In his letter to Timothy, Saint Paul described how a bishop of the people of God should be: above reproach… temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher,   not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome…” These virtues adorned the Emeritus Archbishop Joseph Mercieca throughout his life and his Episcopate. Mgr Mercieca returned to the House of the Father on Monday 21 March 2016 at 7:20 a.m…

The Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul, only 10 days before the start of Holy Lent, should inspire us as Christians to prepare ourselves for this time of renewal. The faith which was revealed to Saint Paul in his conversion changed his life radically because he became a witness of the resurrection of Jesus. During his homily on the feast of the conversion of St Paul, Archishop Charles J…

By means of the Extraordinary Jubilee declared by Pope Francis, Jesus himself is inviting us to, “be merciful just as your Father in heaven is merciful” (Lk 6, 36).  The Jubilee invites us to recognize just how merciful we can be towards one another in our daily lives. Pope Francis stated that if mercy is lived concretely, it can contribute towards building a world that is more humane, in society, in institutions, at the work place and even in families. 

During the opening of the Door of Mercy at Mdina Cathedral, Archbishop Charles J…

The terrorist attacks which took place during the last few weeks, in the city of Paris, the city of Beirut and several other countries, disrupt our normal routine and threaten the security of each and every one of us. People who follow the media feel much anger towards those who try and instill in our hearts a fear of the future…

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40) Jesus said to the people. It could well be that we never considered these words to apply also to the weakest of our brethren – the tiny embryo, almost microscopic, which deserves always to be protected, rather than viewed as a simple commodity or a right to some…

During summer many people take a break from work to spend some time of rest; this is the right thing to do and it’s also necessary. Apart from those who like to travel, many are those who spend a few days by the seaside and possibly devote more time to the family.  During vacation time, it is easy to drift away from parish life and, with the exception of the ‘festa’ celebrations, we tend to forget that there are other nearby churches in which mass is celebrated.  For those who wish to have information regarding mass schedules of churches in their vicinity, or others who wish to spend some time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in one of the chapels which are located around Malta, the Curia Communications Office has launched a new version of the mobile phone application ‘Malta Mass’.  This app may be downloaded free of charge from the App store or from the Play Store…

L-Enċiklika l-ġdida tal-Papa Franġisku dwar kif ngħożżu d-dar komuni tagħna hija l-ewwel dokument tal-Knisja ddedikat għas-suġġett tal-ambjent. Mhux biss hawn Malta fejn għaddej dibattitu dwar diversi proġetti proposti, iżda anke f’diversi pajjiżi madwar id-dinja, din l-Enċiklika qed tkompli toħloq għarfien dwar ir-responsabbiltà li għandna lejn l-ambjent, u dwar kemm il-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri jistħoqqilhom ambjent aħjar. Fil-preżentazzjoni tal-Enċiklika li saret fis-Seminarju, l-Arċisqof Charles J…

On the occasion of World Day of Social Communications, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna met news editors and made an appeal in favour of democratic dialogue; so that Malta may be a country where people can express their opinions without being criticized in a destructive manner.  Responsible freedom of expression should not lead to character assassination.  When this happens, we are missing the opportunity to engage in dialogue which leads us to further the common good together.  In a digital age, we all have the potential to contribute, with our words and comments, to a democratic dialogue which strengthens rather than destroys…

The Church in Malta is saddened by the human tragedies that are occurring in the Mediterranean Sea around us. The committed Christian cannot remain indifferent in the face of what is happening to so many people who, in an attempt to seek better pastures, are ultimately losing God’s greatest gift to mankind, life. Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna has described a shocking photograph of the dead body of a boy with open arms, washed ashore in Libya, which is being circulated in the media, as “the modern crucifix”.  When faced with this image which portrays the cruel reality that thousands of immigrants are facing, no one can remain passive, neither the European and world leaders, nor us, as Christians…

“Morru fid-dinja kollha xandru l-Bxara t-Tajba lill-ħolqien kollu” (Mk 16,15). Ġesù jrid li l-Vanġelu jixxandar bl-aħjar mod possibbli biex jasal għand kulħadd. Il-Knisja tfittex il-mezzi kollha disponibbli biex tagħmel dan. “Il-Knisja Kattolika tarah dmirha li tuża wkoll l-istrumenti ta’ komunikazzjoni soċjali sabiex ixxandar l-aħbar tas-salvazzjoni u tgħallem lill-bnedmin kif iħaddmuhom tajjeb” (Inter Mirifica, Nru 3). Għalhekk qed noffru din il-website b’xerja ġdida f’isem l-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta…