Archbishop urges Maltese migrants to demonstrate their faith

The Maltese in Australia are joining forces to have a bust of Malta's only saint so far - Ġorġ Preca - erected in Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral.

Collections for the bust, which is expected to cost around $A50,000 (€30,700), started yesterday.

A school being built in Caroline Springs, a Melbourne suburb, is also being dedicated to St Ġorġ Preca, Victor Borg, the president of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria, said.

The announcement came as Archbishop Paul Cremona began his visit Down Under, meeting with Maltese emigrants yesterday evening.

Mgr Cremona is leading a pilgrimage of 45 young people who will be going to Sydney to take part in World Youth Day next week. This is Mgr Cremona's first visit to Australia since he was consecrated last year.

Speaking during his homily in Melbourne, Mgr Cremona praised the Maltese who maintained their faith in foreign countries and urged them to be instruments of faith where they live.

The first Christians travelled around the world taking their faith with them, while emigration had allowed the Maltese to take their faith to other countries, he added.

Speaking during a meeting with emigrants, Mgr Cremona said that an emigrant still had his religious, social and cultural roots in his homeland, and these imbued him with the strength to adjust to a new country.