An oasis of peace

Tomorrow, December 8, marks the third anniversary of the opening of the Millennium Chapel in Paceville - three years in which only God knows how many people, local and foreigners, spent some time in this oasis of peace receiving some kind of inner healing by means of prayer.

Fr Hilary Tagliaferro and his friends believed strongly that the best investment in life, for everyone, is prayer, so they opened this place which is available, 18 hours a day, to all people, no matter which religion they profess, or whether they profess any religion at all, so that there they may communicate with God in silent prayer.

For us as Catholics, this place has a powerful significance Christ in the Eucharist is there, for 18 hours a day, for adoration.

In these three years, volunteer counsellors offer their services to help people in need of hope or encouragement, or simple advice, so that they may cope with life's daily burdens.

On Saturdays at 9.15 p.m. Mass is held specially for young people, who flock to Paceville in their thousands. At the Millennium Chapel (where a Catholic bookshop is also available) they come in large numbers, because there is a lot of good in the heart of these youngsters; they need us to give them a helping hand, they depend on us, as adults, to pass on to them good values.

Jesus remained in the Holy Eucharist as a present for us, so with this Bread of Life he sustains us in our journey here on earth. So those who visit this place are being invited to imitate Jesus, by making a gift to others in cash or in kind, such as tinned food, preserves, etc., to help families who are truly in need.

After all this is what receiving the Holy Eucharist, with faith in our hearts, truly means - to be of service to others, in one way or another, by using the means that God has provided us.

I want to end by thanking Our Lord Jesus Christ for this oasis of peace, in such a noisy world, and also those, who with great sacrifice, are offering their service so that this place will remain open.

May every parish in Malta and Gozo provide a place where Jesus in the Holy Eucharist can be exposed for the adoration of the people for so many hours during the day, because if we invest with faith in this Blessed Sacrament, we discover that miracles do happen.