Franciscan Province – MALTA

The July 2009 issue of “L-Aħbar” is again online as usual. It contains various news items and articles regarding our province and the Franciscan Order. The present issue has information on the General Chapter, St. Paul, together with other news from the province and more. For more info click Aħbar on the right hand side to download.

On 29th June 2009 four Franciscans will celebrate their 25th anniversary of priesthood.  They are Fr. Sandro Overend, currently Minister Provincial of the Maltese Franciscan Province; Fr. Angelo Falzon, missionary in Honduras; Fr. Marcellino Micallef, Provincial Definitor; Fr. Noel Muscat, Master of Novices, Secretary for Formation and Studies, and Discreet of the Custody of the Holy Land.  The four Franciscans were ordained on 29th June 1984 by Mgr. Guzeppi Mercieca, today Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, in St. John’s Co-Cathedral, together with many other companions from the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Malta and the other religious Orders present in Malta.

The 187th Chapter of the Order of Friars Minor came to an end with the solemn Eucharistic concelebration in the Basilica of the Portiuncula.

After a month of deliberations, the Chapter at last came to its conclusion for the 152 delegates who came from all corners of the world to gather in Assisi for this historic moment in the life of the Order.

The day began as Chapter delegates gathered in the main aula at 9 a.m. for a final address to the Chapter by General Minister Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM, in which he thanked everyone for their various contributions to the success of the Chapter.

On 12th June Fathers Peter Paul Mailaq and John Schranz celebrated the anniversary of their 60th year of priesthood.  The Bishop of Gozo, Mgr. Mario Grech, presided the Mass,