Bishop Mario Grech wants families to get involved in adopting persecuted Christians. Photo: Jason Borg

Gozitan parish priests have endorsed Bishop Mario Grech’s proposal that every Gozo parish should adopt a family of persecuted Christians and they believe that with the right “homework”, families will also be on board.

On Sunday, Mgr Grech suggested in his homily that every Gozitan parish should adopt a family of persecuted Christians such as fleeing Syrians and Iraqis and provide them with shelter and the means to live.

He will be writing to the civil authorities and to the apostolic nunciature to inform them of the availability of the local Church and to ask them to help out with the project.

Żebbuġ parish priest Fr Reuben Micallef told Times of Malta that he fully agreed with Mgr Grech’s proposition and that his parish was already working on a way of making it a reality.

“It’s a great proposal because it sends out a message to the world that we’re doing something concrete to help these people.

It sends out a message to the world that we’re doing something concrete to help these people

“I am convinced that if we do our homework well on how to present the project to our parishioners, they will agree to help.”

Fr Micallef added that he was looking into a number of logistical details, including finding a place where the family could lodge and creating campaigns to raise food, clothes and funds.

Għasri parish priest Fr Edward Xuereb agreed with Mgr Grech’s proposal but added that the logistics needed discussion. “It’s a good proposal because it sends out a concrete and practical message that, as long as resources permit, people are practising what is stated in the Gospel.”

Asked about how receptive to the idea he believed his parishioners to be, Fr Xuereb said it was his impression that racism was less present in Gozo than in Malta.

He added that his parish was one of many to participate in the fundraising carried out by the Church for Iraqi refugees.

“Although few people contributed, their contributions were substantial. I hope that more people respond to pleas for help.”

Kerċem parish priest Fr Brian Mejlak hailed the proposal as “a lovely idea”.

“I imagine that the response from the parishioners will be positive – as Christians, we should be pleased to help fellow Christians. We can’t just listen to sermons and group meetings – we need to put what we hear into practice.”

We need to put what we hear into practice

He added that a number of logistical details needed to be sorted out, as caring for a vulnerable family was also a responsibility.

Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna tweeted that Malta should also try out the proposed initiative, but added to this newspaper that the archdiocese of Malta already caters for the accommodation of 400 refugees in 14 housing units in seven different localities.

While agreeing with the proposal, Emigrants’ Commission director Fr Alfred Vella added that the Maltese Church was doing everything possible to help the refugees, saying that government agencies also offered assistance in the form of social benefits.

“Whether Mgr Grech’s proposal is taken up by Maltese parishes is the prerogative of each parish priest. If interested, they could liaise with us and we’ll put them in touch with families in need,” he said.