Immigration is a challenge and an opportunity - Bishop Mario Grech

Many Maltese have still not realised that the presence of irregular migrants could be a grace to them as well as to the migrants themselves, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech said. Delivering homily in Ghajnsielem, which celebrated its feast yesterday, Mgr Grech said the influx of migrants had led to intense debate. It created material needs as well as a social and cultural shock. More mature reflection was needed on how the people should live this historic moment. The Church was doing a lot through the Emigrants’ Commission and the Jesuit Refugee Centre, but more remained to be done for the Church to adopt its pastoral work among the migrants and to educate the Maltese and Gozitans who were living this new experience. For the Church in Malta, the influx of migrants was a strong religious shock Many of the faithful had not yet realised that the presence of the migrants could be a moment of grace to them and the migrants themselves. The Church, Mgr Grech said, was the People of God with a history where immigration featured strongly, including irregular immigration. For the People of Gozo, offering hospitality to he foreigners was such a golden rule that foreigners were not even excluded from...