HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan 79 2900 Schoten www.holyfamilyantwerp.org March 2007 Year C Sunday Mass 10:30am Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor
A POSSIBLE LENTEN MEDITATION You are a child of the universe, No less than the trees and the stars You have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you. No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly: and listen to others, even de the dull and ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. You are a child... Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession of changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child... Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. You are a child... Max Ehrmann Further news: On March 3rd, Hans Vermeulen has celebrated his 75th anniversary. We wish Hans a Happy birthday and all the peace and strength he needs in the coming weeks and months! Father Peerlinck
UPDATE: Please update your directory to reflect this change: Darcy and Dixi Reiter Schermerhornbeemd 10 4871 HE, Etten-Leur The Netherlands phone: +31-76-526-3130 email address is the same dreiter2@yahoo.com CONGRATULATIONS!! The Lagos family recently had a baby! Our most heartfelt congratulations to the family and a hearty welcome to the little one! Book Fair at the Antwerp International School Wednesday and Thursday, March 21 and 22 10:00-17:00 in the LIBRARY New books from the U.K. Noted author Jane Clarke will be signing books.
PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTION For the families of our parish, present and past, who are having financial and job challenges. All those who have asked anonymously for our prayers for Vivianne s brother-in-law (49 years ) who is in dire need of a heart transplant but is unsure if his body has any strength left for this major operation. for parishioners who are suffering from serious, ongoing physical problems. for Rosanne, who had surgery last week, that she has a fast recovery and can return home soon. for the family of Patrizia O Cock, whose mother who passed away 3 years ago this month. That God comfort them and give them strength to get through the difficult times. PRIVATE INTENTIONS SAID DURING MASS If you have any prayer or intention that you would like Father to say during Mass, either for your family, someone or something in the Parish, or the community, please give these to Father in writing before Mass. This way, the prayers read aloud are directed to the needs of those present
Who s doing what in March Our after Mass bakers are: 04/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ K. Young / Volunteer Needed 11/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C. Schan? / Volunteer Needed 18/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ B. Preuss / Volunteer Needed 25/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R. Pizzella / Volunteer Needed If you have any questions, please contact Linda Bosch The Alter servers this Month are: 04/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Adriana V./ Ariane L. 11/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Caroline V. / Anabelen O. 18/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eileen P. / Emma V. 25/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jillian & Hayden R. If you have any questions, please contact Eileen Preuss Liturgy Readers: 04/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rowena 11/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Julian 18/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary 25/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brigitte Eucharistic Ministers: 04/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 11/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 18/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 25/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kath Children s Liturgy Leaders: 04/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed 11/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rowena & Emma 18/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Claudia 25/03/2007: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maria If you have any questions, please contact Rowena The Children bringing the gifts: 04/03/2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kate and Peter Stephan 01/04/2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Claudia & Adriana Villacian If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Rajkumar
MONTHLY PRAYER CONNECTION It is with great pleasure that the Christian Women's Club can invite you to the next prayer connection, which will be held on Tuesday March 6 at the home of Gerda Muis, Miksebaan 258 b, Brasschaat (Tel. 03 / 651 25 02 - please note when entering the elevator press 4) We start at 10 o'clock in the morning. The theme of the morning is : "God cares for sparrows". If you need more information or have a prayer request please contact us. Please remember the World Day of Prayer on Friday March 2 at the St. Boniface Church, Antwerp. Bring a friend. Blessings to you all, Marie-Louise (tel. 03 / 605 71 88) Sharmini (tel. 03 / 354 01 43). PRAYER CHAIN~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VIVIANNE STAPLEHURST Our Prayer Chain is open to all to request prayers but we also need people willing to be placed on this Prayer Chain. If you would like to have your name included on our list, please let Vivianne know either by e-mail : viv@verijke.com or tel : 03 633 0797.
MONTHLY ROSARY FEB 13 ~~~~~~~~~ ALAN BARNETT Our monthly Rosary Prayer Group will meet again on Monday, March 5 th, at Belen s home, Augustijnslei 56-B, 2930 Brasschaat.. Our meeting will start at 10:00 AM sharp and will take approximately one hour. Rosaries and prayer sheets are provided so please try and join us. In APRIL we will be praying the rosary at the home of Amanda and Patrick De Meyer, who have recently moved to Gent. This is in response to Amanda, who hopes that our prayers to Our Lady will assist in Patrick s continued recovery from a recent kidney transplant operation. Would members of our group who are willing to travel to Gent, please contact me so that arrangements can be made, as regards to travel, ect. Thank you Alan Barnett: 03 464 2468 SOUP AND PRAYER EVENINGS DURING LENT FROM PASTOR STEVE Everyone is invited to share in a simple soup supper and time of prayer on Wednesday evenings in Lent (March 2007), We ll meet each Wednesday evening from 19:00-20:30 for a simple soup and bread supper and time for prayer. People can drop in after work or after dinner, whichever they prefer. You can come to one or all of the evenings. Since the meeting will be hosted by a different family each week, it would be best if people contacted me for more information, 03 644 20 46 or aipchurch@pandora.be. We ll meet each Wednesday, through March 28. We will begin with the soup, learn about prayer and then pray together. We will also be having a Maundy Thursday communion worship service on Thursday, April 5, at the Antwerp International Fine Arts building (our regular location) from 19:00-20:30. Holy Family members are most welcome.
REMEMBER DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Remember to turn your clocks ahead Saturday night March 24 th before going to bed. Otherwise you will be an hour late for Mass. Not that showing up just in time for socializing with coffee and cake would be terrible, but I m sure you would not want to miss the service as well. LENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS March 25 ~~ Penitential Service during mass followed by, the Stations of the cross after Mass. This normally takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards we can enjoy our regular coffee, tea and socializing. April 1 ~~ Palm Sunday. Mass at 10:30 April 5 ~~ We will be once again celebrating the washing of the feet with mass at 7:30PM in the chapel. Please mark your calendar for this very special service. April 8 ~~ Easter Sunday Mass at 10:30
AFTER MASS TREATS Please sign up if you can bring a treat for our social time after Mass. The sign up sheet is posted outside the coffee room. Again, we remind the children (who usually arrive at the coffee room first!) to please select only one treat...and wait for "seconds" until everyone has gotten a chance for "firsts". Thank you! SCHEDULE FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES March 4 tth March 11th March 18th March 25th April 1 st April 8 th April 15 th April 22nd April 29th May 6th Reconciliation Prep/Class Reconciliation Prep/Class Reconciliation Prep// Practice after Mass/ Class Reconciliation Prep /Class First Reconciliation/ Class School Holiday School Holiday Class School Holiday Class
COLORS AND SYMBOLS OF LENT The color used in the sanctuary for most of Lent is purple, red violet, or dark violet. These colors symbolize both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and the world under sin. But purple is also the color of royalty, and so anticipates through the suffering and death of Jesus the coming resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated in the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Some churches use gray for Ash Wednesday or for the entire season of Lent, or for special days of fasting and prayer. Gray is the color of ashes, and therefore a biblical symbol of mourning and repentance. The decorations for the sanctuary during Lent should reflect this mood of penitence and reflection. Some churches avoid the use of any flowers in the sanctuary during Lent, using various dried arrangements. This can be especially effective if a flowering cross is used for Easter. Other churches use arrangements of rocks or symbols associated with the Gospel readings for the six Sundays in Lent. Some church traditions change the sanctuary colors to red for Maundy Thursday, a symbol of the disciples and through them the community of the church. Since Eucharist or communion is often observed on Maundy Thursday in the context of Passover, the emphasis is on the gathered community in the presence of Jesus the Christ. Traditionally, the sanctuary colors of Good Friday and Holy Saturday are black, the only days of the Church Year that black is used. It symbolizes the darkness brought into the world by sin. It also symbolizes death, not only the death of Jesus, but the death of the whole world under the burden of sin. In this sense, it also represents the hopelessness and the endings that come as human beings try to make their own way in the world without God. Black is always replaced by white before sunrise of Easter Sunday.
PRAYING LENT THIS YEAR Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need. We offer resources here to assist our entry into this wonderful season, from our preparing to begin Lent to our preparing to celebrate the holy three days following Lent. For centuries, the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist have guided our Lenten reflection. Inspired by these liturgies, we offer a simply daily prayer for each day of Lent and the Easter Triduum. Each day, we share the Opening Prayer text for that day's liturgy. This prayer is simple and, in many cases, memorable. It alone could be repeated several times throughout the day. We also offer a link to the readings of the day, a brief meditation, a link to the Daily Reflection for that day and Intercessions from the Liturgy of the Hours. Each daily prayer concludes with a spontaneous prayer we composed, as an example of the type of prayer each of us might pray, in our own words, for that day. We imagine that some will have the time and desire to use all of the resources here. Others may only have time for the resources and the Daily Reflections. Visit the Site Index below to see what is available and what will be added throughout Lent. May Our Lord grant us all the graces we need and desire
PARISH COUNCIL 2006/2007 Pastor... Fr. Francis Peerlinck... 03 232 2546... frans.peerlinck@scarlet.be President... William Carey... 03 658 1537... sb183288@skynet.be Vice President... Alan Barnett... 03 464 2468 Treasurer... Brigitte Preuss... 03 651 2396... belrpreuss@skynet.be Religious Ed.... Nicole Rajkumar... 03 248 1647... n_raj4@hotmail.com Parish Registration... Belen Orrantia... 03 653 4473... mariabelen@gmail.com Bulletin... Rosanne Pizzella + Paul Van den Bossche 03 322 7753...mswazoo@scarlet.be Hospitality... Linda Bosch... 03 203 0736... lcbosch@gmail.com Sunshine... Vivianne Staplehurst... 03 633 0797... viv@verijke.com Liturgy... Rowena Verhees... 03 605 4380... roalex@scarlet.be Advisor... Barbara Noels... 03 664 7231... BNoels@AIS-antwerp.be Music... Eric wouters & Olga Velez... 03 633 2296... Rismi@telenet.be UPCOMING EVENTS: March 2 rd World day of Prayer 17 th St. Patricks Day 20 th First day of Spring 25 th Daylight savings time begins April 1 st Palm Sunday 5 th Holy Thursday 6 th Good Friday 8 th Easter Sunday PLEASE SEND ROSANNE ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR THE APRIL BULLETIN BY MARCH 26 TH. THANK YOU!