May we acknowledge through this newspaper the kindness and generosity of the Mission Fund (Mosta) which has just sent us a generous contribution towards our mission work in Guam, Micronesia. We are a family in mission with five children hailing from Guardamangia parish of Our Lady of Fatima. The eldest of our children is 11, the youngest three, two of them were born in mission.
After four years helping in a deprived parish in New Jersey - an area that was full of drugs, gang violence and rampant poverty - three years ago, we were asked to offer our services to a newly-erected major seminary in Guam.
Guam is an island in the Western Pacific Ocean, the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands. Like all the other islands in the Pacific, it is passing through a serious cultural transitional process. Secularisation is invading the islands bringing havoc to its former protective social framework. Two of the most visible and heartrending consequences are the high index of teen pregnancy and suicide among youth.
Observing the complex situation of vocations to the priesthood in the innumerable islands of the Pacific, the local Archbishop erected eight years ago a major seminary, the first ever such enterprise in the history of the Marianas that will form priests for the New Evangelisation.
Since I am a carpenter by profession, I was asked to come and help in the construction of the chapel and maintenance of this seminary which today hosts 37 seminarians. Besides, my wife and I help in the religious education of adults in various parishes and in various social activities especially related to broken families and drug addiction.
This contribution of the Mission Fund will not only sustain the seminary and our participation in this enormous task, but it encouraged us strongly to continue this work, knowing that there are so many good people behind our mission. Maltese helping Maltese!
May we ask readers to contribute to this task by sending used stamps, used telecards and donations to the Mission Fund (Eureka Court , Blk A, Flat 6, Main Street, Mosta MST 1018) so that many will be helped. God will reward you.