On 10th February many Christians in Malta celebrate the Feast of the Shipwreck of St Paul, marking and giving thanks for the arrival of Christian faith on these islands. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles used for the feast is the text chosen for this year’s Week of Prayer.
Hospitality is a much needed virtue in our search for Christian unity. It calls us to a greater generosity to those in need. The people who showed unusual kindness to Paul and his companions did not yet know Christ, and yet it is through their unusual kindness that a divided people were drawn closer together. Our own Christian unity will be discovered not only through showing hospitality to one another, but also through loving encounters with those who do not share our language, culture or faith.
In a letter of Invitation, the President of the Maltese Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, Rev. Professor Hector Scerri announced that in preparation for the Christian Unity week (18-25 January 2020) the below events will be held in Malta:
A Public Lecture on the text of Acts 27:18 — 28:10 by Fr Paul Sciberras, at the Archbishop’s Curia on Friday 10 January at 6.30pm. The title of the Lecture is “An Evangelising Heart for a Hearth: Making Space for Others in a Cold World”. This lecture is meant to prepare Christians to experience Christian Unity Week in a profound and meaningful way.
Publication of a booklet (in Maltese), as we do every year (over 500 copies), with ecumenical resources to be used by parish communities, lay movements, religious communities (convents), diocesan priests, schools, etc. For the first time, this year we are publishing an English version, too.
An Exhibition, organized by the Archdiocese, the Ecumenical Commission, “Christians Together in Malta” and the Curatorial Studio, with the title: Bibles and Liturgical Books from Christian Churches in Malta: An Ecumenical Confluence.
Venue: The Throne Room, Archbishop’s Palace, Valletta. This will be inaugurated on Thursday 23 January at 7.00pm by H.L. the Auxiliary Bishop. There will be three short speeches. The Exhibition will be open to the general public from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
The main Ecumenical Service at St Paul’s (Anglican) Pro-Cathedral, Valletta on Friday 24 January at 6.30pm. Rt Rev. Bishop Robert Innes of Gibraltar-in-Europe will preside. Archbishop Charles Scicluna will be preaching. We hope to have Bishop Andrej (Serbian Orthodox) joining us.
