December 2015 Year 20 — No. 11

Holy Cross Catholic Church Newsletter

Paphos Gate, 1010 Nicosia; PO Box 21964, 1515 Nicosia, Cyprus

Tel. (357) 22 662132; Fax: (357) 22 660767

Email: holcross@logos.cy.net; URL: www.holy-cross-nicosia.com

Parish Priest: Fr. Zacheusz Dulniok, ofm

Arise, shine; for your light has come!

SUNDAY MASSES

7:30 am Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday - English

7:30 am Tuesday - Greek St. Anthony Devotion

8.00 am Wednesday - English

6:30 pm Every day - English

4:00 pm Polish: Every 1st Saturday of the month

4:00 pm Spanish: Every 2nd Saturday of the month

6:30 pm English

WEEKDAY MASSES

SATURDAY VIGIL MASSES (For Sunday)

MASSES IN NORTH CYPRUS

Dear friends in Christ, Through the Announcement to Mary that God chose her to be the Mother of His Son, the Lord, God the Father, initiated the “Year of gladness and grace” for all mankind. Mary’s Immaculate Conception was a preparation for the “lowly servant” to fulfill this extraordinary mission. This year we will celebrate the festival of Christmas in a very special way. This year is dedicated to the Divine Mercy of God. God manifested His mercy in the most miraculous and wonderful way with the Incarnation of His only Son Jesus in Mary’s womb. The Nativity of Christ, the Redeemer, is a reflection of God’s merciful heart. He wants to save all His children through the passion of His Son. The Church wants to begin the celebration of this Jubilee Year with the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8). All over the world cathedrals and basilicas have been designated, where the Jubilee doors will be opened. In Cyprus the Maronite Cathedral in Nicosia was chosen for this celebration during which the symbolic Jubilee door will be opened on Sunday 13 December at 4:00 pm. My wish for our faithful is that they will taste and experience personally the joy

of forgiveness and mercy of God during Christmas and during the Jubilee Year

2016. Fr. Zacheusz M. Dulniok, ofm

12:00 nn St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Kyrenia - Every Sunday - English

7:00 pm Famagusta - Every Sunday -English

8:00 am English

9:30 am Greek

10:30 am English

12:00 nn French: Every 1st Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Tagalog: Every 2nd Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Indian: Every 3rd Sunday of the month

12:00 nn Sinhala: Every 4th Sunday of the month

5:30 pm English (Children/Families)

CHRISTMAS GRAND BAZAAR SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER

9:30 am - 4:30 pm St. Joseph Convent Courtyard Agiou Marona 13, Nicosia, Paphos Gate

LIVE MUSIC AND SONGS Bicommunal Choir for Peace in Cyprus, Windcraft Band, Swedish

Choir, Maronite Choir, singers from India, Ukraine, Philippines, Sri Lanka

SANTA CLAUS is coming... Gifts and crafts

Toys and books Food and Sweets from different countries Drinks and Mulled wine

In aid of : St. Joseph the Mi-grant Social Center

Free Entry

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

S E ASO N C EL EB R AT IO NS

THE PROGRAMME FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD WILL BE PUBLISHED AND POSTED AT THE

ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH VERY SOON.

BELOW WE GIVE SOME ESSENTIAL PRELIMINARY INFORMATION.

29 November: 1st

Sunday of Advent, Parish Recollection and Penitential Day

6 December: 2nd

Sunday of Advent

8 December, Tuesday: The Immaculate Conception of the BVM

Opening of the Jubilee Year

7:30 am: Holy Mass

6:30 pm: Holy Mass

13 December: 3rd

Sunday of Advent

Opening of the Jubilee Doors at the Maronite Cathedral at 4:00 pm

16—24 December: Christmas Novena with meditation

20 December: 4th

Sunday of Advent

24 December, Thursday: Christmas Vigil

6:30 pm: Christmas Vigil Mass for Children

10:00 pm: Reading of the Gospel of Christ’s Birth and Carol Singing

At 11:00 pm : Solemn High Mass of Christ's Nativity

25 December, Friday: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day)

Holy Masses as on Sundays

26 December, Saturday: St. Stephen, Martyr

7:30 am: Holy Mass

6:30 pm: Holy Mass—Solemnity of the Holy Family

27 December, Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

28 December, Monday: Feast of the Holy Innocents

31 December, Thursday: Last day of 2015

In the evening, during the 6:30 Mass, we will conclude the year 2015 with a Solemn

Te Deum of Thanksgiving. After the Mass parishioners will exchange New Year wishes

in Saint Francis Hall.

1 January 2016, Friday: New Year’s Day

Feast of Mary, Holy Mother of God, Θεοτόκος, World Day of Peace

Holy Masses as on Sundays

During the 10:30 am Solemn Mass, singing of “Veni, Creator Spiritus”

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of December 2015 Universal: That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving. Evangelisation: That families, especially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain hope.

P A RIS H NE W S

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people;

MOVIE NIGHT FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER

St Francis Hall - 7.15 pm AD The Bible continues (Episode 12)

The abomination

PARISH COUNCIL NEWS & MESSAGES

As the year 2015 draws to a close with the period of Advent, the festive season of Christmas and the dawn of the New Year 2016, we recall the wonderful experiences and events, gifts of the Lord, we lived together at the Holy Cross: the Holy Cross Lenten Pi lgrimage to the monastery and tomb of Agios Neophytos in Paphos, where we had the chance to better prepare ourselves for Easter; the Good Friday Passion drama where we walked together the Way of the Cross in meditation; the Holy Cross Parish Lunch with the Patriarch of Jerusalem which included wonderful presentations by the various groups of our parish, feasting together; the Holy Cross Movie Nights, with inspiring movies on our faith; and many more! As the Jubilee Year of Mercy unfolds, with the Annual Plan of the Parish Council for 2016, we hope the Lord will help us to live together such experiences, ever more deeply. Make sure you get copies of our new 2016 Parish Calendar before Christmas and also let us know of any suggestions you may have for our 2016 Parish Council Annual Plan. We pray the Risen Lord blesses you, your loved ones, our priests and all of us in our Parish always! Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Jubilee Year full of His mercy and do not forget to pray for us in the Parish Council too!

Akis Hjiiossif (Chairman of the Parish Council – email: holcrossparishcouncil@yahoo.com)

If you visit our office during the week, you will find a lot of gentlemen there. Someone asked one day: ‘Why are all these young men sitting here? They should be working.’ Yes, they should. They came to Cyprus for that purpose but things did not work out the way they expected. Some were told they would work in factories but ended up in farms. Some were told that their salaries would be €800 per month but they worked for less than half. Some were not paid at all. And some arrived to find that there was no employer for them at all even though they had the name of one on their entry visa. If the police establish that they were recruited by way of deception and false promises for the purpose of exploitation, they will be recognised as victims of trafficking for labour exploitation and will receive protection and a permit to work again. Until this happens, we provide them with a place to stay, give them basic food provisions and guide them in administrative procedures. Gosia Chrysanthou, Caritas Migrant Centre

CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

Fri. 11/Sat. 12 Dec. at 8:30 pm: Opera “Suor Angelica”

Tue. 15 Dec. at 8:00 pm: Orphanage Choir

Wed. 16 Dec. at 8:00 pm: Katie Economidou and Friends

Sat. 19 Dec. at 8:00 pm: Guitar Trio

Mon. 21 Dec. at 8:00 pm: Polifonia Choir

Wed. 23 Dec. at 8:00 pm: Christmas Concert

St Anthony Benevolent Society Christmas Bazaar 12 and 13 December

The Christmas Bazaar of the Society will take place on Saturday 12 December, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a hot punch offered, and on Sunday 13 December, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am (without punch) in St. Anthony Hall. We kindly ask for donations in form of cakes, bottles and any items for the White Elephant stall. With the proceeds the St. Anthony Benevolent Society supports some very needy fami-

lies throughout the year. For more information, please contact Gladys (99553489) or Ninette

(99543330/22665871)

We would like to thank the Indian Community who are preparing this

year the Manger of Christ Nativity.

of the Divine Mercy Jubilee Year

will be on sale very soon.

During the Jubilee Year of the Divine Mercy all prayer groups of the Holy Cross Parish will conduct works of mercy towards those

in need. We begin with the Divine Mercy Group who will be following a specific programme.

Program of the Divine Mercy Prayer Group for the Jubilee Year Trust denotes people’s attitude toward God, mercy defines what our attitude towards others should be. It does not mean any kind of mercy, but imitating God Himself in His mercy towards His people. There are three ways of exercising mercy: by deed, by word and by prayer. Our activities for the Year of Mercy will be: visits to the sick (in hospitals and homes); visits to prisons; visits to cemeteries; visits to orphanages and children’s homes; evangelisation; visits to lapsed Catholics; help to the destitute and assistance to the weak; organisation of devotions and weekly prayers.

but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

You can receive the Parish

Newsletter electronically.

Go to http://groupspaces.com/HCNewsletter/

Click on “Join Group” and follow the instructions.

Notices, Contributions, etc. for Parish Newsletter

Please send your notices and other contributions for the next newsletter to Monique (moniqueburston@yahoo.com) and/or to the Parish priest (holcross@logos.cy.net), or leave them in an

envelope in the Church Library.

Deadline for submissions: 20 December

4. I have chosen the date of 8 December because of its rich meaning in the recent history of the Church. In fact, I will open the Holy Door on the fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. The Church feels a great need to keep this event alive. With the Council, the Church entered a new phase of her history. The Council Fathers strongly perceived, as a true breath of the Holy Spirit, a need to talk about God to men and women of their time in a more accessible way. The walls which for too long had made the Church a kind of fortress were torn down and the time had come to proclaim the Gospel in a new way. It was a new phase of the same evangelization that had existed from the beginning. It was a fresh undertaking for all Christians to bear witness to their faith with greater enthusiasm and conviction. The Church sensed a responsibility to be a living sign of the Father’s love in the world. We recall the poignant words of Saint John XXIII when, opening the Council, he indicated the path to follow: “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity… The Catholic Church, as she holds high the torch of Catholic truth at this Ecumenical Council, wants to show herself a loving mother to all; patient, kind, moved by compassion and goodness toward her separated children”. Blessed Paul VI spoke in a similar vein at the closing of the Coun-cil: “We prefer to point out how charity has been the principal religious feature of this Council… the old story of the Good Samaritan has been the model of the spirituality of the Council… a wave of affection and admiration flowed from the Council over the modern world of humanity. Errors were condemned, indeed, because charity demanded this no less than did truth, but for individuals themselves there was only admonition, respect and love. Instead of depressing diagnoses, encouraging remedies; instead of direful predictions, messages of trust issued from the Council to the present-day world. The modern world’s values were not only respected but honoured, its efforts approved, its aspirations purified and blessed… Another point we must stress is this: all this rich teaching is channelled in one direction, the service of mankind, of every condition, in every weakness and need”. With these sentiments of gratitude for everything the Church has received, and with a sense of responsibility for the task that lies ahead, we shall cross the threshold of the Holy Door fully confident that the strength of the Risen Lord, who constantly supports us on our pilgrim way, will sustain us. May the Holy Spirit, who guides the steps of believers in cooperating with the work of salvation wrought by Christ, lead the way and support the People of God so that they may contemplate the face of mercy. 5. The Jubilee year will close with the liturgical Solemnity of Christ the King on 20 November 2016. On that day, as we seal the Holy Door, we shall be filled, above all, with a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for having granted us an extraordinary time of grace. We will entrust the life of the Church, all humanity, and the entire cosmos to the Lordship of Christ, asking him to pour out his mercy upon us like the morning dew, so that everyone may work together to build a brighter future. How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God! May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst! 6. “It is proper to God to exercise mercy, and he manifests his omnipotence particularly in this way”. Saint Thomas Aquinas’ words show that God’s mercy, rather than a sign of weakness, is the mark of his omnipotence. For this reason the liturgy, in one of its most ancient collects, has us pray: “O God, who reveal your power above all in your mercy and forgiveness…” Throughout the history of humanity, God will always be the One who is present, close, provident, holy, and merciful. “Patient and merciful.” These words often go together in the Old Testament to describe God’s nature. His being merciful is concretely demonstrated in his many actions throughout the history of salvation where his goodness prevails over punishment and destruction. In a special way the Psalms bring to the fore the grandeur of his merciful action: “He forgives all your iniquity, he heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the pit, he crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Ps 103: 3-4). Another psalm, in an even more explicit way, attests to the concrete signs of his mercy: “He executes justice for the oppressed; he gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin” (Ps 146:7-9). Here are some other expressions of the Psalmist: “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds… The Lord lifts up the downtrodden, he casts the wicked to the ground” (Ps 147:3, 6). In short, the mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality with which he reveals his love as of that of a father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of love for their child. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that this is a “visceral” love. It gushes forth from the depths naturally, full of tenderness and compassion, indulgence and mercy.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Misericordiae Vultus - BULL OF INDICTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY (2)

M O R E N E WS

Coffee Morning in the Library

There will be no coffee morning in December.

Next: 21 January 2016

10.00-12.00