Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 21
By Fr John Caruana
Fr Daniel Farrugia started his pastoral mission as vice-parish priest in Birżebbugia. Then, in 1979, he was sent to Libya as a diocesan missionary at the bequest of Archbishop Mercieca.
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 20
By Fr John Caruana
Mgr Sylvester Magro OFM Bishop of Benghazi relates that the beginnings of the Church in Libya go back to the origins of Christianity itself. One recalls Simon of Cyrene who helped the Lord carry the Cross during his Passion (Mk 15:21). According to the Coptic Church of Egypt, St Mark the Evangelist was also originally from Cyrene.
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 19
By Fr John Caruana
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM)
The first appeal for the FMM sisters in Egypt was in 1924 by Fr Samuel Strobbe, a Franciscan from Belgium. The owners of a Franco-Belgian refinery in Armant, Egypt wanted the nuns to open a school for the families of the workers. Two years later, a dispensary and a convent were inaugurated. The nuns ran a kindergarten and taught catechism until 1959 when the kindergarten closed down.
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 18
By Fr John Caruana
The Franciscans (OFM)
In ‘Il-Franġiskani Maltin’, Fr George Aquilina OFM says that it is a fact that the Mediterranean people notwithstanding their different beliefs, mixed among themselves very easily and built a friendly relationship.
Continue reading “Early Maltese presence in Egypt – North Africa”
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 17
By Fr John Caruana
The Augustinian Friars (OSA)
The presence of the Augustinian Friars in Algeria is a clear sign of faith for the Church and for their founder Saint Augustine, that Christ is felt in the Algerian population in a tangible way. With its presence, Saint Augustine is living not only in history but even in the spirit of community.
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 16
By Fr John Caruana
Continue reading “Central America: Maltese and Gozitan Priests”
Abstracts from THE MALTESE MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE – 15
By Fr John Caruana
Honduras
Mgr Robert Camilleri Azzopardi from Hamrun, started his mission in Honduras in 1979 as vice parish priest, then parish priest for 13 years, in a parish comprising of 78 villages. In 1993, he was appointed Superior of the Franciscan Mission and in 1995 as Rector of St Francis’ Institute in Tegucigalba serving 2,300 students, from kindergarten up to University.
