Author: ANTONINO

TWO LOVE STORIES – Marriage advice from one special couple to another

Two special couples attended the English Mass here at the Chapel last Sunday. At the end of Mass both approached Fr. Bernardino for a special blessing.

The older couple, Arthur & Margaret, informed that they had been married for 57 years. The younger couple, Jacinta & Declan, for only one week! They had been married a week earlier in Ireland.

Declan, the younger husband said «We need to talk with them». And they did. The piece of advice that Arthur, the older husband, gave to the younger was very simple and according to him was the “secret” of their very successful marriage. It is very inspiring advice, and it also applies for every relationship and it is very simple. Here it is: «Forget everything you learned until now about Marriage. Just keep this piece:

“BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER”. »wedding_image

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FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – A Prostitute becomes a Nun

Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Lise, an English army girl, falls on hard times and becomes a prostitute after the liberation of Paris in World War II. Within a short time, she becomes the leading Madame in one of Paris’ smartest brothels owned by a man named Patrice. But Patrice soon tires of Madame Lise as his mistress and she is humiliated. In trying to help a younger prostitute escape from the same fate she suffered, Lise shoots and kills Patrice. So she is sent to prison where she meets the French Dominican Sisters of Bethanie.
The French Dominican Sisters of Bethanie is a community dedicated to serving prostitutes, drug addicts and vagrants; some of the sisters were once themselves such unfortunates.
Lise becomes one of the Sisters of Bethanie. Sister Lise is a prototype of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (Lk 15). God’s Grace is greater than our sins.
The story of the Good Shepherd, told by Jesus, is a «scandalous» story. In the Religious Community of Bethany there are former prostitutes, drug addicts and dirty homeless who became nuns, passionately in love with Jesus and His project. Only love, not cruel rules, are able to save and free people from their miseries and their sins and restore their dignity.

My friend Claudia Silva (Rosario Santos’ daughter) told me during supper at her mother’s house:
– « If you tell a homeless, a drug addict, a prostitute, a robber, a murderer, a sexual abuser: “You have dignity, you are beautiful, there is hope for you, heaven is waiting for you, you deserve to be happy and make other people happy, the world needs you because you are a human being and you have many talents, there’s a special place reserved in heaven for you, because God loves you without any conditions.”, he/she will not believe you; But if you treat him/her like an animal and say: “You are no more than a piece of garbage, hell is waiting for you, you deserve all the suffering you got because it is all your fault, all the world wants you to be dead, all the ‘good’ institutions are tired of you and would be happy to get rid of you.”, he/she will believe you. ».

« God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. » (John 3: 16).
« The biggest atheist is not the one who says he doesn’t believe in God. The biggest atheist is the one who doesn’t believe that God is able to change the heart of a person. » (L. Évely)

In the eyes of God there are no lost causes. «In the eyes of God there is not one irrecoverable human being.» (Pope Francis)

The Feast of Senhora da Piedade

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This week we are starting a new category in the blog section of our web site – “Religious Traditions of Madeira”. We will start with an article about the “Festa de Nossa Senhora de Piedade” which takes place on the third weekend of every September, which I took part in the for the first time this weekend (17th – 18th September).

On the Saturday of the feast, the fishing boats proceed in flotilla from the harbour in Caniçal to fetch the statue of Our Lady which resides in the Capela da Senhora da Piedade located on Monte Gordo. This chapel is found some kilometres away from the fishing village of Caniçal. The fishing boats are open to the public free of charge, and hordes of people clamber on to the boats in great spirits to take part in the festivities. The boats are decorated with palms and rosettes, with the lead boat, which is to carry the statue back, more highly decorated than the rest. My friends and I were lucky to get into one of the boats which was not quite so full as some of the others which had standing room only. I must say the excursion is not for the faint hearted!

After some time chugging around the harbour in Caniçal we proceeded on our way to the Quinta de Lourdes. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the sea was very calm. When we reached Quinta de Lourde, all the boats apart from the lead boat proceeded towards the São Lourenço point of the island and then anchored. Sandwiches and cool drinks were handed out free of charge. On some of the boats rope ladders were let down into the sea and people proceeded to dive in. On our boat one lad dived into the sea while the boat was still on the move and was hauled back in when he had finished! The whole event is marked by a happy go lucky attitude rather than strict attention to regulations, although the marine police were actively patrolling on speed boats, in case anyone got into difficulties.

With the statue of Our Lady safely on board we all then proceeded back to Caniçal. The whole excursion lasted about four hours. The statue is taken to the church in Caniçal where it resides overnight and is then taken on the next day back to the Chapel of Senhora de Piedade by sea once again.

This popular feast, and indeed the building of the chapel of Senhora de Piedade , is said to have its origens in a storm at sea when the fishermen at sea, who had been praying to our Lady, decided to build the chapel in thanks for their safe deliverance. According the the historian João Adriano Riberio (author ot the work “Excursions in Madeira (1891)) until the 19th century the procession took place by land and after which the marine procession became popular.

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Scripture Readings 25th September 2016, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Amos 6:1, 4-7, Ps 145:6-10,1 Tim 6:11-16, Lk 16:19-31

Amos warns both the northern kingdom, Israel, ie Samaria, and the southern kingdom, Judah, with its capital Zion or Jerusalem, that the idle rich in both kingdoms will be the first to go into exile. 40 years later, in 721 BC, Samaria was conquered, and later Judea followed into exile.
The Psalm, echoed by Mary in Luke’s Magnificat, confirms that God’s justice will prevail: the hungry will be fed, the blind given sight, but the wicked will lose out. The Gospel graphically illustrates this theme: the rich man, who is not named, asks that the poor man – who is named – Lazarus – be sent to relieve his torments in hell. Abraham tells him the rich should listen to the prophets.
Instructing Timothy how to organise the early Christian church, Paul also insists the rich should use their wealth for good deeds. Christians should ideally aspire to show all the Christian virtues as examples to all, and so witness to the truth, until our Lord Jesus Christ returns to appear in glory as King of kings. And Paul insists that only God “has immortality”: we do not simply have souls that live on after death – our creed says we believe in “the resurrection of the body”, a gift from God in which our whole person, body and soul, lives for ever.

Psalm Response: My soul, give praise to the Lord.

(Amos 6:1, 4-7, Ps 145:6-10,1 Tim 6:11-16, Lk 16:19-31)

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – Bread With My Brother

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Under the umbrella of the « People Helping People » project, a new service was born at the Penha de França Chapel on the past June 12. It is called « Bread With My Brother ».

Initially it was called « The Back Door Ministry », and the goal was to offer a good hot meal to the homeless at least once a week; meals which would be provided by different restaurants. But then we thought that « Bread to My Brother » would be easier to understand. But that would mean a “we” and a “you” and not an “us” coming all together. And of course, that “we” and “you” would mean promoting social inequality. We realized that, even with good intentions, we would be building walls instead of bridges. So, finally, we made another change: the service would now be called « Bread With My Brother ».
Everyone is invited. Tourists are invited to eat with the homeless. The English speaking people are invited to eat side by side with the Portuguese speaking people. – No strings attached. No special collections, no boxes or bags passing around.
Different restaurants and different people are willing to share their food with this service that intends to bring together people from different social classes, different languages and different creeds.

  The meal is being served every Saturday in the Social Room of the Penha de França Chapel, at 1:00 PM. Please join us. If you are afraid of the homeless and the needy, please hug them like St. Francis did with the leper.

God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Scripture Readings 18th September 2016, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Amos 8:4-7 Ps 112:1-8 1 Tim 2:1-8 Lk 16:1-13

Amos was a shepherd from Judah who around 760 BC prophesied doom to the northern kingdom Israel, largely because of its social injustice. Israel under Jeroboam was very prosperous, but when it was overrun by Assyria 40 years later the prophet’s warnings were remembered. Natural disasters should have reminded them of their dependence on God. It was not just the ways the rich cheated the poor – inflating the currency and giving short measure. Worse was their belief that sacrifices and fasting would absolve them from God’s blame: sacrifice without justice is meaningless. The Psalm gives hope that the poor will be raised up.
In our modern liturgies we follow all of Paul’s advice to Timothy: we lift up our hands in the traditional manner to offer prayers of petition, intercession and thanks, and we pray for secular authorities – “so that we may live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet”. And Paul tells us not to be attracted to false gods like riches or possessions: there is only one God, and Christ Jesus, our one High Priest, is the only mediator between us and God.
In the Gospel Jesus also warns us not to be seduced into worshipping money. He still describes the steward as “dishonest”, but his motive was right: to gain friends who would help him later.

Psalm Response: Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – Bread With My Brother

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade

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It was some years ago that I had a chance to see the movie Titanic. I read a very interesting interpretation stating that the Titanic was a religious movie. Yes. It was some years ago.
I forgot most of the movie. But there was one scene that impacted me tremendously. Too good to be forgotten. It was when Jack invited Rose to come down and join the poor migrants on their way to New York. He invited her to take part in «a real party». And it was a real party where everybody danced together, laughed together, drank together and got drunk together. It was a «real party» compared with the party of the rich where people pretended that they were having fun but where everything was predicted, rehearsed and planned. Everything needed to look right and be right, following all the rules of protocol. But I was convinced that they just pretended that they were having fun.      

     «Come and join us in a real party ». I still remember what I felt in that moment. I felt that social equality was the main ingredient of the Kingdom of God. We, all members of the human family, are invited to take part in a «real party». The more I understand the «real party» of the Titanic, the more I will understand the Holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is a real party.

On June 12th this year, we initiated a small program in our Chapel, Penha de França, to feed the homeless once a week. This is just the beginning. We called it «The Back Door Ministry». Our Mission Statement is to mobilize many restaurants to share some of their food with the homeless.

Inspired by the «real party» of the Titanic, we decided to change the name of the program and invite all those who are not homeless to join them for lunch as well. This invitation is especially addressed to all the tourists who attend the Mass in English.

     

Is it going to be a real party?  I don’t know. What I know is that it is going to be «real». You can sit side by side with the homeless and enjoy a nice meal. Maybe you will not be able to speak with them in Portuguese. Anyway, please sit with them. Maybe they will not be able to speak with you in English, but please sit by their side. Eat from the same food and drink from the same juices and the same water. Hygiene is guaranteed. Comfort… well that will depend on your heart. The new name of this program is «Bread With My Brother».

« Mobilize many restaurants to share part of their food with the homeless and their friends». Their friends will be you and I.
MOYNIHAN’S RESTAURANT will be next in line. Saturday, September 10th, at 1:00 PM, Tadhg and Sinead Moynihan will provide the lunch for «Bread With My Brother».
The place is going to be the Social Room of the Chapel Penha de França. Please join us for a «real party».

God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Scripture Readings 11th September 2016, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Ex 32:7-11, 13-14 Ps 50:3-19 Tim 1:12-17 Lk 15: 1-32

Earlier in the Book of Exodus God had given Moses the Ten Commandments and many other instructions, which the people had covenanted to obey, sealed by sprinkling sacrificial blood. During Moses’ second ascent of Sinai God wrote the Commandments on stone tablets. Meanwhile the people were already disobeying the first Commandment by worshipping a golden calf. No wonder God was angry – Moses pleaded with God not to let the Egyptians win after all. God relented – but Moses then angrily broke the tablets and God had to write them again later!
Over the next 7 weeks we hear from the letters to Timothy – attributed to Paul though probably written long after his death. Paul is given as a supreme example of God’s mercy, followed by detailed instructions for organising the developing Christian communities. Several words were used for church leaders at that time. ‘Deacons’ appear to have ministered pastorally, with ‘presbyter-bishops’ perhaps having both pastoral and practical responsibilities. The Greek episcopi means ‘overseer’ or ‘overlooker’. ‘Presbyter’ simply means ‘elder’. Later a three tier structure developed: Deacons, Presbyters, Bishops.
In the Gospel Jesus also shows how communities are to be managed: do not allow any members to be lost – the father runs to welcome back his prodigal son. Perhaps the most moving image we have of God.

Psalm Response: I will leave this place and go to my Father.

Scripture Readings 4th September 2016, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Wisdom 9:13-18 Ps 89:3-17 Phlm 9-10, 12-17 Lk 14:25-33

The Book of Wisdom was written in 1st century BC. Greek and other pagan religions gave inadequate answers to life’s questions, especially why the wicked prosper and the just suffer. How does God mete out justice? Wisdom’s solution, distilled from all Jewish Scriptures, is that the just continue to live with God after their deaths: a developing Jewish belief in resurrection, though not of the body. Man’s knowledge and powers of reasoning are inadequate compared with God’s Wisdom. So we ask God to give us Wisdom for our guide. The psalm also asks that we “know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart”.
In this moving letter Paul asks Philemon to accept back the slave Onesimus and forgive him. But Paul is pleading for something more than this. Onesimus means “profit”, and Paul wants Philemon to see the “profit” of forgiving Onesimus out of Christian love, and not because Paul could “force this act of kindness”. In this way Philemon can gain wisdom and spiritual benefit.
In Luke’s gospel, after a parable about people giving “I am too busy with this life” excuses, Jesus insists we must “hate” our parents: not emotionally but in our actions. We must weigh our options carefully and either choose the Cross – or not.

Psalm Response: O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.

(Wisdom 9:13-18 Ps 89:3-17 Phlm 9-10, 12-17 Lk 14:25-33)

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – Love Is Still Alive

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade
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It was last Saturday, August 20th, 2016. It was my latest Wedding. Grace Farinha and Tiago Rentroia were united by the Sacrament of Matrimony. They didn’t receive the Sacrament of Matrimony like it happens with the other Sacraments. They became a Sacrament. They became a symbol, of the passion that God has for his people.

Grace’s parents, because they live in Funchal, are regular attendants of the Sunday English Mass at the Chapel of Penha de França, where they are very active.
A few weeks before the Wedding Day we had a few meetings, not mainly to prepare for the Wedding Day, but to prepare for their Married Life. The ceremony lasts a few hours. The Sacrament lasts forever. In our meetings, I gave them some home work. I asked them to please write three love letters to each other, trying to answer these three questions:

1 – Think about a couple you most admire in your life and you would like to take as a role model for your married life. Please write the qualities you most admire in them, that you would like to imitate in your own family.

2 – Share with each other the fears (if any) that you feel by embarking on this new adventure of living with each other, knowing that it is for the rest of your life.

3 – Share with each other your dreams and your hopes that you feel by embarking on this new adventure of living with each other, knowing that it is for the rest of your life.

Their answers to questions number 2 and 3, I invited them to keep and to dialogue with each other in private, unless they felt that they would like to share the answers with another person like a counselor, a priest or a special friend; and I told them that they were welcome to share with me their reply to question number 1 if they wished to do so. Without discussing or planning in advance, both of them shared with me, in front of one another, that the couple that they most admire and would like to imitate were their own parents. (Tiago’s parents have been married for 35 years and Grace’s parents have been married for 45 years.) Then they started talking about their parents’ qualities.

After this wonderful and emotional sharing, around a cup of coffee, they decided to go back to question number 3, and both agreed that «my dreams and my hopes in the future are that our children would talk about us as we are talking about our parents».
Love is not a feeling. Love is not an attraction. Love is a decision. Love is a commitment. LOVE IS STILL ALIVE!

God loves you and so do I,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

* Wedding photos taken by professional photographer, Miguel Ponte.wedding