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Seeking the face of Christ in everyone, especially the marginalised

22/12/2021

In preparation for the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, we ought to ask ourselves whether we respect and live in harmony with creation, as well as whether we exercise the gifts we received in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, where we received the fullness of the Holy Spirit of the Lord.

We need to allow the Spirit to lead us in the second year of the ecclesial process of One Church, One Journey, that was launched at the last Diocesan Assembly with the theme A Church that listens is a Church that welcomes, and that is in line with the synodal journey leading to the Synod of Bishops that will be held in 2023… Read more »

St Ġorġ Preca and the true Christmas spirit

21/12/2021

Baby Jesus Procession in Żejtun on the 24th of December 1959

In the early days of December 1921, when Fr Ġorġ Preca shared his inspiration to organise a ‘demonstration’ with the statue of Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve, he may not have imagined that such a manifestation would continue to become a cherished tradition, as it has been for the past 100 years.

Fr Ġorġ presented his idea to the members of the Ħamrun centres of the Society of Christian Doctrine, which he himself had founded in 1907 and later became popularly known as the M.U.S.E.U.M… Read more »

Dialogue between generations, education and work: tools for building lasting peace

Message by Pope Francis on the 55th World Day of Peace

21/12/2021   The Vatican

1. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace” (Is 52:7).

The words of the prophet Isaiah speak of consolation; they voice the sigh of relief of a people in exile, weary of violence and oppression, exposed to indignity and death. The prophet Baruch had wondered: “Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies, that you are growing old in a foreign country, that you are defiled with the dead, that you are counted among those in Hades?” (3:10-11)… Read more »

An open door – Bishop Galea Curmi

21/12/2021   The Chapel of Our Lady of Manresa at the Archbishop's Curia, Floriana

L-omelija tal-Isqof Joseph Galea-Curmi

“Sliem għalik, mimlija bil-grazzja, il-Mulej miegħek”. Din kienet it-tislima tal-anġlu Gabrijel li għadna kif smajna fl-Evanġelju skont San Luqa, fir-rakkont ta’ meta l-anġlu deher lil Marija biex iħabbrilha li se ssir omm Ġesù. L-Evanġelju jgħid xi ħaġa li żgur tolqotna: li kif qal din it-tislima, Marija “tħawdet ħafna”. It-tislima kienet tislima sabiħa, fost l-isbaħ tislimiet li tista’ tagħmel, imma Marija, kif semgħetha, tħawdet ħafna… Read more »

Pope at Angelus: the first act of charity is to offer a serene and smiling face

19/12/2021   The Vatican

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

The Gospel of the Liturgy of today, fourth Sunday of Advent, tells of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1: 39-45). After receiving the annunciation of the angel, the Virgin does not stay at home, thinking over what has happened and considering the problems and pitfalls, which were certainly not lacking: because, poor girl, she did not know what to do with this news, with the culture of that age… She did not understand… On the contrary, she first thinks of someone in need; instead of being absorbed in her own problems, she thinks about someone in need, she thinks about Elizabeth, her relative, who was of advanced years and with child, something strange and miraculous… Read more »

Parliament should be the voice of the people who demand accountability – The Archbishop

Exchange of Christmas greetings with the nation's authorities

18/12/2021   The Archbishop's Palace, Valletta

L-Arċisqof Charles Scicluna flimkien mal-Isqof Awżiljarju Joseph Galea-Curmi laqgħu lill‑awtoritajiet tal‑pajjiż għall-iskambju tal-awgurji tal-Milied fil-Palazz tal-Arċisqof, il-Belt Valletta nhar is-Sibt 18 ta’ Diċembru 2021. L-Isqfijiet iltaqgħu mal-Prim Ministru Robert Abela u l-Kabinett, il-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Bernard Grech, l-Ispeaker Anġlu Farrugia, il-Prim Imħallef Mark Chetcuti u l-President George Vella.

Messaġġ lill-Prim Ministru Dr Robert Abela u membri tal-Kabinett

Onor. Prim Ministru, grazzi ħafna taż-żjara u l-preżenza tagħkom… Read more »

When rushing is good – Bishop Galea-Curmi

Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

19/12/2021   The Parish Church of the Annunciation, Ħal Balzan

L-omelija tal-Isqof Joseph Galea-Curmi

Il-Papa Franġisku għażel bħala tema għall-Jum Dinji taż-Żgħażagħ tas-sena d-dieħla l-kliem li smajna llum fir-rakkont tal-Evanġelju: “Marija qamet u marret tħaffef…” Hu jenfasizza ħafna l-kelma “tħaffef”, għaliex hawnhekk fl-Evanġelju naraw lil Marija li mhux biss marret iżżur lil Eliżabetta, imma marret “tħaffef” biex tkun magħha.

Għaliex din il-kelma “tħaffef” għandha daqshekk tifsira hawnhekk? Nifhmu xi tfisser meta naraw ir-rakkont ta’ qabel dan, dak ta’ meta l-anġlu Gabrijel iħabbar lil Marija li hi se tkun Omm Ġesù, u hi, li għall-bidu ma fehmitx, meta fehmet li minn Alla, qalet “Hawn jien il-qaddejja tal-Mulej, ħa jsir minni skont kelmtek”… Read more »

Accompanying the Lord who will be born in our midst – The Archbishop

Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

19/12/2021   Mater Dei Hospital Chapel, Msida

L-omelija tal-Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna

Marija għadha kemm semgħet lill-anġlu jgħidilha li l-Mulej kien qed jagħmlilha proposta: li hi tgħid ‘iva’ biex issir omm Alla. Tgħidlu: “Imma dan kif jista’ jkun? Ma nagħrafx raġel.” “Il-qawwa tal-Ispirtu tal-Mulej tgħattik. Għal Alla m’hemm xejn li ma jistax isir”. U l-anġlu, biex jikkonferma l-kliem tiegħu, jagħti lil Marija ta’ Nazaret sinjal. “Ara, il-qariba tiegħek Eliżabetta, dik li kienu jgħidu li ma jistax ikollha tfal, qiegħda fis-sitt xahar tat-tqala” (Lq 1:34.35.37)… Read more »

Sowing life-giving seeds – Bishop Galea-Curmi

19/12/2021

Article by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi

“We reap what we sow”. This proverb reminds us that our present actions will inevitably have future consequences.

The recent discussion on the cannabis legislation has reminded us of this saying. It is not only true for the four plants that are now allowed to be cultivated at home, but also for the whole legislation which will definitely have an effect on future generations… Read more »

The Sunday Gospel: 19th December

19/12/2021

Fourth Sunday of Advent
Readings of the day

First Reading: Mic 5:1-4a
Psalm: 79(80):2ac,3b,15-16,18-19
Second Reading: Heb 10:5-10

Gospel: Lk 1:39-45

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb… Read more »