Marlene Dimech, a Maltese Australian, still cannot believe she has been asked to read one of the bidding prayers during the Pontifical Mass officiated by Pope Benedict at the Granaries, Floriana.
For Mrs Dimech, who has been living in Australia for more than 60 years, this is the second time she will take a prominent role in a Papal Mass. The first time was 15 years ago.
Leaving Sliema to Sydney when she was about 10, Mrs Dimech has been heavily involved in local groups such as the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco and the Maltese Culture Association of Australia. Her involvement in the latter group landed her the chance to represent Malta in the offertory procession during Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II at Randwick racecourse in Sydney in January 1995. It was the time when he had beatified Mother Mary MacKillop, who is set to become Australia's first canonised saint on October 17.
"I thought I was going to be part of the choir but then they asked me whether I had a Maltese costume, which I did, and so they told me to represent Malta in the offertory procession. It was the highlight of my life."
Randwick racecourse was the same place where Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a prayer vigil and Mass at the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.
For this occasion, Mrs Dimech and her husband Lawrence had hosted two Maltese young men who were in Australia for the World Youth Day. They had a reunion last night, where they visited one of the men's home.
The Dimechs came to Malta to take part in the Convention for Maltese Living Abroad last month, where Mr Dimech was a keynote speaker and she a delegate for the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco.
Following the conference, Mr Dimech was asked by the head of the Emigrant's Commission whether his wife would read one of the bidding prayers. She thought her husband was playing a joke on her and "for two days I didn't believe I was asked to read".
Asked what they thought about the current child abuse allegations haunting the Vatican and claims of sexual abuse by 11 Maltese men who are testifying against clergy, the Dimechs said they had already had a close encounter with such scandals.
Thirteen years ago, the whole hierarchy of the Society of St Gregor Majella, the order running their parish, Greystanes, was jailed for sexually abusing the order's novices, some of whom were just 16.
The abuse, which was widespread, came to light after two victims committed suicide, Mr Dimech recounted, adding that his children, however, were never abused.
"It was surprising, though, because they were good priests. They turned the parish round when they took over," Mr Dimech said.
"We're old fashioned Catholics. It's very hard to shake our faith," Mrs Dimech added. "The Church is much bigger than what is happening right now. I just pray that this will be over soon."