Fr Fabio Attard's upcoming visit to Malta next month is taking place during this Jubilee Year of Hope, a time when we are all being invited to walk together in solidarity amid global crises and migration. It also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the First Salesian Missionary Expedition, when the Salesian Society is renewing its missionary commitment worldwide.

As the rector major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr Attard carries a responsibility towards a worldwide Salesian Family found in 92 provinces across 133 countries, comprising not only of young people but also of families, committed Christians and consecrated persons.

During his visit, he will surely be encouraged to see the meaningful outreach that is being carried out by St Patrick's Church in Sliema, which extends warm Salesian hospitality to migrant workers, providing them with a place of welcome and spiritual accompaniment.

A welcoming spiritual home

Located in Sliema, St Patrick's Church was founded by the Salesians in 1904 as part of a foundation for homeless children. For over a century it has served the English-speaking community and today remains a spiritual hub for Malta's growing foreign population and other Christians. With the recent large influx of third country nationals, it has become a vital reference point for so many migrants.

St Patrick's Church welcomes members from some 29 different nationalities, including Filipinos, Indians, Nigerians, Polish, Colombians, and many others from across Africa, Asia, and South America. For many Catholic newcomers, the first priority on arriving in Malta is finding an English-speaking parish for Sunday Mass. Often, through online searches or word of mouth, they are guided to St Patrick's.

What draws people is not only the use of English in the liturgy, but also the church's warm, inclusive environment, engaging liturgy, and thoughtful use of visuals and music that foster a prayerful setting. Monitors display weekly themes and responses, helping the congregation participate more fully in the mass.

Salesian presence and spiritual guidance

The welcoming spirit of St Patrick's is strengthened by the presence of Chaplain Fr Savio Vella SDB and his assistant, Fr Nithiyan Kunnadiyan SDB, who are available throughout the week and encourage people to seek confession or spiritual guidance in a peaceful room designed for reflection. Migrants, locals, and even non-Catholics use this space to find support or explore the Catholic faith.

Community bonds are further nurtured after mass, when parishioners gather for coffee and biscuits, fostering a sense of belonging and giving the Salesian priests the chance to know their congregation more personally - often turning informal chats into deeper encounters.

Active community participation
A hallmark of St Patrick's Church is its invitation to active participation. Migrants take on roles as lectors, ushers, sacristy assistants, and tech coordinators while others prepare refreshments or parish events. A multicultural choir enriches Sunday evening mass and special celebrations with vibrant music.

During Lent and Easter, around 60 parishioners, both Maltese and migrants collaborate to organise Eucharistic Adoration, the Way of the Cross and Lenten sermons. This shared involvement fosters inclusion, helping migrants integrate into Maltese society while contributing meaningfully to parish life.

Sacramental life and adult baptisms
Regular attendance often brings requests for sacraments, especially children's First Communion and Confirmation. St Patrick's, together with Malta's English-speaking parish, offers catechism classes led by the chaplain and his assistant.
Baptism requests come from both families and adults entering the faith through the RCIA programme, coordinated with the archdiocese and led by Sr Mimoza, a Salesian sister. The group meets weekly, with two annual retreats, and candidates are baptised at the Easter Vigil by the Archbishop.

Family and youth ministries

A family-friendly mass is held every Sunday, allowing children to participate alongside their parents. This liturgy, adapted for young children, is quite popular and draws many families. The mass concludes with the children receiving a sweet or small gift, making the experience joyful and memorable.
St Patrick's also hosts a young adults group, made up of migrants working in Malta. They meet weekly for Lectio Divina and faith-sharing, and social activities such as walks and barbecues. These gatherings create a vital sense of community and belonging, offering connection and support to young people who often face job insecurity, housing challenges, and the uncertainty of life far from their home countries.

Compassionate support
Many migrants turn to St Patrick's not only for spiritual guidance but also for emotional and practical support. With years of experience serving refugees and the homeless, the chaplain has become a trusted advisor, offering counsel and, when necessary, referring individuals to professional services.

The parish charity fund, sustained by the generosity of the congregation, also provides occasional assistance to young migrant workers in difficulty. Together, these efforts reflect the Church's deep commitment to compassion and solidarity.

Migrants as pastoral agents
Perhaps most significantly, migrants are not just recipients of ministry, but active contributors. In line with Church teachings that calls migrants to be "first protagonists of pastoral care", St Patrick's enables them to evangelise and serve their own communities. This dynamic model deepens their integration and enriches the congregation as a whole.

Lighting fires of fraternity
Pope Francis, during his pastoral visit to Malta, urged the nation to welcome strangers with kindness and humanity, saying: "Let us respond to the challenge of migrants and refugees with kindness and humanity. Let us light fires of fraternity around which people can warm themselves, rise again and rediscover hope."

When Fr Fabio visits Malta as the 11th successor of Don Bosco, he will discover that St Patrick's Church, inspired by that ardent missionary spirit characteristic of Don Bosco, shines brightly as a beacon of hope and community where people of all nations can find such a fire of fraternity.

Fr Richard Ebejer, a Salesian of Don Bosco, is an experienced educator and priest with a long-standing commitment to accompanying young Salesians. His missionary work has taken him to Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia and Ireland. He currently serves as a member of the Chaplaincy team at MCAST

For more information visit [email protected] ornwww.sdb.org.mt