In his message during the Solemn Pontifical Mass on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Xaghra, the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Mario Grech said that “we need to be humanly, civilly and spiritually reborn.”

The Bishop’s message in full can be read below:

“The Nativity of Our Lady should inspire in us the desire for our own rebirth! Today some ask, like Nicodemus, how is rebirth possible when we are yoked by centuries of old traditions. However, as Jesus said to Nicodemus: rebirth is possible with the power of the Spirit of God!

I feel that we need to be humanly, civilly and spiritually reborn! I have a wish that before I die, I witness the rebirth of our Church. Unfortunately, there are many who desire that it remains in the womb – and they push it back to stall its delivery.

It is essential to reflect on the fact that holding back the Vatican Council Church from being born among us, can lead to a stillbirth, just like an infant that is not born in its due time.

I would like to welcome and acknowledge this group of youths from the community Gesù Nazzarenu, that on Monday morning will leave for a missionary experience in Guatemala where we have two Gozitan missionaries, Dun Anton Grech and Dun Mario Curmi.

Many are the facets of our Church that burden my heart, but when I see you, my heart is uplifted and my hope renewed. It is not easy to meet youths that like you dedicate their time, energy and means and these projects or works give me joy.

I wish that the experience you will engage in at the young Church of Guatemala will fill you with vitality, such that upon your return, you will stimulate our ageing Church!

You will be spreading the Gospel in a missionary land. Bearing in mind that the Church that evangelised to us is no longer existent, it is possible that the Church among us might become so spiritually poor, that in the future it will be the turn of the Church from the missionary lands to evangelise the Gospel to us!

I remind you that the Christian is a missionary not only in Guatemala, Peru and Brazil but in Gozo too. I send you in the name of Jesus.”

Photograph by Alain Salvary

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