Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
- Couples' Meeting: Saturday, 15th February, at 7.00 pm. We invite all couples to join us once again at the Għasri Parish Centre at 7.00 pm. The meeting lasts about an hour. Surely, those who attended the last meeting realised how beneficial these gatherings can be for them, so we urge all couples to make every effort to attend. During the 1-hour meeting, there will be organised childcare too for those parents who prefer it. As usual, after the meeting, we will share dinner together. The meeting will be held at the Għasri Parish Centre as usual.
- On Monday, 10th February, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Shipwreck of the Apostle St Paul. This should be a very dear feast for us, and therefore, participation in the Mass is obligatory. Masses in our parish will follow the Sunday schedule: Parish Church at 8.30 am and 10.30 am, and Patroċinju Church at 5.00 pm. During the 8.30 am Mass, the parents of children attending Catechism classes, especially those whose children will be receiving a sacrament this year, will renew their Baptismal promises as a sign of their commitment to providing their children with a good Christian formation.
- Please note that from Tuesday, 11th February, to Tuesday, 18th February, the Parish Priest will be in Scotland, as he has been invited to lead the Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul for the Maltese community there. This will not affect the usual parish schedule, and Mass times will remain the same as on Sunday.
- The Admission Process for Church Schools in Gozo for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open. Applications for entry into Church schools in Malta and Gozo will be accepted online from the 4th to the 27th of February. For more information, please check the notice board or visit the website www.knisja.mt.
- On Thursday, 13th February, which is the second Thursday of the month, there will be Adoration in English at 3.30 pm in Għasri Parish Church. Everyone is welcome to this moment of adoration and meditation on the Word of God. This time, the adoration will be led by Fr Marcello Ghirlando OFM, as Fr Edward is unavailable. Afterwards, we will share coffee and some food together in the parish house.
- Adoration takes place on the First Friday of the Month and every Thursday, except when the First Friday falls in the same week. The adoration schedule is from 7.00 am to 7.30 am and from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. Every Thursday, we recite the Rosary at 5.30 pm before the Eucharistic Jesus, praying for Priests, Families, and Vocations.
- The financial report for 2024 shows a total income of €64,866, comprising €8,849 from the collection for the feast, €2,082 from house blessings, €20,393 from donations, €13,811 from Sunday Mass collections, €8,361 from fundraising events, and €11,370 from the parish priest’s income. Total expenditure amounted to €68,839, covering €18,207 for liturgical services, €13,305 for social activities, €5,514 for church building maintenance, €9,753 for EU fund applications, €6,319 for charitable donations, €12,088 for furniture and equipment, and €3,653 for other expenses. A sincere thank you to all who have contributed and continue to support the parish with voluntary work and financially too —may the Lord reward you abundantly with peace, grace, and blessings.
- 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 7pm, 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. The Sunday sermons delivered at Għasri Parish church are accessible in English in this section of our website: https://www.ghasriparish.org/en/prietki
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 what was disclosed previously.
- DSO: Our Parish's Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) is Lino Xerri and in case of need, you can contact him on 79208153.
- 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 "For vocations to the priesthood and religious life Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life."
- 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!