Parish Announcements – 26th March, 2023

1. JDPC LENTEN COLLECTION: Today’s Second Collection for the annual Archdiocesan JDPC Lenten Campaign.

1. SPECIAL BLESSING FOR THE MONTH: Today is the Last Sunday of the month. There shall be a special thanksgiving for those born in the month of February and those who had wedding anniversaries or any special celebration during this month.

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. The procession shall begin after the 8:00am mass from the Event Center. We are all encouraged to participate actively in the Holy week ceremonies. Please kindly check the inside front cover page of the bulletin for the Holy Week schedule.

1. LAITY WEEK: The 2023 Laity Week begins today, March 26, 2023 with the theme: \”Politics and the common Good in Contemporary Nigeria\”. There shall be talks on selected topics during the evening masses from Monday to Friday. Below are the topics for each day:

Mon., Mar. 27^th 2023:
a) Participation of Lay Faithful in politics: Prospects, Challenges and Way Forward.
b) Mission of the Laity in the church and politics in Nigeria.

Tues., Mar. 28^th 2023:
a) Good Governance & Democracy: The Role of Laity in Perspective.
b) Civic Education: Essential Drive for Political Consciousness.

Wed., Mar., 29^th 2023: The Church in Nigeria & Sustenance of Democracy.

Thurs., Mar. 30^th 2023:
a) Politics: Indispensable Tool for The Promotion of Common Good.
b) Spectre of Insecurity in Nigeria: Threat to National Unity, Peace and Socio-Economic Development.

Fri., Mar. 31^st 2023: Empowerment: Panacea to Survive Economic Challenges and Stress.

Sat., Apr. 1^st 2023: Corporal Works of Mercy.

Sun., April 2^nd 2023: Grand Finale (Laity Week Collection at all masses).

One Laity, One Church!

1. STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Stations of the Cross holds every Wednesday and Friday at 12noon and 5:30pm at the new Church Building. We are all encouraged to journey with the Lord through His passion and death. Booklets are available at ₦200 only.

1. PASSION DRAMA AUDITION: The Lenten season is here again with it\’s many blessings and a time to offer your talent in service to God. To this end, Young Christian Workers Movement (YCW) is calling on interested persons who wish to be part of this year’s dramatization of the Passion of Christ to meet with the committee members beside the Bulletin Stand. Rehearsals hold at the Church Event Center every Wednesday and Friday. Contact: 07060833355 (Isabella) or 07068252613 (Efe) for enquiries. Please note that to support the drama, contributions can be made into this account: Fidelity Bank, Young Christian Workers Movement- 5700068878. God bless you as you identify with us.

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. CONFESSIONS: There shall be no confessions during the Holy Week and Easter Octave. Confessions shall resume on Tuesday, April 19^th, 2023.

1. HOLY WEEK BROCHURE: Our parish Holy Week/ Easter Brochure for the Holy Week and Easter period will be on sale next week Sunday. This brochure will run from Palm Sunday, April 2^nd 2023, to April 16^th, 2023. Price: ₦700.

1. ACIES CEREMONY: The Acies Ceremony of the Legion of Mary comes up today, March 26^th 2023 at the Pope John Paul II Hall by 12noon. Active and auxiliary legionaries should please take note and be in attendance.

1. Registration into the following Sacraments: Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) class will resume on Saturday, 4^th March 2023 and run till Friday, 7^th April 2023. Also, registration for Adult Confirmation Classes (40 Years and above and those married, but not confirmed) is ongoing. Register at the Catechist Resource Center or call: 08161629992.

1. ALTAR SERVERS: There will be a meeting of the parents/guardians of the Altar servers with the Parish Priest and their Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Mark Okojie next week Sunday, April 2^nd 2023. Time: 12noon. Venue: Upper Hall. Attendance is mandatory for all parents/guardians.

1. PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL: We encourage you our dear parishioners to make your offertory via bank transfer to the parish account: Fidelity Bank, 5080032193 or the P.O.S. before or after the mass.

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. 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 Tuesday, April 4^th, 2023 to reopen on Monday, April 24^th, 2023. Mass bookings shall be available after each morning mass at the sacristy.

1. CHILDREN MASS: Parents and Guardians are encouraged to take their children to attend the 8am Children Mass at the Upper Hall. Church wardens are to direct them accordingly.

1. 2022 HARVEST: The Harvest Committee for last year’s Harvest of Divine Peace is winding down their accounts. All those who made pledges should kindly redeem them by cash, cheque or POS at the Harvest Stand (on Sundays) and Parish Office (during the week). You can as well transfer directly to the Harvest Account: HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, HARVEST, ZENITH- 1014506326.

1. TITHE SUNDAY: Next Sunday is Tithe Sunday, those who wish to pay their tithes should pick up an envelope for use next week. You can also make your transfers to our Fidelity Bank 5080032193 in favour of Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac.

1. PARISH UNIFORM: Our high-quality parish uniform is now available at the entrance of the new Church Building (on Sundays) and Parish Bookshop (during the week). Price: 8,000 naira only. Limited quantity available.

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. For this week, we shall be continuing with the Book of Prophets Micah, Nahum & Habakkuk. Take up this challenge faithfully as stated below and be enriched spiritually.

Day/Month	Bible Passages
27 March	Micah	Chapters 1 & 2
28 March	Micah	Chapters 3 & 4
29 March	Micah	Chapters 5 & 6
30 March	Micah/ Nahum	Chapters 7 & 1
31 March	Nahum	Chapters   2 & 3
1 April	Habakkuk	Chapters 1 & 2
2 April	Habakkuk	Chapter      3

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.