MESSAGE ON THE 4TH SUNDAY OF LENT (YR B)
Friday 8th March 2024
My dear people,
A reminder that we have completed the count of the survey for the change in Mass times with a very pleasing 785 respondents. The option chosen by most people is Option 2 – 61% with 39% choosing Option 1. This means that the Mass times on Sunday morning will be 8:30am, 10:30am and 12:30pm. This will take effect from Sunday 7th April. Ann is also looking into the additional comments provided on some of the survey cards. Again, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for the wonderful way in which you participated in the survey. There will be many conversations between the Ministry Coordinators and members of ministries involved in the celebration of Mass and me over the next few weeks as we prepare for the change. Please know that I am available for any questions you may have.
We will celebrate our parish Feast Day this year on Saturday 27th April from 7pm in the CRC Hall. This parish event will be hosted by our Maltese parishioners for all of us and will be a fundraiser shedding some light on Maltese culture. As is the case with our International Food Day when we invite everyone to come and share part of their culture, we are inviting our Maltese parishioners to showcase their culture for us. It is my intention to have more similar cultural events in our parish throughout the year.
During this joyful Season of Lent, the following are some ways in which you can add to your prayer life:
- Join us in praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 10am (immediately following the 9:30am Mass) and at 7pm.
- Attend Bible Study on Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the meeting rooms.
The Holy Week and Easter Timetable for 2024 has been published in this weekend’s bulletin and on our website. You can also find it in the gathering space.
Thank you for your prayers for our parish planning day held on Saturday 24th February. We intend to communicate with you on Tuesday next week what we discussed and the nature and role of the PLT. All the parish’s Ministry Coordinators have been invited to the first Leadership Summit of the year, which will be held on 14th March. They have been asked to invite two of their ministry members to also be part of the summit.
Our Second Men’s Group for this year will occur next Friday 15th March. It will start with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30pm (immediately after the 7pm Stations of the Cross). There will be a period of Adoration when the Sacrament of Confession will be available, and Fr David Cartwright will be here for that. We will conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 8:15pm and supper at the presbytery. There will be a guest speaker to address us during the supper.
Our parish will host the Novena to the Divine Mercy this year. The novena will start on Good Friday 29th March and conclude on Divine Mercy Sunday 7th April, with Mass at 3pm on that day. The finer details are on the poster in the gathering space, in the bulletin and on the website. There will also be a sign-up sheet for required ministries for Divine Mercy Sunday for which you are invited to put your name down.
We continue turning to our patron saint and we ask for her intercession.
St Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Richard Rosse PP