The friars had a fraternal meeting directed by Fr. Giacomo Bini OFM. The reflection took about fifty minutes. Fr  Giacomo  encouraged all the friars to continue working together and study thoroughly the challenges that they meet every day. He said, that the Gospel, which we are bound to live together in the heart of the Church, is lived totally  in daily community and personal prayer.

Pastoral work and religious activities, absolutely, cannot infringe fraternity and the friars’ spiritual life and needs.

The people of God need to see a united fraternity in prayer. They need our presence. The Franciscan message is more than welcome in the times and challenges that the world is living. The Franciscan friars can do a lot ! They can go all the way if the Gospel remains our life and prayer is put at the very first place, followed immediately by the  friars in a fraternity engaged in a serious ongoing formation. This helps our presence in our pastoral and religious activities.

The meeting started with a time in prayer and the blessing of the Friars and the new refurbished Chapel. The Chapel in the retreat house faced serious damages and has been restructured as part of the program decided in the last Provincial Chapter 2008.  Consequently, the Porziuncola Retreat House, in Bahar ic-Caghaq is offering several spiritual retreats and sessions regarding Franciscan Spirituality to the Maltese community.

The Director, Fr. Pierre Farrugia OFM and Fr. Julian Sammut OFM, are doing their utmost to organize these initiatives and are being praised for their work. Mr. Edward Vella has been appointed Administrator of the House and all the workers at the Retreat House are helping the friars to make out of the House and its surroundings  a true Franciscan oasis on the Island.

video & pictures: Lorrie Zerafa ofm