Bulletin - 6th April 2025

Għasri Parish's notices for this week are as follows:

- This Friday, 11 April, there will be the devotional remembrance of Our Lady of Sorrows. Masses will be celebrated like during the week, at 7.30 am and at 6.30 pm. At 6.00 pm we will recite the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross, and immediately after Mass the procession will take place. If possible, I ask the members of the Fraternity to dress up and be ready by the time Mass is about to start. In the past we were taught that one of the precepts of the Church is that one should confess and receive Communion at least at Easter. This precept is still valid today. On the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, there will be the opportunity for confession from several foreign confessors, from 6.00 pm until the time the procession leaves. No one should miss this opportunity to receive a truly special grace, that is, to be reconciled again with God, with others, and also with oneself.

- Couples' Meeting, Saturday 12th March 2025 at 7.30 pm. Saturday 19/3/25 is the third Saturday of March but due to the fact that it will be Holy Saturday, it will be brough forward by one week (see attachment). We invite all couples to join us once again at the Għasri Parish Centre at 7.15 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. More information in the attachment.

- Choir rehearsals in preparation for Holy Week will be held as follows: this Saturday 5 April at 2.00 pm, Saturday 12 April at 2.00 pm, and Wednesday 16 April at 5.00 pm (General Rehearsal). The choir needs you; you would be offering a service to the community and at the same time praising God.

- By now you should have received the tickets for the Easter Lottery featuring the Statue of the Risen Christ. Those wishing to participate are asked to fill in the details on the tickets they want, place them in an envelope, and either drop them in the letterbox at the Parish Priest’s house or in the collection basket during Mass.

- As in previous years, we ask all those who have flowers to bring them so that we can decorate the Altar of Reposition, or as we are used to calling it, the Sepulchre. Kindly bring them on Tuesday (15/4/25) or Wednesday (16/4/25) of Holy Week. Thank you.

- The report on the collections made last month, March 25, is as follows: First Sunday of March Collection €779.06; Collection for the Seminary during the Retreats €894.84; from the tombola held on 31 March €90.00 remained; Collection during the month at Patrocinio Church €97.50; Collection during the month at the Parish Church €876.94.

- The Easter card with the programme of celebrations linked to it, and also regarding the blessing, was distributed to all houses. Those who wish and are able to have their house blessed in the morning are asked to fill in the form that came with it and place it either in the letterbox of the Parish Priest or in the box on the table in the church. Thank you.

- 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.

- We would also like to remind everyone that it is possible to leave funds with the Parish to cover funeral expenses and Masses after one’s passing. These funds, known as fiduciary donations, ensure that costs are covered, taking into account that expenses will inevitably rise in the future, while also leaving an amount for Masses. A receipt will be issued detailing the agreement with the parish. Those interested should contact the Parish Priest.

 - 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.

- 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. 

- In his message for the Jubilee of Hope in the Diocese of Gozo 2025, Bishop Anton Teuma reminds us that the Plenary Indulgence is another way in which Christians assure themselves of God’s boundless and freely given love, shown in the gift of complete forgiveness through the Church. This powerful sign of love calls for a response of love from us.The Jubilee Churches in the Diocese of Gozo will be the Cathedral Church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary in Victoria, the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu in Għarb, and the Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception in Qala. The usual conditions to receive a Plenary Indulgence are true repentance and detachment from sin, a spirit of charity (love), confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Pope’s intentions, and performing one of the following: a pilgrimage to one of the Jubilee Churches, where one confesses and participates in prayer or a celebration; a visit of worship to a Jubilee site where adoration, meditation, and prayers including the Our Father, the Creed, and a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary are offered; or an act of mercy or penance.To obtain the Indulgence, one may also, in addition to visiting one of the mentioned churches, participate in one of the Jubilee celebrations that will take place for different categories of people throughout the year.

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 March 2025 is "Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times."

- For synodal 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!