On 8th December, feast of the Immaculate Conception, a group of 18 young people from Rabat (Malta) made the GIFRA Promise in front of the Minister Provincial, Fr. Paul Galea OFM. The rite took place at the Franciscan Church of St. Mary of Jesus. For the ceremony there were also present the Franciscan Fraternity, their parents and the local community that gathers in our church.

During the ceremony the Minister Provincial said that this is a great gift for the community and parents, namely, that a group of young people in today’s world has a formation meeting every Friday, in which they can learn and hear a different message that can really help them in the present time and more importantly for the future. The Minister Provincial also encouraged the parents not to let their young people miss these kinds of meetings and that the YES which they promised to God, to the Franciscan Fraternity and to their GIFRA friends will reflect in their actions. This same YES that Mary Immaculate had said to God was a yes to do God’s will in everything she liked and even in things she might not have liked. The group has to expect to be challenged in today’s world, but has to have the strength to go on and surpass the challenges and difficulties that one encounters. He added that all this has to be added with prayer, because only God can give us the strength to go on.

The ceremony was animated by the GIFRA animation team with some power-point features, to help the congregation participate in the liturgy.