8th and 9th May, 2001.  
    It was early in the afternoon of Tuesday 8th May that His Holiness reached Malta on his last leg of this Pauline Missionary Pilgrimage. The people thronged the streets from where the Pope passed to go to the Nuntiature at Rabat. Later in the afternoon, the Pope went to Valletta, the Capital of the Island where he met the President of Malta. As he journeyed from Rabat to Valletta he passed through various towns and villages. Here again, the people of Malta, together with many tourists who happened to be visiting the Islands, were in the streets, all eager to get a glimpse of and wave at the Pope. The Pope seemed to be a little bit less tired than he looked when he arrived. At the President’s Palace, the Pope greeted the people from the balcony and he was enthused by the cheering crowd. 

    Wednesday 9th May. It was the day which we were all waiting for. The weather was fantastic, blue sky and a light breeze. People started arriving as early as 4.00am at the granaries in Floriana, where the Solemn Mass was to be held. Some even slept there from the day before! The Pope arrived at Floriana some time before 9.00 a.m. to meet an electrified congregation. It was very moving to listen to that magnificent congregation, some said that it was close to 150,000 ­ one must remember that the whole population of Malta is 370,000 ­ singing Salve Papa Noster (Greetings to you our Pope) a salutation which was written by our Founder and which is sung by us during every special Programme and during the Union prayer. The Mass came to an end at about noon. 

    At around 3.00 in the afternoon, many sdc Members started arriving at the Central House for the unique experience of welcoming His Holiness, who was coming exclusively to visit us at our own home. The Pope arrived at about 5.15p.m. and was the first pilgrim to enter and pray at our Chapel in Blata l-Bajda. The Pope knelt in front of the Blessed Sacrament and stayed wrapped in prayer for some ten minutes. His entourage were preoccupied because he was already behind schedule, yet it seems that the words of the Psalmist: one day in your Temple is worth more than a hundred days somewhere else can be supplied to His Holiness. After praying, he then walked to the Auditorium to find an enthusiastic group of SDC Members and Candidates, all welcoming the Pope by singing again Salve Papa Noster. The Superior General greeted the Pope by a welcoming speech and then the Pope delivered his message. At the end of the meeting, the Society gave the Pope a silver-framed picture of our Lady of the Verbum Dei and a commemorative medal. The Pope gave the Society a chalice. I am sure that we shall all cherish and treasure these holy memories for our entire life.

 SUDAN KENYA 
    Our Sudanese members together with House Superior Joseph Aquilina were able to follow the Beatification Mass on Vatican T.V. thanks to the Comboni Fathers who invited them to their premises. Our members in Khartoum also organized a commemorative activity in all the Centres where they are engaged in the ministry of Catechises. Programmes were held in all the Centres in Mayo Parish, Hay Rahman and Sebil. At Sebil, we also had a group of children who received Confirmation and who were prepared by our Members. We do also congratulate Candidates Pasquale and Edward for being chosen as members in the Diocesan Synod committee. SDC House Superior, Charles Dimech, also stayed in Ruiru, Kenya so that the work at the school could continue uninterrupted. 
    More news about the events carried out by our various Centres will be featured in our next issue.