Announcements

Weekly Announcements of the Church

Next Friday, i.e. 31st May is the last day of catechism for our children studying in classes 4 to 14.

There will be no Catechism till the September 2nd Week. We thank the Catechism Council, teachers and volunteers for their dedicated service during the 2012-13 catechism year.

Friday, 31st May is the Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Virgin Mary. We shall be celebrating it on Thursday, 30th May. The events for that day are as follows: a) 6 pm – Recitation of Rosary and Novena at Grotto followed by procession. We request all children who have recently received Holy Communion to come in white dress b) Solemn High Mass at 7 pm dedicated to all the parishioners and their family members.

Sunday, 2nd June is Corpus Christi. The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ will be celebrated on 31st May and 1st June (Friday and Saturday) as well. As part of the celebration, on 1st June, Saturday, the Blessed Sacrament will be taken in procession after the 6.00am Mass to the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. This will be followed by silent adoration by various prayer groups and communities till 5 pm.

St.Michael’s youth will be organizing, WORSHIP NIGHT which includes singing, praying, testimonies and skits open to all on Thursday, 13th June from 7.45pm to 10pm. This is in view of The Year of Faith, to increase our faith and come closer to God. Those who are interested can register their names in the Church Compound.

Dates for Pilgrimages to
a) Europe: 28th July to 7th August 2013
b) Medjugorje: 14th to 20th August 2013
Bookings are on. Interested faithful can register their names in the Parish Office. The last day of Booking is 15 June, 2013.

Since the month of June is dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus, parishioners are encouraged to do the enthronement of the image. Those interested can kindly contact the Parish Office.

Next Friday, i.e. 24th May is the last day of catechism for our children studying in classes 1 to 3

Sunday, 26th May is Trinity Sunday. The solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity will be celebrated on 24th and 25th May (Friday and Saturday) as well.

We shall be having Thanksgiving Holy Mass on Wednesday, 29th May at 8.15 pm in the Church for all children of our Parish who have successfully cleared the 10th and 12th Grade Board exams. After the Mass, appreciation certificates will be distributed to students who have secured 75% or more in the aggregate - eligible students are requested to give a copy of their mark sheet to any of the priests latest by Tuesday, May 28th

We request all parishioners who have borrowed books from the Parish library to return them at the earliest, and take new books

The last day of catechism for our children will be as follows :
    a) Friday, 24th May for   classes: 1 to 3
    b) Friday, 31st May for   classes: 4 to 14
    Parents are requested to kindly take note of the above dates.

Parishioners are encouraged to renew Marian devotion and reciting of rosary during this month of May, dedicated to Mother Mary. Those who wish to take Mother Mary’s statue to their homes for veneration may kindly contact the Parish Office. As already announced, we have Rosary at the Grotto every day at 5.25am and 6.25pm

Month of May is dedicated to Mother Mary. We shall be having Rosary at the Grotto every day at 5.25am and 6.25pm.

The Parish Summer Camp will be held from 15th till 26th July, 2013. The theme is based on John: 7: 38, “Whoever believes in me, as Scriptures has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”. Those interested in serving the Parish community at this year’s Summer Camp as teachers, resource persons and sponsors may kindly give your names to the Parish Office or any of the Priests. A special logo based on the above theme needs to be designed. Interested parishioners are requested to submit a coloured design of the proposed logo along with a tag line or Title by 5th May, 2013.

Pilgrimage to Italy, Portugal, Spain & France program for 11 days is being organized from 28th July to 7th August, 2013. Interested faithful are requested to contact the parish office.

Parishioners who have not yet got their homes blessed are requested to contact any of the priests

Beware of your Personal Belongings: We request you to please take care of your bags, mobiles, wallets and other valuable personal belongings in the Church, at the grotto and in the Church premises. The Parish is not responsible for your missing articles.

Registered Parishioners are requested to collect their Parish ID Cards from the parish office. We encourage all those who have not yet registered in the Parish, to register themselves.

A. A. (Alcoholic Anonymous) meetings are taking place thrice in a week. All those who are in need of this help, you are most welcome to join.

New arrivals of spiritual books are available in our book stall. You are encouraged to buy them for your personal spiritual reading.

Parents coming with small children to receive Holy Communion are requested to teach your children to bow down with joined hands, so that Priest can bless your children.

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

Spiritual Books and religious articles are available in the Church Compound.

We encourage mothers with babies to use the Baby’s room.

Caring for the poor and the needy in this Christmas season is highly appreciated and thus, we request you to avail this opportunity by buying useful gift items for the needy and underprivileged. These items can be placed near the Christmas tree in the Church compound.

dDecember 2012

Kindly note that the collection taken during all the Christmas Masses will be utilized for strengthening the missionary works in the Vicariate. Hence, please partake in this missionary work by generously contributing to the cause. May Infant Jesus bless you for your generousity.

Dressing respectfully and modestly for the Holy Eucharistic Celebration is highly appreciated.

Parishioners may kindly note that Volunteers will be guiding you at various entry and exit points to ease the flow of crowd. Thank you for your cooperation.

In view of the preparation for Christmas, Catechism is cancelled for coming two Fridays (i.e. 21st & 28th December) Classes will resume on January 4, 2013.

Wedding Anniversary and Birthday Thanksgiving Mass will be on December 27, 2012 at 8.00pm.

The Priests, Parish Council Members & Reverend Sisters wish all the parishioners A Merry Christmas. May the Infant Jesus bring Joy to each one of you!

Kindly bring your Christmas gifts for the poor and needy and place them under the Christmas Tree or hand over to any of the priests.

Church Calendar 2013, “Bible Alive - 2013”, the daily Bible reading with reflection, Nativity sets, Christmas tree, greeting cards, decorative lights, religious articles are available in our Church stall. Parishioners are requested to patronize them.

As per the instructions of Bishop Paul, Mass intentions which have been booked in advance will be announced at the beginning of the Liturgy not before the consecration. Parishioners therefore are requested to contact the Secretary’s office to make Mass bookings for the year 2013.

As we prepare for Christmas, we encourage everyone to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the earliest. Priests are available during Rosary before all Masses and on personal request.

The Christmas carol singing has commenced. It will continue till Dec 23rd after the 7:00pm Mass in the Church compound. The Christmas tree is put up - you are free to bring your gifts for the poor and needy and place them under the Christmas tree or hand over to any one of the priests.

Parish Christmas Tree Celebration 2012 for Children:
20th Dec.(Thursday)- for age group 11-16 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm
21st Dec.(Friday) -for age group 3-10 from 9.00am to 12.00 noon. Registration will be open for coming 3 weekends in the Church compound after all obligation Masses. The last date is 16th December, 2012.

The Advent season will commence next week i.e. Friday, 30th November. Parishioners are requested not to bring flowers to the sanctuary. Instead, your love offerings in the form of any useful items (except food items) for the labourers and other less privileged people may be handed over to any of the priests.

Liturgical Calendar 2013, Christmas decoration, trees, stars and other religious articles are available in our Church Stall.

“Bible Alive - 2013”, the daily Bible reading with reflection is available in our Book stall. You are most welcome to buy them.

The Year of faith has commenced on 11th October 2012 and will end on 23rd November 2013. The Themes to be reflected during the Year of Faith are "The Faith We Believe, We Live, We Profess, We Savour, We Share and We Celebrate".

Spiritual Books are available in the Book Stall and Church compound for a reasonable price.

All those who have not yet collected their Parish ID Cards, could kindly collect it from the Parish Office.

The next World Youth Day will be held in Rio, Brazil from July 23–28. Interested participants from Sharjah are kindly requested to register themselves online on our Church website: www.stmichaelssharjah.org Registration closes on September 27, 2012.

Parishioners who are looking out for jobs can now register at http://www.stmichaelssharjah.org/jobs our Church website with their resumes and also employers who are looking out for the right candidates are also requested to register their vacancies on the site.

We request all parishioners to abide by the Sharjah Municipality notification regarding using the services of illegal car washers. Kindly cooperate with the authorities by not allowing your cars to be washed around the Church premises.

There will be Pilgrimage to Holy Land from November 30 to December 6, 2012.Those interested register in the office.

All those who are interested in visiting the sick at home, hospitals and help the poor and the needy could join the Legion of Mary.

We find some parents coming with babies bringing food stuffs and play materials inside the "Mother with Babies room".As result, many parents are not able to concentrate over the Eucharistic Celebration.Kindly avoid the disturbance.

We would like to remind all our parishioners about booking of mass intentions. Booking of Masses has to be done well in advance with our office secretary. Last minute bookings are discouraged. Hence forth we will not accept any last minute intentions.

Once again we request all parishioners to respect the sanctity of the Church and ensure that proper and modest attire is worn. Thank you for your cooperation.

We request all parishioners who have borrowed books from the Parish library to return them at the earliest, and take new books.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.