Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- Sacred Music Concert in our Church on Friday, 18th October at 7:30 pm by the Schola Cantorum Jubilate. Save this date so you can enjoy this beautiful moment that will uplift the mind, heart, and soul. The event is sponsored by various sponsors, thus, it is free of charge. If one were to attend a concert of this calibre abroad, one would need to pay hundreds of euro in entry tickets. We are grateful that Schola Cantorum Jubilate chose our parish church for their concert as it makes it easier for us to attend and compliments our community's contribution to culture.
- Couples’ Meeting—Saturday, 19th October at 7:15 p.m. Throughout the past year, we had a beautiful journey that surely helped those who attended to grow in their relationship together and with their children. We encourage all couples to attend this first meeting of the new Pastoral year. Afterwards, those who wish can join us for pizza with the whole family.
- Change in Sunday Mass Time: As from 27th October 2024, the only evening Sunday mass in Għasri will be held at Għasri's geographical heart in Gozo's first basilica. More information on the Basilica: https://www.ghasriparish.org/basilica-ghasri
- 20th October, Missions Day: How can a true Christian not think about the many children, adults, and elderly who are deprived of everything in life? The Church’s work in poor countries consists of two things: firstly, to help the poor to live and rise from their miserable state, and secondly, to bring them to know Jesus the Lord as the Saviour of the world. Therefore, in addition to praying for the missions, let us also be generous in our offerings during mass: remember that when we die, we only take with us what we have given to the poor, and it is the poor who will welcome us into eternity.
- 1st November, All Saints' Solemnity and 2nd November, All Souls' Day: As we approach the cherished days of 1st and 2nd November, I invite you, at the bishop’s request, to decorate the windows of our homes with images of the Saints. This is to create a culture of life and holiness, and at the same time, show solidarity with those dying in wars. ‘Halloween’ is an anti-Christian celebration that a true Christian should not participate in. The mass on All Saints’ Day will be as usual during the week, and on All Souls' Day, there will be a mass at 7.30 am and another immediately afterwards, a cemetery mass at 4.00 pm, and an evening mass at 6.00 pm, followed by another immediately after. The evening masses will be for All Souls' Day, not for Sunday.
- The Parish Priest's Dream: Dear parishioners, as I mentioned during the celebration of the beginning of my ministry as parish priest, it is my wish for us to become a parish truly devoted to Jesus in the Eucharist. We are living in times where the power of evil seems to be growing and attempting to consume the world, but we have full hope that no power, however great, can match the power that emanated from the risen Jesus. Therefore, it is my dream that, if the battle is fierce, we create a strong spiritual army to combat evil through prayer. I wish for a group of people who will commit for a year to: attend daily mass or whenever possible (apart from Sundays), pray the rosary daily (either with the family or at church), fast every Friday as penance, pray daily and attend half an hour of adoration on designated days, and confess once a month or whenever they feel the need. We do this as a prayer for our parish and the world.
- 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 6.00pm 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).
- 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: Fridays at 5.00pm (Summer-Time) at the Church Sacristy (Għasri).
- 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 October 2024 is that "We pray that the Church continues to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people."
- 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!