Archbishop visits refugee mothers

There was a jovial mood at Dar l-Emigrant, the Emigrants' Commission premises in Valletta, yesterday morning, as refugee mothers and their young children celebrated Mother's Day.

Women sat on plastic chairs chatting and eating pastizzi, as their children ran around playing with a boxful of toys.

In a quieter side of the small hall, two girls practised reading a poem about mothers that they recited later.

A few minutes later a smiling Archbishop Paul Cremona walked in, greeted the children and their mothers, giving each a few minutes of his time.

Mgr Cremona said that while today the mothers need help to get back on their feet, hopefully they will be better off in the future after the sacrifices they made so that their children would have a better life.

He highlighted the importance of a mother's love, pointing out how lucky he was to still have his mother alive.

The archbishop thanked the commission for its work with refugees.

Emigrants' Commission director Mgr Philip Calleja said one of the commission's most important jobs was among mothers, highlighting the importance of taking special care of those who do not have their husbands with them.

"We have a lot of separated families and it is imperative to unite them," he said.