Archbishop Charles Scicluna offered words of encouragement and comfort to Maltese patients receiving medical treatment in the United Kingdom, as well as to the relatives accompanying them.
During his annual pastoral visit to Maltese patients in London, the Archbishop celebrated Mass with members of the Maltese community currently living at the Puttinu Cares apartments in Sutton.
The Archbishop shared a personal experience from a few months ago, when he injured his leg and had to undergo surgery. He said he learned “that you take life as it comes, and you accept the moment of illness, of the hospital, the moment when you depend on someone else. At the same time, you realise the love and care of the people around you, and what a big difference it makes.”
He stressed that moments of illness “open your eyes and your heart to see reality as it is”, explaining that when you are in good health, everyone seems to be your friend, but it is when you are in need that you discover who your true friends are. He added that such experiences remind us of the preciousness of life and encouraged the patients to appreciate every day, every embrace, every phone call and every message they receive.
He praised the Conventual Franciscan Friars, Fr Mario Sant and Fr Joseph Formosa, for serving the Maltese community in the United Kingdom and for offering everyone who turns to them a taste of the Good Shepherd’s care.
He also thanked the Augustinian Sisters and the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus and encouraged them to continue nurturing their spiritual motherhood and to pray for it, just as they do for the patients.
The Archbishop paid tribute to the various NGOs and benefactors for their efforts to ease the suffering of patients and their families.
During this visit, Archbishop Scicluna was accompanied by the Maltese High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Prof. Stephen Montefort, whom he thanked for the support he provides to the Maltese community.
