october - keysandsword.org newletter 4.pdf · celebrated our feast day on sunday november 6, ......

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Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Martin de Porres

Quarterly Newsletter

Contact Us Address:

120 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica

Telephone:

876-927-9959/6579

Email: [email protected]

Website:

www.keysandsword.org

Social Media:

@keysandsword

Our Merciful Moments The Holy Year of Mercy was a chance

for Catholics to, “rediscover the

youthful, beautiful face of the church.”

Pope Francis

Dec. 24

Dec. 25

Christmas Morning

One Mass

@ 8am

Dec. 30

Mass for the

Feast of the Holy Family @ 6:30pm

O C T O B E R - D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

Carol Service & Christmas Vigil

@ 9pm

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #4 OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2016

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Our Pastor’s Message

Beloved, It is often said that, “When one door closes, another opens.” As we close the Holy Doors for the Year of Mercy, we immediately open the door to the season of Advent and start to prepare our hearts for the coming of our Saviour. Pope Francis invited the faithful, “…to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ” during the Jubilee Year and having been refreshed by His mercy we are now called to mirror the actions of our Saviour in our daily lives. As we enter this season of preparation, it is critical that we continue to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy as it is through these actions that, “…we are liberated from our narrowness and self-absorption. We become more than human, when we let God bring us beyond ourselves in order to attain the fullest truth of our being” (Pope Francis). During Advent and Christmas, let us weave a tapestry of faithfulness, generosity, forgiveness and humility in our lives so that we achieve this ‘truth’ -- that is self-actualization attained through faith. Our parish seeks to emphasise the importance of working towards this achievement through the creation of and support for our outreach ministries which are highlighted in this newsletter. It is hoped that by revealing the investment of time, talent and treasure, each parishioner will recognise that as God’s faithful, we are called to live Jesus’ Commandment of Love in our words and actions. As you read, you will recognize that the contributions made by our parish to our community is overwhelmingly admirable. However, as our society continues to be rocked by social decay and economic woes, the need becomes greater and therefore more involvement is necessary. I implore you, during this Advent and Christmas season, to consider avenues that will enable you, as an Ambassador for Christ, to yield to Pope Francis’ call and become, ‘liberated from self-absorption.’ Please consider joining and supporting our various ministries. As we come to the close of 2016, let me take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to you for your dedication to our faith and our parish. I wish for you and your family a happy and holy Christmas and may 2017 be the year of dreams fulfilled! REV. FR. DONALD CHAMBERS

“Even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy, which is the heart of Christ, always remains open for us.” Pope Francis


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The Wonderful Example of St. Martin de Porres

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that struck Lima and 60 friars who were sick, many of them novices, were locked away in a distant section of the convent, separated from the professed. Martin is said to have passed through the locked doors to care for them, a phenomenon which was reported in the residence more than once. It was reported that he was reprimanded for doing so and his response was, “forgive my error and please instruct me for I did not know that the precept of obedience took precedence over that of charity.” This is the essence of our Christian life, to love our neighbours as ourselves. This happens when we see God in each and every person around us. Let us pray and ask God to help us to be like Martin, to serve selflessly with humility those in whom we come in contact. Keriann Williams

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St. Martín de Porres Church Community celebrated our Feast Day on Sunday November 6, 2016. In addition to the festivities that come with such a gathering, it is fitting and important for all of us to take St. Martin as a model in our daily lives. St. Martin experienced many setbacks and disappointments as a result of his low status in society. He grew up in abject poverty in Lima, Peru and his family was abandoned by his father. On many occasions he was ridiculed by members of society because of his mixed race. Although Martin was eventually accepted in the Dominican order, it was not easy for him because in those days the by-law in Peru stated that descendants of Africans and Indians were barred from becoming full members of religious orders. To many people these struggles would have made life seem so hopeless and some would have perhaps given up. But St. Martin’s response to all these adversities provides us with a wonderful Christian example. It has been reported that he spent many hours in prayer. Also, he volunteered to help with menial tasks in the monastery. Martin had unconditional love for people and it was manifested in his care for people of all races and social class. We are called to be like Martin in our daily lives. Let us spend more time praying, serving the less fortunate around us and loving each other without scrutiny or barriers. The story was told about an epidemic


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Our Merciful Moments The Sts. Peter & Paul Outreach Ministries

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Many of us have heard about our Sts. Peter and Paul Outreach Ministries and wondered what do all these ministries actually do? “Outreach ministry is the Church at work in God’s name . . .” and our Mission Statement seems to embody this. It states, “As Ambassadors for Christ our mission is to increase the Spirit of Love and Unity through our worship and fellowship with each other and to enhance the total well-being of all.” Making this mission a reality has resulted in many outreach programmes which include Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

FEED THE HUNGRY AND CLOTHE THE NAKED

The St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdPS) has been affiliated with Sts. Peter and Paul for over 60 years. Headed by Monica Cools-Lartique, the St. Vincent de Paul Society provides food and clothing to the needy. They cater to 100 - 150 persons weekly by visiting shut-ins, providing food, offering cash to assist with travel costs and medication. St. Vincent de Paul also provides housing and has assisted in fixing roofs of the shut-ins. Funding for the activities of SVdPS comes from the fifth Sunday collection of this parish; also from donations of clothing, non-perishable food items and cash. Money collected from the Poor Box is also contributed. The monthly cost to clothe our poor is $30,000.00 and the overall yearly cost is approximately $2M.

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The Feeding Programme/ Packaging Group is spearheaded by Pearline Hoo. Fifteen-twenty volunteers create food packages for 650 persons monthly. This outreach to the community is not only to Roman Catholics but to those who are desperately in need. There are also annual Easter and Christmas treats. Funding for this ministry is through extensive budget allocation from the church. There is food assistance in the form of rice from Food for the Poor. The rest of the food items are donated and purchased. Between $8,000,000.00 - $9,000,000.00 is spent annually. The Catholic Women’s League (CWL) - Soup Kitchen The Soup Kitchen offers 100 meals from Monday to Friday to people within the community. Donations from the Lenten Sacrifice envelope is the main source of income for this ministry. CWL is given a stipend from the Archbishop’s Development Fund and donations from parishioners. Yearly, $1.3M -$1.5M is spent. Christmas Treat Pre-packaged lunches are taken to several homes at Christmas. The total cost is $500,000 These ministries feed our poor and spend over $10M annually. Continues on page 5


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Outreach Ministries Continued…

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The group raises funds through the sponsoring of plays through ticket sales. Yearly, $300,000.00 - $400,000.00 is spent. The Education Programme for the Needy helps students from the primary level to the tertiary level. This programme is funded largely by the church and also by a small stipend from the Archbishop’s Development Fund. There are plans to revive the Book Drive Initiative. The yearly expenditure is approximately $500,000.00. The Youth Ministry is led by Deacon Derrick Foster and Matthew Foster. As the name suggests this ministry is for the youth of the parish. Being a member of this group allows our teenagers to learn more about Catholicism as it pertains to them as young people. Funding comes primarily from the church budget, and fundraising in the form of bake sales and concerts. As part of the Catholic Youth Movement Sts. Peter and Paul sends youth representatives yearly to the Antilles Episcopal Conference and every other year to the World Youth Day in different locations around the world. Approximately $2.7M is spent per year. The Catechetical Programme provides religious education to our parishioners from childhood to adulthood. These include, the Sunday School programme and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The Catechetical programme is run… Continues on page 6

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MINISTER AND COMFORT THE SICK Four ministries are dedicated to this: The 60 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion headed by Jennifer Henriques visit the sick and administer communion. The Hospital Ministry, lead by Deacon Patrick of Aquinas, visits those in hospital praying with them giving them solace. The primary mission of the Mercy Ministry, headed by Michelle Lee and Sophia Davis, is to provide Christ–centered companionship and personal support to those going through difficult life situations. The Family Life Ministry, led by Sister Hazeline Williams, is in formation. Men please join. Those in these ministries have been trained at St. Michaels Theological College. MINISTER TO THOSE IN PRISON The Prison Ministry was started with Stella Maris Church but is now fully a Sts. Peter and Paul run ministry with members from various churches in the Archdiocese. Nyla D’Andrea leads the team in ministering to the prison inmates offering spiritual hope. Along with the teaching of scripture, they also supply toiletries that make their “time” bearable. Funding is by donations. EDUCATE THE POOR The Men’s Fellowship Group ministers to the young men of Chambers Lane, Air Pipe and Sandy Park teaching them about proper grooming, hygiene and social skills. Robin Clarke leads the group with the aim of moulding these young men into competent young adults. They help provide jobs where possible.


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This is Our Faith St. Francis of

Assisi

Outreach Continued …entirely by our parishioners who give their time, patience, knowledge and finances to ensure that not only the young of the church are educated in the ways of the church. The Evangelization Ministry focuses on enhancing our relationship with God and His Church, inviting us to know the fullness of the Lord’s message. The ministry is made up of three teams: The Evangelization Team led by Jordan McGregor speaks to the call for ongoing growth and renewed conversion. Children’s Evangelization/Outreach led by Michelle Taylor is for children, it is a call to be formed into disciples through the family's faith, life and religious education. As outreach it works towards reintroducing church teachings into schools. Christ Renews His Parish (CRPH) headed by Simone Fong Kong offers a residential retreat weekend to renew and deepen ones relationship with Jesus. Justice and Peace Commission is dedicated to resolving issues that may occur among the members of the church community. The small team headed by Joy Richards strives to maintain harmony. This commission was mandated by the Archdiocese and all members have been specially trained in using Restorative Justice. Music Ministry This is the Ministry that delights us during our Sunday Masses. Included in this ministry are the musicians, the children’s choir, the youth choir, the young adult choir and the senior choir Yearly, approximately $1.2 million is spent. Gayle Cunningham

‘Lord Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace’

St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1266), whose feast is celebrated on 4th October, is one of the Church’s beloved saints. He is the founder of the Franciscan Order and is the patron saint of animals, archeologists, ecologists, merchants, messengers and metal workers. Often he is depicted surrounded by animals. The traditional nativity scene at Christmas has been attributed to him. Born to wealthy parents in Assisi, Italy, Francis led a life of privilege and pleasure. As a young man he became the hedonistic leader of the youth of Assisi. Despite his wealthy upbringing and even when he was indulging his… Continues on page 7

The Statue of St. Francis at the Immaculate Conception High School. Photo by Matthew Chin


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The Feast of Christ the King

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As symbolised by the liturgical procession God made His supreme creation — man— last. This magnificent being, bearing His imprint was to be his viceroy on the earth, supervising all His creation according to His rules. Instead, man decided he would be king ruling according to his own wishes. Thus, mankind stumbled through history with a series of bad kingships. Throughout Biblical history, from Abraham to David, there is a reaching out for a good king, through whom God will rule. Prophets beseeched — when will you come Lord and rule this world? Then one night the heavens opened to reveal a tiny baby birthed in a stable accompanied by the heavenly hosts who announced the birth of the David King. But, only wise men and evil men recognised what had happened. The wise honoured the babe with gifts that announced that He is priest, prophet and king. The evil sought to kill the babe before he could overthrow their corrupt kingship. But the Babe survived and as Jesus came to maturity he revealed the true meaning of kingship. His was a nonviolent ministry that reached out to the poor and dispossessed, gathered people from the margins, drew in the alienated, reached out to not only the Jewish people, but to all people. He took on the embedded evils of worldly corruption, stripping it of its disguises, denouncing it for what it was. The powers of evil reacted, the worldly forces came together and hounded Him to the worst instrument of earthly degradation — death on a cross. Then with supreme irony, this frightened, dysfunctional leadership announced His kingship in the major languages of the known world - this bloodied and mutilated Man is King!

ST. FRANCIS CONTINUED …senses, Francis was sympathetic to the poor; he always had a special place in his heart for them. It is suspected that his conversion was gradual as he experienced visions both on his way to war and as a prisoner of war. He was also inspired by the idea that Christ’s Disciples should not have earthly possessions and gave up his (Matthew 10:9). One of Francis’ greatest joys was when he kissed a leper. This filled him with peace and he viewed it as passing the greatest test from God. The Saint lived by one rule, which was to abide by the Gospels and live a life of obedience, poverty and hard work. He may be considered one of the earliest environmentalists as he believed that it was man’s moral duty to care for creation and all that is in it. Eventually he became blind and he is the first documented person to receive the stigmata. When former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope in 2013, he chose the name Francis because he wanted the Church to be a reflection of the way of St. Francis. Chanelle Fingal-Robinson

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The transformative power of God brings the Godman in all His Kingly glory from the tomb. So the Church, Kingdom of Christ on earth, guided by Pope Pius X1(1925) urges us, His people, to use every token of veneration to salute her Author and Founder as King and Lord, King of Kings. We proclaim to the world long live Christ the King! Jean Forbes

All Night Vigil 2016 Purposeful Sleeplessness

Quarterly Newsletter Editor in Chief

Rev. Fr. Donald Chambers

Editorial Team The Sts. Peter & Paul Communication Ministry

Copy Editors Haidee Heron Lisa McLean

Contributors

Gayle Cunningham Chanelle Fingal-Robinson

Jean Forbes Keriann Williams Jhanae Chambers

Please send your feedback and comments to:

[email protected]

The Youth Group’s All Night Vigil 2016 was an enlightening experience. The night began with the Novena to Christ the King. This was the perfect way to begin as it set the tone and allowed our spirits to prepare for what was to come. Following this we participated in praise and worship. Then we had a series of activities that allowed us to bond with each other The Stations of the Cross ensued. The Way of the Cross was used when doing the stations. The reflections were relatable as they highlighted the "crosses" we face daily. Returning to the hall, we watched a video by Bishop Robert Barron entitled "Mercy and the Cross". I believe this inspired those who were attentive as he spoke about the necessity of the symbol of the Cross to the Church and the power of Divine Mercy. The group was divided for talks focused on the theme of mercy; we reflected on how we may accomplish the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy daily.

This was followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet which was recited before an exposed Blessed Sacrament. As we prayed, the Spirit of Jesus was felt and a sense of peace overcame us. Archbishop Richards then gave an inspiring and captivating talk on our theme, "Dem push badness, we push Mercy - Mercy a di formula," which resonated with us. The night proceeded with games, a movie, all night Exposition and Benediction. In the morning we closed with Mass. The numerous opportunities for me to speak with Jesus and reflect on His Word changed me. The vigil opened my heart to make me long even more to be closer to and form an even deeper relationship with Him.Jhanae Chambers Sts. Peter and Paul Youth Ministry

october - keysandsword.org newletter 4.pdf · celebrated our feast day on sunday november 6, ......

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