Archbishop Paul Cremona called on the faithful to experience the joy that comes from voluntary work, when a person goes beyond their call of duty to help others.
“Although it is a pleasure to receive, there is joy in giving – giving of your time, giving of yourself,” Mgr Cremona said in his Christmas message at Mater Dei Hospital.
He decided to transmit his message from hospital saying the painful experiences which some people endure serve as an inspiration for others to do their work enthusiastically and with great generosity.
Speaking about voluntary work, Mgr Cremona called on people to reflect on those who went out of their way to help others.
Offering voluntary work should not only be limited to Christmas time but throughout the year, he added.
“May our faith be translated into acts of self-giving, generosity, voluntary work, may this atmosphere be strongly felt. This is what I am proposing to the community – particularly to the faithful,” Mgr Cremona said.
President George Abela and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi also released their message for Christmas and New Year’s Day, highlighting that the country’s prudence helped it weather the international economic crisis better than other countries.
Dr Abela spoke of the importance of embracing the values of the family, work, responsibility, honesty, integrity, solidarity, altruism, courage, and better use of resources for the common good.
“Without these values, one risks veering off the right track, and getting lost in the dark woods without direction,” he said.
While it was important to improve the standard of living, he also said consumerism should not be the sole justification of life, with moral and ethical values falling by the wayside.
Dr Gonzi spoke about the year ahead being one dedicated to the voluntary sector, a “treasure” that should be appreciated by all.
Quality of life did not only depend on strengthening the economy, he said, but also on reinforcing relationships, the way ideas were communicated and respecting one another.
“It depends on what we write and how we write it, and on what we broadcast, on how we treat those swept on our shores, on how we take care of those in need,” he said.
The Christmas and New Year’s messages will be broadcast on the Department of Information’s website (www.doi.gov.mt).