Parishes to run campaign on true value of village feasts
Three-day retreat for parish priests
Parish priests will be embarking on a campaign to ensure their communities do not forget that village feasts are religious celebrations.
All too often reports in the media highlight threats to the religious aspect of village feasts that need to be addressed, explained Fr Joe Saliba, the secretary of the College of Parish Priests.
For this reason the college will be holding a seminar with the aim of bringing together all those involved in the organisation of village feasts to identify the challenges that threaten the religious nature of the feasts and propose solutions.
The deterioration of the religious aspect has long been a concern for the Church, which frowns on the excessive behaviour featuring in some villages' outdoor celebrations such as excessive drinking, drenching other people with water, swearing, name-calling and extreme shows of rivalry between band clubs. In 2002 the Curia issued regulations banning discos and street parties during feasts.
College president and archpriest Eric Overend said that the seminar, being held on February 14, will also touch on the role of lawmakers in helping the college reach its goal.
The college has formed teams to address different aspects of village feasts, such as street decoration and fireworks' insurance, but they needed the backing of the law, Fr Overend added.
The seminar will be the beginning of a process to ensure all those contributing or taking part in feasts understand and respect their religious value. A campaign will ensure the message is communicated to the community.
Speaking during a press conference yesterday, members of the college outlined their plans to enhance public dialogue this year. The college will work to promote both internal dialogue within the Church and dialogue with the community.
Fr Saviour Grima said parish priests will be preparing for Archbishop Paul Cremona's pastoral visits in which, from this month, he will start visiting Malta's 70 parishes in a programme that will last three years. The visits will be inaugurated with a Mass on Thursday at the Mdina Cathedral at 6 p.m.
The Archbishop's aim will be to strengthen dialogue with the community while addressing the needs of each parish.
Later this month, RTK, the Church's radio station, will start airing interviews with the parish priest of the village visited by the Archbishop.
During the fortnightly programme, the public will be invited to discuss issues concerning their locality.
This year the annual parish priests' live-in will be themed Parish Priests and Catechism. During this three-day retreat, they will discuss and explore their role in making sacraments relevant to today's life and share thoughts about catechism, explained college vice-president Fr Gordon Refalo.
The theme was chosen as the college felt the need to rediscover and reflect on the religious experiences behind the sacraments.