We are once again celebrating Christmas with all that such an event brings with it. With so many experiences which have been added to our ‘baggage’ along ane other year that has flown by us. We had thought it might be a year which will lead us back to normality, but we're pretty much still in the midst of the pandemic that has changed the structure of so many initiatives and customs we held. It is also an experience that still challenges us to reflect on new ways by which we can go about things.

Among the discussions that have taken prominence on the media locally in recent days, there was the discussion about the tradition of the procession with the statue of baby Jesus in our streets. They were discussions that confronted our values ​​and practices as Christians, with culture, with the political vision set forth in public institutions,  health restrictions, and so many other elements. Each aspect plays its part not only in the way things could be done, but more so in the perception that each one of us builds of the argument and the ongoing public discussion.

Beyond all this - which in a few days will pass like many other topics - I would like to propose a question that I deem important to accompany us along these days: Will Jesus be carried in our hearts? Of course, it's much easier to look on from the balcony or from the sidewalk, and see the sweet little statue being carried on the sholders along the streets. It’s often even easier to invest our energies in the logistics and organisation of various initiatives rather than to seriously challenge ourselves. But in reality, what would Christmas be like if Jesus does not come into our hearts?

We all know that in order for baby Jesus to came to our hearts, we need to make room for him. We need to be able to make the first step, and see what we can clean our hearts from: perhaps with a little humility; compassion; forgiveness; a better order of our priorities; reconciliation with my own weaknesses and those of others; the rediscovery of the fundamental values ​​I embrace. St. Augustine repeatedly refers to the experience of God that dwells in our hearts: “Go back to your heart and see what you think of God. Because it is there that you find the image of God." ( Jo. Eu. Tr. 18,10) Let us do our utmost to welcome Jesus into our hearts and commit ourselves to take him from heart to heart. This is the greatest gift we can give each other. The presence of tiny baby Jesus will surely bring a lot of serenity and peace wherever we are!

This is my wish for all of us my dear brethren and friends, especially those close to our communities and initiatives. The coming year will bring to us Augustinian Friars a Provincial Chapter which I pray, will be a moment of renewal. Let us make it our prayer, that while Jesus comes he instills in us the desire to work genuinely for the renewal of communion among us. May Jesus come into the hearts of our young people and instill in them the courage to answer to his call. May Jesus accompany us in every step and choice we make. May Jesus be amongst us, as we share our faith within every community and within every reality where we Augustinians are present. May baby Jesus roam from heart to heart!

Allow me to end this message by conveying my best wishes and those of my brethren to all those who are part of our projects and realities or close to us in one way or another. One particular thought goes to your and our family members and friends who are sick. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for your presence and continued support. Wishing  you and your families serenity and peace of heart this Christmas and the coming year.

Fr Leslie Gatt osa

Prior Provincial

On Sunday, 12^th December, during the evening Eucharist at St. Augustine's Church in Valletta, 7 people made the Vow to be full members of the Secular Augustinian Fraternity of St. Augustine and St. Monica.

The Order of St. Augustine from an early age nurtured within it a number of lay people, who while continuing to live their lives in the world, join, as an integral part, in the purpose and mission of the Order by living the same spirituality based on the principles of St. Augustine's Rule and the secular tradition of the Order, as part of the charism to the service of the Church.

The Augustinian Secular Fraternity of St. Augustine and St. Monica (F.A.S.) is made up of Catholic Christians, men and women who are in the world and at the heart of the Church. They are called to live the sacrament of baptism in the world from an Augustinian perspective, and they know how to share their faith and friendship with each other. The Eucharist was led by Provincial Fr. Leslie Gatt osa and the Promise of the Candidates to be members of the Fraternity was made infront of the new Assistant General of the Augustinian Order Fr. Javier Perez Barba osa.

On Monday, 13th December, the Augustinian friars met at the Monastery of the Augustinian Sisters of Contemplative Life in Valletta for a moment of prayer and reflection during Advent. The meeting began with the prayer of the Psalms and after Fr. Mark Sultana shared with the friars some reflections on our inner desire for the Lord in the personal and particular circumstances of each one at this time of Advent.

After a moment of personal reflection, the Augustinian friars gathered in the Church for a moment of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. For this moment, the new Assistant General Fr. Javier Perez Barba was also here with us. He is in Malta for a few days to know more the reality of the Augustinian Family in Malta.

A new Publication in memory of Cardinal Prospero Grech O.S.A.

"In Te Domine Speravi" is the title of a book published by the Order of St. Augustine in remembrance of the late Maltese Augustinian H. Emm. Mons. Prospero Grech who went to meet the Lord on December 30, 2019 at the venerable age of 94. The title of the book is in fact taken from the motto that the same cardinal chose when he was ordained a bishop in St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

In the last years of Cardinal Prospero Grech's life, there were several attempts with the Cardinal himself to write his biography. Meanwhile, the Italian writer, Mr. Ivan Marsura, had recorded some interviews with him with the intention of serving as memoirs and maybe material for a possible biography in the future. Unfortunately the sudden death of the Cardinal stopped this project. However, Mr Ivan Marsura continued to work on the texts of the interviews he had conducted and the collection of other material, in particular photographic material, which had been entrusted to him by the Augustinian Community of Santa Monica and the Augustinian General Curia in Rome.

All this was compiled into a wonderful 230 page publication published by the Antiga Edizioni publishing house in collaboration with the Augustinian Order. The publication contains not only transcriptions from Mr. Ivan Marsura's interviews, but also a number of texts by various people who wrote about him, including the text of the funeral homily by H.E. Monsignor Charles Scicluna, and experiences of His. Emm. Cardinal Mario Grech and Augustinian Provincial Fr. Leslie Gatt O.S.A. The book also contains a large number of color photographs, both of various episodes from his life, but also photographs taken by the same Cardinal who, as we all know, had a great passion for photography.

The book, which is in the Italian language, will now be on sale in Malta for €25 and can be obtained from Emmaus Bookshop, Preca Library, Millennium Chapel Bookshop and the Augustinian Province of Malta.