Celebration on Occasion of the Shipwreck of St Paul

Celebration on Occasion of the Shipwreck of St Paul

Reference Number:  , Press Release Issue Date: Feb 15, 2024
 

The Maltese Embassy in Rome celebrated the Solemnity of the Shipwreck of Saint Paul in Malta with a Holy Mass together with the Maltese and Gozitan community living in Rome. This concelebration was led by His Eminence Cardinal Mario Grech, and a good number of Maltese priests, in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome on 15 February 2024.

 

The Community was welcomed by the Ambassador of Malta to Italy, H.E. Carmel Vassallo and Mrs. Mary Anne Vassallo. This Concelebration served so that together with the Maltese Community, we commemorate this feast, that commemorates the coming of the Christian faith in Malta. Essentially, in a spirit of unity and fraternity, on this occasion we renewed together our faith and the value of solidarity. The solidarity with which the Maltese who welcomed Paul, remained synonymous with Malta.


His Eminence Cardinal Grech derived the aspect of hope from the story of Saint Paul, as it was described by Saint Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. The hope that Paul gave his friends was crucial for them to set sail and overcome all the obstacles of the journey. In Malta, Saint Paul encouraged his friends to support themselves and strengthen their hearts. As Paul encouraged the encouragement of his friends, the aspect of hope and faith won over fear and uncertainty.

 

In this regard, His Eminence Cardinal Grech supported the importance of hope on an individual as well as a collective level. The courage and the conviction that we can overcome the challenges we are facing are fundamental in the journey of our lives. Peace and unity cannot flourish without hope, aspiration, and determination. These values ​​should remain central in our lives. It is important that as a people we cherish and increase the spirit of hope woven into the hearts of the Maltese by Paul, so that in a national context as well as the international one we the Maltese continue to resist so that peace reigns, especially in these times when conflicts around the world are again prevailing.

 

On this occasion, we take the opportunity to indeed continue to remember and celebrate what unites us and makes us all Maltese citizens.

 

The Embassy of Malta in Rome would like to thank the administration of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina for their assistance in organizing the event.

 

After the Mass, the congregation sang the National Anthem and attended a small reception on occasion of this event.

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