Bishop (Emeritus) Francis Micallef, OCD, retired as 3rd Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait in July 2005. The Bishop is having a happy retirement in Malta, at the same time, he is busy serving the faithful there. Occasionally, the Bishop shares about his life and times in Malta. We bring you updates on this page. Please read on ...
See also: Bishop Francis Adeodatus Micallef's Profile
5th NOVEMBER, 2009: Today is the 28th year of my appointment as Bishop to be in Kuwait. It was the same day that my mother was hospitalised who eventually died two weeks later and whom I had come from Rome to visit in hospital. Only after two days I had been at her side in hospital I was ordered to go immediately and urgently to Rome, something which I had to do, only to be officially informed that the Holy Father Pope John Paul II had signed my nomination on the 5th of November. You can guess in what state of mind I was those days. After my mother's funeral I returned to Rome to prepare for my ordination which was to take place on the 6th of January 1982. After only one week I came to Kuwait and it was after 7 months that I could revisit Malta as Bishop. Praise the Lord for His inscrutable providential designs. Today is four years since I retired to Malta as Bishop Emeritus. Praise the Lord again. God bless you and your dearest ones as ever. + francis adeodatus, ocd
29th OCTOBER, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait. Today I address in a particular way our faithful of Salmiya as they are all excited to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary when Holy Mass was said for the first time in the house of Mr. Archie Menezes. I have been invited by Bishop Camillo, by the Parish Priest of Salmiya Fr. Tony D'Souza SDB and by the Organizing Committee to be present for the celebrations, all of whom I thanked and informed them that I will not be able to make it because I am not traveling abroad anymore. I wrote a message for them to be published in the souvenir magazine for the occasion. I shall be present anyhow in spirit those days during the scheduled celebrations with so much nostalgia in my heart as you can imagine. I take this opportunity to thank once again our faithful of Salmiya who helped me grow in my love of God, of Jesus, of our Blessed Mother Mary and in my love for the Church. Congratulations and mabrouk. Praise the Lord for he is good and eternal is his love. + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th OCTOBER, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, on the 15th of this month we celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus. My spiritual Mother and Doctor of the Church. A Saint with great love for God through His Son Jesus and His Church. She is well known all through Christendom for her experiences and teachings on prayer which she says is a friendly conversation with God. Like her we would like to keep Jesus as our best friend and Lord. Here is a quote of hers: "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing dismay you: all things pass; God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. He who has God finds that he lacks nothing. God alone suffices." Happy feast of the Saint to you all. Praise the Lord for He is good eternal is his love! + francis adeodatus, ocd
28th SEPTEMBER, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, I still go around though not as before, to preside in celebartions in different Parishes. As I shifted to another Community of our Carmelite religious Maltese province. I am in Birkirkara where we have a big beautiful Sanctuary dedicated to the Little Flower of Jesus, St. THERESE OF THE INFANT JESUS, whose feast we celebrate on the 1st of October. Our Parish in Salmiya will be celebrating too her feast. During the month of October dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary please keep your commitment to pray her rosary asking her to continue to intercede for us in all our necessities. Yesterday I commissioned 11 lay people to be extraordinary ministers to distribute holy Communion along with the priests when needed during the Masses and to take Communion to the sick and the elderly homebound. You are constantly in my prayers. God bless you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
5th SEPTEMBER, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, unbelievable isn't it how time goes by so fast? Maybe because I have been running for more than eighty years!! Thank God, thank you Jesus. I am still offering my priestly ministry here and there. In one week I had three engagements in three different parishes even if I am trying to take it somewhat easy going. As we are nearing the 8th of this month on which day we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, many remembrances flood my mind as we used to have the harvest festival in our Churches compound. How nice it used to appear to me to see so many of you showing your love and devotion to Our Heavenly Mother. May She continue to show you how to come closer to her Son Jesus. Please pray for me and may God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
11th AUGUST, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, no need to tell you that the thought of the vibrant Catholic faithful in Kuwait is fixed in my mind and in my heart with prayers for each and everyone of you, for your Bishop, priests and sisters and also for the State of Kuwait. I send you my greetings and my remembrances wishing you all a very happy Feast of the Assumption into heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Blessed Mother, who is "the beginning and the pattern of the Church in its perfection, and a sign of hope and comfort for us on our pilgrim way." "May we follow her example in reflecting God's holiness and join in her hymn of endless life and praise." " Keep smiling at Jesus and at one another to grow in love for Him and for one another." +francis adeodatus, ocd
26th JULY, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait. Yesterday we had the hottest day in July for the last 21 years. It was 41 degrees C. I know that in Kuwait it is very hot too around 50 degrees celsius. I moved to another community of ours in Birkirkara, my place of birth where I have 10 nephews and nieces living in the vicinity of our Monastery. They are all out to help me in many ways. This is the community where I started my religious life as a novice in 1947. We have a very big modern Church which is a Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus. Last Sunday we had the solemn celebration of the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel, myself presiding during the Concelebrated Solemn Mass with a public procession in the streets around the area with the band playing marches and hymns and display of noisy fireworks. In the evening I was invited to Concelebrate with the Archbishop and some priests for the consecration of a Church, the whole celebration lasted two and a half hours. I have taken some other engagements of liturgical celebartions in different parishes.
My new mailing address : St. Therese Sanctuary - Valley road - Birkirkara BKR 10 - Malta E.U. my telephone: 00356 - 21- 442858. Greetings and good wishes to one and all. Keep smiling - Jesus loves you! + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th JULY, 2009: Dear parishioners in our Kuwait Churches. I send you all my greetings and my very good wishes as we shall be celebrating the solemnity of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, very dear to the faithful in general and to us Carmelites and our associates. May her protection remain with you always. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
27th MAY, 2009: Dear Spirit-filled faithful, at the culmination of the Easter season, let us unite in a great chorus of praise to the Spirit who is the life-breath of the whole world made new in the death and resurrection of Christ. By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Christ's Paschal Mystery was brought to its completion, the Holy Trinity was fully revealed, and the Church was made manifest to the world. The Holy Spirit, the fire of God's love, descends upon the Church, the Body of Christ, to raise us to everlasting life in Christ, and thus brings to completion the work of creation and of the Incarnation of God's Word. In this mystery of the Church's beginning lies our promised end. This Solemnity reminds me of our very noisy prayer groups in our Kuwait Churches. Yes, Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth! Praise the Lord! Halleluiah! God bless you all! + francis adeodatus, ocd
21st MAY, 2009: Dear faithful, I understand that in our Churches First Holy Communions and Confirmations are in full swing. May God bless our children with their families and all those who are instructing them in the truths of our Catholic faith. This coming Sunday I am joining in a solemn concelebration during which one priest from our Archdiocese will be consecrated Archbishop as the new Nuncio in Sri Lanka. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, will preside. In the evening I join another concelebration on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Episcopal Ordination of a Maltese Capuchin, a missionary for many years in Garissa - Kenya, a Diocese covering a large territory entrusted to the Maltese Province of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, which later was divided and a second Diocese was created and entrusted also to the Maltese Capuchins. I wish you all, together with our Bishop and priests a Happy Ascension Solemnity. Be always joyful in the Lord Halleluiah!
+ francis adeodatus, ocd
7th MAY, 2009: Dear faithful in Kuwait, please join me in thanking God for my call to the priesthood and to the Carmelite Order on this the 55th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood on 9th May - 24 years of which I spent with you, the faithful, in Kuwait. Praise the Lord!+ francis adeodatus, ocd
22nd APRIL, 2009: Dear faithful in Kuwait, the joy at Easter, as we celebrated the Resurrection of Our Lord, we carry through all the days of our life, given that the Resurrection from the dead of Our Lord is the foundation of our Faith which cannot be shaken. We thank God for the gift of His Son and we thank Jesus for his giving himself to die on the Cross out of his love for mankind. Last Sunday the Feast of the Divine Mercy was celebrated throughout the whole Catholic Church. In Malta this devotion has grown very strong. On tthat Sunday in almost all the parishes there was kept Eucharistic Adoration and the National Sanctuary dedicated to the Divine Mercy was officially opened. I conducted the Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration in the small Church of the Convent of our Carmelite Cloistered Nuns. Last Tuesday I was the main celebrant during the Concelebartion in one of our big Parishes dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity on the anniversary of the consecration of this beautiful big Church. Praise the Lord! Jesus loves you with infinite love! Love Him much in return. Halleluiah! + francis adeodatus, ocd
4th APRIL, 2009: Dear Kuwait faithful, tomorrow we start the Holy Week, the summit of the Church's liturgical calendar. I will be with you in spirit during the liturgical celebrations in your places of worship which I will miss for sure for I still conserve a vivid memory of the large crowds attending. Hope and pray that these celebrations will leave you renewed in your faith in the Risen Lord to be able to face the many challenges and difficulties of your daily living. Yesterday in Malta we celebrated the devotional memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her sorrows with public processions in a number of Parishes which attract large crowds. It is building momentum the tradition of preparing exhibitions in many centres representing the different moments of our Lord's passion, death and resurrection. On Good Friday in many Parishes public processions are held with life-size statues of the stations of the passion. This Tuesday I was invited to bless and open one of the exhibitions and to attend a programme of sacred music presented by the orchestra in front of one of the Parish Churches. I send you all Easter greetings invoking God's choicest belssings on each and everyone of you and on your families. "THE LORD IS RISEN HALLELUIAH!" + francis adeodatus, ocd
25th MARCH, 2009: Dear faithful, today the 25th of March we are celebrating the solemnity of the Annunciation of Our lord.What a big mystery and what a new era in humanity's history! How much the World owes to the YES of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Nazareth with her words: "Let it be done to me according to your word" to the Archangel Gabriel. "All that hapened through Jesus had its origin in God's initiative toward Mary and in her YES to his initiative". On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on the 19th inst. I concelebrated with our Archbishop, two other bishops and priests in the Church of the Franciscans Minor that hosts the National Sanctuary dedicated to Saint Joseph, this year commemorating the 500 years since the Feast of St. Joseph had been elevated to a Day of Obligation by the Church and a public holiday by the civil authorities. On the 22nd last Sunday I celebrated the Mass for the Curia of the Legion of Mary, of which I am the spiritual director, for the function of the ACIES of the Legion of Mary (consult Fr. Dominic). Praise the Lord and God bless you all! + francis adeodatus, ocd
4th MARCH, 2009: My dear Kuwait faithful, I would like to share with you a SHORT MEDITATION, especially for this season of Lent. The Lenten retreats in all the parishes and in many Churches in Malta are in full swing. I follow the monthly meeting of one of the Curias of the Legion of Mary, and preside in meetings of different Church groups and non Church groups (mind you not many). We are in the month of March dedicated to the great Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. Keep smiling, Jesus loves you by name! Oh! what a friend we have in Jesus! Please keep me in your prayers. + francis adeodatus, ocd
23rd FEBRUARY, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful, with Ash Wednesday we start a new liturgical season in the Church's calendar. This year Ash Wednesday coincides with Kuwait's National Day. We are asked to meet the real Jesus accepting Him in all the circumstances of real life through conversion which is accepting Him as He chooses to make Himself really present in our real life. What does this mean for us today? How do we know if we are following the real Jesus and not the Jesus of our imagination? We can ask ourselves whether there is a place in the community of the Church where we are open to correction. It might be my consecrated life, one's married and family life, one's parish community or the lay movement one belongs to, one's employment, one's profession, one's social activity, one's witness to members of other faiths etc.. Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you all. Praise the Lord! + francis adeodatus, ocd
17th FEBRUARY, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, I was invited by a group of Franciscan Friars Conventuals to present the working document the Bishops used during the last Synod of Bishops held in the Vatican last October, and a summary of the final message of the same. The theme of the Synod was: "The Word of God in the life and the Mission of the Church". Amongst other things the Bishops wrote in their message: "The Bible must enter into families so that parents and children read it, pray with it and that it may be their lamp for the steps on the way to existence." And, "Dear brothers and sisters, guard the Bible in your homes, read it fully, study and understand its pages, transform them into prayer and witness of life, listen to it with love and faith in the liturgy." I know many of you and your families have been doing this. Please encourage others to do the same. Many of our Church groups in Kuwait have been doing this too in their meetings. Try to use your knowledge of the Bible to grow in a real communion with God in your encounter with Christ. Please continue to pray for me as I promise to do the same for you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
10th FEBRUARY, 2009: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait: Today the 10th of February the Church in the Maltese islands is celebrating the solemn feast of St. Paul to commemorate his shipwreck on the solid rocks of the shores of Malta. [see Acts,27, 16-28,6]. Last Saturday I went to one Parish in the vicinity of the point where it is believed his ship went aground where I celebrated Mass. Yesterday I was the main concelebrant in a thanksgiving solemn Mass in the Parish dedicated to St. Paul shipwrecked for the many Maltese Missionaries past and present. It is a very beautiful Church. In the evening at this very time the statue of Saint Paul is carried in procession through the streets of Valletta City where the Church is, with the participation of many many people. As you know the Universal Church is celebrating the Pauline Year which ends in June. On Thursday I will be concelebrating with the Archbishop and priests in a Mass during which the Archbishop will present to the faithful five Seminarians, candidates for the Diaconate and the priesthood. I want to thank you for the prayers you offered on the passing away of my dear sister Spira and for the kind sympathy to me and to my family. Life has to continue with its joys and sorrows. It is our faith that gives us the strength to cope with every situation in life by keeping God the centre of our life. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Day of the Sick. Thank you for your closeness to me especially in difficult life - moments. francis adeodatus, ocd
4th FEBRUARY, 2009: [... H.L. Bishop Francis Micallef is grieved to inform the faithful of the death of his sister (Spira Micallef, 82 years), in Malta, on 1st February, 2009. May her soul rest in peace.
The Catholic Community in Kuwait conveys its deep sympathy and condolences to His Lordship Bishop Francis and the family. May God give them the strength to overcome their sadness and bear their great loss ...]
28th JANUARY, 2009: Dear Kuwait Catholic faithful, the first month of the new year 2009 is about to close. How time flies! A month ago I was in Kuwait. I am still counting the many blessings I experienced during the days I spent among you and with you. I thank God for all the affection you have for me and I assure you that I have the same sentiments for all of you. You continue to be present in my prayers and in my thoughts. My daily life-routine goes on simply and quietly ,as I accept all that my old age brings with it. Someone said God is greater than man's heart and He is full of surprises with those who share life with Him. May He continue to bless everyone of you and your dear ones. Thank you for your loving kindness in my regard. May God reward you as only He knows how! + francis adeodatus, ocd
9th JANUARY, 2009: Dear Kuwait faithful, thank God I am back in Malta. It was really nice to have met many of you. I could see for myself that you are very enthusiastic with the way you are living your faith. Please continue to grow spiritually and be involved in the Church's life and activities. Take special care of your children's religious upbringing because they will face many challenges in their religious practices and in the profession of their Catholic faith. May God continue to bless you with his peace and love. I want to thank your Bishop Camillo and your priests for inviting me to come to Kuwait on the occasion of my 80th birthday. I thank you all individually and as a faith community for the love and affection you showed me during my stay in Kuwait, I was really overwhelmed by your response to the celebrations which were organized by the priests. Keep smiling, Jesus loves you and knows you by name. + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th NOVEMBER, 2008: Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, today the 8th of November I will celebrate Mass for all the members of the Legion of Mary in Malta in the Church of the Sisters of Saint Jospeh of the Apparition. One of the main intentions and purposes of the celebration is to pray for the beatification of Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion of Mary which has now spread wordlwide. Incidentally, I remember the meetings of the Praesidia and the Curia which I used to attend during my years in Kuwait. By the way on the fifth of this current month I completed three years already since I retired to Malta. This is all for now. Otherwise all is well with me, thank God, and I wish the same with all of you. God bless you. Today's brightener: "Have hope in tomorrow, have faith in the everlasting, and take comfort in the love of God,friends and family." + francis adeodatus, ocd
1st NOVEMBER, 2008: My dear faithful in Kuwait, yesterday I concelebrated with four other Bishops and a large number of priests for the ordination of eight new deacons in a beautiful Church, a Sanctuary dedicated to our LADY OF GRACE. Five are Seminarians from the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese and three religious students of the Franciscan Conventuals and Carmelite Order. Today is the Solemnity of All Saints and tomorrow the commemoration of all the faithful departed. Both form the comunion of Saints, a mystery of which we still, in this valley of tears, form a part too. Praise the Lord. + francis adeodatus, ocd
13th OCTOBER, 2008: Dear faithful in the Church of Kuwait, for the coming Feast of our Holy Mother Teresa of Jesus on this Wednesday the 15th of October, I want to share with you this saying she used to keep as a book mark in her Divine Office or Liturgy of the hours which is also called our Breviary, the book we priests, religious men, nuns and sisters use for prayers during different times of the day, which reads as follows: "Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away, GOD never changes. Patience obtains everything. GOD alone is enough". This coming Sunday - Mission Sunday - the parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus will be beatified. God bless one and all. Be always happy in the Lord! Wishing you a Happy Feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Oct. 15, 2008) to all of you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th OCTOBER, 2008: Dear faithful friends in the Lord. It seems that time is running out of control from my calculation at least here in Malta!! I have to check my last update to find out when I last scribbled something for you to read on the Vicariate webpage. The moderator keeps on reminding me to send some news from my side. However you are constantly in my prayers and thoughts. My pastoral engagements in parishes have slowed down during this time of the year. Last Saturday we Disclaced Carmelites and the other Carmelites have officially inaugurated the Carmelite Institute Malta. It is joint venture, accredited to the Royal University of Malta, with the faculty of Theology for academic studies up to M.A. in Spirituality and in Carmelite Spirituality. I say Mass off and on to small communities of sisters. On Sunday I will say a thanksgiving Mass for my sister and her husband on the 60th aniversary of their marriage. This is all for now. Be always happy in the Lord Jesus! Halleluyah! + francis adeodatus, ocd
25th SEPTEMBER, 2008: This week I attended the liturgical celebration during a Concelebrated Mass at the Carmelites' Church when two of their students made their solemn profession that is their final profession as Carmelites. I had shared with the students one day of the week long retreat in preparation for their profession. Yesterday I took part in the Concelebrated Mass presided by our Archbishop to mark the 80th anniversary of the launching of a Catholic weekly in Malta. Last week I gave six talks to the sisters of Mother Teresa, eight in all who came from North African Arab speaking countries where they are working. Seven of them are Indians and one from Romania. My regards to all the priests, sisters and faithful of the Vicariate. It is a shame and a disgrace for Indian hindus extremists for what they are doing to our Catholics and holy places. God bless our Church community in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
13th SEPTEMBER, 2008: Dear faithul as we have just celebrated the feast of the birth of our Lady on the 8th of September with our Mangalorians and Tamilians celebrating it in their old traditions as the Montiche feast and of our Lady of Vailankanni the others too vying so to say as to who can exceed the other in showing their love to our Lady, they also celebrated their traditional harvest feast in serving paddy and sweets. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross the glory of the Cross that is the effects of our redemption wrought by Christ Jesus by his death on the Cross which brought about our victory too over sin and death. We keep also the memory of our Lady in her Sorrws on the 15th. All this is part and parcel of our Christian identity and of our Christian sharing in Jesus' salvific Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection. We praise the Lord and we thank Him without ceasing! + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th SEPTEMBER, 2008: My Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, I wish you all a Happy Feast AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MOTHER OF JESUS AND OUR MOTHER. I think especially of our faithful who owe a special devotion to and communion with Our Lady of Vailankanni. I recall with nostalgia the celebrations in particular at Ahmadi. May the Blessed Virgin Mary keep you all and your families under her special motherly care. Love and Peace of Her Son be with you . + francis adeodatus, ocd
2nd SEPTEMBER, 2008: My dear Kuwaiti faithful, on the 22nd of August I celebrated the 60th anniversary of my simple profession as a member of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites. I cannot believe it that I have grown that old. Anyhow, I want to thank God for my vocation as a Carmelite, as a priest and as a Bishop for you. Please, you too thank God on my behalf. I have practically finished with the good number of engagements I had taken as pastoral duties. The latest was only yesterday. Today I am going to the Curia meeting of the Legion of Mary, a ten minutes drive from my Priory. Ramadam kareem to our Muslim brothers and sisters. It is a tragic situation that our Christians are finding themselves in, in Orissa and the people in Bihar as a result of floods. Let us keep them in our prayers. God bless you all! + francis adeodatus, ocd
14th AUGUST, 2008 : Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, we celebrate tomorrow, the fifteenth of August, the Solemnity of the Feast of the Assumption into Heaven of the Blessed Virgin Mary. "Mary is an example and support for all believers. She encourages us not to lose confidence in the face of the difficulties and inevitable problems of every day. I would like to invite you to turn your gaze to our heavenly mother, whom the liturgy presents to us as victorious with Christ in Heaven. We are sure that, from on high, Mary follows our steps with gentle trepidation, gives us serenity in the hour of darkness and storm, and gives us security with her maternal hand." (Pope Benedict XVI) Happy Feast to all of you. God bless India on its Independence Day + francis adeodatus, ocd
3rd AUGUST, 2008 : Dear faithful Kuwaitis, in Malta this is the season during which we have many celebrations in Parishes of the Titular and Patron Saint of the town or village, besides the religious celebrations in preparation for the actual date of the Feast we have public processions with the participation of band marches, fireworks display and noisy blasts with streets well draped. As I had mentioned earlier I am having a good number of engagements for this month of August as I had for the month of July. From today Sunday 3rd till Sunday 10th I have in all five engagements. One of the nearby Parishes has been having a number of celebrations for one whole year to commemorate the 1750th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. I was invited to preside on more than one such celebrations. This week I am invited to go to a parish also dedicated to St. Lawrence situated on the small sister island of Malta called Gozo. It takes 25 mins crossing by ferry. Otherwise, life in the Monastery goes on as normal, trying to live a good life as a Carmelite Friar. From the window of my room I can see a good part of Malta's grand harbour with cruise liners entering and leaving which bring in many tourists for a few hours visit. God bless you all. Brightener of the day: "Burn brightly without burning out." Richard Biggs. Yours in the Lord, + francis adeodatus, ocd
25th JULY, 2008 : Dear faithful in Kuwait, hope and pray that this summer many of you can take a break from your busy life that you have in order to make ends meet with so many demands on you from your children and relatives whether they are in Kuwait or in your country of origin. Keep yourselves and your families very close to Jesus who will provide you with the strength you need to shoulder your responsibilities, and to carry out your duties faithfully. May love and peace reign in your homes. Thank God, as I mentioned to you earlier, I am able to face up with my engagements in parishes and other localities, with the help of Jesus and his mother. There are instances when I have to decline the invitation so as not to be overworked. Let us keep united with Jesus and with one another seeking the protection of Our Blessed Mother Mary. Be always cheerful in the Lord Jesus. + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th JULY, 2008 : As the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is fast approaching, I send you all my greetings and best wishes asking Our Mother Mary to continue to bless you one and all and your families. Thank God, I am kept rather busy with my engagements in different parishes. Between July and August I have in all nineteen liturgical celebrations to preside or attend. Naturally, I greet also your Bishop and your priests and wish them a very happy Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. + francis adeodatus, ocd
2nd JULY, 2008 : Dear faithful, the Church in Malta officially inaugurated the Pauline Year 2008-2009 on Saturday the 28th of June. I Concelebrated with other four Bishops, the cathedral chapter (the Monsignori dress like Bishops) and a good number of priests. It was a grand celebration. Saint Paul is our special father in faith; it was he who begot us in Christ Jesus during his three long months stay in Malta after he and the people on board the ship on his voyage to Rome was shipwrecked and found safe haven in Malta. On Monday I attended a reception offered by the Nunciature in Malta to bid farewell to the Secretary of the Nunciature at the end of his three year tenure of office and is transferred to Angola. I am joining in the Concelebration tomorrow the 3rd of July for the ordination of six new priests, one is a member of our province.
I thank all of you for your support through prayer and those who contact me on e-mail or by telephone. Happy feast to the Keralites on the feast of St.Thomas the Apostle. Praise the Lord! + francis adeodatus, ocd
17th MAY, 2008 : I am back in Malta and I thank God, that I could be with my niece in London to support her and her husband in the heavy burden they are shouldering because of her condition undergoing cancer treatment for the last five years or so. She is hoping that she will be allowed to return to Malta, hopefully very soon after feeling a little better than when she left for London seven months past already. Thank you all for your prayers. Last Saturday I was the main concelebrant for the feast of Saint Anthony in the Church of the Capuchin Friars dedicated to this popular Saint. In my sermon I mentioned that in Kuwait too this wonder-worker attracts many of our faithful and non-christians also on every Tuesday. This Thursday I will join in a concelebrated Mass at the Con Cathedral presided by the Archbishop in a thanksgiving Mass for the marvels that God worked in His Church through Chiara Lubich, foundress of the Focolare Movement who died this year. Tomorrow Wednesday I will preside a concelebrated Mass at the close-by Parish dedicated to St. Lawrence, Martyr, marking the 1750th anniversary of his martyrdom. You are in my prayerful thoughts always. God bless you all. +francis adeodatus, ocd
30th MAY, 2008 : June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The liturgial celebration we celebrate today the 30th of May. Tomorrow we keep the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Both devotions are very much rooted in the faith of our people both here and in Kuwait. Consecration of our families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a means and a way to keep our families united and to grow in holiness. I place all your families in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Keep the devotions of the first fridays and the first saturdays to grow in holiness and to pray for the sanctification of priests and the conversion of sinners. I shall leave for London this coming Monday. I shall be back, God willing, on the 10th. A niece of mine has been undergoing treatment for cancer for over six months, hopefully she will return to Malta very soon. I will be the guest of our Carmelite Friars in Kensignton Street Church. Please keep me and my niece in your prayers. God's blessings continue to be poured on all of you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
19th MAY, 2008: Dear faithful, I am being informed regularly about the life and activities in our Churches, as ever you are very blessed by God, that you can enjoy unity in diversity as Catholic faithful hailing from different countries, of different rites etc. It is our faith that makes us one with God and with one another in love. "Christianity", writes our Pope, "is not primarily concerned with the Church or with men, but with God. However, it is the Church that makes us Christians by calling on the name of the Trinitarian God when we are baptised. Our definitive mark of our Christianity is faith in the Triune God." You are always in my thoughts and in my prayers. May Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you one and all. Our Lady of Arabia, protect your people! + francis adeodatus, ocd
6th MAY, 2008: We are in the month of May, a month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a special way. Throughout this month many popular devotions attract crowds of people to honour the Blessed Virgin MARY. The recitation of the holy Rosary takes a premier place. See what our Holy Father Pope Benedict had to say last Sunday about the recitation of the Rosary: "May evenings evoke pleasant memories of evening appointments to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. The Rosary is not a pious practice to be relegated to the past, a prayer of distant times to be thought of nostalgically. Indeed, the Rosary is experiencing what is almost a new springtime. The Rosary can help put Christ at the centre, as did the Virgin Mary who meditated upon everything that was said about her Son and upon what He himself did and said. With Mary we turn our hearts to the mystery of Jesus when we recite the Rosary. The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic manner - not mechanically and superficially but profoundly - brings peace and reconciliation. It contains the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the heart of each Hail Mary."
Yesterday the 5th of May I attended the Curia meeting of 7 Praesidia at which I gave the allocutio. Malta Legion of Mary is part of the Regia which includes North Africa and the Middle East. I thought perhaps Kuwait can be included and the other Gulf States as well. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging and praising the work of the Charismatic Renewal in its commitment to promote communion. The movement members are gathered near Rimini in Italy for their 31st meeting. The theme is "Regenerated by the Word of God." (1Peter 1:23). More than 20000 people are participating. Is there any representation from Kuwait attending too? "Praise the Lord Halleluyah." God bless you all. francis adeodatus, ocd
27th APRIL, 2008: Dear faithful, Praise the Lord, Alleluiah! Last Thursday I was invited to concelebrate with our Archbishop and his Vicar General at a Mass during which our Archbishop conferred the ministry of lectors to five Seminarians from the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese. Many priests concelebrated too among whom there was a priest from Tamilnadu. Yesterday, Saturday I celebrated a solemn Mass in a small Church dedicated to our Mother of Good Counsel accompanied by one priest. The devotion to our Blessed Mother under this title is spread by the the Order of the Augustinians who have a shrine in Genezzano outside Rome where the original fresco with the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary is kept . Tradition has it that many Popes, after their election, go to pray for wisdom and guidance to the Mother of Good Counsel. I am happy to receive news from different sources about the life and activities of our Catholic communities in Kuwait. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
16th APRIL, 2008: These days I am checking my many papers that had accumulated during my pastoral service in Kuwait. The huge amount of papers awakened in my mind and heart memories of persons I met, persons who worked with me and with whom I collaborated, besides, the many events I witnessed and experienced personally and was involved in as Bishop and so on. The amount of what was written by so many persons, young and old, on the occasion of my personal celebrations that brought tears then and now to my eyes and accelerated heart beats of religious sentiments of joy, peace and gratitude to one and all murmuring "thank you God, praise you God." A National Congress in Malta for consecrated persons in the religious life is under way with two sessions, a week apart. The first session is already over and the last session next Monday will end with a Concelebrated Mass for the concluding session with our Archbishop presiding and religoius Priests concelebrating a week after. I am attending all the sessions. Our province has just concluded its Provincial Chapter, which takes place every three years in our Order with the election of new superiors and with the study of topics regarding the life and activities of the members and of the communities to plan for the coming three years. I did not take part in the sesions of the chapter. May God bless all of you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
9th APRIL, 2008: Today I just say hello! to all our faithful in Kuwait since I last sent my message to you all. Believe me sometimes I say to myself I want to send my news without perhaps realizing that days pass so quickly. Anyway, I assure our faithful that you are all constantly in my thoughts and in my prayers as I am convinced that all of you do pray for me too. For today I do not have anything of special to mention or write about. I have been enjoying some quiet time in our Monastery. I convey my best regards and blessings to our faithful and I keep all your special intentions in my prayers. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
26th MARCH, 2008: The Lord is risen Alleluia, indeed He is risen!!!! What riches we have shared during the Holy Week and what joy to experience our new life in Chris Jesus. Let us continue to communicate it with others. All throughout the Holy Week celebrations, Kuwait was in my mind recalling the big crowds attending the liturgical celebrations in our three Churches. It is a pity we do not have more places for our worship. Let us continue to pray and hope that we will succeed to break the ground to obtain what we have been desiring for.
Besides presiding at the liturgical celebrations in our Monastery Church, I was invited to preside over other celebrations as well in connection with the Holy Week. On Easter Sunday in our Parish of Cospicua and in few other Parishes, there is a tradition to carry the life-size statue of the risen Lord around the Parish and at point, when the procession has neared the Parish Church, those who carry the statue run with the statue amidst the clapping of the big crowds attending to hail our Lord’s victory over death. This Sunday we celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday. While in Kuwait I used to follow the group that organizes the activities and the devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus. Here in Malta it will be conducted in over 100 Parishes and Churches.
I want to thank all those of you who sent me greetings and good wishes for Easter which I reciprocate once more to all our faithful. What a wonderful Friend we have in Jesus. Alleluia. + francis adeodatus, ocd
20th MARCH, 2008: We are in the Holy Week full of hope to celebrate Our Risen Lord and Master in His victory over death and sin on Easter Sunday. We shall re-live and experience the joy, peace and love which is ours and of all those who bilieve in His power. May all peoples come to know Jesus and His Message of salvation and love to bring about in this tormented world lasting peace and brothery love. I send you all Easter greetings and good wishes as we remain united in spirit during this special time in our Church's life. + francis adeodatus, ocd
9th MARCH, 2008: Yesterday was the voting day for a new parliament in Malta. Today, we shall come to know which of the two major parties will be governing for the next five years. Today, Sunday, we also begin the last week of Lent in preparation for the Holy Week to celebrate on Easter Sunday the Resurrection from the dead of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and our resurrection with Him to a new life of grace as we were buried with Him in our baptism. This week I had gone to the Missionaries of Charity to celebrate Mass for them and to give them a talk, whereas the following day I celebrated Mass for a group of secular Carmelites (O.Carm. Tertiaries that is) with a talk on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of secular Carmelites. On Thursday I joined the O.Carms and the OCD's for a Lenten penitential celebration with individual confessions. This coming Friday, in all our parishes, we keep special devotions to our Lady of Sorrows and on Wednesday I am invited to bless an exposition of statues representing the episodes of the passion of Christ. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
2nd MARCH, 2008: Last Monday the 25th of February (it was the National Day of Kuwait) I presided at a concelebrated Mass delivering a sermon on the Blessed Maria Adeodata Pisani, a Benedictine Nun beatified by Pope John Paul II in Malta along with Blessed George Preca (who since then was canonized last year at the Vatican) and Blessed Ignatius Falzon, on the 9th of May 2001. The community now is reduced to very few nuns with no vocations in sight. This is the situation of the other contemplative communities in Malta too (five of them with the exception of the Poor Clares who are still getting vocations). You see here in Malta I am known as Mons Adeodato, so it was also sort my celebration as well, that is why after the celebration we were treated by the community and I was invited to cut the cake too. This coming Saturday Malta goes to the polls to elect a new Parliament in a general elections. It will be my first time that I am casting my vote after many many years. I wind up to go down to the Church for confessions. Bye and God Bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
24th FEBRUARY, 2008: We are almost half-way through Lent. I understand that many activities are in progress in our Churches to help you live fruitfully this time of spiritual renewal as a preparation for Easter. This week I gave a one day retreat to five Seminarians from the Archbishop's Major Seminary who were preparing themselves to be formally accepted by the Bishop and the community as candidates for the priesthood, which took place after three days in one of our parishes very close to our Monastry. I concelebrated in the Mass during which the liturgical rite was celebrated after the homily by the Bishop. Thank God the Archdioese of Malta has a good number of Major Seminaries, being a small Diocese and compared to other Dioceses in different countries, notwithstanding secularism and materialism which are negatively affecting our Maltese society. United in prayerful mutual remembrances I ask God to continue to bless you all with His love and peace. + francis adeodatus, ocd
16th FEBRUARY, 2008: Dear faithful, I understand that the Lenten retreats in the three parishes and among the particular groups are in full swing. It is the same here in all the parishes and on the media. As for me life in the Monastery is normal; I offer my pastoral ministry both in our Church and in other Churches or localities as and when I am reqested. I want to tell you that I recall the amount of ministry work I used to have and witness the same with my Priests and committed laypersons and I feel very grateful to God and to you for experiencing so vividly His presence in the midst of His people in Kuwait. Praise the Lord! always. May God continue to work wonders in you and through you and your Bishop and Priests. May Our Blessed Mother remain your refuge in all you need from her Son. What a wonderful Jesus! As we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes I send here the prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes for those of you who may not have it:
Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
Blessed, most pure Virgin, you chose to manifest yourself shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes.
To the child, Saint Bernadette, you revealed yourself, "I am the Immaculate Conception."
And now, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Healer of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy.
By your apparitions in the Grotto of Lourdes, it became a privileged shrine from which you dispense your favors.
Many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. I come, therefore, with confidence in your maternal intercession.
Obtain for me, O loving Mother, this special request. Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, pray for me.
Obtain from your Divine Son my special request if it be God's will. Amen.
God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th FEBRUARY, 2008: We are having a spell of very cold weather in Malta these days. Tomorrow we celebrate the baptism of Malta by Saint Paul who was shipwrecked because of rough seas around this time of the year as the Acts of the Apostles narrate. He stayed in Malta for three months during which he brought to Malta the Good News of Jesus and His Gospel. This is all for now, God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
6th FEBRUARY, 2008: As we have begun the holy season of Lent, I am sending today a quotation from the writings of Venerable Concepcion Carrera (known as Conchita) who was a wife, mother and writer in Mexico, died in 1937. I am taking these slips of spiritual nourishment from the Magnificat ..... "Be confident, because a lack of confidence is the worst ingratitude. If you have offended Him it does not matter! He always loves you; believe in His love and do not fear. He is always anxious to forgive. O what a Jesus!" God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
2nd FEBRUARY, 2008: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord which occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in the day's liturgy. This feast was formerly known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary. The true significance of this feast has both Christological and Marian aspects. For your meditation, I would like to propose the Akathist hymn, which is the most famous Byzantine hymn to the Virgin Mary. This hymn is either sung or chanted. The SIXTH CHANT goes like this .....
..... Illuminating Egypt with the Light of Truth, you cast away the darkness of error. For the idols, unable to stand your might, fell down, and those who had been delivered from them cried out to the Mother of God .........
Hail, O Resurrection of mankind!
Hail, O Downfall of the demons!
Hail, O you who crushed the error of deceit!
Hail, O you who exposed the fraud of idols!
Hail, O Sea who drowned the symbolic Pharao!
Hail, O Rock who quenched those who thirst for Life!
Hail, O Pillar of Fire who guided those in darkness!
Hail, O Shelter of the World, wider than the clouds!
Hail, O Food who took the place of Manna!
Hail, O Handmaid of holy delight!
Hail, O Land of the promised good!
Hail, O you who flow with milk and honey!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION(Priest or Cantor): As Simeon was about to leave the present deceitful world, You were entrusted to him as an infant, but You made Yourself known to him as the perfect God. Wherefore he marveled at your wisdom beyond words, and cried out: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]: Alleluia!
God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
23rd JANUARY 2008: We are during the week of prayer for Church Unity. This year is the 100th anniversary since its inception by a Protestant Pastor. He had started a Congregation of priests and brothers called Franciscans of the atonement. Ecumenism is the main task along with evangelization that the Pope is pushing the Church to dedicate herself to with renewed hope and vigour. Prayer, conversion of heart, reinforcement of the bonds of communion remain the essence of the ecumenical movement in its spiritual dimension. I shall be the main concelebrant at the Mass on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul in a small Church in my hometown where I used to attend Mass everyday before I joined the Carmelite Order. Pray that all people be one in Christ Jesus for a better world. God bless you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
6th JANUARY, 2008: On this the 26th anniversary of my ordination as Bishop designate of the Vicariate of Kuwait, I thank God for what He has done and continues to do for me and with me for His people. I thank all of you for your support, encouragement and for your prayers which I will ever treasure deep down in my heart. May Our Lady of Arabia continue to protect all of you and your families. Jesus loves you very dearly, love Him in return very dearly, your former Bishop , now Emeritus + francis adeodatus, ocd
30th DECEMBER, 2007: Wishing you again God's blessings, Peace and Joy throughout the New Year 2008, I ask the Holy Family of Nazareth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to bless you all in family homes or alone and to grant you the grace to hold in honour the bonds of love and respect which bind the human race chosen for adoption as God's children through Christ Jesus, our Lord. These days I am in a special way with you in spirit as I relive thoughtfully the Christmas season celebrations in the three Churches and in their premises in Kuwait. Jesus loves you dearly, love Him in return! + francis adeodatus, ocd
24th DECEMBER, 2007: I wish you all the Peace, Joy and Blessings at Christmas and throughout the New Year. "One reason why we should appreciate the God-given gift of the Incarnation is on the part of the person bringing that gift. Because of the beauty and grace of the Virgin Mary bearing that divine gift, it should be most acceptable to us." (St Thomas Aquinas) At Christmas we celebrate the great mystery of love that does not cease to surprise us:. God became the Son of Man so that we could beacome sons of God. Share with others the good news "that God so loved the World to give His only begotten Son so that the World might be saved through Him." This is the authentic message of Christmas that we must always rediscover and live intensely. ( Pope Benedict XVI) Always united in spirit and in prayer. + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th DECEMBER, 2007: My dear faithful in Kuwait, Christmas is fast approaching and I can imagine the many activities that are taking place in the three Churches. I started receiving Christmas greetings and good wishes for the New Year and for my birthday from people who are in Kuwait or from people who have been in Kuwait. I want to thank all these faithful while I reciprocate the greetings and best wishes from my part. On the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception I presided in the procession inside the Church carrying the relic and the solemn first Vespers in the Parish Church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in our town of Cospicua where I am staying. In the afternoon of the Solemnity, that is on Saturday, I presided in a solemn function of investiture and installation of 16 new Knights and Dames of the Byzantine Order of the Holy Sepulcher after I myself was invested and installed as Grand Prelate of the same Chilvalric Order. The new Knights were from Russia, England, Italy and Malta. On Sunday evening I then presided at a concelebrated Mass on the occasion of the golden jubilee of marriage of the parents of one of our priests. On Monday I blessed and dedicated a new small Chapel or Oratory in the Retreat House of our Province of the Discalced Carmelites. During the week we had a fraternal visit of our Superior General. I send my personal greetings and very good wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all our good faithful asking for their prayers as I promise to continue to do the same for them. God bless you all. Be witnesses of Christian hope and joy and spread the same message to others. Bye for now. + francis adeodatus, ocd
3rd DECEMBER, 2007: Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary, whose mortal remains I had the only opportunity to venerate in the Bom Jesu Basilica in Goa last January, a very long cherished wish, since my mother had named me after this saint, as I was born the year his relic was brought to Malta. It is a great day for all our Goan faithful not only in Kuwait but also all over the world. It was on this day that I ordained priest our dear Fr. Francis X. who is celebrating in heaven his feastday. "St. Francis Xavier is an Advent Saint: he announced the dawn of the reign of God in the coming of Christ to the people in the Far East, and like John the Baptist, the Advent prophet, he sacrificed his life for the Word he preached." I join you spiritually in celebrating today's saint. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
26th NOVEMBER, 2007: We have just celebrated the Solemnity of Christ, the Universal, King or the King of all creation, which feast brings to a close another liturgical year of the Church. Here, in Malta, we celebrate this Feast annually with a big participation of the faithful in the open. Each year in a different locality. This year's theme was " I am Christian, leaven of society." The Pope created 23 new Cardinals with a ceremony during which he conferred the red berretta (the red hat) on Saturday and on Sunday he gave them the ring during the Concelebrated Mass which he presided; both celebrations were inside St. Peter's Basilica. I could follow the celebrations on the TV. We will start a new liturgical Church year with the season of Advent. I can recall the many preparations in our three Churches by different Church groups for Xmas and the Xmas tree. Thank you for your prayers. Keep Jesus the centre of your lives. He loves us so much. ==SPE SALVI== is the title of the second ENCYCLICAL LETTER BY POPE BENEDICT XVI. " In hope we have been saved". God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
19th NOVEMBER, 2007: Yesterday I said a thanksgiving Mass in one small Church dediacted to Our Lady of Hope to mark the 80th birthday of my sister Spiridiona followed by lunch in one restaurant organized by her children all married along with their grown up children, it was a family get together. In the evening I then presided at a Concelebrated solemn Mass in our Parish dedicated to Saint John of the Cross which was celebrating his anticipated Feast which falls on the 14th of December. A Monsignor from the sister island of Gozo preached the panegyric for full 45 minutes. Keep smiling Jesus loves you very dearly. Be happy always in the Lord. + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th NOVEMBER, 2007: Dear faithful, Bishop Camillo informed me about the claims that are being put forward affecting our Cathedral and the big parking area partly flanking the sea road. Please pray and keep close to Bishop Camillo and the clergy on this matter.
Last Monday we had the funeral of one of my nephews who died on the 2nd of November, myself presiding at the Concelebrated Mass. On Friday I conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to 15 children in our Parish at Ta' Xbiex. On Saturday I presided a Concelebrated Mass to mark the death anniversary of Frank Duff, founder of the Legion of Mary attended by over 250 legionaries. On Sunday I conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to 55 children in the Parish of the Immaculate Conception few metres away from our Monastery. May God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lady of Arabia , protect one and all of our Catholic faithful. + francis adeodatus, ocd
4th NOVEMBER, 2007: This week I was interviewed on Radio Maria on a programme featuring Maltese Missionaries, about my years as Bishop in Kuwait. Yesterday, the 2nd of November I presided a concelebrated Mass in our Church. I recalled the big crowds we in Kuwait used to have in our three Churches on All Souls Day. My late brother's family and our extended families are in mourning because of the death yesterday of one of his sons George by name, aged 57, who was diognised six months ago that he was suffering from a terminal illness. May his soul rest in peace in Our Father's House in Heaven. He passed away on the day the whole Universal Church was remembering all the souls of her departed faithful; a meaningful coincidence isn't it? His funeral will be kept on Monday. I recommend him to your prayers dear faithful. May God's blessings remain always with the Church in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
30th OCTOBER, 2007: It was on the 15th of October 1997 that we inaugurated and blessed the new Cathedral Complex . It is therefore ten years old already and it was very providential that we had succeeded to build those new Church premises that serve for so many activities for our Catholic faithful. We have to thank God and the Amir of Kuwait and government authorities and ministries for its realization and the good generous people of our Catholic community. Let us continue to hope and pray that the Kuwait authorities will give the Church another piece of land to build something for the use of our faithful somewhere in another area where many Catholics reside. This week we shall celebrate the feast of all Saints and the commemoration of all the faithful departed, these two memorials along with the militant Church form what is called the Communion of Saints, a mystery we all partake and live with the Saints in Heaven and the souls in Purgatory. May God bless you as we praise His Holy Name. + francis adeodatus, ocd
22nd OCTOBER, 2007 : This week I had four engagements two each in two of our churches, and one in the Collegiate Basilica of my hometown where I presided in a concelebrated Mass on the 225 anniversary of the consecration of the Church. It is a very big church and very beautiful too. Today Sunday, Mission Sunday, I administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 16 children in a Parish Church not far from our Church. This week I do not have any engagements in other Churches. This year's theme for Mission Sunday was "All Churches for all the World." The Pope is asking us Bishops, priests, religious and lay Catholic faithful to commit ouserlves with new enthusiasm to the evangelization mission of the Church. God bless you all dear faithful of our Vicariate. + francis adeodatus, ocd
15th OCTOBER, 2007 : Today we are celebrating the Feast of Our Spiritual Mother the Great Teresa of Jesus, Doctor of the Church. In our Church here at Cospicua we had a novena in her honour in preparation for her feastday. I shall be the main concelebrant this evening during the solemn Mass. Fr.Windel is with us for four nights on his way to Rome coming from the Philippines via Dubai. Words of wisdom from St.Teresa:
Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing dismay you;
All things pass;
GOD never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for;
He who has GOD
Finds he lacks nothing;
GOD alone suffices. ------ St.Teresa's bookmark
Happy feast to Bishop Camillo, all the priests, sisters and faithful. + francis adeodatus ocd
1st OCTOBER, 2007 : Dear faithful, let us celebrate today the feast of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus, the little flower of Jesus, Doctor of the Church. Salmiya Church is in a great festive atmosphere, celebrating the Titular of the Parish. I am very happy to know that a novena of prayers and teachings of the saint was kept as a preparation for the Feast. In Malta we Discalced Carmelites have a very big Church where her relics are kept in a shrine showing the saint as she looked the moment she died. I shall be the main celebrant during a Concelebrated Solemn Mass on her feast day. We start the month of October which is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. I shall be the main celebrant on Sunday the 7th in the church of the Domincans, close by, celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. On Saturday I shall confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in a Parish served by the Carmelites O.Carm, to 75 children. I have to thank God immensely for my Carmelite vocation. As a newly consecrated Carmelite Bishop (ordained on 31st of August) confessed when asked, "What do you most appreciate about Carmel?": "Its rich mystical spirituality, that nourished me and filled me with happiness over the years. Prayer and life as an experience of God offer me guidance and point out the way to fulfil my Episcopal duties. It is the basis of my spirituality". How true it is also in my case. Praise the Lord! + francis adeodatus, ocd
24th SEPTEMBER, 2007 : Soon we will start the month of October, a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary by Pope Leo XIII in 1883, I send you this prayer to Our Lady of Pompei ( Our Lady of the Rosary) by Saint Padre Pio: "O blessed Rosary of Mary, gentle chain linking us to God, bond of love connecting us with the angels, tower of salvation against the attacks of hell, sure haven in the common shipwreck; we will never let you go again."
A group of Catholics in Mexico City are inviting all religious and lay movements to join them on October the 7th for a Worldwide Rosary Day, asking all interested around the World to organize massive rosaries. In praying the Rosary we contemplate the face of Christ with Mary. Our web-site of Our Lady of Arabia Kuwait gives you a much appreciated information on this topic and on the Vicariate itself. Why don't you try visiting it? + francis adeodatus, ocd
18th SEPTEMBER, 2007 : Life over here , thank God, goes on with its joys and sorrows. It is part of our life span. God never fails and He is there in joys and in sorrows as well. Our faith in Him and our love for Him sustain our daily journey whether we walk in light or in dark. Yesterday, we Carmelites, O.Carm and O.C.D. had a joint concelebration myself presiding , on the Feast of Saint Albert, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem who had given a "formula vitae" meaning a way of life, a Rule for the hermits living on Mount Carmel beside the fountain of Elijah, 800 years ago. Two groups had gone to the Holy Land on pilgrimage to visit the holy places and the places connected with our Order. On Friday the 14th I was invited by a group of priests to preside at a concelebrated Mass and to give them a spiritual talk. I am very happy to learn that so many activities and initiatives under the leadership of Bishop Camillo are taking place. May God continue to bless this protion of his kingdom in Kuwait to which I still feel very much attached. Praise the Lord for all His goodness towards one and all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
30th AUGUST, 2007: Yesterday I was the main concelebrant in one Parish Church at Xewkija, in Gozo - the sister island, very small, with beautiful Churches. This Sunday I will be the main concelebrant in another Parish Church dedicated to Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church, whereas on Tuesday I will be the main concelebrant in another Parish Church very close to where I am staying on the anniversary of the coronation of a very devout statue of Maria Bambina, the feast is celebrated on the 8th of September - the Birthday of Our Lady. It is also a public Holiday in Malta. I join you in wishing a happy second anniversary of Bishop's Camillo Ordination. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
22nd AUGUST, 2007: My Dear Faithful, just as you had celebrations on the Feast of the Assumption, we too here had the same in many different parishes. Our Bishops and our Parish Priests continue to insist that these and similar celebrations should not lose their religious goal not without naturally their external and traditional celebration. Last Saturday I celebrated Mass at one of the three centres for rehabilitation programmes for drug and alcohol abusers and attended the "graduation" of 8 of them who successfully attended the programme along with families of the 32 young people living at the centre. Last Sunday I concelebrated with the retiring Nuncio and the Maltese Bishops at the Thanksgiving Mass he presided at the co-Cathedral. Today he is coming to say good-bye to the community of our nuns close by. I will be with him, since he does not speak Maltese, just to be at hand if it is needed to translate from Italian to our language. On Monday I celebrated Mass at the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged to mark the 25 years that my eldest sister has been living there since the death of my mother. I am happy to learn that a Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be started in Kuwait, may God bless you all under the protection of His Mother. + francis adeodatus, ocd
15th AUGUST, 2007: It is exactly sixty years ago this day the 15th of August that I was received as a novice in the Maltese Province of the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, taking the Carmelite habit and given the name Adeodatus of the Assumption. For me therefore the 15th of August is a day to thank God for His gift of my religious vocation in Carmel and for the many graces received through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel from that day till today sixty years on. My dear good mother would have liked to see me in the file and ranks of the Canons of the Collegiate Church in my hometown of Birkirkara because she liked the way Canons used to dress on big occasions almost as Bishops. Alas! she did not see me dressed as "true" Bishop after my Ordination since she had died six weeks before. She could see me but from heaven for sure. When I look back in a glance at what I had to go through these past sixty years I can only exclaim with the psalmist: "Who can comprehend God's plans and his ways to work out his plans?" I wanted to share with you my joy as I recall some of the highlights of the last sixty years of my life and to request you to continue to pray for me to remain faithful to my vows as a Carmelite, as a priest and as a Bishop. All was given to me as a gift gratutiously from God. "MAY HIS NAME BE BLESSED FOR EVER". Amen, Alleluia!! A Happy Feast of Our Lady taken up to Heaven body and soul to all our faithful.
I also join our Indian and Pakistani communty as their countries celebrate the 60th Anniversay of Indipendence. My God bless their Countries with lasting peace and prosperity. + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th AUGUST, 2007: I am back again! I was in Gozo, the sister island, for the past five days. I was the main concelebrant during the vigil solemn mass on the occasion of the trasferred solemnity of Saint Joseph, patron Saint of one of the parishes in this diocese. To cross the channel from Malta to this smaller island it is only 25 minutes by Gozo channel ferry, very much used by tourists. I stayed with a small community of Capuchin Friars in peaceful surroundings. Yesterday I was the main concelebrant during the thanksgiving Mass of one of our lay brothers celebrating his 25th anniversary of religious profession. Thank God, I am happy that I can still be of service where I am asked or invited. I want to share with you some thoughts of an Irish Bishop addressing a large group of Irish pilgrims visiting a mountain where Saint PATRICK spent 40 days and forty nights fasting and praying in 441. The bishop told the pilgrims:. \n"tHE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE HAS SET AN IMPOSSIBLE PACE.We might bring home a lesson from this old mountain of St.Patrick. We might discover the need to reflect, to slow down the pace of life, to wonder at the beauty of the earth, and to really appreciate the value of our friends. We have forgotten about the sacredness of now or,as some put it, 'the sacrament of the present moment' As we leave this mountain, we might remember those today who struggle with steeper slopes of hunger, exile, famine and seperation from their own native lands.We will pray too for those who scale the dizzy heights in search of peace when that summit seems so distant." I wish you a very happy Feast of Our lady on her Assumption into Heaven, this year is the 60th anniversary since I joined the Carmelite Order."We are rushed from infancy to adoloscence,then through special years of adulthood only to experience that none has grown old very quickly." The Bishop told the pilgrims:. "THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE HAS SET AN IMPOSSIBLE PACE. We might bring home a lesson from this old mountain of St. Patrick. We might discover the need to reflect, to slow down the pace of life, to wonder at the beauty of the earth, and to really appreciate the value of our friends. We have forgotten about the sacredness of now or, as some put it, 'the sacrament of the present moment'. As we leave this mountain, we might remember those today who struggle with steeper slopes of hunger, exile, famine and seperation from their own native lands. We will pray too for those who scale the dizzy heights in search of peace when that summit seems so distant.". I wish you all a very happy Feast of Our Lady on her Assumption into Heaven, this year is the 60th anniversary since I joined the Carmelite Order. "We are rushed from infancy to adoloscence, then through special years of adulthood only to experience that one has grown old very quickly." + francis adeodatus, ocd
28th JULY, 2007 : At last I can resume sending e.mails after my computer had gone for a holiday and came back! This hi-tech business is too dificult for me to keep pace with; I think I have to join the "born again" group to feel young and mentally fresh. I have not found as yet a doctor specialised in cutting down some of my old years, even so I am happy with my old age for which I have to thank God for so many years in his service above anything else. Well, life in the monastery goes on smoothly which I treasure very much. I continue to offer my priestly ministry where I am invited, besides in our church itself. We had a heat wave lasting for four days with temperatures around the forties celsius. Yesterday I went to say Mass for the community of Sisters who run an Old Peoples Home, which I do once a month. They are from the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Whereas I also presided at the concelebrated Mass on the feast of St.Margaret, Virgin and Martyr, the Titular of the small Church of our Cloistered Carmelite nuns. As I remember your bishop Camillo, your priests, the sisters and you devoted faithful , I remain spiritually united through prayer with the Church in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
9th JULY, 2007 : Dear faithful devotees of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Yesterday I conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to a group of 44 children in one of the parishes. This Saturday I shall confirm 6 children in another parish, and others later this year. For the coming Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel I shall be engaged in four different churches starting on the 13th. On the Feast of Saint Benedict (July 11) I shall take part in the Concelebrated Mass presided by our Archbishop in the Church of the Benedictine Nuns very close to where I am staying. I for one shall be happy to start celebrating Mass according to the Roman Missal which was approved by the Servant of God Pope John the XXIII as from the 14th of September whenever and wherever I shall be asked . I wish you all a very happy FEAST OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL. GOD BLESS YOU. + francis adeodatus, ocd
2nd JULY, 2007 : My dear "old" faithful, it's unbelievable that I have left Kuwait one year and eight months already. But old memories do not fade away with time for through e-mails and internet and personal invitations we remain in touch with prayerful greetings, best wishes, congratulations and what not. Our closeness to God keeps us close to one another as shown in our communications through the available media. Yesterday I said Mass for a group of young people who are undergoing a programme of rehabilation from the use and effects of drugs. To listen to their stories, their case histories makes one sad. To help them to come out of their trauma and to make them hope for a meaningful future, I pointed to them that in Jesus they have a trusted friend, who will show them the way to real happiness. This evening I shall take part in the Concelebrated Mass during which our Archbishop will be ordaining six new priests and one OCD deacon. Keep smiling, Jesus Our Lord , loves you ! + francis adeodatus, ocd
25th JUNE, 2007 : I ask people why do we have to grow old so quickly? Yesterday I was young and today I find that I grew old; enough for the day is the evil thereof. Yes, what to do? Why do we have to worry isn't it? After all we are given this life, which passes so quickly, that one can compare it to a night one spent in a downgrade hotel, St. Teresa would say. On Saturday the 16th I presided at a Concelebrated Mass on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in the Parish dedicated to her run by the Dominican Fathers, whereas on the 22nd I was invited to celebrate Mass marking the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (postponed) followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets around the Church which is dedicated to Our Lady of Acoia (the Black Madonna) used by the daughters of the Sacred Heart, a Congregation of Sisters founded in Malta who are celebrating their general chapter being attended by sisters from India and from Kenya. I read in a local paper tha Malta now has a resident Ambassador in Kuwait. ( he must have taken my place!! ha! ha!). Joking. By the way this is my mailing address with some changes from the previous one: Saint Teresa's Monastery, St. Teresa's Square - Bormla BML 1271- Malta - Europe. The temperature has gone up to 35 Celsius. Haram!! Bye for now and God bless our good people with abundant graces. + francis adeodatus, ocd
12th JUNE, 2007 : Thank God, I have recovered fully after my surgery and I want to thank all those who kept me in their prayers and in their thoughts. I do the same for our good people. Incidentally I just returnded home after almost three weeks I spent in Italy visitng Rome, where I attended the canonization of a Maltese priest but we were upset because that day it rained very badly that even though we, in St.Peter's square, were all under umbrellas but were still drenched all the same. Otherwise everything else went as scheduled. In Florence where I spent four days I took part in one of the many celebrations to mark the 400 anniversary of the death of Saint Mary Magdalene de'Pazzi a Carmelite mystic. I went to Naples just for one day on some "religious business" in connection with the newly canonized Maltese Saint and the Blessed Mary of the Passion, a nun belonging to the Sisters of the Congregation of the CROCIFISSE ADORATIRICI of the Blessed Sacrament. When in Florence I paid a visit to the retired Bishop Bernard Gremoli, Emeritus of the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia. In Rome I met the former Nuncio to Kuwait Archbishop Joseph De Andrea. Today I presided in the funeral Mass of my brother-in-law who died in an old people's home at the age of 83. Till the next "news bulettin", prayerful remembrances in the Lord Jesus. + francis adeodatus, ocd
11th MAY, 2007 : Dear Catholic faithful, surely indeed all of us have been finding in prayer the strength to cope with and accept in faith to overcome the shock and grief caused by the tragic death of our dear Fr.Francis. I received mesages of solidarity from people expressing their prayerful condolences shocked by the sad news of his fatal accident. --------- Because of my hospitalization , surgery and recovery I had to cancel naturally some of my engagements and decline invitations for ministry or celebrations. Only the daily schedule of the community gives me time and space for my personal spiritual exercises and occupations. I hope to be able to travel soon to Italy to attend the canonization of a Maltese Diocesan priest Blessed George Preca due to be held on the 3rd of June and perhaps celebrations to mark the 400th death anniversary of Saint Mary Magdelene De'Piazzi, a Carmelite nun in Florence on the 24/25 of May. Always and ever united in prayerful remembrances we experience our oneness in Christ Jesus our Way to the Father. May our Heavenly Mother console us in times of trials and anxieties. + francis adeodatus, ocd
4th MAY, 2007 : Dear Catholic faithful in Kuwait, this morning, our Bishop Camillo Ballin called me to share with me the grief and the shock our Catholic community in Kuwait, priests and faithful, is experiencing as the news spread that Fr Francis X. Fernandes was killled in a collision of his car with another car whose passengers a mother, her daughter and the grandmother died too, what a tragedy for us and for the family! Besides, our Bishop sent me the message also by e.mail. I told him that I will be joining him, the priests and the faithful of Kuwait in prayer and in spirit on Saturday when the requiem Mass will be offered for Fr Francis. The night before, I had been informed about Fr.Francis tragic death by Fr. Antony from Ahmadi and by Joseph Fernandes too.. Fr. Francis, as many of you remember was the first and the only priest I ordained in Kuwait for Kuwait. As I express my prayerful condolences to Fr. Francis' sister and relatives I commend him to the loving mercy of God and the motherly intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and to St.Francis Xavier his patron Saint. May his soul rest in peace. + francis adeodatus, ocd
28th APRIL, 2007 : Only yesterday I received my repaired computer. So, I resume using it to send messages. In the first place I want to thank our people for their prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I can say that I am feeling quite well but it will take some time for a full recovery. When I opened my computer, the last time I could use it was on the 9th of April I found 71 entries of which I cancelled all the items from the VIS AND ZENIT NEWS Agencies. I read the letter which Bishop Ballin sent to His Holiness our Pope about the Church in Kuwait briefing His Holiness about the hive of the liturgical celebrations for the Holy Week for which I want to congratulate him and thank him. This is all for now. God bless you all . Remember the beauty of being a Christian and the joy of communicating it. +francis adeodatus, ocd
23rd APRIL, 2007 : (We have received the following message from Mr. Joseph Micallef, the nephew of H.L. Bishop Francis, on behalf of His Lordship in Malta) ..... The message from my uncle Bishop reads: "Hello, my dear Catholic faithful of Kuwait. Those of you, who regularly visit the Vicariate of Kuwait website, will have been wondering why this long silence from my part. Indeed, since my last 'update', my computer ran out of order. Hopefully it will be repaired very soon. "insha' Allah". Besides, I was hospitalised for six days to undergo surgery on my prostate gland. I will resume my normal day to day duties very soon, too. Until my next 'update' be of good cheer, God loves each and everyone of you immensely and by name." + francis adeodatus, ocd
7th APRIL, 2007 : Very dear Kuwait Catholic faithful, Surrexit Dominus Vere, Alleluia! The Lord has truly risen, Alleluia! Al Messieh qam Halleluyah! These last days my thoughts went frequently back to Kuwait, remembering the over-crowded celebrations of the Holy Week. In our church at the Priory we did not have many big crowds, nevertheless all the celebrations were well attended, the big crowds flocked to the respective parish churches, three in all in this Cottonera area plus a big church of the Dominicans. In many churches and in many places exhibitions were put up to recall the Paschal mystery being celebrated. On Good Friday in many parishes were held colouful processions (because those taking part (adults and children) were wearing clothes like the people in the time of Jesus did, there was even a foal on which the " Lord" was riding to commemorate Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I was the main celebrant in our church for the holy week celebrations. This week I attended a talk by the former Minister General of the Dominicans the Very Rev. Timothy Radcliffe on the relevance of the religious vocation and life as a sign of hope for people of today's world. I want to thank those of you both from Kuwait and from other parts of the globe, who have sent me greetings and good wishes for Easter. It is my turn to send my personal EASTER greetings and good wishes to our devoted Catholic faithful asking God's blessings on all of you. + francis adeodatus, ocd
20th MARCH, 2007 : Yesterday the Universal Church celebrated the solemn remembrance of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, special patron of the Church and the foster father of Jesus. Our Mother Saint Teresa had a lively special devotion to this Saint and she spread his devotion to the church through her daughters and sons. I was invited to celebrate Mass for the last day of the triduum in the National Sanctuary dedicated to St.Joseph whose statue is crowned. Yesterday I attended a session of the MARIAPOLI (city of Mary) which the Focolare Movement organizes and is stretched out on a three days programme for different categories. I find the spirituality of this Movement very beautiful and focusing on Jesus abandoned, Mary, and Unity. May I suggest that you propose to our readers, through the Vicariate's website, a brief summary or short extracts of Pope Benedict's Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Holy Eucharist, specifically those guidelines on practices and devotions that we in Kuwait have been following. A certain Lawyer by profession was telling me that he finds our Vicariate's website very good and loves to read , amongst other entries, my updates. I mentioned both Charles and Juliet who are instrumental in this connection. May God bless one and all of our Catholic faithful. My regards to Bishop, priests and sisters. + francis adeodatus, ocd
9th MARCH, 2007 : Greetings from Malta. Nothing special is taking place here. When I am free I attend the meeting of the priests friends of the Focolare Movement of Chiara Lubich. They meet once a week. I was invited for a group meeting of "Divine Mercy" being the main concelebrant. I attended as one of the concelebrants during a thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of the first centenary of the beginning of the Society of Christian Doctrine which was started by the Blessed George Preca who will be cnanonzed on June 3, 2007 as previously mentioned. This evening I attended a lecture on St. Augustine's life written by Saint Possidius, who lived with him for forty years. The Augustanians run an Institute for studies of the writings of Saint Augustine and I distributed the certificates to the students who attended the lectures for the six month course. Otherwise I follow the daily schedule of the community and give my service to the Church. Lent is underway and in our Churches retreats are going on for different groups. That is all for now. God bless one and all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
24th FEBRUARY, 2007 : Yesterday, here in Malta we got the news that on the 3rd of June, Pope Benedict will Canonize Blessed Don George Preca, a Dioceisan priest from Malta. It was in 1907 that he started a Society of lay persons for catechetical instruction and formation which is flourishing with centres outside Malta as well. I was an active member of the same before I joined the Carmelite Order and for whose beatification and canonization I had submitted a postulatory letter to the Pope (it was Pope John Paul II at that time and I was in Kuwait). He will be the first Maltese canonized saint who died in 1962. I hope I will be able to attend the canonization celebration on the 3rd of June. There are four in all who will be declared saints on that day, whereas the fifth from the same group will be canonized in Brazil during the Pope's visit to that Continent in May. The 25th and 26th of February brings back to me many memories of different events in Kuwait, which had culminated on those two days back in 1991 which I shared with my priests and people. Our Superior General is entrusting my Maltese Province with the running of a Parish dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima in Scarborough (Toronto - Canada) where some Indian families had emigrated from Kuwait. On Ash Wednesday I remembered the Kuwait Church very much for obvious reasons. Praise the Lord. Greetings to Bishop Camillo, priests, sisters and one and all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
5th FEBRUARY, 2007 : Today, one month ago I celebrated the solemn Mass of thanksgiving to mark the 25th Anniversary of my Episcopal Ordination in Kuwait Cathedral. I thank one and all again for the very warm welcome I received from the three Parishes in Kuwait. As earlier informed, I attended the Ordination Concelebrated Mass of our new Archbishop. It was a grand celebration with over 500 priests including 12 Bishops concelebrating!! Our new Archbishop has been meeting with different strata of the people of God, with priests, religious men and women, seminarians, families, youth, children, inmates in hospitals and in prison, giving interviews on social communications to the media etc. He has electrified all with his charming personality and Church teachings to different gatherings. We have currently a Carmelite Bishop from Stockholm (Sweden) on a very short visit to Malta and Gozo whom I knew during his studies in Rome. Otherwise I am having a rather quiet period of days. Thank God!! I would like to thank again one and all for the many affectionate expressions of esteem and appreciation I received during my brief stay in Kuwait. In union of hearts in prayer, + francis adeodatus, ocd
1st FEBRUARY, 2007 : [ .... Please see H.L. Bishop (Emeritus) Francis Micallef's Message of Congratulations & Good Wishes to the members of the God's Love Community (Charismatic Prayer Group, Salmiya) on the occasion of its Silver Jubilee .... ]
29th JANUARY, 2007 : I paid a courtesy visit to His Grace Philip Neri, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and also met the former Archbishop, His Grace Raul. I could also visit two of the communities of our Carmelite Fathers in Margao and the one in Mapusa where I got the opportunity to embrace Fr. Fulgentius who had ministered in Kuwait for several years. He is in his early nineties and it was a compassionate embrace. In Mapusa I met our Superior General who was conducting his Pastoral visitation of the Karnataka-Goa Province. I could also pay a short visit to our Carmelite nuns in Chinchilim and the AC Sisters close to Margao, their school and their college as well as a quick visit to the Director of the Technical College run by the Salesian Fathers. I also visited a few homes of acquaintances from Kuwait. During my eight days in Goa I slept in five different places. I said Masses in two different village Churches, which I enjoyed, and visited the cemetery of one of the village Parishes where I also said Mass. I enjoyed the natural village environments. When traveling from one place to another by car we found ourselves caught up in heavy traffic with the deafening honking horns!! All in all I wished I could spend more days in beautiful Goa. I want to say at this point that I am over happy with the Goan experience that I could manage within the space of eight days. I ask St. Francis Xavier to bless me and all Goans. From Goa I flew to Mumbai where I spent the night at the Salesians in Matunga to go to the International Airport very early next morning to take the Kuwait Airways flight to Kuwait, stay in transit at the International Airport and board the flight to Rome by the same airline. As we touched down at Kuwait and took off from there two hours later, I recalled that it was just 25 years before when I arrived in Kuwait to take over from Bishop Victor Sanmiguel as Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait. I was deeply moved and could share my emotions silently with God. Thank you Jesus! + francis adeodatus, ocd
27th JANUARY, 2007 : In continuation of my report : And what about my visit to Goa? My coming to Kuwait gave me the opportunity to go to Goa. Besides going there to bless two marriages I fulfilled my great desire to venerate the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, my patron Saint, whose 500 anniversary of his birth was celebrated last year 2006. The first wedding was celebrated in the Basilica of Bom Jesu in Old Goa where the mortal remains of the Saint are kept for veneration. It was Joseph Fernandes who got married to Evelyn Antao. For the marriage Mass and for the reception which followed, I noticed many familiar faces from Kuwait or who had lived in Kuwait, who were invited for the wedding. The second wedding was between Antonio Dias and Cerina Rebello which took place in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Panjim. Here too I noticed many familiar faces. It so happened that Evelyn's sister Jean had delivered her first baby a few days before the wedding and so I was invited to baptize the baby boy born to Kevin Fernandes and Jean. I want to thank the families of the newly weds and of Kevin for taking so much time and effort to make me feel comfortable and for providing me with excellent hospitality all through my stay. I was very much taken up with the religious preparations and traditions connected with the celebration of the marriages in Goa in the homes of both the groom and the bride. (to be concluded) + francis adeodatus, ocd
19th JANUARY, 2007 : I want to let you all know that I returned to Malta yesterday the 18th. I reached our Monastery at about five oclock. I had to hurry because I was expected to be in St. John's Cathedral around that time to take part in the concelebrated thanksgiving solemn Mass which was to start at 6.30 p.m. It was a very beautiful occasion for the Archbishop who was retiring after 30 years of his Episcopal ministry in Malta. We must have been around 300 priests. Next Friday we shall have the ordination of the new Archbishop. Today I will start to give you and our readers on the website a short account of my visit to Kuwait and Goa and my staying in Rome for five days. In Rome I attended the Pope's Wednesday public audience in Paul VI Hall. At the end of the audience, the Bishops present go one by one to greet the Pope. I mentioned to the Pope that I am a retired Bishop from Kuwait and that I was celebrating the silver jubilee of my Episcopal ordination, for which he was very much pleased and he congratulated me, while I thanked him for his blessing which he sent to me in Kuwait. I want to thank God Almighty for the many blessings and graces He bestowed on me all along the 25 years of my Episcopate, almost 24 of which I spent in Kuwait. I want to thank again Bishop Camillo and the clergy for inviting me to come to Kuwait to celebrate my jubilee. I was very happy to spend just five days among the Catholic faithful of the Vicariate and with them praying and praising and thanking God. There were moments when I had to subdue my emotions and feelings. I know I did not have much time to be with our faithful as much as I would have liked to spend. I am very thankful to one and all of our faithful for their warm greetings and hearty congratulations. How can I forget the cheerfulness and the smiling faces of so many children, young and elderly people? But above all else, the cheerfulness and the lively participation in the liturgies celebrated and the follow-ups? Thank you, thank you one and all from the bottom of my heart!! (to be continued) + francis adeodatus, ocd
31st DECEMBER to 5th JANUARY, 2007 : [ .... The Vicariate Apostolic of Kuwait marked five days of thanksgiving and celebration from Jan 1 to Jan 5, 2007 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of H.L. Bishop (Emeritus) Francis Micallef's Episcopal Ordination. At the invitation of H.L. Bishop Camillo and the Clergy, Bishop Francis arrived here on Dec 31, 2006, from Malta. During his short stay in Kuwait, he received parishioners, friends and well-wishers at his residence at the Cathedral and concelebrated at Thanksgiving Masses (for his Silver Jubilee) in each of the three Parishes of Kuwait, before leaving for Goa, India, on Jan 6, 2007.
Please click here for a Photo Report of Bishop Francis' Siver Jubilee celebration in Kuwait .... ]
14th DECEMBER, 2006 : I was unable to send any messages due to some damage to the mail server because of the bad weather. Here I am now and Christmas is fast approaching and the festive atmosphere can be seen in many places in all towns and villages, churches and naturally shops and shopping centres etc. We celebrated the Solemnity of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is the titular of the Parish where I live in Cospicua which ended with the solemn procession carrying her Statue through the main streets of the town. At one point rain started pouring down very heavily which forced the entry in our church of the statue and many pople all wet and drained. Yesterday I attended the inauguration of nativity scenes in one of the Band Clubs in one of the parishes. I was the special guest invited. Today we Carmelites are celebrating the Feast of St. John of the Cross. I am getting ready for my trip to Kuwait, Goa and Rome to be back in Malta for the thanksgiving Mass of the outgoing Archbishop and for the ordination of the new one, a Dominican and well prepared priest. As from now I send my warmest good wishes for a Blessed Christmas to all our Catholic faithful. I will be in Kuwait for the NEW YEAR. Many happy remembrances flash back to my mind of the years I spent in Kuwait of pastoral service. Wishing you all God's choicest blessings. + francis adeodatus, ocd
30th NOVEMBER, 2006 : Very soon we shall celebrate Christmas. I can recall the hectic preparations that our three Churches in Kuwait undertake to bring the Christmas message alive to our Catholic community made up of diverse groups all of which present activities and celebrations with a particular touch of the culture and traditions of the countries the faithful come from. Here too the preparations are on in full swing, both for the religious celebration of Christmas as well as for the civil aspect, naturally with so many attractions for spending money. Decorations are out in many streets and shopping centres. I presided at a concelbrated Mass in one of the parishes dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and this Sunday I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to children in one of the parishes, the last for this year. I wish all our faithful a happy feast of the Immaculate Conception and of Saint Francis Xavier, my patron saint. God bless one and all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
14th NOVEMBER, 2006 : As I had mentioned, the past week has been a fully busy week for me, for which I have to thank God. The three-day aggiornamento course for the clergy which I attended went very well during which I came to know more priests of the archdiocese and from religious institutes. We had very good speakers. We Discalced Carmelites celebrated the liturgical feast of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity on the 8th. I presided at the solemn Mass, whereas on Friday and on Saturday I conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to 100 children in all. On Sunday I was the main speaker during one-day retreat of the Apostolate of Divine Mercy for which 160 people attended. I mentioned to the participants that in Kuwait this apostolate has been introduced and is growing. For this weekend I am bracing myself, for I will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to 200 children in the same parish divided in two groups for Saturday and Sunday, otherwise the other days of the week are quiet, without particular engagements. May happy remembrances to one and all without exception. God bless you all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
5th NOVEMBER, 2006 : One year ago, today, I landed in Malta coming from Rome after my heart breaking good-bye that I said to our Church in Kuwait. Today, also, 25 years ago, I flew to Malta from Rome, to assist my dying mother who was in hospital, nearing her end. It was on that same day, I learnt later, that the Pope had signed the decree of my appointment as the new Vicar Apostolic of Kuwait. So, today, is the 25th anniversary of my nomination and on January 6th 2007, will be the silver jubilee of my Episcopal Ordination. Yesterday, I baptized the baby of the daughter of one of my nephews. Today, I will assist at the ordination of four new deacons, concelebrating with the two Bishops of the Archdiocese of Malta. This week, I am joining members of the clergy for a three day pastoral aggiornamento course at the Seminary, whereas on the coming Friday and Saturday, I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation to children in two different parishes. As you can see, I am quite busy, thank God for that. My greetings and regards to one and all. + francis adeodatus, ocd
28th OCTOBER, 2006 : Currrently, I am giving a 9 day course along with Mass, to a small group of sisters of Mother Teresa who have come to Malta for their renewal sabbatical from the North African states. Today, I will bless the marriage of the son of one of my nieces and tomorrow I shall minister the Sacrament of Confirmation to 66 children in one of the parishes. In the month of November, I have four other parishes where I have to go for the same. Greetings and regards to one and all our faithful in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
4th OCTOBER, 2006 : The month of October is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and the missions. The Holy Father, as you know, took this opportunity, again, to invite families and church communities to pray the Rosary together. This practice has been very much established in the Vicariate of Kuwait, thank God. Here, in Malta, people can follow religious programmes on the radio and on the television. Many follow the recitation of the Holy Rosary on the radio that goes on the air on RADJU MARIJA, i.e. "Radio of Mary". I am kept quite busy with pastoral engagements, for which I have to thank God. Starting today, I will celebrate Pontifical Mass in one of the churches of the Friars Minor, and preach on the life of Saint Francis (of Assisi). Tomorrow, I shall say Mass with preaching, in one of the parishes, being the Feast of St. Faustina. On Friday, I am invited to give a short message on "Church and the Environment", whereas, on Saturday, I will say Mass for a group (called Eucharistic Branch). Last Sunday, I said Mass as I was invited by the Missions Office of the Archdiocese on the feast of St. Therese, Patroness of the missionaries and missions together with St. Francis Xavier. Praise the Lord! for everything. Keep smiling; Jesus loves each one of you by name, nationality, profession and above all by your joyous devotions. + francis adeodatus, ocd
26th SEPTEMBER, 2006 : I am concerned about our Churches and our people in Kuwait. For now let us continue to pray that this whole business regarding the misinterpretation given to the Holy Father's lecture will cool down. I am sure that the Holy Father must be suffering immensely. Let us pray for him too. God bless our faithful and may Our Lady of Arabia protect them. + francis adeodatus, ocd
8th SEPTEMBER, 2006 : I cannot forget this date of 8th September, the day we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. Many happy memories flood my mind which fill me with nostalgia. I too here am taking part in the celebrations. Last Monday I was in Gozo (the sister island) presiding in a solemn concelebrated Mass in a very beautiful Parish Church dedicated precisely to the (Maria Bambina) Baby Mary. Tomorrow, I am the main concelebrant for the solemn Mass in another Parish here in Malta dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. It is a public holiday in Malta as we also remember the victories, attributed to the intercession of Our Lady, during the two sieges over the Turks and over the Nazi blockade during World War II. Last Sunday I presided in a concelebrated Mass at the Church of the Augustanians on the occasion of their Feast of Our Lady of Consolation (Our Lady of the Cincture) followed by a two hour procession in the streets. I take this opportunity to wish all our Catholic faithful in Kuwait a very Happy Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. + francis adeodatus, ocd
27th AUGUST, 2006 : Again yesterday I was the main celebrant of the Mass in the Church of the Dominican Fathers Community which is very close to our Monastery. I lead the translation of the relic of the Saint in a short procession outside the Church before the Mass. Today they celebrated the external feast with the procession of the statue of the Saint still going around in the streets of Vittoriosa City, the name of the city where the Church is located. Part of the festivities will be fireworks and ringing of the Church bells according to local traditions. As per the recent survey conducted by the Church in Malta, statistics show that only 51 percent of the faithful attend Sunday Mass. Otherwise, life continues as usual in the Monastery. My best regards and prayerful wishes to all of our faithful and to the clergy. + francis adeodatus, ocd
21st AUGUST, 2006 : Here is the latest from my side! This past week was quite busy for me. I celebrated Mass in the Parish of my origin, dedicated to St. Helen, for the aged and sick people with the anointing with oil for the sick after my homily in which I told them that I was one like them due to my old age. I also celebrated Mass for the Little Sisters of the Poor who run a home for the aged where I have one sister of mine who will be 86 later this year. I celebrate Mass for the community of the sisters in English and occasionaly in French. I then conducted the translation of the relic on the vigil of the Feast of Our Lady assumed into Heaven in one of the Parishes followed by Mass. I celebrated Mass in another Parish which was celebrating the Titular Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes followed by a procession in the streets of the Parish which took a little more than two hours. I felt tired with pain in my legs but was quite happy too, having preached on Our Lady on these two occasions. Today I am relaxing (if I know how to). Later on today, we have a live-in for youngsters above 16, twelve of them, who show a desire to learn about the priesthood or the religious life. We have already sent two postulants to England for their Novitiate year. These days we are having some days with humid weather. My regards and prayerful wishes to one and all in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
1st AUGUST, 2006 : Mabrouk on the erection of the Salmiya 'Chapel' of the Holy Redeemer, as it has been known for many years, to a juridical parish under the patronage of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. I consider this as a deserved climax of the hard work by the priests and the Catholic faithful of that district in Kuwait. May the Lord be praised and honoured. Congratulations to one and all starting with the Bishop, priests, sisters and faithful.
Last Saturday I presided in the Solemn Mass with Vespers followed by a short procession outside the Church, myself carrying a relic of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Parish titular is the Blessed Virgin Mary in her sorrows. After the Gospel I preached on the sufferings of Jesus, in which His mother shared, for the redemption and salvation of humanity. I have started feeling more relaxed in preaching in my mother tongue, Maltese that is. On Monday I will give a talk to the major seminarians at the Archbishop's Seminary. For the month of August I have other celebrations to preside over. Tomorrow the 2nd of August is the 16th anniversary of the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. Many memories flood our minds, specially for us who were in Kuwait then. What a pity about what is still happening in Iraq and now in Lebanon and in Israel. Let us pray for peace and tranquility in the region. I wish you all a very happy Feast of Our Lady's Assumption into Heaven and all the best to all our Indian friends on India's Independence Anniversary too. As ever, you are always in my prayers. God bless all our faithful. + francis adeodatus, ocd
26th JULY, 2006 : Bishop Camillo has informed me that he estimates that the Catholic population in Kuwait has gone up to 300,000 and it is still increasing. This makes it more imperative to have more places of worship to accommodate our Catholic faithful. Hopefully he will get something from his contacts with the authorities of the State. I still receive invitations from parishes to celebrate Masses on the Feast of Patron Saints and other invitations for socio-cultural programmes etc. I take this opportunity to thank all those who sent me good wishes for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Let us all continue to pray for lasting peace in the troubled region of the Middle East. God bless all our faithful. + francis adeodatus, ocd
15th JULY, 2006 : As we shall celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel tomorrow, the 16th of July, 2006, I hasten to wish all our Catholic Ecclesial Community in Kuwait, the Bishop, Clergy, Sisters and Catholic faithful a very happy Feast asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to continue to keep all of you under her special loving motherly care in our journey towards her Son. To Jesus through Mary!! With best wishes and God's blessings. + francis adeodatus, ocd
1st JULY, 2006 : Here in Malta we are having very hot weather with the temperature above 35 Celsius. They will install an airconditioner in my room very soon as I do not have one yet. Yesterday, Friday, I concelebrated Mass with the two Bishops and maybe 100 priests for the ordination of six new priests, four are of the Archdiocese of Malta, one a Salesian and one a Jesuit. Tomorrow I shall administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in one of the parishes to some 60 children. I had been to a concert given by a Band of a musical association to mark the 10th anniversary when the Band entertained Pope John Paul II in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican and the next day I blessed the bust representing the Pope which is to be kept in the Band's Club. During this ceremony I was asked to mention some of the moments I spent with the late Pope John Paul II and I also exchanged my skull cap for a new one presented to me by the President of the Association and now my old skull cap is kept in the Club premises. I also visited the Shrine dedicated to the Divine Mercy put up by one man who had been touched by the prayer meetings organized by the devotees of the Divine Mercy, a devotion which continues to spread. As you will recall, I am not alien to this special devotion to the Divine Mercy by the different groups in the Cathedral during my time in Kuwait. I extend my regards and best wishes to one and all and remember you all in my prayers. + francis adeodatus, ocd
14th JUNE, 2006 : Last week I had three appointments. I celebrated Mass in three places, one in the La Valette Band Club for the Feast of the Sacred Heart and in two different Churches. One was on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and the other to inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the death of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, OCD. This week I will go to Gozo, the sister island, to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart in a Parish dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Regards and God bless to all our faithful. + francis adeodatus, ocd
5th JUNE, 2006 : On Saturday and Sunday of the past week I conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation to two groups of boys and girls in the same Parish, a total of 113 children. On Saturday evening I attended the Pentecost Vigil celebration with the participation of the Ecclesial movements operating in Malta. It was an open air function which lasted over two hours. Today, I celebrated Mass in a Government Girls Secondary School with the participation of around 300 teen-agers. God bless all our faithful in Kuwait along with the Bishop and Clergy. + francis adeodatus, ocd
29th MAY, 2006 : Last week I was busy from Monday to Sunday. I had four celebrations. Three in three different Parish Churches and one in a small Church. The celebrations were for St. Rita's feast, the birthday of St. P. Pio, the feast of our Lady of Fatima and the Eucharist. I had to wear my scarlet color cassock, use the Mitre and the Crosier. This coming week I take a break and will only attend a concert which is on the 2nd of June. My life in the Monastery goes on smoothly. The weather here is becoming hot and I also understand that the heat in Kuwait too is catching up. My greetings and good wishes and regards to one and all accompanied with my prayers and God's blessings. Praise the Lord. + francis adeodatus, ocd
15th MAY, 2006 : I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our three parishes in Kuwait for celebrating the first Holy Communion and the Confirmation of our Catechism children who I truly I miss. I am told that later this year I will be invited to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation in a few parishes in Malta. As I had previously mentioned, I decline some of the invitations I get from parishes and associations etc. Needless to say I cannot also come to Kuwait when I receive invitations from individuals etc. Last Saturday was the 25th anniversary of the attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square. I remember I was in Rome at that time and I had gone immediately to St. Peter's Square when I heard of the incident. I now learn from Zenith that a journalist has just published a book entitled "Il Papa di Fatima". Pope John Paul II had said, 'One hand pulled the trigger, another deflected the bullet.' As always, you are all in my prayers. God bless you always. + francis adeodatus, ocd
6th MAY, 2006 : I am trying to get involved with the Divine Mercy Groups here and I also had my first approach to the Focolarini which is a movement that promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. The Focolare Movement is present in all continents and has the characteristics of a small 'people' of different races, cultures and languages who are committed to bring about a world in which there is more solidatiry, more unity. The corridor on our second floor where I am living is very long to walk from one end to the other and I cover the distance with normal 120 steps! It is also my job to keep the corridor clean, something which I do twice a week along with cleaning the flight of steps from my floor to the first floor (35 steps in all). This Tuesday, May 9, is the anniversary of my priestly ordination, the Golden Jubilee of which I celebrated in Kuwait and fondly remember. Prayerful greetings to all the faithful in Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
30th APRIL 2006 : As mentioned in my last update, I concelebrated with the Archbishop, the Nuncio, other Bishops and priests the Mass to mark the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's election to the See of St. Peter. It so happened that on that day the Cappellea Sistina Choir was in Malta to give two concerts for which the Ambassadors of the countries accredited to the Holy See were also present, and to whom we were mutually introduced to. I presided at the concelebration in my Parish of origin that is dedicated to Saint Helen, to mark the Golden Jubilee of the ordination of four of the priests from that Parish (two are Cathedral Monsignori, one is a Parish priest and another the Cantor of the College of Canons). Yesterday I presided at the carrying of the Relic of Saint Publius the Titular of the Church, a very big and beautiful Church, at the Vespers wearing a very heavy red coloured cope and carrying the monstrance with the Relic, in a procession outside and inside the Church. The orchestra and the choir sang in Latin and they had fireworks and a band playing outside the Church. This evening I am concelebrating and presiding at the wedding of a young man who was present as a boy at my episcopal ordination in St. Peter's at the Vatican. I do accept many invitations from Parishes and from groups or associations to preside over liturgical celebrations and other cultural and social programmes. Many a time I have to decline some of the invitations I receive, just as in Kuwait when I used to get invitations to attend weddings and baptisms, after all, how can I accept all of them? As for my daily routine, life at the Monastery goes on smoothly as I try to do some odd jobs as well as besides helping in the Church and attending community activities. My regards to all our faithful in Kuwait who are always in my prayers. + francis adeodatus, ocd
18th APRIL 2006 : Here in Malta, the Holy Week liturgies are celebrated with great devotion and with the participation of big crowds of our Catholic faithful. In many Parishes there was the Good Friday outdoors procession with participants wearing very colourful costumes depicting the costumes worn during the time of the Roman Empire. On Easter Sunday a number of Parishes hold a big celebration where the statue of the Risen Lord is carried triumphantly in the streets and when the statue approaches the Parish Church, after approximately two hours of journey in the streets, the young people mostly run with the statue to the delight of all those attending with the band playing. The entire ceremony is a mixture of religious and folklore elements blending together. This Saturday, April 22, 2006, I will be concelebrating with the local Bishop, the Nuncio, the Auxilary and many priests to commemorate the succession of Pope Benedict XVI to the SEE of ST. PETER. Here too many Parishes and organizations invite me for different kinds of celebrations, but I have to decline them. The Kuwait Church was on my mind during the Holy Week liturgies when I recalled the large crowds attending all the liturgies. I received a lot of e-mails which I try to reply to. I also thank all our faithful for their prayerful remembrances and for their greetings and good wishes. May Our Lady of Arabia continue to protect the ecclesial community in Kuwait. The Lord is Risen. Alleluia. + francis adeodatus, ocd
10th APRIL 2006 : During the Holy Week, I shall be presiding over the liturgical celebrations in our Church here. Tomorrow, April 11, the memory of Our Sorrowful Mother will be celebrated in all parishes and important Churches with the participation of very large crowds attending these celebrations. I extend to all our Catholic faithful in Kuwait a Happy Easter with God's blessings of peace, joy and happiness. + francis adeodatus, ocd
25th MARCH 2006 : I have come back to Malta from Italy as scheduled on Tuesday, March 21. During my visit to Italy, I attended and concelebrated at the beatification Mass in Bari of one of our Carmelite nuns, Blessed Elisha of St. Clement, from the Bari Convent, who died on Christmas of 1927 at the age of 26. I also went to Florence to visit the retired Bishop of Abu Dhabi where he is staying in a community of Capuchin Frairs. He looks well. Soon we will be celebrating the Holy Week liturgies. + francis adeodatus, ocd
3rd MARCH 2006 : We just started the holy season of Lent. I figured to myself the big crowds on Ash Wednesday receiving the ashes etc. In our Church at Cospcua, we had a modest celebration with a good number of people participating. I myself celebrated two masses, the evening mass concelebrated with three priests myself presiding etc. On Tuesday, I am travelling to Rome to ordain 7 deacons ocd students on the 11th as I mentioned earlier I think. Tomorrow, Saturday, I preside at a concelebrated mass for a cousin of mine and his niece who died suddenly yesterday. Today was the 4th death anniversary of my brother Joseph. Last Sunday, I blessed the marriage of the son of a nephew of mine. Later this year, I have two more and another marriage of a young man from a family very close to my family. I am invited to preach during the half day recollection of the Monsignori of the Cathedral Chapter. I celebrate mass daily for the people, sit for confessions attend community acts and once a week I clean the long corridor and the steps where we priests live, not much to be honest. I give Latin class once a week to three youths who are preparing to start the novitiate ocd or join a seminary in Rome. Please remember me to one and all in the Kuwait Church starting with the Bishop, clergy, sisters and faithful of all ages. With fondest regards and prayerful good wishes for a holy lenten season. + francis adeodatus, ocd
6th FEBRUARY 2006 : Today, I completed three months since I retired to Malta as Bishop Emeritus of Kuwait. Thank God, I am enjoying my days in the monastery and at the same time I am invited to preside at liturgical celebrations in many parishes, in one week I had three of them. I try to oblige without exerting myself. I shall be in Rome in March to ordain 7 deacons from our International Theological College which is due on the 11th. The weather in Malta has been cold and rainy for some time now with days of sunshine as well. The new Bishop for Malta is expected to be named soon. This is all for today. Please remember me in your prayers and tell our faithful to continue to pray for me as I pledge to continue to do for them myself. + francis adeodatus, ocd
29th JANUARY 2006 : Please forward this message to the Don Bosco Salesians in Kuwait :- Greetings from former Bishop of Kuwait Francis Micallef, ocd, for the Feast of your Founder, St. John Bosco. This year I am invited by the Provincial of the Salesians of Malta to preside during a concelebrated Mass at their Church and their St. Patrick School. So, you see my contacts with the Salesians continue as it was in Kuwait. A grandson of one of my cousins was ordained priest for the Salesians last September. Mabrouk - Congratulations and happy feast of St. John Bosco.+ francis adeodatus, ocd
18th JANUARY 2006 : The former Catholic Bishop in Kuwait Msgr Francis Micallef congratulates the newly designated Amir of Kuwait His Highness SHEIKH SABAH AL-ABDALLAH AL-SALEM AL-SABAH asking GOD'S abundant blessings on His person, the Government and the people of Kuwait and wishing him good health as the new ruler of Kuwait. + francis adeodatus, ocd
17th JANUARY 2006 : Today, I received my two boxes from the customs where they arrived on the 5th instant. I started bringing out the objects and the items which were very well packed. To my surprise I found a bust representing me which I think was prepared by our Filipino community. I feel vey much moved by the generosity of so many groups and individuals in my regard. May God reward one and all. Please inform also the priests and the house staff that helped in so many ways. Last Sunday I took part in a concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving of the outgoing Bishop of Gozo and this Sunday I will concelebrate in the ordination Mass of the new Bishop. On Sunday we were 140 concelebrants. The new Bishop for Malta is still to be named. I am kept on the move from one parish to another to preside over celebrations of one sort or another. + francis adeodatus, ocd
15th JANUARY 2006 : I am saddened by the news of the death of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Amir of Kuwait, I join the Catholic Community in Kuwait to express my personal condolences to his family, to the Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Saad Al-Abdallah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, to the Government. and the People of Kuwait. May his soul rest in peace. + francis adeodatus, ocd
10th JANUARY 2006 : The New Year 2006 has dawned and the first lights are on. Hope and pray the lights will dispel the darkness of hatred, violence, killings, famine and deaths caused by man-made catostrophies. Jesus is the Light of mankind and of the World. May He enlighten the minds and the hearts of those who still search a way out of darkness. I was with you and the Kuwait Ecclesial Community, in spirit surely,during the Christmas Season which brought back to my memory so many happy moments I used to feel very close to so many of our faithful. I have been going to parishes invited to officiate on their special celebrations. I am very close also to my confreres in the community at Cospicua. How much I wish and pray to receive vocations for our Order in Malta. + francis adeodatus, ocd
DECEMBER 2005 : As Christmas Season is fast approaching my thoughts take me back to Kuwait. You can surely guess why. As I recall the many group Christmas Tree celebrations, I cannot but feel the nostalgia of those many merry-making get togethers in the Lord Jesus with the Christian meaning of Christmas: 'The coming in the world of the Son of God in human form to save mankind'. Oh that the world come to know and accept Jesus! I started receiving Christmas Greetings and Good Wishes for my birthday which falls close to Christmas. I want to thank very sincerely all those of you who have sent cards and e-mails to wish me. You understand, however, that I will not be able to keep pace to personally acknowledge and reciprocate the greetings and the good wishes sent by individuals or groups. Please accept as from now my greetings and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year filled with God's Blessings. I want to let you know that I am very happy to have chosen to rejoin one of our Communities (very small in number) and to make myself available to help in the community needs and in the Church services. Air mail post from Kuwait to Malta is taking long time to reach me, more than one month. Regards to all of you and your families. + francis adeodatus, ocd
