Preparatory meeting for 2020 provincial assembly

On Wednesday 19 February 2020, at St. Augustine’s College, a meeting was held for all friars of the Province. This was one of a series of meetings that are being held in preparation for the 2020 Provincial Assembly during which the friars will carry out an evaluation of their life and work during the past two years and will reflect also on the future. Invited to this meeting was Fr. Robert Marsh, Provincial Superior of the Augustinian Province for England and Scotland.

After evening prayers, Fr. Marsh spoke about the English Province and how the problem of a reduction in numbers of that Province had been confronted. He explained how the Augustinians of his Province reflected and discussed this reality for many years and were constrained to make courageous choices. After the conference, various questions were put to Fr. Marsh by the friars.



As a youth group we felt the need for an activity that would connect us not only between ourselves but also to the society outside of the group. We decided to visit Casa Leone XIII and spend the morning with the residents of this house. The experience was far better than I anticipated, and fulfilling to say the least. We started the day by participating in the morning mass with the elderly residents of the house and together we animated mass. Mass was the best way possible to start the day. After mass, we accompanied some of the elderly in the activities hall. We organized some games of Bingo and helped out the residents who had difficulty marking their cards. The people who participated, elderly and youths alike, loved the time spent together. We said mass together, we laughed together and teased each other, we played together and we had tea together. This intergenerational experience was one to treasure! The residents of the house showed their desire for us to visit them again, and the youths that attended this event all showed their own desire to return too. There is a lot we can learn from each other and spending time together truly benefits both sides!

Martina Scicluna

 

 

 


Between 15 and 17 January Fr. Luis Marin de San Martin, Assistant General of the Augustinian Order, paid a visit to our Malta Province. He is the Assistant General responsible for countries in Southern Europe i.e. Spain, Italy and Malta. He was recently re-appointed for a further six years by the Order’s General Council meeting held last September.

Fr. Luis Marin was accompanied by Fr. Enrique Martin who presently is responsible for the Order’s Novitiate for Southern Europe based in Pavia. He fulfilled his wish to see at first hand the work of the Augustinians in the Malta Province and to meet his fellow Augustinas here.

On Wednesday 15 January both visitors participated in a meeting with all local Augustinians. This included preparations for the Intermediary Provincial Assembly due to be held next April and which Fr. Luis Marin will be presiding. During the meeting, animated by Fr. Paul Chetcuti s.J., we discussed and discerned the choices open to us for the future.

At the end of the meeting Fr. Luis Marin had the opportunity to talk about and share some thoughts with us all. During a meeting which both visitors had with the Provincial Council, Fr. Enrique explained the current situation of the Novitiate and, along with Fr. Luis Marin further discussions were held on the situation and challenges faced by the Provence.


On Thursday 23 January 2020 a meeting of Augustinian Laity was held at the Augustinian College, Pieta’. The theme was ‘Youths and the Elderly walk together’. This was derived from Pope Francis’ Exhortation ‘Christus Vivit’, a sequel of the Church’s Synod on youths held in October 2018.

The meeting started with a presentation on the life of Blessed Augustinian Stephen Bellesini,  known for his work in the educational field with children and youths. After prayers we recited together the evening Psalms in the course of which extracts were read from Blesses Stephen Bellesini’s writings regarding how teachers should lead by example in instructing their students.

 Prayers were followed by a talk by Fr. Terence Spiteri osa in which he explained the reasons behind the choice of theme for this meeting. He referred to the Pope’s Exhortation in which the elderly and youths were encouraged to walk together. Fr. Terence then highlighted ten particular characteristics which affected the lives of youths in this day and age and suggested ways in which parents and guardians could help youths in the early stages of their lives.

This was followed by a talk by Roberto Calleja, a Youth Worker at the Junior College. He spoke about his own experience with youths and how we can better understand them and their problems. Immediately thereafter Dr. Andre’s Debattista, a university lecturer involved in various Augustinian activities, spoke about St. Augustine as a model for youths even in present times.

The meeting ended with refreshments in the course of which we had the opportunity of mixing together as well as meeting all the speakers.

 

 


On Wednesday 8 January Cardinal Grech’s corpse arrived in Malta. The funeral cortege started at 4.30 to Birgu where he was born and baptised. This was followed by prayers in the Collegiate Church of St. Lawrence. At 6 p.m. the cortege left Birgu and made its way to the Augustinian St Mark convent, Rabat.

The following morning, Thursday 9 January, between 9 a.m. and 12 noon, Cardinal Grech’s corpse remained in the convent’s chapel which remained open for the public to pay their final respect. At 1.40 p.m., the coffin was taken to St. Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Mdina and at 2 p.m. a Mass praestente cadavere was celebrated for the repose of the Cardinal’s soul. This was presided by H.E. Archbishop Charles J Scicluna together with Archbishop Alessandro D’Errico, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta; Bishop Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator of the Gozo Diocese; Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi and Bishop Pawlu Darmanin, Emeritus Bishop of Garissa, Kenya.

The Augustinian Order was represented by Vicar General, Fr. Joseph Farrell together with Assistant General Fr. Edward Daleng. Prior Provincial Fr. Leslie Gatt, together with a number of other religious from the Province, represented the Malta Augustinian Province.

The congregation was led by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Vella. After the funeral Mass there was a private burial.


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