News items

MALTA

05.01.2000

Hi folks! It is nice to be back on the Internet. I have worked with some news items years back, but in the meantime, so many things occurred that I had to give it up. Hopefully, this latest effort will produce more enduring results. Fr. Raymond Camilleri Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS So let us get started. Christmas is over and the Y2K bug has not interrupted our friary lives at all. We did not stock up for the bug, but we did have a good stock of food for our yearly Christmas Party for parents, and families. A good number turned up at our Retreat House in Bahar ic-Caghaq, which is situated near the sea, and which caters for retreats as well as for meetings for such large groups. The catering was excellent and all in all it was quite a wonderful evening for all of us. There was quite a lot to tidy up afterwards, but that is all part of the dayŐs work...and fun! Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

CONTAINER FOR HONDURAS The efforts of Fr George Bugeja gave good results as we were able to send a container full of clothing, foodstuffs and medicinals to our beleaguered parishioners in Honduras. Fr. George is the Secretary for the Provincial Missions, and we have six friars of various ages working there. The Superior of the Mission, Fr Robert Camilleri was in Malta on holidays when hurricane Mitch struck, and he had to rush back after just a couple of daysŐ rest. Our people have suffered immensely, and we consider them to be our parishioners as well since our brothers take pastoral care of them in the name of our Province. It was with this in mind that Fr George came up with the idea of sending over a container of help to our people. The response was great, and people contributed generously with stuff and money. The container is now on its way. Hopefully it will help alleviate some of the hardships suffered by the people of Honduras. Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

EDIZZONI TAU: MORE BOOKS Edizzjoni TAU is the publishing House of the Maltese Franciscan Province and was born in 1982. Since that time it has turned out a considerable number of books, both in Maltese and in some other languages. The emphasis is on biblical and Franciscan subjects, but books of a social and theological nature have made their appearance as well. Every year we try to publish at least two books, together with our regular commitments to the Biblical Review " l-Art Imqaddsa" and the Franciscan periodicals "Il-Frangiskani" which published Franciscan news from Malta and around the world as well as "Spirtu u Hajja" which is a scholarly publication about Franciscan themes. The books which will be published this year are "San Bernardin taŐ Siena" which relates the life and achievements of St. Bernardine of Siena. This is the fifth publication in a series of books by Fr. Guido Schembri about Franciscan saints. The series has been very popular and all the copies printed have long been exhausted. The second book will be a historical study about the first hundred years of the Franciscans in Gozo. The study is by the Franciscan historian, Fr George Aquilina who has several other historical books to his credit. The book is being published in time for the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Franciscan in the sister island of Gozo.Besides these two major works, TAU is also publishing a short study on the Acts of the Apostles, again by Fr Guido Schembri, who is primarily a biblical scholar. This booklet will be used as a source book for people attending a course by the same name organised by the Commissariat of the Holy Land. These courses are organised every year to help lay people understand GodŐs Word to the best of their ability, and using modern methods of education. Besides this course, the Commissariat is also organising another course on "The friends of Jesus". Other courses are given to pilgrims who will be joining the pilgrimages organised by the Commissariat to the Holy Land during the Summer. Every year about ten groups are taken over to visit the Holy Places, and a few extra ones are expected for this Jubilee Year. The courses help prepare the pilgrims to enjoy their visit and to understand more than meets the eye. Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

THE HERMITAGE IN GOZO As a part of the celebrations to mark the 100 years of presence in Gozo, Fr Noel Muscat, the guardian, as well as Fr George Bugeja, the friar responsible for Padova Retreat House in Gozo, have both worked together on an innovative idea: that of having a hermitage within the friary grounds, which will be called Montepaolo (this is the hermitage where St. Anthony of Padua lived before starting his career as an extraordinary preacher and miracle worker). The new feature of this hermitage is that it is a farmhouse which has been turned into a two-room complex to fulfil the "Rule for hermitages" regulations as regards Franciscan solitary places. As regards the actual placing of the hermitage at one end of the friary grounds, this helps it to be both cut off, but still in some kind of contact with the other friars in the convent. Attempts to have completely cut-off hermitages have by and large failed both in Malta and abroad. So the idea is innovative in the sense that a middle way is being attempted in the hope that this time it will bring success. The hermitage will be inaugurated in the coming months. Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

PORZIUNCOLA RETREAT HOUSE This is the larger retreat house run by the Maltese Franciscans since 1958. Actually it was the first retreat house in the strict sense of the word, which means that it was built on purpose. At the time it was quite a daring move, but the years have proved it a success. Nowadays, with the house completely refurbished to offer services in all the rooms, it is the venue of thousands of lay a nd religious people both from Malta and from abroad. The ways are simple, but professional. The fees are moderate in spite of the high cost of living, thus making it possible for all categories of people to be able to afford a weekend retreat, or even a full week retreat. During this time of year most of the days are taken by seminars for young secondary and university students. They come here to be taught the skills of living with other people and society and how to face the threats which all young people all over the world have to face. Every year thousands of students pass through Porziuncola House during their studies Return to top of page

MALTA

05.01.2000

STUDYING ABROAD The Province now has two students studying abroad, one for the priesthood and the other in graduate studies. Friar Charles Grech, a former lay brother, is studying at Beda College to become a priest. He is in his second year of studies. Fr. Anton Farrugia is studying Sacred Liturgy and is also in his second year of studies. We wish them both well. Return to top of page

Please fill in our Guest book form - Thank you for supporting us! Created / Updated Wednesday, January 05, 2000 at 23:38:12 by John Abela ofm This page is best viewed with Netscape at 640x480x67Hz - Space by courtesy of Christus Rex