Timeline

Celebrating Pentecost: 7 experiences of Catholic faith

To celebrate this year’s Pentecost, the Pastoral Formation Institute was inspired by the ecclesial renewal document One Church, One Journey to showcase the beautiful tapestry that is the Catholic Church in Malta. In a series of 7 testimonies, we will meet persons from different countries, cultures, and languages, expressing their Catholic faith and their experience of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  A video will be published every day during the week leading to Pentecost.

Our aim is to show the richness and diversity of the Catholic Church in Malta, and what better feast to highlight this than the great feast of Pentecost!

This project presented us with a unique opportunity to meet 11 wonderful individuals who shared with us their experience of living in Malta, on living their vocation in their daily life, and their thoughts on the Holy Spirit. Each person also recites a prayer in their own language.

Join us on this journey to discover how, although we have different languages and rites, we are all One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

Watch these experiences below

Meet Ana Maria Quintero López, from Colombia. In 2017 Ana Maria came to Malta to learn English and ended up finding her now husband. Now she calls Malta her new home. Click here to find out more about Ana Maria.

Meet Alessandro and Valentina Scafidi who decided to take a leap of faith and move to Malta in hopes to find a new place to call home. Watch this couples’ testimonial on how they feel God’s presence in their everyday life. Click here to find out more about Alessandro and Valentina.

Meet Sam Thomas Alex, from India. He was very excited when he had an opportunity to work in Malta, the land where St Paul was shipwrecked. Now working as a registered nurse at St Martin’s College and leading the Msida branch of the St Thomas Syro-Malabar community in Malta, he is still fascinated by the churches found at every corner on the island.

Meet Joseph Keleta from Eritrea and Deborah Keleta from Malta. A newlywed couple who shared their experience of strength in faith in facing life’s challenges.

Meet Pappàs Martin Zammit, from Valletta. He is married with two kids and a grandfather of three. P Martin lectures Arabic and Semitic languages at the University of Malta and he is the parish priest of the Greek-Catholic Parish of Malta.

Meet Robert Farrugia. “The human being thirsts for love in a universal manner. We all wish to feel loved. In love we find healing, peace and rest. This love is experienced in different experiences, be it romantic, friendship but most of all interior. It is there that we experience a different kind of relationship, a true treasure, the proper source of spiritual love.”

Meet Sr Mimosa (Albania), Sr Maria (Spain) & Sr Luigina (Italy) who came to Malta in hope to create a family atmosphere, where youth of different backgrounds meet & flourish in Catholic values.

One Church, One Journey: the Church in Malta continues the process of listening

Il-Knisja f’Malta organizzat it-tieni laqgħa online dwar il-proċess ekkleżjali ‘Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed’, li saret it-Tlieta 27 ta’ April 2021. Għall-webinar bit-tema ‘Knisja li tisma’’ attendew madwar 170 parteċipant fuq il-pjattaforma Zoom. Il-preżentazzjoni, il-filmat u d-diskussjoni fil-gruppi permezz tal-breakout rooms iffukaw fuq l-attitudni pastorali tas-smigħ b’enfasi fuq x’tip ta’ smigħ għandna nagħmlu bħala dixxipli missjunarji u bħala Knisja.

Il-parteċipanti ddiskutew tliet mistoqsijiet marbuta ma’ din il-proċess: x’inhu meħtieġ biex is-smigħ tal-Kelma jitpoġġa fiċ-ċentru u x’riżorsi hemm bżonn biex dan isir; x’inhu meħtieġ biex is-smigħ iwassal għal għaqda ikbar tal-komunità Nisranija u biex ikun hemm komunikazzjoni aħjar; u s-smigħ tar-realtà li jwassal ghal tweġiba pastorali kuraġġjuża li hi meħtieġa fis-sitwazzjoni tal-lum li ġiet affettwata daqstant mill-pandemija.

Għall-webinar bil-parteċipazzjoni ta’ diversi persuni involuti fil-ħajja tal-Knisja attendew kappillani u lajċi attivi fil-parroċċa, provinċjali u membri ta’ ordnijiet reliġjużi, operaturi pastorali, membri ta’ segretarjati, kummissjonijiet u entitajiet tal-Knisja, kapijiet u rappreżentanti tal-iskejjel tal-Knisja, u membri ta’ komunitajiet u għaqdiet fi ħdan il-Knisja.

Il-webinar intemm b’messaġġ mill-Isqof Awżiljarju Joseph Galea-Curmi li jmexxi l-Kummissjoni ta’ kordinament ‘Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed’. L-Isqof Galea-Curmi semma’ kemm hu importanti li nisimgħu l-Kelma ta’ Alla u daqstant ieħor li nisimgħu lil xulxin, biex nifhmu iktar ir-realtà ta’ madwarna u b’hekk noffru tweġiba pastorali li tgħodd għall-ħtiġijiet reali tal-persuna. Semma kemm hu importanti li nisimgħu wkoll lit-tfal, u dan jgħin biex meta jsiru żgħażagħ ikunu draw jsemmgħu leħinhom fis-soċjetà li tant hi għatxana għall-verità. Punt ieħor li tqajjem u li ssemma diversi darbi matul il-laqgħa kien dwar l-importanza tas-silenzju fil-ħin tat-talb inkluż fil-knisja, biex in-Nisrani jisma’ lil Alla u jagħraf dak li qed isejjaħlu għalih.

Agħfas hawn biex taqra d-diskors sħiħ tal-Isqof Galea-Curmi.

Għal iktar tagħrif dwar il-proċess ekkleżjali ‘Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed’ żur vjagg.knisja.mt jew ibgħat email fuq [email protected].

‘Read Think Speak’ by MCYN

Read Think Speak is a series of meetings which forms part of the process of listening which the Church in Malta is doing in line with the document One Church, One Journey. As an entity of the Archdiocese, the Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN) felt it needed to really practice being a ‘Church that listens’. So, the main aim of these meetings is to listen to what young people, youth leaders and parish priests have to say. Although these meetings are being held online due to the restrictions imposed because of the pandemic, they are also an opportunity for different youth groups to get to know each other.

Read Think Speak is an ongoing project which started in February 2021. Each month, MCYN meets two different youth groups for an informal meeting where the team, youth leaders and young people share experiences of encounter with Christ, which has been especially fruitful. The meeting also include discussions about themes from the process One Church, One Journey.

Each meeting involves between ten and twenty people from different parishes and lay communities. Since August 2021, MCYN met a total of 123 people, and looks forward to meeting many more! These meetings would not be a possibility without the cooperation and dedication of various youth leaders who help make Read Think Speak happen.

With over a 100 different youth groups all over Malta, we’ve got a long way to go. However, the feedback we’ve received so far has been extremely affirming. Attendees have expressed their gratitude to be given the space to share and listen to the experiences of peers from different groups. Through their sharing, young people and youth groups have come to see the similarities and differences between them, both as individuals and as groups. Many times, an acknowledgement of these differences were seen to make the Church all the more richer.

The process of ecclesial renewal ‘One Church, One Journey’

Il‑Kummissjoni ‘Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed’ fi ħdan l‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta organizzat webinar nhar l‑Erbgħa 27 ta’ Jannar 2021. Din il‑laqgħa kienet ippreseduta mill‑Arċisqof Charles Scicluna u għaliha attendew diversi rappreżentanti u mexxejja ta’ kummissjonijiet u entitajiet tal‑Knisja.

Matul il‑laqgħa tnediet il‑website li tinkludi riżorsi u tagħrif dwar id-dokument ta’ tiġdid pastorali tal‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta bit‑tema Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed, kif ukoll saru preżentazzjonijiet ta’ ħidmiet li bdew jew tlestew diġà, b’rabta mal‑istess dokument. Dawn jinkludu l‑inizjattiva kateketika online għat‑tfal bil‑website Bekids.mt, il‑ħames edizzjoni tal‑Bibbja bil‑Malti stampata kif ukoll fuq app mill‑Għaqda Biblika Maltija, il‑proġett Fehmiet fuq il‑Kattoliċiżmu mill‑Istitut ta’ Riċerka Discern, l‑eseġeżi tar‑rakkont ta’ Għemmaus mid‑Dipartiment tal‑Iskrittura fi ħdan il‑Fakultà tat‑Teoloġija, proġetti mid‑Djakonija Unit fi ħdan il‑Caritas mal‑parroċċi u entitajiet djoċesani tad‑djakonija biex jgħinu lill‑fqir u l‑batut fil‑komunità, gwida mqassra għall‑pastorali taż‑żgħażagħ bil‑Malti u bl‑Ingliż mill‑Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN), ir‑rapport Midd idek għall‑Fqir mill‑entitajiet fi ħdan is‑Segretarjat Djakonija u r‑rapport Beyond GDP mill‑Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi flimkien ma’ entitajiet oħra.

Il‑kelliema tal‑webinar kienu membri mill‑MCYN; il‑Forum Għaqdiet Lajċi; Discern; il‑Vigarjat Djakonija; il-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi flimkien ma’ Centesimus Annus, Fokolari, EY u Seed Consultancy; u l‑Vigarjat Episkopali għall‑Evanġelizzazzjoni.

L‑għan tal‑laqgħa kien li tingħata informazzjoni dwar il‑proċess ta’ tiġdid ekkleżjali, filwaqt li jitħeġġu sinerġiji ġodda bejn l‑entitajiet fil‑Knisja. Tnieda wkoll filmat li jispjega l‑għeruq Insara tal‑poplu Malti, ir‑realtà tal‑fidi li tħaddan is‑soċjetà Maltija llum u l‑istedina għal dan il‑proċess b’ħarsa lejn futur imnebbaħ mill‑Ispirtu s‑Santu.

Il‑proċess ta’ tiġdid ekkleżjali Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed tnieda mill‑Arċisqof fis‑7 ta’ Ġunju 2020.  Dakinhar huwa sejjaħ lill‑entitajiet kollha tal‑Knisja f’Malta – parroċċi, kongregazzjonijiet reliġjużi, skejjel, moviment tal‑lajċi, familji u oħrajn – biex jagħmlu tagħhom din il‑viżjoni u jidħlu f’dan il‑vjaġġ ta’ tiġdid.

Wara t-tnedija tad-dokument, l-Arċisqof waqqaf kummissjoni ta’ koordinament, immexxija mill-Isqof Awżiljarju, li qed tara li jitwettaq dan il‑proċess, kif ukoll tħeġġeġ il‑kontribut ta’ nies impenjati fil‑knisja u persuni oħra minn diversi realtajiet tas‑soċjetà Maltija.

Żur https://vjagg.knisja.mt/#timeline biex issir taf aktar dwar il-ħidmiet b’rabta mad-dokument.

Il-proġett Beyond GDP mill-Ġustizzja u Paċi

Ispirata mil‑laqgħa internazzjonali ta’ Novembru 2020 f’Assisi ‘L‑Ekonomija ta’ Franġisku’, sabiex l-ekonomija tkun tassew għas-servizz tal-umanità u l-ħarsien tal-ambjent, il‑Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi nediet l‑inizjattiva Beyond GDP b’ħidma mal‑fergħat Maltin tal‑Moviment tal‑Fokolari u l‑Fondazzjoni Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice, flimkien mal‑kumpaniji EY u Seed Consultancy bl‑appoġġ ta’ APS Bank.

L-iskop tal-proġett hu li permezz ta’ djalogu ma’ stakeholders fil-qasam ekonomiku jinħoloq għarfien dwar ekonomija li hi għas-servizz tal-bniedem u jipproponi modi ta’ kif nistghu nindirizzaw dan fil-prattika.

Fehmiet fuq il-Kattoliċiżmu minn DISCERN

DISCERN, l-istitut ta’ riċerka dwar is-sinjali taż-żminijiet, lesta l-proġett Fehmiet fuq il-Kattoliċiżmu. Ir-rappreżentazzjonijiet tal-Kattoliċiżmu f’Malta huma diversi u huma dinamiċi. Dal-proġett ta’ riċerka esplora r-rappreżentazzjonijiet, u l-lingwaġġ li jintuża, rigward il-Kattoliċiżmu f’Malta, qalb gruppi demografiċi differenti (abbażi ta’ ġeneru, età, edukazzjoni, u reġjuni). Il-parteċipanti ġew minn sfondi varji.

Dan il-proġett involva serje ta’ intervisti dettaljati. It-temi li ġew esplorati kienu jirrigwardaw il-fehmiet tan-nies fuq il-Kattoliċiżmu, xi tfisser li persuna tkun Kattolika, l-orjentament tal-persuni lejn prinċipji Kattoliċi, eċċ. L-intervisti ġew analizzati primarjament permezz ta’ analiżi tematika. L-analiżi ħarset lejn il-fehmiet, u l-lingwa li tintuża, vis-a-vis il-Kattoliċiżmu – jew aħjar, Kattoliċiżmi – li hawn preżenti f’Malta, flimkien mal-profili differenti ta’ Kattoliċiżmi.

Skont riċerka li għamel Discern, lokalment ma kienx hemm riċerka kontemporanja u komprensiva li tidħol fid-dettall f’dawn it-tip ta’ mistoqsijiet. Għalhekk, inħass il-bżonn li jiġu esplorati aħjar il-fehmiet tan-nies, minn kull faxxa tas-soċjetà. Barra minn hekk, hawn ħafna ilħna differenti fis-soċjetà li mhux dejjem jinstemgħu. Dal-proġett kien utli għal diversi entitajiet biex iwasslu l-messaġġ tagħhom aħjar; kemm jekk tkun entità li tgħaqqad grupp ta’ nies bħala ħbieb, kif ukoll jekk tindirizza kwistjonijiet soċjali sistemiċi bħall-ambjent u l-faqar.

Ir-rapport ta’ din ir-riċerka jista’ jinsab fis-sit tad-DISCERN (www.discern.mt).

Fifth Edition of the Bible in Maltese Published

The Malta Bible Society published the Fifth Edition of the Bible in Maltese, that has been revised according to the latest studies by Maltese bible scholars, is available for purchase. The Bible, that should guide the formation of every Christian is being published on the 60th anniversary since the foundation of the Malta Bible Society.

This fifth edition has been published in three different formats: a standard edition (€38), a compact edition (€30) and a special edition (€45). All three publications may be purchased from the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana, from Monday to Friday between 8am and 3:30pm, except for Thursdays. The standard and compact editions are also available from the main bookshops and book distributors.

The Bible in Maltese is also available on the popular YouVersion Bible app available on iOS & Android. Click here for more information.

The Bible in Maltese on the YouVersion Bible App

The Malta Bible Society concluded the editing of the fifth edition of its translation of the Bible from the original texts to Maltese. It would like to announce that the complete text will be available on the popular YouVersion Bible App.

The Bible App is installed on over 420 million unique devices all over the world, the Bible App offers a free Bible experience for smartphones, tablets, and online, is downloadable for free, can be used without payment and doesn’t have adverts.

Download the Bible App now

Il-ħidma tal-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi

Wara li rat id-dokument tal-proċess ta’ tiġdid ekkleżjali, il-Kummissjoni Ġustizzja u Paċi bdiet numru ta’ kollaborazzjonijiet b’relazzjoni ma’ entitajiet oħra bħal MCYN, is-Segretarjat għall-Katekeżi, it-Taqsima Djakonija fil-Parroċċi u l-Kummissjoni Immigranti. Il-proċess għadu għaddej u ċerti proġetti għalissa jinsabu sospiżi minħabba s-sitwazzjoni tal-Covid-19.

Ħidma mit-Taqsima tad-Djakonija fil-Parroċċi u Caritas

It-Taqsima tad-Djakonija fil-Parroċċi u Caritas flimkien ma’ bosta entitajiet oħra qed taħdem fuq għadd ta’ proġetti. Dawn huma:

  • Database komuni ta’ benefiċċjarji ta’ għajnuniet bażiċi (ikel, ħwejjeġ, bżonnijiet ta’ tindif)
  • Intrapriża soċjali li ssaħħaħ u tikkordina r-riżorsi u s-servizzi mogħtija fil-komunitajiet waqt li toħloq pjattaforma għall-ħidma volontarja, u fond ċentrali biex issostni d-djakonija fil-parroċċi. Din se tinkorpora: il-proġett Solidarity Kitchens id f’id mal-Fondazzjoni Alfred Mizzi, ħanut, u laundry fost l-oħrajn. Dan il-proġett hu kkordinat mill-Caritas Djakonija Unit bil-parteċipazzjoni tas-Segretarjat Djakonija, s-Segretarjat Parroċċi u l-Kummissjoni Migranti u s-sostenn tas-St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Millenium Chapel, Institute Paolo Freire u s-Segretarjat Assistenza Soċjali, Fondazzjoni Sebħ (tim ta’ ħidma soċjali fil-komunitajiet tal-Ħamrun u l-Marsa).
  • Servizz ta’ sostenn ta’ ħidma soċjali għall-kappillani
  • Servizz ta’ xiri ta’ ikel u ħwejjeġ tat-tindif li jitqassmu lin-nies fil-bżonn bl-ingrossa
  • Diskussjonijiet biex jitnieda servizz ta’ sostenn professjonali għad-dispożizzjoni tal-ħidma tad-djakonija fil-parroċċi

Dawn il-proġetti huma frott ta’ ħidma ta’ laqgħat regolari li saru ma’ kappillani, ħidmiet u inizjattivi tad-djakonija fil-parroċċi, u kummissjonijiet djakonija parrokkjali li bdew f’Marzu 2020. Hemm madwar 40 voluntier involut fil-proġetti fuq ħidma ta’ kull ġimgħa jew ġimagħtejn. It-Taqsima Djakonija qed tittama li tilħaq lis-70 parroċċa u l-bqija tal-entitajiet djoċesani.

Dawn il-laqgħat kienu jġibu flimkien lil dawn l-entitajiet: St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Millenium Chapel, Institute Paolo Freire, Segretarjat Assistenza Socjali, Fondazzjoni Sebħ (tim ta’ ħidma soċjali fil-komunitajiet tal-Ħamrun u l-Marsa), il-Caritas Social work &Counselling Unit, u rappreżentanti tal-ħidma tad-djakonija tal-parroċċi ta’ San Ġiljan u Marsaskala.

Matul il-laqgħat inħass li jingħata bidu għal dawn il-proġetti wara li ġew diskussi dawn l-ideat u bżonnijiet:

  • Aħna lkoll aħwa benefatturi u benefiċċjarji ta’ xulxin.
  • Anke jekk nista’ nagħti biss ftit, dak il-ftit huma l-muniti tax-xwejħa tal-parabbola, li l-Mulej jbierek u jkattar.
  • Għandna bżonn li naddattaw għall-possibbiltà li l-volontarjat naqas mal-knisja fir-realtà tad-dinja tal-lum.
  • Hemm bżonn naħdmu id f’id ma’ professjonijiet ġodda, u jkollna komunikazzjoni ma’ professjonijiet li naħdmu magħhom spalla ma’ spalla fil-ħidma tad-djakonija.
  • Ix-xewqa li l-ħidma tad-djakonija ma tibqax ta’ ftit nies fil-kummissjoni djakonija imma li ssir tassew parti interna ta’ kull nisrani – kulħadd bil-mod tiegħu – waqt li l-kummissjoni tkun realtà li tkun xprun u toffri sostenn, gwida u parir professjonali għad-diversi ħidmiet tad-djakonija fil-parroċċa.
  • Għandna barka fid-diversità u l-ammont ta’ ħidmiet organizzati li diġà jeżistu fi ħdan il-parroċċi u l-entitajiet djoċesani ta’ djakonija fil-komunità u tkun ħasra jekk dil-ħidma kollha ma tkunx msaħħa permezz ta’ koordinament, tisħiħ ta’ riżorsi, it-taħriġ u sostenn adegwat lill-kappillani u l-operaturi pastorali tad-djakonija.

Bħalissa t-Taqsima tad-Djakonija fil-Parroċċi tinsab fl-aħħar stadju li titnieda l-Kummissjoni Djoċesana Djakonija b’rappreżentanza tal-kummissjonijiet djakonija tal-parroċċi u l-Kulleġġ tal-Kappillani. Dan kollu qed iservi bħala bażi ta’ komunikazzjoni, koordinament u tisħiħ biex il-ħidma tkun tassew msejsa fuq dixxerniment u azzjoni komunitarja.