July – August - Franciscan Province – MALTA

Still no peace in the Holy Land
The Friars Minor of the Custody of the Holy Land meeting in Chapter in Bethlehem, next to
the Grotto of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, forty years after the War of June 1967,
note with regret that even today peace does not yet reign in the Holy Land, which remains
torn by the conflict that divides its two Peoples and pits them one against the other.
Being in Bethlehem precisely at this time, it is incumbent upon us to recall the constant
closeness of the Friars Minor to the much tried civilian population of this city where
Our Lord Jesus Christ was born, as well as to that of Jerusalem and of other cities of the
Region. Such closeness was in evidence in a particular way during the War whose 40th anniversary
is now sadly being marked. At that time the Friars gave shelter within their own
establishments to the terrified and needy civilians, aided them, and dissuaded them from
leaving Bethlehem. Such solidarity has never been lacking in the years that have followed,
and is in fact being shown, vigorously and efficaciously, also during the present – singularly
difficult – phase.
The Friars Minors themselves have also experienced in their own persons the dangers
inherent in wartime conditions. This was so forty years ago, but then also five years ago.
Indeed five years ago the Friars resisted with heroic faithfulness the pressures upon them
to abandon the Holy Place of the Nativity. In fact they defended strenuously its deepest significance
for all humanity.
“Witnesses of Hope,” and called to be “artisans of reconciliation and peace,” we do, at
this Holy Place, renew our promise of fidelity to the mission entrusted to us by the Church
to safeguard it, and to proclaim and spread its saving Message. At the same time – and inseparably
– we likewise renew our commitment to persevering closeness to the citizens of
Bethlehem.
From Bethlehem, which saw the birth of the Prince of Peace, we raise incessant
prayers that God change all “hearts of stone” into “hearts of flesh.” We pray that the Holy
Spirit guide the “Rulers of the Nations,” inspire them to follow more merciful policies, and
guide them along the ways that lead to peace. We pray that thus directed from above the
two nations that have in this Holy Land their homeland may live together reconciled, on
the basis of reciprocal recognition of their equal dignity, and of their equal right to security
and freedom.
Bethlehem, 11 June 2007
Awguri lil Noel Muscat, OFM
Il-Ministru Provinëjal, Fra Paul Galea, OFM kiteb ittra ta’
awguri f’isem l-aħwa tal-provinëja għal għaŜla ta’ Noel bħala
Diskritt tal-Kustodja ta’ l-Art Imqaddsa. Fl-ittra tiegħu, il-
Ministru Provinëjal kiteb hekk: “Bla dubju ta’ xejn din l-għaŜla
tiegħek turi kemm hija apprezzata l-ħidma li inti qed twettaq fi ħdan il-Kustodja.
Dan ikompli jŜid l-isem tajjeb ta' l-aħwa franāiskani Maltin li tul is-snin ħadmu
mhux biss b'risq il-Kustodja ta' l-Art Imqaddsa, imma wkoll f'diversi oqsma ta' l-
Ordni tagħna. Jiena nemmen li s-servizz tiegħek ifisser barkiet mis-sema fuq il-
Provinëja tagħna. Ma' l-awguri, inwegħeduk it-talb tagħna.”
Servizz f’Porziuncola Retreat House
Pierre Farrugia, OFM fil-āimgħat li āejjin se jkun Malta fejn se jagħti s-servizz
tiegħu matul l-istaāun tas-sajf f’Porziucola Retreat House, Baħar ië-êagħaq. Huwa
se jagħmel dan wara li jkun temm xahar ta’ servizz bħala konfessur fil-
Porziuncola, f’Assisi. Pierre qiegħed jagħmel l-istudji tiegħu fl-Universita’ ta’ Antonianum,
Ruma.
L-A{BAR LULJU - AWISSU 2007 35
PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com