The Diaconia Unit of the Church in Malta inaugurated its first thrift shop, named LOOP. The primary aim of this project is to give dignity to individuals facing challenging circumstances, while encouraging environmental consciousness and solidarity within the community.

The shop, which is situated in Melita Street in Valletta, corner with the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Republic Street, offers a wide array of second-hand clothing and accessories at discounted prices. The clothes which are donated to the shop are thoroughly inspected by volunteers before being sent to LOOP’s laundry facility in Kalkara.

During the project’s inauguration and blessing, Mgr Charles Cordina, the Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia, emphasized the profound impact of every purchase made from this shop. Such transactions not only bestow dignity upon those benefiting from the project but also contribute to reducing the pollution caused by excessive clothing production. Mgr. Cordina underlined that while everyone can purchase these clothes, the opportunity to do so at reduced prices is particularly significant for those in need and who are supported by the parishes.

Sina Bugeja, the Coordinator of LOOP, said parish priests are amongst the persons in Maltese society who are most likely to meet individuals in need. She stressed that this is one of the reasons why they ought to be given all the support necessary for them to help those in need within their parishes.

The President of the College of Parish Priests, Fr Mario Mangion, said that the thrift shop is yet another significant Church project that helps social work within the parishes and grants dignity to individuals in need. He emphasised that the initiatives undertaken by LOOP address effectively the daily needs encountered by priests and volunteers in the parishes. Fr Mario further highlighted that the shop stands as a testament to the generosity of the Maltese people who constantly support those who are suffering, ensuring they are never left to face their challenges alone.

The Loop shop is open every day from Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Individuals interested in contributing as volunteers to this project or other social initiatives managed by the Diaconia Unit can get involved by visiting djakonija.org/join or sending a message to +356 79795254.

19 organisations within the Church in Malta that offer their services in the social sphere met with Archbishop Charles Scicluna on Wednesday 26^th April at the Archbishop’s Curia, Floriana. The organisations which form part of the Secretariat for Diaconia, spoke about their work and the tough realities they face on a daily basis.

Following their presentations, the Archbishop gave a short closing address during which he thanked each organisation for the important work being carried out in Maltese society. He encouraged them to foster ongoing dialogue and coordination between them to ensure that resources are used in the most efficient way for the benefit of people in need and for the most vulnerable.

“I also think that on certain issues we need to create a common platform. At the end of the day, we are echoing concerns that affect the whole of society. And when there is a common voice, I think it is more powerful,” the Archbishop expressed.

The entities present were: the chaplancies of Mater Dei Hospital and the Corradino Correctional Facility, Caritas, id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Church Homes for the Elderly, the Migrants’ Commission, Fondazzjoni Sebħ, Dar Hosea, Dar Merħba Bik Foundation, the Diaconia Diocesan Commission, the Millennium Chapel, Osanna Pia, Paolo Freire Institute, the Secretariat for Social Assistance, St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem, the Justice and Peace Commission, the Coordinator for Pastoral Work with Separated Persons, and the OFM Soup Kitchen in Valletta.

The Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi and Mgr. Charles Cordina, the Archbishop’s Delegate for Diaconia were also present for the meeting.

Last Sunday, the Church in Malta celebrated Charity Day and collected funds for the entities participating in this initiative. Whoever wishes to help, may still make a donation by:

• by sending a cheque payable to the Archdiocese of Malta to Segretarjat Djakonija, Jum il-Karità, Kurja tal-Arċisqof, P.O. Box 1, Floriana FRN1520. Cheques must be issued for the amount of €20.01 or more to be accepted by the banks.
• online at https://knisja.mt/donazzjonijiet/ with ‘Jum il-Karità’ inserted in the message field so that the money donated will go to this cause.

The synthesis of the Synodal Process presented by the Maltese Episcopal Conference to the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, reflects on the main themes that emerged from the listening process carried out during the past months within the Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo. The variety of initiatives that have taken place during this journey of mutual conversations were combined to depict the synodal process in the Church in Malta.

As announced at the last Diocesan Assembly in November 2021, throughout this year we will be focusing on the theme A Church that welcomes. The intent is to appropriate more deeply our Church’s charism of “hospitality,” not only by tearing down the walls that separate us, but by opening spaces for healing in body and soul to be reconciled as one People. As we embrace an attitude of reconciliation and mercy, the Church in Malta becomes “like ‘bread that is broken’ to rediscover her original calling…that of sharing the Good News through serving all, by serving everyone without discrimination” (One Church, One Journey).

Throughout the next nine months, we will be focusing on five themes:

• Migrants: that we may learn to put on the shoes of migrants among us, especially those in our very neighbourhoods, to meet their multiple complex needs and welcome them in friendship.
• Political Reconciliation: that we may ponder and seek healing for the wounds in our nation’s history.
• Diakonia: that we may reflect on the extent we are responding to the signs of the times by tending to the needs of all the poor and the vulnerable in our communities in a spirit of evangelisation.
• Safeguarding: that, in light of the universal Church’s commitment in this field, we may seek healing for all those who feel hurt by the Church.
• The LGBTIQ community: that, following the preliminary reflection at the Diocesan Assembly, we may continue to reach out and build bridges of encounter with the members of this community who may feel excluded by the Church.

L‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta u l‑Gvern Malti ffirmaw ftehim għat‑twaqqif tal‑ewwel Fondazzjoni tal‑Akkomodazzjoni Affordabbli. Permezz ta’ dan il‑ftehim il‑Knisja u l‑Gvern se jaħdmu flimkien biex tiġi offruta akkomodazzjoni soċjali għal nies bi dħul baxx u medju. Inizjalment din l‑akkomodazzjoni se tiġi offruta b’kiri, b’rati inqas minn tas‑suq.

Il‑ftehim, li ġie ppresedut mill‑Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna u mill‑Prim Ministru Robert Abela, ġie ffirmat mis‑Segretarju Amministrattiv tal‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta, Michael Pace Ross, u minn Grazio Barbara, Direttur Ġenerali tad‑Dipartiment tas‑Sigurtà Soċjali. 

L‑Arċidjoċesi se tgħaddi lill‑fondazzjoni l‑Kunvent ta’ Santa Giovanna t’Ark li jinsab fiċ‑ċentru ta’ Ħal Kirkop, b’ċens temporanju ta’ 25 sena. Din il‑proprjetà tal‑Knisja, li ma kinitx qed tintuża u li huwa stmat li tiswa mal‑miljun ewro, se tospita l‑ewwel inizjattiva ta’ akkomodazzjoni affordabbli mmexxija minn din il‑fondazzjoni. 

Il‑Gvern min‑naħa tiegħu se jinvesti €300,000 fis‑sena għall‑ewwel 25 sena sabiex jiffaċilita l‑operat tal‑fondazzjoni. Il‑fondazzjoni se tkun tista’ takkwista artijiet u proprjetajiet biex isiru proġetti ta’ housing affordabbli għal dawk li jikkwalifikaw għalihom. 

L‑għan fit‑tul tal‑fondazzjoni hu li tipprovdi akkomodazzjoni affordabbli ta’ kwalità u li tkun ekonomikament, ambjentalment u soċjalment sostenibbli. 

L‑Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna qal li l‑għan ta’ din il‑fondazzjoni huwa wieħed nobbli għaliex se tieħu ħsieb persuni li għalkemm mhumiex fuq il‑benefiċċji soċjali xorta waħda qed isibuha diffiċli biex ikollhom post fejn jgħixu minħabba ċ‑ċirkustanzi personali tagħhom. Mons. Arċisqof qal li dan huwa eżempju konkret ieħor ta’ kif proprjetà tal‑Knisja li ma kinitx qed tintuża qed titqiegħed għad‑dispożizzjoni ta’ persuni fil‑bżonn biex id‑dinjità tal‑bniedem tiġi dejjem rispettata. Huwa fakkar fil‑kontribut kontinwu tal‑Knisja li tagħmel disponibbli proprjetajiet tagħha għal għanijiet soċjali.

Il‑Prim Ministru Robert Abela rrimarka li “f’dan il‑pajjiż irridu li kulħadd ikollu l‑opportunità li jilħaq l‑aspirazzjonijiet tiegħu u jibdel il‑ħolm tiegħu f’realtà. U dar komda fejn wieħed jgħix hija aspirazzjoni ta’ kull familja. Illum għandna l‑ikbar numru ta’ sidien ta’ djarhom u l‑inqas numru ta’ persuni jistennew akkomodazzjoni soċjali, riżultati li lħaqnihom waqt pandemija. L‑akkomodazzjoni affordabbli kienet il‑ħolqa li jmiss biex issa għandna sistema sħiħa li toffri għażliet differenti imma kollha adegwati għal nies bi dħul differenti.”

Il‑Prim Ministru esprima s‑sodisfazzjon tiegħu li din il‑fondazzjoni qed titwaqqaf bis‑sħubija mal‑Knisja. “Kif tgħallimna f’din il‑pandemija flimkien nistgħu niksbu ħafna aktar milli waħedna.   Dan se jibqa’ l‑istil li bih jaħdem il‑gvern li mmexxi jien. Nisimgħu mingħand kull min għandu sehem x’jagħti u nieħdu d‑deċiżjonijiet kollha meħtieġa biex inġibu bidla pożittiva f’ħajjet in‑nies.”

It‑tmexxija tal‑fondazzjoni se tkun fdata f’idejn il‑Kunsill tal‑Amministraturi magħmul minn sitt membri, bi tliet membri jkunu maħtura mill‑Gvern u tlieta maħtura mill‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta. L‑ewwel chairperson tal‑Kunsill tal‑Amministraturi se jinħatar mill‑Gvern minn fost it‑tliet membri maħtura minnu, bir‑rwol jalterna kull sentejn bejn il‑fundaturi.

Il‑Ministru Roderick Galdes qal li billi toffri akkomodazzjoni adegwata u affordabbli, din il‑fondazzjoni se tibqa’ tifdi l‑bżonnijiet ġodda ta’ soċjetà li qed tinbidel. Qal ukoll li l‑Fondazzjoni tal‑Akkomodazzjoni Affordabbli qed iġġib flimkien żewġ imsieħba li flimkien jaqsmu l‑impenn soċjali u r‑rieda li s‑soċjetà Maltija tkun imsejsa fuq l‑ugwaljanza u l‑ġustizzja.