On Sunday, 15th March, 2010, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. celebrated Mass at St. John’s Co Cathedral on the occasion of the Emigrants’ Convention. After Mass the Archbishop attended the official opening of the Convention at the Exchange building where he made a short address to all those migrants who suffered abuses in search of a better future:
Greetings. On behalf of the Church in Malta and Gozo, I welcome you to our shores. The participation of those of us who continue to exercise our mission in Malta, as well as those of you are fulfilling your mission in other countries, serves to give a wider meaning to what it really means to be Maltese.
Everyone gathered here today has brought along with them their respective life history. The story of each and every person comprises different experiences, which in one way or another have helped us to become the people we are today. You have brought with you memories – beautiful memories – which recount your successes. By your very presence, you are witness to this. Yet there are also other memories which are painful because they are reminiscent of situations of suffering. They are there to remind us that the journey of the human person is sometimes overshadowed by difficult experiences which serve to strengthen us in a different way.
Yet your presence is not simply a reflection of your own memories and those of your families. You also bear the memories of all those who, in spite of having endured much suffering, are not able to recount stories of success. Today we also pay homage to these people.
History shows that for many Maltese, emigration paved the way to success, however there are also some episodes of people who have suffered. We cannot fail to remember these painful experiences. I strongly endorse the declaration made by the Prime Minister of Malta, last Thursday during Parliament, which was also echoed by a similar declaration from the Leader of the Opposition. The Catholic Church expresses its sorrow for the suffering that some Maltese children endured when they were sent to other countries, mostly Australia. Although this was done with the best of intentions, these were not adequately put into practice, with the result that some of these children were made to suffer.
The fact that you are participating in this Convention is an indication that you aspire to an important goal – one which goes beyond reminiscing: and that is to look towards the future.
I feel that, as a first step, you should endeavour to look beyond the country to which you have emigrated and not simply segregate yourselves as a Maltese community which exists in your host country. I presume that this Convention is rooted in the first Maltese emigrants who did not merely keep to themselves but sought to mingle with the other Maltese who already lived there. This innate desire they felt to meet other Maltese people developed further. Little by litte, all the Maltese who lived in that country began to associate with one another through national Associations. They discovered a new identity: ”we are the Maltese from Australia”; “we are the Maltese from Canada”. The formation of the first Associations in different countries was a great achievement. The Maltese came to realize that they had common roots, no matter where they lived. Led by the same spirit of the past, you are here today to reflect upon how these common roots may be further developed into projects which may be rendered fruitful.
You are all here today because you believe that great initiatives may emerge from this new identity; you are here to ponder and reflect upon them and take action. You are here to discern the ways in which both our country, as well as the emigrants in other countries, may benefit. You are here to consider new initiatives which may be reaped as a result of the reality that today, there are Maltese scattered throughout the whole world. This is what you are seeking to achieve through this Convention. That which was considered to be a weakeness when you emigrated, has today become a strength.
In the world in which we live, better communication, as a result of new advanced technology as well as wider opportunities for travel, have rendered these meetings more accessible. Let us for a moment recall past times when it would take weeks of travelling by ship to reach one’s destination. In those days it was harder for emigrants to realize their dreams of visiting their loved ones back in Malta. We can also recall a time when weeks would pass before families received any news of their relatives who had emigrated to other countries. One can only imagine the myriad of ways in which we can strengthen the ties that bind us and the new ideas that may emerge as a result of this Convention which is being held.
The Church in Malta has always been at the forefront in its service to Maltese emigrants. The Emigrants Commission in Malta has always been forthcoming with its assistance, not only from a religious aspect, but also in practical matters required by those people who have emigrated. Mons Philip Calleja and his collaborators have always been concerned with our emigrant brothers and sisters. It is the intention of the Emigrants Commission to set up a Museum as a testimony to this. The relevance of this Museum lies in the fact that the reality of emigration has now changd. In this day and age, many emigrants are returning to Malta. Our youth are now seeking new pastures in countries which are nearer to our shores, mainly in Europe: in Brussels, Luxembourg, etc.
It is a source of joy for the Church that the Emigrants Commission, which is today headed by my Delegate, Fr Alfred Vella, has not merely limited itself to assisting those people who have departed our shores for foreign countires. It is also at the service of immigrants, that is, people from other nations who are coming to our country and who, unlike us, are not Maltese by birth. It is not limiting itself to those persons who have a Maltese identity but it has expanded its horizons to include the reality of migration and the suffering and requirements that are part and parcel of it. ‘Emigration’ is now also being more widely-defined as ‘Migration’, which nearly always involves suffering and pleas for assistance. Your own past experiences no doubt give witness to the difficulties which are being presently faced by those migrants who are currently seeking asylum.
This is a challenge for us in the light of God the Father’s universal love which is bestowed freely on all men. This reflection encourages us to embrace a form of patriotism which does not centre upon itself, but rather it is the love for our own country which makes us sensitive to the suffering of others – our sense of patriotism should not prevent us from seeing the other person as being created in the image of God – as being His son or daughter.
Dare I hope that this Convention, which is commemorating the sufferings endured throughout the process of emigration, would also venture to reach out a helping hand to those who are presently suffering in a similar way here in Malta.
Although I am officially the Archbishop of the people of Malta, I also embrace as part of my flock, those of you who live away from Malta, and I am trying to do this in two ways: first of all through direct and specific pastoral work and secondly through a spirit of communion and unity. This desire entices me to visit the Maltese wherever they happen to be residing. Two years ago, I visited Australia, where I felt strongly united with the Maltese community. I saw for myself the great contribution which the Maltese are making in that country. This helped me to come face to face with the reality of emigration: in trying to seek a better future, an emigrant requires the assistance of the host country. Without losing his original identity, the emigrant slowly becomes integrated into the new culture, until he reaches the stage where he can gainfully contribute towards the new society which now forms part of. In this way emigration not only works for the benefit of the emigrant himself, but also ultimately, for the country who has made him welcome.
This is also experienced on the level of religion. I would like to mention an example that I witnessed and which was confirmed by the Bishops whom I met during my visit to Australia: the first Maltese emigrants built a chapel in Mackay, while in other towns, they sought to come together as a Christian community. Gradually they began to integrate themselves in the local church and today there are many Maltese who are rendering a valid service to the Catholic Church in Australia. At one and the same time, they have retained an interest in the Catholic Church in Malta.
I would like to make a suggestion for any future Conventions that will be held. What about if an encounter is organised during which various emigrants may share the experiences they have lived in their local churches abroad?
This year I hope to visit our Maltese brothers and sisters who live in Canada and in some parts of the United States. I shall also visit the Maltese Community in the United Kingdom to participate in the celebrations of Malta Day in London.
Once again, I wish you all the very best and promise you my prayers that this Convention may bear much fruit.
Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: [email protected]