Malta Trip - February 2010

 Five years ago Fr. Paul Zammit S.J. and Edward Warrington came from Malta.  They were looking for a place to make a silent retreat and came here.  Edward has returned every summer since, usually with a Jesuit friend or two.  August 2009, Edward, Fr. Paul S.J. and Fr. David S.J. came for a week and at their suggestion and invitation, Fr. Micheal and Fr. Denis Luke visted Malta from February 4 - February 13 to promote monastic life there.  Edward who is Head of the Department of Planning at Malta University did all the planning and organising. 

We had a very enjoyable and encouraging 9 days stay at Malta during which we met with the Archbishop of Malta and the Bishop of Goza.  We visited the Jesuit Retreat house and we had a meeting with the Abbess and community of the Poor Clares at Kappara.  There is no male contemplative or monastic community in Malta at present but there is an interest and desire to have one.  It was encouraging to see a lot of young seminarians in the seminaries of Malta and Gozo.  The positive influence of the Society of Christian Doctrine is very important to the Church in Malta.  This society was founded by St. George Prega who was a diocesan priest of the last century who was canonized in 2007.  They are a society of lay people who meet every evening and at weekends to organise activities and give catechesis to young people to prepare them for the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation.  We had a meeting with Mr. Natalino Camilleri, their Superior General, and we also visited the parish centre in Rabat run by the Christian Doctrine Society.  The chaplain of the university arranged for us to celebrate Mass at the university chapel and also to take a Thursday night Question and Answer session there.  On Saturday 6th February we organised a monastic evening at St. Joseph's Retreat centre that was open to anyone interested.  About 30 attended and it was very successful.

Our trip to Malta was very encouraging and we hope that our links with the Church and the People of Malta will continue.