Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday compared early Maltese emigrants' journey to the trek by Mary and Joseph who were fleeing persecution after the birth of baby Jesus.

In his Christmas message to Maltese emigrants, Mgr Cremona said: "Just imagine Joseph and Mary looking at Jesus during their journey, and how this must have motivated them to keep moving on, and how many times His divine presence must have strengthened them to overcome suffering."

The Archbishop said he hoped that today's emigrants would allow the Lord to be born in their lives today. "Jesus came into this world to be closer to people in all circumstances of life," Mgr Cremona said.

He recalled that during his visit to Australia earlier this year one of the places he visited was the chapel in Mackay that the first emigrants had built. This showed that they had taken their faith to their new country and how much they wanted God to be with them, he said.

Mgr Cremona said during his visit he also saw the place where the first Maltese emigrants arrived on ships.

"I was told of the suffering they had to endure and how, sometimes, after a long journey they used to be lowered from ships in baskets hanging by a rope. They also had to face prejudice," he added.