Għasri Parish's notices for this week (including Festa-Week-related notices) are as follows:
1. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held in our parish, and everyone is invited to join Monsignor Mikiel Mintoff in celebrating the 50th anniversary of his priesthood ordination (1974 - 2024) on Saturday, 25th May 2024, at 6:30 in the evening. Bishop Monsignor Anton Teuma will deliver the homily for the occasion. Afterwards, there will be a reception under a temporary outdoor structure in the square. Some quotes from these celebrations: "There are no words more beautiful or better than those of Our Mother Mary to say thank you to the Lord for all He has graciously done for me through the grace of priesthood as is written in the Bible: "My soul glorifies the Lord... for the Almighty has done great things for me, holy is his name." The joy of priesthood is not only for the priest or his family but for the entire community he serves through his work. Therefore, while we give thanks to God, let us rejoice together for the grace of priesthood and continue to pray for vocations so that every community may find comfort in the Word of God and the Eucharist through the work of the priests who fulfil their ministry within it. After the Mass, everyone is invited to continue sharing our joy together during a reception in Għasri's Salvatur Square.
2. On Friday, 24th May, the Statue of the Saviour will be taken out of the niche after the evening mass (at 7.00 pm). All the people of Għasri are encouraged to attend this beautiful moment to mark the beginning of our Feast. After the Statue is taken out, the architect responsible for the restoration projects of the church and the cemetery will provide information about these and the current preparations.
3. On Sunday, 26th May – Charity Day. At 8.30 am: Solemn Mass of the Holy Trinity led by the new priest, Father Franklin Micallef. At 10.00 am: The altar servers, together with some adults, will collect items needed by Diocesan Caritas to help those in need. The Feast becomes much more beautiful when we think of those less fortunate than us. As is tradition in our parish, this Sunday, 26th May, the altar servers will go out to collect items to be donated to Diocesan Caritas to help those in need. Therefore, when you go shopping, spare a thought for our brothers and sisters who are in need, because as the Word of God tells us, ‘There is much more joy in giving than in receiving’. Currently, Caritas needs the following items: pasta, rice, couscous, tea, coffee, sugar, long-life milk, sauces, tomato paste, oil, preserves, soup packets, cereals, shampoo and soap, laundry detergents, toothpaste...
4. On Monday, 27th May – Widows, the Sick, and the Elderly Day. From 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm, the Anointing of the Sick will be administered in homes. At 6.30 pm, a Salesian priest will celebrate Mass offered for the needs of Father Anton Caruana SDB, who is celebrating 50 years of his Priestly Ordination this year. In this Mass, all those who have turned 65 or are sick can receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Afterwards, we will share some food together in the parish centre hall.
5. A general rehearsal of the Great Hymn, which will be sung when the statue of Christ the Eucharistic Saviour is taken out on the feast day, will be held with the Viżitazzjoni Band. This will take place next Monday, 27th May, at the Għarb Band Club at 7.00 pm. We strongly encourage all those who will be singing with the Band on that day to attend. Thank you.
6. On Tuesday, 28th May – Children's Day. A Eucharistic Day for Laura Vicuna School. At 6.30 pm, Mass will be led by Father Simon Cachia, with the participation of the children, during which the new altar servers will be vested. After the Mass, a lovely gift will be given to the children present. Immediately following the Mass, the blessing and inauguration of the new playing field ‘Kenn is-Salvatur’ will take place. At 8.00 pm, a children’s games evening will be held in the square organised by the Local Council.
7. On Wednesday, 29th May – the First Day of the Triduum - Couples and Fiancés Day. At 6.30 pm, Mass will be celebrated by Father Joe Farrugia, director of the St John Paul II Institute for the Family, to which those in a loving relationship are invited. At 7.30 pm, Bingo will be held in the Parish Centre. The couples' group will especially be invited to participate. This week there will be no Mass at the basilica of our lady of the patronage.
8. On Thursday, 30th May – the Second Day of the Triduum – Volunteers’ Day. At 6.30 pm, Mass for the second day of the Triduum for benefactors and living and deceased volunteers, celebrated by Father Edward Vella, to which all parish volunteers and their families are invited. After the Mass, there will be a party in recognition of their work for the community. The Feast Committee will participate especially.
9. On Friday, 31st May – the Third Day of the Triduum: Parish Day. At 6.30 pm, Solemn Concelebration for the third day of the Triduum, led by Canon Father Ġwann Sultana, who is the Archpriest of Żebbuġ, the mother parish from which our parish emerged. The parish council members will participate especially. At 8.30 pm, the Iklafest 2024 will take place in the Saviour's Square, with the participation of the Band ‘Tal-Fuklar Folk Group’.
10. Saturday's and Sunday's programme will be shared next week. Saturday (1/6/24) morning will be a usual mass but Saturday will be a solemn Mass and in the evening there will be the usual Festa-related items. On Sunday (2/6/24), the Bishop of Gozo will join us for the morning Mass and in the evening following the evening Mass, we will do the procession with the statue of Christ the Saviour.
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.
- 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.
- Every third Saturday of the month, at 7.30pm, we have a monthly meeting for married couples at the Għasri Parish Centre.
- 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.
- 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!
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