Would you allow me to use your pages to say thank you to the Maltese people for their generosity?

My name is Fr Oliver Borg Olivier SJ and I am at present working as a missionary in Lebanon. Together with an association – working in the social field – called “Offre joie”, I am trying to set up a night refuge for street children. Our aim is to be able to offer a place for the night to 20-25 people, a warm meal and a person ready to listen to those in need of someone to talk to.

The number of such children is growing daily due to the difficult economical situation. Moreover, life is extremely difficult for these children during the winter as temperatures at night drop to zero degrees Celsius.

The city council of Beirut has promised to help us find a house, but we still have to restructure it, furnish it and employ a permanent, experienced director as well as a qualified social assistant. To start off this project we shall need e30,000.

Three months ago I launched an appeal in some local papers and I would like to thank all those who generously contributed to our project. Among these I would like to thank the Voices choir and the Mission Fund, who both offered us a cheque for Lm500. May I encourage your readers to send used stamps, used telecards and donations to the Mission Fund at 72/2, St Joseph, Triq il-Farinal, Mosta, MST 07 with which they can continue to help Maltese missionaries throughout Third World countries spread the good news.

If anyone would like to contribute to our project he or she can do so through Br A. Magri SJ, at Xavier House, 226, St Paul’s Street, Valletta, VLT 07 saying my name and that of the project.

Thank you for your help,

Fr Oliver Borg Olivier SJ

Beirut

LEBANON