Both Archbishop Cremona and Bishop Mario Grech spoke, among other things, of solidarity during their respective homilies on the occasion of the feast of the birth of Our Lady which in Malta coincides with the celebration of two historically important events: the victories of the Great Siege and World War II.
Archbishop Cremona laid down important principles that should guide the Christian way of behaving guided by justice and solidarity.
"Justice demands that each and every person receives his due as a human person and as a citizen, irrespective of colour, race, gender, religious beliefs or political affiliation," he said.
Solidarity, for Archbishop Cremona, rightly means that we should care for each other and see to it that no one is left behind and prevented from benefitting from the development of the country. He consequently urged that we continue in the fight against poverty.
Bishop Mario Grech moved from guiding principles to a concrete proposal which urges the Church and the Catholic community of these Islands to put their money where their mouth and where their hearts are, or at least, should be.
Solidarity should not only be exercised with fellow Maltese. The world should be our country and those in need anywhere should be the recipients of our solidarity. Bishop Grech, therefore, quite rightly focused his homily and our attention to the persecution that so many Christians in Iraq and other places are suffering.
"How can we remain passive when an untold number of our brother Christians who refuse to surrender their faith are violated or killed?" he asked. Others, he said, were fleeing their country.
He then went into action.
"In this context, the local Church should show its solidarity with these people. I suggest that every parish community in the Gozo diocese should host a family from among these persecuted Christians. Each parish should adopt a family and provide it with housing and the means to live.
A similar proposal was recently made by Dr Jason Azzopardi, the Nationalist MP. On his Facebook account he had written that Malta should offer to host some of the Iraqi families fleeing their country because of persecution by Islamic State.
"Will the Malta Church, the government and all civil society do the right thing and welcome here some of the persecuted Iraqi families?" Dr Azzopardi asked.
Thanks to Bishop Mario Grech, now publicly supported by Bishop Charles Scicluna, the Church has taken on the challenge.
Another quote from the homily of Bishop Grech follows.
"I know our people are generous with those in need. I am sure that in the same way as we find the funds for other projects which do not compare with this proposal, we can find the means for this act of charity. And if we do not find the means, we should not be afraid of digging into our pockets. Hosting these people would be saving them from death."
Bishop Grech said he would be writing to the civil authorities and the Nuncio to inform them of the Church's readiness and also seek their help.
In the early 1990s many Iraqi refugees had taken shelter in Malta. Two of these refugees stayed with my father and I in our house in B’Kara. Other families helped other refugees. I am certain that the initiative being taken by Bishop Grech can be a success.
One final word: Going through some of the comments posted under the report of the homily of Bishop Grech one cannot not be shocked that there are so many barbarians among us. They stoop to such lows that one is embarrassed to be called Maltese.