Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
1. Wednesday 1st May begins the month dedicated to Our Lady Mary. Every day in our church, the Rosary is said twice; before the 7.30 am mass and in the evening at 6.00 pm before the 6.30pm Mass. Marian Wednesdays for the preparation of the Solemnity of the Assumption will commence from Wednesday 1st May 2024. During these Wednesdays, the Holy Mass is celebrated at 6.30 pm every Wednesday at the Basilica of the Patronage of Our Lady (Wied l-Għasri) instead of the parish church.
2. On Thursday 2nd May 2024 we will pray the Rosary in front of the Holy Eucharist at 5.30pm with the prayer intentions for vocations and families.
3. Friday 3rd May 2024 is the First Friday of the month and the church will be open for Eucharistic Adoration from 7am until 8pm (masses as usual at 7.30am and 6pm). Fr. Ignatius Borg will be available for confession from 6.30pm until 8pm.
4. On Saturday 4th May 2024 (First Saturday of the month), we will have the animated Eucharistic Adoration on the First Saturday of the month from 7.30pm until 8.30pm which will be led by Fr. Marcelino Ghirlando and animated by Mario Caruana.
5. On the occasion of the Feast of Saint George Preca, a Diocesan Pilgrimage will be organised to the saint's tomb at the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal (Blata l-Bajda), on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, with a Mass led by Bishop Anton Teuma at 6.00 pm. We will depart from Mġarr on the 4.45 pm fast ferry and return on the 7.45 pm journey. Transport in Malta will be provided and costs €3. Tickets can be obtained until 27 April from the Bishop's Curia (tel: 21556661) or from the Museums or parishes in Gozo. Those from Għasri who are interested in participating are requested to register at the parish office so that we can arrange tickets for everyone and organise transport to and from Għasri and the Mġarr Terminal.
6. A confessor who is not resident in Għasri is available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at Għasri Parish church on Saturdays between 6pm and 7pm. On Sundays, Confession is available: during 8.30am Mass; from 10.15am until 10.45am; and from 5.55pm until 6.30pm.
7. 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.
- Sunday School: There are two catechism sessions every week: Saturday at 5.30pm 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). 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 other than the errata corrige delineated in the bulletin.
- 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 Diocese will organise a short pilgrimage to Saint George Preca's tomb on the 7th of May 2024. More information from the Gozo Diocese, SDC MUSEUM or any parish in Gozo.
- 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!