Parish Announcements – 3rd April, 2022

PARISH PRIEST’S DESK:

1. SOARING ON THE WINGS OF GRACE

We wish to encourage us to continue to soar on the wings of Grace this 2022 by:

May God continue to bless us all!!! Amen

1. STEWARDSHIP: To encourage participation and commitment in the activities of the Parish, Stewardship Commitment forms were distributed at all the masses. Unfortunately, the turn-over of these forms were low. This is a special call to every parishioner to kindly return the filled forms indicating areas of fresh commitment to the affairs of the church. Submission can be done at the bulletin stand on Sundays and at the Parish Office on weekdays.

1. POWER CONSUMPTION: Due to the rising cost of diesel, we wish to inform our beloved parishioners that we may have to make some adjustments to our use of the generator in the Church. Kindly bear with us

1. SECURITY ALERT: We wish to call our attention to the increase in the level of insecurity especially before the 6am mass. Extra measures have been taken around the Church and Event Center. Parishioners should endeavour to be more conscious on their way to masses. May the Lord protect us from every evil. Amen.

          ……………..PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS……………………

1. PALM SUNDAY: Next Sunday, April 10^th, 2022, is Palm Sunday and it marks the beginning of the Holy week, the climax of the Church’s Liturgical year. There shall be blessing of palms at each mass. We are all encouraged to participate actively in the Holy week ceremonies.

1. TITHE SUNDAY: Today, the first Sunday of the month is Tithe Sunday, there shall be a special blessing before the Second Collection. You can also make your transfers to our Fidelity Bank 5080032193 in favour of Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac.

1. ORGANIZATIONS MEETING: Next week Sunday, 10^th April 2022 is the Monthly General Meetings of the CWO and CMO (after the 10.30am Mass), and CYON (after the 9:00am Mass). Let us all ensure we attend our respective organizations as it promises to be brief.

1. HARVEST 2021: The Harvest of Testimony 2021 committee is winding down her accounts. We wish to appeal to all those yet to redeem their pledges to do so as soon as possible for proper accounting. Kindly redeem to the Harvest account: Zenith Bank- 1014506326, Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac.

1. SUPPORT FOR CHRISM MASS: Parishioners who wish to make a donation towards the support of the Chrism Mass holding at Festac should kindly contact any of the Priests or the Parish Office.

1. HOLY WEEK BROCHURE: There shall be a special Bulletin/Brochure for the Holy Week and Easter period (April 10^th – April 30^th, 2022). Price: ₦500

1. CHARITY/LOVE BOWL: We wish to remind our parishioners to return their Lenten Charity/ Love bowls to St Vincent de Paul Society. Let us endeavor to be committed. Remember; “whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me”.

1. HOLY THURSDAY ADORATION: The order of adoration for Holy Thursday shall be as follows:

8:00pm           All women and children led by CWO

9:00pm           All youths led by CYON, YCW and CYAA

10:00pm         All men led by CMO

1. TENEBRAE: My God, my God, why have thou forsaken me? The Office of Tenebrae is one of the practices of the Catholic Church. It is a ceremony that combines the Divine Office of Psalms and readings with the gradual extinguishing of candles to denote the almost complete abandonment of Christ. We shall all participate on Good Friday by 7:30am. Let us all come to be fully involved in this solemn practice of the Holy Triduum.

1. REFLECTIONS ON THE LAST SEVEN WORDS: As Jesus hung on the Cross, he uttered seven last words of great meaning to those who contemplate his passion and death. We shall as a community reflect on these words on Good Friday by 9:00am. Let us all be part of this important celebration.

1. EASTER VIGIL: We are all expected to come with a candle for the Service of Light and the renewal of baptismal promises during the Easter Vigil.

1. MOTHER\’S DAY CELEBRATION: The Mother\’s Day Celebration comes up on Sunday, 24^th April 2022. In preparation for this celebration, there will be a 3-Day program for all mothers in the parish from 22nd to 24tth April 2022. The 3-Day Programmes are as follows:

Day 1: Fri., 22^nd April 2022–                        Woman, Beautiful Handmaid of God (Lk 1:26-38)

Day 2: Tues., 23^rd April 2022–          Skill acquisition: (Makeup, Gele-tying, Production, Shoe Polish etc)

Day 3: Sun., 24^th April 2022–           Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day celebration (Fashion Parade and Dance competition).

All women are expected to be active in this program. We appeal to every woman in the church to pay a levy sum of N1000 to make this day a memorable one.

1. REQUIEM MASSES: There will be Requiem Masses on Friday, 8^th April, 2022 for Late Mrs Juliana Oguchi (She was a member of Confraternity of Christian Mothers) by 10am, Late Ekeledirichukwu Christopher Enwere by 12:30pm and for Late Onwunali Augustine Chikaodi (He was a member of CYON) by 6:30pm. Note: There will be Candle-Light procession for Late Onwunali Augustine Chikaodi at his residence, 41 Road, G’ Close, House 26, Festac by 5:30pm.

1. PARISH OFFICE: The priests will not be available at the office during Holy week except for emergency cases. The Parish Office will however be open. It shall close for the Easter break on Wednesday, April 13^th, 2022 to reopen on Monday, April 25^th, 2022. Mass bookings shall be available after each morning mass at the sacristy.

1. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR: Our Parish Life in the Spirit Seminar comes up next month, 24^th April, 2022. Let us all prepare to participate actively and deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Registrations can be done either at the Laity Office or the Parish Office.

1. CONFESSIONS: There shall be no confessions during the Holy Week and Easter Octave. Confessions shall resume on Tuesday, April 26^th, 2022.

1. SYNOD 2023: Parishioners are reminded to kindly answer the Synod questions and drop in the Synod Suggestion Box in front of the Church.

1. (1%) ONE PERCENT BIBLE CHALLENGE: We wish to encourage all Parishioners to read and study the word of God for at least 15minutes every day; which is about 1% of 24 hours. We are continuing withlast chapters of 1^st Letter of Corinthians for this week. Take up this challenge faithfully as stated below and be enriched spiritually.

Day/Month	Bible Passages
4 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 10
5 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 11
6 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 12
7 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 13
8 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 14
9 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 15
10 April	1st Corinthians	Chapter 16

1. RETURN TO THE SACRAMENTS: We wish to encourage those who have been estranged from the sacraments for one reason or the other especially the Holy Eucharist, to return to the Sacraments. Kindly meet any of the Priests if you are having any difficulty in this regard. May Christ grant us life through His Body and Blood. Amen.