The Maltese Church is launching a pastoral mission for Maltese living in Brussels and Luxembourg, to see to the spiritual needs of a community which has been expanding rapidly in recent years.

The Curia said the mission will see its beginnings in the coming days when Bishop Mario Grech will be in Brussels for the autumn plenary meeting of the Conferences Commission of the Bishops of the European Community (COMECE), which will be meeting between 21-23 November. Mgr Grech will be accompanied by Fr Alfred Vella, the Archbishop’s delegate for emigration and tourism, so that together they will launch the new pastoral mission.

“Our brothers must not think that no one cares for them. We all see how those living abroad appreciate the visit of someone from their homeland. Many of these people living in these countries are there today to make a career but at the same time they long for someone from their country to think of them,” said Fr Vella.

Another aim behind the mission is to help these Maltese retain their faith and be an example to others. Fr Vella said there was also the need to prepare the children of these brethren for the sacraments. There are also young people thinking of getting married and they do not always have the opportunity to prepare themselves through teaching and formation to celebrate this sacrament, Fr Vella said.

On Thursday the Maltese in Luxembourg will have Mass celebrated for them by Bishop Grech in the Cathedral crypt. On Friday there will be Mass for the Maltese in Brussels.