THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF ARABIA, AHMADI, KUWAITemail: visionwithamission@gmail.com www.vicariatekuwait.org

VOLUME: 1 ISSUE: 8 MONTHLY JANUARY 2011

The devotion to Our Lady of Arabia began on the day a Chapel was dedicated in Her honour, in Ahmadi on December 8, 1948.

To the officiating clergy as well as to the faithful attending, this title of Our Lady seemed quite ‘’new.’’ Yet the Right Rev. Apostolic Administrator of Arabia had approved it.

It is meant to fulfill the prophecy of the Blessed Virgin contained in the “Magnificat”: “Behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed!‘‘(Luke 1:48)

Few are aware that Our Lady has been in Arabia for the last thousand three hundred years. Mention of her is even made in the Holy Quran: “O Mary, verily God hath chosen thee above all women of the world.” (Chap. III, Section 5, 45th verse)

To the glorious Arab crowned women mentioned in the Holy Scripture and in the ancient history as well as in that of the Arabs: i.e., the biblical Queen of Sheba, then Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, who led her people against the armies of a Roman emperor, and the gentle sovereign of the ‘‘Arabian Nights’’ a greater Queen is added in our days.

From the desert of Arabia she spreads out her charm and power in every country. Mary - The Queen of Arabia - rallies around her throne in Ahmadi Catholics of twelve different nationalities, English and Palestinian, Australian, North American, Indian, Irish, French, Pakistani, Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, lrani. We could apply to this image of our blessed Mother the words of St. John, in a different sense: ‘‘Upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Apocalypse XII). Through these people she will be invoked, she will be asked for favours in other parts of the world, as Our Lady of Arabia.

Another Year is Dawning…

12 Months of Goodness52 Weeks of Happiness365 Days of Satisfaction8760 Hours of Peace525600 Minutes of Prosperity31536000 Seconds of Success

Feast of Our Lady of Arabia

January 14

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

Don

’t ju

dge

peop

le b

y th

eir r

elat

ives

. Tal

k slo

wly

bu

t th

ink

quic

kly.

Wh

en y

ou lo

se, d

on’t

lose

the

less

on.

Ther

e ar

e 4

thin

gs

U c

an’t

reco

ver:

The

ston

e af

ter s

hot

; th

e w

ord

afte

r pro

nou

nce

d; th

e oc

casio

n a

fter l

ost;

the

time

afte

r gon

e.

Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

NOVENA SCHEDULE FOR PARISH FEASTDAY DATE ORGANIZED BY ROSARY MASS @ THEMEWed Jan 05 Legion of Mary Senior 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and Word of GodThu Jan 06 Legion of Mary Junior 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and HumilityFri Jan 07 Catechism Children 8.00 am 8.30 am Mary and ObedienceSat Jan 08 Catechists 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and Service Sun Jan 09 POSA 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and HolinessMon Jan 10 Jesus Youth/Parish Youth 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and Commitment Tue Jan 11 English Prayer Group 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and FaithfulnessWed Jan 12 Couples for Christ 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and EvangelizationThu Jan 13 Malayalam Prayer Group 5.30 pm 6.00 pm Mary and Holy SpiritFri Jan 14 Parish Council 8.30 am 9.30 am Mary and Mission

JANUARY 5-13, 2011• – Wed-Thur – Nine Day Novenas in preparation for the Parish Feast

JANUARY• 7, 2011 – Friday – First Friday Adoration organized on the Vicariate level by the different language communities. 12.00 pm – Konkani, 1.00 pm – Malayalam, 2.00 pm – Tamil, 3.00pm – Tagalog, 4.00pm – English.

JANUARY 14, 2011 – •Friday – Feast of Our Lady of Arabia – Parish Feast during 9.30 am mass

JANUARY 17, 2011 – •Monday – Holy Hour after the 6.00 pm Mass organized by the Charismatic Groups.

JANUARY 19, 2011 – •Wednesday – Baptism Seminar from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm in the Catechism Block.

JANUARY 29, 2011 – •Saturday – Renewal of Marital Vows during the 6.00 pm Mass.

PARISH DIARY

PARISH BULLETIN

Smile, when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

Wh

en s

omeo

ne

asks

you

a q

ues

tion

you

don

’t w

ant t

o an

swer

, sm

ile a

nd

ask,

“W

hy

do y

ou w

ant t

o kn

ow?”

Rem

embe

r th

e th

ree

R’s:

Resp

ect f

or s

elf;

Resp

ect f

or o

ther

s; Re

spon

sibilit

y fo

r all

you

r act

ion

s.

Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

THIS YOU MUST KNOWThe Catholic Charismatic Renewal:

WE CELEBRATED:NOVEMBER 25, 2010 - St. Alphonsa Charismatic Prayer Group conducted Bible Quiz competition based on gospel according to St. Luke after 6.30 pm Malayalam mass. It was well attended.

NOVEMBER 26, 2010 – Feast of Perpetual Succour Ward (Mangaf) was celebrated during 11.00 am Konkani Mass and a fellowship was held later in the evening.

NOVEMBER 27, 2010 - The Altar Servers went on a day’s picnic to Scientific Centre. 52 Altar Servers accompanied by their Spiritual Director and Coordinators had a fun filled day. Discovery, Aquarium and IMAX were the highlights of the day.

DECEMBER 10, 2010 - To celebrate Christmas more meaningfully Carol Singing Competition for all the Choir Groups was arranged. Six Choir Groups - St. Clare’s, Angel’s, St. Cecilia’s, St. Antony’s, Mary Matha and OLMG - participated. Mr. Adolf Fernandes, Mr. Joao Socorro De Melo and Mrs. Marlinda De Souza were judges. OLMG – Filipino Choir, Angel’s – English Choir and St. Cecilia’s – Konkani Choir won first, second and third prizes respectively. Winners were presented with Trophies and cash prizes - KD 50, KD 40 and KD 30 respectively. Mr. Ildone L. Galves compered the program.

DECEMBER 17, 2010 – Catechism Department organized the Christmas Tree celebration after the 8.30 am Mass. Various communities and the Catechism children put up an excellent display of talent and culture. More than 1000 children and parishners enjoyed the day.

Charismatic renewal is a buzzword in our spiritual life. Though Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of our sanctification, the church allowed the charismatic way of worship to beautify one’s spiritual charisma from 1967 onwards. Since then, the Charismatic renewal has been attracting many faithful globally to lead a life in a Christ-like way. No wonder it also started spreading among the catholic flock in Kuwait in its own ways.

After careful scrutiny of the purpose and practices of the Charismatic Renewal, the late Bishop of Kuwait Msgr. Victor San Miguel gave official approval to the formation of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal on April 7, 1980. Since then it has grown in a much larger way attracting many faithful beyond the nationality, gender and age barriers.

In Kuwait, the renewal prayers were initially held in the so called upper room (room above the sacristy chapel) in the Cathedral with just a handful of faithful. They focused only on breaking and sharing of word in a very simple way in contrast with the charged ambience commonly experienced in any typical praise and worship.

This group was further strengthened and streamlined by H.L. Bishop (Emeritus) Francis Micallef OCD in January, 1982 by inviting a few of the noteworthy charismatic personalities such as Mr. Fritz Mascarets, Fr. Rufus Pereira and Fr. James D’souza, from India, with a singular objective to enlighten the faithful of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and promote its growth in the Vicariate. The periodical mission retreats touched many devotees and also changed many more. This is evident in the ever increasing attendance at the weekly prayer meetings of the Holy Family Prayer Group which resulted in shifting the prayer meetings from the small room to a bigger hall in Cathedral.

Even the invasion of Kuwait in August, 1990, did not interrupt the continuity in the functioning of the prayer group. Rather those of the members who stayed back were resolutely meeting at their homes or at Cathedral unmindful of the then prevailing hostile political situation. After the Liberation of Kuwait in February, 1991, the prayer group resumed their spiritual ministry with renewed zeal and rediscovered strength.

The group was subsequently streamlined under the spiritual directorship of Rev. Fr. Dominic in Cathedral and under the animated leadership of the respective parish priests in Ahmadi and Salmiya. This quickly started expanding to various languages in order to benefit the faithful of the respective linguistic group in an effective way.

The functioning of these prayer groups is currently monitored by the Kuwait National Service Team which in turn complements the spiritual needs by organizing Renewal / Recollection days on regular basis. They also provide other resources in terms of persons and materials to train the prayer group members by conducting the Life in Spirit Seminars under the able leadership of H.L Bishop Camillo Ballin.

As this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Kuwait, let us in one heart and mind give thanks to the Lord for sending forth His Spirit and thus renewing the face of the earth continuously.

Louis Thiagaraj

Trust in God but lock your car. Read between the lines. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

Mar

ry a

man

/wom

an y

ou lo

ve to

talk

to. A

s yo

u g

et o

lder

, th

eir c

onve

rsat

ion

al s

kills

will

be a

s im

port

ant a

s an

y ot

her

.

Live

a g

ood,

hon

orab

le li

fe. T

hen

whe

n yo

u ge

t old

er a

nd th

ink

back

, you

’ll ge

t to

enjo

y it

a se

cond

tim

e.

Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

Everyone needs a dream, a vision to inspire them. John Bosco was born in Beechi in Italy in 1815. When he was only two years old, he lost his father and was brought up by his mother Margaret. John had been having a series of dreams, which revealed God’s will for his life. Young Bosco’s first dream found him in a field with a crowd of children. The children started cursing and misbehaving. John jumped into the crowd to try to stop the fighting. Suddenly a man with a radiant face called John over and made him the leader of the boys. He was told to win these friends with gentleness and kindness. John argued that he was just a boy but the man in a white flowing mantle told him that this is the field of John’s life work. John won over his friends with humility, faithfulness and kindness. That first dream led him to take care of poor and neglected boys. He started out by learning to juggle and do tricks. Once he had their attention he would teach them and take them for Mass. In another dream, Mother Mary led him to a beautiful garden. There were roses everywhere. He was told

to take off his shoes and walk along the path. Hardly had he walked a few steps that his naked feet were cut and bleeding from the thorns. When he wanted to wear his shoes, he was told to wear sturdy shoes. As he stepped forward a second time, he was followed by helpers. Many of the helpers, who had been expecting an easy journey, turned back but some stayed with him. The path was his mission, the roses were his charity to the boys and the thorns were obstacles in his path. The message of the dream was clear

to John: he must keep going, not lose faith in God or his mission. John Bosco died at the age of seventy two. His work lives on in the Salesian order he founded.In the Vicariate of Kuwait, the Salesians are doing a wonderful task: turning the dreams of John Bosco into a reality. “In times of quietness, our hearts should be like a tree, lifting their branches to heaven to draw down strength which they will need to face the storms that will surely come in life”.

Saintof the Month: KIDS

CORNERSt. John Bosco

– January 31

In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

A lo

vin

g a

tmos

pher

e in

you

r hom

e is

so im

port

ant.

Do

all y

ou c

an to

cre

ate

a tr

anqu

il h

arm

onio

us

hom

e.

Shar

e yo

ur k

now

ledg

e. It

’s a

way

to a

chie

ve im

mor

talit

y. L

earn

the

rule

s th

en b

reak

som

e.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

ACROSS: 3. Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette was in this country 5. Jesus performed his first miracle here on Mary’s request 6. Prayer of Mother Mary 7. Hometown of Mother Mary 8. Feast of Mother Mary being carried body and soul to Heaven10. She appeared to three children here in 191711. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in this country12. Mother Mary identified herself as the Immaculate Conception to this little girl

DOWN: 1. Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health is here 2. Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this month 4. Vision of the Miraculous Medal appeared to this saint 9 . Feast of Mary Mother of God17. Bright light marks the way

This puzzle is about Mary’s life, her feasts and her apparitions. Enjoy working out.

CONGRATULATIONSto the Winner: Jacintha Coelho

A lot of Church members singing ‘Standing on the Promises’ are just sitting on the premises.

Email your answers to visionwithamission@gmail.com

latest byJanuary 20, 2011

Puzzle – Mary, Mother of God

HOLY HUMOUR

A newly married husband saved his wife’s mobile number on his mobile as “My life”

After one year of marriage he changed the number to “My Wife”

After 2 years of marriage he changed the number to “Home”

After 5 years of marriage he changed the number to “Hitler”

After 10 years of marriage he changed the number to “Wrong Number”

TWO WOLVES One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. “One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.“The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”Humorous Quotes: