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The Minister General visits Malta 7-10 January 1998
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The Minister General, friar Giacomo Bini, arrived in Malta on a flight from Sicily, on Wednesday, January 7 at 7.40 a.m. At the airport he was received by the Minister Provincial, friar Bernard Bartolo, the English Speaking General Definitor, friar Sean Collins, the Vicar Provincial, friar Paul Galea, and Provincial Definitors friars Eddie Pace and Marcellino Micallef. The Minister General was accompanied by friar Antonio Riccio, Italian General Definitor. The group proceeded to Bahar-ic-Caghaq Retreat House, where they were stationed during their three days stay in Malta.
The Minister General with the Minister Provincial of Malta
In a private meeting with the Minister Provincial and Vicar Provincial, the Minister General recommended to the Province a spirit of prayer and the strengthening of fraternity. At the Poor Clares, the Minister talked about the freedom from structures, as much as possible, and a free and spontaneous spirit in their life with God and the sisterhood. The Minister General then made a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Malta Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici who showed himself interested in the Franciscan charism and message especially in the Africa project.
On the same day the Minister General had lunch at the Valletta friary where he was welcomed by the fraternity and the Guardian, friar Joe Caruana. He was then shown around the 16th- century church by friar George Aquilina from where he went on to visit the Hamrun fraternity. Guardian friar Twanny Chircop introduced him to the fraternity, the students and postulants. The Minister General had the opportunity to speak about the need to show respect towards each other and cooperate in our activity.
At the Hamrun church the Minister General presided over the Liturgy of the Hours which was attended by the brethren, Franciscan sisters of the third order and members from the P.F.F. and O.F.S. The Minister General encouraged the teeming church to praise God and to strenghten the Franciscan Movement within the local church for the good of Maltese society.
Later in the evening, the Minister made his way to the Sliema friary where he was welcomed by the local Guardian friar Martin Coleiro and the brethren. He also had the opportunity to meet the people of our parish. He spoke with the brethren in the new hall, and allowed some time for a Q&A session, during which he expressed his fears regarding the young generation because they were so easily discouraged. At the same time, he opined that the older brethren were not to expect that the old structures could be passed on lock, stock and barrel onto the young. He advised the young to be lead by their own spiritual director, and to seek new ways of expressing their Franciscan charism - and perhaps, new structures.
An exchange of gifts...
On Thursday, the Minister had breakfast at Saint Mary of the Angels friary and then visited the church with Guardian, friar Raymond Falzon. From here he proceeded to Porziuncula Retreat house, where he blessed the newly laid “Garden of Creatures”. Friar Marcellino Micallef, director, invited him and the Minister Provincial to plant a tree to commemorate this visit. At the end of the ceremony three white doves were let off the hands of the Minister General, Minister Provincial and Vicar Provincial to seek the freedom of the blue heavens.
At the same friary, the Minister then presided a concelebrated Mass for which almost all the members of the Province (stationed in Malta) attended. During his homily the Minister General spoke about the courage needed not to be tied down by structures invitating the young to be adventurous and seek ever new ways to live the Franciscan charism. It was an encounter ablaze with Franciscan fire.
Friar Raymond Falzon then presented a slide feature as a reflection on "Memoria et Prophetia". In a discussion which followed, friar Sean Collins had an opportunity to share his views regarding the new outlook that the Order is taking . There was a very lively discussion on many topics, with an exchange of gifts every way, and the presentation of a cheque for Lit 6.000.000 to help alleviate the suffering of the people of Assisi in the wake of the recent earth tremors.
Explaining the vision of the Order
After lunch with all the brethren present, it was time for a short rest. Then the Minister General and the two General Definitors, drived by Mr Alfred Zahra (the privileged driver to visiting Ministers Generals, Cardinals and Bishops), proceeded to the medieval city of Mdina, a silelnt city evoking centuies-old memories of Knights and Moors, Romans and Phoenicians, Greeks and Jews. He walked along its narrow streets and past its elegant palaces, to the Cathedral built on the site where tradition locates the house of Publius' father (St Paul’s shipwreck on Malta according to theActs of the Apostles). Definitor friar Norbert Ellul-Vincenti guided them around the sights and evoked the history, enphasizing how in Malta faith and history.
Friar Alfred Sciberras, Guardian of the fraternity welcomed the Minister General at the Rabat friary. The Minister here too spoke with the fraternity and had an opportunity to meet the local people while visiting the Sanctuary of St Joseph. During the meeting with the fraternity the Minister replied to questions put forth by the friars especialty about formation.
On Friday, the Minister had breakfast at Dar Frate Francesco in Birkirkara where friar Eddie Pace, Guardian, and his small fraternity give shelter to homeless young men who are trying to settle down in life. After a rather important, if short, meeting with the Definitory, during which the Minister insisted on the need for the formation of the brethren, the General made his way to the Peace Laboratory at Hal Far, run by friar Dionysius Mintoff and a committee.
The Archbishop, Mgr. Joseph Mercieca, warmly received the Minister General, and heard all about the Franciscan activity and the African Mission. The Archbishop showed keen interest about the situation in Assisi and surroundings especially about the hardships of those hit by the recent tremors. The Archbishop expressed his gratitude to the Minister General for the work being carried out by the Franciscan brethren in Malta.
The Minister General left Malta at 4.30 pm but not before having a meeting and lunch with the Conventual, Capuchin and Dominican provincials and vicars provincials. Before he left the Minister thanked all those who had made this visit worthwhile, especially the organisers, friars Marcellino Micallef, Paul Galea and Twanny Chircop; John Azzopardi and John Abela for their work on the liturgy and the various Guardians. He promised to be back soon.
Fr. Bernard Bartolo ofm
Minister Provincial
the above information was received at our office
today Thursday, January 29, 1998
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