On the 29th of September at St. Mary of Jesus Church in Rabat, Clive Camilleri, from Birkirkara, and Ramon Farrugia, from Attard, started their postulancy, the initial phase of the Franciscan formation. During a well-attended, concelebrated mass, Fr. Emmanuel Barbara ofmcap explained in simpler terms the first two chapters of the Franciscan Rule and their relevance in today’s world.

After the mass, the Minister Provincial, Fr. Sandro Overend ofm, encouraged these two young men ahead of their year of postulancy, urging them to be a constant sign of Christ’s presence in today’s world and live the Gospel through their daily thoughts, words and actions. Then the new postulants were blessed and were each given a TAU. The TAU sign is a biblical symbol of the cross which St. Francis often made use of as his signature. After the giving of the TAU, the new postulants were warmly greeted by the Franciscan fraternity of Rabat as well as the rest of the Franciscan friars and priests present for the occasion.

Once the celebration came to an end, the new postulants joined the Franciscan fathers during the solemn exit of the procession. The families of these two postulants were later invited for some refreshments and then shown around the convent and the seminary where these new postulants will be living. Clive and Ramon will be living their year of postulancy together with postulant Andrea Diacono, who started his second year of postulancy, and Fra Walter Vassallo ofm and Fra Joseph Ciappara ofm, Franciscan students who are both pursuing their studies for priesthood.