Christmas of fraternity in Valletta

In the Franciscan church of Valletta, the Province of St. Paul (Malta) lives a journey of missionary collaboration with India, Pakistan and the Philippines: an international fraternity that accompanies migrant communities and bears witness to unity in diversity.

This year, Christmas in the Franciscan fraternity of Valletta (Malta) had a new and profoundly evangelical face. For the first time, four communities – Maltese, Indian, Pakistani and Filipino – celebrated the birth of the Lord in the church of the Friars Minor, sharing the Eucharist, prayer and moments of fraternity in the convent. In a society where attitudes of racism and mistrust are still perceived, this experience has become a sign of communion and acceptance.

The journey began in 2023, when the Intermediate Chapter of the Province of St. Paul, in the presence of the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli, OFM, asked to explore new collaborations within the Order to better serve society. The Minister Provincial and the Guardian of Valletta presented this vision to the General Curia to the Definitor General for Asia, Br. John Wong, OFM, who helped establish contacts with the Provinces of India and the Philippines and the Custody of Pakistan.

As a result of this process, in 2024 Br. Thomas Manakuzhiyil, OFM, from India, and Br. Andro Fernandez, OFM, from the Philippines; in 2025, Br. Arslan Amanat, OFM, from Pakistan, and Br. Jhoan Pader, OFM, from the Philippines joined. These friars pastorally accompany the migrant communities that have progressively moved to the church in Valletta: the Indian community celebrates three times a week and offers Sunday catechesis; the Filipino community, followed for years by Br. Raymond Falzon, OFM, meets for the weekly Mass and the choir; The Pakistani community also celebrates once a week. At the same time, the friars are collaborating with the Maltese community and some are learning the local language; Br. Andro is chaplain of the Filipino community in Gozo, at the request of the bishop, Msgr. Anton Teuma.

Christmas Eve was experienced as a real “chain” of celebrations: at 6.00 p.m. the Maltese community, at 7.15 p.m. the Filipino community, at 8.30 p.m. the Indian community, at 10.00 p.m. the Pakistani community and, finally, at 11.30 p.m. the Midnight Mass in Maltese. After each Mass, the communities shared a simple gesture of fraternity with the cutting of the cake in the friary. The community celebration of  the 4thOctober, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, also remains in everyone's memory, in which it became visible that fraternity can overcome historical and political borders, especially between people from India and Pakistan.

In parallel, the Province of St. Paul, through the fraternity of Valletta, has strengthened its collaboration with Missio Malta to support the Order's missions. The “800 smiles” campaign, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the transit of St. Francis, promotes the educational “adoption” of girls and boys in India for ten years of schooling; So far, more than 520 minors have been “adopted”, with the desire to exceed 800. With the help of benefactors, pastoral and social projects in India and Pakistan have been supported, including a mobile clinic and water wells, as well as initiatives in the Philippines.

Thus, a small fraternity in the heart of the Mediterranean becomes a sign of the missionary and international dimension of the Friars Minor. Malta, a land of encounters and passage, is once again a place of hospitality and bridges between peoples. From Valletta, the Maltese, Indian, Pakistani and Filipino communities offer the Lord of Christmas a unique song, made up of different languages, music and faces, but united in the same faith and in the desire to build a fraternity that brings many people closer to God.

With the contribution of: Br. Ramon Farrugia, OFM