The young and the old flocked to Nazzarenu church, in Sliema, yesterday to bid farewell to their parish priest Mgr Paul Cremona and to celebrate the good news of a new shepherd they hope will lead them to fresh pastures.

Seeing so many people of all ages rubbing shoulders in a church these days is a rare sight as Mass attendances are dwindling, but the charisma of Mgr Cremona, who will be consecrated Archbishop on Friday, seems to have a pulling force.

Fellow Dominican Charles Tabone started the ceremony by saying the church had never held so many people as it did yesterday, a comment that was met by rapturous applause.

"Our parish is here to pledge its support. Though it has its boundaries, this parish always welcomes worshippers from other localities and they are here to give you the most beautiful gift," he said.

Thanking them for attending, Mgr Cremona shared his inner thoughts: "Tonight I am praying to God to help me understand the true meaning of becoming an Archbishop.

"I want to be able to enter the heart and soul of such a grace to be able to lead the Maltese community and complete my mission."

Flanked at the altar by Bishop of Albania George Frendo based in Tirana, and Bishop of Brazil Walter Ebejer based in the state of Parana, and surrounded by his Dominican family, Mgr Cremona led the one-and-a-half-hour celebration.

The voices of the church's choir lifted the spirit and everybody took part in the Mass. The altar boys and girls, recognising the importance of the moment, were on their best behaviour, even though they occasionally passed a naughty glance at one another.

During his short homily, Mgr Cremona assigned the parish a mission - to transfer their contentment at witnessing his episcopal ordination to the Church by spreading the Word of God.

The offerings were extremely diverse and members from different commissions presented their gifts - from wedding rings, as a symbol of the family's unity, to a guide for the formation of children, a Bible and a missal, among others.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Fr Tabone presented Mgr Cremona with the mitre, which he will don during Friday's ceremony - a gift from the parish as a symbol of their respect.

Other gifts followed, including a framed photo of the children who followed catechism classes last year.

Making a final note, Dominican provincial Paul Gatt reflected that God must have first wanted to try Mgr Cremona with a small flock first, before entrusting him with the bigger herd.

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