After a few minutes he asked me if I am interested in starting a group in Gozo as part of the 'Catholic Revival Movement'. I just looked at him in surprise and said
"did I understand you well Gozo, are you joking"
he looked straight into my eyes and said "no I am serious, I have had contacts for some time from Gozo to start a group there, I have delayed my answer as I prayed to God to show me who could be the person I should ask, and I have been getting reply in my heart that I should ask You."
So I asked him to give me some time to think it over.
After about two weeks Edward came to me again and asked me what my answerwas, I tried to play for time but he wanted an answer soon, because he repeated that from Gozo they have been asking again what are we going to do.
So I replied that I will give him an answer after the meeting. I remember I prayed to God what I should do and kept getting the same feeling in my heart as I have been feeling for some days that I should accept. I remember that a few days before when I was doing my quite time I asked God to
give me a message from His Word, and the answer was the book of Nehemia. So, after the meeting I went to Edward and said that I accept this mission he is forwarding to me in Jesus name.
A few days later we met, first we prayed then we discussed what to do and how to do it. He told me that I have to contact Tania Micallef, that we are going to hold the meetings in her basement and that Dun Gorg Farrugia will be the spiritual director of the group. By this time John Sant came to me
and Edward while we were talking at Mosta and asked if he could accompany me to Gozo every week. I immediatly said yes and so did Edward. This was the first sign God gave me because I had asked Him to provide someone so I won't be going on my own. The contacts were made and it was decided to start the first meeting on a Sunday in November 2003.
John and I got the 8.00am boat to Gozo and we left for our adventure in Christ at Gozo. As soon as we arrived at Mgarr we found Zaren waiting for us, got into his pickup and the first thing he said to me was " Victor do not worry I will always come to pick you up and drive you back after each
meeting" I just said yes ok and after fifteen months he still does it
with dedication. When we arrived at Tania's palce in Xaghra we found a group of about 15 people waiting, I was a bit annoyed and scared at first but the welcome these people gave us gave me courage. After some time also Dun Gorg arrived we had a talk and then started the meeting.
These meetings on Sunday morning went on for about five months, and to be honest these were very hard times as the people who attended were not regular. There were times when we went up, and only about ten people turn up, but John kept encouraging me not to give up and so did few
Gozitans.Then I rememeber, Tania and Dun Gorg suggested that they think it would be better if the meeting was held on Saturday afternoon. I said we think about this and will give them a reply. And so we did, we started having the meeting on Saturdays at 5.30pm. This involved a sacrafice from our wives as well, but they both blessed us to carry on. This proved to be a positive move because people started to attend more and we started seeing the group getting bigger and bigger. Also public services were held one at the Crystal Hall M'salforn, at Ghasri and at Ghajnsilem.
The group now started to take a different shape and we started having an attendance between thirty and forty every saturday. Edward occasionally comes up, when he has enough space in his tight schedule, but whenever he comes with us, he boosts up the moral and the spirituality of all.
We have now a service team composed of Tania Micallef, Helen Carnemolla,Guza and Zaren Caruana, Claudette and Andrew Debrincat, Carmen Mintoff, and Dun Gorg Farrugia as the Spiritual Director. These hold meetings every fortnight on Wednesday. Besides the Saturday meeting, every Tuesday a one hour adoration is held at the General Hospital's Chapel at about 7.30pm This is conducted by Dun Gorg and Helen. For this meeting all are invited to spend some time in the
presence of our Lord.
Last September a group of about 20 from our kommunita went to Mejagourie, with Edward and
Dun Gorg. We had some great experiences, a whole week in thepresence of the Lord and our Lady. This was so encouraging that we have in mind to make it a yearly appointment, and we are already preparing for the coming September to go again.
Praise God our Saturdays meeting are now getting more organised and with the help of these entusiastic persons, we have now purchased a sound system. This way we can worship God and discuss His word better, also Tania and Helen formed the worship team, they always lead us into praise and worship with music and with songs. Lateley more plastic chairs were purchased
so we can properly accomodate more people. I can assure you that in the nearfuture more public functions are going to be held, as these people are so on fire in the Lord and want to work in His field, they want to pass all that they receive to others.
On my behalf I would like to invite anybody who is interested in knowingmore about Jesus to come to our Saturday meetings. If you need more information do not hesitate to contact either:
Tania Micallef Tel. No. 21558945
Guza Caruana Tel. No. 21561956
Premises: 'Jestan Hse' Triq Srug Xaghra.
Time: 5.30pm