President Marie Louie Coleiro Preca and Arcbishop Charles Scicluna today launched the 60-hour ‘Ohloq Tbissima’ marathon in aid of the missions in the care of the Missionary Society of St Paul in Peru, Pakistan, the Philippines and also locally for St Joseph Home in Santa Venera. The marathon, now in its 13th edition, kicked off at noon today and lasts until midnight on Sunday.
The mission in Peru is the largest MSSP mission, where missionaries take care of seven parishes. The missionaries focus on the needs of the many poor families, most of them with children, who live in small rooms lacking the most basic facilities. One of the projects to be undertaken is the building of small rooms which will give some needed extra space. Families are also provided with a healthy meal and medical care is provided in clinics manned by professionals. The missionaries also work in schools and have opened up a number of nurseries for toddlers, allowing parents to look for work. Spiritual care is also given due importance.
In Pakistan, the missionaries have opened a girl’s school and have succeeded in creating the right atmosphere for Muslims and Catholics to work together.
The missionary work in the Philippines focuses on teaching skills to youths and families through a number of courses and work in city universities.
Locally, at St Joseph Home, a team of professional and dedicated staff together with the Director, Fr Frankie Cini, work together to give shelter and a life of dignity to a number of boys who, for various reasons cannot live with their natural families.
Speaking at the marathon launch, Archbishop Charles Scicluna thanked the Maltese public for the generosity it has always shown in such events and hoped that the marathon will be an experience of solidarity not only with co-nationals but also with people in need around the globe.
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca praised the many volunteers involved in organizing the event and urged the public to give its contribution by donating to this just cause. The fact that Malta has some 7000 missionaries around the world is, in itself, proof of the solidarity shown by the Maltese.
Throughout 60 hours of transmission the public will be able to understand better what the MSSP missionary work entails and the difference it makes in people’s lives giving the a life of love and dignity. The public is encouraged to participate by visiting St Joseph Home and also by giving their monetary donation.
Ohloq Tbissima is being broadcast on F.Living, TVM2, One and Net. Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so by phoning on:
€10 - 51602004
€15 - 51602007
€25 - 51602009
SMS €4.66 - 51618099
Donations may also be made online by visiting www.ohloqtbissima.com