Away for a Week!!

I will not be able to receive or reply to emails, or update this blog for the week! I'll be cut off from the world... on the beach, relaxing, reading, praying, playing guitar and eating!! Love yáll!! ... Ohhh... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Great Christmas Day... drove 100 Km for a meal with the parish priest's family then to the bishop's house to help him with a computer problem, joined him for a Maltese supper, and now I'm off to pack for my week at the beach!

3 Days to go!

3 Days till Christmas. This is going to be a good one! Temperatures are rising outside as we move closer to summer! Just wanted to inform you that my CD is now available for a cheaper price and postage free online! Just visit my MySpace and click on the Buy Now!

Anyway... today I went to a Sri Lankan dinner... hot food and fantastic people!!

One Busy Evening!

Almost 4 months have passed since my arrival and I feel like I have been here for years! I am feeling so at home here, though I am really going to miss my family and friends this Christmas! I made up for my lazy morning... I just came back from an Italian funeral where I sang some songs in Italian and was then asked to play at some restaurant next February... that would be fun!! Then we had our parish adoration which I have been organizing... that went really well thank God! Off to watch TV or do some reading... haven't yet made up my mind!

SightSeeing!

Yesterday I decided to go to Melbourne and do some sightseeing. I visited the shops and then went to see the sharks and other marine life at the Melbourne Aquarium. What a day!!

I am now on the way out to prepare for our youth visit to the elderly home!!

Hamper happy!!

I met up with a few of our youth here this morning to plan our visit to the elderly next Tuesday. We chose the carols, practiced them on the piano and then wrapped the presents which they bought with their own money!

I later went to the local Cathedral hall to listen to Bishop Joe give some bible studies. Thank god for enthusiastic bishops:)

Why the hamper image??? Today I received my very first...yes, my first hamper ever!! I'm so happy with it... I don't think I will ever open it!!;)

What a Ministry!

This is proving to be a very busy week! Activities, and when there are none we create them! I love this ministry!! It's so much about the people.... I get so much energy from being with these wonderful people!!! Had a mass and a meal with the sick of the parish today, then gave one of them a lift home and went in with her to pray for the family!!

Christmas is looming... my first away from home and also my first on the beach!;)

Feasting at the Winery!

This morning we (myself and 4 priests) packed into a car and drove for just over 2 hours to a winery in the country where we met some other priests and the bishop and were treated to an Italian feast and some amazing Italian wine!! Bellissimo!!! We got back after the meal and I had to catch up with some young volunteers for an Indian meal.

Have also been planning some upcoming events concerts!! Alot of great stuff ahead.

Hot!

Today was a whopping 4o degrees!! Hot!! It's one of those days you just want to stay in an air conditioned room or by a pool... but there is no water to be found here. The air is full of smoke as 61 million acres of forest burn in the distant surrounding areas! God help us!!

I spent the evening at a friends country house. He and his wife have a wonderful family of 5 children and is a talented drummer. We spent a few hours jamming and were treated to a feast of a dinner!!

Ordinations and Mushy Rice!

Today was a special day... I just returned from an ordination of a new priest. This is a very rare occurrence here as there is a big lack of vocations to the Catholic priesthood in the area! The man who became a priest today is a medical doctor... in his late 50's!

I am now having my supper as I type this... soggy, mushy rice with corn, traces of chicken and bread.... mmmmm!!!

World Youth Day Song!

I received an amazing phone call yesterday from the Sydney World Youth Day office. One of my songs has been shortlisted for the WYD theme song. I will travel to Melbourne next week to perform the song to a small pannel. Please pray that God's will be done!!!!

New Opportunities!

I am waiting for the arrival of parish volunteers... we are throwing them a Christmas party for all their hard work!

Yesterday marked my last day at Catholic College until next February... as part of the last day celebrations I was asked to play and sing for the teens there (800 of them)... what an amazing group- of kids!! Gonna miss them over the summer holidays!

Now is the time to dig deeper into parish life. A time of fantastic opportunity! Tomorrow I'll be organizing an evening Eucharistic Adoration for all the parishioners!! I'll be playing some music off my new ipod there!!;)

Pic Above-> Recent kangaroo sighting... note the baby joey in the mum's pouch!!

Busy times Awaitin'

Three homilies given over the weekend. Nerves were back for a while... I find it way harder to prepare for 7 minutes than for a whole hour!! Tomorrow is my last day at College before the summer holidays... then a busy Christmas season in the parish!

I also played at an ecumenical service at a local Lutheran Church.

Watched a good thriller ... The Talented Mr Ripley... gruesome, but good.

Hilarious!!

Reminds me of a friend of mine!! :))

Party Machine!!

I celebrated my first Christmas party today... so much food... then to the hospital to visit a dying woman, then a few meetings and another liturgical celebration and another small 'drinks' party!! Woah!! I'm becoming a mean party machine ;) (huh???##??)!

I am having an early night tonight as I have to wake up at 5 AM tomorrow morning to pick a priest and two nuns up from Melbourne airport!! G'night!!!

Keeps Getting Better!!

Played at a mass today with the year 9 (15-16 year-olds) students. They were great!! Before that I spoke to a class of about 50 students for well over an hour... lovely!!

Tomorrow I have a day with the clergy (priests) of the area then a few small meetings after that! I love being here... it just keeps getting better!

Check out MySpace, I uploaded a new song from my Closer album!

Appearing in Public!

A busy day... college then a talk to a Charismatic group here. I am loving public speaking... it is becoming less of a stress and more of a passion! This weekend I'll be giving the homilies here at the parish... should be a good experience!!

Kids Camp

I just got back from an intensive weekend with 16 'less advantaged' kids. 2 days of games, running around and very little rest! Brilliant!! Will be sleeping most of the day tomorrow;)

Click on image above to enlarge >>

Yet more to do!

I've played two 'gigs' in the last three days. Last night I drove two hours to a town called Shepperton (the village of the colourful cows) where we launched the new song I wrote for the local World Youth Day celebrations. An auditorium packed with 1,000 hyped teenagers... amazing!

I'm preparing for a kids camp I'll be participating in over this weekend. This camp is for less privileged kids aged between 7 and 14. Should be a good experience! Communion rounds and a funeral tomorrow morning.

New Song... Your Feedback!

A day off today... spent it relaxing, doing some shopping (toothbrush, deoderant and other necessary but mundane stuff;), and recording a rough demo for a new song I wrote. You can listen to this home-recording on Myspace... I put it up there for a while to get your feedback... Listen Here >>

I have another concert tomorrow... prayers please!

God is Good!!

Hey!! Concert yesterday went great. "Bic cajt ic cajt" I ended up coming first in the songwriting competition over there... winning a day in Melbourne's best recording studio!!! I will use it to begin work on my new album... an acoustic one this time - just me and my guitar!! God is good (mind you...he'd still be good if circumstances weren't tho!!;)!! Tomorrow I'll be working on another song!

A parishioner I used to visit died today... felt so sad!!

Travel and ipod!

Today is concert day.... I have to drive down to Melbourne tonight to play 4 or 5 songs!! Those of you who pray... say a littl' pray'r for me;) I have been traveling a fair bit lately.. yesterday I drove for 2 hours to a place called Shepperton for an hour band-practice session. I have to do this 2 more times next week!!

Now... to share my joy... I added a new 30GB ipod video to my technology family!! It's an amazing piece of equipment, one that will keep me good company on my long drives!

Lovin' it!!

Woah!!! I don't know where to begin! I'm lovin' it here!!!!!!! Had college classes this morning one of which got me a cake and sang 'Happy Birthday' to me;) Awesome! Then I got a call from Melbourne Youth Ministry asking me to sing at a Youth Festival (ABLAZE) this Saturday. After that I went to the school kids social (fancy dress disco)... I just love being around them!

Captivated by the Web!

The city was desolate today as Bendigo (the place I am living) had a public holiday today... Horse Racing day!!! I spent some time writing a song but without intending to, I spent most of my day chatting and updating my MySpace!! Goodness... it can really take hold of you!! Found some amazing bands and changed the format of my page...

Also... had a good email conversation with the Punk Priest!! Extraordinary man!! You can visit his site >>>

I Hate Religion!

I have added a NEW ARTICLE called "I Hate Religion" to the articles page. Take a minute or two to read it... it just may be of some help to you!!
Click Here >>>

Golf... Yesterday I played cricket for the first time and today I played golf for the first time & scored 75 points in 9 holes (For the information of those of you who understand). I actually won something - I was awarded 2 golf balls "for the effort"!! I think it's a nice way of being awarded for coming last;) But I enjoyed it anyway!

Pigging out!

Back to busy Sundays!! Mass reading and announcements, then a quick lunch, meeting at the Chancery (Curia) for some World Youth Day planning, then a short afternoon rest and off to our first youth BBQ.... Man there was alot of eating!!!! I played cricket for the first time and some Australian Footy (almost like rugby, but the Australians would never admit that!!;)

Tomorrow I'll be spending my day off playing golf with other members of the local clergy!! Awesome!!!

Support Chris!!

Woah!! What a hot day!! Temperatures are risin'! I spent the day doing some administration and song-writing today. Enough about me.... I want to talk to you about a friend of mine!

Chris D'alfonso has been nominated for Malta's Bay Music Awards. Chris is a Christian singer/songwriter that need our support. He has been nominated for Best Solo Artist. The award goes to the person with most sms votes, so you can send an sms to 50616 892 (in Malta) with the text "Chris D’Alfonso"!!

Fine Print: Sms cost 16c but all those voting have a chance to win a Vodafone 3G mobile phone, a one night stay for 2 at Intercontinental Malta and a Lm200 voucher from Top Shop or Dorothy Perkins.

Gr8 Day out!

Hey... what a great day!! Woke up early to make it to a meeting 2-hours drive away. I'll be working with a band there for a World Youth Day event. I got back, rushed to meet a friend at the cinemas, watched a film and shortly visited a night club. Lovely evening!!

Radio and TV Interviews!

This morning I took the train into the Melbourne City centre for an interview on SBS radio, then I had to rush back to Bendigo for a short TV interview on Waltzing Matilda (for Malta's PBS and Australia's SBS channels). I also had a 2 & a 1/2 hour lecture for a children's camp I will be doing in a few weeks. Working with children here is not taken lightly at all... I had to sit for training, have the police check my records and attend many briefings on the weekend! It's all good but it's also so sad that we have to take things so far!!

Holiday!

Had a full day yesterday as I began my 3-day break. I woke up, prayed, went to the gym and then drove down to Melbourne. My terrible sense of direction and lack of patience to plan well were the cause of me getting lost for half an hour or so!! Once I arrived I helped make a chocolate cheesecake, then rested a little and went out to eat a barbaric meal (huge steak and fish platter)!! We met up with some friends later for a coffee and then they came home and we watched the movie "Click" . Expecting yet another great day today!!

Teens and Fancy Dinners!

A fantastic coupl'a days! Fancy dinners, lots of preperation for meetings, meetings and plans for more meetings!! I just love being around teenagers. As time goes by I'm finding myself moreand more surrounded by youth!! My heart burns for them to see the Truth!!!
Anyway... soppy stuff... But true!!

I added another song on my PureVolume page and am still getting used to the MySpace system!

Tomorrow I'll be drivin' down to Melbourne again for a few days... this time I'll b taking my camera.

My Space!

Hey... anyone wants to add me to their MYSPACE? I just got one going: www.myspace.com/robgalea. I just came back from the cemetery.. we had a mass in a really spooky graveyard in the middle of nowhere! I had to be careful where to put my guitar and stuff down as it was full of worms and creepy crawlies!!! But it was a wonderful mass anyway!

I Just Keep Doing It!

I just returned from a meeting... I arrived what I thought was 10 minutes late so I apologised for that.. after 3 or 4 minutes the meeting was over!!! I asked why it was over so soon. I had apparently gone to the meeting 1 hour late!! No wonder they gave me a strange look when I announced 'sorry I am late'! Anyway... another blushing moment!!

Updates!

The spring weather here is at its best!! Though most of my day was spent indoors catching up on e-mails and updating my website and other sites. I also added some more songs to my PureVolume page. I may eventually add some more songs (any suggestions?). 2 busy days ahead with a packed teaching time-table. I have really come to admire teachers and the energy they need.

Re the last post: The guy in the accident is in stable condition, and the person who caused it is having her license revoked!

Gruesome Accident!

I was out in the bush at a barBQ today playing a game of tennis... then I heard a bang and children screaming!! I ran out to the road and see children crying, full of blood being pulled out of a small car. The car crossed a road and did not realize that a motorbike was passing... it was a 100Km/h road!! The biker smashed into the side of the car and flew meters into the air. I know it is gruesome, but when I went to see him I nearly fainted... his leg was almost off... pieces of bone along the street!!! almost dead... A horrible site to see. One of the children in the car was all blood, but the paramedics (which arrived after about 10 minutes in ambulances and helicopters) did not really worry about her! Man.... Makes you think!!

Ahhhhhhh!

I had a fantastic 3 days in Melbourne. I went to visit a few friends there and had a good, relaxing time. It was a long, enjoyable drive there and back (2 hours each drive at 110 Km/hr). After spending 2 hours at an impressively equipped gym there with some friends I attended a Pentecostal church service last night - what a fantastic experience!!! Beautiful singing and worship, and a great tattoo-covered preacher! I think I have so much to learn from these guys!! This morning I woke up to a healthy, fat-free bacon and poached egg breakfast, and after visiting a mega shopping mall I headed back home to Bendigo!

Off to Melbourne!

Thanks for the video feedback!! Its been a busy few days at Catholic College. I'm now soon off for a great adventure. I'm driving solo to Melbourne to visit a few Maltese friends for a few days. I'm excited... need to prepare a good music compilation, sit back, chill and enjoy the riiiide!!

New Music Video!

Here is a home-made music video of my latest single "What do you say?" compiled by a seminarian in Malta... please leave your feedback on the comments link below!

Today and tomorrow are very special days... my dad's and my bro's birthdays!! Happy Birthday to both of you!!!

Fruit Salad

Sunday... the busiest day for the Church!! Woke up, had breakfast, went to pray then to mass. This afternoon we had our 4th youth meeting which went really well! God is good!!

In between these things I decided to make a simple fruit salad:)

1. 2 Grapefruits (1 chopped up, one squeezed)
2. 3 Oranges (2 chopped and one squeezed)
3. 4 Apples (chopped)
4. Gin (1/4 of a glass poured evenly over fruit)
5. Mix well and put in fridge for a few hours before serving with a bit of fresh yoghurt - it should serve 3 to 4 people!!

Divine!!

More Music Downloads!

Ok... So here is something new!! A new and easy way to pay-per-download! You can now download my latest singles for a few cents - including one never-heard-before song called "Glory to You". Just click HERE or on the pic, then once on the page click on 'Music'! This may soon replace the need to produce CD's ;)

Had a good relaxing day... most of it spent organizing upcoming meetings and having Skype conversations with some of my friends (in Canada, USA and Malta), then I went to a family BarBQ.... fantastic company and food! I'm now off to get some sleeeeeeep!!

Awesome!

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! This is the only word I can use to describe the last few days. Youth meetings over the weekend, working with teens at Catholic College and yesterday on a whole-day retreat with 17 year-old College guys and gals and today giving communion to old people with dementia... what a lovely bunch of people. Honestly, this experience here in Australia is giving me a love for humanity!

On a High!!

What an incredible day! After spending the day with the bishop yesterday I woke up for work today. I animated 3 classes today - speaking for 3 full-lectures of 75 minutes each. I spoke, I acted, I danced and I sang! I was being fed by their energy and enthusiasm and just loved it. I'm still on a high!! Woah!!! After the lessons I went fishing with some of the students... in their break they are given the option of fishing in the nearby lake/dam. Nice!! After that I had 3 meetings!! Tomorrow I have a day retreat with the students.

Listen to the songs!

You can now listen to my latest song What do You Say, and other tracks online at PureVolume.com. I'll soon have my previous album More of You available for pay-per-download!!

I went for a long drive today... just to relax after spending the morning recording a new song I wrote for a Melbourne gig!! More 'bout that a little later tho!! I'll be going for another long drive tomorrow (3 hours), for a funeral with the bishop.

Free Hugs!!

Saw this Video... Made me smile!!

It's a Seminarian's Life!!

Today was easy to handle... chilled administrative work, then a bit of shopping, cooked some extravagant omelets (which looked horrible) for me and Fr Alex (vice parish priest), then baked some bread (I took a picture of it-> and 'photoshopped' it a little). [Yesterday I also cooked a Mediterranean pasta for us.] Then I went to mass and was told I had to play and sing!! I was unprepared... and I have to be prepared here as they sang ancient hymns and I donno many of them. But three courageous young girls and one guy came to the rescue. I sang and played along with them. After that I went out for a piping-hot pepperoni pizza (notice alliteration) and now I am stuffed and ready to laze by the TV!! It's a seminarian's life!!!

Heatwave!!

Its been a hot tow days. From summer in Malta to a hot, dry summer here. The people are a little anxious at the beginning of the summer because of the drought! The rainfall here has been well below average for the last 10 years. With not enough water to feed the animals, and no water to put out the increasing number of bush fires you can't really blame them!!

Here is an image of today's local newspaper ->

First Day 'Teaching'!

This was my first day at Catholic College. I went to five classes to introduce myself and answer questions about the things I said... and translate some phrases to Maltese for their entertainment. The age group was from 13 to 16 year old boys and girls. I loved it, though because it was so hot today I got a tad tired. After College I rested for 1/2 and hour and went to the gym and then had a meeting. I'm now off to do some night-time grocery shopping with Joe (Parish Priest).

Cruising!

It was a hot, sunny Australian day which I spent cruising on the Murray River on a steam boat with the elderly people of the parish!! I came back feeling totally exhausted, but it was worth the while. It's as though I stepped into history for a day.

Tomorrow will be my first day at Catholic College... I am nervous and excited at the same time!! After that I have a meeting to plan the next Teen Talk (Sunday's youth group) meeting.

All Dressed Up!!

I had a good, relaxing day yesterday!! Woke up late and then chilled out catching up with little nothings. Today... Responded to some urgent emails and then attended a funeral of a 99 and 1/2 year old man. The parishioners were impressed to see me in my cassock (pic). After that I attended a few long meetings... one at the Catholic College, and the other was a finance meeting here at the parish. It's amazing how organized and professional these guys are!

Tomorrow I will be going on a bus tour to a village a few hours away where we will be taking a trip on a steam boat... will try take a few good pics!!

A Good Day!

This was a good day. A very good day!! I played a song (Only By Grace) at a few masses in the bush (Countryside) and then played at a meal for a group of 60 people. After that I prepared the last few things for the youth meeting and at 4:45pm the youth started arriving to our pre-meeting jamming session. We were 13 in all - thank God... a few more than the last week! The meeting went really well!

Now I'm off to watch my Sunday movie with the priests in the house... I love Sunday nights! Tomorrow I will sleep in and relax!!

CD Marketing!!

Today saw the unofficial launch of my CD Closer here in Australia. I think I make the same mistake over and over. I sing a song that is not on the CD (I Surrender) during a public 'performance' and that is the song that people want!!! What to do? I think I will get the song they want out as a single. I have so much to learn about performance and CD marketing!!

The day went well... had lunch with the bishop before getting lost with the car. I have been writing a few songs lately too... I am riding a muse-wave at the moment. I will be beginning work teaching at Catholic College twice a week as of next Thursday... yet another exciting venture.

New Article!

Another jam-packed day! Meetings, a lovely Chinese meal in a beautiful country house and more meetings... then a workout at the gym, and another meeting after that. The last meeting was interesting - a group of 8 people meet with me every 5 weeks to give me feedback, making sure I am living up to he Papal document Pastores Dabo Vobis on my work here and support wherever I need.

I added a new article called "Do it Scared!" to the articles section of my website. Here I write about not letting fear stop you from reaching for your dreams.

Field Trip!

Thank God for medicine!! I feel much better today, though I need alot of sleep. Today was the feast of St Francis, so I went to one of the two parish schools here for the blessing of the animals... they brought their pets to school to get them blessed;) After that I went around the classes giving the kids some lollies (Australian terminology for 'sweets'). I sang the song of St Francis for them - Make me a channel of your peace. In the afternoon I went to a mega agricultural tradefair with a priest of the diocese... It was HUGE!!! Tractors as big as buildings (pic), massive amounts of animals and shearing shows (ref to 3rd pic of naked sheep). Some of the surrounding fields were converted into a runway for the farmers with private planes! Wow... nothing like the traditional Maltese farmer!! After that I went to a youth group in the city - loved it!!

Under the Weather!

I was a bit under the whether today... one of those days when you wake up tired... and with a bit of a cold. The day was busy nonetheless!! I began my day with my daily prayer time, went to the city centre to meet my Aussy spiritual director/confessor, then off to visit the Poor Clares (Klarissi) nuns, whose monastery is close by. Some administrative work after that (Youth meeting e-mails and planning), and then I rested and went cycling. I was temporarily re-united with my bicycle for some exercise. Going to have some supper now and then off for an early night!!!!!

H2O Songwriting!

Monday... a relaxing day for me. I spent most of this day in my room writing and recording a song for next weeks Y4J H2O weekend. I used a new midi Keyboard console I just bought to add some orchestration to the song. After resting in the afternoon I went to the gym and then went out to a pub for supper with some of the local priests - I was the driver for the evening! After supper we had some coffee and watched 2 episodes of Fawlty Towers. I'm now off to sleep... a busy week ahead!

Satisfying!

What an intense 2 days! Meetings, masses, meals, driving around! I loved it... The youth meeting went great... 9 people turned up which is great!! We sang, ate and discussed. Thank God... the nerves I had before and during this meeting were enough to kill me, but as usual, I can now see that it was just unnecessary tension. God sent two angels (Ronda and Marcia) to help out! The bishop called on my mobile during the meeting... that was cool!

Yesterday I met with a Bendigo seminarian Jake (pic). He a great guy. I had heard so much about him, as he worked in this parish before me. I am now off on a well-deserved rest to watch the movie Poseidon.