Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- On Saturday 4th January 2025, the third day of the Kwaranturi devotion continues with Adoration from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The Rosary and Sacramental Benediction will be held at 5:30 pm, followed by a 6:00 pm Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord and the conclusion of the Forty Hours Devotion. From 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, there will be First Saturday Adoration, during which Fr. Marcello Ghirlando will give a talk on the Book of Leviticus.
- On Sunday, 5th January 2025, a Mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord will be held at 8:30 am. After the Mass, an Eucharistic Procession will take place to close the Forty Hours Devotion. Children and their families are especially invited to participate. Other Masses will follow the usual Sunday schedule.
- The anniversary of the consecration of Għasri Parish Church will be celebrated on Wednesday, 8th January 2025, with the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Dedication. At 5:15 pm, the Rosary will be recited, followed by the chanting of the First Vespers of the Consecration and Sacramental Benediction at 5:30 pm. At 6:00 pm, the Parish Priest, Fr. Edward Vella, will celebrate the Vigil Mass. On Thursday, 9th January, the actual anniversary day, the Rosary will be prayed at 5:15 pm, and the Second Vespers of the Consecration and Sacramental Benediction will follow at 5:30 pm. At 6:00 pm, a Solemn Mass will be celebrated, during which the Consecration Crosses will be incensed. The Parish Choir Lauda Sion, under the direction of Ivan Attard, will animate the liturgy.
- In the church’s side area, the Charity Tree has been set up, where donations of shopping items can be left to support those in need. Items required include crackers, detergents, nappies, baby wipes, coffee, tea, sugar, long-life full cream milk, rice, flour, penne pasta, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, canned goods such as tuna in oil, corned beef, sausages, beans, tomatoes, purée, peas, sweet corn, and children’s cereals, as well as onions and potatoes. While we enjoy ourselves, let us think of those less fortunate than us. The Lord will repay us a hundredfold for what we do.
- More Focus on Wied l-Għasri Basilica: The only evening Sunday mass in Għasri will be held at Għasri's geographical heart in Gozo's first basilica at 5pm. More information on the Basilica: https://www.ghasriparish.org/basilica-ghasri . Recently, TVM (Malta's national broadcasting corporation) produced a short documentary on Gozo's first Basilica in Wied l-Għasri which can be viewed here: https://tvmi.mt/episode/104012 - 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 6.30pm 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).
- 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: Meetings of the Legion of Mary are currently on hold. However, any individuals interested in joining this prayer and formation group under the mantle of Mary are encouraged to speak with the parish priest.
- 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 has 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 January 2025 is that "For the right to an education - Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected."
- 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!