Download Colour issue - Portsmouth People

FEATURE
MINISTRY ON THE ISLE OF APHRODITE
Photograph © British Crown Copyright
The last thirteen years of my priestly ministry
have been a rich experience of challenge
and surprises following my entry into the
Army in 1997, and my commissioning as a
chaplain of the Royal Army Chaplains’
Department. After deployments in Sierra Leone,
Kenya, Brunei, Bosnia and Kosovo -
as well as postings in Germany, Tidworth,
Windsor, Bassingbourn, and Sandhurst -
I now find myself in Cyprus for two years.
Father Michael Fava CF(RC), priest of our diocese
serving with the Royal Army Chaplains Department,
reflects on his current posting
Known in the tourist brochures as ‘Aphrodite’s
Isle’, Cyprus is a place of contrasts. Apart from
being a popular holiday destination with
beautiful beaches and scenery, it is an island
divided. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus
in 1974 the northern sector of the island is
Turkish occupied, while the rest comprises the
Republic of Cyprus. After the shedding of much
blood on both sides, a cautious peace prevails
which is monitored by the presence of United
Nations troops along the so-called ‘Green Line’,
or border, between north and south.
I was posted in September 2009 to the
Headquarters of British Forces, Cyprus, in
Episkopi which forms part of the British
Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs), retained by
Britain after the island’s independence
was granted in 1960. As Senior Chaplain, I
lead a group of five other Army and RAF
chaplains posted at different locations
across Cyprus who are of various Christian
denominations. As the only Roman
Catholic chaplain, however, my parish and
Mass commitments cover a wide area. The
furthest church location on my Sunday
round is an eighty minute car journey
each way from home. The congregation’s
appreciation of this Mass makes the effort
worthwhile.
The British Forces community in Cyprus is
engaged all year round offering support
to UK operations, and while the island
offers plenty of sunshine, their time here
is hardly anyone’s idea of a relaxed
‘sunshine posting’. The tempo of life all
across the Armed Forces today is busy -
and this is no less true for chaplains. It is,
however, a unique privilege to spend two
years in such a beautiful location where
history, culture, climate and Cypriot
hospitality have so much to offer. I am
indeed a very fortunate and blessed priest!
JOB VACANCY:
CATHEDRAL
DISCOVERY CENTRE
The post of SUPERVISOR will become vacant due to the
retirement of Gerry Johnson.
The applicant for the role must lead the team in this
important instrument of outreach for our Cathedral.
The hours of work are generally 20 hours a week,
Tuesday to Friday, although this can be flexible over the
six days of shop opening (Tuesday to Sunday).
A salary commensurate to the responsibility will be paid.
Please apply in the first instance
to the Parish Office on
023 9282 6170 by 1 October.
Interviews will be held early
in the Autumn.
What’s in a Word -
ASSUMPTION
Assumption (Late
Latin assumere, v.t.
to take up)
A Basic Catholic
Dictionary by Canon
Alan Griffiths of
Portsmouth Diocese
states: ‘According to
tradition, the Blessed
Virgin Mary was
taken up into heaven
at her death, because of her special place as the
Mother of God. The legend speaks of the twelve
apostles being summoned by angels to Ephesus
to witness her death and finding the coffin
empty. The Assumption was proclaimed a
dogma of the Catholic Church by Pope Pius XII
in 1950.’
St John’s
Catholic Cathedral Portsmouth
Bishop’s House
Edinburgh Road
Portsmouth
PO1 3HG
t: 023 9282 6170
www: portsmouthcatholiccathedral.org.uk
15 August is the date of the solemnity. It is a
holyday of obligation. However, when that date
occurs on a Saturday or Monday, the solemnity
is transferred to the Sunday and takes
precedence as the Sunday celebration.
PORTSMOUTH PEOPLE
11