLACES OF WORK.

Entry forms are available for collection now

on Fulham Road provided for the spiritual needs of the families that were forced to abandon their homeland and be separated from their husbands, fathers and brothers.


This year Christmas at The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel will be a quiet affair.

No gimmicks, no themes, just comfortable accommodation, fine food and wine, all wrapped up in traditional festive spirit. Calmness and tranquillity is the order of the day.

During this special time of the year, let us take care of you, away from the hustle and bustle of every day life in a charming country at the foot of the Mediterranean.

Special rates on accommodation when you stay over the Christmas period.For more information call us and we will be delighted to send you our Christmas brochure.

Tel: 20070500

Our Links with London Photos: Mike Brufal

Eve of Gibraltar Day Mass in London

Having the statue of Our Lady of Europe prominently placed in the sanctuary for the Mass provided an extra significance to the celebration.

For me, the Mass served as an act of thanksgiving to the Lord for having protected the Gibraltarians who spent the war years in London.”


Forthcoming events

While it is customary for the head of state to go on a Royal

Visit to mark a Jubilee, the Queen, at 86 years of age, has done a great number of these over the years. Simon Brooks-Ward LVO OBE TD, proposed that a Jubilee Pageant might be held in Windsor Castle in May next year, so the World could come to visit her. Her Majesty is fully supportive of this project, and as Director of the Pageant, Simon has asked Lis Woods, who has been operating the Kijani Trust in Kenya for many years to organise the Kenyan participation in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant which is to take

place over three days in May next year.BACKGROUNDPrincess Elizabeth learned of the death of her father, George VI, which occurred on 6 February 1952, the night she was at Treetops Hotel in Kenya. She was the first British monarch since the Act of Union in 1801 to be outside the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession (because her father, George VI, had died in his sleep at an unknown time). Treetops Hotel is in Aberdare National Park in Kenya near the township of Nyeri, on the Aberdare Range and in sight of Mount Kenya.

First opened in 1932, it was literally built into the tops of the trees of Aberdare National Park as a treehouse, offering the guests a close view of the local wildlife in complete safety. It is hoped that 55 Kenyans will be able to travel to London to participate, including people who were at Treetops when she received the news that her father had passed away. The vicar from the little church in nearby Nyeri, where the Queen prayed on visiting Treetops, for instance, and some members of staff

who still tell the story about the beautiful young woman who climbed into the tree a Princess and came down a Queen. There is a Choir which make up almost half the contingent and who, it is hoped, will be able to sing on all three days of the Pageant. Kijani Trust is involved with many charitable projects on the ground in Kenya, including work with mothers and babies suffering from HIV/AIDS and conservation projects, providing water for elephants for example.

Next year marks the 60th year of the Queen’s Accession to the Throne.

Can we help the Kenyans go to sing for the Queen?


Can we help the Kenyans go to sing for the Queen?

EuropeAxess Media has been working on developing a fund raising website to help Lis build a new clinic for the HIV/AIDS mothers and babies as well as to raise funds for the other charities

they support, but this website is not ready. Nevertheless Lis has asked us if we could help raise funds for Kenya’s participation in this event.Next month we will be holding

Treetops Hotel originally offered just two rooms in a tree house.

a fund raising event where Lis will present the cause, explaining the plans for the Kenyan participation, and outline who will be going and how they will be entertaining the guests. She will also be able to give details of how the charities the Trust supports will benefit. Treetops Hotel will be giving rooms to the Kijani Trust to offer for auction for the nights of the Pageant - on line. Including the Special Princess Elizabeth Suite. More about the work of the

Kijani Trust can be found at www.kijanikenyatrust.org.If you are interested in supporting this initiative in any way, please contact Angela Sargent on Tel: 20079335.

Need somewhere to get away from it all?Let us pamper you!

We have a wide range of services including skin care, manicures and hairdressing.

Merry Christmas from Orlando and all the staff.Contact us at The Rock Hotel, Europa Road. Tel: 200 71414


2011 Holy Land Pilgrimage with Manolo Galliano

Thursday 8th Sept.A day for last minute preparations for our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The trip is fast approaching and I am in a quandary of what exactly to pack. I have my passport, travel documents, insurance and spending money in my hand luggage. At 7:15pm, Monsignor Paul Bear celebrates a special mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned in Gibraltar for all the pilgrims, most of them have never been to the Holy Land before, everybody seems to be very excited.

Saturday 10th Sept.We meet early in the morning on the other side of the Frontier where our tour organiser, Myna Finlayson, checks that we are all present.At around 9:30am, we leave for Malaga airport and, after a few hiccups with some of the pilgrims’ tickets (including mine), we finally board our flight to Brussels. We arrive just after 5pm and after a wait of two hours and some refreshments, we board our connecting flight to Tel Aviv. We can only hope that we will be re-united with our luggage when we arrive at

our destination!What a joy to see the lights of the city spread out below us, at last we have arrived in the Promised Land. The Israeli passport control is quite strict, but not as bad as we envisaged. We finally make it out of Ben Gurion Airport at 1:30am and are greeted by Moshe, our tour guide. He originally hails from Cape Town and is togged up in full safari Ranger kit. Our coach driver for our trip is Eliku who conveys us through the deserted suburbs of Tel Aviv to our Grand Beach Hotel. At long last, after travelling well over 3000 miles, we finally kip

down for the night.

Sunday 11th Sept.We leave the hotel after a substantial breakfast and drive through Tel Aviv which is a sprawling modern city founded in 1909. We arrive at Jaffa which is now almost a suburb of Tel Aviv. After the air-conditioned comfort of our coach, we find the heat quite overwhelming as we make our way through a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood to St. Peter’s Church, built atop the ancient citadel. The large painting over the main altar where Monsignor Paul celebrates Mass depicts Saint Peter on the roof of Simon the Tanner’s house. The pulpit is carved in the shape of a tree, supported by a trunk and bearing branches, leaves and fruit. The afternoon is free and many members of the group end up having lunch in the numerous

Right: St. Peter’s Church, Jaffa

In Jesus’ Footsteps...Earlier this year Fr. Paul led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Manolo Galliano has shared his diary notes with us, so we may follow, day by day...


restaurants in the marina area near our hotel; although I must say that our own marinas in Gibraltar are far classier and offer much better amenities and services.

Monday 12th Sept. An early breakfast before checking out of the hotel as we were to move on to visit Caesarea, built in the first century BC by King Herod the Great and dedicated to the Emperor Augustus Caesar. Our guide, Moshe, who is a mine of information, shows us the ruins of the impressive

amphitheatre, which is still used nowadays for concerts, as well as the hippodrome, the remains of the port and the ruined remnants of Herod’s palace, which later became the residence of the Roman Procurator, Pontius Pilate. He informs us that in 1961, a carved limestone block was discovered in excavations in Caesarea, which had engraved on it the almost complete name and title of Pontius Pilate, this being the only independent evidence, other than the Gospel accounts of this infamous personality. The next stop is the ancient site of Megiddo, also known as Armageddon. Here archaeologists have uncovered twenty different layers of human occupation over several thousand years. Moshe shows us a huge hole in the ground, which looks like an inverted cone, having two stairways spiralling down, this was used as a grain pit during the Israelite period. Beyond, we see the ruins of the stables which are said to date from the days of King Solomon and which now appear to have been taken over by a small herd of sad-eyed cattle!Finally, we are led deep down into a rock hewn shaft, excavated thousands of years ago and 115 feet deep, it leads to a reservoir, a tunnel and then brings us out into the sweltering heat.

We then proceed to Haifa, which boasts a population of a quarter of a million people and has a very busy port. We are quite blown away by the beauty of the Shrine of the Bab, on the slopes of Mount Carmel, where

the founder of the Bahai faith is buried. The main circular marble building has a dome sheathed in an’old gold’ colour. The extensive gardens, which are terraced all the way down to the city, are truly spectacular.

In Jesus’ Footsteps...



Next on our itinerary is Mass at the Stella Maris Chapel and a quick visit to Elijah’s cave, located under the main altar, where the prophet is said to have lived and taught. After a truly gruelling day, we finally reach our next hotel on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and it being quite late in the evening, we only have time for a quick shower prior to going for dinner.

Tuesday 13th Sept. A very early breakfast as we have to depart at 8:00am for a morning boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. On our way we first stop at the Yigal Alon Museum to view a recently excavated Sea of Galilee boat, a fishing boat dating to the time of Jesus and similar to the sort of craft used by His disciples Peter and Andrew.

The experience of sailing on the calm waters of the lake is quite emotional for me, as basically, little appears to have changed since the New Testament times and I can look out and view the same panorama as Our Lord would have seen almost two thousand years before. This is a time for meditation and silent prayer and I forget for a time that there are 57 other fellow pilgrims on the same boat, all

of them also impressed by the experience, singing hymns and taking lots of photos of the wondrous scenery. We next continue to Capernaum, the main base used by Jesus when in Galilee and visit the modern octagonal church erected over the ruins of a house which, according to tradition, is said to be that of Saint Peter

In Jesus’ Footsteps...

Sunset prayers at Galilee


himself; another interesting site is that of the well-preserved and elaborate synagogue built over the remains of an earlier one which would have been attended by Our Lord. Then it is time for lunch and we are taken to a typical restaurant on the shore where we are served with ‘Saint Peter’s Fish’, which despite its staring eyes, proves to be quite tasty. Our next visit is to the Church of the Primacy of Peter which is also located on the lakeside and it was here that Jesus appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection and asked Peter repetitively, “Peter, do you love me ..... feed my sheep”. At 3:00pm, Monsignor Paul celebrates Mass at the Church of the Beatitudes, the traditional site for the Sermon on the Mount, which gives us an incredible panoramic view overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We return to the hotel and, later, some of us decide to stroll down to the beach before dinner and find ourselves in a small secluded cove facing the Sea of Galilee. We are amazed to find that the seashore is strewn with thousands upon thousands of brilliant white screw Turritella seashells, what we call periwinkles. We take photos of the beautiful surroundings and paddle in the warm calm waters. We then decide to sit down in a semi-circle, recite the rosary and watch the sun set majestically behind the distant mountains. For many of us, after the mad rushing around of the past few days, it was a time for silent reflection which most of us can affirm, was the high point in our pilgrimage. We could almost sense the Lord being close to us at that moment in time.

Wednesday 14th Sept.Another early departure today, travelling to Yardenit, the baptismal site on the River Jordan. Here we don white alb-like vestments over our swimsuits and renew our baptismal vows. We were immersed in the warm waters of the river with small fish constantly nipping at our feet.We then travel to the north of the country, to the very borders of Syria and Lebanon, by the Golan Heights. We visit Caesarea Philippi where we are shown the Grotto of the pagan god Pan and the location of one of the largest springs feeding the River Jordan.We then return to Tiberias for Mass at St. Peter’s Church, whose nave represents an overturned boat. Over the altar there is a painting of the saint at the tiller of a small boat, which bears the name of Simon Bar Jona.Again, on our return to the hotel, a much larger group of us make our way down to our small beach and, after swimming in the sea, end the evening with prayers and singing of psalms.

Thursday 15th Sept.We check out of our hotel and drive to Nazareth, climbing up the hill to the magnificent Basilica of the Annunciation for our early morning Mass in the Holy Grotto, where the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. The great dome of the Basilica is designed like an inverted lily decorated with the letter ‘M’ for Mary and has splendid stained glass windows and Marian mosaics from all over the world, both inside and

outside in the courtyard.We then travel to Cana, where we visit the Franciscan church there and where the married couples in our group renew their marriage vows.Later we use our free time to purchase rosaries and all types of religious souvenirs for our friends and family.Next Month we catch up with the pilgrimage in Jerusalem


Below: Renewal of Baptismal Vows in the River Jordan


Charity Begins at Home Anne Mesilio

The Legend of the RobinAnne Mesilio asks if we are ready to act with selfless service to those nearest and dearest to us.It was growing cold in the

stable at Bethlehem as the small fire’s embers began to fade. Mary held her new-born babe closer to her breast for extra warmth. Watching from the rafters the brown coloured robin began to fly back and forth over the dying fire, using his little wings like bellows, flapping the embers back into life. Suddenly a spark flew out and burned his chest feathers bright red and thus we associate his red breast with this selfless service he provided. This story epitomises the proverb; Charity begins at

home; one of the three great theological virtues consisting of love of God and one’s neigh-bours. In a narrower sense it signifies kindness, goodwill and forbearance towards mankind in general, and in a still narrower sense, the giving of alms. Christmas is an intriguing med-ley of traditions and customs and combines pre-Christian pagan rituals with modern traditions. At its core, it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, a time to renew one’s faith, give generously and consider the past, but it can also be a time to reflect on the future. We are told

that the world’s population has reached seven billion, just try to imagine seven billion hearts and souls living in a world of contradictions, e.g. plenty of food, yet people starve as over a million tons of food was thrown away in Europe last year. Inter-national agencies have identi-fied adequate nutrition during the first thousand days of life as critical to a child’s survival and long term health prospects. Climate changes bringing mas-sive consequences, famines exacerbated by wars, millions go on military expenditure. It is called ‘modern day’, but surely slavery is just that in the form of child labour and countless bonded workers in India and Asia alone. Living in this world of ours poses many challenges and makes our Rock of 30,000 seem cosy, comforting and cushioned, away from, but not unaware of our suffering fellow human beings. The endless stream of misery pouring from our televi-sions on a daily basis can leave

us bored, indifferent and even untouched. Yet I like to believe we are intelligent beings search-ing for a reason in this world of suffering. We reacted with our hearts to the hugely devastating tsunami of 2005 which saw us donate £500,000 in less than two weeks, reflecting the Rock’s legendary response to disaster appeals. Having said that, we are not immune to the culture of self-absorption that is driven by our consumer society and the danger here is in creating needs and expectations where there aren’t any. Our western economy is fed by an insatiable value system based on having more, thus creating insecurity.We are part of the fabric of creation and given the global turbulence right now we are called upon more and more to respond to others’ suffering. I applaud this, because whilst charity begins at home, it should not end there. However, it does begin at home, and home is the operative word here. Family and friends come first, it is our duty as compassionate human beings to help others and this begins with those nearest to us. Home can be taken for granted, but perhaps charity is lacking as we get tired from work, get grumpy with those around us,


Charity Begins at Home Anne Mesilio

The Legend of the Robinlose patience with each other. Domestic harmony needs to be worked at and leading by exam-ple means children will follow. Be a listening ear, share the chores, e.g. shopping, cleaning, walking the dog, turn down the hi-fi, share your computer skills, load/empty the dishwasher, don’t expect anyone to pick up after you, become a blood donor. Is there a sick relative in your family needing long term care? Consider giving the chief carer a day off now and again. Charity is not all about putting money in boxes to feed the hungry or telling your child you can’t come to the school play because you have to help the homeless.It is Christmas time, peace on earth - goodwill to men has to mean more than paying lip service to the sentiment and then forgetting about it for the rest of the year. On the 2nd April 1968 the first charity was registered in Gibraltar and now

two hundred and twenty two are registered, one hundred and eighty four of them being active. How about ‘adopting’ a home charity this coming year, the register is available

to the public to help you make a choice. Yes, at times charity should stay at home, following in the legend of the robin.“I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but

still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” - Helen Keller. I wish you all a peaceful and blessed Christmas .

Phot

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250 Main Street, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 79822

A Caring Community Anne Mesilio

IIt was a grey overcast Levanter day in Main Street

on Saturday 12th November but the drabness was enli-vened by the presence of many people wearing bright blue T-shirts and sunny smiles, children carrying balloons and a general air of bustle and ac-tivity prevailed. It was all in aid of World Diabetes Day which is held every 14th November.

This day was introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO), together with the In-ternational Diabetes Federation amidst concern over an escalat-ing diabetes epidemic. This day was chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who co-discovered insulin in 1922 with Charles Best.Diabetes Gibraltar were raising awareness and funds by encour-aging people to wear blue and join in the Blue Walk, a gentle town centre walk suitable for all ages. They had a stall at the Piazza in the middle of town with a varied supply of booklets containing information on how to live with diabetes, as well

as offering people a chance to be screened if they so wished. Professionals were on hand with whom to share concerns and learn about services available locally.Julie Parker, Diabetic Specialist Nurse stood aside with me for several minutes on a demand-ing morning to tell me more. “Our Diabetic Association was re-launched on 5th October with the dual purpose of raising awareness and increasing mem-bership. We have 2,000 people here with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and when you consider the world wide incidence of dia-betes to be 6.6% and in Gibraltar it is 10%, very high indeed”.What is diabetes? It is a com-mon life long condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This happens when the pancreas (an oblong flattened gland located deep in the abdomen) does not produce any or not enough insu-lin, or the amount of insulin pro-

duced does not work properly.Insulin allows glucose to enter the body’s cells where it is used as fuel for energy to enable us to work, play and generally live our lives. Glucose comes from digesting carbohydrates and is also produced in the liver.Carbohydrate comes from many different kinds of food and drink, e.g. starchy foods, bread, potatoes, some vegetables, sugar and other sweet foods.The theme for this year’s aware-ness day is concerned with dia-betes in children and adolescents and its type one diabetes we are concerned with here. This devel-ops if the insulin producing cells in the body have been destroyed, leaving the pancreas unable to produce any insulin which is vital for life, and glucose builds up in the blood. This can happen from a very young age up to the age of forty. The aim of treat-ment is to achieve blood glucose and blood pressure levels as near to normal as possible.Children diagnosed with diabe-

Blue Walk for DiabetesConfused about diabetes? We found out where to get more information.


A Caring Community Anne Mesilio

Blue Walk for Diabetestes have special needs simply because they are children. They will need consistent care in learning how to inject them-selves, count carbohydrates and monitor their blood sugar levels as they try to grapple with this new and often frightening time in their young lives. Diabetes is for life and coping with it can cause emotional problems, e.g. a feeling of being differ-ent. A diagnosis affects the whole family and this is where support networks are invalu-able. It is hard to beat meeting someone who ‘has been there’ for relevant advice and encour-agement.It is beyond the scope of this article to give comprehensive advice but Julie told me there are specialist nurses available at the health centre, for chil-dren, and adults over the age of forty, who may have been diagnosed with type two dia-betes. This is often preventable and is usually treated by adopt-ing a healthier lifestyle with

diet and exercise included.The Diabetic Association is located at 51 Line Wall Rd (be-side Amars Bakery); it is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 10.00am-12noon.You can contact them on tel-ephone no; 200 72420. Support and information is available here as well a chance to check your weight and your blood sugar levels and above all to ask ques-tions, ask until you have a clear idea of how to manage yours or your child’s diabetes.Living with this long term condition can often be difficult and it is important to have ac-cess to the right information and support needed to manage this condition effectively.

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With so many activities, adverts and gifts targeted

at our younger generation, the pain of the inability to conceive can be sharper. It can be a time when understanding the Church’s teaching on all the Artificial Reproductive Methods can be a difficult message to swallow. In this short article, I hope to introduce a glimpse of the moral understandingin the Church’s teaching and offer references for further reading on this topic.At first glance, this can seem a depressing article and I do want to remind the readers that hope

is not lost. NaProTechnology is available locally and it is morally and ethically acceptable to the Catholic Church. It has been achieving excellent results in helping married couples build their families through natural procreation and adoption. It is important, however to know about the Church’s teaching on the morality of the treatments available. For the simplicity of this article we will concentrate solely on the teaching from the Catechism. To begin with we are reminded that a child is a gift from God in paragraph 2378 we read:

We are warned against the medical techniques that separate the unitive aspect of marriage from procreation:

2376 “Techniques that entail the dissociation of husband and wife, by the intrusion of a person other than the couple (donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus), are gravely immoral. These techniques (heterologous artificial insemination and fertilization) infringe the child’s right to be born of a father and mother known to him and bound to each other by marriage. They betray the spouses’ “right to become a father and a mother only through each other.”The Catechism then states the morality of the other Techniques available:2377 “Techniques involving only the married couple (homologous artificial insemination and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible,

yet remain morally unacceptable. They dissociatethe sexual act from the procreative act. The act which brings the child into existence is

no longeran act by which

two persons give themselves to one

another, but one that “entrusts the life and identity of the embryo into the power of doctors and biologists and establishes the domination

of technology over the origin

and destiny of the human person.

Such a relationship of domination is in itself

contrary to the dignity and equality that must be common to parents and children.” “Under the moral aspect procreation is

deprived of its proper perfection when it is not willed as the fruit of the conjugal act, that is to say, of the specific act of the spouses’ union . . . . Only respect for the link between the meanings of the conjugal act and respect for the unity of the human being make possible procreation in conformity with the dignity of the person.”This latter sentence describes how NaProTechnology assists couples to conceive, by treating underlying conditions that affect fertility. Conception then takes place in the natural conjugal act.For further reading:An excellent resource by a couple who have not only shared their personal story about their struggle to form a family but also clear information on the Church’s Teaching about

For couples who have been trying to achieve a pregnancy unsuccessfully, Christmas can be a very difficult time of the year.

The Catechism and infertility Your Holy Family Dr. Monique Risso

“A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The “supreme gift of

marriage” is a human person. A child may not be considered a piece

of property, an idea to which an alleged “right to a child” would lead.”


The Catechism and infertilitythe reproductive technologies available and the reasons why not all the methods are morally acceptable.http://www.catholicinfertility.org/index.htmlhttp://www.ladyofeuropefertilitycare.com/infertility.php Further information aboutNaProTechnology and a link to an explanation about IVF.The Pontificial Acadamy of Life: TENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. FINAL COMMUNIQUE ON “THEDIGNITY OF HUMAN PROCREATIONAND REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS” February 2004http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pont-acd_life_doc_20040316_x-gen-assembly-final_en.htmlCTS Explanations: Explaining Catholic Teaching: Infertility by

Your Holy Family Dr. Monique Risso

Agneta Sutton ISBN 1 86082 193 6http://www.cts-online.org.uk/For further information, contact: DrMonique Risso MB ChB MRCGPGeneral Practitioner and NaPro Technology PhysicianSpecialist Medical Clinic, Unit 7, First Floor, ICC Building, Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 49999Email: [email protected] www.ladyofeuropefertilitycare.com

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER A New Dimension in Your Marriage The next Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 May 2012 at the Europa Retreat Centre. For further information contact: Ernest & Jane Povedano Tel. 70976, Mob: 54007961, E-mail:- [email protected] or Eliott & Macu Dobinson, Tel. 79586, Mob: 58008309, Email:- [email protected]


Inspirational Testimonies

Sheriff Electrical Contractors Ltd. Electrical Contractors Office 40/42 Cornwall’s Lane, Tel: (350) 200 79353, Fax: (350) 200 74515 E-mail: [email protected] Fire Services Division 3 Cornwall’s Parade, Tel: (350) 200 40583, Fax: (350) 200 74515 E-mail: [email protected]

A. A. Sheriff (Wholesale) Ltd. Retail 51 Engineer Lane, Tel: (350) 200 78065, Fax: (350) 200 74515 Wholesale Unit 12A, Watergardens, Tel: (350) 200 73083, Fax: (350) 200 40585 Planet Mobile Unit 12A, Watergardens, Tel: (350) 200 50063, Fax: (350) 200 40585 Offices 40/42 Cornwall’s Lane, Tel: (350) 200 40583, Fax: (350) 200 74515 E-mail: [email protected] Warehouse Unit 14, The New Harbours, Tel: (350) 200 41836, Fax: (350) 200 46344 E-mail: [email protected]

I would like to talk about hope and about how we help each other to hope.

Three priests, a Dominican, a Benedictine and a bishop, were on a boat sailing to across the Pacific. And the boat sunk and they all ended up on a small desert island. After a bit an angel appeared and offered each of them a wish. And

so the Dominican thought hard and said to the angel, ‘I would like to go home to my brothers in Blackfriars.’ ‘Wush’, and he was gone, like a text message on an iPhone. And then the Benedictine said, ‘That Dominican was absolutely right as they always are. I want to go back home to Worth Abbey.’ ‘Wush’ and he was gone. And then the bishop said: ‘I am awfully lonely now that they have gone. Could you please send the Dominican and the Benedictine back please?’

Wush, wush!These religious were wise in wanting to be back in their communities. We need each other to keep our hope alive for the future. We have an economic crisis, which means that millions of young people have little prospect of a job in the immediate future. Worst of all we have the prospect of a vast ecological catastrophe which could kill millions of people, especially after the disaster of the Copenhagen conference. What

will the planet be like when the young are my age? And so lots of people would rather eat, drink and be merry and pretend that the future is not going to happen. That is a form of despair.Faced with these challenges, the generations need to give each other hope. The older people need to give hope to the young, by believing in their future. And the young give hope to older people, because they are the future. I love the word confident. It comes from the Latin confidens, which means believing together.Let me tell you of a young friend of mine called John. His story is of someone who received and gave hope. John was thrown out of school for taking drugs.

Father Timothy Radcliffe, a former Master of the World-Wide Dominican Order addresses youth leaders.

Hoping and helping.


Suddenly his world collapsed and he despaired. His parents decided to take him on a holiday to cheer him up.His mother went to collect the tickets from the travel agent, and when she got back to their Flat, she found a crowd of people gathered in the street. In the middle was her son. John had jumped from the seventh floor.She phoned me in Oxford from the hospital in London to ask for my prayers since he had not long to live. I offered to come and she replied that there was no point since John would be dead within an hour. Still, I went since I knew

that she would need someone around afterwards. When I got there John was still just alive. The doctor showed me that his core temperature was steadily dropping. He said to me that when it got to a certain level, then he would die, probably in about twenty minutes. I took John’s hand and told him that we were praying for him. He had broken every bone in his body, and exploded a lung, and burst his stomach, but he made a sign with his hand. And finally he wrote in very spindly writing, ‘I can pray too.’Then something extraordinary

Hoping and helping.


happened. His core temperature began to rise again, and he survived. It took him six months before he could walk, most of that time spread out on thin mesh of silk as his body healed. When I went to see him I had to lie on the floor and face upwards. And now he is indeed fine. He got married last year. He is a successful artist. The turning point was when we prayed together. When I told him that we were praying, he began to live, and when he told us that he was praying, we began to hope.But what is the basis of our hope? How do we dare to go on trusting that God will give us a future even when we cannot imagine it, when we cannot find a job and we have fallen out with the person whom we most love? Let me share with you an experience that I had inRwanda, just at the beginning of the troubles. It was one of the most important of my life. It transformed my understanding of what it means to hope and so I have told it often.

We were due to drive north to visit our sisters who were looking after refugees. The Belgian Ambassador came and warned us that violence was breaking out throughout the country and that we should stay at home. But we were young and foolish, and so we got around the army road blocks to stop anyone leaving the capital, and we found ourselves in the midst of chaos. It was a terrible day, having to get out of the car to confront groups of rebels and soldiers, carrying guns and machetes. I did not think that we would live until the end of the day. The worst was visiting a hospital filled with children mutilated with land mines. I remember one kid who had lost both his legs and an arm and an eye, and his father was sitting by the beside weeping. I went out into the bush and wept too. And a kid with one leg hopped beside me to console me. They could not afford crutches.And then we went to visit the sisters. I knew that I was expected to say something but

what could I say? I had come across more suffering on that day than ever before in my life. I had no words. And then I remembered that Jesus had left us something to be done in memory of him. We could remember that night before he died, which was the darkest moment in human history. One of his friends had sold him, and his beloved Peter was about to betray him. And most of the rest would run away. And when everything seemed lost and there was no future, he did this extraordinary thing. When he was having supper with his friends he took bread and gave it to them saying ‘This is my body, given for you.’ When the only future seemed to be the cross, then he made this mad, generous, loving gesture. That is the basis of our hope. Every time that we gather as a community for the Eucharist, we are taken back to that dark moment, and that unexpected gift of the future. The last Supper seemed the end, the last supper, but it was just the beginning, the first Eucharist.

Now, Jesus did two extraordinary things in that moment. First of all he gave the disciples space and time. He was just with them. And secondly he gave them himself. All hopeful loving, or loving hope, needs both of those, the gift of space and the gift of oneself. That is what we older people give you who are young, and what you can give us. Let’s look at each of them.Jesus gives them space and time. If I had known that soldiers were soon coming to arrest me, and that I would be denied by these very same friends to whom I had

Inspirational Testimonies

Hoping and helping.


given everything, I would be in a state of total panic, and very angry too. But Jesus showed his hope by quietly being with them,

sharing a meal, sharing his last words, talking to them. Now is the only moment that exists. Now is when the future starts.

TRAFALGARPHARMACY

48-50 Main Street, Gibraltar.t: 200 71710

Third Order of CarmelitesJohn Berry, Provincial Delegate of the Third Order of Carmelites, will be coming to Gibraltar early next year to help in the process of commencing a Third Order of Carmelites in Gibraltar. This will be open to anyone who feels the calling to the Third Order of Carmelites. If you would like more information please contact, Elizabeth Chipolina: Tel: 20046705 or 20079203 (after office hours) Mob: 54003987, or Ana Maria Hayden: 20071748 Mob: 54018508


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