Announcements

Weekly Announcements of the Church

Dear parishioners kindly follow instructions given in the new liturgy especially;

When we are praying "I Confess", we are requested to strike our chest three times.

When we are praying "I believe", we are requested to bow down

Responding "Amen" before receiving the Holy Communion During Mass respond loudly for all the prayers

17th Feb

Marriage preparation course in Malayalam will be conducted on Friday, 17th Feb', in St. Francis of Assisi Chapel from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. The last date for registration is 16th Feb.

20th Feb 2012

Prayer Group Co-ordinators & Core Team members meeting will be held on 20th Feb from 8.00pm in Hall No. 11 C.

20th Feb 2012

We request all the parishioners to bring the old palm leaves before 20th of Feb in order to make ash for Ash Wednesday.

On Tuesday, 21^st Feb’2012, there will be special Mass at 8.00pm for students appearing for Grade 10 and 12 Annual Exams in March. We request all such students and their parents to attend the Mass and seek the Lord’s Blessings.

22nd Feb 2012

Wednesday, 22nd Feb' is Ash Wednesday the beginning of the Lenten Season. It's a day of fast and abstinence. The Mass timings are :

English	Morning 5.30, 6.30, 7.30 & 8.30
	Evening 4.00, 5.00, 6.00 & 7.00
Tagalog	8.15pm – in the Parish Hall
Malayalam Latin	8.15pm – in the Church
Syro-Malabar	8.15pm – in the Church on 20th Feb.

Lenten season:

With Ash Wednesday, we enter into the Lenten season. During this time we omit “Alleluia” and “Gloria”; we avoid placing Flowers on the Altar and Sanctuary, so we request you not to bring flowers instead you can make your love offering for the poor and needy.

Fast & Abstinence is prescribed for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, limited to the age group 21 to 60. Abstinence is prescribed as a general rule for every Wednesday in Lent, applicable to 14 years and above.

From Friday, 24^th Feb’ onwards there will be Way of the Cross, every Friday and all obligation Masses instead of Rosary.

Way of the Cross:

English : Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday before all the Masses

Malayalam : Every Wednesday at 7.45pm

Konkani : Every Saturday at 6.30pm

Tamil : Every Friday at 4.45pm

Tagalog : Every Friday and Sunday before the Mass

23rd Feb 2012

Wedding Anniversary and Birthday thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated on 23rd Feb' Thursday, at 8.00 p.m.

Mass Intention Book is available in the parish office. Kindly do the Mass bookings well ahead of the time.

Parishioners, who have not yet blessed their homes, are welcome to invite any one of the priests to bless your home.

We encourage mothers with babies to enter into Baby's room.

Raffle draw is already launched and the bumper prize is a New Nissan Sunny model 2012. There are other attractive prizes too. Raffle tickets cost only Dhs. 10/- and are available after all obligatory Masses. Kindly be generous in contributing to this noble cause since the proceedings will go towards our Bishop's various projects in our Vicariate. God Bless You all.

As announced earlier we need sponsors for St. Michael's family day celebration in Feb' 2012. This time we intend to give away 50 valuable gifts starting from Dhs. 250/- upwards. Parishioners who wish to sponsor gifts are requested to contact any of the priests

We have Word of God 2012-Gospel Diary and "The Untold Story of Pope John Paul II-DVD" available in the Church stall.

Many people are looking for jobs, if anyone knows any job vacancies available, please inform the Church Secretary to help the unemployed.

Please note that the following new items are available in the Church stall:

Word of God 2012 – Gospel Diary

The Vatican has released the DVD- "The Untold Story of Pope John Paul II"

All those who have not yet received the New Translation of The English Missal- a pastoral letter by Bp. Paul, may kindly collect from the Church exists.

Parishioners are requested:

Do not bring your Mass intention Slips to the Sacristy just before the Mass starts. Please contact the Parish office to book your Mass intentions before one week.

We have set aside Collective Thanksgiving Masses on Wednesday 7.00pm Mass for Thanksgiving and Thursday 7.00pm Mass for the Departed Souls.

Kindly listen to the Church Announcements and visit the Church website to avoid unnecessary phone calls.

We request all parishioners to be vigilant in and out of the Church premises from individuals who behave in an unusual manner. You are also requested to take care of your personal belongings.

We request all the parishioners to avoid distributing unauthorized novena leaflets in the church and its premises.

House Blessing: All those who have not yet blessed their houses could approach any of the priests to do so.

Enquiry for Marriage: All those who intent to get married must meet the any of the priests well ahead of the time for the requirement and processing of documents before marriage. The last moment documentations are not encouraged.

We invite all our parish children to make use of the Spiritual Books available in the Church Library during the Summer Vacation.

We request Mothers with babies to attend the Mass in the respective Baby’s Room.

Dress Code in the Church: All those who participate in the Holy Mass are reminded to be modest and decent in their dress. Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Before approaching the priests for any information, kindly follow these steps:

Refer the Church Calendar

Browse St. Michael’s Website
Listen to the voice message
Meet the Secretary
Finally go to the Concerned Priest

If we fail to assist you through any of the above mentioned procedures, kindly let us know. Your co-operation is highly recommended and appreciated.

Parishioners (especially ushers) may kindly note, as already announced earlier the right hand side 2nd pew is marked and kept reserved for the Lay Ministers. Similarly the Left hand side 2nd pew is kept reserved for the elderly, sick and special needs people. Your cooperation is requested.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Dear Parishioners, we would like to request you to

Cooperate with the instructions of our volunteers.
Switch of your mobile as you enter into the Church and Parish Compound.
Keep the Church, hall and surroundings clean & tidy
After the mass give way for other faithful to take part in the Holy Mass Those coming by cars please leave immediately after the mass and allow others to park.

PRAYERFUL ATMOSPHERE IN THE CHURCH:

It has been remarked that the prayerful atmosphere in the Church is not been kept up. During Mass, children run around, people find talking, mobiles are on, the response is very slow and not audible etc. The Temple of God is made many times a noisy place especially during the administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage. Please be aware of the Presence of the Eucharistic Lord and do not forget that people are praying. So, kindly keep up the decorum of the Church and allow others to participate the Holy Mass without disturbances.