April 2008

Our Lady of Mercy Parish
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
Parish Priest Fr. Ron Ochylski office • 91‐350‐3449 home • 91‐718‐5571 2 Ministries Calendar 3 Favorite Email 5 Igbo News 7 Religious Education Article 14 How we Came to be Here … 15 The Historical Mary 16 Jokes & Humor Calle Drácena, 23 28016 Madrid • Spain www.ourladyofmercy.info [email protected] Directions: Bus *52*, 150, 14, 16 or 29. Metro line #9 stop at Pío XII exit: centro comercial Sunday Liturgy: celebrated at 11:00 AM Office Hours: Tuesdays 16:00‐20:00, by appointment Thursdays 10:00‐14:30 Confessions: First Saturdays 14:00‐15:00 : call to confirm and Sundays 13:00 after Mass or by appointment CCD Classes: Sundays 12.10 ‐ 13:00 Choir practice: Sundays 10:15 inside the parish building. Bible Study: 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month after Mass. Rosary: Sunday 10.30 in the small chapel Charismatic Prayer Group: Saturdays 18:00‐20:00 Weekday Mass: Thursdays at 13:00 Fr. Ron visiting Godwin Ukwuani at Hospital An Easter reflection by Julius Casmir Okezie page 7 The Historical Mary page 15 How we Came to be Here … page 14 The English‐speaking C a t h o l i c C h u r c h o f t h e M
adrid Province 2
Ministries Calendar
April ~ May 2008
6
13
20
27
4
3rd Sunday of
Easter
4th Sunday of
Easter
5th Sunday of
Easter
6th Sunday of
Easter
7th Sunday of
Easter
Group C
Group D
Group A
Group B
Group C
Extraordinary
Nancy Deutman
Michele Gaudet
Gary Rains
Michele Martorell
Nancy Deutman
Ministers of
Julie Hoare
Vicente Fernandez
Brother Silas
David Franklin
Julie Hoare
Holy Communion
Blanca de Castro
Marcel Adolphus
Jose Knoell
Vicente Fernandez
Blanca de Castro
Gary Rains
Anna Schnieder
Vicky Wilson
Mike Schneider
Vicky Wilson
Anna Schnieder
Stacy Knoell
Pilar Ramirez
Judy Macinnes
Theresa Larsen
Stacy Knoell
Gary Rains
Louise Aulbach
Calapat Okolie
Marta O'Neill
Gary Rains
Altar Servers
Isabel Ayuso
Mariana Ason
Sandor Rozsa
Aditya Rau
Isabel Ayuso
Louise Aulbach
Frankie Rozsa
Leonor Ason
Cristina Lovrics
Natasja Breninkmeyer
Frankie Rozsa
91-799-7590
91-402-9465
Sara Carrio
Manuel Jiménez
Kevin Tremper
Manuel Jiménez
Sara Carrio
Sanaya Rau
Ogbonna Aditya
Iris Garcia
Ellen Arthur
Sanaya Rau
Children´s Mass
Samuel Abel
Elizabeth Aston
Margaret Arthur
Children´s Mass
Janet Walls
Sarah Beseler
Felicity Renshaw
Readers
Louise Aulbach
91-402-9465
Coffee Service
Michele Martorell
Donuts
Donuts
Donuts
Donuts
Donuts
91-759-5402
Milovic
Elkington
Deana Mason
Calvo-Sparks
Melissa de Miguel
Michele Gaudet
Family
Family
Family
91-650-6606
Coffee
Coffee
Coffee
Coffee
David Franklin
Camila Bennett
Christopher George
Julie Eckroth
Margaret Arthur
Coffee
Mike Schneider
627-046-056
Ushers
Nigel Aston
Pilar Ramirez
Blanca Castro
Marta O'Neill
Brian Douglas
Blanca Castro
91-388-7937
Vicente Tanasi
Brain Douglas
Nathaniel
Nigel Aston
Vicente Tanasi
Chike
Alberto Santandreu
Barbara La Huerta
Michele Martorell
Christopher George
Greeters
Christopher George
91-622-2477
Schedule
April ~ May 2008
Sunday, April 6
Half Marathon in Madrid,
Children’s Mass,
Baptism of Osaruyi Odigie,
Name Tag Sunday
Sunday, April 13
Food for needy collection,
Choir Blessing
Saturday, April 19
Confirmation retreat at OLM from
12pm-6pm
Sunday, April 20
Blessing of Confirmation candidates,
Baptism at Mass
Thursday, April 24
Parish Council Meeting – 20:00
Sunday, April 27
Confirmation at 10:45 with Episcopal
Vicar Don José Maria Bravo,
reception afterwards in patio,
Marathon in Madrid
watch for street closings
Fr. Ron will visit some of the CCD
classes, this will be announced later▪
Saturday, April 26
Confirmation practice at 11:00am
Fr. Ron tries to do his best to respond as quickly as possible to your messages. If you send an email [email protected], it
will be responded within one week but if it is more important, please call him at 91-350-3449 (office) or at 91-718-5571 (home).
The majority of telephone messages are responded within one or two days and Fr. Ron prefers the telephone over email.
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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Favorite Email
Fr. Ronald Ochylski | [email protected]
From time to time, I reprint emails in the bulletin because
I want to share with you their contents. At times these
emails are funny, other times they are informative, and
sometimes they are very touching. Recently, our parish has
had to respond to some outlandish and unpleasant attacks
and basically we have had to assert our right to function as
an equal parish in the Archdiocese of Madrid. For this
reason, I want to reprint the following email in this
month’s bulletin. It really cheered me up at a time when I
needed it. Please read on and I hope you feel as proud to be
a part of Our Lady of Mercy as I do.
Happy Easter, Fr. Ron.
Hola! I'm not sure whose hands this email may fall into,
but I want to say thank you to this church and this is why.
I lived in Madrid briefly in the Spring of 2001 and it was
the loneliest I had been in a very long time. I was alone, in
a foreign place, and I didn't know where to go or who to
turn to. I had trouble finding an English-speaking church
and once I finally found an address, I had no information
about the time for Sunday mass. One Sunday morning, I
took the Metro to what I thought was a nearby location
and I started walking. I ended up walking 2-3 miles
before finding the church and when I got there, mass was
over. I was disappointed but I walked in, picked up a
bulletin so I would know the time for mass, and then I
went home (via bus this time).
The remainder of my time in Madrid, I went to mass
every Sunday and found solace in the community I found
there. I had a place to go to and people who I could relate
with. The priest, whose name I don't remember, always
made me feel welcome and his messages always spoke to
me. It was comforting to be around other Englishspeakers, even though I didn't have the courage to
introduce myself to any of them. When my stay in Madrid
was over, I wanted to say thank you to the priest and the
church and never did.
I was recently reflecting on my involvement in the Church
community and I regret not giving my thanks to the Our
Lady of Mercy community. Although I was only in
Madrid a brief time, it was a very life-altering period for
me. I was depressed and alone and I believe God led me to
this church to help lift me up. For that, I send my deepest
thanks.
Regards,
Eileen▪
Fr. Ron’s favorite e-mails
Parishioner Vicky Wilson - the name tag lady
Dear Family & Friends,
It has been a while since I have written and thought it was
time for an update. I have been corresponding with some
of you individually, so please forgive me if you read this
before.
I had my 3rd chemo yesterday and my sister-in-law
Barbara, accompanied me. The chemo continues to go
really well, some of the side-effects are stinky, but that's
par for the course. I was feeling so good yesterday that I
ended up going to the mall and getting a "deluxe" pedicure
and then walked to Costco. Folks, for those on the Euro,
this is the best deal in America!! I only could purchase as
much as I could carry since I was walking and metroing
home. When I got back to my condo, the toilet was
overflowing and my DVD player somehow had jumped to a
split screen - but thankfully, the building engineer was still
around and fixed both my problems.
Today I go back to the hospital for a booster white cell shot
and then will go back to my wig shop. I will have the rest
of my hair buzzed and try to get this wig refitted - at this
point, it looks better on the mannequin head than it does
on mine!
Jim left over a week ago and is doing well - he has really
long work days, and by the time he cooks and CLEANS UP
for himself, and a call with me, it is almost time for bed.
Do you know tens of thousands of people have googled
"how to clean George Foreman Grill" - my husband being
one of them - apparently everybody thinks they are a pain
to clean.
I am going down to see Christina and Jayme this Sunday
for a few nights and Andrew plans to come up the
following weekend - one of the silver linings of this whole
thing has been to be able to see the kids and be in contact
with family and friends, more than normal.
Well, I hope you are all well and I want to thank you for
your continued prayers and support. It really has been
heartwarming and very uplifting.
Love and besos,
Vick
Parishioner Michael Obinna Uba
Dear Father Ron,
I’m writing to say how grateful I am to the Spanish
programme at OLM and how I’ve benefited greatly from
this initiative. I started attending Spanish classes at OLM
right at its inception, around September of 2007 and I can
only tell you it has helped me a lot.
I think there are 2 kinds of language students; firstly, those
studying to obtain a degree either for career enhancement
or whatever and secondly, those studying just to survive
and get by in the society they find themselves. I can
categorically state that the majority of adult students at
OLM language programme fall within the second group.
This is why it came as a shock to all of us students a couple
of weeks ago when we learnt of the treat to the continuity
of the programme.( OUR SCHOOL!!)
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
4
In my opinion, I would say that the language programme
at OLM has a lot of potentials in touching and changing
lives and is even doing so as I speak. This reminds me of an
incident that occurred not too long ago. I used to get jobs
from a well known oficina de empleo, in my area, usually
for about a month. The last time I went there to look for a
job, and after speaking with the officer in charge for about
25 minutes, the young man commented that my Spanish
had greatly improved. Usually not understanding a word of
Spanish I would have just replied ´si´, or ´vale´ but
(feeling very modest) I just told him I was still at the same
level and that he was making a mistake, which he
disagreed. (I said all these in Spanish also).Attending
classes at OLM has helped build my self-confidence and
reassurance which is a very important item if one is to
learn a new language. I have also noticed the same changes
in my class mates.
Spanish classes at OLM
Every Saturday morning in the parish rooms.
It's not too late to join and learning the language could
make a big difference... for the better.
If you are interested contact María José García.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone number: 91-772-4029 or 606-617-800
Most of us do not have the resources to engage seasoned
and qualified Spanish tutors, but we are getting them here
at OLM. We are grateful for this and hence we hope and
pray that classes continue now and also way into the future
so that others can also benefit what we are enjoying now.
Thank you. Michael Obinna Uba,
Level 2 Spanish class, OLM.▪
Lenten Food Collection
Charity begins at home
During the 6 Sundays leading up to Easter
Sunday, our parish collected food for the
members of our parish who need it. This
charitable activity was very much
appreciated by those who received food.
David Franklin, who distributed the food
weekly, witnessed the joy on the faces of
those who received. This activity does make a difference in
the lives of our parishioners. Those who donate food are
blessed with the gratification of knowing that they have
helped someone. And those who receive are encouraged to
pursue their dream of a better life in Spain.
This month we will go back to our regular schedule of
collecting food on the second Sunday of the month. So
remember that on April 13 we will be accepting donations
either brought up to the altar during the Offertory or
brought to the kitchen area of the Church rooms. Because
we know directly where the food goes, here are some
suggestions of what we need the most. Vegetable oil,
BRILLANTE RICE (rice most preferred), pasta, canned
tuna, canned beans and stews, cookies, juices, canned
meats, instant coffee. Easy open containers are most
welcome. ▪
Easter Sunday Fellowship
Easter Sunday might have found many of our parishioners
traveling, but our patio was filled with worshipers who
celebrated Fellowship with a pot luck. Food ranged from
sandwiches to casseroles to salads (Father Ron's world
renown potato salad) to desserts including marshmallow
Peeps. Food was set up as a buffet. Beverages such as
sodas, juice and coffee were expanded to include beer and
wine. Beverages were served by the Ostick family who
proved that 4 people can serve drinks to 100!
Thank you to all who contributed food and time to this
wonderful celebration.▪
Sunday afternoon sandwich program
We continue with the Sunday afternoon sandwich program
using the funds donated by the 8th graders with the
proceeds from their Book Sale. This is an opportunity to
provide food which needs to be refrigerated/eaten right
away ... Fresh Sandwiches! ▪
If you have clothes in new or excellent condition to donate
you can leave them near the stairs in the parish rooms or
contact Pedro Martinho, David Franklin for instructions or
call to 91-350-3449. Thank you!
A big GRACIAS to Deanna Mason and family who donated Fanta, milk, tea, and other drink products to
OLM. We appreciate her thinking of us and will raise a glass in her honor!
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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Donate to Charity
Mary Dirr | 91-352-3726
Available: 10 Euros
A few years ago, Our Lady of Mercy held a
Talent Show as a charity fundraiser. As a
part of the event, there was a fantastic
buffet of wonderful dishes that were
prepared by the many talented cooks
within the parish. While helping serve at
the dessert table, Josie Arpaia commented
that Our Lady of Mercy should have a cookbook. This idea
was set into motion and during the following year, recipes
were donated, children in the CCD program drew pictures,
and information about the parish history was gathered.
Then, a committee organized this information into a
cookbook which offers a collection of recipes from around
the world as well as a historical overview of the parish. This
tribute to OLM’s rich cultural diversity is also a
fundraiser for charity.
We’ve sold over 100 copies!!! Only 20 copies remain.
Almost sold out, help us to remove this ad on next issue…
We’re close to achieving our goal of raising 750 Euros.
Cookbooks are available for 10€ in the parish office. For
more information, contact:
Pedro 91-350-3449 or Mary Dirr 91-352-3726▪
OLM charismatic prayer
groupnews
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together. And
suddenly there came from the sky a noise
like a strong driving wind, 2 and it filled
the entire house in which they were. Then
there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
3 which parted and came to rest on each
one of them. And they were all filled with
the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, 4 as
the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were
devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in
Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused because each one heard them
speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in
amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are
speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in
his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and
Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as
travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism,
Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own
tongues of the mighty acts of God." They were all
astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, "What
does this mean?" But others said, scoffing, "They have had
too much new wine." Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are
Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be
known to you, and listen to my words. (Act 2:1-16)
This passage is all about Charismatics. The Holy Spirit,
which is the power of God, bestows gifts by His holy grace.
If you want to experience this power and the gift of the
Holy Spirit we encourage you to come fellowship with us
every Saturday at 6:00 PM in the parish rooms or
contact David Franklin, 627-046-056▪
Igbo news
The Igbo Community begins classes for IGBO language
and culture on 19th April 2008.
Place:
Hispano-Africano
Calle Manuel Marañon, 13 - Arturo Soria
Metro. Arturo Soria, salida: Arturo Soria
Time: 4:00pm
Information and registration begin on 12/4/08 at 4:00pm
at the above address. More information at: 91-609-90-38
and 606-235-206 and 636-831-378
Coordinator: Dr. Afamefule
Igbo (also written as Ibo) is a language spoken in Nigeria
by around 20-35 million people, the Igbo, especially in the
southeastern region once identified as Biafra. The language
was used by John Goldsmith as an example to justify
deviating from the classical linear model of phonology as
laid out in The Sound Pattern of English. It is written in the
Roman script. Igbo is a tonal language, like Yoruba and
Chinese. Igbo is mainly a spoken and colloquial language
today, and not much Igbo literature exists. Reading and
writing Igbo is not very widespread either, and Igbo is
mostly used as a spoken language. Although Igbo is taught
at all levels in eastern Nigerian schools, English remains
the literary language that is to be studied extensively. In
many urban areas, Nigerian Pidgin English often replaces
Igbo. But Igbo is still written and spoken in village areas
tremendously.
The Holy Father's general Intention of the Apostleship of Prayer
for the month of April, 2008 is:
“That even in difficult and complex situations of present-day
society, Christians may never tire of proclaiming with their lives
Christ’s resurrection, the source of hope and peace.”
His missionary intention is:
“That future priests in young Churches may be ever more
seriously formed culturally and spiritually in order to evangelize
their respective countries and the whole world.”
Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester Day by day, day by day, Dear Lord, three things I pray: Know thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly, Follow thee more nearly, Day by Day.
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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from Come! Live ! Die!
George Verwer
"O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
Deliver me, Jesus...
from the desire of being loved,
from the desire of being extolled,
from the desire of being honored,
from the desire of being praised,
from the desire of being preferred to others,
from the desire of being consulted,
from the desire of being approved,
from the fear of being humiliated,
from the fear of being despised,
from the fear of suffering rebuke,
from the fear of being forgotten,
from the fear of being wronged,
from the fear of being suspected.
And Jesus, grant me the grace to desire...
that others might be loved more than I,
that in the opinion of the world others may increase
and I may decrease,
that others may be chosen, and I set aside,
that others may be praised and I unnoticed,
that others may be preferred to me in everything
that others may become holier than I,
provided that I become as holy as I should."
T h e Most Beautiful Flower
Samuel Johnson
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from
play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With it's petals all worn - not enough rain or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with
overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colours, orange, yellow, or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower and replied, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it in mid air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world, the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every
second that's mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in
his hand▪
Remember in your prayers
- For Josephine Macinnes and for all the housebound.
- For the athletes in our Parish, especially for Francis Obikwelu.
- For Joseph, an English speaking seminarian studying in the Madrid seminary.
- For Anne Mazón and Vicky Wilson and all those undergoing treatment for cancer.
- For Michael McKearney, Gavin's father who is struggling with colon cancer.
- For Anne Mazón nephew who is seriously ill.
- For Godwin Ukwuani, who lost a leg in a job related accident in Aranjuez.
- In thanksgiving for Julia Ibutchi's recovery from surgery.
- For Cindy Javoroski's father who died on March 21.
- For Donald Stewart, Fiona Montarry's father and Jordan's grandfather who died on March 2 in
England and was remembered in an ISM Mass on March 27.
- For Tara Saad, who died 4 years ago on March 19th and was only 6 months old. The daughter of Divina and Bill Saad was
remembered at the March 16th
- For the continued success of our language programme and for María José García, the coordinator.
- For Gloria Schneider, Mike Schneider's wife and Ana Schneider's mother, on the 4th anniversary of her death March 25th.
- For Angel Polo, a dear friend of the Schneider family who died in March.
- For baby Julia who was born last month with a hearing impediment.
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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Re ligious Education Ar ticle
An Easter ref lection
Nancy Deutman | [email protected]
Julius Casmir Okezie
The Children’s Mass is presented by Grade 2 and their
teacher, Trish Charouk.
We will have CCD every Sunday in April, but remember that
the 4th of May there will be no CCD due to the Spanish
national holiday weekend.
We will continue the lessons of charity this month by asking
EVERY CCD student to bring a non-perishable food item to
class on the 13th (see list of preferred foods elsewhere in this
Bulletin). Please also take a moment to consult the list of
items needed by Caritas.
This is the big month for our Confirmation class students.
We ask everyone in the Parish to remember them in their
prayers. On the Saturday, the 19th, they will be joining Fr.
Ron, their teacher, Louise Aulbach, and myself for a retreat
from 12 to 6 pm in preparation for Confirmation.. We will be
offering a Seder meal to reflect the traditions of the Old
Testament. On Sunday, the 20th, we will be formally
presenting this year’s Confirmation candidates to the Parish
during Mass. The rehearsal for the ceremony is scheduled
for Saturday, the 26th from 11 am til? Confirmation will be
held on Sunday, the 27th of April at 10,45 am. The
candidates and their sponsors are reminded to be at the
small chapel no later than 10,15 am to meet with the Vicar,
Don José Maria Bravo Navalpotro.
Keep your ears open – on the 20th of April, we will be
making an important announcement regarding CCD for
2008-2009! On that suspense-filled note, I will wish you all
a happy Easter season.▪
Nancy Deutman
Director, Religious Education, OLM
[email protected]
665-008-215
91-350-3449 (Parish office)
Grace Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat, Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you, God, for everything! ‐ Edith Rutter Leatham I want to use these privilege and express my good feelings to
all our parish members who contributed in one way or the
other to one of our brother whose name is Ukwuani Godwin
who lost of his leg in a job related accident in Aranjuez,
mostly our parish priest Rev. Father Ronald Ochylski who
showed a lot of concern visiting all the times and giving our
brother Godwin holy communion and words of
encouragements while he was in his sick bed at Quirurgico
Virgen Del Mal Hospital. Fr.Ron I thank you once again and
also want to let you know that we really appreciated all your
efforts and pray that the good God will continue to give you
more strength to work in his vineyard. Thank you all.
From Nolisa Casmir Okezie
a Nigerian who lives in Madrid Spain.
Are you ready to reveal not his bloody but his glorious face
on Easter Sunday? Then hold on from speaking evil and
welcome your own cross, the monotony, discomfort of all
kinds, setbacks, worries, and disappointments without
uttering a word of complaint or protest and always assisting
Jesus Christ in sharing his martyrdom. Remember what he
said in the very beginning, my children when you join me on
the way of the cross, I said my life was incomplete until I
crowned it with my death, and have it in mind that your own
fourteen steps will not be complete until you crown them
with your life.
As I can see, many people would be very much like to be the
first person to see Christ’s glorious face on Easter Sunday,
then let me ask, how many times did you wipe away his
blood and tears as Veronica did in the sixth station of the
cross? Some ask where is his face, and forgot that Jesus
Christ told us that his face is everywhere, at home whenever
eyes fill up with tears, at work when tensions rise, on the
playground, at court, in jail, in the motherless baby’s home
,in the life's of afflicted children, in the hospitals and
maternities wards, wherever sufferings exist that his face is
there and there he waits for us to wipe away his blood and
tears.
I think we should continue living an exemplary life and also
persevere in doing good. Not to say “I can't go on,” because
Jesus asked us to come to him that he will give us rest and
also trust in him and carry on. Although the programmes are
tough, but have in mind that he completed his own work,
and what’s left is mine and yours, therefore we shall
continue where he stopped. This means the teaching he
couldn’t impart, we must impart, the sufferings he couldn’t
bear, we must bear, the work of love he couldn’t do in his
short life of earth we must do, all through him for he is all in
all. We also know what happened in the fifth station of the
cross, that a passer-by called Simon of Cyrene, who was
coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and
Rufus was compelled to carry his cross, and indeed he helps
him. Now Jesus Christ ask why not you too? Please let us
realise that each time we pick up an object off the floor,
assist our neighbour in some small task, help them do it
right, each time we also lend our hands in anyway, it matters
not to whom, our names is Simon, and the kindness we
extend to them we really give to our Lord Jesus. Therefore,
my brothers and sisters in Christ, let us prepare ourselves in
order to meet Jesus Christ when he returns! ▪
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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Information regarding OLM’s Financial Support Internal information available through request only for OLM parishioners
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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Confir mation 2008
You t h g r o u p
Fr. Andrew | [email protected]
YOUNG PEOPLE: 15-19 years old
All confirmation candidates and parents should take note of
important dates that have been finalized.
Confirmation retreat - April 19, 2008 at 12pm to 6pm
Blessing of candidates - April 20, 2008 at Mass
If you want to make friends with other young people from
our parish and join in talks and activities.
Contact: Fr. Andrew ([email protected]) ▪
Choir
Elke Wilson | 91-402-7738 | [email protected]
Rehearsal - April 26, 2008 (Saturday) at 11am to 12h30pm,
please be prompt
Confirmation - April 27, 2008 at 10h45am, with
Episcopal Vicar Don José Maria Bravo Navalpotro: please be
in small chapel at 10h15 to meet the Vicar before Mass and
take a photo.
Marathon in Madrid (watch for street closings)
C o nf ir m a t i o n c l a s s *
Can you sing a tune without your dog hiding under the sofa
or the neighbors calling the police? Please join our
international OLM choir. We are always looking for
additional members: the more voices we'll have the more
powerful we will be able to sing!!! Previous experience or
being able to read music is NOT necessary. We rehearse at
least 45 minutes before Mass every Sunday in the parish
building. Be there early so we can start NO LATER THAN
10.15.
If you are interested, please contact our choir director Elke
Wilson at 91-402 7738 or simply turn up! ▪
Student’s testimonials
To me being confirmed is becoming a part of God.
We all have the Holy Spirit in us but confirmation is
confirming that we want God in us and in our life.
I want to be confirmed because it means that I will become a
proper member of the Catholic Church.
It means that God will guide me through my difficulties and
help me when I need him.
Being confirmed mean that I could get married in a church,
it makes me feel as if I am fully member of our religion.
My faith means a lot to me, it is something that you can
always rely on, no matter what happens and no matter what
you do Jesus and God will be here to help us and show us the
right way.
Alison▪
(*) Louise Aulbach, teacher
You ng a d u lt s
Fr. Andrew | [email protected]
Would you like to meet young people 19+ from our
parish for a Chat in an informal setting and join in talks from
faith, everyday concerns to music and literature?
Last year we met in cafes, went to Taize prayer group, had
picnics in parks, went hiking and read poetry. ▪
Contact Fr. Andrew: [email protected].
Bible Study g roup
Topic: Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola
Father Andrew García, a Jesuit priest who has been helping
Fr Ron since last year, will guide us in our spiritual journey
using the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola and the
Sacred Scriptures. Did you know that St Ignatius, the
founder of the Jesuit order was a Spaniard? His Spiritual
Exercises are designed to give our pray life a workout.
Join us!
Please contact Mary Dirr for additional information.
91-352-3726▪
If you would like to contribute an article for our bulletin or
have some useful information which would be beneficial to
share with the parish, please email text files to Fr. Ron,
[email protected].
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
10
Free Inter net
Our Lady of Mercy wishes to provide Internet and email
services to parishioners who are in need. You may have free
access to internet and computers. Parishioners will be able
to communicate with their families, consult the bibliographic
information or use for word processing tasks.
Ask David Franklin or Pedro Martinho if you need to use it.
Note: Access not available during Mass periods, CCD
classes, Charismatic prayers group meetings and during
others specials parish activities. ▪
Mass Guide
We know that sometimes people like a
guide to help them follow the Mass in
English, especially if English is a second
language for them. We are able to offer
you a booklet allowing you to participate
as best as possible in our Sunday
Eucharist. Please know that we appreciate
you joining us and we hope that you feel
at home at Our Lady of Mercy.
Pick it at the church entrance, or if it is not available please
do not hesitate to ask Fr. Ron or his office assistant. ▪
A conspiracy ag ainst interiority American Culture
Fr. Ron Rolheiser | www.ronrolheiser.com
Recently I heard an interview on
the radio with an American
journalist who had just returned to
the USA after living for nearly 12
years in Paris.
While living there, his son was
born. That child, now nearly ten, had been raised outside of
popular culture. His parents, both literary types, didn't own
a television set, listened to classical rather than popular
music, weren't attuned to the sports scene, and their
interests and spirits didn't rise and fall with the ups and
downs of the celebrity of the day.
And so when they returned to the USA, their son was very
much the outsider to pop culture, unfamiliar with the latest
pop stars, game shows and the like. As his dad was
explaining all of this, the interviewer asked him: "Has your
son held out against American culture?"
The journalist's answer: "For about two days! Of course, he
didn't hold out, nobody does! Western pop culture, for good
and for bad, is the most powerful narcotic that has ever been
perpetrated on this planet! Nobody holds out against it."
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad.
It is important that we first underline that, partly, there's a
good side to this. A narcotic soothes and protects against
brute, raw pain. Our culture has within it every kind of thing
(from medicine to entertainment) to shield us from pain.
That can be good, providing it isn't a false crutch.
But a narcotic can also be bad, especially when it becomes a
way of escaping from reality. Where our culture is
particularly dangerous, I feel, is in the way it can perpetually
shield us from having to face the deeper issues of life --faith, forgiveness, morality and mortality. It can, as Jan
Walgrave famously said, constitute a virtual conspiracy
against the interior life. How?
By keeping us so entertained, so busy, so preoccupied and so
distracted that we lose all focus on the deeper things. We live
now in a world of instant and constant communication, of
mobile phones and email, of ipods that contain whole
libraries of music, of television packages that contain
hundreds of channels, of malls and stores that are open 24
hours a day, of restaurants and clubs that stay open all the
time, of sounds that never die and lights that never go out.
We can be amused, distracted and catered to for 24 hours a
day. While that has made our lives wonderfully efficient, it
has also conspired against depth. The danger, as one
commentator puts it, is that we are all developing permanent
attention deficient disorder. We are attentive to so many
things that, ultimately, we aren't attentive to anything,
particularly to what is deepest inside of us.
This isn't an abstract thing! Typically our day is so full of
things (work, noise, pressure, rush) that when we do finally
get home at night and have some time when we could shut
down all the stimulation, we are so tired and fatigued that
what soothes us is precisely something that functions as a
narcotic --- a sporting event, a game show on television, a
mindless sit-com or anything that can soothe our tensions
and relax us enough to sleep. It's not bad if we do this on a
given night, but it is bad when we do it every night.
What happens then is that we never find the space in our
lives to touch what's deepest inside of us and inside of
others. Given the power of our culture, we can go along like
this for years until something cracks in our lives, a loved one
dies, someone breaks our heart, the doctor tells us we have a
terminal disease, or some other crisis is powerful enough to
suddenly render all the stimulation and entertainment in the
world empty. Then we are forced to look into our own depth
and that can be a frightening abyss, if we have spend years
and years avoiding looking into it.
The poet, Rumi, once wrote: "I have lived too long where I
can be reached!" That's true, I suspect, for most of us. And so
we end up as good people, but as people who are not very
deep --- not bad, just busy; not immoral, just distracted; not
lacking in soul, just preoccupied; not disdaining depth, just
lacking in practice.
Our culture is a powerful narcotic, for good and for bad. It
has the power to shield us from pain, to soothe us in healthy
ways. That can be good. Sometimes we need a narcotic. But
our culture can also be over-intoxicating, too-absorbing. It
can swallow us whole.
And so we have to know when it is time to unplug the
television, turn off the phone, shut down the computer,
silence the ipod, lay away the sports page, and resist going
out for coffee with a friend, so that, for one moment at least,
we are not avoiding making friends with that one part of us
that will accompany us into the sunset.▪
11
Fellowship on Sundays
Donuts and coffee
Michele Martorell | 91-759-5402
P
art of participating in
the
CCD
program
involves volunteering
at least once to serve coffee
or
donuts
during
the
fellowship. Thank you to all
volunteers! Fellowship at Our
Lady of Mercy is an ongoing
ministry since we are active every Sunday. Therefore we
need volunteers on a weekly basis throughout the year.
Please let me know if you would like to volunteer and I will
put your name on the list. With our large group of volunteers
your help will be needed about once a quarter.
Any would-be volunteer who might be shy to come forward
should not be concerned that this ministry is "difficult."
Every Sunday at least one member of the Fellowship team is
serving, David Franklin, Michele Gaudet, or Michele
Martorell. Please approach us! There is nothing difficult in
volunteering ... only rewarding. Any donut volunteer who
feels their ability to speak Spanish is weak just let us know
and we can call in the order.
The number of donuts we need changes depending on the
Sunday so it's important the volunteer and Michele talk to
each other. The donut volunteer is responsible for phoning
in the order on Saturday evening. We always order assorted
(un mix de donuts). Identify that you're with the Parroquia
de habla inglesa. The order can be picked up after 10:30 on
Sunday. Please take free napkins as well. Dunkin Donuts,
Plaza de la Republica Dominicana, 91-457-4836 Donuts can
be dropped off at the kitchen area in the church rooms
before Mass. Remember to leave Mass before the
congregation sings the exit hymn. Bring the donuts up to the
patio and sell them for 1 euro a piece. Altar servers get a free
donut! The donuts cost 8.95 euros per dozen. You will
need cash to pick up the order and then you reimburse
yourself after the donuts are sold.
The beverage volunteer will help with selling/serving juice,
soda, water or coffee, tea, nesquick. As with donuts, leave
early so that you can help bring up the drinks from the
kitchen area to the patio. David Franklin coordinates the
preparation of the coffee and setting up the tables/chairs on
the patio. Magnus Chukwuemezueudeh oversees the sale of
juice and soda each week. He finds eager volunteers from
our younger members of OLM to help as well. At the end of
fellowship, the collected money should be given to Michele
Martorell, Michele Gaudet or Father Ron▪
Vocational Cross
The Vocational Cross will be going to
Charlie Wilson for the month of April.
Welcome
Newly Registered Parishioners
Stephen Anokye
Tony Omer,
Steven Kay, from Ghana
Daisy Arana, from India
Sarah Aleligay
Jo-ann Saldivar
Angeli Pero
Nathaniel Sisma
Ifeanyi Chukwu and
Inmaculada, from Nigeria
Eric Janen, from Indonesia
Rainier Tanig, a long time
parishioner who recently
registered
Are you registered?
All OLM parishioners should be registered. This is an
expectation for every Catholic parish throughout the world.
If you have not yet registered, please pick up a new
parishioner registration form found on the table in the
vestibule or you may request it “online” by sending an email
to Pedro Martinho, [email protected]
Please make sure to fill out a new parishioner registration
form and return it to Fr. Ron personally. Also, if you know
of a parishioner who is in need or you think may enjoy a call
from Fr. Ron, please let him know.
Parish Council
Blanca de Castro, 91-570-8248
Spanish Liaison
Nancy Deutman, 91-731-9714
Director of Religious Education, Secretary
Mary Dirr, 91-352-3726
Book Sale & Social Coordinator
David Franklin, 627-046-056
Charismatic Prayer Group
Michele Martorell, 91-759-5402
Hospitality Coordinator
Fr. Ron Ochylski, 91-718-5571
President
Nick O’Neill, 91-320-3521
Café & Marriage Preparation
Mike Schneider, 91-639-1564
Facilitator, Vocations, RCIA
Financial Council
Roland Brenninkmeijer(consultant),
Russell Porter,
Norman Kurtis,
Elke Wilson,
Mike Schneider.
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
12
Annoucements
IT SERVICES, Solving your hardware or software
problems! Installing, configuring, managing, diagnosing and
repairing PCs or small LAN.
Professional, trustworthy, value for money service.
No call out fees!
Contact Charlie on 606-996-256
or [email protected]
OLM Quintet, 5 voices, piano, guitar. Specialised in
modern & traditional church music, gospels and spirituals.
Good quality musical accompaniment for weddings,
baptisms, cocktail parties, soirées or other social events. Just
speak to one of the quintet members or ring Elke at 91-4027738 or Dani at 660-912-554.
Having a Party? Instead of preparing a full meal why not
serve a variety of tapas? Call Chalo Abadia at 649-989-702
[email protected] Catering at your home!
Beauty Corner If anyone is interested in skin care
products, makeup accessories, perfumes, jewelry, clothes,
wrist watches and so on, contact parishioner and choir
member Stella Okekeze on 91-848-6440 or 659-237-153.
These are products of Mary Kay Cosmetics and Cristian Lay
Companies, very reliable.
Community Service To do general volunteer work with
Madrid’s official Spanish Volunteer organization:
call 900-777- 888.
Alcoholics Anonymous Madrid English Speaking Group.
Information line 91-309-1947
Other Masses
LIFE COACHING
An effective process that helps
you develop skills and confidence,
find a sense of directon,
and take action to achieve your goals
and start living more fully.
Be motivated and inspired to change.
Julia Ottone
628531770 / 91 8523267
www.asociacioneldespertar.com
[email protected]
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
Parishioners sometimes ask for other Masses in English in
Madrid. During the school year (starting in September) there
will be a Sunday evening Mass at St. Louis University
celebrated by either Fr. Jim or Fr. Don Reck at 6:00 PM.
This is held in a classroom and is celebrated in an informal
setting. Note that the schedule is sometimes determined by
University activities, so please call either Fr. Jim or Fr. Don
Reck ahead of time to make sure there is a Mass.
The address is Avenida del Valle, 28
Metro: Guzman el Bueno, line 6 and 7
Phone number: 91-554-5858.
A very popular Mass in Spanish for teenagers is held at Our
Lady of Guadalupe at 8:00 PM on Sundays.
The address is: Puerto Rico, 1 (near the parque de Berlin)
Metro: Concha Espina - line 9
I mention this for those parents who understand Spanish
and have a difficult time getting teenagers to go (or feel
excited about a Spanish parish)▪
13
Whom to see for what at OLM
If you need a parishioner’s phone number, or email for
private purposes, or have a question but are not sure who the
right contact person might be, please contact a parish
council member or the parish assistant (91-350-3449) before
asking Fr. Ron.
▪ Gary Rains
91-799-7590
» if you would like to become an Extraordinary Minister
of Holy Communion.
» if someone needs the Eucharist brought to them at home
(sick or shut in)
Please get in touch with…
▪ Louise Aulbach
91-402-9465
▪ Fr. Ron Ochylski
91-350-3449 | 91-718-5571 | [email protected]
» if you would like to become a reader or your child would
like to be an altar server.
» to register as a parishioner at OLM (the norm for our
parish). Please fill out the form on the cabinet outside the
chapel and give it personally to Fr. Ron. All data is
confidential and not shared with third parts.
» to be on the church group email list. Fr. Ron uses this
list to inform the parish of news items, such as special events
or other news that is of importance to the entire parish. All
mails are kept confidential.
» if you are leaving Madrid and would like to donate
your furniture, kitchen items or appliances that are
in perfect working order and good condition. We have
parishioners who could use such items.
» if you would like to have an announcement made at
church. Please notify Fr. Ron one week BEFORE the
Sunday you wish the announcement to be made.
» if you want your child baptized.
» if you are interested in becoming Catholic.
» if you want to be married. Please see Fr. Ron at least 6
months before your proposed wedding date.
» if there is a need for Anointing of the Sick (the elderly
or before major surgery).
» if you would like to celebrate the sacrament of
Reconciliation. Please come to church on Sunday at 10:00
AM, first Saturdays between 14:00 and 15:00 or ask Fr. Ron
for an appointment.
» if you are interested in helping in parish social
activities.
» if you would like to help with charitable causes.
» if you would like marriage preparation.
» if you would like a Mass Intention / Mass Card.
» if you want to place an ad in the bulletin.
»if you would like to be an usher. Speak to one of the ushers
at Mass or see Fr. Ron.
» if you are interested in Bible Study.
▪ Elke Wilson
91-402-7738 | [email protected]
» if you want to learn more about how to help your parish
financially (bank transfers, standing orders, church
envelopes).
» if you would like to sing in the choir or if you can play a
musical instrument.
» if you have a hymnal suggestion or request for the
choir.
▪ Michele Martorell
91-759-5402
» if you want to sign up for your turn at helping with
coffee.
▪ Nancy Deutman
91-731-9714 | [email protected]
» if you have any question about CCD.
» if you would like to be a CCD teacher or substitute.
▪ Pedro Martinho
91-350-3449 | 646-138-943 | [email protected]
» if you have a question and are not sure who the right
contact person might be.
» if you have a prayer request.
» if you need a baptismal certificate.
▪ Christopher George
91-622-2477
» if you would like to meet more people at OLM.
» if you want to become a greeter. Speak to one of our
greeters at the door or call Christopher George.
▪ David Franklin
627-046-056
» if you want to join the Charismatic Prayer Group.
▪ Blanca de Castro
91-570-8248
» if you would like an issue brought up at one of the
monthly parish council meetings.
» for lost and found items.
▪ Fr.Andrew
[email protected]
» if you want to join the Young Adults or Youth group.
▪ Mary Stainken
91-650-2275
» if you would like to help with flowers for the altar or
special holiday/sacrament decorations for our church.
▪ Derek Gaudet
[email protected]
» if you want to make a suggestion for our website or have
parish photographs we could use
Office hours
91-350-3449
Tuesdays 16:00-20:00, by appointment
Thursdays 10:00-14:30
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
14
How we Came to be Here and
Other Memories
Nancy Deutman | [email protected]
On this third anniversary of OLM’s move to this location, I
thought it would be appropriate to write a little history of
how we came to be here. I’ve been in Madrid over 20 years
and have seen some of the changes in our Parish, but it
started over 45 years ago at the then American and Spanish
Air Base at Torrejon de Ardoz (about 20 kilometers west of
Madrid). A group split off from there to provide for the
Americans living in the Royal Oaks housing area (now
Encinar de los Reyes near the Moraleja) and located near
the Plaza Castilla… Finally, upon the arrival in Madrid of
Father Sullivant in 1969, the OLM Parish as we know it
formed at the school on Alfonso XIII, Nuestra Señora de la
Merced (from which we took our name, simply translating it
into English).
The Parish grew with the arrival of British and American
companies and their CEO’s, joined by Embassy staff and
Spanish citizens with English-speaking partners. For a
while, our numbers were reduced when those companies
either relocated to countries with better English skills or
turned over the reins to Spanish executives. At around the
same time, the school closed off the balcony which we had
used for our “overflow” space. But then Father Ron joined
Father Sullivant as assistant Pastor in 1997 and we started
growing again. The nuns who ran the school happily gave us
a nearby classroom to set up a live broadcast of the Mass for
those who arrived late and could not find a seat – and still
we had people standing at the back and out the door. So it
was time to look for a bigger chapel.
That is when our Bishop, Don Fidel Herraez, came for a
pastoral visit and he was deeply impressed and knew we
needed more space and a place to call our own. He agreed to
help us and, after much searching, we were offered the
possibility to share the church and “salones” at Santa Maria
Magdalena as independent, but equal, Parishes. The Parish
Council investigated and made its recommendation to
move. It was a heart-wrenching time for many of us – we
would gain chapel space, lose CCD classroom space, but we
would finally have our own location (no longer renters,
finally a “real Parish”). Like several other parishioners, I
was baptized, took FHC & Confirmation and was finally
married in the old chapel, it was “home” – how could we
leave it?
The Parish decided to make the move, but first we needed to
clear out the “salones” of years of accumulated furniture,
books, and other items then repair the damage done by
humidity and neglect. We cleaned, applied waterproofing,
plastered, painted, scrubbed floors and windows, washed
curtains, replaced bathroom fixtures and had fun! The four
of us who worked during the weekdays were supplemented
on the weekends by others who cheerfully pitched in to do
whatever needed doing. Several times we went to lunch with
Father Ron, Father José Manuel and his secretary, Teresa
and enjoyed our newfound “neighbors”. It was an exciting
time and we looked forward to the day when we could
celebrate our first Mass in our new “home” (May 1, 2005).
When we left NS de la Merced, it was with mixed emotions.
We asked what we could do for them and they requested a
portable sound system that they could use as an intercom
and PA system. As our gift to our new neighbors, we studied
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
the feasibility of enclosing the patio for our fellowship hour
and other activities. It was decided to install a retractable
awning system and we went about organizing fund-raising
activities (our Raindown Concert was the first) to finance it.
Three years on, we are in full swing – we currently represent
over 26 countries, have over 350 families or individuals
registered, and over 130 students in CCD. Among our
activities we include Bible study, CCD from K4 to
Confirmation (11 levels), Young Adults, CAFÉ groups, the
Giving Tree project in support of the Fundación Anar and
the Fundación Nazaret among others, our Language
Programme, book sales, bake sales, potluck lunches, CCD
teachers formation and lunch, workshops for the various
ministries (Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers),
and retreats.
We continue to be a strong, vibrant Parish and I will always
remember the Archbishop’s words about us when he came
to celebrate Mass at NS de la Merced (I freely translate
here): “You have from babies to old people, many races,
many nationalities, from poor to rich, but only two things in
common – your language and your FAITH. You are more
than a community, you are like a family and it works!” ▪
C o ng r at u l a t i o ns
New Baptisms
Osaruyi Joshua, son of
Precious and Clement Odigie
Also congratulations to those fully initiated into the Catholic
Church on Easter Sunday, Susan, Jennifer, John, Matthew,
Peter, Stepehen, and Tracie.
Fau st 1 .0
A STAGED PLAYREADING OF CHRISTOPHER
MARLOWE’S DOCTOR FAUSTUS
Friday 25h, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April, 8.00pm
CENTRO GALLEGO
Carretas, 14 (3º) - Metro: Sol
Bartók, Blackberries, plastic mannequins…
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari meets Wings of Desire –
with laptops!
Reservation info:
www.madridplayers.blogspot.com
15
W hat Goes Around Comes
Around!
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish
farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family,
he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He
dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his
waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and
struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad
from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the
Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed
nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father
of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my
son's life."
"No,I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish
farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the
farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a
good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll
grow to a man you can be proud of." And that he did.
In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from
St.Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on
to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir
Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with
pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the
nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir
Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
T he Historical Mar y
Robert P. Maloney
What do we really know about the woman we call Mother of
God and Mother of the Church, the first of all the saints, the
model believer? What do contemporary Scripture studies,
archaeological research and analysis of the literature of her
time reveal to us about Mary? I invite the reader to reflect
with me on the “historical Mary,” whose life is so
intertwined with the mystery of Jesus. Focusing on Mary’s
Jewish roots, writers like Raymond E. Brown, S.S., in The
Birth of the Messiah, John P. Meier in A Marginal Jew and
Elizabeth A. Johnson in Truly Our Sister have carefully
examined the religious, economic, cultural and political
circumstances of her daily life. The scene they reconstruct is
quite different from the idyllic portraits of medieval artists
and the serene rhapsodies of musicians and poets.
Mary was actually called Miriam, after the sister of
Moses. Most likely she was born in Nazareth, a tiny Galilean
town of about 1,600 people, during the reign of Herod the
Great, a violent puppet-king propped up by Roman military
might. Nazareth was of little consequence for most Jews:
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). It
is never mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, nor in the
Talmud. Mary spoke Aramaic, with a Galilean accent (see
Matt 26:73), but she also had contact with a multilingual
world. She heard Latin as it slipped from the tongues of
Roman soldiers, Greek as it was used in commerce and
educated circles and Hebrew as the Torah was proclaimed in
the synagogue.
She belonged to the peasant class, which eked out its living
through agriculture and small commercial ventures like
carpentry, the profession of both Joseph and Jesus. This
group made up 90 percent of the population and bore the
burden of supporting the state and the small privileged
class. Their life was grinding, with a triple tax burden: to
Rome, to Herod the Great and to the temple (to which,
traditionally, they owed 10 percent of the harvest). Artisans,
who made up about 5 percent of the population, had an even
lower median income than those who worked the land full
time. Consequently, in order to have a steady supply of food,
they usually combined their craft with farming.
The picture of the Holy Family as a tiny group of three living
in a tranquil, monastic-like carpenter’s shop is highly
improbable. Like most people at that time, they probably
lived in an extended family unit, where three or four houses
of one or two rooms each were built around an open
courtyard, in which relatives shared an oven, a cistern and a
millstone for grinding grain, and where domestic animals
also lived. Like women in many parts of the world today,
Mary most likely spent, on the average, 10 hours a day on
domestic chores like carrying water from a nearby well or
stream, gathering wood for the fire, cooking meals and
washing utensils and clothes.
Who were the members of this extended household? Mark’s
Gospel speaks of Jesus, “the carpenter, the son of Mary, the
brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are
not his sisters here among us?” (Mark 6:3). Were these
“brothers and sisters” children of Jesus’ aunt (see John
19:25) and therefore cousins? Were they Joseph’s children
by a previous marriage? We do not know their precise
relationship to Jesus and Mary, but it is probable that they
all lived in close proximity within the same compound.
In Palestine at that time, women ordinarily married at about
13 years of age in order to maximize childbearing and to
guarantee their virginity, so it is likely that Mary’s espousal
to Joseph (Matt 1:18) and the birth of Jesus occurred when
she was very young. Luke indicates that Mary gave birth to
Jesus during a census required by the Romans around 6
B.C., in a cave or stall where animals were stabled. A feeding
trough served as his crib, as today poor refugees use
cardboard boxes and other homemade artifacts as makeshift
beds for newborn infants.
It would be a mistake to think of Mary as fragile, even at 13.
As a peasant woman capable of walking the hill country of
Judea while pregnant, of giving birth in a stable, of making a
four- or five-day journey on foot to Jerusalem once a year or
so, of sleeping in the open country like other pilgrims and of
engaging in daily hard labor at home, she probably had a
robust physique in youth and even in her later years. We
also err when we picture her as Fra Lippo Lippi’s gorgeously
dressed, blue-eyed, blond-haired Madonna, who often
adorns Christmas cards. Whether she was beautiful or not,
she would have had features like those of Jewish and
Palestinian women today, most likely with dark hair and
dark eyes.
It is doubtful that she knew how to read or write, since
literacy was extremely rare among women of the time. The
culture was highly oral, with public reading of the
Scriptures, the telling of stories, the recitation of poems and
the singing of songs.
A Jewish culture permeated Mary’s life. One might
legitimately ask: Did she keep a kosher kitchen? Was there a
mezuzah on the doorpost of her family’s modest home in
Nazareth?
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Her husband, Joseph, seems to have died before Jesus’
public ministry began. We know that Mary herself, however,
lived through the time of that ministry (Mark 3:31, John 2:112). Her separation from Jesus as he went out to preach was
undoubtedly painful for her. In a passage that has always
embarrassed Mariologists, Mark tells us that Jesus’ family
thought him mad (Mark 3:21); but what mother, upon
seeing her son challenge Roman authority rather
dauntlessly (this often meant death), might not have said to
him, “Are you crazy?”
John tells us that Mary was present at Jesus’ crucifixion
(John 19:25-27), though the other evangelists are silent
about this. At that time she was probably close to 50 years
old, well beyond the age at which most women in that era
died. She lived on at least into the early days of the church.
Luke states that she was in the upper room in Jerusalem
with the 11 remaining apostles “who devoted themselves to
prayer, together with the women...and with his brothers”
(Acts 1:14). The lovely paintings and icons of Pentecost that
picture the Spirit descending on Mary and the 11 apostles
hardly do justice to Luke’s text, which indicates that she was
there with a community of 120 persons.
After Pentecost, Mary disappears from history. The rest of
her life is shrouded in legend. As Elizabeth Johnson points
out, an active imagination easily wonders: What memories,
hopes and strategies did she share with the men and women
of the new, Spirit-filled Jerusalem community? Did she live
on peacefully in Jerusalem as an old woman, revered as the
mother of the Messiah? Was she quiet or outspoken? Did
others come to her for advice? Did she express her views
about the inclusion of the Gentiles? We do not know. It
would seem that she died as a member of the Jerusalem
community, though a later tradition portrays her as moving
to Ephesus in the company of the apostle John.
Why focus on the historical Mary in Advent? There
are three reasons. First, her history brings her nearer to us.
While there is an alluring quality to the gorgeous Madonnas
depicted by medieval artists, this first-century Jewish
woman living in a peasant village was much more like
billions of people today than the women in those beautiful
paintings. Though her culture was quite different from that
of our 21st-century post-industrial society, it was not unlike
that of women in thousands of villages as they exist today in
Asia, Africa and Latin America. Her daily life and labor were
hard. With Joseph, she raised Jesus in oppressive
circumstances, struggling to pay the taxes by which the rich
became richer at the expense of the poor. As with the vast
majority of people in world history, most of Mary’s difficult
life went unrecorded.
Second, her holiness lies in persistent, faithful listening to
God’s word. Even though in canonizing saints the church
has customarily emphasized martyrdom, asceticism,
renunciation of family and worldly possessions, or lifelong
dedication to the poor, today we recognize more and more
that holiness consists mainly in persevering fidelity in the
midst of everyday life. This is what the “historical Mary”
exemplifies. As events unfolded around her, often to her
surprise, she had to figure out continually what God was
asking of her. She looked for the word of God in people and
events, listened to that word, pondered it and then acted on
it. She doubtless repeated again and again what she said to
Gabriel, “Be it done to me according to your word” (Luke
1:38). Day by day she lived a “pilgrimage of faith,” to use the
words of Vatican II. She found energy in her trust in the God
of Israel and in her solidarity with the growing community
of Christians who experienced the promise of life in the
death and resurrection of her son.
April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
Third, today we recognize Mary’s Magnificat as a rousing
freedom song of the poor. Mary, the lead singer, epitomizes
the lowly of Israel, those marginalized by society, for whom
there is “no room in the inn” (Luke 2:7). God is her only
hope, and she sings the divine praises with exuberant
confidence. While it may be difficult to imagine this
revolutionary hymn coming from the mouth of a Madonna
painted by Caravaggio, it is easy to envision it issuing from
the lips of the historical Mary. Galilee was the spawning
ground for first-century revolts against a repressive
occupying power and its taxes. The Christians of Jerusalem,
who with Mary were the nucleus of the post-resurrection
church, suffered from real hunger and poverty (see Gal 2:10;
1 Cor 16:1-4; Rom 15:25-26). With the members of this
community, Mary believed that God can turn the world
upside down; that the last are first and the first last; the
humble are exalted, the exalted humbled; those who save
their life lose it, those who lose their life save it; those who
mourn will rejoice, those who laugh will cry; the mighty are
cast down from their thrones, the lowly lifted up. She and
they were convinced that in God’s kingdom the poor are
first, and the prostitutes, publicans and outcasts of society
eat at the table of the Lord.
The historical Mary experienced poverty, oppression,
violence and the execution of her son. Her faith is deeply
rooted in that context. Before the omnipotent God, she
recognizes her own “lowly estate.” She is not among the
world’s powerful. She is simply God’s “maidservant.” But
she believes that nothing is impossible for God. In the
Magnificent she sings confidently that God rescues life from
death, joy from sorrow, light from darkness.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian-martyr executed by the
Nazis, spoke these words in a sermon during Advent 1933:
The song of Mary is the oldest Advent hymn. It is at
once the most passionate, the wildest, one might even
say the most revolutionary Advent hymn ever sung.
This is not the gentle, tender, dreamy Mary whom we
sometimes see in paintings; this is that passionate,
surrendered, proud, enthusiastic Mary who speaks out
here. This song has none of the sweet, nostalgic, or
even playful tones of some of our Christmas carols. It is
instead a hard, strong, inexorable song about
collapsing thrones and humbled lords of this world,
about the power of God and the powerlessness of
humankind.
Christians throughout the world will join with Mary in
singing her vibrant song this Advent. May it be both praise
of God’s power and a prophecy of a world to come.
The Canticle of Mary
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit
rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold,
from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is
his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant
of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted
up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has
sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to
his descendants forever.
Luke 1:46-55
17
Jokes & Humor
Father’s Day a.k.a. “Not my cup of tea!”
One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me
and my brother, who is four years older than I am. I was
maybe 2 and half years old and had just recovered from an
accident in which my arm had been broken, among other
injuries. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well
gift and it was one of my favourite toys. Daddy was in the
living room engrossed in the evening news and my brother
was playing in the living room, when I brought Daddy a little
cup of 'tea,' which was just water.
After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy
tea, my Mom came home. My Dad made her wait in the
living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it
was 'just the cutest thing!!'
My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the
hall, with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink
it up, and then says...
Did it ever occur to you that the only place that the baby can
reach to get water is the toilet?
Cyber ear here!
Helen and I laughed when John, a neighbor, told us how his
hearing aid occasionally emits a high-pitched squeal that
can be heard by anyone near him. His granddaughter was
sitting on his lap one day when the device started to beep.
Surprised, little Lorraine looked up at him and said, "Oh,
Grampa, you've got e-mail!"
I Hope I'm Sick, a.k.a. "the sick joke"
A fellow was sitting in the doctor's waiting room, and said
to himself every so often, "Boy, I hope I'm sick!"
After about the fifth or sixth time, the receptionist
couldn't stand it any longer, and asked, "Why in the world
would you want to be sick, Mr. Adams?"
The man replied, "I'd hate to be well and feel like this."▪
From the Smithsonian Institute:
The equivalent of ten city blocks of
rainforest is destroyed every
minute, that's an area the size of
Pennsylvania lost every year.
7% of the earth's dry land surface is
rainforest, home to more than 50%
of the world's plants and animals.
A bulldozer must remove 60
rainforest trees to reach one
mahogany tree.
There are 100 different species of
large trees in a single acre of
rainforest.
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April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4
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April 2008 | Volume 10, Issue 4