MESSAGE ON THE 2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER (YR B)
Friday 5th April 2024
My dear people,
What a wonderful Holy Week, Triduum and Easter Sunday we had in our parish this year! It seems to me that we had the biggest crowds since before COVID. I was simply amazed by the number of people here for Mass on Holy Thursday, Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and Masses on Easter Sunday. The other liturgies had many people present also but these three were significantly well attended. There was also a wonderful spirit of welcome, camaraderie and contentment which I could feel after every liturgy. I thank God for the wonderful work that He is doing in our parish and continue to pray that He inspires us to reach for the stars in terms of our discipleship of Him. May His Resurrection bring us the hope this world so desperately needs.
Our parish is hosting the Novena to the Divine Mercy until Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday 7th April, with a special Mass at 3pm on that day (in addition to our regular Sunday Masses). Further details are on the poster in the gathering space, in the bulletin and on the website. There is a sign-up sheet for required ministries for Divine Mercy Sunday for which you are invited to put your name down.
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. From this weekend, tickets will be available for the evening. Sonny Mallia is the contact person, and he can be contacted on 0412583069.
As mentioned, at Easter, we celebrate new life. Our parish will run its tenth session of Alpha starting on 17th April this year. I highly urge you to think about attending Alpha this year. We all have gone through times in our lives when we have questioned the very meaning of life. Perhaps you are going through this right now. Perhaps your daughter or son, brother or sister, or colleague is going through this now. Alpha is the best way to come to reflect on the deeper meaning of life, over dinner, a short film and conversation. May I ask you to consider attending and warmly inviting others to attend Alpha? The transformation in people’s lives, their healing and closeness to Christ is testament to the fruits this wonderful program has to offer!
A gentle reminder that the change to Mass times will take effect from this Sunday 7th April. Thus, the new Sunday Mass times will be 8.30am, 10.30am & 12.30pm. Again, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for the wonderful way in which you participated in the survey. In the meantime, we continue our conversations between the Ministry Coordinators and members of ministries involved in the celebration of Mass as we prepare for the change. Please know that I am available for any questions you may have.
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