JANUARY- MARCH 2016 Sts. Peter & Paul & Sts. Martin de Porres Quarterly Newsletter Contact Us Address: 120 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica Telephone: 876-927-9959/6579 Email: [email protected] Website: The Year of Mercy www.keysandsword.org Social Media: “Let the Church Always be a Place of @keysandsword Mercy and Hope, Where Everyone is Welcomed, Loved and Forgiven.” Pope Francis Save The Date! March April May 26 03 15 Easter Sunday SMDP Pentecost Masses @ Rally of the The Sacrament of 7am, 9am & 6pm Gospels @ 5:30pm Confirmation QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #1 JANUARY – MARCH 2016 Our Pastor’s Message Beloved, Welcome to this inaugural issue of the Quarterly Newsletter for the Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Martin de Porres communities! Our newsletter is one of the vehicles through which we will seek to evangelize and is also an avenue through which our parishioners can share their knowledge and thoughts about our faith. Additionally, our newsletter will also be used to communicate the activities in our parish and the Archdiocese. In this issue, our thematic focus is the Year of Mercy and we seek to interrogate its meaning and purpose. It is hoped that, through this interrogation, we will accept Pope Francis’ invitation to truly receive God’s mercy in our lives and extend this mercy to others. We do, after all, promise our Father to do this when we pray, “. and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us . .”. It is important that we take the time to reflect on these words, as they embody the purpose of this Extraordinary Jubilee. As we reflect, let us also seek avenues to extend our merciful actions beyond our parish walls and into our country, which is fraught with social decay, political unease and economic strife. As Catholics, we should be guided by the teachings of our faith and reflect on and implement the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in our lives. As ‘Ambassadors for Christ’ it is our responsibility to ‘fling open’ the doors of mercy in our lives and, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6) Also in this issue are personal understandings of Lent and Easter, which will serve both to remind and educate us of the significance of these seasons in our lives. I know you will especially enjoy learning more about our Youth Choir and getting a youngster’s perspective on participation in ministry. In closing, let us utilize the discussions contained in this newsletter to help us reflect on the thoughts of our Holy Father who reminds us, “Jesus Christ, with his closeness and tenderness, leads sinners into the place of grace and pardon. This is the mercy of God.” I pray, that our actions in this parish, especially during these Lenten and Easter seasons, will be that which leads others to grace and pardon. May God’s mercy overflow in and through our lives! REV. FR. DONALD CHAMBERS 2 21 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #1 JANUARY – MARCH 2016 The Year of Mercy Our Catholic Church is celebrating the ● The Jubilee Year is to help people Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. grow spiritually: strengthen faith, Seeing the great need for mercy and encourage works of service, and healing in the world, Pope Francis called to promote unity within the for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. He has invited the entire Catholic Catholic Church and society. Church to refashion herself as a place not of judgement or condemnation but During this Year of Mercy we can: of pardon and merciful love. 1) Say the Year of Mercy prayer daily Things to know about the Jubilee 2) Go to Confession 3) Read a good Catholic book on ● The Jubilee motto is, Mercy “Compassionate (Merciful) like 4) Forgive others the Father.” 5) Pray the Divine Mercy Novena ● Jubilee or Holy Year is a time of 6) Show mercy to others forgiveness. 7) Be engaged in spiritual works ● Jubilee and Holy Year are such as praying, counseling and interchangeable therefore one forgiving. We can also do one would see or hear Jubilee of Corporal work such as feed the Mercy or Year of Mercy. Jubilees hungry or visit the imprisoned. do not necessarily follow a calendar year as this Jubilee of Finally, remember the words of the Holy Mercy began on 8 December 2015 Father, “. find in this jubilee the joy and will end on 20 November to rediscover and render fruitful the 2016. mercy of God, with which we are all ● Jubilees announced earlier than called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time.” every 25 years are considered Gayle Cunningham extraordinary. 3 21 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #1 JANUARY – MARCH 2016 Moments of Mercy The Hand of God As I did my rounds, I noticed many of the women were praying or reading the Bible, which made me realise that the Lord can be a comfort to us regardless of our stage in life. In one instance Miss Green, another of the ladies, asked I do my ministry hours at the Harrison me to read to her as she could not see Memorial Home for the Aged. Many of the fine print. It was obvious that she the elderly ladies living there are knew the Psalms as she mouthed the incapable of doing basic tasks on their words as I read aloud. She had clearly own or are in excruciating pain. Being spent much time with scripture and this able to help them has opened my eyes reminded me of the importance of to the blessings that God has given me, studying God’s word. and has made me more appreciative of my good health. One of my duties is to After seeing the effect of me holding feed some of the ladies. This has given Miss Morris’ hand, and reading to Miss me patience; one of the Fruits of the Green I was motivated to be less selfish Spirit. At one point a resident, Miss and to do simple acts of kindness for Morris, asked me to hold her hand. As others. I now know that no good deed I did as she asked she closed her eyes is insignificant to the person receiving and smiled asking, “Do you know what it. that feels like? It feels like His hand.” Lucy Heron-Thomas That touched me deeply and for the 2nd Year Confirmation Class. first time I understood what was meant by God working through people. The Corporal Works of The Spiritual Works of Mercy Mercy Feed the Hungry Counseling the Doubtful Give Drink to the Thirsty Instructing the Ignorant Shelter the Homeless Admonishing the Sinner Visit the Sick Comforting the Sorrowful Visit the Prisoners Forgiving Injuries Bury the Dead Bearing Wrong Patiently Give Alms to the Poor Praying for the Living and the Dead 4 21 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #1 JANUARY – MARCH 2016 This Is Our Faith: Lent “. Lent and Ash Wednesday . is by allowing us to better appreciate the about helping the poor and the needy, sacrifices he made for His people, it is being kind to people and much more." equally important for us to take steps to Jacob Winters do something extra during Lent. Lent is the season during which we prepare for the Church’s most holy As a result, for this Lenten season, I feast, Easter. It is a time to reflect on challenge us all to surpass the “giving the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ up” cliché and do something more in made for us – the surrendering of His addition to our usual fasting and life. Lent is the time when we engage in abstaining. Do you know someone who activities that purify us to prepare to needs prayer? Pray for him/her. Do you celebrate Christ’s resurrection. spend money unnecessarily? Save this money and give it in the offering. Have In order to purify our souls during Lent you not said the rosary in ages? Say the we strive to become better Christians rosary daily during Lent. You never go by attempting to strip our lives of the to weekday mass? Then do so once a distractions that prevent us from week. Working, driving, cooking? Pray focusing on God. This has traditionally and pray. The possibilities are endless been envisioned as “giving up” and often just involves self-will to do something. Consequently, we try to that little extra to help us focus more abstain from tangible or intangible on God. So don’t just “give up” pleasures during this season. While the something, but remember to “take on” aforementioned certainly enables us to something additional during this Lenten develop a closer relationship with Christ season. Chanelle Fingal-Robinson Lumen Christi: A Reflection The covered statues, the open tabernacle on the main altar and the dark church were all too familiar. The symbols of people in deep mourning. This was Holy Saturday and we were outside the church as the fire was lit and blessed. The Pascal candle was being lit as my brothers and sisters slipped into the deep darkness of Holy Trinity Cathedral. In this tomb-like darkness lurked death and despair; my worst fears. I could sense other people did little to mitigate my fear as I clutched my candle and waited and hoped. Suddenly there was a knocking at the (continued on page 6…) 5 21 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER #1 JANUARY – MARCH 2016 St. Martin de Porres Community Forum St. Martin De Porres Church, hosted a community forum on February 7, 2016 under the theme: "Politicians and their Role in National Development: Discharging your Mandate with Integrity, Compassion and Mercy." The leading presenter was Professor Trevor Munroe, Executive Director of National Integrity Action Ltd.