Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Fr. Anton Caruana. Next Sunday, 14th July 2024, Fr. Anton Caruana, a Salesian priest from our parish who is ill and residing in his family home in Għasri, celebrates 50 years as a priest. Let us also pray for him, for his siblings who care for him, and for all those who are ill.
- Marian Wednesdays: Through a visit to the Madonna of Ta’ Pinu or to the Patronage Madonna, Mass is celebrated every Wednesday evening at 6.30 pm at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Patronage, preceded by the rosary and hymns at 6.00 pm. During these Marian Wednesdays, there is no Wednesday evening Mass at the parish church as per the times in this link: https://www.ghasriparish.org/en/mass-times-ghasri.
- Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays: During summer the church will be open for silent Eucharistic Adoration from 7.55am until noon and from 5.30pm until 6.25. It will be closed from noon until 5.30pm because health professionals recommend that one should not be staying outside during the scorching summer sun. From October we will start opening again full day from 7am until 7pm.
- Titular Frames for sale: We inform you that we have large photo-frames for sale, each costing €5. You can purchase them from the parish office.
- Diamond Painting Raffle of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu: Those who wish to participate in this fund-raising raffle should place the tickets in a sealed envelope, along with the money, and either drop them in the parish house mailbox or place them with the church collection. The tickets are sold for €2 each, three for €5, and seven for €10. The lottery will be drawn on the Feast of the Assumption as appropriate.
- Confession Times: On Saturday, a visiting confessor will be available from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. On Sunday, confession times are from 8.30 am to 9.00 am, 10.15 am to 10.45 am, and 5.55 pm to 6.15 pm. On the First Friday of the month, a visiting confessor will be available from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm. Additionally, every First Sunday of the month, a visiting confessor will be available throughout all Masses.
- Communion for the sick (Viaticum) is given every Sunday after 8.30am's Mass.
Updates from various pastoral groups in Għasri Parish:
- Weekly spiritual meetings for students from Form 2 until Form 5 every Friday evening at 7.30pm at Għasri Parish Centre (Will stop during Summer).
- Sunday School: There are two catechism sessions every week: Saturday at 5.00pm and Sunday at 9.15am. Both are currently held at the Għasri Parish Centre and are available for all kids until Form 2 (Year eight). The necessary form is required to be filled prior to enrolling in Sunday School. Please send an email or contact Fr. Edward Vella. (Will stop during Summer).
- Every third Saturday of the month, at 7.30pm, we have a monthly meeting for married couples at the Għasri Parish Centre. (Will stop during Summer).
- Legion of Mary: Fridays at 5.00pm (Summer-Time) at the Church Sacristy (Għasri). (Will not stop during Summer).
- English-Speaking Group: Prayer meeting in English every second Thursday of the month at Għasri Parish Church at 3.30pm followed by an Afternoon Tea at the rectory opposite the church.
Updates from the Għasri Parish Council:
- The parish office is open on Tuesdays (9am-10.30am), Thursdays (9am-10.30am), Sunday (9.15am-10.30am). The person who is available during these office hours is Ms. Grace Calleja from the Għasri Parish Council. Thus, one can speak directly to a parish representative on logistical/administrative matters relating to the parish during these hours.
- The updates on the two infrastructural projects which are currently ongoing at our parish are as follows > (a) Updates on the Church's roof restoration: collections during the first weekend of each month will go directly to this infrastructure project. The architect noted that it's not just the membrane which needs changing but also some stones around the windows. > (b) There are no new updates on the cemetery works. However, those who would like to reserve a new grave are kindly requested to contact the parish.
- Finance updates from the Financial Committee within the Għasri Parish Council -- The amount collected last weekend for the roof restoration was: €545.55. Thank you sincerely for your generosity.
-. DSO Updates: Our Parish's Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is Lino Xerri. Each parish will have a person in the role of DSO (Designated Safeguarding Officer). The DSO of our parish is Lino Xerri, and in case of need, you can contact him on 79208153. The DSOs are a point of reference between the parish and the Safeguarding Commission (SGC), and their role is to ensure that the best safeguarding practices are being observed, to collect the list for POMA certification purposes, to receive complaints and communicate them with the parish priest and/or the SGC, and to attend meetings specifically for them.
- Those who would like to make a literary contribution to the next edition of Il-Korpus (i.e. the annual publication exclusively on Għasri's spiritual and secular history) are kindly requested to contact the editor as usual. Alternatively, one can contact the parish and we will provide the contact details of the editor.
Notes from the Gozo Diocese:
- The Diocese's pastoral theme for this year is "Stay with us, Lord" (Luke 24:29). More information on the social media of Gozo Diocese.
- Those who would like to subscribe to the print-version of Gozo Diocese's monthly publication "Il-Ħajja f'Għawdex" can send a separate email which would be forwarded to the publishers. The printed publication is in Maltese only and the fee is paid annually.
- The 5 Spiritual Sessions led by the Bishop of Gozo, Msgr. Anton Teuma, which were held at the parish church of Għasri in February 2024, where the theme was Repentance, are now available online on the YouTube playlist of the Diocese of Gozo at this link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJsSpKY689vl7VB-Mn0g6LXOMt9cbzj_c
- For updates on the Synod on Synodality, one can follow the official media of either the Gozo Diocese, the Archdiocese of Malta or the Vatican News.
I wish you all a blessed week!