Holy Cross Catholic Church · procession to the monastery with the Way of the Cross, prayers and...

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April 2018 Year 23 — No. 4 Holy Cross Catholic Church Newsletter Paphos Gate, 1010 Nicosia; PO Box 21964, 1515 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel. (357) 22 662132; Fax: (357) 22 660767 Email: [email protected]; URL: www.holy-cross-nicosia.com Parish Priest: Fr. Andrew M. Verdote, ofm Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate. Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen. SUNDAY MASSES 7:30 am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - English 7:30 am Tuesday - Greek St. Anthony Devotion 6:30 pm Every day - English 4:00 pm Polish: Every 1st Saturday of the month 4:00 pm Spanish: Every 2nd Saturday 6:30 pm English WEEKDAY MASSES SATURDAY VIGIL MASSES (For Sunday) MASSES IN NORTH CYPRUS Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, It is shocking and always painful to hear news of the death of a loved one, friend or anyone we have known for many years. It is not a welcome news because we naturally shun death. There is no getting used to death. We are naturally lovers of life and it is healthy to prefer life rather than entertaining the reality of death. After all we are accustomed to the good life, to feeling good about ourselves and enjoying life. In our prayer life we ask for good health, for long life, for a good job, to pass exams and many other needs. Seldom do we accept pain and suffering with the meekness of one destined for the grave. We want to avoid suffering and pain. We skip death in our prayer. Asking for a happy death is the way of the saints, after all the good thief asked the dying Jesus to be admitted to paradise, a place of rest, love, happiness and peace. Yes, we are novices in the spiritual life. As willing learners we have a helper and guide. The whole month of April is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge and thank Him in our prayers for His guidance. We must rely on the operation of the Holy Spirit in us. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us means that we submit to His inspirations to do charitable works and form good thoughts especially about other people. That means being in solidarity with every human being especially those in the peripheries of society: the poor, the oppressed, the sick and the dying. We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to form good habits and to be submissive to God’s will rather than to our comforts and emotions. If we submit to the gentle persuasion of the Holy Spirit we will be guided closer to Jesus and to the understanding of His mysteries and abundant blessings. The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen reflects on death: “Because mortification is recognized as a practice of death, there is a fitting epitaph inscribed on the tomb of Duns Scotus, Bis Mortuus; Semel Sepultus (‘twice died, but buried only once’). When we die to something, something comes alive within us. If we die to self, charity comes alive; if we die to pride, service comes alive; if we die to lust, reverence for personality comes alive; if we die to anger, love comes alive.” We are called to the good life that is the life of service and dedication to loving and caring. That would be the best preparation for death. Love conquered death when Our Lord offered His life on the cross. It did not end there, He rose from the dead and now reigns in heaven. He gives His Spirit to us who love and serve Him and our brothers and sisters. God bless you with the Joy of Easter! Fr. Andrew M. Verdote, ofm 12:00 nn St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Kyrenia - Every Sunday - English 7:00 pm Famagusta - Every Sunday - English 8:00 am English 9:30 am Greek 10:30 am English 12:00 nn French: Every 1st Sunday of the month 12:00 nn Tagalog: Every 2nd Sunday of the month 12:00 nn Indian: Every 3rd Sunday of the month 12:00 nn Sinhala: Every 4th Sunday of the month 6:30 pm English (Children/Families)

Transcript of Holy Cross Catholic Church · procession to the monastery with the Way of the Cross, prayers and...

Page 1: Holy Cross Catholic Church · procession to the monastery with the Way of the Cross, prayers and songs and worship at the miraculous icon of our Lady followed. Free time and the Holy

April 2018 Year 23 — No. 4

Holy Cross Catholic Church Newsletter

Paphos Gate, 1010 Nicosia; PO Box 21964, 1515 Nicosia, Cyprus

Tel. (357) 22 662132; Fax: (357) 22 660767

Email: [email protected]; URL: www.holy-cross-nicosia.com

Parish Priest: Fr. Andrew M. Verdote, ofm

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate. Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen.

SUNDAY MASSES

7:30 am Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - English

7:30 am Tuesday - Greek St. Anthony Devotion

6:30 pm Every day - English

4:00 pm Polish: Every 1st Saturday of the month

4:00 pm Spanish: Every 2nd Saturday

6:30 pm English

WEEKDAY MASSES

SATURDAY VIGIL MASSES (For Sunday)

MASSES IN NORTH CYPRUS

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is shocking and always painful to hear news of the death of a loved

one, friend or anyone we have known for many years. It is not a

welcome news because we naturally shun death. There is no getting

used to death. We are naturally lovers of life and it is healthy to prefer

life rather than entertaining the reality of death. After all we are

accustomed to the good life, to feeling good about ourselves and

enjoying life.

In our prayer life we ask for good health, for long life, for a good job,

to pass exams and many other needs. Seldom do we accept pain and

suffering with the meekness of one destined for the grave. We want to

avoid suffering and pain. We skip death in our prayer. Asking for a

happy death is the way of the saints, after all the good thief asked the

dying Jesus to be admitted to paradise, a place of rest, love, happiness

and peace.

Yes, we are novices in the spiritual life. As willing learners we have a

helper and guide. The whole month of April is dedicated to the Holy

Spirit. We acknowledge and thank Him in our prayers for His guidance.

We must rely on the operation of the Holy Spirit in us. Allowing the Holy

Spirit to work in us means that we submit to His inspirations to do

charitable works and form good thoughts especially about other

people. That means being in solidarity with every human being

especially those in the peripheries of society: the poor, the oppressed,

the sick and the dying.

We must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to form good habits and to

be submissive to God’s will rather than to our comforts and emotions. If

we submit to the gentle persuasion of the Holy Spirit we will be guided

closer to Jesus and to the understanding of His mysteries and

abundant blessings. The Venerable Fulton J. Sheen reflects on death:

“Because mortification is recognized as a practice of death, there is a

fitting epitaph inscribed on the tomb of Duns Scotus, Bis Mortuus;

Semel Sepultus (‘twice died, but buried only once’). When we die to

something, something comes alive within us. If we die to self, charity

comes alive; if we die to pride, service comes alive; if we die to lust,

reverence for personality comes alive; if we die to anger, love comes

alive.”

We are called to the good life that is the life of service and

dedication to loving and caring. That would be the best preparation for

death. Love conquered death when Our Lord offered His life on the

cross. It did not end there, He rose from the dead and now reigns in

heaven. He gives His Spirit to us who love and serve Him and our

brothers and sisters.

God bless you with the Joy of Easter!

Fr. Andrew M. Verdote, ofm

12:00 nn St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Kyrenia - Every Sunday - English

7:00 pm Famagusta - Every Sunday -English

8:00 am English

9:30 am Greek

10:30 am English

12:00 nn French: Every 1st Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Tagalog: Every 2nd Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Indian: Every 3rd Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Sinhala: Every 4th Sunday of the month

6:30 pm English (Children/Families)

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April Calendar

Sunday 1 April Palm/Passion Sunday of the Lord

Thursday 5 April Triduum — Holy Thursday

The Lord’s Supper

Friday 6 April Triduum — Good Friday

Saturday 7 April Triduum — Holy Saturday

Sunday 8 April Easter Sunday

The Resurrection of the Lord

Sunday 15 April Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

Wednesday 25 April St Mark, evangelist , Feast

Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing. Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty.

C ELEB RA TIONS

HOLY WEEK—EASTER

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you; righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a

donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)

As the people spread their coats palm branches on the ground to welcome Jesus

into Jerusalem, so we welcome him into our lives this morning. King of Glory, King

of Peace, Servant King, reign in our hearts and lives this day and all days, that we

might praise your holy name. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

TRIDUUM

The last three days of Holy Week are referred to as the Easter or Sacred Triduum

(Triduum Sacrum), the three-part drama of Christ's redemption: Holy Thursday,

Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday is also known as "Maundy Thursday." The word maundy comes from

the Latin word mandatum (commandment) which is the first word of the Gospel

acclamation: Mandátum novum do vobis dicit Dóminus, ut diligátis ínvicem, sicut

diléxi vos. "I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: Love one another as I

have loved you." (John 13:34)

These are the words spoken by our Lord to His apostles at the Last Supper, after He

completed the washing of the feet. We should imitate Christ's humility in the

washing of the feet.

When the Eucharist is processed to the altar of repose after the Mass of the Lord's

Supper, we should remain in quiet prayer and adoration, keeping Christ company.

There is a tradition, particularly in big cities with many parishes, to try and visit

seven churches and their altars of repose during this evening.

Good Friday

Today the Church commemorates the redemption of the world with the reading of

the Passion, the Collects in which the Church prays with confidence for the salvation

of all men, the veneration of the Cross and the reception of Our Lord reserved in the

Blessed Sacrament.

Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, meditating on His suffering

and death. The altar is left bare, and the sacrifice of the Mass is not celebrated. Only

after the solemn vigil during the night, held in anticipation of the Resurrection, does

the Easter celebration begin, with a spirit of joy that overflows into the following

period of fifty days.

EASTER

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,

exult, let Angel ministers of God exult,

let the trumpet of salvation

sound aloud our mighty King's triumph!

Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,

ablaze with light from her eternal King,

let all corners of the earth be glad,

knowing an end to gloom and darkness.

The month's memorials also include: St Stanislaus of Krakow, bishop (11 April); St Peter Chanel, priest (28 April)

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PA RISH NEW S

Christ is Risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers.

MOVIE

NIGHT

FRIDAY

13 APRIL

The case for Christ

St Francis

Hall

7.15 pm

The Holy Father's Intention for the month of April 2018

Universal: For Those who

have Responsibility in

Economic Matters

That economists may have

the courage to reject any

economy of exclusion and

know how to open new paths.

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS & MESSAGES

The Movie Night for the month of April 2018 is to take place on 13 April 2017, the second Friday of the month, at 7.15 pm, in St Francis Hall. It will feature a movie released in 2017 and entitled The case for Christ, which is certain to deeply touch all those who will watch it. The Good Friday Way of the Cross drama is being organised. It will take place on Good Friday, 6 April 2018, at 3.00 pm, beginning at the entrance of the Holy Cross Church. Everyone is invited to come and join in this prayerful experience. The Parish Lunch for 2018 will take place on Sunday 20 May 2018, and, this year, it was decided to extend the invitation to take part to everyone in all the Latin parishes of Cyprus. The smartphone application for our Parish, for Android and iPhones, is at its final stages and should be reviewed and completed soon. As we continue our journey through Lent, towards our greatest feast, the Easter Triduum , we pray for our Parish, our priests and our people, for our families, our children and for the Parish Council also! May the Risen Lord strengthen us in His mercy, to serve Him with joy and to praise and witness Him, His power and His love always in the world around us! Akis Hjiiossif (Chairman of the Parish Council – email: [email protected])

On the way to

the Monastery

Confessions, Picnic lunch

HOLY CROSS PARISH LENTEN PILGRIMAGE

The Lenten Pilgrimage to the monastery of Kykkos, on Saturday 10 March 2018, was a truly wonderful experience, with a full coach of parishioners, despite the particular Saturday not being a public holiday, and our priests travelling with us on the journey up the Troodos mountains towards the monastery. Strong preaching, individual confessions, picnic lunch in the forest, the procession to the monastery with the Way of the Cross, prayers and songs and worship at the miraculous icon of our Lady followed. Free time and the Holy Rosary on our return journey concluded this unique experience. Akis Hjiiossif

Holy Cross Catholic Charismatic Community

The HCCCC will celebrate its 9th

anniversary on Sunday 29 April

2018 with a Thanksgiving Mass at 10.30

a.m. at the Holy Cross Catholic Church.

The Mass will be followed by praise and

worship in St Francis Hall, from 12 noon to

4.00 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Fr. Andrew M.

Verdote, ofm, spiritual director of the

community. Primrose

Divine Mercy Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter

The Feast will be celebrated at

all Sunday Masses,

15 April 2018

3.00 pm

Exposition of the Blessed

Sacrament

Prayer of the Divine Mercy

Chaplet

Couples for Christ

Christian Life Program

On 15 April, for single men/women

and married couples, from 1.00

pm to 2.00 pm at CFC Mission

House. For more information

please call 96602975 / 96937344.

SOCIAL CENTRE JUMBLE SALE

On 22April at St Joseph’s courtyard there

will be a jumble sale from 9.00 a.m. to

3.00 p.m.

The funds will be used to help the various

needs of the community (Discretionary

fund). Everyone is welcome. Sr. Adeline

Sri Lankan Community

Good Friday Service - Way

of the Cross, 6 April 2018,

at CYTA Park

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Easter Sunday Service -

Holy Mass, 8 April 2018

8:30 am - 10:00 am

St Francis Hall

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Glory and power are His forever and ever. [Easter prayer of St Hippolytus of Rome]

If you wish to receive the

Parish Newsletter

electronically,

send an email to

Monique

[email protected]

Notices, Contributions, etc. for Parish Newsletter

Please send your notices and other contributions for the next newsletter to

Monique ([email protected]) and/or to the Parish priest

([email protected]), or leave them in an envelope in the Church Library.

Deadline for submissions: 22 April

M O RE NEWS

Coffee Morning in the Library

Wednesday 18 April 10.00-12.00

For more information call Rosemarie (99216007) or

Monique (99795207).

Continuation of the Catechesis of Pope Francis on the Holy Mass [7 March 2018]

Dear Brothers and Sisters

The Eucharistic Prayer corresponds to what Jesus himself did, at the table with the Apostles at the Last Supper, when “he gave thanks” over the bread and then over the cup of wine: his thanksgiving lives again each time we celebrate the Eucharist, joining us to his sacrifice of salvation. In this solemn Prayer the Church expresses what she achieves when she celebrates the Eucharist and the reason why it is celebrated; she makes communion with Christ truly present in the consecrated Bread and Wine. After inviting the people to lift up their hearts to the Lord and to give him thanks, the priest pronounces the Prayer aloud, in the name of all those present, addressing the Father through Jesus in the Holy Spirit. […] And in order to join oneself one needs to understand. For this reason, the Church has wished to celebrate Mass in the language that the people understand, so that each one may join him or herself in this praise and in this great prayer with the priest. […]

There are different formulations of the Eucharistic Prayer, all constituted of characteristic elements. First and foremost there is the Preface, which is the act of thanksgiving for the gifts of God, in particular for sending his Son as Saviour. The Preface concludes with the acclamation of the “Holy”, normally sung. […] The whole assembly joins its voice to that of the Angels and Saints to praise and glorify God.

There is then the invocation of the Spirit, that by his power he consecrate the bread and wine. […] The action of the Holy Spirit and the efficacy of the very words of Christ uttered by the priest make truly present, under the form of bread and wine, his Body and his Blood, his sacrifice offered on the Cross once and for all. Jesus was most clear about this […]. “This is my blood; this is my body”. It was Jesus himself who said this. It is the Body of Jesus; it ends there! Faith: faith comes to our aid; by an act of faith we believe that it is the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is the “mystery of faith”, as we say after the consecration. The priest says: “Mystery of faith”, and we respond with an acclamation. Commemorating the Lord’s death and Resurrection, in expectation of his glorious return, the Church offers the Father the sacrifice which reconciles heaven and earth: she offers the paschal sacrifice of Christ, offering herself with him and

asking, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to become “one body, one spirit in Christ” (Eucharistic Prayer iii). The Church wishes to be joined to Christ and become one body and one spirit with the Lord. This is the grace and the fruit of sacramental Communion: we are nourished of the Body of Christ to become, we who eat of it, his Body living today in the world.

This is the mystery of communion; the Church is united to Christ’s offering and his intercession […]. The Church which praises, which prays. There is a passage in The Acts of the Apostles where it says, when Peter was in prison, that the Christian community: “prayed earnestly for him”. […] When we go to Mass it is to do this: to be a prayerful Church.

The Eucharistic Prayer asks God to welcome all his chil-dren in the perfection of love, in union with the Pope and the Bishop, a sign that we celebrate in communion with the universal Church and with the particular Church. The prayer, like the offering, is presented to God for all the members of the Church, living and departed, in expecta-tion of the blessed hope of sharing the eternal inher-itance of heaven, with the Virgin Mary. No one and noth-ing is forgotten in the Eucharistic Prayer, but everything is attributed to God, as is recalled by the doxology which concludes it. […] If I have someone, relatives, friends, who are in need or have departed from this world to the other, I can name them at that time, interiorly and silent-ly, or write their name so it may be said aloud. “Father, how much do I have to pay to have my name said there?” -“Nothing”. Is this understood? Nothing! Mass is Christ’s sacrifice, which is freely given. Redemption is freely given. If you want to make an offering, do so, but it is not paid for. It is important to understand this.

This codified formulation of prayer, perhaps we may feel it to be somewhat distant — it is true, it is an ancient formula — but, if we truly understand its significance, we will certainly participate better. […] It teaches us to cultivate three attitudes that should never be lacking in Jesus’ disciples. First, learn “to give thanks, always and everywhere”, and not only on certain occasions, when all is going well; second, to make of our life a gift of love, freely given; third, to build concrete communion, in the Church and with everyone. Thus, this central Prayer of the Mass teaches us, little by little, to make of our whole life a “Eucharist”, that is, an act of thanksgiving.