Roos and Koalas

I finally saw my first kangaroos! First I saw a number of dead ones beside the road... then... there they were... hundreds of them... wild roos!! I could not get close enough to take a good photo! Ok, enough excitement!! Next venture - Koala! We just came back from Feathertop, four and a half hours in the car and all I feel like doing now is watching a film... but I have no film to watch:( Maybe I'll just finish off the book I'm reading!!

Mountain Update!

Managed to get some internet access here in Harrietville (pic), a small skiing village, in a resort owned by the Church (under Bishop Joe). This is 4 hours away from where I am living... just beneath the mountains. It is really cold here at night, but during the day I have been going swimming!! In an indoor pool though:)

We have been following a great and fun course on public speaking. It's amazing how much there is to learn about preaching and story-telling. Still have not seen any kangaroos yet! Should be home (Kennington) tomorrow.

Critical!

Bendigo, the city I am living in is going through a water crisis. There is a big lack of water. The city gets its water from 2 big reserves which are now down to 6%! It has been low for 4 years, but now is somewhat critical. People are not allowed to water their lawns, wash their cars (though all cars look clean to me) with fresh water. The city needs rain, and lots of it!! I went to visit one of the almost-empty reserves yesterday (right).

Now I'm really off to he mountains!! I hope to see some wild kangaroos... have not seen any yet!

Settling Down

Have not gone up to the mountains yet... apparently we are leaving tomorrow!! Could be the Australian accent, got the day wrong. Just as well... had a great day today! I went to play at some masses in the bush (countryside) today and met a few teens!! I invited them to a youth meeting we would be starting soon - they all seemed excited - especially the part when I told them we would be getting drunk ;) Hmmmm!!!

After going out for lunch I got a surprise call from a Maltese woman, Pauline who came for me and took me around! That was fun... I then went to have supper at her house. Oh yeah... I also wrote a song today, but then I went out and when I returned I forgot the tune... Oh well!! Need to get some mp3 recorder or something!

Admiring the Common Bird!

The parish priest has decided to give me the week off to get some rest and to settle down. Ok, I like to relax but I cannot wait to get down to some work. Australia will be hosting the World Youth Day in 2008 and I will also be helping out with that.

As I had nothing planned this morning I decided to go for a walk and take my camera with me. I took some photos of the local wild birds. Some were too fast for me to snap a shot, but I did get some of the wild parrots. Incredible!! Parrots, cockatoos and other beautiful birds are as common as our local sparrows – they just run wild (or rather, fly wild). I did some research to find their Latin names (ref. to pic:).

I will be meeting a Philippino group this evening for a small prayer meeting. It should be fun. Tomorrow I’ll be going up the mountains for a week of seminars, so I am not sure if I’ll be able to update this blog till next Friday!

Venture for Youth

Getting into parish life here, which I must say is much more relaxed than that in Malta. I noticed a great lack of youth here, so we are going to try and get a band started with some of the local teens and also organize some kind of youth meetings. Slowly, but by God’s grace surely!! Played at mass this morning for some more school kids at the parish here (pic above-next door to where I live) and then went around some houses to give Communion! This evening I am going to meet some other priests with the bishop. Next week I will be going up the mountains for a weeklong seminar on public speaking!!

Exploring the Grounds!

So here is what I have been up to!! First of all... I've been waking up at 3am every morning - still jet-lagged you see!! Yesterday I went around to take a look at the parish area, and after that I went to the curia to speak to the national Catholic youth director to organise some workshops and stuff for youth, and visit Bishop Joe. This morning I went to a mass and to speak to some 11 year-old kids whom I may be working with soon. I also went to a beautiful lake (Weeroona Lake - strange name!!) and then to the city centre (pic on the right)! Oh yeah!! I also got a 3 month membership to the local gym!

Have a new Australian mobile... email me and i'll send you the numba'!!

10 Words That Don't Exist, But Should!!

AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks'trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub tap on and off with your toes.
CARPERPETUATION (kar'pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.
DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilize the piece of confection (lolly) you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow 'remove' all the germs.
ELBONICS (el bon'iks) n. The actions of two people manoeuvring for one armrest in a movie theatre.
FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until they finally decide to give up and sweep it under the rug.
LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun) n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the 'illegal' side.
PEPPIER (pep ee ay') n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want fresh ground pepper.
PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialling a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.
PUPKUS (pup'kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it.
TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.

It was a long trip but i'm finally settling down here in Bendigo, Australia; still a bit jet-lagged though! I spent the day with Bishop Joe after he picked me up from the airport. Who would have thought!!! A bishop waiting for me at the airport at 3am!! Makes you feel kinda' special. Off to city centre... will update more soon!

See yah!!

I begin my long trip today! Consequentially I will not be able to update my blog for 2 or 3 days, until I arrive and get internet access!!

I'll be arriving in Melbourne early morning on the 5th of September. Keep me in your prayers!! See yah!!

Lighting your Desktop!

Last-minute preperations undarwey!! I'm getting somewhat excited for the trip... I will be travelling for 25 hours, 23 of which will be in the plane!! The "What do you say?" single has been released on local stations and the Pro-Life Campaign will soon be launched!

I took a professional-looking ;) photo this week in Bugibba... thought some of you may be interested in using it as a wallpaper... just click on the image!!

New Single!

Just before I leave for Australia there will be the national release of my latest single "What do you say?". It will be aired on 89.7 Bay Radio, Malta's XFM (100.2), RTK Radio, Radju Marija, Christian Light Radio and some other local stations from the 30th of August.

This is a song that speaks out against the tragedy of abortion. It was commissioned by Gift of Life Malta for this year's anti-abortion campaign.

For the Lyrics of the song click on 'comments' below.

Download Song Clip Here >>>

Make a Difference!

You will soon be hearing my latest recording on the local radio stations. This is a song about giving the unborn child the right to life. I will soon put a sound clip of the song online. If you are a Maltese citizen please take a minute to visit Malta's Gift of Life Website and sign the petition >>>.

I just so love working with youth! It's so nice to be full of enthusiasm about following Jesus (see Y4J website).

I began packing for my trip to Australia. Where to begin? Today I jam-packed a suitcase with winter clothes - It is winter in Australia at the moment! I really can only take the bare essentials.

View this TV AD about Australia... so hilarious!!

Australia Here I Come!!

It is official... 15 days from now I leave for AUSTRALIA!!! I will be spending 1 whole year there!! Yes... 1 year Down Under. I'll be working in Sandhurst (near Melbourne) under Bishop Joe Grech. Whilst I'm there I will keep this blog regularly updated...

Free at Last!

I just came back from the doctor... I do not need crutches afterall!! That's great news! I never really needed them (take my advice... stick to specialists when it comes to serious stuff)! I am more mobile now and can actually wear shoes! Yippie!!! Here's a Strange but True story: it's funny, but I actually broke my toe by accidentally kicking the back of a friends shoe!!!

I have a big trip coming up beginning early next month! More about that soon!!!

Retreat Day!

So much has happened over the last few weeks. I have decided to take a day of reflection and prayer tomorrow. I will be doing a much-needed retreat here at home. This is the program I'll be following:

• 9am Breakfast
• 9:45am Thanksgiving and Meditation
• 10:30am Confession and Surrender Session
• 11am Bible Reading and Study
• 12 Watch a Worship DVD
• 1pm Lunch
• 2pm Rest
• 4pm Praise and Spiritual Reading
• 5pm Intercessiom
• 5:30 Worship

(If I were a little more mobile I'd also include a Mass)

Reaching Out to Sicily!

Ok my toe is broken... but I had an AMAZING 3 weeks in Sicily. The first week I was on outreach with another 60 fantastic Maltese people. We had 5 great sessions - the above are some pics of those outreaches.

Things that happen!

I had to cut my 3-week trip to Sicily a few days short because I acidentally broke my toe yesterday morning. I spent 7 hours yesterday in a hospital in Messina (a very inefficient hospital I must say), and am now all bandaged up and walking with crutches. I am now at home recovering!

Padre Giovanni and Me in Limina (Sicily) ->

Quick Post

It's been a while since my last post. Ive been having the best time of my life here in Sicily.... 2 weeks to go. I am presently on the mountains, so internet is very difficult to get a hold of here! Will post much more soon!!