Birkirkara parish priest

As moderator of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Santa Marija parish church at Birkirkara, I would like to express my sheer disappointment and incredulity, together with that of many other parishioners, at the news that our parish priest, Fr Emmanuel Camilleri, is being assigned to another parish, in such a delicate moment for our parish and after just three years of being with us.

This move, from the Curia's side, is once again in line with previous, similar decisions taken with regard to our parish, that of considering us training grounds for newly-promoted parish priests.

This attitude by the Curia is irritating and alienating many of the people of this parish and we will not tolerate this attitude any longer.

We are resolved to take decisive actions to defend the rights of our parish and the needs of the community.

Due to these regular changes, we feel that there can never be any continuity, especially at this moment in time.

Our parish is currently undergoing two very important projects: That of completing the parish priest's house and the starting of a conservation plan for our church. Fr Camilleri has taken these projects to heart and has worked endlessly and very hard to accomplish the targets we had set. Now with this move, these two important projects will have to suffer unnecessary delay, apart from the fact that Fr Camilleri has been unjustly denied the human gratification of seeing completed the projects for which he has worked so much during these years.

The Curia may try to convince us that they know what is best but we surely are more in contact with reality. Their decision to move Fr Camilleri to another parish goes against all logic and lacks the common sense expected by such people.