Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- On Sunday, 1st December, we begin the holy season of Advent, God willing. Let us embrace this sacred time as a special occasion of grace. Daily Mass attendance during Advent is highly encouraged, as it remains the most profound way to prepare our hearts to welcome the Lord
- Parishioners who have read the Book of Genesis are reminded of the discussion meeting scheduled for Saturday, 30th November, at 7:00 pm in the upper hall of the Centre. This will be an opportunity to delve deeper into the text and share insights with fellow participants.
- As your parish priest, I express my heartfelt desire for the parish choir to grow stronger and flourish. For this to happen, we need not only an excellent organist but also the active participation of more individuals in singing. In preparation for Christmas, choir practices will take place on Friday, 6th December, at 4:30 pm; Thursday, 12th December, at 4:30 pm; Thursday, 19th December, at 4:30 pm; and Monday, 23rd December, at 4:30 pm, which will serve as a general rehearsal. Your involvement is crucial to enhance our liturgical celebrations.
- Every Thursday (except during the week that includes the first Friday of the month) and on the first Friday of the month, we hold adoration from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Let us not be a parish of the Eucharist in name only but also in action. Every Thursday at 5:30 pm, we pray the Rosary before Jesus in the Eucharist, offering it for the sanctification of priests, religious, and missionaries, for more vocations, and for our families. You are warmly invited to join us in this cherished prayer. .
- Adoration will be held every first Friday of the month from 7:00 am to 7:30 am and again from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Additionally, every Thursday at 5:30 pm, the Rosary will be recited before the Blessed Sacrament, with prayers offered for priests, families, and vocations.
- Couples who have married in the past five years are invited to a special meeting on Sunday, 8th December, at 3:30 pm in the Hall of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary. The meeting, themed “The Early Years of Marriage – Challenges and Opportunities,” will be led by Dr Nicholas Briffa. Childcare will be provided during the session. All eligible couples are encouraged to attend and benefit from this valuable opportunity for formation.
- Christmas Dinner—Saturday, 14th December. The Christmas Dinner in aid of the 2025 Feast will take place on Saturday, 14th December, at 7:30 pm at Seashells Restaurant, Xlendi. Tickets are €22 for adults and €10 for primary school children, and can be purchased from the Għasri Local Council or by calling 21558686.
- Let us rejoice and pray for Seminarian Samuel Aquilina, who this Sunday, 1st December, will receive the Ministry of Acolyte at the Basilica of St George during Mass at 10 am. God willing, he will be ordained as a Deacon this coming June.
- The calendar appointments for this month include: On 30th November 2024, a discussion on the Book of Genesis will take place from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The First Sunday of Advent falls on 1st December, while the First Friday of the Month on 6th December will include Mass, Confession, and Adoration. On 7th December, there will be Biblical Adoration focused on the Book of Exodus at 7:00 pm. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Second Sunday of Advent will be celebrated on 8th December. English Adoration is scheduled for 12th December at 3:30 pm, and the Parish Christmas Dinner will take place on 14th December in Xlendi. The Christmas Novena begins on 15th December during the 8:30 am Mass, and from 16th to 20th December, a special Novena with the children of Laura Vicuna School will be held at 8:15 am, open to all participants. A Parish Council Meeting is planned for 18th December, and on 21st December, there will be a Couples’ Meeting following the Novena Mass.
- More Focus on Wied l-Għasri Basilica: The only evening Sunday mass in Għasri will be held at Għasri's geographical heart in Gozo's first basilica at 5pm. More information on the Basilica: https://www.ghasriparish.org/basilica-ghasri . Recently, TVM (Malta's national broadcasting corporation) produced a short documentary on Gozo's first Basilica in Wied l-Għasri which can be viewed here: https://tvmi.mt/episode/104012
- 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:
- Catechism in Għasri: There are two catechism sessions every week: Thursdays at 6.30pm 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).
- Every third Saturday of the month, at 7.15pm, we have a monthly meeting for married couples at the Għasri Parish Centre. (Not held during Summer).
- Legion of Mary: Meetings of the Legion of Mary are currently on hold. However, any individuals interested in joining this prayer and formation group under the mantle of Mary are encouraged to speak with the parish priest.
- 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 -- Income Report for October: During the first Sunday of November, €611.23 was collected during Mass for the church restoration, while €876.50 was raised on Missionary Day. Contributions for the Feast of the Patronage, including donations, amounted to €537.30. Collections during October Masses at the Parish Church and the Patronage Church totalled €456.18 and €55.46, respectively. Additional donations included €350 for chairs for the Centre and €80 in gratitude for a favour received. Proceeds from the bingo on 1st November brought in €51.01, and the monthly lottery generated €86.60. .
- 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 December 2024 is that "We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope."
- 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!