Author: ANTONINO

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

When Doug Meland and his wife became missionaries in an Indian village in Brazil the Indians used to call him the «White Man».
Actually this was not a nice name. The memories of the white men in the middle of the Indians were very traumatic. The memories of the white men were memories of houses being burned, land being stolen, women being raped and other very bad experiences. To the Indians, Doug was just another «white man».
But after the Missionaries learned the language and began to help the Indian people with medicine and in other ways, they began to call Doug the «Good White Man».
And when the Melands began adopting the customs of the people, the Fulnio Indians spoke of Doug as the «White Indian». Then one day as Doug was washing the dirty, blood-caked foot of an injured boy, he heard a bystander say: «Whoever heard of a white man washing an Indian’s foot? Certainly this man is from God»: From that day, whenever Doug entered an Indian home, it would be announced «Here is the man God sent us».

That’s the secret of greatness: SERVICE (Mk. 10).

That’s also the chief characteristic of those who follow Jesus. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve (Mk. 10, 45; Math. 20:28).

Peace and Love,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

EMBARRASSING PAGE OF THE GOSPEL

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I fell deeper in love with the Bible when I discovered that the Bible was a parable of our lives. It is a parable of my life. It is like a mirror where I can see me, my Church and the world. I can see me in some good moments, like when I try to behave like Jesus. But also it is a mirror where I can see my stupidities and my embarrassing moments. I felt very good when someone one day told me: «You speak with the accent of Jesus». But in that mirror I can see so many dark sides of me and my church.

Today’s Gospel (Mark 10) is one of those embarrassing pages of the Bible. Two brothers – James and John approached Jesus and asked Him «Allow us to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory». «When the other ten heard this they began to feel indignant with James and John». Hunger for power and jealousy invaded Jesus’ community. They were the chosen ones.

This is a real embarrassing page of the Gospel. But Jesus was so polite to them, so patient, so kind and ended his conversation like this «Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many».

LOVE IS SERVICE

A boy was consistently coming home late from school. There was no good reason for his tardiness, and no amount of discussion seemed to help. Finally, in desperation, the boy’s father sat him down and said: «The next time you come late from school you are going to be given bread and water for your supper, and nothing else. Is that perfectly clear son?» The boy looked straight into his father’s eyes and nodded. He understood perfectly.

A few days later the boy came home even later than usual. That night however, when they sat down together at the table there was only one slice of bread in his plate and a glass of water. His father’s and mother’s plate were full of food. The father waited for the full impact to sink in, then quietly took the boy’s plate and placed it in front of himself. He took his own plate and put it in front of the boy. The boy understood what his father was doing. His father was taking upon himself the punishment that he, the boy, had brought upon himself by his delinquent behaviour.

Years later the boy recalled the incident and said: «All my life I’ve known what God is like by what my father did that night.» «The Son of Man came to give his life to redeem many people».

Peace and Love,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Brought to you by: Father Ricardo Teixeira

The recent opportunity during the month of September to celebrate mass in the Chapel of Penha de França was a wonderful moment to recall the celebrations with the foreign communities in China.
In fact several times I had to go to other cities to help the local Chinese priest for the English mass. At the beginning I was a little afraid, nevertheless it made me really impressed with the amount of people that during their vacations, or at the weekend of their hard working week got some time to celebrate mass with a community.

In Shanghai, where I gave most of my help for the English mass, I could find a wonderful international community where, like the Chinese, all would follow their books and take part in the hymns. It was really amazing. Something I still miss in the other Portuguese celebrations – if there is the choir, the people just “forget” to sing. And sure, sadly, no one has a book to follow the answers of the mass.

The celebration of Mass at the Chapel of Penha de França made me remember the communion of different people and talents all working together for a more lively celebration. And after the celebration, the good moments in the “tea house” where we continue to celebrate the wonders of God in the nature and in the person that share their ideas, their time and their goods, people that really help people.

I want to thank you all for this wonderful opportunity. 谢谢 *
My best wishes,
Fr. Ricardo Teixeira, scj *(Editors note: “thank you” in Chinese)

A continuation of Fr. Bernardino’s column from two weeks ago about his recent trip to England…

When I was growing up I was surprised that in Portugal after Weddings or when big personalities visited the country, they would meet for a «Glass of Water». It took some time for me to discover that a “Glass of Water” meant to be a big and luxurious banquet. In England «Cheese and Wine» if I understood well, means a gathering of friends where food is served in a non-formal way. No special chairs for special people but simple food being served to people who could find a chair or be standing, drinking, eating and mainly socializing with one another.

Guess what! My hosts Neil and Dena Spence planned a «Cheese and Wine» gathering for July 26th. It sounded «normal». What happened «above» the normal was that gathering for «Cheese and Wine» meant to be a fundraiser event for the poor being helped by the project «People Helping People». From that gathering I could bring 555 Euros. I brought that money to Funchal on Monday, July 30th.

The following day when I was on my way to deposit that money in the Bank I received a very angry telephone call from a frustrated lady in charge of coordinating the distribution of the services and the money to the poor. She was very upset because this man had been ringing her house door bell, very early in the morning, when she was still in bed. This man was desperately asking for help.

Hunger has no rules, especially when children are involved… when there is hunger and no food, illness and no medicine, babies and no nappies. The man had come from far away. He had walked for an hour and a half to be able to catch a lift to Funchal. People Helping People wants to be an open door when all the other doors close. That’s the price we have to pay in our combat against bureaucracy and social inequality.

Pope Francis says that the poor are our doormen to heaven. Jesus says that “Whatever you do for the least of my children you do it unto me” (Math. 25). This lady in America was sleeping in her old car in the city of Concord, California. The police officer, who was a woman, knocked at the window of her car and told her that she had to move. It was illegal to sleep in cars inside the boundaries of that city. The city of Concord was distant from my city only about 20 minutes.

She rang the bell of my Parish residence asking me if I would give her permission to park her car in the huge parking lot of my Parish. Of course she got something better than a car to rest for the night. We spent some time together listening to her pain and frustrations and agony for being poor. At a certain point she said something that was “nailed” in me forever. What she said was: “This country is in a war against the poor”. I closed my eyes and said “I wish it was this country only”. But it is not true. Actually, the whole world is in a war against the poor.

One of Mother Teresa’s sayings that has been guiding «People Helping People» is: “WHEN YOU START BY JUDGING YOU HAVE NO TIME TO LOVE”.

From all our hearts to the people who gathered in the Spence’s family house for “Cheese and wine” here is our sincere and deep gratitude. I hope you don’t mind that I mention your names. It is for you that I will offer the Celebration of the Eucharist this coming Sunday.

Thanks to: Barry and Heather, Elizabeth and Nick, Ivan and Geraldine, John and Jenny, Robin and Rosemary, John, Ben, Trish and Jim, Julie and Doug, Nicola and Gavin, Chris, Eric and Jeanette, Kirstie and Sam. And last but not least, Jack and Lilly (my favourite English Angels).

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade
(bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)