News from the Church in Malta
On Sunday 20th March 2011, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. began his Pastoral Visit to the parish of St George Preca in Swatar. The Archbishop was greeted by the Parish Priest, Fr Gordon Refalo, and a short symbolic ceremony was held. The Archbishop was given a warm welcome. Those present prayed that the Pastoral Visit may render much fruit. Archbishop Cremona explained the scope of such a visit. … Read more »
Crucifix in classrooms
The director of the Vatican press office is welcoming today’s ruling from the European Court of Human Rights, which found that crucifixes can be displayed in Italy’s public schools.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement that the Holy See received the ruling “with satisfaction.”
He called it historical, noting the widespread opposition to the court’s November 2009 decision that the presence of crucifixes in schools was an affront to human rights… Read more »
Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. has appointed Fr Joseph M. Farrugia as the new parish priest of Safi.
Fr Farrugia was born in Zabbar on 9th October, 1942. He received his education at De La Salle College, Cottonera. At age 16 he started his work experience as an “Emergency Teacher” at Zabbar primary school. In October 1961 he entered the Major Seminary from where he continued his tertiary education at the University of Malta… Read more »
Monday
9.15 a.m. The Archbishop presides over a Curia senior staff meeting, at his residence in Attard.
4.30 p.m. The Archbishop holds individual meetings with seminarians, celebrates Mass, and stays with them for dinner, at the Seminary at Tal-Virtu’.
Tuesday
12.30 p.m. The Archbishop attends a prayer service at the University Chaplaincy.
4.30 p.m. The Archbishop meets the Catechetical Commission of Swatar as part of his pastoral visit in this parish… Read more »
20 – 24 ta’ Marzu, 2011
L-Erbgħa, 16 ta’ Marzu
9.30 a.m. L-Arċisqof jiltaqa’ mal-Kappillan, fil-Kurja.
Il-Ħadd, 20 ta’ Marzu
9.00 a.m. L-Arċisqof iżur il-morda u l-familji.
10.30 a.m. L-Arċisqof jiċċelebra Quddiesa fil-Knisja Parrokkjali u wara jiltaqa’ man-nies.
12.00 p.m. L-Arċisqof jiltaqa’ mal-Kumitat Amministrattiv, fid-dar tal-Kappillan.
It-Tlieta, 22 ta’ Marzu
4.30 p.m… Read more »
Fl-okkażjoni tal-festa tal-Papa San Girgor, iċċelebrata f’Kerċem nhar il-Ħadd 13 ta’ Marzu 2011, l-Isqof Mario Grech mexxa quddiesa pontifikali u fl-omelija wassal dan il-messaġġ:
Id-diskussjoni li għaddejja dwar in-natura taż-żwieġ tissupponi li qegħdin infittxu l-verità dwar iż-żwieġ.
Huwa fatt li soċjetà tkun isserraħ fuq pedamenti veri daqskemm tkun miftuħa għal Alla. Aktar ma nitbiegħdu minn Alla, aktar nieħdu pożizzjonijiet li jkunu ’l bogħod mis-sewwa… Read more »
Għal darb’oħra s-Segretarjat għal-Lajċi qiegħed jistieden lill-Fratelli kollha Maltin biex jieħdu sehem f’ċelebrazzjoni djoċesana, li din is-sena ser issir il-Ħadd, 27 ta’ Marzu, 2011, fit-toroq ta’ Ħal Qormi u wara għall-quddiesa li l-Arċisqof Pawlu Cremona O.P. ser jiċċelebra għalihom fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Sebastjan, f’Ħal Qormi.
ĊELEBRAZZJONI MAT-TOROQ
Għal din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni l-fratelli kollha se jitqassmu fi tliet gruppi, skond il-fratellanza li huma mseħbin fiha… Read more »
On Friday March 18, 2011, the Diocesan Commission for Youth (KDZ) launched the Maltese version of the international World Youth Day (WYD) song, at Bianco’s lounge bar in St Julian’s. The release marks the 150th day from the WYD, where close to two million young people from across the world are expected to converge in Madrid, Spain, for a week-long celebration of faith and culture… Read more »
Italy
On the day that Italians are celebrating their national unity, Benedict XVI is reminding the nation of their Catholic roots.
The Pope reflected on the Catholic identity of the people of Italy in a letter addressed to the president of nation, Giorgio Napolitano, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Italy’s political unity, which is celebrated Thursday.
In commenting on “Il Risorgimento” (The Resurgence), which brought various independent states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of Italy, the Holy Father noted that “Christianity contributed in a fundamental way to the construction of the Italian identity.”
He said that the character of the nation was forged “through the work of the Church, of her educational and charitable institutions, fixing models of behavior, institutional configurations, social relationships, but also through a very rich artistic activity in literature, painting, sculpture, architecture and music.”
The Pontiff named some of the great Christian artists who “have made a fundamental contribution to the formation of the Italian identity,” including Dante, Giotto, Petrarch, Michelangelo, Raphael, Pierluigi of Palestrina, Caravaggio, Scarlatti, Bernini and Borromini… Read more »
KDZ cordially invites youths to attend the launch of the Maltese version of the World Youth Day theme song, to be held on Friday 18th March, 2011, at noon at Bianco’s, Spinola Bay, St.Julians. This event will be held 150 days to World Youth Day. Over six hundred young people will represent Malta in this international event which will be held in Madrid… Read more »
