Children's Liturgy Sunday February 14th 2010.
We listened to the Gospel for
today - Luke 6:17, 20-26. Jesus knew that people often look for happiness
in the wrong places. He even suggests that we might be happier if we were
poor, hungry, crying and disliked by others.
When we are poor, it might be easier for us to trust in God to supply
everything we need, instead of depending on our own wealth. When we are
crying, we can trust in God to comfort us and ease our pain. When we think
we have no friends, we have a friend in Jesus. Jesus is a friend who will
never leave us. |
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Our picture reminds us that it does not matter
where you live in the world, or how much money you have, it is your family,
friends and community that unite you.
Thank you, God for all our family and friends. Amen |
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| We made Valentine cards to say thank you to
our friends and families. |
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| This week, Frankie was in Malta, on pilgrimage
with Father John. One day, they went in a little boat to St. Paul's Island,
where St. Paul was shipwrecked. It is a very small island, with nothing
on it except for the statue of St. Paul erected by the people of the Maltese
islands. |
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The shipwreck happened in A.D. 60, so this
year is the 1950th anniversary.
St. Paul was originally a leading Pharisee who wanted to see Jesus' followers
arrested. He was travelling on the road to Damascus, when he was blinded
by a great light. After being lead by the hand into Damascus, he was visited
by Ananias, a Christian, who prayed over him. Paul received back his sight
and was baptised there and then.
Now he began to preach that Jesus was Lord. He studied for three years
in the Arabian desert, then returned home to Tarsus, after which he visited
Peter in Jerusalem, and started his first missionary journey to Cyprus
and Turkey.
Paul was known as "Apostle to the Gentiles", as he realised
Jesus' message was to all people, not just the Jews.His three missionary
journeys included eleven sea voyages, a total of 3,500 miles at sea.
Paul had to escape many times from towns where he preached. He was often
beaten or stoned. Eventually, he returned to Jerusalem to help the needy
church there, even though he knew that he might die. He was, in fact,
imprisoned for two years, before being taken to Rome as a prisoner. In
a storm, he was shipwrecked off Malta.
You can read of this event in Acts of the Apostles 27-28. It says that
the Maltese people were very kind and lit a big bonfire to warm those
who had been shipwrecked, as it was cold and rainy. Paul helped with the
fire, when he was attacked by a snake, which he shook off from his wrist.
The people were amazed he did not die.
Paul stayed in Malta over the winter. He converted the people to Christianity.
Eventually, he was taken to Rome where he was kept under arrest; but he
still preached to all who would listen.
On 10th of February each year, Malta celebrates the shipwreck that brought
Christianity to them. Father John celebrated mass on the small island
of St. Paul. You can see how the shipwreck was not difficult for the pilgrims
to imagine! It was a very windy day, so the altar table had to be weighted
down with rocks! |
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| Here is a picture of the cave in Rabat, where
it is said St. Paul stayed during his winter on Malta. |
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| Frankie agreed that the people of Malta were
very kind. |
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