Newsletter - Joshua Catholic Men`s Fellowship

Newsletter
June 2015
www.joshua.org.nz
As brothers in unity: Hear Him, Serve Him, Proclaim Him
Owen Kowalewski
National Leader
Greetings Brothers
At this time of year my garden is
in a time of great change. The autumn
and winter fruit is ready for picking,
leaves are changing colour, dying and
falling off, and the pruning begins.
Expectations are running high, action
that hopefully will bear much fruit next
year.
This sounds like Pentecost to me
which arrives in our autumn. It is a time
of great change, colour, fire, wind, gifts
and fruit.
The apostles had a wonderful season
with Jesus after his resurrection and
it was a spectacular experience. I bet
they were just buzzing. You would not
have seen a happier bunch of people
anywhere.
Then Jesus was gone, ascended into
heaven. The party was over. Then what?
The apostles drifted into autumn, things
cooled off a bit, uncertain times were
ahead. All seemed pretty miserable.
Then Pentecost came, the spiritual
gardener. On his arrival he removed all
the dead wood, cleaned up the trees,
provided fertiliser and spray and had
great expectations that the apostles
would produce much fruit in due
season. The apostles were never the
same again.
You and I are the same, frightened
by change, scared of being pruned.
But removing anything from our life
that won’t help us produce good fruit
is a good thing, no matter how much
it hurts. It might be that our use of the
TV, internet, social media, club and
drinking culture; fine dining, extra time
at work, wealth accumulation, that may
need some pruning and attention.
The gifts of the Spirit, the scriptures,
time in prayer, the Eucharist, and the
sacraments are spiritual fertiliser that
helps us grow. We have received gifts
from the Holy Spirit.
The sprays which help and support
us against disease of the heart and spirit
might be men’s fellowship meetings,
attending Mass and receiving the
sacraments, spiritual reading, and
solidarity with other Christians.
Now you are ready…..your Pentecost
is now. Go out and spread the Good
News of Jesus Christ to the world. Be
the apostles. In your home, love your
wife and children and extended family
and spend time with them. In your
workplace, be the one who promotes
truth, solidarity, justice and peace. In
your parish, say hello to the stranger. In
your community, get involved and show
people about God by your lifestyle and
actions.
Its June already; half of 2015 is
behind us, the other half is still to
happen. What have you done so far this
year? What do you still have to look
forward to?
Are you a Christian optimist or are
you a Christian pessimist?
What is your vision and calling?
Are you waiting for something?
Go and do something! Go and live
the Good News.
Hamilton branch
Discernment for the Hamilton
branch of Joshua was recently carried
out. I would like to express my sincere
appreciation and gratitude to Maurice
Smith, who has stepped down from the
leadership position.
He has served Joshua faithfully for
more than 20 years and has been an
apostle to hundreds of people over those
years.
Thank you Maurice. We wish you
well in your retirement, where you can
spend more time with your wife and
family.
After a time of prayer and discernment,
and with no-one wishing to take on the
branch leadership, it was decided to
close down the Hamilton Branch.
The men still wish to meet informally,
probably in smaller house groups both in
Paeroa and Hamilton. This is an exciting
new initiative which may bear much fruit
in the future. Small local home groups of
men, less travel time, less organisation,
close fellowship and support. Watch this
space, times are changing. The spirit is
moving.
God Bless you Brothers.
Owen Kowalewski
Do you need prayer? We’ll pray for you
Joshua Catholic Men’s Fellowship have people who consider it a
privilege to pray for others. God listens and He answers emails.
Email (Jim Gribble) jimp.gribble@gmail.com
CC (copy to Peter Jackson) peter-ann@slingshot.co.nz (in case Jim is unavailable)
Many healings (and verifiable miracles) continue to occur as we pray.
Please feedback answers to prayer, as testimony to Jesus’ healing
helps to encourage others to believe and to pray with expectation.
On Sunday 22 February I awoke at
4am in a lot of abdominal pain. We were
supposed to be travelling to Napier later
that day as it was to be the first weekly
input for an Ignation First Spiritual
2 Exercise Retreat. I really felt that I
wouldn't be able to drive to Palmerston
North, where I was to meet up with the
Joshua NLT
Leader
Owen Kowalewski
62 Greerton Road
Tauranga 3112
Ph 07 578 3752
owen.kowalewski@joshua.org.nz
Deputy Leader, Publicity
and Communications
David Hall
PO Box 5276,
Wellesley St,
Auckland 1141
Ph 09 479-5444
david.hall@joshua.org.nz
Secretary
Gerard Honiss
49 Stanners Road
Kerikeri 0295
Ph 027 840 4499
gandkhoniss@hotmail.co.nz
Treasurer
Greg Sullivan
14 Alberton Avenue,
Mt Albert, Auckland 1025
Ph 09 846-0691
greg.sullivan@xtra.co.nz
Branch supervision
Robert Saunders
12 Prospect Terrace
Paeroa 3600
Ph 07 862 6326
robertsaunders5@gmail.com
team leaders, and join with them to travel
on to Taradale.
At 5am I woke Jessie to tell her. I
thought that I may have had appendicitis
or something similar. At 6.30 I asked
Jessie to wake my son Les, so he could
take me to the hospital. We arrived about
7am and I was taken into examination
room where the surgeon, Dr Bonnet,
ordered a scan.
During the examination he simply said
‘theatre’ and I was off to the operating
theatre. By now I was crying for the pain
to be relieved and I was given sedation.
The doctor explained to Les that I had an
‘abdominal aortic aneurysm’ and that the
only hope for me was to undergo surgery
to repair the aortic artery.
He also said that while he was not
a vascular specialist, he had done the
operation before. ‘We have a team, who
are quite up to assisting. The situation
could not be more serious,’ he said. Les
signed the permission form, the team
were assembled and told, ‘we could all be
very tired by tonight’.
Les rang home to update Jessie and
also contacted Fr Brian Carmine, who
was able to come and anoint me before
the operation. Arriving at St Mary's for
the 9am Mass, he arranged for a lady who
knew where we lived, and another who
had a car, to ‘pick up Jessie and Brigette
and get them out to the hospital as
Michael may well be dying right now.’ The
9am Mass was offered for my recovery.
Many prayers were being offered. At
around 3pm I heard the doctor say, ‘the
operation’s over Michael, and everything
is working as it should.’
The following morning I could hear
people talking and could understand
everything they said, but I could not
speak myself, as I was too weak. I had the
oxygen tube pressing on my voice box,
and my mouth was very dry.
I heard someone explaining to Jessie
that I had suffered two severe cardiac
arrests, and that could quite easily have
more. They said this was very serious
as they deprived my brain of blood and
that could result in me becoming not the
person they know, 'demented' in fact.
If that was to occur, it could leave them
with a difficult choice to make: let me go,
or bring me back but quite possibly with
permanent brain damage. I could hear all
this, and I really felt for Jessie, but so be it
if I was meant to go then. In my mind I
turned to the Lord. ‘Thy will be done, O
Lord, and if I am to come to You today,
then please show me the way, guide me.’
I was looking for the ‘tunnel with the
light at the end’ that people speak of.
However, all I could see was a huge black
granite-like wall, with not the faintest
glimmer of light in it. At the same time,
I felt completely enveloped in a glorious
PEACE and from deep within me I heard
a voice, ‘Not now Michael, not now…not
now.
I hope and pray that I will never forget
the sound of that voice - gentle, loving,
soft and masculine. At that moment I
KNEW I would recover.
Every night since then I have relived
and meditated on this experience, and
have come to understand that in John
14:2-3 where Jesus says that He will
prepare a room and come back for us, it
is very possible that He will be coming
from deep within us to take us to the
Father, deep within where He is always
abiding.
I know and believe that when we sin,
we reject Jesus, but He does not reject
or abandon us. I believe this, because
the voice I heard came from DEEP
WITHIN ME, not from the outside as
when I hear you. I did not need ears to
hear this voice.
The Miracle Boy
Later that Monday, the Sister in
charge of the CC Unit introduced me
as ‘the miracle boy, from yesterday's big
emergency’ to the staff coming on duty. I
was told that I was extremely lucky to be
alive and the whole unit rejoiced with me
that I was with them.
As Sister removed the oxygen tube
thing from my throat, she explained how
‘we are calling this a miracle because Dr
Bonnet, a South African doctor who was
rostered on duty saw you as you arrived,
and only he (Magic Fingers) could have
done the operation. He is the only person
north of Wellington who could do this.
They used 36 units blood, which is
huge. Normally 6 to 8 units is considered
large. This vast amount was needed as
they had to have my heart pumping blood
through the aorta to find and repair the
leakages, as well as maintaining a blood
supply to legs and abdomen, and it had
completely ruptured.
All these 'coincidences' point to
someone else's presence. How they kept
me alive while doing all this I have no
idea, outside of the Lord.
May He be praised for this.
Michael Coleman - 20 March 2015
Joshua North Shore
Invite a friend and come join us at our monthly meeting
A warm welcome to all men to our next meeting on Wednesday
24 June.
Thursday 18 June 2015, 7.30pm
Come and join other men of faith for an inspiring talk, prayer,
praise and worship led by William.
Topic: ‘Living God’s Will and God’s Ways’
Speaker: Barry Reynolds
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Place: St Joseph’s Centre, 1 Fred Thomas Drive, Takapuna
at Connolly Hall, Guilford Terrace, Thorndon
(behind Sacred Heart Cathedral)
Theme is ‘Pray: Our Father, your kingdom come’
Speaker: Michael Powell (Second talk)
Contact John Taylor 04 389 8915 or 021 107 8538
or email: jnjtaylor@paradise.net.nz
Contact: Basil Ph 443 5755 or 027 261 2585
Two events in early August
At our last Joshua meeting Robert Loretz mentioned
about EMMAUS COROMANDEL a 5-day event for
individuals and families in the Coromandel. The event
will be held from Wed 15 July to Sun 19 July 2pm. The
atmosphere and settling is ideal for personal time-out and
reflection. There are excellent speakers and a choir from
Sydney will also grace the occasion.
Copy and paste this address into your Internet browser:
www.google.co.nz/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=W9dnVfLdKbHu
8wfI7oDwCg&gws_rd=ssl#q=emmaus.kiwi
Joshua car parking fundraiser at St Anne’s
School, Newtown on Saturday 1 August 2015 between
7am and 2pm. For more details contact Steve Ready
04 970 7715 or 027 356 9555.
Wellington men’s 1-day retreat - Saturday 8
August 2015, at Home of Compassion, 2 Rhine Street
(off Murray Street), Island Bay. For more details contact
John Taylor 04 389 8915 or 021 107 8538 (or watch
out for emails in the coming weeks).
Palmerston North branch - worth a visit
Our
monthly
meeting
began with prayer and a
welcome, followed by a time
of praise and worship. Much
discussion was had after
a reading of the following
Sunday’s
Gospel,
the
Pentecost experience.
A DVD was viewed of Fr
Michael Gilbert CS&R from
the 2011 retreat at Willow
Park. The theme, ‘Praising
Our June meeting will be on Tuesday 23
Meeting Report
for May 19
God is to Glorify God’ was
well received by the eleven
men present and led to some
robust discussion.
Prayer, praise and worship
followed, and a social time
over supper sealed a special
evening.
Note that our June meeting
has been put back to Tuesday
23, due to the absence of the
leader and Music Man.
3
Six words to a better marriage:
‘May I’, ‘Thank you’, and ‘Forgive me’
13 May 2015
Pope Francis delves into marriage counselling with a new series focused on ‘real life’
4
The Pontiff started a new series of audience talks
looking at the ‘real life’ of families today.
The closer two people are to each other, the more
care is required in respecting the other’s freedom
and feelings, Pope Francis has said.
The Pope was speaking at his weekly general
audience in St Peter’s Square earlier today, starting
a series of audience talks he said would look at the
“real life” of families today.
Pope Francis’ main talk focused on the three
phrases he often recommends families use
frequently: May I? Thank you. Forgive me.
The words are simple, he said, and hearing the
Pope advise their frequent use could make someone
smile at first, but, he added, “when we forget them,
it’s no laughing matter, right?”
The three phrases, he said, “open the path
to living well in a family, living in peace.” Without
them, he continued, the family’s foundation develops
“cracks that can even make it collapse.”
“Sometimes it seems that we are becoming a
civilisation of bad manners and dirty words as if
they were a sign of emancipation. We hear them
so often, even publicly,” he said. “Kindness and an
ability to say ‘thank you’ are almost seen as a sign of
weakness.”
In addition, he said, “for believers, gratitude is
at the very heart of faith. A Christian who does not
know how to give thanks is one who has forgotten
God’s language.”
The audience was held on the feast of Our
Lady of Fatima. The Pope began the gathering by
praying silently before a statue of Mary and, after
a Portuguese aide summarised his talk, the pope
asked him to lead the Hail Mary in Portuguese. The
aide complied, his voice breaking with emotion at the
surprise request.
Pope Francis said a “very wise” woman once
told him, “‘gratitude is a plant that grows only in the
soil of noble souls.’ The nobility of soul, the grace
of God, pushes one to give thanks. Gratitude is the
flower of a noble soul.”
Asking permission, even to do something that
one thinks one has a right to do as a husband, wife,
parent, son or daughter is a sign of respect, the
Pope added, and one that builds trust.
“The more intimate and profound love is,” he said,
“the more it requires respect for the other’s freedom
and an ability to wait for the other to open the door
of his or her heart.”
The most difficult and most important phrase of
all, he said, is “forgive me.”
“It’s not for nothing that in the prayer Jesus
taught us, the Our Father, which summarises all the
things essential for our life, we find this expression:
‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us,’ ” Francis said.
Joshua national
retreats 2015
Willow Park, Auckland
9-11 October
BlueSkies, Christchurch
30 October-1 November
Joshua NLT encourage
all men to calendar
these events and where
necessary start making
cheap flight bookings.
We offer anyone
who wants the opportunity,
to start paying for the event
now by instalments and
details can be obtained from
Greg Sullivan (treasurer).
A Ministry to Men
Gerard Honiss
National Secretary
Some years ago I read an article about the effectiveness of
Children’s Ministries. It would seem this is an area in which
most churches direct most of their energy and resources. The
author of the article had conducted extensive research into
the effectiveness of many ministries and I was startled by the
reported findings.
Child ministries are only effective in the context of a
practising Christian family!
• If the child or children are the only members of a family
involved in church then approximately only 1 in 6 children will
retain their faith as an adult.
• If the mother is involved in the church then the odds of a
child retaining their faith is about 1 in 2.
• If the father is involved in the church then the odds increase
to about 80% or 4 in 5 children remaining in the church.
I have seen the reality of this research in my own family
where today I am joined in faith by my wife and 4 of our 5 sons.
I cannot say they are all catholic but they are all committed to a
life in Christ Jesus. I can also see this pattern mirrored in other
families.
However I do feel I need to make a qualification here, that
the example of the father is not just one of going to mass or
doing religious stuff, but rather a father who outwardly lives his
faith, prays with his family and speaks openly with his family
about his faith and what is right and wrong.
In fact, the conclusion made in the article and that I also
arrive at, is that perhaps the most effective area of ministry
should be to MEN!
I do not think it is any small coincidence that the Bible
consistently portrays the Patriarchal model as the ideal society/
family. To any women reading, I make no apology. I recognise
your role, but a man should be the head.
If you are not modelling this in your family, then I suggest
you ponder this seriously. Being a head doesn’t mean being
an authoritarian. It’s where the buck stops, the final arbiter of
disputes, being a leader socially and spiritually, the definitive
example.
I think this article also reinforces to men just how important
the father’s influence over his family is, and should encourage us
to participate more fully in our children’s formation. I am very
aware that many of our readers’ families have now grown up
and moved on, but I don’t think that means our job is finished.
Perhaps your influence has diminished, but I am convinced
that where we have maintained positive relationship, in the
mind of a child, a parent is always respected. They may agree
to differ, but good counsel, given in the right spirit will still be
accepted.
And why should our influence stop with our children? I
know one grandmother who each month writes a letter to all
of her grandchildren. She deliberately reflects on what God has
been doing in her life, past and present and how she is praying
5
for them in their various challenges.
This may not be a strategy for you, but perhaps consider how
when you’re speaking to your own children, your words often
have little impact as you seem to be too close to a situation. But
when Uncle Fred or the neighbour across the road, says exactly
the same thing, its influence is magnified.
When I recognised this in my own family I used to plot
with other men to come and deliver messages on my behalf,
especially if I was absent. It really seemed to work! Perhaps
you could sit down with cousins, nephews or grandchildren and
take on the role of mentor. You will never discover the extent
of your influence until you try!
But should we confine our activities to just family? Heck no!
As steel sharpens steel, so do men encourage men. The model
of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International, another
ministry to men, is to invite other men to a meal and share with
them personal testimony. I was associated with FGBMFI for
many years and can testify to how powerful a tool it is.
In so much of the church today I hear people say that their
faith is a personal thing. Well I want to show you that Christ
COMMANDED us to boldly proclaim the Good News! As
Joshua men we also need to become evangelists and I think our
fellowship is an ideal forum to encourage and mentor other
men, not just in the faith but also in Triumphant Living!
Of course we can share with them anywhere, but in our
meetings they should be able to encounter the Power of God’s
transforming Holy Spirit.
Joshua is supposed to be more than just a great spiritual
boost each month, it is supposed to equip and prepare men to
be evangelists and effective ministers to other men.
Men can transform our families and our Church!
Who does all the praying for the prayer requests?
Joshua has a group of men who talk to God in prayer, seeking His will.
How can I become involved in praying for others?
Simply ask God to reveal His grace through hearing the prayer request.
Am I really ‘qualified’ to do this?
Everyone who talks with God is ‘qualified’. ‘Ask and you will receive.’
Who do I contact to become part of the team?
Email Jim Gribble - jimp.gribble@gmail.com
or Peter Jackson - peter-ann@slingshot.co.nz
H
owever we read it, discover it,
accept it, receive it, or do our
best to avoid it, we all have it.
Responsibility is something that God
expects us to demonstrate, both in
relation to His service and also living in
communities, whether friendly or not!
All the resources, all the opportunities,
a guaranteed supply of power and
wisdom needed, God still requires
us to use them responsibly, according to
His plan, to be effective.
6
Responsibility we all have it!
Take ownership of what scripture
is saying. If it says ‘do’, then we should
‘do’. If it says beware and stay away from
something, we need to honour God and
do what is right.
We need to be responsible for what we
have, what we say, and how we manage
both what we are desperate for, as well as
what abundances fill our lives.
We need to claim, pray, move, and
expect both challenges and fulfilment.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, ‘Rejoice
always, pray constantly, give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus for you.’
Stop, be responsible, together with
me, make the following proclamation.
I know it is nothing new for a Joshua
man to say this statement, but let’s make
it a proclamation. Advertise the message
in our houses (with actions and signs),
get a bumper sticker, demonstrate it as a
lifestyle, tell our mates (and non-mates)
about it. Wake up, stand up and proclaim
it for us and our houses. No-one else can
do this for us.
Sometimes we have to stand alone,
at other times we can share our
responsibilities. The emperor penguins
have a system whereby the females lay
an egg, then pass it to the male who
protects and nurtures it day and night.
This commitment doesn’t need a law
or a rule. No matter what blizzards and
PP
en to
aper
storms throw at them, they know their
responsibilities. While this is happening
the female is away from the scene having
a big feed and enjoying a better climate.
Fair, or not, responsibility is paramount
in the emperor penguins lives.
With the recent Irish rejection of
God’s design for marriage (to be solely
between a man and a woman) I overheard
a lunchroom conversation where one
person said to another that the church
had ‘lost that one,
it will now need to
change.’
I pick my battles,
some just end up
going nowhere, and
this was one I had
to pass comment on
that statement.
I replied, ‘No,
the church hasn’t
changed, or lost.
To
those
who
believe marriage is
between a man and
a woman, the belief
still exists. Nothing
has changed in the
church. Life will
always be what
people choose, we
in the church choose
to believe that
marriage is defined
by a commitment
between one man,
Jack Ponting
one woman and one God. The Irish vote
does not mean “defeat” to a Christian, or
the demise of the church.’
There was a pause, a little reflection
suggesting that some rethinking might be
in order.
The first person added, ‘The church
has no right to tell us what to do.’ I voiced
my agreement and acknowledged that it
would be wrong for the church to have
such a requirement. My thoughts are that
we should leave the conviction to the
Holy Spirit, but we still need to lead the
‘horses’ to water.
The response from the third person
in the room was, ‘Yep, live and let live is
what I say.’
We ended the conversation there,
seemingly all comfortable that we’d had
our point heard. There was no anger,
just shared opinions prevented from
spreading as untruths. I believe this
is how conversation works when we
choose to be guided by the prompting
of the Holy Spirit and speak up, living
up to our responsibilities.