The Maltese bishops have called on Christians to focus on charity and prayer together with the importance of going to Mass during Lent in their pastoral letter.

Do not stay away from the meetings of the community as some do; encourage each other to go

“We are saddened to notice that there are some people who are distancing themselves from the community and not attending Mass. This is what we read in the Letter to the Hebrews: “Do not stay away from the meetings of the community as some do; encourage each other to go,” the pastoral letter said.

The Lenten pastoral letter signed by Archbishop Paul Cremona, Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech is being read out at Masses.

Speaking during a press conference, Mgr Scicluna said it was easy to “blame someone” for the drop in attendances and pointed out “life is fast-paced” and people made different choices.

Instead he always tried to carry out “an examination of conscience” to see whether he was giving his best to ensure that “Sunday Mass is a nice one that refreshes you”.

Prayer had to be lived as a community experience, through the celebration of Mass – a call that was reiterated by Mgr Cremona.

“The more time you spend in prayer, the deeper your experience with God. We need to give more time to prayer and its hard today as there are many distractions,” through social networks, for example.

Mgr Scicluna also spoke about the importance of charity and referred to Pope John Paul II who also called it “solidarity”.

Christians had to see God’s image in others and giving charity meant “giving each other time in the family or through voluntary work, for example,” he said.

Voluntary work was “a concrete image of charity” and he said young people should get experience it where possible.

The Maltese were very generous, not only at Christmas time, and a good way of performing charity was visiting the places that receive the donations, Mgr Scicluna said.