Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- Meeting for Lectors: This Saturday, 29th June after the evening Mass and Sunday 30th June after each Mass, I would like to meet with the Liturgy Lectors and all those who can and wish to offer this important service. To make it easy for everyone, the same meeting will be held after each Mass so that one can stay on after the Mass they attend. The meeting will last about 10 minutes, during which we will update the roster and discuss a few other things. If for some reason someone cannot attend, please speak to me (Father Eddie Vella). Thank you.
- Marian Wednesdays: Through a visit to the Madonna of Ta’ Pinu or to the Patronage Madonna, Mass is celebrated every Wednesday evening at 6.30 pm at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Patronage, preceded by the rosary and hymns at 6.00 pm. During these Marian Wednesdays, there is no Wednesday evening Mass at the parish church as per the times in this link: https://www.ghasriparish.org/en/mass-times-ghasri.
- Parish Council Meeting—Next Thursday, 4th July. This will be a concluding meeting for this pastoral year, during which we will evaluate the Feast and also discuss the Parish Priest’s inauguration. Therefore, I ask all members of the parish council not to miss it and anyone who has any suggestions should pass them on to me or one of the members.
- 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.
- Diamond Painting Raffle of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu: Those who wish to participate in this fund-raising raffle should place the tickets in a sealed envelope, along with the money, and either drop them in the parish house mailbox or place them with the church collection. The tickets are sold for €2 each, three for €5, and seven for €10. The lottery will be drawn on the Feast of the Assumption as appropriate.
- First Friday of the Month - Next Friday, 5th July. 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 (6th July 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. We inform you that Father Marcello Ghirlando, due to his important position given to him in the Franciscan Minors Order, has many travel commitments, and therefore, for example, he will be abroad for the last three months of this year.
- 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 -- The amount collected last weekend for Dar Arka was €324.29. Thank you sincerely for your generosity.
-. DSO Updates: 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
- 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.
