The Church in Malta

The Archbishop's Curia and the Union Ħaddiema Maqgħudin have signed a new collective agreement for employees of the Curia and Ecclesiastical Tribunals for 2026 to 2030. The agreement affects approximately 140 employees and includes a fund for mental health, which the parties state is the first of its kind in Malta. This fund allows employees to access professional mental health services with part of the cost covered.

The contract also provides for wage increases, improved allowances, and greater work-life balance through remote working and flexible hours. To assist with staff retention and recruitment, the agreement includes improvements to professional development and training.

Administrative Secretary Michael Pace Ross signed for the Curia and Ecclesiastical Tribunals, and Deputy Chief Executive Isabelle Farrugia signed for the union. Mr. Pace Ross stated that the measures are intended to increase productivity and efficiency in serving parishes and diocesan entities.

Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC, will deliver a public lecture regarding the spiritual life of Saint Teresa of Calcutta on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. The talk, titled Love in the Dark: The Hidden Passion of St. Teresa of Calcutta, is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the MUSEUM Auditorium in Blata l-Bajda.

The lecture will examine the interior darkness and sense of God's absence that Saint Teresa experienced during much of her life while serving the poor. Fr. Kolodiejchuk, the former postulator for the causes of beatification and canonization of Mother Teresa, met her in 1977 and remained associated with her until her death in 1997.

Fr. Kolodiejchuk is a member of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers and currently serves as the director of the Mother Teresa Institute. He has authored several books on the saint, including Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light.

The Interdiocesan Commission for the Promotion of Integral Human Development expressed concern regarding measures in the 2027 Budget targeting third-country nationals. The Commission stated these measures undermine solidarity, human dignity, and social cohesion.

Mark Cachia, chairperson of the Commission, said the decision to impose additional financial burdens on non-EU workers while restricting access to services like free public transport and childcare is problematic. He noted that people should not be treated merely as units of labor to be recruited or discarded for political convenience, but as human beings with families and rights. The Commission specifically warned that childcare restrictions could prevent families from building stable lives in Malta.

The Commission argued that the measures do not address structural challenges such as traffic congestion, overcrowding, or pressure on public infrastructure. Instead, the Commission said the policies penalize individuals who already contribute to the Maltese economy through taxes and social security payments, including many with low incomes. The Commission warned that the need to manage population pressure should not result in discriminatory burdens on people who cannot vote.

The International Meeting for Peace opened in Assisi on October 25, bringing together representatives of various churches and world religions. The meeting follows the theme "Unarmed and Disarming Peace," which was taken from Pope Leo XIV’s message for the 2026 World Day of Peace.

The gathering marks 40 years since the first meeting of this kind was initiated by Pope John Paul II. During the opening assembly, Hala Alkarib, regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, spoke about the necessity of turning dialogue into concrete action. Alkarib noted that violence is currently spilling over from conflicts like the one in Sudan, where more than 250,000 civilians have died in the last four years. She described the current global context as hostile and prone to enabling violence.

Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna said in a homily that Jesus' teachings establish interconnected loves: love for God, love for neighbor, and love for oneself.

During his reflection on the Gospel, the Archbishop noted that Jesus unified two commandments into a single foundation of love. He explained that the command to love one's neighbor is tied to the command to love oneself, as Jesus instructs people to love others as they love themselves. Scicluna compared the search for this fundamental commandment to a nation determining its priorities when drafting a constitution.