Kerċem parishioners celebrate two milestone community events

Wednesday marked a significant and joyful occasion for the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great in Kerċem as the community came together to celebrate two important milestones in the parish life. It was on January 7, 2016 that the Eucharistic chapel was inaugurated. As the parish church closes at 8am and reopens at 5pm before closing again at 6.30pm, the chapel remains open daily from 6am to 9pm. This provides the faithful with 15 hours of uninterrupted access to prayer, adoration and quiet reflection.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the chapel’s opening, as well as 18 years since Fr Brian Mejlak began serving as parish priest of Kerċem, a special mass was celebrated with the participation of the parish community.

In his homily, Fr Mejlak expressed his heartfelt gratitude for so many years of service. He said it was difficult to put into words his thanks to God and to the people of Kerċem. Reflecting on the many achievements accomplished together over the past years, he noted that while there have been numerous meaningful moments, two stand out above all others: the inauguration of the Eucharistic chapel and the opening of the pastoral centre from where the Word of God was proclaimed. “The Eucharist and the Word of God are the two pillars upon which the life of anyone who truly wishes to live as a committed Christian is built,” Fr Mejlak said.

The parish priest encouraged parishioners to join him in finding more time to visit this sacred place – a space that offers peace and consolation in both the joyful and the challenging moments of life. “How much our lives would change, if we never allowed a day to pass without greeting the one who gives us the gift of life each and every day,” he said.

As part of the celebration, children from the parish gathered at the Eucharistic chapel for a brief moment of prayer together with their catechists.