Priests sailing for Malta congress run into bad storm

Eight Polish priests sailing the high seas on their way to Malta to attend the International Priests Congress next week ran into a storm during which their boat's mast was destroyed, Krystyna Mikulanka, honorary consul for Malta in Poland told The Times by telephone from Warsaw.

"The crew has gone through a harrowing experience as they battled the giant waves and have had to make port in Italy falling behind in their itinerary. "The priests are in high spirits nonetheless, comparing their ordeal to that of St Paul's shipwreck in Malta and to the struggle of the Polish Catholic Church during the Communist regime," Ms Mikulanka said.

The Polish priests doubt whether they will be able to make it to Grand Harbour on time but they have been given a lot of assistance which they have reciprocated with Polish vodka!

Catholic priests from about 90 countries are expected to attend the congress which aims to discuss how the faithful can lead a more fruitful life in the new millennium.