Archbishop Paul Cremona last Friday week visited St Joseph's School, Blata l-Bajda, which this year celebrates the 50th anniversary since its foundation stone was laid on August 24, 1957.

Mgr Cremona was welcomed by Sr Cecilia Schembri, Provincial Superior, school heads, guests, the lower juniors, head girl Deborah Balzan, and other school representatives. The students greeted the Archbishop with a welcome speech delivered by Donna Johnston, a Year 6 girl, and a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the upper juniors.

In his address the Archbishop's reflected his motto, 'Prepare the way for the Lord', the school's motto, 'Believe and achieve', and the work carried out by the school over the past 50 years. He also met and spoke with girls from the senior section. In the school's chapel yard, Mgr Cremona listened, as around 900 students, members of staff and guests sang If we all give a little, after which Deborah Balzan read the farewell address, in which she thanked God for all that had happened at school over the years.

She said that the school had sprouted from a barren field 50 years ago, and had given character formation and Christian values to so many staff members and students. These values were dear to the foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph, St Emilie de Vialar, a young aristocratic girl from Gaillac, a town in the South of France, who gave up a life of luxury to assist and educate the needy and the less fortunate.

The Archbishop was presented with two gifts - a donation for the needy, and a clay tablet featuring footprints of the youngest and eldest schoolgirls, on which were engraved the words 'Towards you Lord', representing the school population's journey towards Christ. The Archbishop was moved by the simple yet meaningful gesture. With the words 'Thank you Lord for these 50 years' Mgr Cremona then unveiled and blessed a commemorative plaque.