On the 24th of March we were honoured by the presence of Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo. The occasion was the celebration of the school-leaving mass for our form 5 students.
Mgr Grech was welcomed by all the students and staff. The students eagerly flocked to him to show him their handiwork, exhibited in a little display set up for this occasion. The enthusiasm on both sides was evident in their faces – the students’ and the bishop’s!
It was then time for mass. It was well animated by the form 5 students. Mgr Grech gave an interesting sermon on the Cana miracle. He managed to retain the students’ attention throughout. Later on in the day, it even sparked off discussions in class.
Before visiting the classes, Mgr Grech spent some time with the boys in the yard. The interaction was very informal and thus more heartfelt. The students felt at ease to approach him and chat like they do with the rest of the staff, both lay and Salesian.
In fact, what struck Mgr Grech the most was the family atmosphere that pervades the school. This he saw in the dormitories with their homely atmosphere, in the yard and during lessons, when he visited the classes. Humorously he remarked that he had followed his nose when visiting the food preparation lesson.
His visit here ended with a meal with the St Patrick’s Salesian community. Mgr Grech thanked the boys profusely for the invitation. In the name of all those present in the life of our boys and the boys themselves, I reciprocate his gratitude.
