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Dear Friends Fr. Stuart Chipolina

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Lent known as Cuaresma in Spanish or Quadragesima

(Latin: Forty) is the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday culminating to Easter Sunday.The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer – through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial. Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy

Week, marking the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday which then culminates in Easter Sunday, marking the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.During Lenten season, some faithful observants generally commit to a form of fasting or (temporarily) give up certain types of luxury. Many Roman Catholic and some Protestant parishes often bare their altars of candles, flowers and other devotional offerings while Crucifixes, religious statues and other elaborate religious paraphernalia are often veiled in violet fabrics in pious observance of this event. In certain pious Catholic countries, grand processions and cultural customs are observed, while the faithful attempt to visit seven churches during Holy Week in honour of Jesus Christ heading to Mount Calvary to observe the

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Fourteen Stations of the Cross.According to the Synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan. Thus, Lent is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. In many of the Christian churches, Lent is regarded as being forty days long, but the Sundays between Shrove Tuesday and Easter Sunday are not typically regarded as being part of Lent; thus, the date of Shrove Tuesday will typically be slightly more than forty days before Easter Sunday.The number forty has many Biblical references: the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the forty days and nights Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the forty days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the forty years the Hebrew people wandered in the desert while travelling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the forty days Jonah in his prophecy of judgment gave the city of Nineveh in which to repent (Jonah 3:4).Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13,Luke 4:1–2). He overcame all three of Satan’s temptations by citing scripture to the devil, at which point the devil left him, angels ministered to Jesus, and he began his ministry. Jesus further said that his disciples should fast “when the bridegroom shall be taken from them” (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion. Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians have traditionally fasted during the annual commemoration of his burial.During this important season we are encouraged to fast and abstain as a sign of self denial in

an effort to count our blessings and be aware of the needs of others, thus dying a little bit to ourselves and being more giving to others.God Bless youFr StuartBruegel’s painting depicts a battle enacted between the figures Carnival and Lent. This was an important event in community life in early modern Europe. We see the church on the right of the square, with those observing religious traditions and the inn on the left, with a beer drinking scene.

Dear Friends Fr. Stuart Chipolina

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess

Media Ltd, Gibraltar.

Editor: Fr. Stuart Chipolina: [email protected]

Production Editor: A. [email protected]

Cover: Notre-Dame Basilica: The oldest catholic church in North

America built in 1656. Photo courtesy Tourisme Montréal,

Stéphan Poulin Cover Art: adapted from

wordonfire.org ‘Catholicism’ publicity concept: 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.

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Our bodies have a way of letting us know when something is

wrong and all too often illness comes calling as we go through life. From minor to major problems help and support is needed, and in the case of serious illness that cannot be treated here in Gibraltar a trip to UK is often indicated. Thousands of us have had to take this route over the past years either as the patient or support person in a very disrup-tive life event. There is no place like home is a saying we are all familiar with and home is where we get the support to help us through whatever trauma life has thrown at us. Having to leave for UK with only one person to shoulder the stress is often difficult and the lack of immedi-ate family support is keenly felt. While the patient goes to hospital

the family member has to fend as best he/she can, staying in hotels etc. and the sense of being ‘cut off’ may be upsetting. Out of illness in 1988 the concept of a home from home to help alleviate this distress was first considered when Peter Caetano needed treat-ment. His friend, Charlie Tilbury recognised the need for support abroad at this time and started an appeal to buy a house in London for this purpose. “This was the second attempt”, he was telling me, “I had approached the Chief Minister at the time, Sir Joshua Hassan who liked the idea but at that time (1980’s) only twenty seven patients were being sent over for specialised treatment. People were being accommodated in a small hotel being run by Gibraltarians which served a purpose at the time”. He went on, “while Peter was undergoing treatment I asked Joe

Jurado, Chairman of the Friends of Mt. Alvernia to join me in getting together all the charities in Gibraltar as it was envi-sioned that what was to become Calpe House would be used by everybody”. This initiative got a good response and an advisory committee was formed as well as a group to form a working com-mittee. Great interest was gener-ated and donations began to flow in. With an encouraging £11,000 in the kitty Joe Jurado started the Calpe House Appeal Fund. “The government of the day, no doubt thinking we would not get very far”, Charlie was telling me with a smile, “offered to double the amount we raised, thinking that an appeal of this nature get, perhaps £20,000. Little did they know, we raised £300,000 in two years!” What happened then?

“We went house hunting in London in the Fulham/Bays-water areas but could not afford anything”, he was matter of fact. “But”, he continued, “we went to see a huge house in Kensington Gardens and the manager offered us a property he had for sale, we went to have a look, and it is Calpe House today”. An agree-ment was reached with the local health authority whereby people were sent to stay for £10 a head, they agreed to finance a certain amount towards this and the Calpe House Trust would finance the rest. What sort of accommo-dation is provided? Apparently there are seven flats which can accommodate twelve families at any given time. There are two single flats in the basement and five for sharing. You have your own bedroom but share the kitchen, bathroom and living-room”, Charlie explained.

Confused about where to stay when travelling to the UK for medical treatment?

Your Home in LondonCALpe house Anne Mesilio

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NETWORK

PRINT

SUPPORT COPY

FAX SCAN

EMAIL

To find out more about the Products

and Services that we offer, please call John Bell

on Tel: 20051627 or Brendan Roche on Tel: 20050449.

Support for busy workers

2a Governors Parade, P.O. Box 862, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. Tel: +350 200 79693 Fax: +350 200 79707 E: [email protected] Website: www.imagegraphics.gi

Does the Trust own the building? “Yes, and when we opened nego-tiations to buy we ran into a snag with Heritage Trust UK. The contractor we had engaged to un-dertake the works spied a crack in the balcony and demolished it thinking it was dangerous”. It came to light that it was a Listed building, (for architectural and historic interest) and the home was closed during the ensuing threat of legal action, but all was resolved. Happily all was well and “since then we have come a long way”. Bishop Ralph Heskett (the third bishop to do so) visited the house recently and blessed the premises which are about to un-dergo extensive renovations. “It is nine years since the last works took place and we are going to paint the building inside and out. Flat no 3 at the entrance is going to swop places with one on the second floor to undergo renova-

tions to make it special needs friendly, for wheelchair users and so on. All the bathrooms in the basement are being replaced with walk in showers, we are re-placing the carpets, and through donations we have already replaced all the beds”. On the subject of donations Charlie took the opportunity to thank the Friends and all volunteers for their excellent untiring work and all those who generously give the large private sums which make it possible to carry on. A grant from the Health Author-ity every year helps defray expenses. He would also like to emphasise the point; “Please do not think of the house only when you need it, we are open 365 days a year, open to all religions and cultures, all are welcome, just like here at home, the same spirit of tolerance exists”.Sponsored patients who need to book into the House are referred to Charlie who has a waiting list which is always oversubscribed.

With an average stay of ten days this is not like booking in to a hotel, there are no advance bookings and someone literally has to leave to make a vacancy.

The way ahead for Calpe house? “Oh, we are not sitting back. It is only a thought but if the right property at the right price comes on the market we would

consider moving. In the mean-time we continue to make the present House as comfortable as possible for the 500 people who availed of its home from home facilities last year, and for the many more who will be welcomed here throughout the coming year”. Photo: J. Bugeja/Gibraltar Chronicle


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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Reception raises funds for Kenya youth

AReception was held in the Banquetting Hall at the Convent

last month in aid of the Ki-jani Kenya Trust attended by His Excellency the Gov-ernor and Lady Johns. Sir Adrian spoke about the importance of the Com-monwealth, and how close it is to Her Majesty’s heart. Lis Woods then gave exam-ples of how the Kijani Trust raises funds through cultural events for many charitable initiatives in Kenya for ex-ample, supporting the health and education of needy chil-dren.£680 was raised at the event.As this Jubilee adventure, moves forward, we can now report that two young people

from the Gibraltar Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme will be invited to participate in the Flag Ceremony at the Queens Jubilee Pageant in May. They will represent Gibral-tar’s early civilian popula-tion. The lady’s costume will be a copy of the National Costume reproduction made by Priscilla Sacramento ac-cording to research work done by Geraldine Finlayson at the Gibraltar Museum.

Photos from 1954 The Director of the Pag-eant has specifically asked for photographs from the time when the Queen vis-ited Gibraltar on her Com-monwealth Tour in 1954.

A selection of these images will be used on the large screens at the Pageant.

tickets available VIP seats are available next to the Royal Box, which include access to VIP seat-ing in the Royal hospitality area. There are only very limited numbers of tickets avail-able. If you would like to attend the Jubilee Pageant, please contact Lyana Arm-strong at M. H. Blands on Tel: 20079335. Alternatively, ask Lyana at M. H. Blands about a Kenya holiday including rooms at Tree Tops Hotel. The Prin-cess Elizabeth Suite, has been given to the Kijani Trust

for the nights of the Pageant. More about the work of the Kijani Trust: www.kijanikenyatrust.org

Tickets available to see local youth take part in Queens Jubilee Pageant.

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Life is a journey often shrouded in darkness, the darkness of physical and emotional pain, fear, anger, betrayal, loneliness etc. The dark shadow of sin constantly blights our lives and it is only human to fear this predator. There is light, the same light of Christ which shone out from that dark and lonely hillside on Calvary over two thousand years ago, and as we prepare for Easter, the great-est of Christian festivals, (which is all about light) we embark on a path of fasting trying to make reparation for our sins. In this action we emulate Moses who

fasted for forty days and nights on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments. King David fasted to humble his soul, the prophetess Anna fasted before proclaiming the infant Jesus as the Messiah. “Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and he fasted forty days and nights” (Matthew, 4, 1; 2) before undertaking his public ministry. Saint Patrick, in the fifth century AD fasted on what is now Ireland’s holiest mountain, Croagh Padraig, (Patrick’s moun-tain). This mountain on Ireland’s Atlantic west coast rears up 726 mets above sea level and looks westwards into the vast ocean. It is a place of wild fury as winds and rain, snow and ice in turns besiege it, with, it must be said, the occasional fine day in between, so that makes it a great place for doing penance. Since the saint’s time it

has become customary to climb the Reek, (affectionately known) barefooted, maybe that’s for the really hardy, but it’s a punishing climb however it’s done. We are told that Patrick’s purpose in doing this penance was to obtain special blessings and mercy for those he was about to evangelise. The pagan demons became vast flocks of hid-eous birds of prey that tormented him and tried to turn him from his purpose. Patrick triumphed through his rigorous fasting and prayer and obtained for the Irish a great blessing, namely; Patrick himself would be deputed to judge the whole Irish race on the day of judgement. On another hill, Slane Hill, he lit the first Pascal fire of Christianity in Ireland.Today’s Christians who undertake the forty day fast of Lent do so in a spirit of prayer and penance in preparation for Easter. Fasting laws have been greatly relaxed since ancient times and in 1966 Pope Paul VI recommended that fasting be appropriate to the lo-cal economic situation, and that Catholics voluntarily fast and abstain. There are forty six days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, but on Sundays, which celebrate the Resurrection, fasting is not an obligation. The word Lent comes to us from the old English ‘Lencten’ meaning springtime, and it is a good time to have a spiritual spring-clean and consider what might be coming between us and God and it helps us experience our own part in His suffering. It is time to ‘give up’ something, like the voluntary avoidance of a favourite food but this on its own is worth little with-out being accompanied by prayer

and good works. The observance of Lent helps us to practice hu-mility and become more aware of suffering humanity who are in great need of our compassion. Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God and make way for the Holy Spirit to enter our souls.It is time for reflection too, what do you want your fast to achieve? (Isaiah 58:1-12), the Lord ex-plains that unless fasting leads to works of charity it does not do us any good. This is good advice as we begin our Lenten journey, and worth reflecting on as we near its end. Saint John Chrysostom, (347-407) Archbishop of Con-stantinople, known as the golden mouthed for eloquence leaves with these (golden) words; “Do not say to me, I have fasted for many days. I did not eat this, or I did not eat that. I did not drink wine, that I endured want. In-stead, show me if thou, from being an angry man, has become instead gentle. If from a cruel man, thou hast become benevolent. If thou art filled with anger, why oppress thy flesh? If hatred and avarice are within thee, of what benefit is it that thou drinkest water instead of wine? Do not show forth a useless fast, for fasting alone does not ascend into heaven” So, fasting is not an end in itself, it is not for ‘show’, it is a means of being spiritually nourished with a real desire for a change of heart, and at best it is a personal act of devotion to God.When the sun shines on Easter morn, we celebrate the sunrise that scattered the darkness of death, let us rejoice.

The value of Lent Anne Mesilio

Out of the darknessAnne Mesilio looks into the purpose of Lenten exercises.


Saturday 24th March

What do you really

want?

Open your heart.

Sunday 25th March

No branch can bear fruit by itself.

Monday 26th March

Tell the children the Annunciation story

Sunday 1st April

Palm SundayBlessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.HOSANNA!

Monday 2nd April

It’s Holy Week,

help around the home.

Tuesday 3rd AprilGet your family

ready for Easter.

Wednesday 4th April Spy Wednesday.

Judas betrays

Jesus.

Thursday 8th March

Kindness starts with me.

Saturday 10th March

Change your ways.

Sunday 11th March

Marvel at creation.

Friday 16th MarchA time to grow...

...in your relationship with God.

Saturday 17th March

St. Patrick’s DayPatron Saint of

Ireland.

Sunday 18th March

God made mothers to

help him in His work.

Monday 19th March

St. Joseph, Patron Saint of the Universal

Church.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTERA New Dimension in Your Marriage The next Marriage Encounter Weekend will be held from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th May at the Europa Retreat Centre. For further information contact: Ernest & Jane Povedano Tel. 20070976, Mob: 54007961, E-mail: [email protected] or Eliott & Macu Dobinson, Tel. 20079586, Mob: 58008309, Email: [email protected]

DAYS OF LENT 2012 compiled by Anne MesilioTuesday 21st February

Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day.

Wednesday 22nd February

Ash Wednesday, dust thou art, and

into dust thou shalt return

Thursday 23rd February

We face our humanity during Lent

Friday 24th February

Abstain from meat today.

Wednesday 29th February

One extra day, one extra good deed.

Thursday 1st March

St. David’s Day Patron Saint of

Wales

Friday 2nd March

Do not be gloomy in your fast

Saturday 3rd March

Pray for peace

Friday 9th March

Get in touch.

Tuesday 27th MarchGive us this day,

our daily bread.

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Publish your book on Amazon.comWe make it easy for you to put your ebook on Amazon.com and other online book shops. All you need is your final manuscript as a pdf file.Email us for a quick quotation for preparing your book and publishing on Amazon.com and other book shops.

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Contact: [email protected] Tel: 20079335 NEW! Short Run Printing

Internet Electronic Publishing from EuropeAxess Media LimitedSuite 8, First Floor, Leon House, Secretary’s Lane, Gibral tar. See Internet Electronic Publishing on facebook †subject to sight of manuscript


Wednesday 28th March

Speak well of others, do not gossip.

Thursday 29th March

Enjoy your friends, talk, play, sing, dance.

Thursday 5th April

Do this in memory of me.

Friday 6th April

Good Friday.Forgive them Lord, for they

know not what they do.

Monday 12th March

Visit the sick.

Tuesday 13th March

Enjoy your friends.

Tuesday 20th MarchTake care of your world,

Pick up litter.

Wednesday 21st March

Sunday 4th March

Share a family meal

Monday 5th March

Thursday 22nd MarchSave your treat money

for a good cause.

Friday 23rd March

Read about Easter in the Bible

Friday 30th March

Feed the hungry.

Saturday 31st March

Lent is slipping away, share a smile today.

Tuesday 6th March

Eat fruit today.

Wednesday 14th March

Maketoday a

‘no news’ day.

Thursday 15th

MarchBe

generous to those

in need of your time.

Monday 27th February

Be ready to lend a

helping hand.

Tuesday 28th February

Live this day well.

DAYS OF LENT 2012 compiled by Anne Mesilio

MASS For Expectant

MothersOrganised by HOPE

Sacred Heart Church Mon. 26th March, 7pm

Expectant Mothers, family and friends cordially

invited to attend.

Saturday 25th February

Be still and know that

I am God

Sunday 26th February

Celebrate the Lords Day

Wednesday 7th March

Give time to God. Spend time in meditation.

Saturday 7th April

Today we remember Jesus in the tomb.

Sunday 8th April

The sunrise that scatters the darkness of death. Rejoice A

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Contact: [email protected] Tel: 20079335 NEW! Short Run Printing

Internet Electronic Publishing from EuropeAxess Media LimitedSuite 8, First Floor, Leon House, Secretary’s Lane, Gibral tar. See Internet Electronic Publishing on facebook †subject to sight of manuscript


The Carmelite Order originated with hermits who were living near a

spring on Mount Carmel and who wanted to live a life of prayer. These hermits asked the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem at the time to write a Rule for them with their avowed purpose which to this day has proved to be full of wisdom and inspires thousands of Carmelites to date. This Rule is known as the Rule of St Albert after the Roman Catholic Bishop. The Rule encourages us to ponder Christ and the scriptures, particularly in the Liturgy, that is Mass and Divine Office and spend some time in silent meditation. Car-melite prayer is more an attitude or understanding rather than a particular method. Contempla-tion is open to everyone. People have the wrong concept about contemplatives. They are under the impression that they are people who withdraw from the

world to live in silent retreat. The truth is that contemplation is a gift from God open to eve-ryone. Maybe people are afraid of what is going to be asked of them and hence they miss out on living a true life of freedom, peace, acceptance, wholeness and oneness. All they need to do is nurture a life of prayer, community and service - three elements that are in the heart of the Carmelite spirituality. Being receptive to all three opens our hearts to receiving God’s gift of contemplation more fully. Contemplatives are people with their feet firmly rooted on the ground, living in the reality of ordinary life, and open to God’s extra-ordinary love. Carmelites take particular inspiration from the Prophet Elijah and the Blessed Virgin Mary who are the Patrons of the Carmelite Order. Elijah and Mary pondered God’s Word in prayer.

The Carmelite Way of LifeThe Carmelite Orders: 1st Order: Friars and Hermits

2nd Order: Enclosed Nuns

3rd Order Regular: Active Sisters

3rd Order Lay Carmelites: Lay People

Carmelite Spirituality:1. Prayer: Building a relationship with God

2. Community: Encountering Him in our brothers and sisters

3. Service: Responding to the needs of others

Sponsored by

Religious Life for Lay People Elisabeth Chipolina

MOTHERS DAY MISSIONI’m sure you’ve all seen the video which was

put together on GBC for the song “Moves Like Jagger”. Now, our mission is to involve

mums, of all ages, to star in our very own video which we hope to air or produce by

Mother’s Day 2012.IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF

THE ACTION, JOIN: ‘Mother’s Day Mission’ on facebook


The Seal of Carmel

The Carmelite Way of LifeMy Personal TestimonyI urge everyone to allow God into their lives. God sent His Son Jesus for sinners – you and me. In the spiritual life there is no distinction between rich/poor, the learned and the not so learned – we have examples of saints over the ages, such as the great Carmelite Saint, Teresa of Avila, an educated woman who became a Doctor of the Church. It is so sad to see that people look upon a prayer life as being just for priests and nuns when God is there for everyone. To live a life of prayer is to have a relationship with God. As you enter more deeply into this relationship with Him, He reveals to you who you really are. Self-knowledge is crucial in the life of prayer and this happens because as you begin to know God, His light allows you to see yourself more clearly and you begin to understand how much you need to change. It is important to stress that this does

not happen overnight for forma-tion takes a whole lifetime. The contemplative instead of giving up, is prepared to go through a metanoia (conversion of heart) on a daily basis, remember, on a daily basis. The greatest gift that you are given is God Himself, what more do you need. My prayer life has helped me grow more and more in love with my husband. God has giv-en me the gift of the Sacrament of Matrimony, which I need to take care of. He has given my husband and I a mission. I need to help my husband on the way to heaven just as he needs to help me too. It can only be done if we are selfless and it becomes more fruitful if it is rooted in God. In today’s society mar-riages break up because people are not prepared to see who they really are. Circumstances arise and instead of thinking of the other person you tend to see the fault of your partner and not prepared to see yours.For years I have felt called

to contemplative prayer and that in simple words means – Friendship with God. The contemplative needs to make space for God and be open to Him. The more you open yourself to God the more you desire Him. Psalm 42 describes this very profoundly, ‘Like the deer that yearns for running streams so my soul is thirsting for you my God’.

If anyone feels called to the Camelite spirituality and want further information please contact:Elizabeth Chipolina: 200 46705 (Work) 54003987 (Mobile)Ana Maria Hayden: 200 71748 (Home)54018508 (Mobile)Angela Perera: [email protected]

Religious Life for Lay People Elisabeth Chipolina


We are ‘Team 118’ at VSO Global Xchange. Two of us

are from Gibraltar, 10 from In-dia, and 7 from the UK. Joel and I are from Gibraltar, and were fortunate to be supported by the Kusama Trust, a Gibraltar based organisation whose phi-losophy is ‘change for the better.’

It is a local charitable organisa-tion that supports the community and its development. The trust affords the funding to take part in this six-month programme to encourage people from Gibral-tar to get active in providing aid for communities abroad, three months in a region in the UK, and three months in an under-

developed community.One month after receiving an email of acceptance to the Global Xchange program, I got on the plane to Manchester for my first three month placement. I will try to provide a personal insight into the voluntary work that I have been doing during my time in Manchester.

I have been working in a day care centre called ‘Age Concern.’ It provides support and care for those who are vulnerable because they are living in isolation. It is also there as a service to support the carers of the elderly when they need a break. There are three Age Concern centres with-in Manchester, and the one in

Kusama Trust

Youth make time to care for the elderly


Wythenshawe (where I was) is the largest.I think that I did perhaps mis-understand the impact that we would have upon the organisa-tion. I felt that we would be the creators of long-term changes and that we would be improv-ing the organisation at a level which would make our time here acknowledged by much of the community. However I have had limited contact with the majority of the elderly population outside of the day centre. Nevertheless, the impacts have occurred, on a microscopic scale, more per-sonal in nature. I have spoken to, and developed close bonds

with many of the elderly during my placement. My time here has allowed me to meet wonderful people who appreciate the small things and don’t ask for much. This opportunity has been im-portant to my development as it has enabled me to see the world through the eyes of our elders. It has drawn to my attention how fortunate I am to have sight, to be able to walk, to be able to feed myself, to be able to speak . My heart has been touched by these wonderful people. I will never forget their strength and abil-ity to give their love despite the awful isolation and lack of love from the world in which they

grew.My Age Concern endeavours to enhance the wellbeing of the elderly within Wythenshawe through providing services for the elderly. Such services are put in place as they create stimula-tion and formulate a connection to the present. It helps keep their minds stimulated and active,

whilst forming a strong close-knit family-like group. This is important as it provides a sense of community and belonging, which are goals that we all share as their presence ensures the enhancement of well being and happiness.One of the greatest things that I gained through working here

Emily and Sangh were working at an Age Concern day care centre.

Emily Batty

Youth make time to care for the elderly


was through meeting the people that I have worked alongside. It has been very inspiring to see how dedicated and loving some of the people I worked with are towards everyone within the day care centre. I have enjoyed help-ing them and alleviating some of the pressure that they usually feel on a very busy day. I have discovered that some of the vol-unteers themselves use the cen-tre as a kind of access point for socializing and being a part of a community. There is a real fam-ily spirit here.The other volunteers and the service users are from older gen-erations than my own. This was a great learning experience for all of us, as it enabled the genera-tion gap to be bridged. Usually the service users did not come into contact with people of my age group and they did seem to enjoy the company of someone new and younger. It was great as I had been told that I made them ‘feel much appreciated,’ which was lovely whilst sad at the same time. Also my volunteer supervi-sor mentioned that the presence of Sangh and I here had helped to shine a more positive light upon

the younger generation. Unfortu-nately, there can be negative per-ceptions of the elderly towards the young due to a lack of con-tact and communication between these two age groups.I am particularly proud of the fact that our presence here has turned wheels which are gathering mo-mentum; a continual Global Xchange project between GMYN and Age Concern seems to be a great likelihood. My work super-visor is very eager to continue to be affiliated and work alongside Global Xchange in the future. I felt though, whilst I led some activities, my main role was to talk and listen to all of the people that I met. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about their worlds and seeing photos of their families and people they cherished. I also got involved in the musical services (either led by Sangh or other musical entertainers from the outside), fitness classes, arts and crafts, quizzes, board games, preparing, serving and the distri-bution of meals and washing-up after meals, and helping the vol-unteers with general duties. We enjoyed immersing ourselves in everything each day at the centre.

What was great about working there is it never became boring - every single day was different and there was much flexibility in terms of what we could do.Working alongside Sangh has been an experience that I have very much enjoyed. I have de-veloped patience, enhanced my communication skills, and real-ized that we have worked very well as a unit. His skills as a musician combined with my people skills have worked very effectively, when fused, to make for a very well-rounded environ-ment involving everyone. His politeness, care, and concern was admirable and inspirational, and our joint dedication to make a happier and therefore healthier environment meant that we have developed a very strong bond and as such created something that can be seen strongly in a positive light. We have seen the way each of us has felt through

the more difficult times and as such we provided support for one another through talking to each other. When I was upset Sangh was there to give me a hug or a smile, and I for him.We have created a board on the wall to let all the service users know a bit more about each of us. What is great is that we have been encouraged to continue to be a part of Age Concern, send-ing photos from India, which they will add to the wall display that we made whilst there. I fly to India tomorrow for my second three month placement - I am very excited!!

Youth Volunteers Emily Batty


The introduction to the beautiful chap-ter on Marriage

in the Catechism states: ‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman es-tablish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between

baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament’. (CCC 1601)The chapter covers the pres-ence of marriage in God’s plan throughout scripture since crea-tion:‘Marriage is not a purely human institution’ (CCC 1603). Later, in the next paragraph the vocation is described in these wonderful words: ‘God who created man out of love also calls him to love – the fundamental and innate vo-cation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love.’ (CCC 1604)As we enter the next chapter, we learn about ‘Marriage under the regime of sin’. The Catechism clearly explains the grave ef-fects of that first sin: ‘As a break with God, the first sin had for its consequence the rupture of the original communion between man and woman. Their rela-

tions were distorted by mutual recriminations; their mutual attraction, the Creator’s own gift, changed into a relation-ship of domination and lust; and the beautiful vocation of man and woman to be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth was burdened by the pain of childbirth and the toil of work.’(CCC 1607) We learn about the indissolubility of marriage and the meaning behind Christ’s teaching, ‘It is by following Christ, re-nouncing themselves, and taking up their crosses that spouses will be able to ‘receive’ the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ’. (CCC 1615) Youcat summarizes the chapter; ‘Marriage is triply in-dissoluble: first, because the es-sence of love is mutual self-giv-ing without reservation; second, because it is an image of God’s unconditional faithfulness to his creation; and third, because it represents Christ’s devotion to his Church, even unto death on the Cross’. (Youcat 263)The Catechism also details the requirements for Christian, sac-ramental marriage which are

summarized in the Youcat: ‘A sacramental marriage has three necessary elements: (a) free con-sent, (b) the affirmation of a life-long, exclusive union, and (c) openness to children. The most profound thing about a Christian marriage, however, is the couple’s knowledge: “We are a living image of the love between Christ and the Church.”’ (Youcat 262)Therefore in sum-mary: ‘The sacra-ment of Matrimo-ny signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life (cf Council of Trent: DS 1799).’(CCC 1661)‘Marriage is based on the con-sent of the contracting parties, that is, on their will to give them-selves, each to the other, mutu-ally and definitively, in order to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love.’(CCC 1662)‘Thus the marriage bond has been established by God himself in such a way that a marriage concluded and consummated between baptized persons can never be dissolved.’ (CCC 1640)

Continuing the theme of the teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism and Marriage

Women’s Health Dr. Monique Risso

Natural Family Planning is available in Gibraltar. There is availability to learn the Sympto Thermal Method and The Creighton Model FertilityCare System (Ovulation Method, also known as FertilityCare).For further information about the article and/or to learn the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, please contact: Dr Monique Risso MB ChB MRCGP [email protected] General Practitioner and NaPro Technology Physician Specialist Medical Clinic, Unit 7, 1st Floor, ICC Building, Casemates Square, Gibraltar Tel: +350 200 49999 www.ladyofeuropefertilitycare.com To learn or enquire about the Sympto Thermal Method, please contact: [email protected]


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