NL 2018 NEWSLETTER AUG - SEPT 2018_Newsletter Dummy.qxd 25/07/2018 12:53 Page 1 Volume 42 No. 4 AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 D50 The Diocese of Banjul NEWSLETTER Incorporating The Catholic Newsletter Sang Marie - Banjul’s big day Thoughts, prayers and readings for Mass on all the Sundays in August and September NL 2018 NEWSLETTER AUG - SEPT 2018_Newsletter Dummy.qxd 25/07/2018 12:53 Page 2 2 DIoCESE oF BANjUL NEWSLETTER AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 Contact us at GAMBIA PASTORAL INSTITUTE 33 Kairaba Avenue, PMB 296 Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa Telephone +220 4394847 / 9957143 / 7773494, Email [email protected] Printing : Major publications on Risco printing; FACILITIES & SERVICES Photocopying (b/w or colour); Certificates; Posters; Residential Accommodation Laminating; Funeral Programmes; Wake-Keeping Rates per night: Booklets; School needs – and others; Adverts for Basic Rooms D400, The Diocese of Banjul Newsletter single D650, double, D800 triple. Communications Unit : Television and Radio Rooms with A/C & Programmes produced in our studio; recordings: TV D1,200 single, video and audio for weddings, funerals, all Church D1,500 double. programmes. Rooms with TV: Filming and editing: sound, adverts and major D700 single, D900 events. double. Room en suite : D1,500. Rooms with Fan & Bathroom: D600 On Request: Breakfast D150, Lunch D250, Dinner D250 Free wifi available in all rooms, Dining hall and Conference hall. Workshops, Events, Celebrations : Conference Hall; Dining Hall; Hall for Wedding Receptions something PRECIOUS : Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace Hostel & Cafeteria @ Kunkujang Mariama • A quiet, contemplative haven • New pilgrim accommodation with facilities for the disabled For more information, • Youth dormitory accommodation telephone 714 4981 / 439 0767 • Pilgrim refectory and hall • Self-catering centre • A lovely, peaceful, spiritual place, where you can go at your own pace, with your own thoughts • A place of prayer providing a refreshing break from a hectic and commercialised life • A warm welcome at the Parish Church NL 2018 NEWSLETTER AUG - SEPT 2018_Newsletter Dummy.qxd 25/07/2018 12:53 Page 3 DIoCESE oF BANjUL NEWSLETTER AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 3 By way of introduction Making the most of August MENTION the month of August to a Catholic, and he or we are all called on to seek. she will probably think of the world-wide feast of the Jesus himself submitted himself to the Father’s will. In the Assumption - known in The Gambia, of course, simply Garden of Gethsemane, before his passion. he prayed: ‘Father, as ‘Saint Mary’ - Sang Marie. if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will Mention Sang Marie to a resident of Banjul, Catholic or be done.’ (Luke 22:47). otherwise, and he or she will think of the colourful afternoon Jesus, for Christians, is the great exemplar, the One procession in honour of Mary, Mother of Jesus, from Holy to whom we turn in good times and times of in trial. Only he, Spirit Church to the Cathedral, which attracts enthusiastic we believe, can save us from our timidity, backsliding and crowds, both Christian and Muslim. selfishness. Later in August, about a week after Sang Marie , Gambian As we give thanks for the example of Mary, we need also to Muslims, and Muslims throughout the world, will celebrate ask for her prayers that we, too, through God’s grace Eid-el-Adha , or Tobaski . and mercy, may find a place in heaven. On such religious ‘high-days’ as Sang Marie and Tobaski, The Gospel makes clear that Jesus treated everyone, we are reminded that though this country has a secular regardless of gender or ethnic background, as a child of God constitution the great majority of our people acknowledge and a member of the one human family. That is why the Almighty God as Creator and Preserver of all mankind. This Church is not a closed club. We value and rely on our shared belief creates a strong bond between Gambians, distinctive beliefs and religious practices, and commend them regardless of religious affiliation. We should be thankful, to others; but we have been told by Jesus himself to show always, that here in The Gambia, Muslims and Christians respect and kindness to everyone, whether within the Church respect each other and pray for each other. Indeed, our history, or beyond it. despite its ups and downs, has been generally remarkable The month of August this year will be well spent if at for peace and inter-communal harmony. Sang Marie and Tobaski we renew our commitment Mary - particularly celebrated on 15th August, and revered as Gambians to live together in peace and harmony, working throughout the year - freely accepted God’s will that she for the common good and national progress. Our national should give birth to his Son. anthem puts this well: ‘Keep us, great God of nations, Centuries before Mary, the Patriarch Abraham submitted to The Gambia ever true.’ to God in accepting that, if required of him, he would sacrifice And the whole nation will surely benefit if those who put his own son. God’s will first show the warmth, compassion and Such obedience and submission to the Almighty is what commitment that are Mary’s great example. IN THIS ISSUE How to cope with stress 4 Here & there; the Youth Cross page 11 6 Obituary: James Melbury Pierre Jatta, Vincent Aki John, Simon Wezel Abraham’s admirable submission: Tobaski 7 Local and worldwide rejoicing: Sang Marie Can Catholics 9 Children’s page: the Blessed Virgin Mary have a sense 10 Family Circle: Plant a tree! 11 Sunday Reflections of humour? 17 For practical advice, turn to St James! page 30 18 Catholic funerals from the perpective of faith 20 Anniversaries: St Augustine’s moves to Campama First published Palm Sunday 1976 21 From beyond: Ghana’s controversial new ‘cathedral’ The Diocese of Banjul Newsletter Question Box: What’s wrong with pornography? Incorporating The Catholic Newsletter 24 Fee moi Gambia AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2018 V olume 42 N o. 5 Published by The Gambia Pastoral Institute 26 Weekday celebrations: John Vianney to Vincent de Paul 33 Kairaba Avenue 28 Daily Mass readings for August & September PMB 296 Serrekunda, The Gambia, West Africa 29 The Pope’s Prayer Intentions Telephone 4394847 Email [email protected] Editor Fr Peter S. Lopez Editorial Consultant David Somers Pious Practices: Eucharistic adoration Layout Betty Quacoo 30 End piece: Can Catholics have a sense of humour? Production Henry Gomez, Frédéric Diatta 32 Gospel illustration: Jesus heals a deaf man NL 2018 NEWSLETTER AUG - SEPT 2018_Newsletter Dummy.qxd 25/07/2018 12:53 Page 4 4 DIoCESE oF BANjUL NEWSLETTER AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2018 Presentation Girls Vocational School salutes departing students ON Friday 6th July the Presentation Girl’s Vocational Here there School in Banjul held its 13th annual ceremony to mark the NEWS FRoM ARoUND THE DIoCESE completion by 56 students of three years’ training in the school’s departments of home management, commerce Young people gather for the and hair-dressing. The ceremony, which included the award of certificates Youth Cross celebration and prizes to outstanding students and teachers, was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Banjul, parents and relatives of those graduating, teachers, and past and present students. The opening prayer was offered by Fr Peter Lopez. The guest speaker was Musukuta Coma, Country Director of Child Fund International. In her report, the Principal, Sr Rosine Sanyang (right) , spoke of students’ attainments and the acquisition of new sewing machines and computers. Among difficulties the school is facing, she said, is the need to protect the premises from flooding during the rainy THIS YEAR’S National Youth Cross celebration from 22nd season. to 24th June – the biggest youth event in the Diocese of Banjul She pointed out that some students have been forced into - attracted enthusiastic young people from every parish in the part-time jobs in order to pay school fees, and stressed the diocese, together with Anglicans, Methodists and evangelical need for grants for school leavers to start their own Christians. businesses using skills they have learnt at school. Among the many taking part were 60 young Senegalese The Presentation Girls Vocational School is owned and people from the Archdiocese of Dakar and the dioceses administered by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. of Kaolak and Kolda, accompanied by three priests and It was opened in 1972 by Sr Cecilia Lanovaz, and is one a religious sister. of the oldest vocational schools in the country. The three-day programme was organised by the Catholic Diocesan Youth Committee (CDYC). The theme for the celebration was ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, Peter’s Pence for you have found favour with God (Luke 1:30), which will ON Sunday 28th July, Catholic parishes throughout the be the theme at next year’s World Youth Cross celebration world took part in the Pope’s charity campaign - the Peter’s in Panama, Central America. Pence collection, which distributes aid to those most in need. The programme began on Friday with a procession from Peter’s Pence - in Latin, Denarii Sancti Petri - was first St Therese’s Church, Kanifing, to St Charles Lower and mentioned in 1031 to refer to a contribution sent to the Pope Upper Basic School in Fajikunda, followed by Eucharistic in Rome. Adoration. Since approval by Pope Pius IX in 1871, Peter’s Pence Day Two began with a Mass at St Charles Lwanga Church refers to the special collection in Rome on the Sunday closest at 7.30am, followed by a talk by Fr Bruno Toupan and to 29th June, the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul, the city’s Fr Peter Lopez. In the evening there was another procession: patrons.