News

Pope to Roman Curia: ‘Only those who love go forward’

Pope Francis’s Christmas greetings to the Curia resonated with the spirit of the ongoing Synodal process, which asks the Church to listen, discern, and walk together with the faithful so that everyone can participate in the dynamism of missionary communion.

Addressing members of the Roman Curia in the Vatican on Thursday morning, the Pope began his address highlighting the importance of listening.

Listening with the heart

He drew attention to the exemplary model of the Virgin Mary, and urged those present  to listen not only with their ears but with their hearts, echoing the wisdom of Saint Benedict who speaks of listening with “the ear of your heart.”

Mary’s open-hearted reception of the angel’s message, he said, serves as a reminder that true listening involves an interior openness that goes beyond mere exchange of information “because more important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us.“

“More important than any precept is our need to enter into a relationship with God by accepting the gift of the love that he comes to bring us.”

The Pope went on to emphasize the significance of humility in listening and said, “There is no better way to listen than ‘on our knees’.”

This humble posture, he explained, shows a willingness to set aside preconceived notions and prejudices, allowing us to truly understand the desires and needs of others… Read more »

Video: Ħolqa ma’ Ħolqa

Diocesan activity by KDT

  The Parish Church of St Joseph, Kalkara

Fil-jiem li għaddew il-Kummissjoni Djoċesana Tfal organizzat attività djoċesana għat-tfal kollha bl-isem: ‘Ħolqa ma’ Ħolqa ma’ Marija’ fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Ġuzepp, il-Kalkara.

Bl-iskop prinċipali kien li tfal minn kull parroċċa jiltaqgħu flimkien fil-preżenza tal-Arċisqof Scicluna, din is-sena saret it-talba tar-rużarju b’differenza. Ħames kummissjonijiet tat-tfal minn parroċċi diversi, ħadu ħsieb l-animazzjoni tal-ħames misteri tal-ferħ. Wara kull rappreżentazzjoni, it-tfal stess mexxew it-talba tas-Sliema u l-Qaddisa, fejn qabel kull waħda inqrat intenzjoni partikolari… Read more »

“Let’s advance the cause of humanity through a fair and just EU Pact on Migration and Asylum” – COMECE

Message by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union

On the occasion of the International Migrants Day celebrated on 18 December 2023, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) expressed some underlying principles that should guide the ongoing trilogue negotiations on the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

These principles should orient the policy makers to put in place legislations and mechanisms that ensure a fair, just and humane treatment of every regular or irregular migrant or asylum seeker arriving at EU borders, at any stage of procedures… Read more »

Doctrinal declaration opens possibility to bless same-sex couples

With the Declaration “Fiducia supplicans” issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, approved by Pope Francis, it will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualization or offering the impression of a marriage. The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union.

When two people request a blessing, even if their situation as a couple is “irregular,” it will be possible for the ordained minister to consent… Read more »

Pope celebrates 87th birthday, asks Christians to celebrate Jesus’ birth

Pope Francis turned 87 years old on Sunday, 17 December.

As he often does ahead of Christmas, the Pope spent a few moments with children and families assisted by the Santa Marta Dispensary, who presented him with a birthday cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’.

The Santa Marta Dispensary has provided medical assistance to children and families in need for over 90 years, and is based just a stone’s throw away from the Pope’s residence inside the Vatican… Read more »

Father Victor Grech wins this year’s National Prize of the Worker

The President says that the National Workers of the Year Award is testament to the diligence and dedication of our workers.

The President of Malta George Vella said that the National Workers of the Year Award is a prestigious certificate that testifies to the diligence and dedication of our workers. 

“It is very nice and important to celebrate those individuals among us with character and valuable and inspiring qualities and skills… Read more »

“We are witnesses to the light” – The Archbishop

Mass on the third Sunday of Advent

  Parish Church, Qrendi

L-omelija tal-Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna

Ippermettuli naqsam kelma ta’ inkoraġġiment ma’ Dun Mario Said li llum inħatar ufffiċjalment kappillan ta’ din il-parroċċa fejn ilek erba’ snin taqdi din il-komunità. Dun Mario, nawguralek li tieħu l-ewwel qari mill-Profeta Iżaija bħala l-programm ta’ dan il-ministeru tiegħek li inti qed tgħix hawnhekk.

Aħna s-saċerdoti, imma mhux biss, infakkru lilna nfusna li dak li aħna mhux mertu tagħna imma għaliex l-ispirtu t’Alla huwa fuqna u magħna: “L-ispirtu tal-Mulej fuqi, hu kkonsagrani”… Read more »

3-year research project on youth volunteers concluded

At the end of November, Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika (ŻAK) hosted around 60 volunteers from Italy (Azione Cattolica Italiana), Romania (Acţiunea Catolică din România), Spain (Acción Católica General) and Malta (ŻAK Malta) for the final part of a three-year partnership research project entitled ‘Supporting Volunteers in Youth Organisations (SVYO)’, with the aim of discovering the underlying issues regarding the long-term commitment of young volunteers in these four Catholic Action organisations. 

The programme for these 3 days kicked off with a conference on Friday morning, where the results of the research were presented compiling results from the quantitative analysis together with the results from the qualitative part… Read more »

Fr Eric Cachia nominated as Salesians Superior in Malta

Minn Awwissu tas-sena d-dieħla, Fr Eric Cachia se jservi bħala Superjur tal-Viċi Provinċja Sależjana Marija Għajnuna tal-Insara f’Malta għal perjodu ta’ sitt snin, bejn l-2024 u l-2030.

L-approvazzjoni ta’ Fr Eric Cachia ngħatat minn Fr Ángel Fernández Artime., ir-Rettur Maġġuri tas-Sależjani ta’ Don Bosco, waqt is-sessjoni plenarja tax-xitwa tal-Kunsill Ġenerali ta’ din l-ordni, bl-approvazzjoni tal-membri tal-Kunsill.

B’din in-nomina, Fr Eric se jsir it-tieni Superjur tas-Sależjani f’Malta, mindu l-komunità f’Malta kienet stabbilita bħala Viċi Provinċja tas-Sależjani, iddedikata lil Marija Għajnuna tal-Insara… Read more »

Holy Land empty of pilgrims but full of hope and prayer

Life in Jerusalem and nearby cities since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas has changed utterly, especially for those who were economically dependent on pilgrims. People feel uncertainty and fear, says Father Željko Barbarić , a Franciscan priest currently serving in Jerusalem.

Father Željko Barbarić is a Franciscan friar from Bosnia and Herzegovina, currently serving in Jerusalem. He is bursar at the Terra Sancta College monastery and serves at the Monastery of Saint Saviour as a spiritual director… Read more »