Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- Distribution of Invitations for the Mass Marking the Beginning of the Ministry of the New Parish Priest. The invitation for the official celebration of the beginning of the ministry of Fr. Edward Vella as the Parish Priest of Għasri has been distributed. Everyone is invited, and if someone did not receive the invitation, this would be due to an error. There will also be some invitations on the table at the back of the Church so that if you have any relatives or friends from Għasri who live in other villages, please feel free to invite them. It is kindly being requested that everyone who will be attending to RSVP by the 21st of September 2024. RSVP either by: (1) sending a message on 79082170; or (2) Calling 21553201; or (3) visiting the Għasri Parish Office in person during these opening times: https://www.ghasriparish.org/parishoffice .
- Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays: On Thursday 19th September 2024, the Church will be open for silent Eucharistic Adoration from 8am until noon and from 4.30pm until 6.25pm.
- Mass for the Opening of the Pastoral Year: Sunday 22nd September, is the last Sunday before the school starts, and we are therefore especially inviting all families with children to attend the 8.30 am Mass at our parish church. This will be the Mass to mark the beginning of the Doctrine Year, and during it, we will also bless the satchels that the children will use for school, or rather, we will bless the children who will begin a new school year. Therefore, we encourage all parents not to miss this event and to come with their children, and for grandparents not to forget to remind their children and grandchildren.
- Feast of Our Lady of the Patronage: This will be held on the second weekend of October which falls on Sunday 13th October 2024.
- Restoration of 'Vintartal': As you may have noticed during the Feast, the 'Vintartal' that adorns the altar table (the one we consecrate upon) has a fabric that is very stained. There is the possibility of removing the gold embroidery from the fabric and reattaching it onto new material. To achieve this, the 'Vintartal' (the embroidery part only) would need to be taken to Italy. The total cost for this restoration work is €2,600. If there is a benefactor or benefactors willing to support the restoration of this antique piece of art, we aim to have it completed by the next feast.
- New Sacristan: An important collaborator for any parish priest is undoubtedly the sacristan. When a parish does not have a sacristan, as in our case, the parish priest would have to do a number of tasks for which he might be less competent than an experienced sacristan (and/or facilities manager) would normally be. Thus, it is being recommended that we should look for one or two people who are willing to take on this role on a professional basis (and who will be paid for it). The importance of this role will become even more important when restoration works start as we would need personnel in the church all day when most of our daily volunteers would be at work. Therefore, if anyone (or several people) would like to apply for this job, please speak to me (Fr. Edward Vella) or contact me on 79082170.
- Welcome to the Seminarian: It is a great blessing that during this pastoral year we will have the service of Seminarian Samuel Aquilina. We welcome him among us and pray for him. Samuel will be involved in various activities and groups, including the Altar Servers and adolescents.
- Catechists in our parish: One of the most important duties of a parish is to pass on the gift of faith to children and young people, and therefore the role of a catechist is a very important one. While we wholeheartedly thank those who offer this service, we would like to appeal for more catechists, both for children who are preparing to receive the sacraments and for the youth category. Due to recently introduced policies, each class will have two catechists/support staff, and no class will be held when only one catechist is present. Therefore, those who can and wish to offer this service are kindly asked to speak to one of the priests in our parish. In addition to catechists, we would need Catechism Support Educators ("CSEs") whose function would be to assist the main catechist. The CSEs won't be doing any talking/preparation/lesson plans, they will simply stay during the duration of the class with the main catechist and provide any logistical support to the main catechist as may be required. So, there are various way to contribute to our parish's catechism endeavours and your help is greatly appreciated. Catechism classes in Għasri will open again in October (with the scholastic year) and are held at the upper floor of Għasri Parish Centre which has been renovated with interactive whiteboards and other minor infrastructural embellishment to make it suitable for this fundamental pastoral work.
- 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 -- no updates.
-. DSO: 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.
- 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
- 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.
Notes from the global Roman Catholic Church:
- Jubilee 2025 - In 2025, the universal Catholic Church will have the Jubilee (held every 25 years). Pope Francis has prepared the following prayer: "Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen". More information: https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
- Pope Francis' prayer intention for September 2024 is that "We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climate change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live".
- 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!
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