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September 2012 Year 17 — No. 7
Holy Cross Catholic Church NEWSLETTER
Paphos Gate, 1010 Nicosia; PO Box 21964, 1515 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel. (357) 22 662132; Fax: (357) 22 660767; Email: holcross@logos.cy.net
Parish Priest: Fr. Evencio Herrera ofm; Assistant Priests: Fr. Andrew Arhin ofm, Fr. Vito Gabriele Scagliuso
Dear brothers and sisters:
After the summer break, rested and blessed, we take back our ministry.
I am glad that I was able to be with my parents for two weeks and glad
to be back.
1. We are always happy to welcome consecrated people and friends at
Holy Cross. But, when a young Franciscan brother comes and stays for
two months, serving with joy and dedication our parish community, our
joy is greater! Thank you very much, Bro. David, for your unselfish and
faithful service to our Holy Cross community. May the Good Shepherd
continue to bless you as you go back to your studies in Jerusalem. We
hope to see you soon back in Nicosia.
2. On Thursday evening (13 September) and Friday (14 September),
we will celebrate the Feast of our Parish: The Exaltation of The Holy
Cross, with solemn masses and procession (see details on p. 3 of the
Newsletter). The General Visitator, Reverend Fr. Renato Beretta
OFM, will say the Thursday mass.
“The Cross ahead me, the world behind me…”
Please come and join us! This is our Parish Feast!
Fr Evencio Herrera, ofm
Death itself died when life was slain on the Tree.
SUNDAY MASSES
8:00 am English
9:30 am English
11:00 am French: Every 1st Sunday of the month
11:00 am Tagalog: Every 2nd Sunday of the month
11:00 am Indian: Every 3rd Sunday of the month
11:00 am Sinhala: Every 4th Sunday of the month
6:30 pm English (Children and Family Liturgy)
7:00 am English
Sri Lankan Sisters’ Chapel
7:00 am English
St. Joseph’s Sisters’
7:30 am Greek (Tuesdays)
Devotion to St. Anthony
8.00 am English (Wednesdays)
6:30 pm English
4:00 pm Polish: Every 1st Saturday of the month
4:00 pm Spanish: Every 2nd Saturday of the month
6:30 pm English (Sunday Liturgy)
WEEKDAY MASSES
SATURDAY MASSES
Monday to Saturday at 5:20 pm or
by appointment.
CONFESSIONS
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
When I put my feet on the Cypriot ground two months ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I only knew that my stay would certainly be full of surprises. And one of the most beautiful of them was that I felt at home right away.
I felt at home because, from the beginning, I found myself in front of a well-known figure: it was that of Jesus. A Jesus though different from the one we’re used to see on TV or on pictures: he had black skin with slanted eyes, was eating curry and loved Ceylon tea. He had a European accent somewhere between French, English and Rumanian, while he was performing a Greek-Cypriot dance on a Latin American music.
That’s the Jesus I believe in: a Jesus that reaches all peoples and that reaches you through all people. A Jesus that teaches us that more important than where we come from is where we’re going, towards Him, towards that perfect unity in which we discover that the main aspect of our culture has to be the culture of love which, as He showed us, is without borders.
May God Bless You Always, Thanks for everything,
CALENDAR SEPTEMBER CELEBRATIONS
Death itself died when life was slain on the Tree
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
The Feast of the Exaltation (or Triumph) of
the Holy Cross celebrates three historical
events: the finding of the True Cross by Saint
Helena; the dedication of churches built by
Emperor Constantine, her son, on the site of
the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and the
restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by
the emperor Heraclius II. But in a deeper sense, the feast also
celebrates the Holy Cross as the instrument of our salvation. This
instrument of torture, designed to degrade the worst of
criminals, became the life-giving tree that reversed Adam's
Original Sin when he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good
and Evil in the Garden of Eden. (by Scott P.
3/9 St. Gregory the Great, pope (540-
604), Memorial
8/9 Birth of Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast
13/9 St. John Chrysostom, bishop &
doctor (350-407), Memorial
14/9 Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Feast
15/9 Our Lady of Sorrows, Memorial
17/9 The Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi
(1224)
20/9 St. Andrew Kim Taegon and
companions, martyrs (1839),
Memorial
21/9 St. Matthew, Evangelist, Feast
27/9 St. Vincent de Paul, priest (1530-
1660), Memorial
29/9 Ss Michael, Gabriel & Raphael,
archangels, Feast
YEAR 2—CYCLE B
John Chrysostom was born in Antioch, an important center of early Christianity, in 349.
After an extensive classical education (in philosophy and rhetoric), he withdrew from profane
studies, became a Christian, was ordained a lector, and then embraced asceticism. He became a
monk-hermit, living in a cave for two years, but his health having been ruined by this sort of life,
he returned to the city of Antioch and resumed his office as lector. He was ordained a deacon in
381 and entered the priesthood in 386. He distinguished himself by his preaching (his eloquence
earned him his surname of Golden mouth).
In 397 he was elected bishop of Constantinople. Initially he enjoyed great popularity, but soon
his reforms started to upset certain priests, monastic and secular leaders. He was committed to reforming the
morals of the clergy and the faithful, and to restore monastic discipline. He cut down on the expenses of the
episcopal household, gave generously to the poor, built hospitals, etc. But the envy of his enemies forced him into
exile (403). Riots however obliged the authorities to order his recall. Upon his return John found himself again in
the midst of political intrigue and jealousy (Empress Eudoxia and Theophilus, the patriarch of Alexandria, kept
trying to bring about his downfall). In spite of the support of the pope who wanted him to be restored to his see,
his life was threatened and John was soon back into exile (404). Worn out and sick, he died (14 Sept 407) in
Comana, Pontus. His last words were: Glory to God for all things.
With St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil, he is one of the four great doctors of the Eastern
Church. John Chrysostom is important as an orator, an exegete and a dogmatic theologian. He left us with many
sermons on moral subjects, letters, treatises and apologetic works. Adapted from the Catholic Encyclopedia
May we learn from his teachings and gain courage from his patient endurance.
SAINT OF THE MONTH: ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
OUR LADY OF SORROWS At the cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword has passed."
(Stabat Mater)
September falls during the liturgical season of Ordinary Time.
We follow the life of Christ through the Gospels, and focus on the
teachings and parables of Jesus and what it means for us to be a
follower of Christ:
2 Sept - 22nd Sun.: Jesus admonishes the Pharisees; 9Sept - 23rd Sun.:
Jesus heals the deaf man; 16 Sept - 24th Sun.: Peter says "You are the
Christ": 23 Sept - 25th Sun.: Jesus says whoever receives one child in
His name receives Him; 30 Sept - 26th Sun. Jesus talks about scandal.
Other Highlights of the Month Optional memorials: Holy Name of Mary (12/9), St. John St. Robert Bellarmine
(17/9), Sts. Cosmas and Damian (26/9). The feasts of St. Peter Claver (9/9), Sts.
Cornelius and Cyprian (16/9), St. Pio (23/9) and St. Jerome (30/9) are
superseded by the Sunday liturgy.
PARISH UPDATES, NOTICES, NEWS, ETC.
Death itself died when life was slain on the Tree.
HOLY CROSS PARISH COUNCIL NEWS & MESSAGES
Greetings to everyone – we hope you had a wonderful summer, that you have enjoyed this special season to the greatest degree possible for you, whether you could go away for a vacation or not. As autumn begins, we hope we are all ready to begin anew, refreshed, with batteries recharged, full of energy and full of the Spirit of the Lord! Following the June meeting, over the months of July and August the Parish Council did not hold its regular monthly meetings, but its members continued to work on the Holy Cross Parish Website to be launched soon, this autumn. Texts were drafted, photographs were chosen, meetings of the Executive members were held to monitor development, the design of the website and decide on further action, contacts were made with various parties, emails were exchanged and reviews were made etc. All this with a view to progress in order to launch this autumn, as planned, the Holy Cross Parish Website, which was among the top priorities of the Parish Council’s Annual Plan. There is still some work to do and we hope to be able to announce soon the date our parish’s website will become live for everyone to begin to enjoy. In its September meeting the Parish Council will also review the progress of all items of its Annual Plan and decide on the action to be taken in order to progress further to satisfy the targets set. More information about this will be given in next month’s parish newsletter and on our website when launched. As we begin anew, we humbly ask for your prayers before the Lord for our Church, for our priests, for our parish and for each one of us on the Parish Council so that the Lord grants us His Spirit and strength to work for His people with zeal, love, faith and dedication always. May God bless you abundantly!
Akis HjiIossif (Chairman)
THURSDAY COFFEE MORNINGS
IN THE LIBRARY
Every third Thursday of the
month, 10.00-12.00.
Next : 20 September.
Everybody is welcome.
Contact: Rosemarie (99216007) or Monique
(99795207)
Community masses
The Sunday 11.00 am community language masses resume this month.
See page 1 of the Newsletter for more information.
Many thanks to all the faithful who prepare these masses.
THE HOLY FATHER’S INTENTIONS
for the month of September
General:
That politicians may always act with
honesty, integrity, and love for the truth.
Missionary: .
That Christian communities may have a
growing willingness to send missionaries,
priests, and lay people, along with concrete
resources, to the poorest Churches.
El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI Larnaca cell group
18th Anniversary
Our Lady of Graces Catholic Church, Larnaca
September 23, 2012 11:00 am- Holy Filipino Mass, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Zacheusz Dulniok 1:00 pm-4:00pm– FLU ( “Faith, Love and Unity”) The guest speaker will be Mae Hartberg, Overall Coordinator for the USA, Canada and Europe
Come and join us
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Mt. 11:28)
13-14 SEPTEMBER: THE FEAST OF
HOLY CROSS PARISH
Thursday 13 September
5.00 pm: Solemn First Vespers and Adoration of
the Blessed Sacrament.
6.00 pm: Holy Rosary
6. 30 pm: High Mass with our General Visitator,
Reverend Fr Renato Beretta OFM
7.30pm: Refreshments.
Friday 14 of September
5.00 pm: Solemn Vespers and Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament.
6.00 pm: Holy Rosary
6.30 pm: Solemn Mass followed by Procession
and Veneration of the Holy Cross relic.
“How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the
Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree has destroyed us, a tree now
brought us life". (Theodore of Studium)
Death itself died when life was slain on the Tree.
MORE PARISH NOTICES FRANCISCAN CORNER
NOTICES, CONTRIBUTIONS, ETC.
FOR THE PARISH NEWSLETTER
Please send your notices and other
contributions for the next newsletter to
Monique [moniqueburston@yahoo.com],
or leave them in an envelope on the
Church Library desk, or see Monique.
Deadline for submissions: 23 Sept.
You can receive the
Parish newsletter electronically.
Go to
http://groupspaces.com/HCNewsletter/
Click on “JOIN GROUP” and follow the
instructions.
If you have any suggestions and
comments for our Parish please send
them to the Parish Council's email
address
holcrossparishcouncil@yahoo.com or
place them in the Suggestion Box
REFLECTION
PRAYER HAS THE POWER TO OVERCOME WEAKNESS
From the catechesis of Pope Benedict XVI [13 June 2012]
The daily encounter with the Lord and regular acceptance of the Sacraments enable us to open our mind and heart to his
presence, his words and his action. God draws us towards him, offering us enlightenment and consolation, and enabling us
to scale the mountain of holiness so that we may be ever closer to him... This is the personal experience to which St Paul
refers in Chapter 12 of his Second Letter to the Corinthians. He points out his relationship with the Lord, a relationship
so intense as also to be marked by moments of ecstasy, of profound contemplation. He admits that to prevent pride
from going to his head in the greatness of the revelations he had received from the Lord on the road to Damascus, he
was given a “thorn”, an affliction, and begs the Risen One to free him of this painful thorn in the flesh. The Risen One
reassures him in his contemplative prayer that: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness”... This also applies to us. The Lord does not free us from the evils, but helps us to mature in sufferings,
difficulties and persecutions. Faith alone, trust in the action and goodness of God, is the guarantee that we are not
working in vain… In prayer, therefore, let us open our soul to the Lord, so that he may come and inhabit our weakness,
transforming it into power for the Gospel. In a world in which we risk relying solely on the efficiency and power of
human means, we are called to rediscover and witness to the power of God which is communicated in prayer, with which
every day we grow in conforming our life to that of Christ… Therefore, like Paul, the more room we make for prayer the
more we will see our life transformed and enlivened by the tangible power of God’s love… As mysticism did not distance
Paul from reality…, so the union with God does not distance us from the world but gives us the strength to remain really
in the world, to do what must be done in the world… prepared/adapted by
St Francis and the Stigmata
On 17 September we commemorate the Stigmata of the Crucifix,
which St. Francis received on Mount La Verna in 1224. Note
that it was on or about the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
(14 September) while meditating on the Passion of Christ that
Francis beheld the Crucifix in the shape of a seraph. When the
vision ended his own hands and feet bore the marks of the
angelic crucifixion which he had seen in the vision.
St. Bonaventure, biographer of Francis, gives this account of the miracle:
Two years before Francis, the faithful servant of Christ, gave his soul back to
God, he was alone on the top of Mt. Alverna. There he had begun a fast of forty
days in honor of the archangel Michael and was immersed more deeply than
usual in the delights of heavenly contemplation. His soul became aglow with the
ardor of fervent longing for heaven as he experienced within himself the
operations of grace.
As he was drawn aloft through ardent longing for God one morning near the
feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and was praying on the mountainside, he saw
what appeared as a seraph with six bright wings gleaming like a fire descending
from the heights of heaven. As this figure approached in swift flight and came
near the man of God it appeared not only winged but also crucified. The sight of
it amazed Francis and his soul experienced joy mingled with pain. He was
delighted with the sight of Christ appearing to him so graciously and intimately
and yet the awe-inspiring vision of Christ nailed to the cross aroused in his soul a
joy of compassionate love.
When the vision vanished after a mysterious and intimate conversation it left
Francis aglow with seraphic love in his soul. Externally, however, it left marks on
his body like those of the Crucified as if the impression of a seal had been left on
heated wag […]
Because of this new and astounding miracle unheard of in times past, Francis
came down from the mountain a new man adorned with the sacred stigmata,
bearing in his body the image of the Crucified not made by a craftsman in wood
or stone, but fashioned in his members by the hand of the living God.
(Legenda Minor—De Stigmatibus sacris, 1-4 )
BIBLE WISDOM
‘ If it is possible!’ said Jesus, ‘
everything is possible to one who
believes.’
Mk 9:23
Become a POSSIBILITARIAN. No
matter how dark things seem or are,
raise your sights and see possibilities-
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