On Monday 29 December evening the Friars’ parents and relatives gathered at the Porziuncola Retreat House for the annual Christmas meeting. The meeting began with a Mass by the Minister Provincial Fr. Richard S. Grech OFM. Soon after the Mass all parents and relatives gathered in the main refectory of the Retreat House, where food was served. It was a unique annual event during which the parents met together to pray and to exchange Christmas greetings.

More photos from our past. A photo says a thousand words and more. These photos are courtesy of Fr. Joseph Camilleri ofm. We can see him with his brother Fr. Jojn Joseph Camilleri ofm and Fr. Peter Paul Meilaq ofm. There is also a photo of Fr. John Joseph ofm ‘chatting’ with a bird which is listening to him attentively. A photo also with the late Fr. Francis Xavier Cauchi ofm during a day outing at Ta Pinu Sanctuary in November, 1960. Some photos depict the friars going to Commino for day outing in two consecutive years, 1960 and 1961. Another photo taken also in 1960 during a day outing to commemorate the centenary of St. Paul, in the company of some folks. and a photo of Fr. Joseph ofm and Fr. Peter Paul ofm at the beach known as “ Ramla l-Hamra”, Gozo.Those were the days.....

On Wednesday the 10th of December, 2014, a concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving led by the Minister Provincial Fr. Richard Stanley Grech ofm, was celebrated at the Poor Clares’ Monastery in St. Julian’s bringing to an end the year long celebrations marking the 100 anniversary of the coming of the Poor Clare Sisters to Malta way back in 1914. Present also and taking part was a good number of friars of the Maltese Franciscan Province together with Fr. Fernando Laguna ofm, Delegate Pro Monialibus. The Mass was followed by a moment of fraternal sharing in the true spirit of Francis and Clare. All praise, honour and glory to God for this moment of grace bestowed upon us all.

Għeżież ħuti, il-Mulej jagħtikom is-Sliem! “Oh Ġesu’, ħelwa tarbija, ejja twieled ġewwa fija!” Hekk inkantaw f’dawn il-jiem qaddisa. Imma l-kliem ta’ din l-għanja sabiħa tradizzjonali Maltija għandhom ikunu stedina ġejja mill-qalb li titlob minna l-ewwel nett u qabel kollox li aħna nitbattlu minna nfusna, minn dak kollu li għamel minn qalbna “lukanda”, sabiex wara Ġesu’ jkollu tassew post xieraq fejn ikun jista’ jitwieled mill-ġdid. Hu, “li tneżża minn kollox”, jistenna u jitlob minna lkoll, minn kull wieħed minna, li aħna nagħmlu bħalu, “ninżgħu l-bniedem il-qadim, biex nilbsu Lilu, l-bniedem il-ġdid”. Għeżież ħuti, nixtieq ħafna li aħna nagħtu dan ir-rigal lil Ġesu’. Hu wkoll qiegħed jitlob minna li aħna wkoll nagħtu lilna nfusna Lilu. Kif darba għamilna meta għarafna s-sejħa li ...