This year Oħloq Tbissima is in its 11th year.  As in previous years, the aim of this marathon is to raise missionary awareness whilst raising funds in aid of the missions in the care of the Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSSP), in the Philippines, Peru and Pakistan as well as in aid of St. Joseph Home in St. Venera and also towards Evangelisation through the media.

 

As Fr. Bernard Falzon explains, through the missionary work carried out by MSSP missionaries in the Philippines many youths are helped financially and encouraged to further their studies.  Moreover, the missionaries also see to the spiritual needs of the University students which are about 50,000 in total.  Not only are these aspects taken care of, but Fr. Joe Cremona who started off the mission in Bataan helps teach various labour skills to the people he works with, and also daily provides nutritious food to a good number of children and their families.

 

On the otherhand, the missionary work in Pakistan includes spreading the message of the Holy Gospel and also educating children and women who would otherwise not have the opportunity for an education.   The missionary work in Pakistan focuses on the various needs of the families giving each person and each family the dignity they deserve.

 

In Peru, the missionary work includes providing the people with food, a home and also creating opportunities by giving them an education.  The missionaries therefore build small rooms which serve a homes to the families, assist in clinics seeing to the various medical needs of the poor and also helping out in schools, besides running a home for children and also seeing to the spiritual needs of the parishoners.

 

Locally, besides spreading the word of the Holy Gospel through the media, the MSSP missionaries also run St. Joseph Home in St. Venera.  Various projects are being run to ensure that the boys who are resident at the home are given a sound education, seeing to their individual needs so that they will eventually be in a position to find work and live independently, away from any addictions or situations which would be detrimental to them.

 

Once again this year Oħloq Tbissima is being organised from the yard at St. Joseph Home in St. Venera, from where a varied programme will be aired. 

 

The public is encouraged to participate in this marathon both by giving their monetary contribution as well as by visiting the yard at St. Joseph Home in St. Venera. 

 

Telephone lines are open and anyone wishing to give a donation may phone on:

 

€10                  51602004

€15                  51702007

€25                  51802009

SMS €4.66      50618099