November 2017
November 2017
That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.
When we in the West think of the Church in Asia, our thoughts often turn to the Pacific coast of that great continent: Japan, China, Vietnam and all their neighbors. It is good to recall also that Jesus was born in Asia, southwest Asia, and it was there that he labored, ministered and accomplished our salvation.
Saint Pope John Paul the Great conducted a special assembly of the synod of bishops specifically to address the evangelization of Asia, “The Church in Asia sings the praises of the “God of salvation” (Ps 68:20) for choosing to initiate his saving plan on Asian soil, through men and women of that continent.”
The faith is booming in various parts of Asia, particularly in South Asia, India! In Southeast Asia, the Church struggles still in Vietnam to minister in a complex political context. In Southwest Asia, the US State Department recently accused terrorists of genocide against Christians and others. Thanks be to God for our freedom to practice our holy religion.
Saint Pope John Paul exhorted us to pray for the Church in Asia, “…just as in the first millennium the Cross was planted on the soil of Europe, and in the second on that of the Americas and Africa, we can pray that in the Third Christian Millennium a great harvest of faith will be reaped in this vast and vital continent.” May the good Lord make it so!
Reflections
How can I support the Church’s mission in specific nations on the Asian continent with my time, treasure or talent? How can we in the United States and Canada foster dialogue and peace with other religions that originated in Asia such as Islam; philosophies such as Confucianism; or ways of life such as Buddhism?
Scripture
Rev 1:4-6
John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever [and ever]. Amen
Notices – 29/10/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 29th OCTOBER 2017
Today there will be the National Congress of the Carmelite Third Order, will be held at the Msida Parish Church. Transport leaves at 3.45pm and Members of the Third Order are encouraged to attend. Transport bookings can be made in the sacrsity.
TOMORROW at 5.00pm at the Parish Centre, there will be Mass for children attending catechisim classes, to celebrate All Saints Day.
TOMORROW, at 6.30pm at the Mosta Parish Church, Mass will be celebrated to remember Fr. Avertan on the anniversary of his death.
ON TUESDAY at the Mdina Carmelite Church there will be a prayer vigil with meditations on Fr. Avertan’s thoughts on the passage for the afterlife. We encourage you all to attend. The Prayer Vigil starts at 7.00pm.
ON WEDNESDAY, the Archbishop will be leading the Rite which brings to a close the Diocesan Case for the Beatification of Carmelite Fr. Avertan Fenech. The ceremony will start at 5.00pm at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, followed by a thanksgiving mass. We are all encouraged to attend. Transport from the Balluta Church to the St. John Cathedral will leave at 4.15pm. Transport bookings can be made in the sacrsity.
On WEDNESDAY too, at 7.15 p.m. at this church, there will be an international choir who will be performing a concert. All are invited.
ON SATURDAY at the Mdina Convent there will be a seminar on Fr. Avertan. The Seminar which will be from 9.30am to 4.30pm is organised by the Carmelite Institute and will be lead by Fr. John Berry.
The monetary collection of two Sundays ago in aid of Hospice Malta was of €179.38.
The collection in aid of the Missions was of € 2217.56; whilst the collection from the envelopes of Missions Day was that of €435.00. We thank you for your generosity.
Throughout the month of November all the 6.30pm masses will be for the souls of our departed ones. Those who wish to add their dearly departed may collect a form by the church doors and hand it to one of the priests.
ON THURSDAY 9th NOVEMBER LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS will start at 7.15pm at the Titus Brandsma Centre, in Scicluna Street. These seminars are based on seven meetings which will help us grow in our faith. Those who wish to attend can leave their names at the sacristy.
Notices – 22/10/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 22nd OCTOBER 2017
- TOMORROW, at 5.00pm there will be a meeting for those parents whose children attend catechisim at the Sacred Heart and who are in catechism years 1, 3 and 4.
At 7.00pm, Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) will be held at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre.
- ON TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 3.30pm, there will be the Light Physiotherapy Exercises for people over 60 years of age.
- On TUESDAY at 7.15pm there will be a Grufan meetingat the Parish Centre.
- On SATURDAY, between 9.30am and noon there will be a Seminar for pastoral workers of all parishes in Sliema and Balluta. Members of the Pastoral Council and of all the Parish Commissions, together with the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and other pastoral helpers, are invited, and required to attend. The Seminar will be at the St. Gregory’s Parish Centre.
- ON SUNDAY there will be the Commemoration of the Consecration of our Parish Church. This commemoration is being held next Sunday instead of on the 12th December so as to be celebrated together with the community in all the masses. During the 10.00am Mass there will be the incensation of the twelve pillars on which the church is built, representing the twelve apostles.
- Also on Sunday the National Congress of the Carmelite Third Order, will be held at the MsidaParish Church. Transport leaves at 3.45pm and Members of the Third Order are encouraged to attend. Transport bookings can be made in the sacrsity.
- Throughout the month of November all the 6.30pm masses will be for the souls of our departed ones. Those who wish to add their dearly departed may collect a form by the church doors and hand it to one of the priests.
- As you have been informed last week, on the 1st November, the Archbishop will be leading the Rite which brings to a close the Diocesan Case for the Beatification of Carmelite Fr. Avertan Fenech. The ceremony will start at 5.00pm at the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, followed by a thanksgiving mass. We are all encouraged to attend. Transport from the Balluta Church to the St. John Cathedral will leave at 4.15pm. Transport bookings can be made in the sacrsity.
Notices – 15/10/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 15th OCTOBER 2017
- TOMORROW, MONDAY, at 7.00pm, Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) will be held at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre.
- Booking for Masses for next year for the repose of the souls of our departed ones will start tomorrow. On the notice boards one can find the days and times when these bookings can be made.
- ON TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 3.30pm, there will be the Light Physiotherapy Exercises for people over 60 years of age.
- ON THURSDAY at 4.30pm there will be a meeting for those parents whose children are attending catechisim at the Sacred Heart and who are in catechism years 2 and 4
- Throughout the month of November all the 6.30pm masses will be for the souls of our departed ones. Those who wish to add their dearly departed may collect a form by the church doors and hand it to one of the priests.
- Today the World Hospice and Palliative Care Week will come to an end. Volunteers and members from Hospice Malta will be by the church doors handing out keepsakes to commemorate this day. Donations will be welcomed and appreciated.
- NEXT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ARE MISSIONS DAY. Pope Francis reminds us of the need for us to help our brethren in 150 thousand dioceses in the mission, in building churches, support schools, cure patients in health centres, care for abandoned children and orphans, give courses in catechism, proclaim to people the Good News and provide formation to thousands of semiarists and religious students. The Pope appeals for our generosity. May we remind you that envelopes with donations to the missions can be sent directly to Missio Malta, or brought here at the Church.
- The Sliema Local Council will be celebrating ‘Gieħ tas-Sliema’ (The Sliema Honour) on Wednesday 25th October 2017 at 7.00pm. at the Salesian Theatre Sliema. Tickets are free and can be obtained from the Sliema Local Council. More information can be found on the notice board.
Notices – 08/10/17
NOTICES – SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2017
TOMORROW, MONDAY, at 7.00pm, Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) will be held at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre.
ON TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 3.30pm, there will be the Light Physiotherapy Exercises for people over 60 years of age.
ON THURSDAY, being the eve of the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, which happened a 100 year ago, rosary will be recited in Balluta Square at 7.15pm.
ON FRIDAY meetings for the Group 60+ will be starting at the Titus Brandsma Centre. The first meeting will star with mass at 10.00am. All elderly people are encouraged to attend.
ALSO ON FRIDAY, on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna will be leading a pilgrimage which will leave at 6.00pm from outside the St. Gaetano Parish Church in Hamrun to the Gwardamangia Parish.
Booking for Masses for the repose of the souls of our departed ones will start on Monday 16th October. On the notice boards one can find the days and times when these bookings can be made.
Throughout the month of November all the 6.30pm masses will be for the souls of our departed ones. Those who wish to add their dearly departed may collect a form by the church doors and hand it to one of the priests.
May we remind you that envelopes with donations to the missions can be sent directly to Missio Malta, or brought to the Church.
This week the World Hospice and Palliative Care Week is being celebrated. The aim is to create more awareness on the palliative care being given to people suffering from cancer, by helping to reduce pain, in improving the quality of life of the patients, and in supporting their families. On Saturday evening and on Sunday volunteers and members from Hospice Malta will be by the church doors handing out keepsakes to commemorate this day. Donations will be welcomed and appreciated.
October 2017
Notices – 01/10/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 1st OCTOBER 2017
TODAY and TOMORROW, MONDAY at 10.00am at the Parish Centre there will be a meeting for members of the Carmelite Third Order.
TODAY, and every evening throughout the month of October, the Holy Rosary will be recited infront of the Holy Eucharist. We encourage you to attend or to recite the rosary with your family
TOMORROW, MONDAY, at 7.00pm, Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) will be held at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre. Meditations will be on the coming Sunday Gospel.
ON TUESDAY and FRIDAY at 3.30pm, there will be the Light Physiotherapy Exercises for people over 60 years of age. Those who wish can come and join on the said days.
FRIDAY is the first Friday of the month. After the 6.30pm Mass there will be a short Concert by a Dutch Choir under the direction of Paul Sneok.
ON FRIDAY, the Diocesan Commission for Children will be organising an activity between 6.00 and 8.00pm on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.
SATURDAY is the first Saturday of the Month. After the 9.30am Mass, there will be the recital of the The Rosary.
On Wednesday 4th October at 4.30pm at the Millenium Chapel, the Interdiocesan Commission Environment together with Nature Trust Malta are organising a Seminar with the theme: Laudato Si’ – An Inter-Religious and Secular Perspective on the Care of Creation.
The Sliema Local Council together with SOS Malta are offering a service to all elderly people who need to run errand in Sliema, ( even to go to Mass, to the Gzira Polyclinic, the Bank or to the Sliema Front. Those who wish to avail themselves from this service can phone the Local Council Office and ask for an appointment
Another issue of the FLIMKIEN Magazine with the Balluta Parish insert is out. Helpers are kindly asked to collect copies from the sacristy. Envelopes for the Mission Collection are being distributed together with this magazine. Envelopes with donations are to be sent directly to Missio Malta, or brought to the Church.