The mayor of Marsacala, Mario Calleja, is in Peru where he will visit the poverty-stricken village of La Tomilla, in Arequipa.

The village church is run by the young energetic Gozitan missionary, Fr Govanni Cefai.

Before he decided to contest the local council elections four years ago, Mr Calleja spent two months in the Peruvian village. He had helped Fr Cefai build a small school for 50 students coming from poor families in La Tomilla. A caterer by trade and a former general manager of a Hotel, Mr Calleja had to employ all his kitchen skills to cook and feed 5O students a day.

"That was the most satisfying time of my life," Mr Calleja says.

Returning to Malta after that experience, Mr Calleja says he felt it was his mission to help Fr Cefai. When he was elected mayor he held a number of events to raise money which he sent to Fr Cefai.

Gozo Bishop Mario Grech met Mr Calleja and thanked him for what he is doing for the Gozitan priest in Peru.

In Peru, Mr Calleja is accompanied by Joe Micallef, an activist of the St Anne Band Club of Marsascala.

In Mr Calleja's absence, deputy mayor Charlot Mifsud has assumed the mayor's responsibilities.