Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays: During summer, the church will be open on Thursdays 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 summer sun. From October we will start opening again full day from 7am until 7pm.
- First Sunday of the Month—Collection for Church Restoration. Once again, the first Sunday of the month has arrived (Sunday 1st September 2024), and we continue our efforts so that, God willing, we can restore our parish church's roof. Think of our ancestors, of how many sacrifices they made so that we could find such a beautiful church equipped with everything necessary to worship God. We encourage everyone to be generous.
- First Friday of the Month - Friday, 6th September 2024. Therefore, an appeal to everyone not to miss Mass, confession, and adoration. Masses: 7:30 am & 6:30 pm. Adoration: 7:00 am - 6:25 pm. Confession: 6:00—7:30 pm by Fr. Nazju Borg. After the evening Mass, we will have half an hour of silent adoration, during which there will also be confession. Communion for the Sick: This will be administered by Mons. Mikiel Mintoff between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
- The First Saturday of the Month (Saturday, 7th September 2024): At the last Parish Council meeting, it was decided that, due to the fact that many people are abroad during summer (and hence not many people attend for the first Saturday's animated adoration during Summer), it would be better to stop it during the summer months, so that in the new Pastoral Year we can give it a new boost.
- Lectio Divina - On the first Saturday of the month, during evening adoration, the priest will talk about one book of the Bible, starting with Genesis, and we will continue book by book. During that month, we will be encouraged to read and reflect on that book at home, so that on the last Saturday of the month, we can have an informal meeting at the Parish Centre, where we will discuss what we have read and try to answer any questions one might have. The following Saturday, which will be the first Saturday of the month, the second book of the Bible—Exodus—will be introduced, and we will continue in this manner. I hope that many will accept this proposal so that we become a parish that cherishes the two great pillars of our Faith, namely the Word of God and the Eucharist. This group will also be open to people who are not from our parish.
- 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.
- Guatemala Donation: In order to support the ongoing mission work of Fr Joseph Camilleri among the most impoverished communities in Guatemala, a tour to Lourdes has been organised, scheduled to take place from the 21st to the 25th of September. This tour is not organised by Għasri Parish but a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Fr Joseph for his work in Guatemala by the organiser. Those interested in joining can contact Michael Caruana on the mobile number: 79233264.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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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