Without any doubt, as per the various testimonies in the life of Mons Joseph De Piro, Founder of the MSSP, he firmly believed in the Society celebrating to the full, these two feasts related to St Paul. Over the past recent years, the fathers commemorated and celebrated these two feasts, in a special way, together with the many lay helpers and volunteers involved in the MSSP diverse activities. We all looked forward to attending the lunch organised by the Fathers at their St Agatha Convent in Rabat. It was a special occasion when the fathers and family members and friends forming part of the many lay helpers and volunteers active in the various functions of the MSSP fathers, met to pray and celebrate together the feasts of St Paul. It was an occasion when the fathers expressed their gratitude and thanks to the hundreds of lay helpers and contributors of the Society.
This year, it was felt that such a special occasion is celebrated and commemorated in a different manner. Fr Louis Mallia, Malta and Gozo Superior of the Society, together with the help and assistance of Fr Clinton and Fr Bernard, came up with the idea to organise a get together for the volunteers and helpers from all the entities of the Society and dedicating this occasion to take them for a walk through the work undertaken by the MSSP fathers spread out in various countries.
This event, which was held on Sunday, 16th February 2020, at the St Joseph Home, Sta Venera, brought together the MSSP helpers and fathers to experience the extensive projects and work carried out for the spiritual and social wellbeing of the locals, mainly the poor, of the places where they run their parishes. With the help of audio/visual presentations, those present were able to experience and understand better the details of the work carried out by the MSSP in Malta, Gozo and Italy, and in the MSSP missions of Peru’, Pakistan, Philippines, Cuba, Vietnam, Australia and Canada.
The Church was full of people from both communities, and still there was a very intimate and familiar atmosphere. This was also strengthened by the use of bilingualism during the Celebration of Mass and Christian life. After mass, there was a wonderful moment of fellowship, where we got to share cultural food, along with discussions about personal, communitarian and social issues. It really felt like we were one whole family. In fact, the Pakistani Community was asked to organise other events in the near future, where communities will be able to experience and exchange this communal love and brotherhood of man. We wish to continue this fellowship regularly, in order to grow as an intercultural family, integrate and extend both communities.
The above is a very clear example that, multiculturalism enriches a society, and having a mix of different cultures broadens the minds of the members of such a society. This helps to realise that there are different visions of the world, different solutions to problems, different and equally valid ways of living.
Would like to thank Rev. Fr. Bernard Mangion MSSP who is responsible of the Pakistani Community in Malta and Fr. Martin Cilia MSSP director at Oratory MSSP.
Bro Augusteen Yaqub, is a MSSP Pakistani brother currently residing in t Malta as part of his initial process of formation.