Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:
1. On Saturday 23rd March 2024 at 6pm we commence Holy Week by the first blessing of the palm & olive branches on the church's parvis.
2. On Saturday 23rd March 2024 at 7pm, the Festa Committee will organise a traditional dinner at Għasri Parish centre. Tickets from Għasri Local Council (telephone: 21558686).
3. Palm Sunday: 24th March at 8:30 am Mass with the blessing of palms and olives and a short procession that commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Other masses (without palm blessing): 10:30 am, 5:00 pm (at the Wied l-Għasri Basilica), 6:00 pm.
4. On Sunday 24th March 2024 (Palm Sunday) there will be a sacred music concert at Għasri Parish Church at 7.30pm conducted by Jean Pierre Cassar.
5. Those who have any flowers from their gardens and would like them to be included on the Flower-Decorated Altar of Reposition (a.k.a. the Sepulchre) which is the temporary flower-themed section of the church open for the seven visits on Maundy Thursday evening and Good Friday morning) are kindly requested to bring them to the church from Monday, 25th March 2024, until Tuesday, 26th March 2024.
6. On Tuesday, 26th March, after the 6pm Mass (at 6:30 pm) there will be a Penitential Celebration in which we prepare for confession and afterwards, there will be several visiting confessors available for confession.
7. Maundy Thursday: 28th March. At 7:00 pm: Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Washing of the Feet. At the end of Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is taken to the altar of repose (Sepulchre) and the 7 visits are made. No other Masses in Għasri during this day. In the morning, the only Mass in the Gozo Diocese would be at the Cathedral (presided by the Bishop) to consecrate the Holy Anointing Oil.
8. Good Friday, 29th March, at 3:00 pm we do the celebration where commemorate Jesus’ death on the cross for us, and we venerate His Cross. No other Masses on the day.
9. Holy Saturday, 30th March 2024, at 8:00 pm we begin the Easter Vigil, which is the greatest celebration of the Christian faith. No other Masses on the day.
10. Easter Day Sunday 31/3/2024 (also a National Holiday) - Mass times: 8:30am, 10:30am and 6:00 pm at the parish church. 5:00 pm at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Patronage.
Blessing of the Families and Houses (Maltese: Tberik tad-Djar) will be done as usual during the week following Easter. The blessing of the families and houses is for everyone and takes place between 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm. It is my wish to meet everyone, and while I kindly ask you to follow the schedule as much as possible, if you're not available on the day scheduled for your road's residence, I will also be available on Saturday, 6th April 2024 in the morning. In this case, please text me (Fr. Edward Vella) on 79082170. I look forward to meeting you! The schedule is as follows:
- Easter Sunday, 31st March 2024: Salvatur Square & Salvu Gambin street.
- Monday, 1st April 2024: Dun Karm Caruana and Dates Streets (Tal-Wilġa).
- Tuesday, 2nd April 2024: Church Street (Triq il-Knsija).
- Wednesday, 3rd April 2024: Lighthouse Street (Triq il-Fanal) up to, and including Ġonna Street.
- Thursday, 4th April 2024; the rest of Lighthouse Street and Tamar Street
- Friday, 5th April 2024: Għammar and Fenek streets.
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 5pm 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: every Friday at 4.30pm at the St. Edward's Hall in Għasri Parish's sacristy. The Legion of Mary is an Irish-founded institution with international presence. Send us an email if you would like more details on membership and we will forward your query to one of their representatives.
- 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 -- none.
- 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 Lenten Exercises 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.
- 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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