Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi inaugurated and blessed Casa Fratelli Tutti, a house which welcomes priests from poor countries who wish to read for a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology within the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta. The aim of Casa Fratelli Tutti is for the Church in Malta and the University to provide foreign priests with the opportunity to continue their studies in Malta, despite the financial and cultural challenges they may face. Currently, there are five priests from Nigeria and Zimbabwe residing in the house.

Casa Fratelli Tutti is located at the entrance to the Archbishop’s Seminary in Tal-Virtù in Rabat and consists of five bedrooms, a kitchen, a chapel and a living room where the priests can spend their free time together. An agreement signed by the Archdiocese of Malta and the Faculty of Theology stipulates that the house will be used by the Faculty of Theology for this pastoral and missionary purpose for a period of 15 years. Present at the house’s inauguration were officials from the Ministry of Education, lecturers from the Faculty, student residents, as well as benefactors and collaborators.

Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi said that Casa Fratelli Tutti is based on what Pope Francis wishes the Church to be, that is, a witness to the Church that welcomes. He emphasised that this house gives respect and dignity to these priests who came to Malta to be able to serve the Church in their home countries better. Their presence benefits the Church’s vision to weave bonds of unity in Christ as one Church.

The Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Fr Stefan Attard, stated that through this project, the Faculty is tangibly assisting priests who will offer a better service to the Church and society back in their home countries. He also expressed his hope that, in a world full of challenges, Casa Fratelli Tutti will continue to foster fraternity, social dialogue and solidarity in a practical way. He expressed his gratitude to all benefactors and collaborators who made this project and its desired outcome possible.

The name of the house is inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical, ‘Fratelli Tutti’, which addresses fraternity and social friendship. Anyone wishing to offer support may contact the Faculty of Theology at [email protected].

Il‑kappillani tal‑Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta rriflettew fuq it‑tema ‘Knisja li tilqa’, Knisja inklussiva’, waqt il‑live‑in annwali. Huma ddiskutew kif bħala saċerdoti jista’ jkollhom attitudni pastorali li dejjem tilqa’ lill‑persuni ta’ madwarhom billi jkunu inklussivi fi kliemhom, fl‑atteġġjament tagħhom u fid‑deċiżjonijiet li jieħdu, kemm mal‑persuni li huma midħla tal‑Knisja u anke dawk li mhumiex. ‘Knisja li tilqa’ hi t‑tieni tema tad‑dokument ta’ tiġdid ekkleżjali tal‑Arċidjoċesi Knisja Waħda, Vjaġġ Wieħed. 

L‑ewwel jum tal‑live‑in li sar fis‑Seminarju tal‑Arċisqof beda b’messaġġ mill‑Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna li tkellem dwar l‑isfond bibliku tal‑kelma ‘tilqa’. Hu appella lis‑saċerdoti biex ma jżommux lura milli jilqgħu lill‑persuni kollha, kif għamel Ġesù.

Matul dawn it‑tlitt ijiem ta’ riflessjoni u diskussjoni, diversi kelliema u esperti għenu lill‑kappillani jifhmu kif is‑saċerdot jista’ jilqa’ persuni oħra u l‑ideat differenti tagħhom. Il‑kappillani kellhom ukoll iċ‑ċans jitkellmu dwar l‑aspetti amministrattivi u maniġerjali li jiltaqgħu magħhom kuljum fil‑parroċċa. Kellhom ukoll ħin għal attivitajiet inqas formali (team building) sabiex ikunu jistgħu jsaħħu aktar ir‑relazzjoni ta’ ħbiberija ta’ bejniethom.

Suġġett ieħor li l‑kappillani rreflettew dwaru kien il‑qasam tal‑adolexxenti u ż‑żgħażagħ. Huma ddiskutew dan il‑qasam flimkien mal‑membri tal‑Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN) u ngħataw preżentazzjoni minn DISCERN dwar riċerka li turi xejriet fost iż‑żgħażagħ dwar l‑irwol tagħhom fil‑komunità, il‑politika, il‑mużika, il‑fidi u l‑volontarjat. 

L‑Isqof Awżiljarju Joseph Galea‑Curmi għalaq il‑live‑in billi semma kif bħala Knisja lkoll mistiedna ngħixu flimkien is‑Sinodu tal‑Isqfijiet li se jsir fl‑2023. Qal li bħala Nsara m’aħniex imsejħa biex inkunu magħluqa fina nfusna iżda li noħorġu u nibnu djalogu mal‑persuni ta’ madwarna.

Il‑live‑in ġie organizzat mill‑Kunsill tal‑Kulleġġ tal‑Kappillani bejn l‑24 u s‑26 ta’ Mejju 2022.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi met with theLGBTIQ+ community to discuss ways on how to make the LGBTIQ+ community feel more at home with the Church.

During a meeting held on Tuesday, together with a good number of the LGBTIQ+ organisations in Malta, namely Allied Rainbow Community (ARC), Drachma LGBTI, Drachma Parents Group, LGBTI+ Gozo, and the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Malta (MGRM) the representatives of these organisations were able to share aspects of their life as well as their work.

In a press release issued on Thursday the organisations said that they talked about the challenges encountered and about the positive changes they have seen in these last few years.

One of the things that came up during the meeting was Pride, they said.

The explained how for an indefinite period of time the LGBTIQ+ community was made to feel worthless and shameful of their identity and themselves.

“They were and still are persecuted in a significant number of countries. They just wanted to embrace their sexuality, they wanted to move away from the shame and move towards self-acceptance and to be proud of who they are, and that is how Pride came about,” said the representatives.

They also talked about the invaluable work they conduct with Malta’s LGBTIQ+ community, the support that is given, the awareness that is raised and the rights that they have worked for.

In their discussion, the Bishops showed great sensitivity to the needs of the LGBTIQ+ community and pledged to continue supporting a welcoming space for all.

One area of interest that came up during the meeting was the importance given to the continued development of the human sciences and what they are showing us.

The organisations said that such data is necessary for the Church to deepen its reflection and pastoral attitudes in the light of evidence-based research on the LGBTIQ+ reality & their families.

And in fact, the representatives from LGBT+ Gozo and MGRM passed on two surveys which they had conducted independently, with both Bishops gladly appreciating the current information.

Archbishop Scicluna stressed that “we need to move away from the language of ideology and to stop speaking without thinking first.”

His main message was that we should always keep in mind that we are talking about other human beings, and that we should therefore treat each and every person with respect and dignity, as this is the only way to show the love of Christ.

The two-hour meeting held at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana had a profound sense of synodality that was clearly felt and expressed by all those present. One activist was so moved with the meeting and described it as a truly comforting and healing experience.