Malta is a country with no frontiers, only horizons
– Fr General Adolfo Nicolás sj

 
‘As Jesuits we are called to be at the frontiers – Malta is a country with no frontiers, only horizons.’

These are the words Fr Adolfo Nicolás, Superior General of the Society Of Jesus (Jesuits), used to describe Malta during the short speech he delivered to a Church packed with young people on Saturday evening.

‘When I stand on the roof and look in one direction,’ said Fr Nicolás to the young congregation, ‘I know there, in the distance, is Africa. When I turn and look in the other direction, I know there is Europe. In my lifetime I have met Maltese Jesuits who had been sent to India, Chile, different countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Our Mission is a Universal one, and I know that you too have gone to give service in several countries. Just like the Jesuits of Malta, you too have a Universal Mission.”

‘The day begins, a wise man once said, when the light is strong enough for us to distinguish the face of a brother or a sister. When you go to visit the prison and the Detention Centres, you see the faces of brothers and sisters who are suffering, and you dream about the time when that suffering will end.’

A sight which Fr General will cherish, he said, ‘is the sight I have now, here. I see all of you, and I like what I see. What do I dream? I dream that a good number of you will want to join us and become Jesuits!… And I dream that the others will be our collaborators so that we can all work at the dreams that you have and that we have, so that the world can become a better place.’

Fr John Dardis sj, who hails from Ireland, delivered the Sermon. His message to the young people gathered 

there was that faith is not simply a set of beliefs, but is found in the Person of Jesus Christ and what he has to say to us here and now.

The Youth Mass, organized weekly at Sarria Church, Floriana, by InYgo (Ignatian Youth Network), was also attended by over thirty European Jesuit Provincials who are in Malta this week, participating in their annual Conference.