Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/463339
AUXILIARY Bishop Charles Sciclu- na called on the faithful to keep pray- ing for the new leader of the Diocese of Malta, urging them to prepare for the new Archbishop with a "positive outlook". In a pastoral letter marking the start of Holy Lent, Scicluna said the Maltese Church was currently fast- ing as it awaits the nomination of its new leader. "On one occasion, the Pharisees and Scribes questioned Jesus as to why his disciples were not fasting. "Jesus answered, 'Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast'. "When I take into consideration the present circumstances of the Church in Malta, this analogy of Jesus often comes to mind. Our bridegroom was taken away and now we are awaiting the nomination of a new Archbishop who represents Jesus, the bride- groom of the Church, in our midst. For this reason, this moment is like a moment of fasting." On 18 October, 2014, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Arch- bishop Paul Cremona. On that same day, Scicluna was nominated as Ap- ostolic Administrator and the time of prayer and waiting started for the Maltese Diocese. Scicluna said that the faithful had to pray fervently, considered to be a form of waiting for the new leader. "When we pray for the grace of a new Archbishop, we are in fact ac- knowledging in full faith that this is a gift which comes from the hands of God. This prayer must be offered with faith in the goodness of God our Father, in serenity and without trou- bled hearts and undue worry. In this way, our prayer and waiting will re- flect a mature detachment that will help us accept that the person who will be nominated is a gift from God, which person we will welcome." Acknowledging that no one knew who the new Archbishop was going to be, Scicluna urged his listeners to prepare themselves "to adopt a posi- tive outlook towards him". "Basically, we need to look at Jesus, the Good Shepherd, because he is in fact our Shepherd. I can look at the chosen one and say 'I do not like him very much' or 'he does not really ap- peal to me', yet a mature faith com- pels me to look at him and say 'Jesus is speaking to me through him, Jesus is guiding me through him because Jesus is the Shepherd'. "This attitude of anticipation trans- lates into a faithful commitment, a commitment in which there is no room for discouragement. At the same time, this attitude sets us free, allowing us to be sons and daughters, not bound to the person of the Arch- bishop, but to Jesus Christ. Whoever our Archbishop shall be, I will look at Christ, because he is the one who leads me and guides me." maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2015 News Correspondence deal Bishop Scicluna urges faithful to welcome new Archbishop 'positively' Official Water MALTA MARATHON 2015 REFRESH REFRESH YOUR DAY DAY Birds of a feather Kids and adults braved the inclement weather yesterday as Carnival celebrations continued apace in Valletta. Having begun on Thursday, festivities continued on Saturday at the Carnival enclosure in St George's Square and surrounding streets in Valletta, with a children's carnival kicking off the proceedings in the morning. A Defile was rolled out along the streets of Valletta in the afternoon, with dancing competitions in the evening. Carnival in Valletta continues today, Monday and Tuesday, and will be capped off with a Grand Finale along St Anne Street, Floriana.