Two successful congresses

We are indeed very happy that, thank God, the two congresses The Holy Name Society recently held in Malta and Gozo were successful in more ways than one.

We cannot let these two occasions pass by without expressing our thanks and gratitude to so many who generously gave their help and support.

We would like to thank Gozo Bishop Mario Grech for presiding over the diocesan congress in Sannat. Thanks also to Archbishop Paul Cremona who presided over the national congress that took place in Safi. We are also grateful to Fr Paul Gatt OP, provincial of the Dominican Order, who honoured us with his presence.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Can Tarcisio Camilleri, archpriest of Sannat, and to Fr Joe Cilia, archpriest of Safi. Both welcomed us warm-heartedly in their respective parishes and both gave us their time to formulate a programme of activities and generously gave us all the help we needed to spread our message against the horrible vice of blasphemy and to praise the Holy Name of God. This we could do not only in their respective churches but also in the open, along their streets and in the square.

We thank the numerous priests and religious for attending our activities. Their support was very encouraging indeed.

The Holy Name Society would like to thank all the presidents and committee members of the various band clubs, political clubs and other clubs, the presidents of religious societies, heads of school, owners of wine bars and cafeterias, all of whom welcomed us and gave us the opportunity to speak to the people present. We are sure that our messages did not fall on deaf ears. We were very happy to see such a large attendance at the Masses and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

We would also like to thank the bands, the choirs, the members of confraternities, the bearers of the statue of The Good Shepherd, the bearers of the banners of our society, the members of the Museum Christian doctrine society in Safi, the helpers of the parishes, the readers, animators, staff of Radju Marija that transmitted the Gozo congress live, the various radio stations that interviewed us, the Dominican sisters of Safi, the staff of Manresa retreat house in Gozo, the Police Force and the press that so generously give us the space we need to report our activities and publish our writings.

There is no doubt that to organise such events requires hard work, courage and a lot of patience. We are indeed grateful to the Gozo committee led by the diocesan president Joe Refalo who is so hard-working and so zealous. We are happy to have Stanley Mangion as the national president as he continually instils in us a sense of purpose and greatly encourages us not to give up. There is no doubt that our national chaplain, Fr Joe Vassallo is a God sent as his great sense of humour, his kindness and caring attitude never falter and these attributes help to keep the committee united at all times.

The Holy Name Society would like to thank all who took part. Their presence filled us with courage to continue organising activities for the glory of God. May His Holy Name be praised now and forever.