Last Friday, I attended the ordination of Fr Robert Galea by the Archbishop of Malta at St Julians parish church. It was a rather special and solemn occasion with bishops in attendance from Malta and Melbourne as well as the Australian High Commissioner to Malta and the representative of Australia to the Vatican.

I was standing at the back when Archbishop Paul Cremona was delivering his main speech to welcome Fr Galea. At that solemn moment I was very disturbed by the inconsiderate and annoying rhythmic sound of loose metal bracelets emanating from the waving wrists of the lady in front of me as she nervously fanned herself with a brochure to cool down.

She often changed the improvised fan from one hand to the other, whereby the beat remained the same but the metallic clinking sound changed. This depended on whether it came from a bracelet tight around her left wrist with a multitude of long, loose, swinging appendages dangling from the tight circular base, or from a multitude of heavy loose links on a triple chained bracelet staggered on the other wrist.

I just wondered whether the master of ceremonies should have announced that, in addition to switching off mobile phones, the audience should remove any loose bracelets or earrings or necklaces that produce annoying sounds during such solemn occasions, especially when the wearer fans herself or moves around. When, during the appropriate time during the Mass, she turned around, shook my hand and said: “May peace be with you!” the only thought I had was: “ If only you would allow it to be!”

I wish Fr Galea and Bishop Joe Grech from Melbourne a successful mission among Australians and a good trip back to Australia.

This was the first ordination ceremony for St Julians parish church.