A warm welcome to Fr General!

Today the Jesuits in Malta have the great pleasure of welcoming the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Arturo Sosa, on the island, as he initiates his visit to three of the four countries which make up the Euro-Mediterranean province – Malta, Albania and Romania. This is Fr Sosa’s first visit to Malta, where he will meet Jesuits and lay partners in mission, staff and many who participate in Jesuit works as well as members of Ignatian lay communities.

Fr. Arturo Sosa SJ will visit the Paulo Freire Institute in Zejtun today, 9th May, followed by a meeting with Maltese Jesuits and other Jesuits missioned to Malta, at Loyola House in Naxxar. Tomorrow he will spend a busy day visiting the three schools which make up St Aloysius College – the primary school, secondary school and sixth form. On Saturday 11th May he will meet His Grace Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, as well as making a stop at the Jesuit Refugee Service. The afternoon will be spent at the University chaplaincy and the adjoining Dar Manwel Magri – a Jesuit residence, student hub and youth formation centre, with a public Mass at the University Chapel at 7.30pm followed by what we hope will be a very enjoyable social gathering afterwards. On Sunday 12 May, Fr Sosa will meet the Bishop of Gozo Mgr Anton Teuma and will spend some time on our sister island. These days of encounter will of course offer opportunities for the various Jesuit communities in Malta to share conversation and companionship with Fr General over meals.

There are four Jesuit communities living in Malta and Gozo, with 9 Jesuits residing in Birkirkara at St Aloysius College (6 priests 3 scholastics); 8 belonging to the Mount St Joseph retreat house community in Mosta but with three residing at Manresa Retreat House in Gozo; 4 in Msida at Dar Manwel Magri and 15 in Naxxar at Loyola House (11 priests and 4 brothers).

Fr General’s familiarisation with the different realities of the Jesuit apostolic works in Malta will be a precious opportunity to deepen his direct knowledge of our reality and to reflect on current and future challenges.

We will bring you more news on Fr General’s visit as it unfolds.