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June 2011 Edition #2

Sunday 12th

June 2011

Edition #2

Sunday 12th

June 2011

Edition #25 Sunday, 18

th December 2011

Sunday Priest Father Aires Gameiro Contact: aires.gameiro@isjd.pt 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

18th December – 4th Sunday in Advent

David had been King of Judah for

seven years when he was anointed King of all the tribes of Israel. He then captured Jerusalem from the

Jebusites and made it the capital of Israel. To consolidate his power he then brought into Jerusalem the Ark of the Covenant, in which the Lord dwelt. But in our first reading the Lord tells David not to build a house for the Ark, because the Lord will himself build a house - ie a dynasty - founded on David. This covenant is repeated in today’s Psalm. In our second reading two verses sum up Paul’s closely argued theological letter to the Romans. The Good News is that Jesus Christ is the revelation of God’s plan that all humanity is to be brought

into community with God through faith. Observing the rules of the Jewish Law is not enough: we are justified and saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Luke gives us the supreme example of faith: Mary agrees to God’s invitation to be the mother of God’s Son - the greatest ‘Yes’ in history! Even though she does not know what the future might bring - except that death by stoning as an unmarried mother is very likely. Her faith and trust in God makes her the first disciple. And so God’s promise to David is fulfilled.

2 Sam 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16 Ps 88:2-3, 4-5, 27,

29 Rom 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38

Psalm Response: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

Further Information, www.bible-groups.info

CATHOLIC MASS SUNDAYS 10AM

PENHA DE FRANÇA

Capela da Penha de França Funchal, Madeira

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

Better than a Jewel

A monk in his travels found once

a precious stone and kept it.

One day he met a traveller, and when he opened his bag to share

his provisions with him, the traveller saw the jewel and asked the monk if he could have it. The monk obliged readily. The traveller then departed overjoyed with the unexpected gift of that precious stone. That jewel was going to be enough to assure him wealth and a sense of security for the rest of his life.

However, a few days later, he came back in search of the monk, found him and gave him back the stone, saying: “Now, give me something much more precious than this stone, valuable as it is. Give me that which enabled you to give it to me.” (Barbara Thiela)

Things like this always intrigues me.

I met a beautiful girl in Canada called Maria. She had a wonderful boyfriend, a top of the game car, a heart full of beautiful dreams, a good job and a good salary. One day a very good friend of mine who was a saintly priest invited her to go to Brazil and start an institution for abandoned children. Those children who had no family, no school, who would sleep in the streets fighting with cats and dogs for the food found in the trash cans. Those children who were shot by the police to “clean” the streets for the tourists. She has been there for over 30 years. She looks like the happiest woman in the world.

I know so many of you young people who have committed their lives to God by helping the poor. And like the begger and the monk, I stop, kneel and pray: “Lord, give me that which enables them to do that.”

Fr. Bernardino Andrade [bernardinodandrade@gmail.com]

From Father Aires’ Desk Brought to you by Fr. A Gameiro, Pombal

Levels of Hope and Christmas in a time of crisis

A hopeless situation is very risky

and dangerous. A desperate person needs urgent support. He needs to be helped to live in hope again. Helping professionals,

however, work with several levels of hope: basic, psychological, spiritual, religious and transcendent needs.

These levels are not equivalent. The most common human support to live with hope are: trusting and helping people like a mother, father or other caring relatives and friends. With broken families this is not always easy. Other supports to live with some levels of hope are good health, a job, money… As these supports may go down, they become of limited help in a time of crisis and may fail and open the door to helpless and hopeless situations: lack of trust in family, loneliness, sickness, jobless, unmet needs, poverty and imminent death. What other levels of hope are there?

Advent and Christmas are a time of good news beside all good human hope. It is time for a

sustainable not failing hope. A sustainable divine hope has to go further than any possible failure. Jesus is the only hope who does not fail. We live in a time of broken down ideologies, frustration and illusions of unlimited progress, moral/economic crisis. There is wide uneasiness with many forms of do it yourself salvation. Anti-religion pride is about to be exhausted leaving an increased number of people depressive, helpless and hopeless. Many people are constantly appealing with SOS. And Jesus in flesh is calling: “come to me all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Mtt 11:28); you will have hope again, you will be saved now and for ever. Christmas event, God made flesh, is our hope. With Him and only with Him I wish for you all a Merry Christmas and a Hopeful New Year 2012.

Fr. Aires Gameiro [aires.gameiro@isjd.pt]

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

Benedict XVI Offers Christmas Preparation Advice

Benedict XVI visited one of the parishes of Rome

last week, encouraging the parishioners to prepare for Christmas, "not just with gifts but with our hearts."

The Pope visited "Santa Maria delle Grazie" at Casal Boccone, in the northern sector of the Diocese of Rome, telling the people that "we must not lose contact with God in our hearts. If such contact exists then we have a reason to be joyful. To all of you I wish the joy of Christmas, the presence of the Baby Jesus Who is the God of our hearts."

He added: "May the Mass be the focus of your Sunday, which must be rediscovered and lived as the day of the Lord and of the community, a day on which to praise and celebrate the One Who was born for us, Who died and rose again for our salvation, and Who asks us to live together joyfully, to be a community open and ready to welcome anyone who is alone and in difficulty. Do not lose your understanding of the significance of Sundays, and remain faithful to your appointment with the

Eucharist. Early Christians were ready to give their lives for this."

He also spoke of preparations for Christmas: "I know that people have many commitments, but getting ready for Christmas does not only mean shopping and making preparations, it means being in contact with the Lord, going out to meet him. I feel it is important not to forget this dimension. This is not an additional burden, but the power that enables us to do all we need to do. I hope you maintain permanent contact with Jesus, that his joy and strength might help you to live in this world."

Further Information, www.zenit.org

Enjoying Funchal the Most Brought to you by Laurinda Machado, Windsor Travel

It is becoming harder and harder to choose what events to write about because Funchal is more than ever full

of music, celebrations, and much to do and see! Here goes our biggest traditions before Christmas day!

1. Downtown Funchal is hosting performances by Philharmonic bands, Folklore groups, Youth choirs and Orchestras daily from 10am until 8pm. 2. A tradition we call “Missas do Parto” (9 daily masses from the 16th up to 24th representing the 9 months before Jesus is born) is taking place in every parish, which is an event in itself, with traditional Christmas singers and food. At Sé it takes place at 7.30am, with His Lordship, Bishop Antonio presiding on the 23rd. 3. Another big tradition in the island, are the Christmas Nativities. Apart from the ones in downtown Funchal (or in every Madeiran home) we recommend a visit to Casa de Saúde São João de Deus where you will find a typical Madeiran Nativity which was all set up by their patients, staff and volunteers. In Curral das Freiras there is also another nativity focused on Madeira traditions (and there, don’t forget to try the chestnut cake!). 4. Finally, a must-go event if you are here on the 23rd – Night at the Farmers’ Market. Back then, the 23rd was the day where everyone would go to the Market to do their Christmas shopping. Nowadays the market and the bars around it stay open for the whole night, making it one of the most festive, fun-filled nights of the year!

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Editor: Laura Machado © Funchal, 2011

[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 Larysa Makarova

Larysa was born in

Ukraine but has been in Madeira for 8 years now. She has been playing the violin since she was six years old, but above all she is a

musician-extraordinaire.

From the yellow book Catholic Hymns Old&New,

Entry Hymn = No. 394 O come, let us adore him Offertory Hymn = No. 36 Gloria in excelsis Deo Communion Hymn = No. 619 What child is this Final Hymn = No. 541 Nowell, Nowell

People Helping People

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

After 18 months, and only because of the never-wavering and never-ending support of Portuguese, English

and American supporters, we were able to launch two original programs (never done before in Madeira by any other organization) to help those, particularly those that don’t qualify for other official institutions. Here we give you a sneak peek of what has been achieved…

If you wish to know more, don’t hesitate to contacts 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 and 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 for always providing a fabulous meeting point and all of you that, with your endless

generosity, support this cause. 4

A partnership with a

Portuguese supermarket

chain to print food vouchers,

not only at Christmas

time… Pioneer

vouchers in the island to

help those struggling

with something

we so often take for

granted. Pingo Doce (the

name of the store) means

“Sweet Drop”.

A very special restaurant (FIGOS, in Garajau) offered to cook a meal for a family of eight, twice a

month! With this initiative we hope many more restaurants also feel that the joy of living, is giving.

It works like this…

1 At 6pm

a lovely cook is making a

homemade meal for a needy

family.

2 At 6h30 one of

our volunteers is picking up

the meal and getting ready to

deliver it.

3 At 7pm a family receives a

wonderful special meal, full of warmth and love.

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