Editorial

A hundred priests from different countries visiting Malta would be news but over 700 of them coming here to examine their spiritual role in the modern world and sharing their ideas with our local priestly contingent is most certainly something of note.

During their congress in Malta they will not only study and meditate and listen to some of the world's most authoritative speakers but they will pray together and will also have time to gather by languages. In his homily at the opening solemn Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation of the Clergy, underscored the value of prayer, which he described as the first and principal commitment and task for the entire Christian community. "It is a responsibility that invests everyone and consists in rediscovering that fundamental dimension of our faith for which life itself, every human life, is the result of a call from God and can be completely fulfilled only as an answer to that call," he said.

It is always essential to continuously rediscover the fundamental dimension of the faith, especially in our case given that, as Archbishop Joseph Mercieca rightly pointed out during the same solemn Mass, the seed of evangelisation planted by St Paul had proved fruitful. "Our people's attachment to our religious heritage remains. It is sustained by our people's strong desire to remain faithful to the precious legacy which goes back to St Paul," Mgr Mercieca said.

It is also for this reason therefore that this international gathering of priests is welcome here. They will see with their own eyes the difference that our attachment to the Church has made over the centuries.

The congress is a fitting continuation of the recent Eucharistic Congress held in Mexico..

Intimately bound with the Eucharist is the priesthood, which exists primarily to that end. One supposes it was never easy to be a priest despite the selectiveness of the office and the sense of being the chosen ones. And it cannot be easy to be a priest in the modern world, at least for one very valid, current reason: commitment for life is a staggering thought in a quickly changing world.

One looks forward also to the Church in Malta addressing local needs as a result of the congress: perhaps better preparation and recruitment of priests, better distribution of existing priestly resources, more eloquent liturgies, the development of new ways to serve a parish, the increasing involvement of the laity and of women in particular (although the contribution of women has never been stinted here) and the possibility of "flying squads" to serve the moving population in the summer months.

Other matters like the homily, the celebration of Mass on weekdays and Sundays (different problems), the administration of the Sacrament of penance, though already addressed by the Synod, need to be continually assessed and re-examined.

We look forward to a courageous and fruitful outcome and a determination on the part of the Church to undergo any required treatment no matter how painful.

Our priests have always been leaders and icons. We sincerely wish them to remain ever so. Which is what this congress is about.