On 28 August 2005 Fr. Raymond Falzon left Malta to go to Cairo, in Egypt, for a two year course in Islamology and the Arab language at the University of the Combonian Fathers, which is a renowned centre for studies Christian-Islamic dialogue.

Fr. Raymond has just concluded his pastoral ministry at Saint Francis parish in Toronto, where he was working with the Immaculate Conception Province. His past pastoral experience included that of being pastor at the former Franciscan parish of Saint Paul’s in Toronto. Fr. Raymond also studied art and particularly the art of painting icons. He took part in art exhibitions in Malta and abroad. In Egypt Fr. Raymond is residing in the Franciscan friary at Bulac, which belongs to the Egyptian Province of the Friars Minor, dedicated to the Holy Family. This friary was one of the centres of Maltese migrants way back in the early part of the 20th century, and its church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, a cult introduced in Egypt by the Maltese community.