Fr Karm Debattista MSSP
Once again, I had the chance to travel to Pakistan with a small group of people eager to dedicate some of their time to our mission there. In the months before leaving, we met regularly to get to know one another and to prepare well for the experience. The group consisted of three people: an architect, a skilled worker, and a secondary school teacher.
Since one of the group was an architect, we thought our work could focus on repairs and construction, both at the parish and in the homes of the poor. Several houses were chosen, and the architect went on site to assess them. Together with a local contractor, it was decided which work needed to be done, including the building of roofs and walls, and installing water and electricity.
In addition, Fr Pierre Bonnici MSSP, the parish priest and Regional Superior in Pakistan, asked us to work on the parish hall. This hall is used for many purposes, especially weddings among poor Christians, who would otherwise have to spend a fortune renting halls elsewhere. In Pakistani culture, weddings are extremely important, and most families end up falling into debt to celebrate their children’s marriages. The hall needed plastering and whitewashing. The roof also had to be repaired so that children could safely play on it.
The most touching experiences were our visits to poor families, who welcomed us with immense joy and smiles that will remain with us forever. They always invite you into their homes to sit down for a while and share a drink. I don’t know of any other culture that gives such importance to hospitality as the Pakistani one.
Br Dominic Borg MSSP
During the same summer months, I too was in Pakistan for a longer stay, from June to August. It was monsoon season, and while our area was spared the worst, other regions suffered flooding so severe that many families had to abandon their homes. As a lay brother, my main work was cooking, repairing broken statues, and helping with whatever else was needed. On Sundays, I assisted in the parish and in small chapels under its care. I also visited the college we run and saw with my own eyes the kitchen built by Fr Gerard MSSP, together with the equipment purchased thanks to Maltese benefactors, ensuring that every child could enjoy a proper breakfast.
The people are extraordinarily welcoming, and many still remembered me from the ten years I had previously spent in Pakistan, looking after parish schools. While I was there, we also celebrated the solemn profession of Br. Augustine, one of our students from Pakistan. It was a beautiful moment, and I pray that many other young people may follow his example, joining us to spread the Good News among this generous people, who despite their poverty, have such big hearts.
The parish, led by the Regional Superior Fr Pierre MSSP, is very active and home to several groups. Among them is a vibrant youth group that meets every week.