Edition #1

Sunday 5th

June 2011 Edition #2

Sunday 12th

June 2011

Edition #2

Sunday 12th

June 2011

Edition #37 Sunday, 11

th March 2012

Sunday Priest Father Bernardino Andrade Contact: bernardinodandrade@gmail.com Newsletter Receive the Joyful Gift every week in your inbox!

Subscribe or feel free to contribute with articles by emailing Laura at laurikaaa@gmail.com

Find us online www.joyfulgiftatpenha.blogspot.com

JOYFUL GIFT Your weekly newsletter from the Catholic English Mass in Funchal

Welcome to the Chapel of Penha de França, founded by António

Dantas in 1622 and built on a “penha” or peak, by the sea. This soon became so famous a shrine that people came to it on pilgrimage from all parts of the Island, and in 1721 the chapel was restored and enlarged. When the Diocese of Funchal took possession of the chapel it was used for the bishops as a Country House or Summer Residence for many years. In the meantime, the Franciscans had been coming to Madeira to carry out apostolic duties however it was only in 1935, on Easter Sunday, that they founded the Franciscan Residence of Our Lady of Penha de França, at the request of Bishop D. António Ribeiro.

The English Mass is a tradition that dates back to 1966, when Fr Rafael Andrade, having just returned from his first visit to England, complied with the Bishop’s request to start an English celebration. Fr Rafael presided this mass for over 30 years, when he had to stop in 1999 due to overlapping duties. For eight years there was no Mass in English in Madeira, until it began again on the first Sunday of Lent in 2007.

Have a lovely time in Madeira Island and we hope to receive your visit again soon!

Thoughts on the Scripture Readings Brought to you by Chris Oliver, UK

11th March – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year B

In last week's reading from Genesis

God promised to shower blessings on Abraham and his descendants.

Today's reading from Exodus spells out the people's part of the covenant. The Law given to Moses on Sinai starts with the ten commandments, and is followed by 10 chapters of detailed laws about behaviour and ritual. Meanwhile, back at the foot of the mountain, the people became bored, and built a golden calf to worship! The psalm underlines the irony: God's decrees "are more to be desired than gold".

Paul began his letter to the Corinthians by telling them to stop squabbling among themselves. They should not divide into opposing groups, saying "I belong to Paul" or "I belong to Apollos", and so on. They must follow the crucified Christ only. Christ has brought the Law of Moses to completion by his

command to love one another. And he demonstrated this love by dying on the Cross – "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles".

In John's gospel Jesus cleanses the Temple at the beginning of his ministry, instead of towards the end, as in the other gospels. Jesus claims he will rebuild the Temple in three days, antagonising the Jewish leaders. Right from the start of John's gospel Jesus' death and resurrection are foreshadowed.

Exodus 20: 1-17 Psalm 18(19) 1 Cor 1: 22-25 John 2: 13-25

Psalm Response: You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.

Further Information, www.bible-groups.info

CATHOLIC MASS SUNDAYS 10AM

PENHA DE FRANÇA

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From My Heart to Your Heart Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade, Madeira

If You Can Learn From Your Children, You Are Smart

Having been a pastor in

California for 12 years made me learn a lot from my parishioners. And many of my columns written for my Sunday newsletter were made of stories from them, stories which had the biggest impact on me.

Today I share with you one which was published in January 2000, called “If you can learn from your children, you are smart”.

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A few weeks ago I was introducing a parishioner to Clyde Hawkins. During the short conversation it was revealed that this wonderful man had stopped drinking because his little daughter had asked him to. And I believe the best reason to do or not to do something is when we do it for love and not just because it is right.

Clyde in all his wisdom commented, “If you can learn from your children it is because you are a smart man.”

Days later I received from Carl Ross the following message.

Good morning, Father, The other night my daughter and I were making fun of my son Eric. You know, harmless stuff, just having fun with him.

Well, Eric did not think it was funny and he said to us, “You know, you are making the Devil happy. He’s smiling right now because you are saying bad things about me. Why don’t you say good things about me so God will smile?”

My daughter Angelica said, “You can’t see God, you don’t know if He is smiling or not.”

Then Eric replied, “I know I can’t see God, but I can feel Him in my heart.”

Wow! What I beautiful and powerful message my son just made and he’s only six years old, I thought to myself. I kept staring at him like he was an angel.

I thought this would put a smile on your face. Children are truly a gift from God. Peace be with you. Carl

Dear Carl Surely it put a smile in my face. Thank you and I agree with you and Clyde, “When you can learn from your children, you are a smart man”.

Love,

Fr. Bernardino [bernardinodandrade@gmail.com]

Language of the Mass Brought to you by Chris Oliver, UK

Consubstantial Part 2 – homoousios

Many in the Council wanted to include in the

Nicean Creed the Greek word "homoousios", meaning that the Son was "of the same essence or substance" as the Father. Arius' supporters preferred "homoiousios", the extra "i" changing the meaning to "similar substance" to the Father. This "iota" of a letter was at the heart of the argument. Eventually the Council agreed to "homoousios", with all the bishops except 3 finally signing.

The whole of creation is made up of something, which Greeks thought of as "substance". But clearly God was not created, and so could not be of the same "substance" as created matter. Insisting therefore that the Son is "of the same substance" as the Father means insisting that He is truly and equally God. Everything that the Father is, the Son

is. This could still be seen as allowing a "Modalist" view, ie that the Father and the Son are different ways of being God. Hence the phrase (literally) "begotten out of the Father" insisting the two persons are distinct – but both God.

A major difficulty was that homoousios is not in the scriptures. The Church had never previously used non-scriptural language to define its beliefs. Athanasius

persuaded the Council that non-scriptural language could be acceptable, provided the ideas it was used for were not un-scriptural. This was an important move forward in the Church's approach to defining its beliefs for use in the liturgy.

Chris Oliver [chris.oliver@virgin.net] 2

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The World Seen from Rome Brought to you by ZENIT, the Catholic Church news agency

Holy See Calls Attention to Needs of Rural Woman

The Holy See drew attention to the needs of rural

women in a speech delivered last Tuesday. Speaking at the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Holy See’s delegation said it is important to recognize that rural women make up a large portion of the world’s population.

“Rural women oftentimes work in deplorable situations against odds that defy imagination,” the Holy See warned.

The speech mentioned some of the problems experienced by rural women: hunger, poverty, long hours of unpaid work, unhygienic situations, limited access to health care, discrimination and exposure to violence. Then, the women who migrate to urban areas or to other countries also face the risk of exploitation.

Improving the lives of rural women will not only help them, but their families and the local community, the Holy See affirmed.

“Education and training, the provision of resources, service delivery, access to financial systems

and communication

technology are just some areas which demand ongoing attention as they lead to realization of the right to development,” the address continued.

“Women, and in particular rural women, should be given the recognition that is due to them and they should be able to make an impact on the world around them,” they declared.

“The Secretary-General rightly indicated in his report that the advancement of rural women and girls is an essential part of the solution to today’s most serious global challenges,” the Holy See concluded.

Further Information, www.zenit.org

Where the Ocean Meets the Sky Discovering Madeira Island

Madeira is divided in eleven municipalities (2nd level administrative division). Ten of those municipalities

belong to Madeira Island and one to Porto Santo. Their creation, ordered by the King, was meant to reduce the power and privileges of the colonial masters in favour of the people.

The origin of Machico’s name isn’t certain. There are several possibilities, one of them coming from Machim, which is a legend of two English lovers (Robert Machim & Ana d’Arfet) who got lost in a storm and ended up in Machico’s bay. Machico is fairly close to Funchal (26km) and in its furthest point, there’s a completely different type of landscape, which has no green vegetation, which is called Ponta de São Lourenço. There is also a natural dark-volcanic beach in Caniçal but if you prefer it yellow, you can find a man-made one too!

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Machico

Municipality 1440

Civil Parishes Five: Machico,

Caniçal, Porto da Cruz, Água de

Pena & Santo António da Serra

Population 21,828 (2011)

Area 68.38 km2

Patron Saint Nossa Sra da Conceição (Blessed Virgin Mary Municipal 9 October Holidays www.cm-machico.pt

Editor: Laura Machado © Funchal, 2012

[laurikaaa@gmail.com]

If you wish to DONATE, please find bellow the details for PHP Bank Account, NIB: 0038 0000 39527051771 85 IBAN: PT50 0038 0000 39527051771 85

BIC: BNIFPTPL

To send CHECKS or any correspondence, here is our Address Book,

(Europe) Pe Bernardino Andrade Rua das Murteiras, 28 – 1E 9060-199 Funchal, Madeira

(USA) Janice Contreras 60 Meeks Ln. Oakley, CA 94561

Music for Everyone Brought to you by Coro de São Pedro

Every first Sunday of the Month, we are proud to welcome a Portuguese choir to

the English Mass. In March (ignore the fact we are one week behind schedule!) we introduce to you a family choir from another church in Funchal – São Pedro. All made of parents and their children (some of them grew up singing in this choir) and friends, who get together every Saturday to sing in Mass for over 15 years now. It is their first time coming to the English Mass, let it be only the beginning.

People Helping People

A small project founded in the Chapel of Penha de França to help those in need

Our Bishop D. António once said, “One must find new ways of helping the poor”. A very small group of people attending the English Mass decided to do just that – try our best to help those who struggle to survive. It is simply a project, a dream, a way of life.

In a short period of time we have created partnerships with restaurants and supermarket chains, we have paid dozens of medical prescriptions, we have spent gallons and gallons of petrol riding across the island giving lifts, we have prevented families to lose their homes, get their electricity cut, run out of gas. We have tried to keep them warm, keep them hopeful, keep them dreaming.

And to keep our strength going, let’s look back at inspiring words of advice that we sometimes may forget.

“If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” – Mother Theresa

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther

King, Jr.

“I have looked into your eyes with my eyes. I have put my heart near your heart.” – Pope John XXIII

“Nobody frees anybody. Nobody frees himself by himself. We free ourselves together.” – Anonymous

Help carry one another’s burdens.” Gal 6:2

“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside

me and be my friend.” – Albert Camus

“Lovers always look insane for the non-lovers”

If you wish to know more, don’t hesitate to contact us, and if you too believe that help has many forms (a birthday cake, a lift to the Hospital) start your own People Helping People and lets create an international community that looks after one another.

We would also like to express our gratitude to Fr Rafael for all the information on the English Mass, Fr Nélio for kindly giving the booklet on the story of Penha de França, Sir Ronnie for all his dedication and friendship, Fr Bonifácio, Pablo & Ligia for all the help printing this newsletter, restaurant FIGOS in Garajau for always providing a fabulous meeting point and all of you that, with your endless generosity, support this cause.

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