Lay Maltese missionaries in Guam

The largest of the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Guam is portrayed as a tropical paradise for Japanese honeymooners. It is definitely an important American military base in Oceania.

However, like all other islands of Micronesia, it is under a fierce attack from secularisation. The suicide rate is alarming, drug consumption is rampant, family break-ups are serious, many youths see only a future by leaving the island.

Coming from an island ourselves, our family did not find it hard to adjust to certain cultural elements prevalent among the local Chamorro people. Like the Maltese of the Scriptures, Chamorros (as the Guamanians are called) are very warm and hospitable by nature.

These are a soft-spoken people who love singing, cherish their traditions and ancestors and have a deep respect for their religious roots – Guam was the first island to be Christianised in Oceania with the arrival of a Jesuit missionary expedition in 1668.

So what on earth are we doing in Guam? Why did we travel half way round the globe to a remote tropical island, far from home and family? Well, the short answer is that there is where the mission takes us and where the Good Lord has called us/

It is a joy for us to return to Guam as a family in mission after a period of rest back home in Malta. We landed there in February 2005 and after only a few years we have witnessed many fruits and miracles: so many vocations to the priesthood and religious life, families rebuilt (ours in the first place), youth discovering a new meaning in life.We are truly blessed and privileged to partake in the New Evangelisation albeit our sins, weakness and frailty.

And to think that it all started with attending to a wonderful catechesis in our hometown parish that opened up a whole new way of life for us, the Neocatechumenal Way.

We are grateful to all who contribute to Mission Fund, which has been a great benefactor not only to us but to all Maltese missionaries around the globe.

We remember you in our daily prayers. More information on the Mission Fund can be found at www.missionfund.org.mt