Upon This Rock 113 November 2010

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What is the good life which God intends for us? And how is

it related with the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is it not our desire and longing for true happiness, which is none other than the complete good, the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired?

Jesus addresses this question in his sermon on the mount. The heart of Jesus’ message is that we can live a very happy life. The call to holiness, to be saints who joyfully pursue God’s will for their lives, can be found in these eight beatitudes. Jesus’ beatitudes sum up our calling or vocation – to live a life of the

beatitudes. The word beatitude literally means “happiness” or “blessedness”. What is the significance of Jesus’ beatitudes, and why are they so central to his teaching? The beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness that God has placed in every heart. They teach us the final end to which God

calls us, namely the coming of God’s kingdom (Matthew 4:17), the vision of God (Matthew 5:8; 1 John 2;1), entering into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21-23) and into his rest (Hebrews 4:7-11). Jesus’ beatitudes also confront us with decisive choices concerning the life we pursue here on earth

Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by

EuropeAxess Media Ltd, Gibraltar.

Editor Fr. Stuart Chipolina: [email protected]

Production Editor: A. Sargent

[email protected]: The Requiem Mass of

Rt Rev. Mgr. Charles Caruana CBE CStJ, GPKHS, Emeritus

Bishop of Gibraltar Photo: P. Boucher

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.

To advertise: 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.

D e a r F r i e n d s

What is the purpose of life?


and the use we make of the goods he puts at our disposal. God alone satisfies. Theresa of Avila’s prayer book contained a bookmark on which she wrote: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; All things pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices.” Is God enough for you? God offers us the greatest good possible – abundant life in Jesus Christ (John 10:10) and the promise of unending joy and happiness with God. Do you seek the highest good, the total good, which is above all else? The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to the world’s understanding of happiness and joy. How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God’s word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life

and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his

disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: “No one can live without joy. That is why a person

deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures.” Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone? God Bless you, Fr Stuart

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Reflections on A Man Born to be a Priest

Our beloved Father Charles touched so many lives I can only

thank the Lord for the many times and the many ways that he touched me and mine. He was a good man! – that phrase keeps going round and round in my mind – what can one add to that? How can one any better define a life? A life full of “entrega” - a word so dif-ficult to do justice to in transla-tion. A life of total commitment to the land of his birth; a love for his people “etched deeply

and firmly in his heart” as our Chief Minister said. There was no hesitation whenever he per-ceived Gibraltar was being hard

done by. Once, he told me with an impish glint in his eye, he had sped to Rome with a griev-ance and ended up speaking to

What can one say when a friend leaves us; when that friend is a priest; when that friend is a bishop?

Bishop Emeritus Charles Caruana 1932 - 2010 Julio Alcantara

Bishop Caruana presents Paddy and Julio Alcantara with their 40th Anniversary blessing at the annual CFM celebration in 2009

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Reflections on A Man Born to be a Priest

the Holy Father, but someone had forgotten to switch off the microphone! I don’t think the Curia would have been amused, but the Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways! The matter was resolved!His was a love that was able to relate “across religious dif-ferences, and in all walks of life.” as the Leader of the Op-position confirmed; a beacon of compassion across the whole spectrum of community life. He was a priest of the poor. Quietly, without fanfare, he paid bills for families having their water or electricity cut off; met fines so some could avoid prison; bought shoes for the needy; ob-tained air passages for the des-titute. He even put up families in hotels until they could settle their affairs. He started a vouch-er system for groceries for the needy that was criticized but he would not judge. He used to say: “You never know when an angel comes knocking!” He launched

Alcoholics Anon. as well as the Nazareth House “soup kitchen.” Few people know that he spent time at Farm Place rehab. Cen-tre for drug addicts in UK, pre-tending to be an inmate, in or-der to experience at first hand this cruel, harsh world. Imagine their surprise when he appeared to say Mass! Camp Emmanuel in Spain and Bruce’s Farm were the result. At this level alone, how else might Jesus greet him but with a “well done, good and trustworthy servant”(Matt. 25:21) – and truly, God’s serv-ant he was!A man of deep, personal spiritu-ality, he was constantly on the move, labouring in the Lord’s vineyard, strengthened by his Faith and fuelled by his devo-tion to Our Lady, especially our ‘Virgencita de Europa’. A devo-tion that took him to the many corners where Gibraltarians had sought Her intercession in the grim days of World War 2: Fulham, Madeira, Ballymena …

though alas Jamaica was not to be. I recall the simple but over-whelming message to our sister town of La Linea when he took a replica of Our Lady of Europe in procession across this conten-tious border. I recall his excite-ment and pride at receiving the news of the Holy Father’s gift of The Golden Rose for the 700th Anniversary of Her Shrine at Europa. It struck me then as a most fitting recognition of all those years of quiet devotion and unstinting effort.From the very beginning, he was a man ‘in the world but not of it’. His zest for life was pat-ent. He loved music and loved

parties and excelled at History and Latin in school. He helped many a would-be graduate get through their university Latin requirement. A member of the 2nd Scouts troop, he excelled in swimming and came home with many a trophy. He did his six month service with the GDF, again a champion swimmer, as well as achieving the dizzy mili-tary heights of Lance-Bombadi-er. But, the hint was there. He never missed a morning Mass; collected stamps for China’s persecuted Church, as well as for the White Fathers in Africa; became an active member of the St Vincent de Paul Society. Firm


Photos Clockwise: On taking on an extended episcopate in spite of ill health; Early Life: A member of the 2nd Scout Group; Fr. Caruana’s Priestly Ordination; He loved music and parties; A gift to Pope John Paul II of the General Sikorski document Bishop Caruana had authored.

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in his decision to enter a semi-nary on coming of age, he bided his time in the Civil Service. On the way to work, he would stop daily at the Cecil Hotel off Main Street to shave several old, lone-ly, and destitute men; their unas-suming angel. He loved young people and was at his most fulfilled amongst them. When Bishop Rapallo brought the Young Christian Workers to Gibraltar, he became our first National Chaplain, a charge later taken on by Bernard Linares. In a memorable camp-ing journey to attend the YCW 1962 European Congress at

Strasbourg, it was the first time I spotted the “trademark” beret in its natural habitat, France. I still remember his laughter when a leader piled us into a taxi for the Prado Museum, only to discover the taxi stand was right beside the Museum’s en-trance. Throughout his 51 years, this closeness to youth never left him – Loreto Grammar and Technical College chaplain, the prison ministry, Faith and Light, CLM. Few knew he was an accomplished cello player who also loved Los Panchos. No surprise then that he was instrumental in starting the Mu-

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A Man Born to be a Priest

After ten years as Bishop, His Lordsip’s untiring service to the community in Gibraltar was acknowledged with his investiture as Commander of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen.

Bishop Caruana welcomed Momy Levy’s initiative, gathering the heads of the major religions in Gibraltar at the outset of taking on the role of Mayor, commenting on ‘the wonderful relationship between the various faiths in Gibraltar’.



A Man Born to be a Priest

sic Centre for young musicians, which, together with the need to build the Community Centre, was the prime motivator for the Song Festival. He moved wher-

ever the need arose. Though we differed and often argued as to the how, we both shared a very deep concern at the visible decline in community

standards, the growth of secular-ism, and the vital role for educa-tion in combating this.Not one to stand still, he went about introducing the Cursillo Movement to Gibraltar as well as the Charismatic Renewal; and the Marriage Encounter Move-ment as well as the Marriage Counselling Service. Of the Cursillo and Charismatic move-ments, especially, he went as far as to say that without them we might have no Church today. He brought the Divine Mercy Order from Panama, much loved for their social work.If his ecumenism were ever to be questioned, one might ask whoever to have a look at his Requiem public Mass in John Mackintosh Square, a square packed with thousands of souls, of all ages and all faiths, agnos-tics and atheists. Bishops and clergy from UK, Spain, and Morocco; clergy and brethren from all Protestant persuasions, all the senior leaders of the local Jewish Community; resplendent Knights of the Holy Sepulchre;

Governor and parlamentarians, dignitaries and public servants, consular corps and military of-ficers; Scouts and cadets; Girl Guides and St. John’s, all drawn by their respect and, often, love for this simple, unassuming, Gi-braltarian Shepherd. A Shepherd whose door was forever open, without judgement, and with open arms – be it banter with a Jewish friend, or a hand deep in pocket for a needy mother, or quiet counseling to a couple on the verge of breaking up……… When I last saw him in hospital he seemed lost in thought and Newmans’ poem came to mind:“Take me away,That sooner I may rise, and go above,And see Him in the truth of ever-lasting day”(From “The Dream of Geron-tius” : Blessed John Henry New-man)

In the consoling words of Bishop Ralph, Father Charles has gone no further than God, and God is very near.

Bishop Caruana was excited and proud on hearing the news of the Holy Father’s gift of The Golden Rose for the 700th Anniversary of the Shrine. It was a most fitting recognition of all those years of quiet devotion and unstinting effort.

In January this year, during the Three Kings Cavalcade, Kiane Aldorino, Miss World 2010, considered it important to take time to speak to Bish-op Caruana and Mgr. Paul Bear, even as the Cavalcade awaited her.

Sharing a coffee with brother Joe, and friends on Main Street after the 7.30 Mass at the Cathedral.

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Bishop Emeritus Charles Caruana 1932 - 2010 Tributes posted on the Upon this Rock facebook page.

Sarah Cumming: Thank you for your steadfast support and love. May you rest in peace Bishop Charles and may the angels and saints welcome you to heaven with shouts of joy and proclaiming “well done good and faithful servant!”

Dennis Carroll: Words fail. He was one of the first persons I visited whenever I went back to the Rock. Always welcomed with a warm hug. RIP dear Fr.

Henry Earle: Thanks Fr for all you have given us. You have been a great blessing for Gibraltar.

Mario Victor: The Catholic community and the whole of Gibraltar has lost a father and a great human being he will be missed.

Vanessa Civicchioni Teuma: Dear Bishop Caruana, we will always remember you in our minds and in our hearts. Rest in peace X

Matthew Ferrary: May the angels lead you into Paradise And when you come may the martyrs receive you And lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, And with Lazarus, once a pauper, ... May you have eternal rest.

Denise Rogerson RIP - he prepared Cecile and I for our confirmation, when he was just a priest

Gaynor Olivero Edwards: On this very sad loss for Gibraltar. May you rest in peace. Another angel in the sky and I am sure he will never give up praying for all Gibraltar wherever he might be. God Bless xxxxxx

Monique Risso: Forever in our hearts. Rest in peace.

Tanya Santini McClelland: Rest in peace Fr. Caruana. A wonderful man who was truly a light in this world. You will be missed.xxxx

Jaŋıqŭ Ąđėlïŋ: A golden hearted person who will be missed but not forgotten. My deepest condolences goes to his family and friends R.I.P Bishop Charles Caruana

Emily Olivero: His time has come, heaven’s gain and Gibraltar’s loss. The Psychological Support Group will always be indebted to him for all the years he has looked after our needs and accommodated us. May he rest in peace. Amen. Emily, Chairperson, Psychological Support Group

Charles Zammit: Bishop Caruana was always “father” because that was how he was, a fatherly figure to everyone, whoever he was. A man always with a smile and a kind word for everyone. We will miss you. Charles, Annette & Charles jnr.

Guy Povedano: Always there always giving... the kingdom of God awaits you... till we meet again!

Francisco Vega Serrano: (Algeciras) Doy mis mayores condolencias al pueblo de Gibraltar por el fallecimiento de Mon. Charles Caruana. Que Dios lo acoja en su santa casa, descanse en paz.

Gaby Salas: (Costa Rica) siento mucho escuchar esta noticia! fue de los primeros en recibirnos en su casa en Gib. me uno a las oraci...ones de la Iglesia por su alma. Gracias a Dios por él.

Christine Vasquez Fo: as long as I can remember, he has always been in my life and at all the most important family occassions... a big part of our lives. I will miss bumping into him in Main Street always with a smile and kind words. Rest in peace Fr. and until we meet again! xx

Mariola Summerfield mbe: I cannot put in words what I feel about the loss of Fr Caruana, known to me since childhood. Suffice to say, Gibraltar’s loss, heaven’s gain. From up there I am sure he will look after us and pray for us all in Gibraltar-Gibraltar and the rest of the world has lost a great human being- personally his loss is irreparable -he... was many things but most of all a great friend --Main street will look empty without his imposing figure with a beret and a smile,walking up and down town, stopping to chat with everyone and anyone that wished to share a word, a problem, a joke, even a tear, Goodbye my very good friend. Be with God.

Tributes in memory of Bishop Emeritus Caruana

Main Street was silenced. Time seemed to stand still, with only the Cathedral bells tolling for our lost Bishop, friend, Father Caruana.

A single drum beat ushered in the dirge of the pipes as the Royal Gibraltar Regiment led the funeral. Members of the uniformed services took turns to bear the casket in procession to the Piazza.


Bishop Emeritus Charles Caruana 1932 - 2010 Tributes posted on the Upon this Rock facebook page.

Tributes in memory of Bishop Emeritus CaruanaFr. Bill Watson: +Charles Caruana, requiescat in pace How shocked and saddened I am to learn of the death of the beloved Bishop Caruana. I had not known that he had been so poorly.I knew the Bishop during the time that I was the Precentor of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and Port Chaplain from October of 2004 until December of last year. Throughout that time Bishop Caruana and I shared many liturgical occasions in many places of worship within Gibraltar. He was always supportive of our ecumenical services through anniveraries, installations, commemorations, Christian Unity, Taize and special events such as Arts Credo at Holy Trinity and we were all very grateful.Throughout my time on the Rock he was very supportive of our initiatives in Christian worship, work and witness. I thought of him not only as a companion in the work of Christ but also as a special friend. I will pray for him as well as the new Bishop and other members of the Roman Catholic Church of Gibraltar at our Cathedral of St James, Toronto, in which I now serve.May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen. Respectfully submitted.Fr. Bill Watson+

Kevin Desoisa: Thank you for the music! Thanks for your years of service and dedication to us at the Music Centre and the Youth Orchestra, always fostering a love of music. And for your Order of Sharps mnemonic which you showed us - Father Caruana Goes Down And Ends Bats.

Marisa Boselli Alcock: You have been an enormous part of our life, Baptising my sisters, giving us all our First Holy Communion, being there at our Confirmations, burying my father and celebrating my Marriage in the same year. All the years supporting young musicians in Gibraltar and The Cathedral Youth Choir. Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace Father xxxx

Delia Collado: I am not in Gib so was unable to attend the funeral, but saw it all on-line [GBC] and participated in the service in spirit. May the Lord reward Father for his service to the Church and the community with the glory of His vision. God bless.

Sr. Lucia Martinez fmdm (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia) Charles Caruana was the first Ordination to the Priesthood I witnessed at the Sacred Heart Church. As a 14 year old girl (attending Loreto Convent Grammar School then) Fr. Charles Caruana used to give us Scripture lessons on a Friday afternoon. ...I must admit he was rather easy on the eyes !! One day he commented to us all “Girls, please, when you see me in the street stop saying ‘Hay que MONO!!”’ Bishop Charles Caruana has touched so many people in Gibraltar and outside. A true disciple who spread God’s word simply by living for Him and others. We have a tremendous legacy to follow! Bishop Charles Caruana has been most kind to my family especially during our sad loss of my parents; auntie Inez Martinez y uncle ...Lionel Rodriguez (auntie Lucy Rodriguez’s husband) My deepest sympathies to his family, Clergy and people of Gibraltar. I will be in thought and prayer for each one of you. May God rest his gentle soul Pace e bene.

Angela Sargent: Words fail me. Only the lump in my throat and the burning behind my eyes can speak of how much we will miss Fr. Caruana. The tears describe the loss of a gentle, generous, discerning soul, full of wisdom. The sobs talk of plans cut short. We work on in gratitude, continuing the work of the magazine that he started, knowing he is just the other side of the veil. Rest in peace Father.

Vin Mifsud: Such a shame, Fr. Caruana dying suddenly like that, and not able to enjoy his retirement. He was a priest, and a bishop, yes, but more than that, he was a friend.

Speaking during the Requiem Mass, Bishop Ralph Heskett spoke fondly of the time he met Bishop Caruana at a railway station in the UK, and how he had spotted him from afar, on an escalator by his trademark black beret. He recalled how the late Bishop had urged him to build up a relationship with the people through the eucharist, to be inclusive in relationships and how he reached out in his ministry to others in the imitation of Christ.

.Bishop Ralph highlighted how his predecesor’s care and concern for the sick was an inspiration, how he had inteded to take on the role of hospital chaplain in retirement. And in noting that Bishop Caruana had died on the feast of St. Theresa, who said “I must spend my heaven doing good on earth”, Bishop Ralph said“We can trust that Bishop Caruana will do the same.”

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The Gibraltar Ombudsman

Ombudsman, hard-ly sounds English, does it? That’s because its not, the

word has roots in Old Norse meaning ‘representative’. This can be enlarged to mean a trusted intermediary between a person’s right to voice discontent against a service provider who, to that person’s mind, at least, has failed to provide the service which he/she is entitled to. Almost one year after the Chief Minister’s declaration, on Octo-ber the 1st 1999 the first Public Services Ombudsman was to become reality in Gibraltar.

I went along to chat to Mario Hook, the second incumbent of this office since 2003.What, exactly is the role of an Ombudsman? Throughout our chat Mario exuded a calm smiling manner which, coupled with his sincerity is very profes-sional. “The Gibraltar Public Services Ombudsman has juris-diction over all public services being provided both by Govern-ment and including statutory bodies such as, the Transport Commission, Traffic Commis-sion, Elderly Care Agency. This includes other bodies doing work for Government, e.g. sup-

ply of water, parking services, traffic, the Philatelic Bureau and maybe less well known, Calpe House and the Gibraltar Broad-casting Corporation. We are limited to matters of administra-tion. We do not have executive powers, we cannot force anyone to take on board what we say. That is perhaps the beauty of the office, and I must empha-size here that it is the same for Ombudsmen all over the world, we only have power to make recommendations. The Om-budsman is empowered to in-vestigate any allegation made to him in respect to any matter of administration where the public feels aggrieved”. I asked for an example. “If someone does not receive a reply to a letter within a reasonable time, if they think a decision has been in a man-ner which would entail malad-ministration, we can investigate and find out if that has been the case or not”. So, you are some-one who intervenes on behalf of people by conducting an inves-

tigation and looking at the facts of the grievance brought before him. I was getting the idea but to help me understand the role of the Ombudsman more clearly I asked Mario to explain further. “We carry out very thorough in-vestigations because if we need to approach say a Government department/public body we need to know what we are talk-ing about. We have to be sure ourselves that the course of ac-tion we ask of them is the cor-rect one, we have to ensure that our recommendations are taken on board to ensure that whatever it was does not happen again. I have to say that the vast major-ity of our recommendations are accepted, that is where the Om-budsman promotes change. His authority comes from the power to make these recommendations that are accepted and imple-mented, that is basically what the Ombudsman is all about”. I wondered how the system worked and what staff Mario had to run the department.

“I have the honour to move that a Bill for an Ordinance to make provision for the appointment of an Ombudsman……” (Chief Minister the Hon. Peter Caruana, HOA, 3rd Dec. 1998.)

Working for change in our society by Anne Mesilio


The Gibraltar Ombudsman

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• Strictly Confidential Service • Daily Pick-ups• Data shredded or degaussed in Gibraltar • A Certificate of Destruction issued on job completionPlease contact Brendan (Tel: 20050449) or John (Tel: 20051627) for further information.

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“There is a staff of five, one public relations officer, a com-puter systems administrator, two investigating officers and myself. Whilst I try to person-ally meet with everyone who comes to the office there is a first instance desk where peo-ple meet our PR officer and the process begins from there. The Ombudsman should be a com-plaints mechanism of the last resort”. That surprised me and he explained. “We encourage people to seek their own way first, e.g. have you written to the manager, its only fair that the person in charge should know what is happening in his de-partment”. Fair enough. “Our service is confidential, we only divulge information to the entity being complained about and the Act requires that the entity be given an opportunity to explain. We give them the complaint in the same manner in which it is given to us and many, many times things come to an end upon the receipt of an adequate explanation. Investigations of

serious issues can take three to four months”. Do you like your job? Mario’s answer was full and heartfelt. “I don’t consider the Ombudsman to be a job, for me it is an enor-mous privilege to be Ombuds-man. I treat this office with the utmost respect and awe, I see it as a privileged position which can intervene on behalf of peo-ple at every level. We deal with a whole spectrum of concerns, some with social aspects or those of a personal nature, and we are able at the very least to listen, and that in itself is very often crucial. We have been doing this job in Gibraltar for over ten years and have gathered an enormous amount of information which gives us the basis for the equally enormous amount of advice we can offer. We attend conferences and meetings outside of Gibral-tar from which we return laden with even more information. All this allows us to offer valid ad-vice when a person comes with a grievance. There is a huge value to people that someone in author-ity is assisting them”.He went on to express gratitude to the Gibraltar Chronicle who publishes all investigations and Mario considers this to be of tremendous value as it keeps the office in the public eye. The Ombudsman also has a duty to present an annual report (Jan-Dec) to Parliament and copies of this then become public. “My aim is always to create awareness because we are here as a public service”. He carefully explained that the customer is always treated with the utmost courtesy,

“they are here because they are aggrieved”, and over the years a very satisfactory working envi-ronment has been created. I was interested to hear what Mario had learned. “I have learned more than anything to listen, that is perhaps for me where I have learned the most, by listening to what people say and what they are going through. We don’t live in a per-fect society and many people face difficult circumstances ei-ther through their own designs or those of others and they need a helping hand. The Ombuds-man has the right tools and is invested with the author-ity to help and I take this with a great sense of responsibility and care”. The Mother Teresa quote on the front cover of the

2009 annual report is apt here “Sometimes we feel that what we do is just a drop in the sea, but the sea would be less with-out this drop”. Coming to the end of this fasci-nating chat I asked Mario to fill in a blank snapshot to say how he would like to see the office of Ombudsman, say in a couple of years. He answered without hesitation. “I would like to con-tinue, I have already had one ex-tension granted as per the provi-sions of the Act, and I still feel that I have quite a lot to offer. I am still in love with this job and would like to carry on creating awareness of what we offer. I would like to promote human rights over the next couple of years. If I manage to achieve this I will be a happy man”.

Mario Hook , the Gibraltar Public Services Ombudsman.

Working for change in our society by Anne Mesilio

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Father Ralph had been parish priest for almost a decade. The Mass was attended by some 100 Gibraltarians and 500 parishioners with a lavish reception after the Mass

provided by the London Office of the Gibraltar Government.Before the arrival of the Bishop and the concelebrants, which included Father Danny Hernandez, there was a civic procession

of the Chief Minister and Mrs Caruana, the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Dr Neeraj Patil and two members of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment bearing the flags of Gibraltar and the United Kingdom.

Gibraltar Day in the City of London by Mike Brufal

A Warm Welcome for Fr. Ralph at St. Mary’s in London

Bishop Ralph talks to Vivian Mattison and a Nigerian parishoner.

On the 29th Sunday of the year, 17th October, which was also the eve of Gibraltar Day 2010, the parish community of St Mary’s, Clapham held a sung Mass to welcome back Father Ralph Heskett C.Ss.R, Bishop of Gibraltar.

Brenda Brufal, Andrew Mackinlay, the former MP who has been awarded the Freedom of the City of Gibraltar, Mrs Mackinlay, Father Danny Hernandez

Gibraltar Diocesan CRIB COMPETITION 2010

ENTRIES ARE INVITED FROM HOMES, SCHOOLS and PLACES OF WORK. THREE TROPHIES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BEST ENTRIES. JUDGING WILL

TAKE PLACE on MONDAY 13th DEC. ENTRY FEE - £5.00.

Winners will be notified and Presentation of Prizes will be held at St Theresa’s Church during the Christmas Eve Children’s

Mass on Friday 24th December 2010 at 5.00pmSchools Entry Forms will be Emailed or Faxed to all Schools

and have to be returned by Friday 10th Dec. 2010 Homes and Places of Work Entry Forms can be obtained from the Cathedral

Bookshop and returned by Friday 10th Dec. 2010


As Bishop Ralph walked down the aisle the congregation broke into spontaneous applause which brought tears to his eyes. Later the parishioners presented him with three gifts: a gospel in English and Spanish; a bottle of the oil of chrism for use in Gibraltar which will link the parishioners of Clapham and Gibraltar and a carved crook to help him when he walks from the Cathedral up the hill to his residence.

St Mary’s or to give it its full title, Our Immaculate Lady of Victories, is one of the finest Victorian churches in South London. Designed by William Wardell it was opened in May 1851. It is a grade 2 listed building.

Gibraltar Day in the City of London by Mike Brufal

The Chief Minister and Mrs Caruana talking to the Baroness Hooper.

A Warm Welcome for Fr. Ralph at St. Mary’s in LondonThe Rt Rev Geoffrey Rowell, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, Canon Emeritus Horlock.

Bishop Ralph enjoys a joke with Brian Garcia and his daughter Christina

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It is with praise, great emo-tion and admiration that I write this article about a lo-

cal charity that stands out for the marvellous work they do in our community. Hats off to them, because they are not just another charity that donates money for a good cause. They give of their time and their kindness and their love on a daily basis – they are a group

of people, all volunteers, who have dedicated half their lives to helping our forefathers, our grandparents and our parents and are still doing it after 27, 25, 23 years respectively. I would like this article to be a tribute to The Friends of Mount Alvernia but mostly to the people that compose this charity. They are a group of 13 people (A very lucky 13), a committee run by Chairperson Mercy Posso, Sec-retary Luis Spiteri and Treasurer Maurice Posso and whose only goal and aim is to help, help and help our older generation to enjoy their life daily to the very end.The amazing thing I captured on meeting with Mercy, Luis and Maurice is that they have no regrets about their many years dedicated to this charity that has taken a lot of hours out of their personal lives. The extra time they have, they dedicate to help-ing the older folks, OUR older folks, by making sure their life has other incentives and some-

Spotlight on a local charity by Sonia Golt

Decades of caring for our Senior CitizensSonia Golt sings the praises of the ‘Friends of Mount Alvernia’, and invites willing ‘younger’ folks to lend a hand too.


PILGRIMAGE TO

LOURDES

Join us on pilgrimage 24th April - 1st May 2011 Accompanied by Fr Stuart Chipolina

485 Eurosper person

Includes: Travel in luxury bus, 1 night in Madrid ‘en route’ in a Four Star Hotel and 1 night in Catalayud

on return journey in a converted Monastery/Hotel. Full board in Lourdes staying at Vatican Astoria Hotel.

Optional Tours in Lourdes.

For more information contact Fr Stuart on 58041000 or Richard Martinez on 54714000


Decades of caring for our Senior Citizensthing more than just a clean bed, good food and clean clothes. The Friends of Mount Alvernia entertain our 60-plus society in a way that not many others have done before or will probably do in the future, and this is no mean task!With over 600 members it is amazing to see that this small committee has been working in this charity for decades. Some of them are well into their 80’s and others well over 70 themselves so it is amazing to see their stam-ina and their enthusiasm in help-ing “the other elderly” as if they were teenagers themselves. But the moment has arrived for them to have to look for new blood and new committee members to join them in this hard but very rewarding feat. “We need young people” – this is what they are looking for as the interns love to have young people around too and this would also mean hav-ing extra help so I am hoping that there are some really good youngsters out there wishing to collaborate, join and help the charity to continue its very re-warding and uplifting work.The Friends of Mount Alvernia are a voluntary organisation ded-icated to the welfare of our older residents. It all started nearly 30 years ago when a group of nuns running Mount Alvernia at the time, asked a group of people to try and raise money for wheel-chairs and other equipment they so badly needed. This is how The Friends of Mount Alvernia started and since those days the achievements have been nu-merous and frequent and have expanded from wheelchairs to

commodes, to special beds, to television sets in each room, to paying for the satellite televi-sion system annually, to fitting air conditioning units and loud-speakers and P.A. system, to buying a cinema projector and screen, and to even acquiring a small room within the premises as a hairdressing salon which is fully equipped and run by a hairdresser and all this has and is being paid for by them. The list goes on and on and is too long to mention it all. Their charity en-sures and creates a great social environment for our older gen-erations. They feel they are not alone in this now as about three years ago an entertainment team was employed at Mount Alver-nia and they work together with them. The committee members only had words of praise for the Mount Alvernia entertainment team as they run a load of things in conjunction with The Friends of Mount Alvernia – There is hardly anything this two groups cannot get done, nothing seems impossible, they work with the sole aim of ensuring that our old-er folk are enjoying every pos-sible opportunity. Bingo is held every week, there is a film every week too, the church service is comfortable as the church is ful-ly air conditioned and supplied with beautiful flowers continu-ously. The residents, both men and women are treated monthly to a hair cut and hair style, and there are very special parties or-ganised and held during the year, especially on National Day and at Christmas. They have even allowed the residents to cook their own meals or bake their

own cakes as an extra incentive to make them feel worthy and to create self esteem amongst those who can cope with this and en-joy it. I was impressed with the kitchen that is fully equipped so each resident, under supervision, can if and when they want to, cook as a hobby or for a change in their daily routine. Actually I

tasted a piece of carrot cake and it was delicious.The residents need to get out into town and the access at Mount Alvernia is not the best. There are no buses to the door which means a steep hill that many cannot climb so the char-ity that thinks of everything bought two special buses after

The Friends of Mount Alvernia acquired a small room within the premises for a hairdressing salon, and have fully equipped and staffed it from their funds.

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an arduous task of fundraising amongst the generous people of Gibraltar. Thanks to these buses, transportation is possible for all the residents now, even those with wheelchairs. To each tour, event, ride, different residents are chosen by the management of Mount Alvernia to participate in the over 16 trips organised by this wonderful charity during

the year – some trips are even to Spain, to the beach, out for the day, to the Fair etc etc. it gives the residents something new to look forward to.The Friends of Mount Alvernia team also visit Cochrane Ward at St Bernard’s Hospital regularly even though this is not really under their jurisdiction or part and parcel of their charity work for they are dedicated to Mount Alvernia, but out of their indi-vidual kindness and charitable hearts they have included this ward into their activities and vis-its too. There are actually 140 residents in Mount Alvernia, 30 at Co-chrane Ward and another small-er group staying at the Jewish home – so all in all over 180 per-sons are under their wing. The Committee members were adamant about expressing their feelings for what they do.

“It is hard work but very rewarding to see the happiness on the faces of those we come to help.”

“I feel totally fulfilled when I come here or I am organizing something for our residents, it is very re-warding.”

“We are lucky to have both the Chief Min-ister and The Hon. Jaime Netto, who lis-ten to all our woes and all our sugges-tions and they in turn try to help us in what-ever way they can so life is easier for the residents - a lot has been done for Mount Alvernia.”There is a long waiting list of people who need care and who would benefit from staying in Mount Alvernia but until the old wing at St Bernard’s Hospital is refurbished and the old Na-val Hospital fully equipped for dementia patients it will not be possible for more residents to be taken in. Years ago the patients had to hand in their bank savings to be accommodated at Mount Alvernia. This is not now the case as they can keep their sav-ings and all they have to give is their pension, of which £12 per week is handed back to each in-dividual for their pocket money, or to buy toiletries, perfume etc. or anything extra they may wish to acquire. Food, clothing and entertainment is well provided for, thanks to the Government and to constant input from The Friends of Mount Alvernia. The entertainment is also thanks to our local and talented bands, dance groups, singers, piano players and other artists who give of their time for this worthy cause and accept The Friends of Mount Alvernia requests to come up to the home and enter-tain the residents.“You cannot imagine how thrilled the old folks are to see young people visit, they love talking to them and listening to them – it brings back memories

of their youth and many a happy moment of their past is shared with others.”Mount Alvernia is now a home away from home for our sen-ior citizens who cannot live alone any longer and due to the pressure of work on other fam-ily members it is impossible for them to be taken care of 24 hours a day. There are a host of helpers who help the efficient and loving staff on a day to day basis too. Many generous fami-lies, companies and individuals contribute towards the running of this charitable institution. It is founded on Christian values and it is a place where the ever popu-lar comment of “Charity begins at home” is prominent with the constant help that The Friends of Mount Alvernia provide. They in turn have to thank their spon-sors, their members, their Flag Day and their Sale of Work an-nually, as well as the amount of anonymous donations they receive, as without these dona-tions all the work carried out by these 13 persons would not be possible.Mount Alvernia Hospital also strives to play a part in building a healthy community through various community activities. This and the Friends of Mount Alvernia’s aim to organise and provide amenities and enter-tainment to enhance the quality of life of the residents is what makes it such a special place.It is the obligation of a Govern-ment to provide comfort and well being to our senior citizens, and this is done in a very pleas-ant and homely atmosphere, but what is as important is that these residents feel loved and wanted and it is the many visits from family, friends and those that are constantly there to see them as the Friends of Mount Alver-nia that help so this generation can regain its self esteem and receive its recognition for all the time they have in the past spent and dedicated to their children and family as grandparents or parents.The Chairperson concluded with this comment “They have con-tributed greatly towards what Gibraltar is today and we must thank them for this by showing our love and giving them of our time, as well as ensuring we are enhancing their life.”



First described in 1935 by Stein and Leventhal in the United States,

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-10% of women aged 12-45 years old. It was first known as Stein-Leventhal syndrome and at the time was considered to be a condition of anovulation (no ovulation) and infertility and associated with amenorrhoea

(no menses) or oligomenorrhoea (very irregular menses), hirsutism, hypertension and obesity. It has been thought for many years that only those women who had all of the symptoms had the condition, however it is now known that PCOS is more prevalent than previously believed and it can occur in women who are not obese or hypertensive.

A String of Pearls?New insights into Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Women’s Health Dr Monique Risso

What is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?It is a condition where a hormonal imbalance leads to enlargement of the ovaries and can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, skin and other problems.The common symptoms of PCOS include: • Altered Menstrual Patterns (amenorrhoea, oligomenorrhoea); • Infertility (generally as a result of anovulation); • Hyperandrogenism - hirsuitism, acne. PCOS increases the risk for the following conditions to occur: Endometrial hyperplasion and cancer of the endometrium (uterine lining)• Insulin Resistance/Type II Diabetes; • Hypertension (High Blood

Pressure); • Depression and or Anxiety; • Disorders of lipid

metabolism; • Cardiovascular Disease;

Strokes; • Acanthosis Nigricans

(Patches of darkened skin);

• Weight Gain; • Miscarriage• Autoimmune thyroiditis

The symptoms are vague and as a result a diagnosis could take years before it is made.

Stephanie Dunnington expresses the frustration felt by so many women in her testimony in the

book “In Their Own Words: Women Healed”. The following is an excerpt taken from her testimony:

“Of course, I want to get pregnant, but I want to know what’s wrong with me first? Disappointed again... I found myself frustrated as I left the doctor’s office with my unread charting in one hand and a prescription for Clomid in the other.”

Diagnosing PCOS is based on the finding of several factors. The clinical evidence of the symptoms described above and the exclusion of other related conditions through blood testing. In women who are charting with the Creighton Model System it is possible to see a recognizable pattern in their cycles, these are usually long and irregular and they tend to have a limited mucus cycle.An ultrasound scan will show the presence of cysts in the ovaries. The classical sign is that of the follicles(cysts) all lined up in the periphery of the ovary, which when seen by Ultrasound Scan gives the appearance of a “string

of pearls”. However, it may just be numerous cysts that are seen. Also women may have multiple cysts in the ovary and

be asymptomatic. Thus PCOS is the term given to the ultrasound scan appearance together with the presence of the other symptoms.If a laparoscopic operation is required the ovaries may show a smooth, pearl-white, thickened outer surface. An operation is not required to confirm the diagnosis.NaProTechnology treatment of PCOS is tailored to the individual woman, it will depend on whether she and her husband are trying to conceive. For couples with infertility, treatments to stimulate ovulation are used with close monitoring by tracking the cycle. As women with PCOS have long and irregular cycles and few or no ovulations, the endometrium is likely to be over stimulated and the concern is the risk of endiometrical cancer. The endometrium is stimulated by the continuous oestrogen. For this reason Progesterone treatment at the appropriate time is used for these ladies and the cycles are therefore regulated. If surgical treatment is necessary the recommendation is an ovarian wedge resection.All the other symptoms listed above need to be addressed and treated appropriately. In conclusion, PCOS is a multi-factorial condition which requires appropriate monitoring, diagnosis and treatment for women with this syndrome to restore their health and fertility.To schedule an appointment to attend an Introductory Session contact:Dr Monique Risso, MB ChB MRCGP, Valmar Medical Clinic, 11A Main Street, Gi-braltar Phone:+350 200 78202 Email: [email protected]

Spotlight on a local charity by Sonia GoltD

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This boy is blind, deaf and dumb, but the sisters that look after him, (seen in the background) have discovered he can communicate with his hands. Here he is having a chat with Fr. George. Below, the school band is comprised of blind pupils.

As we clicked through the pictures of smiling faces the computer

at the meeting I had with Fr. George grima, he introduced each child by name and told me their stories.“This one is blind but can play the piano, they will teach each other, so here we

have a whole band of blind pupils in one of our schools.” Fr. George now has 17 houses, all caring for children under 10. The boarders are dumb, deaf or with other disabilities. These children have been abandoned by their communities, considered less than human, the staff at Fr. George’s centres

give them a Nybonda Home where all the teachers are disabled but continue their profession. “Thank God, we already have 750 boarders.” says Fr. George proudly. Children with HIV who have no parents, or relatives who cannot take care of them, may find somewhere to live, but they are often kept as slaves in child labour, looking after cattle or breaking stones as young as seven or years old. The government supplies medicine for these children but it is no good unless they are able to take it regularly, with suplementary care and a decent diet. In all these cases Fr. George takes them in saying “As Catholics we have to defend and protect them.” He provides

them with food, clothes and healthcare: arranging for doctors to visit who can often operate and alleviate the worst of their afflictions. As boarders they receive an education, giving them back their self respect, and they respond with a great thirst for knowledge, a willingness to improve their lot in life and to help others do the same.Many stay on as they grow up becoming teachers and auxiliary staff themselves.GibMissionAfrica is a local charity set up to support Fr. George Grima and other African missionaries. www.gibma.org. If you can help please send donations to GibMissionAfrica, Leon House, 3rd Floor, Suite 8, 1 Secretary’s Lane, P.O.Box 1437, Gibraltar.

GibMissionAfrica Appeal: Part 2 Angela Sargent

Fr George Grima finds a rich pool of potential talent in Kenya’s disabled

Outcasts become assets


This is necessarily a difficult thing to say accurately, because it is breaking new ground. We only see things at all in the light. That’s obvious, but to bring it home to us Arthur Zajonc has constructed a chamber through which a strong beam of light is passed. Because there is nothing in the chamber, a virtual vacuum, when you look into the it you see darkness. So you begin to see something particular about light. We are so used to seeing beams of light visible because the light is falling upon objects, at least the atmosphere, that Zajonc’s contraption is surprising, our first exposure to light with nothing to fall on, which is ‘darkness visible.’But this is only the beginning. The light falling on a tree, the

light in which we see the tree, is already an interpretative light. This is borne out, apparently, by the structure of the optic nerve. Now we readily speak of seeing some important matter ‘in a new light.’ This statement, we say, is of course metaphorical. What I think this man is going to ask me to try to understand is that the ‘new light’ in which I come to see something is not different from the light in which alone I see things at all. The light in which I see the tree is already an interpretative light in which the tree appears to me as beautiful and intelligible, ready for science with all its classifications. This is not really new. The old scholastic philosophy taught us that we see things, we see the world around

us, as ‘to be understood or celebrated’ or painted, waiting for Cezanne. Lonergan spent half his life wondering, as all scholars wondered, how we get from the things around us to their explanatory concepts. He said jokingly, ‘What’s in that little black box we call the mind?’ Well what the new thinking of Zajonc is urging us to “see” is that interpretation is present in our very exposure to the tree or whatever. In my room in darkness, turning on the light is already releasing an act of recognition and interpretation. In fact—and this should continue to surprise—there is no difference in kind between the light that falls on the objects in my room and the light in which I may study them.In this connection it is of profound significance that Tolle, as he woke, said, as he saw the light in which the curtains billowed, ‘There must be more to light than we ever

thought.’ And then as he walked round the room, all the objects, an empty beer-can or a razor, looked hugely significant. What was happening to him was that the process of being conscious in the world, was made newly, infinitely, conscious. The things around him were demanding clamorously to be understood and appreciated. ‘I think He—God—must be pissed off at times when no one notices the colour purple.’

Theology- as if it really mattered by Dom Sebastian Moore

Light from Light?Did you know that light is invisible?

Arthur Zajoac

AI International Couriers Ltd11 Engineer LaneP.O. Box 532GibraltarTel: 200 73775 Fax: 200 74389

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She had radiant soft glowing skin, an Egyptian goddess

all women looked up to. Her beauty was due to her obsession with daily baths of milk and honey, a well guarded secret though she wanted it to be spread like wildfire...and was followed by most women of the times. It is amazing to know this and still not to have followed in her footsteps and used donkey’s milk for bathing. In a commercial world of television and press advertising full of products for the skin, creams, Botox, peelings, cosmetic surgery etc to find a better skin it is amazing that no

one had come up with using donkey’s milk again – if we knew it worked for her why would it not work for us now? It may seem that a long time has passed but it is never too late and now the market is getting ready to receive what is going to change our skins into the most expensive and well kept wrapping paper of all times. Nurturing our skin is paramount in today’s polluted world and to do this we have to treat it well and it will reward us with a healthy glowing skin like that of our most admired beauty of all times, the incomparable Cleopatra.Another beautiful woman is Marlene Byrd who has spent

many years of her life taking care of peoples skins, she is now

returning to Gibraltar. Why Gibraltar?

“Many years ago, when the border opened, my son Alex was only 13 and we came to Gibraltar so he could take

computer studies. Immediately we

loved it. Having finished his schooling,

Alex did some work for BFBS radio, like me, and then did some work in the tunnels for the ‘Laser Experience’. He was also DJ at “Penelope’s” and he had the most wonderful teenage years here and I am very thankful for this, so I have always had a soft spot for Gibraltar and lots of friends I left behind.” Marlene has recently opened an office on the first floor, Suite 7 actually, at Leon House, after having studied aromatherapy, anatomy, body massage, Indian head massage and other things to do with making people feel good about themselves and their bodies. She is about to launch a precious gift from nature…having come across it by pure chance and great research, loads of studying and bureaucracy to get everything properly licensed etc. she is now ready to go and launch the product locally. “It has taken me all summer to get my paperwork together and now it is ready to go.”How did the idea originate about making natural skincare products from donkey’s milk?“I have been working for the

last eight years as Custodian on a Conservation Project up the coast which is saving the Giant Andalucian Donkey from ex-tinction. The whole thing started when we got a couple of donkeys for our ‘finca’ in Spain, for our own personal use and to ride them instead of horses as they are very docile animals. When one died we needed to replace it and it took six months to find one, LOLA. We met a lot of people while searching and one contact, Javier, invited us to Jerez where he had Andalucian Donkeys. They were very beautiful but not for sale as he was just starting to breed them. Javier was amazed we knew so much about them. We became friends, but a while later he became unwell and could not continue with his dream of breeding the animals. Our intu-ition kicked in and we negotiated to take over the project as we knew that to find a group of good unrelated bloodlines again would be impossible.The project is run as a ‘not for profit’ association and is supported only by donations. Visitors are welcome on Sundays to see the donkeys and enjoy a cuddle! “I am very passionate about the Andalucian donkey. After 2 years of research I have managed to create this natural skincare range, which will help to support the conservation project.”So what is the skincare product like?“Nature’s precious gift from the donkey’s milk can surprise you as it can help those who have intolerance to cow’s milk.Newborn babies suffering from

A NEW BEAUTY PRODUCT WITH AN ANCIENT HERITAGE BY SONIA GOLT

Cleopatra’s Beauty RoutineCleopatra, Queen of the Nile, was one of the most beautiful women in History.


eczema are relieved by this milk because it is the closest there is to mother’s breast milk. Pediatricians in Italy did all the scientific studies and came up with these positive answers. Old and frail persons with low immune system can actually be helped by drinking donkey’s milk. Those patients who have had chemotherapy can rebuild their depleted immune system by drinking this milk so the donkeys are actually helping mankind.”Tell us about the different products?“It is a niche market, very special and quite unique, there are only about six farms in Europe producing the milk. My background in therapies using essential oils is what did the trick! We use organic ingredients, 100% donkey milk with essential oils and other natural ingredients like vegetable glycerin, almond oils, jojoba oils, primrose, aloe vera and a host of other essential oils without chemicals and without artificial colours so that

facial creams, night and day creams, hand creams and even soap will nurture the skin and regenerate it leaving it pampered and silky soft like the skin of Cleopatra years ago.”The range is sulphate and paraben free, propylene glycol free, silicone free, DEA free and the combination of natural ingredients combine in perfect synergy to help create a beautiful and happy skin for the person using it. It can be used by both men and women. It is an exciting new skincare range aimed at people who prefer the natural

gifts nature gives us. Marlene will be offering skincare consultations at Leon House. Donkeys have always been part of our heritage and they will now continue to be part of our modern world technology with products made of donkey’s milk that will rejuvenate and take care of our skin in the same way it did year’s ago to Cleopatra who only bathed in donkey’s milk that made her so beautiful that she was the envy of

every other women of her time! The products are available on Marlene’s website www.donkeymilkskincare.com and orders can be taken by email to [email protected] or by phoning her on 350 54001825. Please visit www.ancraa.org and see what the Giant Andalucian Donkeys can and will do for future generations.

A NEW BEAUTY PRODUCT WITH AN ANCIENT HERITAGE BY SONIA GOLT

Cleopatra’s Beauty Routine

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Documents

Upon This Rock 113 November 2010