EUROPE/MALTA - More than 1,300 priests from all over the world in Malta “in the footsteps of St Paul”, to take part in International Meeting for Priests organised by the Congregation for the Clergy

Wednesday, 20 October 2004

La Valletta (Fides Service) - More than 1,300 priests from 90 different countries are in Malta taking part in the now traditional International Meeting for Priests organised by the Congregation for the Clergy 18 to 23 October this year on the theme “Priests, forgers of Saints for the new millennium”. Some come from as far away as eastern Siberia, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, the Middle East, Palestine, Israel, Iraq, others from Latin America, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, still others from North America, 20 from the diocese of Boston alone with their Archbishop, from Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, a large group of priests from India representing Asia, as well as clergy from Malta itself and France, Spain and Italy. Altogether they represent 290 dioceses and about 30 religious congregations. Besides the priests about thirty bishops and 13 cardinals from all over the world have travelled to Malta for the meeting.
Yesterday, the day of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, grouped by language the priests heard each other’s confessions for three hours before evening Mass. Some cardinal present presided the Celebration of Reconciliation and presented reflections in four most-spoken languages, English, French, Italian and Spanish. The way in which the priests celebrated the Sacrament was truly edifying. As for every day of the Meeting the focal point was Mass, yesterday presided by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, in the beautiful church of dedicated the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2004; righe 19, parole 230)


Share: