Parish Announcements – 10th March, 2024

1. LAETARE SUNDAY: Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as “Laetare Sunday” from the Latin word that means “Rejoice” and it sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery and the use of the “Rose” coloured vestment.

2. JDPC LENTEN COLLECTION: Today, 10^th March 2024 our Second Collection will be an Archdiocesan collection to support the of the Justice & Development Commission. We are all encouraged to donate generously.

3. PARISH LENTEN RETREAT: Our Parish Lenten Retreat shall hold from next Sunday, 10^th March 2024 to Friday, 15^th March, 2024. Theme: Sin Disfigures, Jesus Transfigures. Retreat Moderator: Rev. Fr. Benjamin Ometan CSsR. Time: 5:30pm daily. Let us all prepare to participate actively.

4. STATIONS OF THE CROSS: During the Lenten Season, our Parish Stations of the Cross shall hold every Wednesday and Friday at 12noon and 5:30pm. We are all encouraged to journey with the Lord through His passion and death. Booklets are available at #250 only.

5. SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: During this period of Lent, SCC meetings will take place at various community centers on Tuesday, 12^th March, 2024 at 6pm. Scriptural reading: John 12:20-33. Please note that there will be no evening Mass or Society meetings during the SCC time.There shall be mass this Tuesday at St. Joseph SCC. Venue: 321 Road, D Close, House 24, Festac Town. Kindly refer to the Parish notice board for the various centers. All parishioners are encouraged to attend the SCC nearest to their homes.

6. BULLETIN: Dear parishioners we wish to inform you that due to the increased cost of publishing our weekly parish bulletin, the cost of purchase beginning from the month of April, 7^th April 2024, will no longer be #100 but #200. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences.

7. ORGANIZATIONS MEETING: Today, 10^th March 2024, is the Monthly General Meeting of the Catholic Women Organization and Catholic Men Organization (after the 10:00am Mass) and Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (after the 8:00am Mass). Let us all ensure we attend our respective organizations as crucial matters will be discussed.

8. CALL FOR ACTORS: Do you have acting skills? Are between the ages of 15 and 45? More importantly, do you wish to evangelize the gospel through acting? Then be a part of something exciting as you sign up to be part of this unique project. Various roles exist in the 2024 Parish Passion Drama (Good Friday) organized by the Young Christian Workers, Holy Family Catholic Church, 22 Road Festac Town. For more information, please contact 07038025080.

9. LAITY WEEK: The 2024 Laity Week begins on Sunday, 17^th March 2023 in our parish. The weeklong event titled “Religion, Synodality and Civic Responsibility for a Better Nigeria”. The opening ceremony holds at St. Francis Catholic Church, Idimu, Lagos. Thereafter, talks on selected topics will be presented during the evening Masses from Monday to Friday. There will be Corporal Works of Mercy on Saturday by various societies/organizations while the Grand Finale comes up on Sunday 24^th March 2024, with the Laity Week Collection holds at all Masses. Schedule of topics shortly Full Schedule for Laity Week 2024

Day 2: a) Monday Religion: An Instrument for Nation Building and Peaceful Co-existence

b) Moral Regeneration: An Indispensable Factor for a Cohesive Nation

Day 3: Synodality as a Springboard for Nation Building

Day 4: a) Civility of Lay Faithful for Political Participation

b) Religion and Moral Politics: Necessary Realities for National Progress

Day 5: a) Moral integrity: Fortress for Healthy Society

b) Moral Education in Nigeria: Then, Now and Future

Day 6: a) Insecurity as an Epidemic: Time to Rework Curbing Modalities

b) Tackling the Spate of Unemployment: Youths in Focus

Day 7: Corporal Works of Mercy

Day 8: Grand Finale (Laity Week Collection at all Masses)

10. ADULT CONFIRMATION: Registration into Confirmation Class for Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday is ongoing for baptized persons who are 40 years old and above or married and have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Classes hold on Sundays at 12noon and are mandatory. Register in person at the Parish Office or the Catechesis Resource Center.

11. CATECHISM REGISTRATION: Registration for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Rites of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A) is ongoing and the registration fee is #3,000. Interested parishioners should please visit the Catechist Resource Center on Saturdays between 4:00pm & 5:30pm.

12. SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR THE POOR: Next Sunday, 17^th March 2024 shall be our monthly Special Collection for the Poor. This collection is to help support the activities of St. Vincent De Paul. Let us all prepare to donate generously. “Remember, whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me”

13. BULLETIN SPONSORSHIP & ADVERT PLACEMENT: We encourage all parishioners to kindly subscribe to sponsoring and placing adverts in our weekly bulletin publications. The cost for bulletin adverts are as follows: Full Page: 15,000; Half Page: 6,000; Quarter Page: 3,000 while the cost for bulletin sponsorship is dependent on the parishioners. For more enquiries, please visit the Parish Office or call 09036389533.

14. CHAPEL OF ADORATION: Kindly observe the rules of the chapel of Adoration. Please do not throw money or petitions over the glass rather, put in the box provided for the purpose.

15. VOTIVE CANDLES: Parishioners are encouraged to light votive candles to pray for their intentions at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Stand. Please note that the candles are taken at a minimum of N200 per candle. 

16. LAITY COLLECTION: Next week Sunday, 17^th March 2024 our Second Collection shall be an Archdiocesan Collection for Laity Council so as to support the activities of the Laity within the Archdiocese. Let us all prepare to donate generously.

17. ALTAR WINE: We wish to inform all parishioners that due to the high cost in the importation of Altar Wine, a bottle of Altar Wine is now sold for N3,500 while a Carton is N42,000. We are sorry for the inconveniences this may cause.

18. THANKSGIVING ITEMS: Parishioners are encouraged to consider purchasing essential items needed for the Parish during their individual and family open thanksgiving. Kindly consult the priests or the Parish Office for the list of items.

19. HARVEST PLEDGE REDEMPTION: We wish to encourage all parishioners to kindly redeem their pledges at the Harvest Stand (On Sunday) and the parish office (during the week) in cash, cheque or POS and get a receipt. You can as well pay directly to the Harvest Account; HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, HARVEST, ZENITH 1014506326.

20. ALTAR SERVERS:  There is a call for new members into the Association. Male (from age of communicant to 16 years) & Female (from age of communicant to 12 years) previous servers from other Parish are also free to join. We encourage all parents/guardians to permit children who are interested to join.

21. BLESSING OF HOLY WATER AND SACRAMENTALS: Parishioners are encouraged to come with their Water, Salt, Olive Oil and other sacramentals for blessing every Tuesday for the Rite of Blessings during the evening mass.

22. HOLY CHILD CHOIR: Are you a child between the ages of 7- 16 years and a lover of music? Do you want to develop the art of singing? Then join the Children Choir on Fridays (Omisesan Hall) – 5:30pm and Saturday (Upper Hall) – 12:00pm. Parents are also encouraged to support and permit their children/ward(s) to join the Holy Child Choir.

23. PARISH ID CARDS: This is to inform parishioners that the Parish ID cards of those who registered since last year August and beyond are ready for collection at the Parish Office, kindly go to the Parish Office to check. Also, we encourage our new members to please register at the Parish Office and those whose card is expired can as well renew at the Parish Office.

24. HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC PARISH LIBRARY: We are pleased to inform you that the Anthony Cardinal Okogie Reference (Parish) Library located beside the Anthony Cardinal Okojie Lower Hall is here to serve you better. At very affordable prices, we offer the following services: Photocopying, Lamination, Binding, Spiral Binding, Typing, Printing, Colored Photocopy etc. We also offer a vast range of books ranging from Literature to Accounting to Economics and a lot more. Working Hours: Mondays to Fridays. Time: 9am- 4pm. God bless you as you patronize us. For further enquiries on how to use to library or any of its services, please call: 09036389533 or 08169228063 (Ms. Chinwe).

25. (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. For this period, we shall be continuing with the Book of Exodus. Take up this challenge faithfully as stated below and be enriched spiritually.

Day/Month	Bible Passages
10 March	Exodus	Chapters 28 & 29
11 March	Exodus	Chapters 30 & 31
12 March	Exodus	Chapters 32 & 33
13 March	Exodus	Chapters 34 & 35
14 March	Exodus	Chapters 36 & 37
15 March	Exodus	Chapters 38 & 39
16 March	Exodus	Chapter  40

26. 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.