Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Introduction to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrates three historical events: the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine; the dedication of churches built by Constantine on the site of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by the emperor Heraclius II. But in a deeper sense, the feast also celebrates the Holy Cross as the instrument of our salvation. This instrument of torture, designed to degrade the worst of criminals, became the life-giving tree that reversed Adam's Original Sin when he ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Ede

History of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross:

After the death and resurrection of Christ, both the Jewish and Roman authorities in Jerusalem made efforts to obscure the Holy Sepulchre, Christ's tomb in the garden near the site of His crucifixion. The earth had been mounded up over the site, and pagan temples had been built on top of it. The Cross on which Christ had died had been hidden (tradition said) by the Jewish authorities somewhere in the vicinity.

According to tradition, first mentioned by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem in 348, Saint Helena, nearing the end of her life, decided under divine inspiration to travel to Jerusalem in 326 to excavate the Holy Sepulchre and attempt to locate the True Cross. A Jew by the name of Judas, aware of the tradition concerning the hiding of the Cross, led those excavating the Holy Sepulchre to the spot in which it was hidden.

Three crosses were found on the spot. According to one tradition, the inscription Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum ("Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews") remained attached to the True Cross. According to a more common tradition, however, the inscription was missing, and Saint Helena and Saint Macarius, the bishop of Jerusalem, assuming that one was the True Cross and the other two belonged to the thieves crucified alongside Christ, devised an experiment to determine which was the True Cross.

In one version of the latter tradition, the three crosses were taken to a woman who was near death; when she touched the True Cross, she was healed. In another, the body of a dead man was brought to the place where the three crosses were found, and laid upon each cross. The True Cross restored the dead man to life.

In celebration of the discovery of the Holy Cross, Constantine ordered the construction of churches at the site of the Holy Sepulchre and on Mount Calvary. Those churches were dedicated on September 13 and 14, 335, and shortly thereafter the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross began to be celebrated on the latter date. The feast slowly spread from Jerusalem to other churches, until, by the year 720, the celebration was universal.

In the early seventh century, the Persians conquered Jerusalem, and the Persian king Khosrau II captured the True Cross and took it back to Persia. After Khosrau's defeat by Emperor Heraclius II, Khosrau's own son had him assassinated in 628 and returned the True Cross to Heraclius. In 629, Heraclius, having initially taken the True Cross to Constantinople, decided to restore it to Jerusalem. Tradition says that he carried the Cross on his own back, but when he attempted to enter the church on Mount Calvary, a strange force stopped him. Patriarch Zacharias of Jerusalem, seeing the emperor struggling, advised him to take off his royal robes and crown and to dress in a penitential robe instead. As soon as Heraclius took Zacharias' advice, he was able to carry the True Cross into the church.

For some centuries, a second feast, the Invention of the Cross, was celebrated on May 3 in the Roman and Gallican churches, following a tradition that marked that date as the day on which Saint Helena discovered the True Cross. In Jerusalem, however, the finding of the Cross was celebrated from the beginning on September 14.

Source : catholicism.about.com

The Feast is also celebrated today in Bhumel - Gujarat- India 

Readings: Numbers 21:4b-9; Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-87, 38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17
Other Names for the Feast: Triumph of the Cross, Elevation of the Cross, Roodmas, Holy Cross

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The most shocking behavior - José Antonio Pagola - translated by Rev. Fr. Valentine de souza

Twenty Fourth Sunday of the Year (C)

15 September 2013

Luke 15, 1 to 32

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable:

 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders  and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The most shocking behavior

José Antonio Pagola

The most provocative and scandalous behavior of Jesus undoubtedly was the way he welcomed with special affection sinners, men and women, excluded by religious leaders and socially relegated by their conduct to the margins of the law. What annoyed them most in his life style was his habit of dining with them as with friends.

   Ordinarily we forget that Jesus created an unexpected situation  in the society of his time. Sinners did not shy away from him. On the contrary, they felt attracted by his person and his message. Luke tells us that “sinners and publicans would come up to Jesus to listen to him.”  Apparently, they found in him a welcome and understanding they did not find anywhere else.

   Meanwhile, the sector of Pharisees and experts in the Law, the ones with the highest moral and religious standing with the people, knew only how to criticize the behavior of Jesus that so scandalized them: “He welcomes sinners and eats with them.” How can a man of God eat at the same table with such a sinful and undesirable lot? 

   Jesus did not ever pay attention to their criticism.  He knew that God is not the severe and demanding Judge about whom they spoke so knowingly, those teachers who occupied the front seats in the synagogues. He knows well the heart of the Father. God understands sinners; he offers his forgiveness to all; he does not exclude anyone; he forgives everything. No one must obscure and distort his unfathomable and free pardon.

   For this reason, Jesus extends to  them his understanding and friendship. Those prostitutes and tax collectors have to feel welcomed by God. That’s most important. No one need feel afraid. They can sit at table with him, drink wine and sing along with Jesus. His welcome keeps healing them within. It frees them from shame and humiliation. It brings back the joy of living.

   Jesus welcomes them just the way they are, without previously demanding anything from them. He communicates to them his peace and his trust in God without the certainty that they will respond by changing their behavior. He does so trusting entirely in the mercy of God who awaits them with open arms, like a good father who runs out to meet and bring home his lost son.

   The first duty of a Church faithful to Jesus is not to condemn sinners, but to understand them and to welcome them lovingly. A few months ago in Rome I could see for myself how the people would applaud Pope Francis enthusiastically whenever he insisted that God always forgives, forgives everything, forgives everyone… Surely it is what many people of little, vacillating  faith need to hear clearly today from the Church.

Proclaim the gratuitous forgiveness of God to all

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Mr. Joseph Davis awarded The KK Memorial Award for Excellence in his Professional Field

 Mr. Joseph Davis of Vadodara, was awarded The KK Memorial Award for Excellence in his Professional Field by the Indian Institute of Metals at the 14th Award Ceremony held at Hotel Orchid in Akota, Vadodara. Mr. Davis is at present working for Petronas in Malaysia. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Davis remembered in a very special way the days when he was chosen (and he accepted and went courageously) as part of a team to go to Bhopal after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy to make an assessment and submit a report to the Govt. of India.

 Mr. Davis is married to Ms. Florence and they have two children, Ms. Jessica Davis-Sharma and young Mr. Stanny Davis. His father, Mr. Marcus Dabhi has been a socially committed and active member till his health has forced him to retire from such activities. His elder sister, Sr. Vandana Dabhi, FC has done great service in the tribal belt of south Gujarat and is at present in-charge of St. Catherine’s Home, Mumbai.

 We congratulate Mr. Davis for the recognition he has received for his professional services and wish him all the best.

- Rev. Fr. Francis Parmar S.J.

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The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Assumption is important to many Catholic and Orthodox Christians as the Virgin Mary's heavenly birthday (the day that Mary was received into Heaven). Her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen by them as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all enduring Christians that they too will be received into paradise. The Assumption of Mary is symbolised in the Fleur-de-lys Madonna.

The feast of the Assumption is a public holiday in many countries, including Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Germany (Bavaria and Saarland only), Greece, Lebanon, Lithuania, Italy, Malta, Mauritius,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland (8 cantons only) and Vanuatu. In Eastern Orthodox churches following the Julian Calendar, the feast day of Assumption of Mary falls on August 28.

The present Italian name of the holiday, "Ferragosto", may derive from the Latin name, Feriae Augusti ("Holidays of the Emperor Augustus", since the month of August took its name from the emperor. The Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15 was celebrated in the eastern Church from the 6th Century. The Catholic Church adopted this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the real physical elevation of her sinless soul and incorrupt body into Heaven.

The Solemnity of the Assumption on August 15 is a public holiday in many countries, including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Colombia, Cyprus, East Timor, France, Gabon, Greece, Republic of Guinea, Haiti, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tahiti, Togo, and Vanuatu. It is also a holiday in some predominantly Catholic states of Germany, including Bavaria and Saarland. In Guatemala it is observed in Guatemala City and in the town of Santa Maria Nebaj, both of which claim her as their patron saint. Also, this day is combined with Mother's Day in Costa Rica and parts of Belgium.

In many places, religious parades and popular festivals are held to celebrate this day. Prominent Catholic and Orthodox countries in which Assumption day is an important festival but is not recognized by the state as a public holiday include Argentina, Brazil, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, the Philippines and Russia. In Canada, Assumption Day is the Fête Nationale of the Acadians, of whom she is the patron saint. Businesses close on that day in heavily francophone parts of New Brunswick, Canada.

The Virgin Assumed in Heaven is also patroness of the Maltese Islands and her feast, celebrated on 15 August, apart from being a public holiday in Malta is also celebrated with great solemnity in all the local churches especially in the seven localities known as the Seba' Santa Marijiet. In Anglicanism and Lutheranism, the feast is kept, but without official use of the word "Assumption".

Source: Wikipedia for more information visit wikipedia

Photo: Google

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How 15th August is celebrated in India

Happy Independence Day 

How 15th August is celebrated in India  

Every year India's Independence Day is celebrated by all proud Indians. The day is observed as a national holiday for the country. Though, local governments conduct the ceremony of flag hoisting all over India, the venue of the main celebration is the Red Fort in the capital city New Delhi in India. The celebration starts every year with the unfurling of the tricoloured national flag by the Prime Minister of the nation followed by a televised speech. The speech generally reflects the present condition of the nation along with the achievements in the previous year and the future development plans. A tribute is even paid by the Prime Minister to freedom fighters of India by declaring the day as the national holiday. Post the flag hoisting ceremony, patriotic programs by children from schools based in different states is one of the main attractions. Delhi's sky gets sprinkled with thousands kites coloured in the same tricolor as that of the national flag.

 Similar celebration is done in all the states of India where the flag is hoisted by the Governor of the states. Besides this, almost every school, colleges, universities, government organizations hoist the national flag on 15th August by their most senior official. Nowadays, many housing complexes, clubs, societies, group of friends even observe the flag hoisting ceremony within their premises with ease, joy and honesty. This just shows the togetherness of Indians, who never forget to pay a tribute to their ancestors who sacrificed their life for the betterment of the country. 

Source : mapsofindia.com

Let us

be Free 

to love, share

and care

- BBN

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St. Vincent de Paul- Umreth organized Blessed Frédéric Ozanam quiz

Date:11-08-2013, Sunday, Nadiad, News By BBN

Last Sunday, St. Vincent de Paul- Umreth organized Blessed Frédéric Ozanam quiz for the children at St. Mary's School, Nadiad. The youth members of St. Vincent de Paul prepared the questions on the life of Blessed Frédéric Ozanamquiz. It was supported by Allahabad bank, Nadiad and Mr. Raphael from Ahmadabad and well wishers of St. Vincent de Paul.

 Rev. Fr. Mayank Parmar SDB conducted Bible quiz. The children and their parents and grandparents participated the Bible quiz.This quiz was an example for teaching Bible values to the children by the parents and grandparents.

ગત રવિવારના રોજ સેન્ટ વિન્સેન્ટ દે પોલ ઉમરેઠ દ્વારા સેન્ટ મેરીસ, નડિયાદમાં બાળકો માટે સુધન્ય ફેડ્રિક ઓઝાનામ દ્રીશતાબ્દી જન્મ જયંતી નિમિત્તે ક્વીઝનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. આ ક્વીઝમાં  સેન્ટ વિન્સેન્ટ દે પોલના સભ્યો  યુવાનો દ્વારા આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું.

 રેવ ફા. મયંક પરમાર દ્વારા બાઈબલ ક્વીઝ બાળકો તથા વડીલો માટે રાખવામાં આવી હતી. આ ક્વીઝ થી માતાપિતા બાળકોને ધર્મ શિક્ષણ આપી શકે તેવો ઉત્તમ દાખલો  બની રહ્યો હતો.

 આ કાર્યક્રમ અલાહાબાદ બેંક, નડીયાદ તથા શ્રી રાફાયેલભાઈ (અમદાવાદ)  તથા સેન્ટ વિન્સેન્ટ  દે પોલના ચાહકોની મદદ  દ્વારા સુંદર બન્યો હતો  

Special thanks to Mr.Jashwant Macwan (Umreth) and the Youth of St. Vincent de Paul

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Umreth organized Blessed Frédéric Ozanam quiz

- BBN

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Funeral of Late Ashish Jaswant Jadav

Ashish Jadav, 27, an engineer met with an accident on 03-09-2013, his father's birthday. His father Jaswantbhai and his mother Vidhyaben and Jadav family were waiting for him in the evening for the birthday celebration. 

As they finished family prayer they received a call from his mobile around 9:15 Pm (a family passing called up) saying that the boy with this mobile met with an accident colliding with a stationary truck on Ring Road near Shilaj Bridge.Those who picked him up rushed him to the near by SHAL Hosptal in Ahmedabad.

Doctor said that Ashish's situation was critical as the skull was damaged. Doctor declared him brain dead on Saturday. And he passed away on Sunday morning, on birthday of Mother Mary (08-09-2013) around 9:45 am.

Ashish was the only Child of Jaswantbhai and Vidhyaben.
 

The funeral mass was in St. Xavier's Parish Church, Navarangpura- Ahmedabad

May his soul rest in peace.

The prayer service will be on 15-09-2013 Sunday morning 10:30 Am

Place: In Loyola School ( Open Assembly Hall campus, Beside the parish Church, Ahmedabad.)

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Please click the link for the photos

Funeral Photos

- BBN

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A Catholic girl Anjana R. Macwan was awarded

Anjana comes from Adas a small village in Anand District in Gujarat. She works as a PM C staff nurse and HIV AIDS coordinator  in Adaraj village in Kadi - Gujarat since last one year.

During BBN interview she was sharing that her work is to help and support poor pregnant women in rural area of the Kadi -Mahesana district. She got the government job last year and in her this short tenure she has brought life and smile to many women who visited the hospital. She is very enthusiastic person and has a zeal to do more and more good work for the people 

During the interview we asked her as a catholic nurse how do you treat the needy and financially poor pregnant women ?

  

 She said that there was human made custom that every women who gave birth had to pay Baxis (money) or sweet to the staff. As a catholic nurse she realized that the village women who come to her hospital are financially poor. sometimes they do not have good food during the pregnancy time, and to take money from them is injustice. She asked every staff and the doctor and convinced them to stop the unwanted activity in her hospital. They agreed with her and happily supported her to stop it. She also helped staff to welcome every women from heart and give them medical treatment with joy. 

She also said that as Jesus said "Come, enter the Kingdom. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was sick and you visited me." These are the values of Christ she shares in her life. 

 The award was given for the best service that she has given in interior villages of the Mahesana district. Let us appreciate her and encourage our youth to share the values of Jesus in our day today life.

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More About Blessed Frédéric Ozanamquiz

 A man convinced of the inestimable worth of each human being, Frédéric served the poor of Paris well and drew others into serving the poor of the world. Through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, his work continues to the present day.

Frédéric was the fifth of Jean and Marie Ozanam’s 14 children, one of only three to reach adulthood. As a teenager he began having doubts about his religion. Reading and prayer did not seem to help, but long walking discussions with Father Noirot of the Lyons College clarified matters a great deal.

Frédéric wanted to study literature, although his father, a doctor, wanted him to become a lawyer. Frédéric yielded to his father’s wishes and in 1831 arrived in Paris to study law at the University of the Sorbonne. When certain professors there mocked Catholic teachings in their lectures, Frédéric defended the Church.

A discussion club which Frédéric organized sparked the turning point in his life. In this club Catholics, atheists and agnostics debated the issues of the day. Once, after Frédéric spoke about Christianity’s role in civilization, a club member said: "Let us be frank, Mr. Ozanam; let us also be very particular. What do you do besides talk to prove the faith you claim is in you?"

Frédéric was stung by the question. He soon decided that his words needed a grounding in action. He and a friend began visiting Paris tenements and offering assistance as best they could. Soon a group dedicated to helping individuals in need under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul formed around Frédéric.

Feeling that the Catholic faith needed an excellent speaker to explain its teachings, Frédéric convinced the Archbishop of Paris to appoint Father Lacordaire, the greatest preacher then in France, to preach a Lenten series in Notre Dame Cathedral. It was well attended and became an annual tradition in Paris.

After Frédéric earned his law degree at the Sorbonne, he taught law at the University of Lyons. He also earned a doctorate in literature. Soon after marrying Amelie Soulacroix on June 23, 1841, he returned to the Sorbonne to teach literature. A well-respected lecturer, Frédéric worked to bring out the best in each student. Meanwhile, the St. Vincent de Paul Society was growing throughout Europe. Paris alone counted 25 conferences.

In 1846, Frédéric, Amelie and their daughter Marie went to Italy; there he hoped to restore his poor health. They returned the next year. The revolution of 1848 left many Parisians in need of the services of the St. Vincent de Paul conferences. The unemployed numbered 275,000. The government asked Frédéric and his co-workers to supervise the government aid to the poor. Vincentians throughout Europe came to the aid of Paris.

Frédéric then started a newspaper, The New Era, dedicated to securing justice for the poor and the working classes. Fellow Catholics were often unhappy with what Frédéric wrote. Referring to the poor man as "the nation’s priest," Frédéric said that the hunger and sweat of the poor formed a sacrifice that could redeem the people’s humanity

In 1852 poor health again forced Frédéric to return to Italy with his wife and daughter. He died on September 8, 1853. In his sermon at Frédéric’s funeral, Lacordaire described his friend as "one of those privileged creatures who came direct from the hand of God in whom God joins tenderness to genius in order to enkindle the world."

Frédéric was beatified in 1997. Since Frédéric wrote an excellent book entitledFranciscan Poets of the Thirteenth Century and since Frederick’s sense of the dignity of each poor person was so close to the thinking of St. Francis, it seemed appropriate to include him among Franciscan "greats."

Courtesy: americancatholic.org

Photo: Google

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Youth Day Celebration By the Legion of Mary

 The Legion of Mary is a lay catholic organisation whose members are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis in almost every country.Gujarat is also one of the states who has been a very active support for faithful and Gujarat church. A lot of youth and elders are members of it. They conduct daily prayers in families and visit sick and needy people. 

 Yesterday Youth day was celebrated by the members of Nadiad- Anand Legion of Mary. It was a vibrant movement by the organizers to bring more and more our youth to Church. 150 people gathered from Nadiad and Anand cities and villages at St. Mary's School, Nadiad.

 Rt. Bishop Thomas Macwan (Ahmedabad Dio.) encouraged all after the mass and distributed Rosary to each one. It was a wonderful day for the gathered youth and elders - BBN

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Funeral of Bro. Aloysius Macwan

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Bro Macwan Aloysius spent much of his life in the Society serving as Boarding-in charge in Zhagadia, Surat and Varsada. He also served as Minister and Kitchen-in charge of Premal Jyoti for about five years. He was placed in charge of the first hostel for tribal boys in the mission of Vyara in 1967. He was notable for his simplicity and constant availability to the boys. The boys used to wait for his company outside the study hours too. He had great love for them and their families. His influence over them lasted much beyond the years he spent in the hostel. He is still remembered by them even after thirty years. He took great interest in what was happening in the villages during the famine years in 1967-1971 and famine relief work, and supported the Fathers in whatever was required of him in using the services of the boys for the work of the mission. He was simple and unassuming. In his simplicity he was blessed with a kind of earthy wisdom and sagacity that is given “to the unlearned but hidden from the wise and learned.” He was a very pleasant companion. He had a very charming personality to attract and to relate with people. He had been a source of inspiration in the Jesuit Community. He kept the community alive with his spontaneous jokes. He had an art of correcting others and giving feedback with out hurting them. As a Jesuit he never found anything impossible. He used to take up any work and do it to the best of his ability. His famous saying is: “Kai vandho nati, apne joilayea.” It means, “no problem, we will do it.” He was a man prayer and deep convictions. With his spiritual strength and deep convictions, he did his work with great sense of commitment and dedication. Till his death he served as a boarding-in-charge at Khambhat.

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Funeral photos of Bro. Aloysius Macwan


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photo: Gurjarvani

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