Ta’ Pinu Pilgrimage
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta organised its annual pilgrimage to Our Lady of Ta’Pinu on Saturday 28 May. The Maltese Association invited many patients and residents from various hospitals and homes for this activity.
The Vice-President of the Maltese Association of the Order, Major Raymond Miller, led the Members of the Order of Malta and the Volunteer Corps.
Mass was celebrated by His Lordship Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, the Principal Chaplain of Maltese Association Mgr Lawrence Gatt and Canon Carmel Busuttil. The Laudate Pueri Choir also sang during Holy Mass.
After the Mass, the Sick and Elderly attended lunch at Villa Fiorita in Marsalforn. The Maltese Association wishes to thank all those who attended, Fr Gerard Buhagiar Rector of Ta`Pinu Sanctuary, all staff of hospitals and homes, SVDP, transport services, Mr Spiro Sillato and his musicians, the Gozo Channel Line and the Police Force for providing escort for all special buses which conveyed Our Lords the Sick.
The following is the homily in Maltese given by His Lordship Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, during the Association’s Pilgrimage and Holy Mass celebrated at Ta’ Pinu:
Riflessjoni fil-Pellegrinaġġ għall-Morda organizzat mill-Ordni ta’ Malta
Santwarju Nazzjonali Madonna Ta’ Pinu, l-Għarb
Is-Sibt 28 ta’ Mejju 2016
L-E.T. Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof ta’ Għawdex
It-tingiża tax-xewka dlonk tnissina li mix-xewk joħroġ il-ward; imma l-esperjenza tikkonfermalna li dan il-qawl huwa minnu. Hekk ġralhom l-għarajjes ta’ Kana. It-temma tal-inbid kienet ser tkun xewka f’ġenbejhom għax setgħet sfrattatilhom il-festa; imma dik id-diżgrazzja nbidlet għalihom fi grazzja għax Ġesù wera l-glorja tiegħu billi għamel il-miraklu. Huwa każ fejn mix-xewk ħareġ il-ward.
Għalhekk, meta ħajjitna tkun kollha xewk, bħal meta nkunu fis-solitudni jew morda, ma għandniex naqtgħu qalbna, għax dik is-sitwazzjoni wiegħra, iebsa u kerha, taf tinbidel f’opportunità biex Alla juri li huwa qrib tagħna u juri l-ġmiel tal-imħabba u t-tjubija tiegħu.
Żgur li għal ħafna voluntiera, bħalma huma l-membri tal-Ordni tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann, “ix-xewka” tagħkom tfewwaħ u d-diżgrazzja tagħkom hija grazzja, għaliex meta jkunu qrib tagħkom biex jgħinukom, fil-persuna tagħkom huma jkunu jżiegħlu bil-laħam ta’ Ġesù preżenti fikom – fi kliem ieħor, intom tagħmlu lil Ġesù preżenti għalihom u Alla jinqeda bihom biex idewwaqkom il-benna tiegħu u jurikom il-glorja tiegħu.
