HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten

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1 HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan Schoten May/June 2016 Year C Sunday Mass 10:30am Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor

2 MESSAGE FROM FATHER: OUR LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS IN MAY AND JUNE Dear Parishioners! As we go through the months of May and June, two months before 'Holy Family Parish' leaves on its summer vacation, we see some great liturgical celebrations and special events coming up: First of all: the month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Many people go and visit one of the many pilgrimage places in Belgium: Scherpenheuvel, Banneux, Oostakker, Beauraing. An experience worth to be made! May 5: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. The Universal Church celebrates, forty days after Easter, the Enthronization of Jesus by the Father in heaven. No English Mass in our Chapel. Feel free to celebrate this important liturgical feast in a Flemish church of your choice. May 8: Mother's Day. Congratulations to all mothers for what they do every day for their family. Thanks for all care, friendship and love that keep husband and children in joy, happiness and peace together. May 15: Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday: Ten days after Jesus Ascension into heaven the Church celebrates the Feast of the Coming of the Holy Spirit over the apostles in Jerusalem. The response of the people to the preaching of the apostles was so fantastic, that Pentecost became the birthday of the Church. - May 22: at 11:00 a.m.: Holy Family Parish celebrates its yearly 'First Holy Communion Service'. We congratulate the children, the parents and the whole family on this unforgettable day of their lives. Special thanks to Mrs. Martha Krzyskow, the parents and children for the preparation of the sacrament of Penance and Eucharist. - June 12: Holy Family Parish celebrates its yearly Picnic Sunday. Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am, followed by our picnic togetherness. We are looking, and saying a prayer, for nice summer weather. - June 26: The last Sunday of June we celebrate our last English mass of this Parish year. I thank everybody for joining Holy Family Parish, doing the work needed to keep the parish going and contributing financially, so our weekly costs could be met. I will be away for two weeks on vacation in Rumania and Bulgaria. We see us back for the beginning of a new parish year on the last Sunday of August 28th, at 10:30 a.m. in Don Bosco Chapel, Fortbaan, Schoten! My best wishes for a nice vacation to all. Father Frans Peerlinck

3 PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS For friends and family going through difficult times both in their personal and professional lives. May they have guidance when making choices and strength to carry on. May God bring them peace in their hearts and minds so they can then live with the choices they ve made. Please pray for our children for the upcoming exam season. We all know that it's not only the kids who have to get through the exams!! The parents and all the family seem to get sucked into the exam mania!! Yes it is stressful for everyone, and maybe with a few well- chosen prayers we can help them along. For all people who are going on vacation. That they may enjoy a nice vacation and come back renewed in mind and heart. For anyone suffering emotional or physical difficulties, that they soon have peace and relief and are able to enjoy the positive and good in their lives. Intentions of the Pope: May Universal: Respect for Women That in every country of the world, women may be honored and respected and that their essential contribution to society may be highly esteemed. Evangelization: Holy Rosary That families, communities, and groups may pray the Holy Rosary for evangelization and peace. June Universal: Human Solidarity That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find even within the huge cities of the world opportunities for encounter and solidarity. Evangelization: Seminarians and Novices That seminarians and men and women entering religious life may have mentors who live the joy of the Gospel and prepare them wisely for their mission.

4 CONFIRMATION NEWS On April 16th together with 65 young people of Saint Cordula Church / Schoten - Liam Dibley, Amy Sibille and Alessandra Olaivar were confirmed. Look for them on the pictures below! On Saturday 16 May, at 5:30 p.m. a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated in Saint Cordula Church. All Confirmation candidates are expected. A USB-stick with pictures of the celebration will be available at 5 euro. A reception follows the celebration. Father Frans Peerlinck

5 FIRST COMMUNION NEWS Congratulations to these children: ALESSANDRA LISELL B. OLAIVAR JOB DANIEL B. OLAIVAR CASSIUS BENTLEY ARCHIE BENTLEY Finally! On May 22nd our First Communion children will receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our dearly beloved Lord Jesus Christ for the first time. What a wonderful finale to our year of learning and growing. We wish to thank all parish members for their support in various forms of kind actions and prayer. We look forward to celebrating this wonderful day with our families as well as with our church family here at Holy Family parish.

6 MOTHER S DAY May 8 by Barbara Noels Of course you don t need a special day to tell Mom that you love her, but in most countries there is a special day in the year which is set aside just for her. In the U. S. the second Sunday of May is Mother s Day. One woman, Anna Jarvis, was responsible for its celebration. When her mother died in 1905 Anna wrote to religious and government leaders pleading to have a day set aside for honoring mothers. Her tireless efforts were finally rewarded in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson issued the first Mother s Day proclamation designating the second Sunday in May for the holiday. The idea of honoring mothers didn t begin with Anna Jarvis. The ancient Romans celebrated a spring festival to the mother goddess Cybele. The threeday festival, Hilaria, started on March 15. In the early Christian Church, the fourth Sunday of Lent was Mothering Sunday when Mary, Jesus mother, was honored. It became the custom in England for children who worked away from home to return to their families on that Sunday with gifts and sweets for their mothers. That tradition remains to this day in the U. K. Mother s Day is May 8 this year in Belgium too, except in Antwerp. Because of the city s devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary, symbolized in her great cathedral, Antwerp celebrates the holiday every year on August 15, the feast of Our Lady. Many countries including Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Denmark, to name a few, honor their mothers in May. Some, like Norway in February, choose another month, but all convey the same message: Mom, we love you!

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8 Eagle Scout Project Hello everyone, it s time for a spring cleaning! The church annex window frames are in need of maintenance and painting. I (Alexander Corbo) will be leading an Eagle Scout project to get the church s exterior back in shape! If you would like to contribute your time or make an in kind donation towards supplies to the remodeling of your church, please see me after mass and I will inform you. Weather permitting; this activity will take place on the weekends of May for those who would like to help. MONTHLY PRAYER CONNECTION Herewith we invite you to our next prayer connection which will be held on Tuesday May 3, At the home of Rosie, Groenhof 44, Kalmthout (tel or ) You are welcome from 10 o clock in the morning. Prayer is the soil in which hope and healing grow best. Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest! Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed. (Cushing) If you need directions, more information or if you have a prayer request please let us know. Blessings, Sharmini ( ) Marie-Louise ( ) P.S. The last prayer connection of this season will be held on Tuesday June 7th, at the home of Sharmini, Kasteeldreef 127, Schilde. This will be followed by a special Bring a dish lunch. Please contact Sharmini or Marie Louise for more info.

9 PARISH PICNIC NEWS Our Annual Picnic and Mass will be held on 12 June. Where: At the home of Cait and Patrick O Leary Ambiorixlei 26, Schoten Time: 11am, Mass followed by Picnic Cost : Euro 7.50 Adults Euro 5.00 Children (2-12 years) Free for babies under 2 The Parish will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs and chicken kebabs. Soft drinks, bread rolls and cups and plates, cutlery and napkins are also provided by the Parish. We ask you to bring along an aperitif, side dish, salad or desert to share. Please bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. If you wish to bring beer or wine to share it is always enjoyed by all! In order to have a better organized event, if you could let us know you will be attending, it will help to make the shopping easier so please RSVP by June 5th if you plan to attend. Payment can be done by bank transfer to the following account: KBC Account No Please include your name and how many people will be attending in the MEMO or with the slip and cash. The slips can be given to Becky in Church. Even if you can t stay for the picnic, you are most welcome to come for Mass. Let s pray for beautiful weather

10 A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plainlooking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. "Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups, and then began eyeing each other's cups. "Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." God brews the coffee, not the cups.. Enjoy your coffee. Source Unknown

11 WHO S DOING WHAT IN MAY & JUNE Liturgy Readers: 01/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 08/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mike 15/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 22/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 29/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 05/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 12/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mike (Picnic) 19/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 26/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 28/08/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 04/09/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan Eucharistic Ministers: (If you see Father needs help, please join him in offering communion ) If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne After Mass Treat Bakers 01/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marta 08/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Valentina 15/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Renee 22/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lisbeth 29/05/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Becky 05/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Renee 12/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Picnic, Everyone brings something to share 19/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vivianne 26/06/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Becky 28/08/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Myra Corbo 09/09/2016: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne If you have any questions, please contact Becky (Please note that the last mass before summer break will be June 28 and mark your calendars for the first mass next fall, August 28 th. Have a wonderful summer break.)

12 VBS AUGUST 10:00am 12:30am Olijftak Kapel, Leopoldslei 35, 2930 Brasschaat For children ages 3-12 Contact Jan Witsel for more info or

13 Pastor Steve and Barbara Farewell reception As many of you know Pastor Steve and Barbara are leaving Belgium after many happy years. AIPC are having a farewell reception for them at AIS on: Sunday 5 June after their church service in the foyer of the Fine Arts building. Everyone is invited. Finger snacks are being served and if you would like to bring a plate of snacks can you please contact Gail: AIPC - Veltwijcklaan 180, 2180 Ekeren-Antwerp

14 GREEN TIPS IN YOUR BULLETIN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OLGA Looking for a way to build awareness about the environment to your faith community, but with a passage from the Bible each time? You have come to the right place. In the next months we will have a monthly green tip that will be useful all year round. May Rot and worms, this will be his lot. (Sirach 19:3) One of the most efficient ways to reduce waste is to compost. Many organizations offer seminars and workshops where we can find out how to go about composting. It's pretty simple: you install a compost bin in a hidden area in your backyard. Things that can be composted include fruit and vegetable residues, tea bags, coffee, egg shells, leaves and all plant and garden waste. Do not compost meat or milk products as this will generate bad odors and attract vermin. Your compost will save you money because you will no longer need to purchase fertilizer for your plants! For more information, get in touch with your municipality or your local gardening center. June he said unto Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing (Luke 5:4-5) As we near World Ocean Day (June 8), it is interesting to note that fish and marine life represent the main protein source for over one billion human beings. However modern-day fishing techniques are qualified as over-fishing which takes a toll on many species, some of which have become endangered, thereby forcing governments to lower quotas. When doing your grocery shopping, look for the blue MSC certification (Marine Stewardship Council). This certification guarantees that the species is not endangered and that fishing is sustainable. Often, these are less known species but nonetheless delicious. Bon appétit!

15 THANK YOU MASS SERVERS The Parish would like to thank all the children who have served, we really enjoy seeing you participating in the Mass. Any child who has done their First Communion is eligible to serve. Please let Father know if you would like to help. STAYING IN TOUCH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ROSANNE For any of the families that will be leaving us this year, if you are interested, be sure to visit our website, to see our monthly bulletin. This could be a way of staying informed about what we are doing and what s happening with your Family in Belgium.

16 PARISH COUNCIL 2015/2016 Pastor Fr. Francis Peerlinck President Mike Olbrich Vice President Alan Barnett Treasurer Brigitte Preuss Religious E Parish Registration Paul Van den Bossche meurope@gmail.com Bulletin Rosanne Pizzella mswazoo@gmail.com Sunshine Vivianne Staplehurst viv@verijke.com Hospitality Becky Olbrich olbrichm@aol.com Liturgy Rosanne Pizzella mswazoo@gmail.com Advisor Barbara Noels barbara.noels@hotmail.com Music EricWouters&OlgaVelez eandohfp@gmail.com UPCOMING EVENTS: May 15 th - Pentecost Sunday 22 nd - First Communion Celebration Mass at 11:00 29 th - Parish council meeting after mass in social room June 12 th - Parish Picnic Mass will start at 11:00 26 th - Last Mass at Don Bosco before summer break Aug. 28 th - First mass back in Don Bosco after summer break Mass at 10:30 AM THIS WILL BE THE LAST BULLETIN UNTIL CHURCH RESUMES IN AUGUST. NEXT BULLETIN WILL BE SEPTEMBER 4 TH. HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!