HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten

Transcription

1 HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor February 2014 Year A Sunday Mass 10:30am

2

3 MESSAGE FROM FATHER: THE LITURGICAL CALENDER FOR FEBRUARY Dear Parishioners! The month of February is not blessed with special liturgical feasts. Yet one feast The Presentation of the Lord, celebrated on February 2, is worth to be kept in mind and meditated. Inspired by Luke s narrative, the Church celebrates - forty days after Christmas - what once happened in the temple of Jerusalem: When the day came to purify them according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus up to Jerusalem so that he could be presented to the Lord, for it is written in the law of the Lord: Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Joseph came to offer in sacrifice a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accord with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Something providential happened in the temple. There lived in Jerusalem, at the time, a certain man named Simeon. He was just and pious, and awaited the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not experience death until he had seen the anointing of the Lord. Simeon came to the temple, inspired by the Holy Spirit; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him the customary ritual of the law, he took him in his arms and blessed God in these words: Now Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: A revealing light to the gentiles, the glory of your people Israel. A reaction of Joseph and Mary stood not out. The child s father and mother were marveling at what was being said to his mother: This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed - and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword - so that the thought of many hearts may be laid bare. Still something else happened: There was also a certain prophetess, Anna by name, daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She had seen many days, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She was constantly in the temple, worshiping day and night in fasting and prayer; Coming on the scene at this moment, she gave thanks to God and talked about the child to all who looked forward to the delivrance of Jerusalem. This year we will as many parishes do make out of the feast of The Presentation of the Lord in the temple a special celebration with a procession of candles, and a special blessing for the children. Father Francis Peerlinck

4 PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS Please pray for Evelyn Pizzella, Rosanne s mom. She has recently moved into an assisted living home and is having trouble adjusting to her new life. Please ask God to give her peace and comfort her in her times of stress. Please pray for all parishioners, past and present who are looking for work, either from necessity or because they are looking for a different path to follow, may they be successful in their endeavors and find fulfillment in their work and lives. Please pray for friends and relatives who are suffering mental and physical illnesses, that God give them comfort and hope that their lives will improve and they may return to good health and happiness. For families going through difficult times, please give them the strength and courage to get through each day and to trust that they will, with God s grace, be OK in the end. LOOK FOR NEW ARTICLES IN THE UPCOMING BULLETINS. Watch this space for a get to know your fellow parishioners article in future bulletins. So often we see people setting next to us or around us in church, we even talk to them a bit. In an upcoming feature in the bulletin, Viv will introduce one or two parish members with a small information blog so we can put real people to the names and faces we see each week. I don t know about you all, but I m excited about this one!

5 Meeting Minutes Highlights Calendar Jan 19 th - Ecumenical service at AIS with AIPC March 7 th World day of Prayer April 6 th Penitential service April 13 th Palm Sunday Stations of the Cross April 17 th Holy Thursday April 20 th -- Easter Sunday May 4 th First Communion mass to start at 11:00 June 8 th Pentecost Sunday June 15 th Parish Picnic venue tbc June 22 nd Last Sunday mass before the summer break Religious Ed / Children s Liturgy / Youth Group There will be a First Communion class this year Sunshine Viviane Staplehurst A big thanks to everyone for making the giving tree a success Music We still lack a piano player Parish Registration and Bulletin Rosanne has requested that we look for a substitute party for the bulliten when ever we can find one Rwanda donations It was agreed that the parish will donate Euro150 towards the Rwanda fund which includes the collections from the jar in the coffe room Treasurer Our investments remain on fixed deposit due to expire at the end of 2014 The savings account and current account remain positive Year to date for this parish year we are running at a loss to be monitored Hospitality Thanks to all for a successful harvest festival enjoyed by all Prepararions will start soon for the annual picnic Next meeting Wednesday 11 th June 1900

6 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FRIDAY 7 TH MARCH 2014, HOLY FAMILY

7 PARISH, DON BOSCO CHAPEL 10:00 AM World Day of Prayer March 7, 2014 Streams in the Desert The 2014 World Day of Prayer service will begin at the first sunrise on March 7, 2014, in the Pacific region and, following the Earth s orbit, will spread all around the world. This year, the women of the WDP Committee of Egypt invite us into a time of worship with the words of the prophet Isaiah: I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. With these words as backdrop, we are invited to learn about Egypt s history and rich cultural diversity. A young Egyptian woman shares her experiences in Tahrir Square where she has found hope in dry places. An exploration of the Samaritan woman s conversation with Jesus at the well echoes the cooperation between young people of different faiths during the Arab Spring, and prompts us to ask where we might have an unexpected, inspiring conversation. This moment offers us an immense opportunity for deep dialogue and reflection about the borders that we, like Jesus and the Samaritan woman, have to cross to get to streams of living water. The woman by the well has a theological conversation with Jesus that ends with action. Our motto informed prayer leads to prayerful action follows that example. Jesus and the woman were able to transcend their religious and cultural differences and build a common ground that then empowered the woman to bring change to her community. The WDP USA community is invited to follow through in areas of concern lifted up by this year s service, including the availability of clean water, support for girls education worldwide, intergenerational and interfaith dialogue, and the Arab Spring. Through the original song She Who Trusts in Me, participants in WDP are invited to imagine themselves as springs of God s living water.

8 WHO S DOING WHAT IN FEBRUARY Liturgy Readers: 02/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 09/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Graeme 16/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 23/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 02/03/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan Eucharistic Ministers: (As needed) 02/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 09/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 16/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 23/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kath 02/03/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Our after Mass bakers are: 02/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Renée 09/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No information 16/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No Information 23/02/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan + Marie 02/03/14 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne If you have any questions, please contact Renée

9 RWANDA UPDATE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BRIGITTE Dear Parishioner s, As the treasurer of Holy Family Parish I would like to keep you updated on our commitment regarding the Kabo Rondo project in Rwanda. Your money you put into the coffee jar during the first 3 month of the church year 2013/2014 was transferred to their account with Caritas International. Rachelle Van Looveren who is our contact person in Rwanda informed me, that the money will be used for Irakoze. He is one of their former students and the money will help him to finish his Technical College. He feels very grateful towards Holy Family Parish and asked Rachelle Van Looveren to let us know. As you can realize it does not matter how small the coins are you drop into the jar, they are of great help in other parts of the world and always very welcome. Keep enjoying your coffee or tea! Brigitte Preusz Treasurer Holy Family Parish

10 MONTHLY PRAYER CONNECTION ~~~~~~~~ TUESDAY FEBRUARY 5 A small group of women meet each month at someone s home for a quiet time of fellowship, prayer and reflection. The International Christian Women s Club of Antwerp organizes this and invite you to join them. Many women from Holy Family parish are part of this group. Herewith the International Christian Women s Club invites you to the next prayer connection which will be hosted by Rosie (in her new home!), Groenhof 44, Kalmthout on Tuesday February 4, contact one of us. We meet at 10 o clock in the morning. Prayer time starts at 10.30h. If you need more information please do not hesitate to If you have a prayer request and are unable to come please let us know. God bless, Sharmini ( ) Marie-Louise ( ) Lent Begins ~ Ash Wednesday ~ March 5th On March 5 th Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, no evening Mass will be celebrated at Don Bosco Chapel. You can however take this opportunity to check out one of your local Flemish churches as most will have some service at various times in the day. It is a nice opportunity to begin Lent as our preparation to Easter.

11

12 PARISH COUNCIL 2013/2014 Pastor... Fr. Francis Peerlinck President... Graeme Stephan Vice President... Alan Barnett Treasurer.Brigitte Preuss... Religious E... Graeme Stephan Parish Registration Paul Van den Bossche Bulletin... Rosanne Pizzella Sunshine.Vivianne Staplehurst Liturgy... Rosanne Pizzella Advisor...Barbara Noels Music... EricWouters&OlgaVelez UPCOMING EVENTS: February March 14 th - Valentine s Day ~ Tell the one you love they are important to you. 5 th - Lent begins Ash Wednesday 7 th - World Day of Prayer PLEASE send Rosanne all submissions for the March bulletin by February 24th. Thank you!