Newsletter December 2017
Notices – 26/11/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2017
- ON MONDAY there will be the opening of the documentation collected in the investigation of the Diocesan Case of our brother and servent of the Lord. Fr. Avertan. This documentation was sent by the Archdiocese to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. We will keep praying to the Lord to spread his graces through the intercession of Fr. Avertan and for his Beatification and Canonization.
- ON THURSDAY, LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS will continue at 7.15pm at the Titus Brandsma Centre. All those who wish to grow in their faith are invited to attend these meetings.
- ON FRIDAY at 3.30pm, at the Titus Brandsma Centre, there will be the first of a series of three sessions about healthy eating. These talks will be delivered by a professional nutritionist. Those wishing to attend are welcome to do so on the day.
- ON SATURDAY morning there will be a meeting of the Liturgical Commission.
- ON SATURDAY, the 6.30pm Mass will be animated by the group Footprints, who will continue with a moment of adoration immediately after mass.
- NEXT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY a census will be carried out during all masses.
- EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY, at 6.00pm at the Parish cente, there will be rehearsals for members of the Parish Choir. Those who wish to become members of this choir can contact Marie Therese Vassallo.
- By the church doors there are copies of the Missions Calendar for Year 2018.Proceeds from these calendars are in aid of the Missions.
- Two baskets have been placed at the foot of the altar in which one can donate food items as an act of charity for Advent time. These items will later be distributed by the Diocesan Commission to those in need.
Fr. Robert Farrugia O.Carm
On November 19, the Lord called to himself Fr ROBERT Farrugia, O. Carm., aged 78. Mass praesente cadavere was celebrated at the Carmelite Church, Balluta, on Monday, November 20, at 2.15pm. May God grant him eternal rest.
Buffet Lunch
Notices – 19/11/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 19th NOVEMBER 2017
- ON TUESDAY at 3.30pm, there will be the last session of the Light Physiotherapy Exercises for people over 60 years of age.
- ON WEDNESDAY At 9.00pm, members of the Carmelite Third Order are organising Mass at the Addolorata Cemetery’s Chapel. After Mass there will be time for praying on the graves of our dearly departed. Those who wish to join can leave his/her name in the sacristy.
- ON THURSDAY, LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS will continue at 7.15pm at the Titus Brandsma Centre. All those who wish to grow in their faith are invited to attend these meetings.
- ON FRIDAY at 10.00am there will be a fundraising activity in aid of the church which will start with mass then lunch at a hotel in Buġibba. Tickets are available from the Parish Office of from Doris Mallia.
- ON FRIDAY and SATURDAY there will the the Diocesan Assembly. The theme will be ‘Evangelisation and Diaconia. During this Assembly representatives from various areas of the Church will be meeting with the Archbishop. Let us pray so that this assembly will be a fruitful one for the pastoral work of the Church in Malta.
- ON SATURDAY, after the 6.30pm Mass there will be an Organ and Flute Concert. This concert is part of the Malta International Organ Festival. Entrance is free.
- NEXT SUNDAY if the Feast of Christ the King. The 9.00am Mass will be broadcasted on TVM. On that day, at 5.00pm at the St. Venera Parish Church, Msgr Archbishop will be leading the Evening Prayers followed by a discourse on the occasion of Christ the King. For those who wish to join us, there will be transport available. Transport leaves at 4.15pm.
- Applications for entry in Church Schools in September 2018 will start being received in the coming weeks. These entries are for Church employees’ children, for siblings, and for children from Church Schools without Continuity. Other applicants from State and Independent Schools will be able to apply in January and February. More detailed information can be found on the Curia’s website and on the Parish’s notices boards.
Life in the Spirit
Fr. Avertan Fenech O.Carm
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 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.
On the road to sainthood
The diocesan inquiry examining the case for beatification and canonisation of Fr Avertan Fenech ends today. Fr Hermann Duncan looks at the final days of the religious man.
The Archbishop’s Curia recently issued a letter stating that the diocesan inquiry examining the case for the beatification and canonisation of Fr Avertan Fenech, O.Carm, which was started on February 2, 2017, will be concluded today.
Fr Fenech, born Luigi, was a Carmelite friar who devoted his life to prayer and sacrifice. He was born and baptised in Mosta in July 1871. As a young boy, he wished to become a Carmelite friar and as he grew older he felt his calling to religious life growing stronger.
He entered the Carmelite Order in February 1888 in the Valletta Priory where he started his novitiate. He took his solemn vows in February 1892. His first years as a priest were spent in the Balluta Priory, and in 1896 he was chosen to be formator of students at the priory.
His students regarded him as a model of Carmelite spirituality. He was later sent to the Mdina Priory where he became formator of the novices. He was also a provincial counsellor, secretary to the provincial and vice-prior at the Mdina Priory.
There is a very interesting book about him written by Fr Lawrence Sammut, O.Carm, who was one of his novices. Only recently a second edition was published by the vice-postulator, Fr Charlò Camilleri, O.Carm.
It was on May 23, 1932, that Fr Pio Compagno, the new prior of the Mdina Priory, called a community meeting to choose the priory officials. It was set for 10am. Fr Fenech was always very punctual but this time he was late, so the prior became concerned and decided to check up on him in his room. They knocked a couple of times and when there was no answer, they opened the door to find him lying on the floor, with a pencil in his hand. Doctors were immediately called in.
Professor Ferro was quick to arrive. He examined Fr Fenech and diagnosed that he had suffered a stroke as the right half of his body was paralysed. When Fr Avertan regained consciousness he remained very calm… he was rather joyful, thinking that he would soon be joining the Lord in heaven. The priory’s general practitioner, Joseph Micallef, soon arrived, and together with Prof. Ferro, thought that Fr Fenech could regain his mobility with the help of massage and exercise.
The prior did all he could to care for Fr Fenech. He contacted two good nurses, Paul Muscat and Joseph Caruana, to give him massages and the necessary treatment required. They were also asked to stay with him day and night so that if he required medical assistance they could quickly call the doctor.
During each doctor’s visit, Fr Fenech showed a strong wish to get well – for one particular reason: to be able to celebrate daily Mass. This fact was not only corroborated by the friars of Mdina but also by those who would visit him. Despite his bad state of health, he was never heard complaining.
Nearly a year passed since Fr Fenech’s stroke and he was still bedridden without any improvement. At this point his speech became slurred and half his body was not functioning. The doctor still believed he could get better and advised him to get up and walk around the corridors, supported by someone. Fr Fenech obeyed the doctor’s advice religiously, and would manage to do two or three rounds before resting.
Despite his efforts, his leg did not improve, so he was forced back to bed.
After a number of years, the friars thought it was best to have Fr Fenech transferred to Santo Spirito Hospital in Rabat for special care.
From the start of 1943, his condition began deteriorating. His skin was turning yellow and he was getting thinner by the hour. In June 1943 he had another stroke and was administered the last rites. Even though he seemed to improve, this good religious man realised that the gates of heaven were already open for him. Finally, between the night of October 31 and November 1, 1943, Fr Fenech passed to eternal life.
After his death, his life, his writings and the graces he granted were examined by the Church. Extensive research has now been finalised and the Archbishop’s Curia will be closing the inquiry of this servant of God and sending it to Rome.
Today, on the Solemnity of all Saints, and the day Fr Fenech went to meet the risen Lord, a celebration in St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta will be held at 5pm. There will be the canonical rite on the closing of the diocesan inquiry, and afterwards, a solemn Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.
Everyone is encouraged to attend and pray for more graces through the intercession of Fr Fenech.
Notices – 12/11/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2017
- TODAY at 3.30pm, at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre in Scicluna Street, there will be a special activity for all the family. While adults will be attending a FILM FORUM about the film COURAGEOUS, children will have animators from the Valletta 18. This film has a beautiful message especially for families. We encourage families and all those who wish, to attend this activity
- ON 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.
- EVERY TUESDAY AND EVERY FRIDAY at 6.00pm at the Parish Centre, there will be rehearsals for members of the Parish Choir. Those who wish to become members of this choir can contact Marie Therese Axiak.
- ON THURSDAY, LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS will continue at 7.15pm at the Titus Brandsma Centre. All those who wish to grow in their faith are invited to attend these meetings. These seminars are being given in Maltese but there will be another group for those who prefer to follow them in English.
- ON FRIDAY, there will be a GRUFAN meeting at 7.15pm, at the Parish Centre.
- 7. As in previous years, the Church is appealing for the generosity of its members to help in providing financial means so as church schools can continue to serve and deliver it’s mission of educating thousands of children and youths. Thus, all proceeds from collections during the Saturday evening Mass and all Masses on Sunday, 18th and 19th November, will go towards the Church School Funds.
Newsletter November 2017
Notices – 05/11/17
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH – BALLUTA
PARISH NOTICES – SUNDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2017
- THIS EVENING at 4.00pm in Independence Garden, the Holy Rosary will be recited infront of the statue of Our Lady.
- ON 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 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. People who have attended these seminars say that they were a strong experience of the Holy Spirit which changed their lives. We are all encouraged to attend these seminars which can bring about a change in our lives. Those who wish to attend can leave their names at the sacristy.
- ON FRIDAY, after Mass, there will be adoration at the Adoration Chapel with special prayers for Carmelite Vocations. These prayers will continue during Masses on Saturday and Sunday.
- ON SUNDAY at 3.30pm at the Titus Brandsma Parish Centre, there will be a special activity for all the family. While adults will be attending a FILM FORUM about the film COURAGEOUS, children will have animators from the Valletta 18. This film has a beustiful message especially for families. We encourage families and all those who wish to attend this activity.
7. Throughout the month of November all the 6.30pm masses will be for the souls of our departed ones which you have listed for these special prayers. At 5.55pm there will be the Rosary and prayers for the souls. Those who wish to add their dearly departed may collect a form by the church doors and hand it to one of the priests.