I come from Mosta and I reside in the UK. I visited Malta this August and since I visited four years ago I was thoroughly impressed by the number of new roads and bypasses that made driving a lot easier and my visit more enjoyable. The island is becoming more populated but the charm it had when I lived there as a young boy has not been lost and the Christian faith still thrives.

I visited my home town of Mosta and the greatest monument built by my forefathers in honour of the ascension of the Holy Mother to heaven and I was rather disappointed to see the state in which it is being left to deteriorate. I went inside and part of the dome ceiling is flaking through water seepage when it rains and some of the other walls are in dire need of redecorating.

The outside churchyard walls are crumbling and in need of replacing. The statues on the same churchyard need good cleaning as they are almost black and deteriorating with acid rain.

I was there on the feast of St Mary on August 15 and when the statue came out during the procession all the crowd were clapping. I felt a sense of joy and pride that I was born in such a wonderful place. The feast was a real celebration of our beliefs and all of us enjoyed the singing and bands that played during the procession.

I love my home town and am proud of this monument and what it stands for. I therefore urge those in charge to spend money to keep Mosta church in good shape for future generations.