On the 13th April after the International Congress for Formators came to an end on Saturday, Fr. Stephen Magro, OFM was busy travelling to Sicily for a meeting with the Formation Team of the Sicilian Province for a closer collaboration in the Vocations Area. Accompanying him there was Fr. Salvatore Ferro, OFM , part of the Formation Team and Visitator General in our last Provincial Chapter, Fr. Vidal Rodrigues Lopez, OFM General Secretary for Formation and Studies of the Order and Fr. Joseph Magro, OFM. The meeting began with a visit to the Salesian Theological Institute in Messina where he had a meeting with the rector Don Franco di Natale where they spoke on the Study Programme students take. Then a meeting took place at the Formation ...

On the 14th April on our return to Fekruna Bay we headed towards Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq for the formal opening of “Domus Pacis Franciscan Retirement Friary – Porziuncola” to mark the first centenary of the foundation of the Province. The small friary has been very beautifully transformed into a nursing home for our aged friars. Bro. Lorrie Zerafa ofm, the local superior, has been instrumental in making the place a most welcoming and comfortable home for our aged friars. He has the support of a very dedicated staff of qualifed care workers and housekeepers to help him, all very smart in their uniforms. Together they have transformed “Domus Pacis Franciscan Retirement Friary” literally into a home with all the necessary amenities which one would ...

To mark the end of the year long celebrations of the first centenary of the foundation of our Province, on the 14th April 1914, the brothers made a boat trip to the islands of St. Paul in St. Paul’s Bay. With a beautiful cloudless sky and a calm blue sea on a very warm day with a pleasant sea breeze, we left from Fekruna Bay at around 10.00 am and headed straight to the islands, a few minutes by boat. On the islands we enjoyed the scenery and the quiet and beautiful unspoilt surroundings. There we had a liturgical celebration at the foot of the statue of St. Paul in order to celebrate our Holy Rule and renewed the vows of our Solemn Profession, which had a special meaning this year being dedicated to the Consecrated Life. Afterwards, while refreshing ourselves with fresh fruits and ...

Fis-7 ta'April ir-Reliġjużi fil-formazzjoni flimkien mas-Seminaristi iltaqgħu mal-Arċisqof il-ġdid Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna fis-Seminarju Djoċesan, ir-Rabat. Kienet esperjenza sabiħa kemm għax setgħu jiltaqgħu u jitkellmu mal-Arċisqof, kif ukollgħax kien mument fejn komplew isiru jafu lil xulxin, u b'hekk japrezzaw dejjem iżjed is-sejħat differenti li l-Mulej jagħmel fil-Knisja tiegħU filwaqt li jagħrfu l-importanza tal-għaqda fil-ħidma tal-Knisja. Nitolbu għalihom huma u jkomplu jiġu ppreparati f'dak li Alla jrid minnhom.

From the 8 to 11 April Fr. Stephen Magro, OFM our Vocational Promoter is in Rome for the Conference of the formators to the consecrated life. The event, which is part of the Year of Consecrated Life, is bringing together some 1,200 formators from all over the world who will discuss the foundations of Consecrated Life and on the formation needs in the contemporary world. Forming, that is, takes the 'form' of living the Gospel, to be men and women truly free; develop one's identity to dialogue with all cultures and becoming, prophetic sign of welcome and communion. The event began with a prayer vigil, Tuesday, April 7. Saturday, April 11 at 9:30 am, will see its conclusion with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of St. Peter presided by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, ...