I am Fr Joseph Camilleri, a missionary in Guatemala for the past 15 years, and have just returned to continue my mission after spending a four-week holiday with my family and friends in Malta and Gozo.

Unfortunately, however, I did not manage to thank all the benefactors who have helped me so much in so many different ways. Consequently, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all.

As I am sure that your readers are aware, my parish now boasts of a hospital, thanks to the generosity of so many Maltese and Gozitan benefactors, who not only sent donations, but also came over in groups to lend a helping hand in the actual building of the hospital. Now, thank God, I feel that my parishioners are being well cared for, in both body in soul. Many American and Canadian doctors come every year to help us care for our sick and to pass on their expertise. This, of course, is an immense help to us and we are extremely grateful to them all.

However, the hospital is also in need of financial help as the running expenses are great. My trust in divine providence is limitless, but I am very much aware that God uses men and women to fulfil his plans.

We cannot all be missionaries but, if those who can afford to help financially, send a donation, they too will become missionaries in a way, for is not the missionary the man or woman who has helped those in need?

Here I would like to remind my benefactors that, apart from the hospital, I have various other projects in hand, namely, the digging for agricultural purpose of wells and ponds for freshwater fish farming, and the subsiding of food for very poor undernourished children.

Consequently, if anybody would like to help by sending a donation, he can do so by sending a cheque, made payable to myself, either to my sisters at 28, St Zachary Street, Xewkija, Gozo – 2155-1327 or to my friends Charles and Lina Thake, 169, Fleur-de-Lys Road, Birkirkara – 2144-1776. Donations can also be made by a blank sms: SMS 5061-7372 – e3, SMS 5061-8066 – e5, SMS 5061-8911 – e7.

Fr Joseph Camilleri

Guatemala