As part of Xagħra parish’s celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the coronation of the statue of the Nativity of Our Lady, parishoners collected money to offer to Honduras Bishop Joe Bonello, who hails from Xagħra.

By the end of the celebrations, Xagħra parishoners, who are known for their generosity and love for the missions, had collected €32,000.

The following week, the sum increased to €42,500. This is equivalent to 850,000 Honduras liri, or lampiras. The amount includes €3,000 that the children of the village collected during the days of the Novena, organised for them in preparation for the feast.

Everyone was surprised with the amount collected, considering it came from just one parish, which moreover had just celebrated its feast.

In a comment, Mgr Bonello, who seemed moved by the generosity, said: “Ġejt b’ ta’ fuqi senduqi u sejjer bis-senduq mimli” (I came with just the clothes on my back and I return with a full coffer).

This money will be placed in a fund, from which all seminarists in the Honduras diocese will be sponsored.

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