My Summer Camp 2018

Summer begins with me looking forward to the “Summer camp”. Last year I had

missed it, as we were travelling during the days of the camp. So this year I made sure my parents booked tickets in such a way that I will not miss a single day of the camp. I came on the first day and was excited to find out that I had my best friends in the same group as me. Our team was called ‘Mark’. I was so happy with the teachers I got. My teachers were Sanno sir, Ciba ma’am and Mafie ma’am. The theme of our summer camp was “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Daily after an opening prayer, we used to sing the theme song in the hall. Later we had exercises and zumba classes, which were amazing, a lot of fun and also kept us fit. After that we were split into groups for games, thus teaching us the importance of team work. We would next move on to our class rooms where we used to have theme based lessons and activities. We especially loved the ‘Scripture Hunt’, ‘Parable time’, ‘Who am I’, team activities that were conducted. The winning teams were given prizes and this used to encourage us a lot. We learnt a lot about God’s love, but in a fun way. At the end of the day, we were given goody bags which used to make our tummies happy.

I am very sad that the Summer Camp has come to an end. (Hoping there was a ‘winter camp’ too!!). Already looking forward to “Summer Camp 2019”

-Asin Thomas

Happy Birthday Mother Dear, A message from Parish Priest Fr. Ani Xavier OFM Cap.

When a child is born, the whole family rejoices. When a child was born

in Nazareth to Anna and Joachim, two millennium ago, the whole of heavens rejoiced. An immaculate mystical rose, pure and splendid, blossomed amidst the soil that was to be toiled with sweat (Genesis 3:17). Amidst the thorns of the earth, a bud bloomed to give hope to mankind. Amidst the dust of the earth, a fragrant flower flourished. This child was

to become a Mother. Mother of God and Mother of the human race and more specifically Mother of sinners that we may regain the lost paradise.

The birth of this child resonates in us the value of each life in this world. A life created in the womb of a woman, from the moment of its creation is valuable and precious in the sight of the Lord. Every child has the right to live. We who are alive are so because of our parents who deemed it right to nurture us and bring us to this world. Today when the world is filled with the cries of many an unborn child, the birth of Mary strikes the heart and the conscience of the whole world with the greatness of the value of every single child.

Pope Benedict the sixteenth said ““Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary.”

We are precious. Every life is precious. God calls each of us by our name. “I have called you by your name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). We do not belong to nowhere. We belong to God. We belong to the King. We belong to the one who created us. He calls us by our name. Like a mother who calls her children with pet names, he calls us too with sweet and loving names. He loves us and he loves every one of us. No matter what our circumstance is, no matter what our social status is, no matter how we view ourselves, God loves us.

The psalmist beautifully pens the marvelous way of our creation in 139: 13-16, “You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother’s womb. For so many marvels I thank you; a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders. You knew me through and through, my being held no secrets from you, when I was being formed in secret, textured in the depths of the earth. Your eyes could see my embryo. In your book all my days were inscribed, every one that was fixed is there.”

Yes. We are God’s wonder. In this wonderful day of the birth of our dear Mother, let us thank God for the life he has gracefully granted us and for our own mother who gave us this life.

Dear Mother, we are joyful and glad on your nativity day. Help us to respect every life in this world and to see God’s ever flowing love through each life, the fetus, the infants, the young, the adults and the elders. Amen.

Volume 1 . Issue 8 . September 2018

Summer Camp 2018 Inaguration

Penuvel, Malayalam Retreat - 22nd August ‘18

Charis Emirates Launched by Fr. Ani & Fr. George - 1st August ‘18

St. Paul’s Church Youth Day 2018 - 17th August ‘18

Vachanagni, Malayalam Retreat held in Salam City - 10th August ‘18

World Meeting of Families 2018 - Ireland

Fr. Vargheese Birthday Celebration with Fathers and Parish Council

A Monthly Newsletter Published by St . Paul ’s Catholic Church, Musaffah, Abu Dhabi , UAEEmail : voiceofstpauls@gmail .com

Church EventsSep 1 : World day for the Care of Creation

Sep 8 : Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Feast

Sep 8 : Monthi Fest - Konkani community

Sep 14 : Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast

Sep 15 : Our Lady of Sorrows (M)

Sep 18 : St Joseph of Cupertino (M)

Sep 21 : St. Mathew, Ap & Ev Feast

Sep 21 : Fr. Mathew’s Birthday

Sep 29 : Ss. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael Feast

Parish Office TimingsMorning 9 AM to 1.00 PM, Evening 5 PM to 9.00 PM

Tuesday - ClosedContact : +971 2 446 1114

QUIZ NO: 71.Who was the first person to come upon the injured man in the parable of the Good Samaritan? 2.What tribe is Paul from? 3.Who recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he was presented at the Temple as a baby?

Pleae submit your answers with your name, age and contact details clearly mentioned at the parish office before 20 September 2018.

QUIZ NO: 6 Q & A

1.Who is referred to as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”? Answer: John the Baptist2.What city is known as the city of David? Answer: Jerusalem3.Where was Zacharias when the angel of the Lord appeared to him? Answer: At the altar