Much before the set-up of the Missions Office as we know it nowadays, the Church in Malta used to help the missions through the Archbishop’s Curia. Donations used to be collected for the Pontifical Mission Societies; that of the Propagation of the Faith, that of St. Peter the Apostle for the Native Clergy and that of the Children for the Missions known also as Holy Childhood. All collections used to be sent to France, from where the Societies originated. These funds were then distributed among those in need. Those who took charge of this work used to encourage people to pray for the missions and for the spreading of God’s Word amongst all nations. “Annali della Propagazione della Fede” was the review that was then published.
Pope Pius XI, on 3rd May 1922, issued a document “Romanorum Pontificium”, by which he expressed his desire of organizing these Societies in a way that in every diocese there would be an office directly depending on the “Propaganda Fide” in Rome. So on 26th April 1931, this Congregation appointed Mgr. Alfonso Agius B.A., D.D. as the first president of the Central Council in Malta, who in his turn chose a committee to help him in this work. These appointments were announced by a decree issued by the Archbishop of Malta Mgr. Dom Mauro Caruana OSB on 12th March 1932. In the Gozitan Diocese, the Bishop Mgr. Michael Gonzi on 13th January 1932, appointed a Diocesan Moderator, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
In 1928, the seminary in Malta established the “Crociata Missionaria San Paolo” among students, who started to take great interest in the Mission of the Church. These students began to adopt seminarians in the Missions and later tried to find other benefactors. In this way the Society of St. Peter the Apostle for the Native Clergy started to operate in Malta. In an article in the review Malta Missjunarja, Fr. Anton Cilia tells us that these students approached Mgr. Carmelo Zammit, who later was chosen as the Diocese Director. He worked hard for this society, so much so that in 1934 the sum of € 2900.08 was collected.
In September 1932, six months after the issue of the Archbishop’s Decree, the first number of the review Malta Missjunarja was published. Fr. Nikol Zammit was appointed editor and had his office at 227, Merchants Street, Valletta. Annual subscription was one shilling (€ 0.12).
The aim of this review, as stated in the first issue, was to give information about the Missions, their situation and their needs, and the sacrifices and hardships endured by the missionaries.
World Mission Sunday in October was first celebrated in 1933. In the number of the review for that month we find the appeal for this day issued by Archbishop Carlo Salotti, President of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith. A call for cooperation was made by Mgr. Carmelo Zammit, Diocesan Director.
The Missions Office did its utmost to see that every parish had a parochial missionary commission. The Missions Office with the help of Catholic Action members carried out much work for the Missions in towns and villages in Malta and Gozo. Every Catholic Centre had a Missions Delegate. Among other activities, members were urged to:
Pray daily for the Missions.
Offer daily a Mass and Holy Communion, pay visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
Offer illnesses, sacrifices, worries and burdens for the Missions.
Find new members for the Pontifical Missionary Societies.
Offer thirty pounds (€ 69.88) for a seminarist in the Missions.
Collect used stamps.
Place moneyboxes and copies of the review in shops, clubs etc.
Hold correspondence with priests and nuns in the Missions.
Make clothes for sale in bazaars on Mission Sunday.
Since its set-up the Missions Office began to work for the success of World Mission Sunday. In a report in the review it was said that on this day in 1933, everything was carried out “as the Pope wanted, as the Bishop ordered, as we all wished! Prayers, Holy Communion, adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament took place in all churches. Collections, which amounted to three hundred and fifty pounds, were double to those of the previous year. It is said that even children gave their contribution.
Around the year 1935, the Missions Office was offered a room at the Empire Press at 226, St. Paul’s Street, Valletta. The idea came from Deacon Antonio Cilia, who in July 1934 mentioned it to Mgr. Carmel Zammit, his Professor of Moral Theology and Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. In about two months time this wish came true.
From 1940 the Missions Office began to work hard to find benefactors for the Society of St. Peter the Apostle for the Native Clergy. One of the reasons mentioned was that, because of the war in Europe, vocations were decreasing. The number of Malta Missjunarja for February 1940 was intended to encourage new benefactors for this cause.
During the war the review was not issued monthly but every two months. It faced many difficulties, especially the scarcity of paper and the dispersal of many readers living close to the harbour, who found refuge in outlying villages.
During the war, the money collected for the missions was sent to countries that formed part of the British Empire, such as India.
On 29th July 1943 another big loss for the Church in Malta was that of Mgr. Luigi Catania, who was the Diocesan Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Mgr. Catania was the one who kept alight the flame of love for the Missions, after the death of Mgr. C. Zammit.
Following his death, the new National Director was Fr. Anton Cilia, who was well-known for his love for the Missions. He was the right hand of his predecessors, since the time when he was still at the seminary. The editor of Malta Missjunarja September-October 1943 commented that most of the mission initiatives were the work of Fr. Cilia.
On 21st October of the same year, Mgr. Michael Gonzi, who was Bishop of Gozo, was nominated Archbishop for Malta. On 30th January he presided over the reception organized the Missions Office for its benefactors.
During the war, funds raised by the Society of Children for the Missions were sent to Bangalore, India. The National Director of India praised this donation in an appeal published in all Catholic newspapers in his country.
In 1944, the Diocesan Director and Secretary began to visit parishes in Malta and forming missionary commissions. They also spread the devotion of the Apostolic Communion, urging everyone to offer a Mass and Communion every month for the needs of the missions.
After the wars years, the Missions Office also began to ask the sick to offer their sufferings for the missions, especially on the day of Pentecost.
From October 1944 the review began to be published monthly and had a circulation of 8,000.
On 28th December 1944 a Diocesan Congress of the Missionary Union of the Clergy was organized. Archbishop Mgr. M. Gonzi presided over the Congress. Mgr. Giuseppe Pace, Bishop of Gozo and Mgr. Emmanuel Galea, Vicar General took part in this Congress. A Missionary Bulletin for the Clergy ‘Operaii autem pauci’ began to be published quarterly. The Students Missionary League was also organized.
On 4th December 1950, Pope Pius XII instituted the feast of Holy Childhood that was to be held during Christmastide in order to arouse interest in the missions among children and their parents.
During December 1950, the Missions Office organized a series of lectures about the Missions given by Mgr. Aurelio Signora, Secretary General of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle for the Native Clergy.
During April 1955, the Missions Office was transferred from the room in St. Paul’s Street to Number 7, Flat 2, Merchants Street, Valletta, from where it still operates at present.
On 19th December 1955 the consecration of the Missions Office to the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary was celebrated by Mgr. Emmanuel Galea, Vicar General.
Mgr. Antonio Cilia, together with Fr. Anton Sciberras and Fr. Michaelangelo Camilleri, with members of the Students Missionary League used to visit small villages like Wardija, Bahrija and Mtahleb to talk to them about the Missions, and enroll new subscribers to Malta Missjunarja.
In March 1954, Miss Maria Yen, a former Chinese Communist, who embraced the Catholic faith and had to flee from her country because of persecution, was invited by the Missions Office to give a number of lectures.
During Eastertide 1960, an International Missionary Congress was held in Rome. Malta was represented by a good number of collaborators who went in pilgrimage organized by the Missions Office.
In 1960 the 19th Centenary of the coming of St. Paul was celebrated in Malta. The Missions Office took the opportunity to organize a meeting in honour of Cardinal Gracias from India, which took place at St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Maltese missionaries and benefactors of the Pontifical Mission Societies to attend.
In January 1971, the National Director Mgr. Antonio Cilia had his life’s dream of visiting India fulfilled. In the review Malta Missjunarja he wrote about his activities and impressions during this missionary experience.
In 1971, a national missionary seminar was held, in which the main speaker was Bishop Lourdusamy, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
From 24th to 26th October 1972, the Missions Office invited Mgr. Sergio Pignedoli, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Faith to preside over the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith.
On the recommendation of Archbishop Michael Gonzi, Pope Paul VI bestowed on Fr. {wann Sciberras the honour of “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”. Since his priestly ordination, in 1934, Fr. {wann worked hard for the missions as the editor of Malta Missjunarja, and had to quit due to health reasons.
On 2nd March 1979, the National Director, Mgr. Antonio Cilia, died at the age of 69.
Mgr. Matthew Chircop took his place as the new National Director.
In September 1982 Knisja Missjunarja marked the 50th anniversary of its existence. A special edition was published which included messages from the local bishops. A thanksgiving Mass was celebrated at the parish church in Floriana.
In 1975 the Voluntary Lay Missionary Society (VLM) was set up to operate under the patronage of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Its aim is to send lay people to mission countries to render voluntary service, in various fields such as education, health and crafts.
In April 1999, a meeting of the National Directors for the Pontifical Mission Societies in Europe was held in Malta. The Directors were welcomed at the Seminary at Tal-Virtu`, where all meetings were held. They were also invited to visit the Missions Office. During their stay in Malta, they also visited many places of interest as well as the island of Gozo.
Fr. Joseph Bugeja succeeded Fr. Joseph Fenech as National Director.
From 8th to 12th November 2003, a meeting of the directors of the Society of Holy Childhood in the countries of the Mediterranean and East Europe took place in Malta. This meeting was organized by the superior council of the Society in Rome with the collaboration of the Missions Office in Malta. Delegates from the Czech Republic, Greece, the Holy Land, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Romania and Malta participated in the event.
During 2004 the building housing the Missions Office was fully refurbished and computer systems were also installed.
On 19th October 2004, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, participated in the international congress for priests, that was held in Malta at that time. He was invited to bless the newly refurbished offices and shop. During a reception in his honour, at the Missions Office, the cardinal remarked that the spirit of St. Paul is still alive in Malta.
In 2004, the review Knisja Missjunarja was given a new look, making it more interesting to its readers. It also resumed its original name, Malta Missjunarja
During August 2005, the Missions Office sent two youths, Mario Scicluna and Alan Farrugia, together with Fr. Christopher Caruana OP to World Youth Day held in Cologne, Germany. The evangelical theme was “We have come to adore him”. During the last two days Pope Benedict XVI attended the activities.
In 2006, Fr. Joseph Bugeja, National Director, was nominated a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter. At the same time, Fr. Paul Cremona OP was elected new Archbishop and President of PMS in Malta.
On 28th July, Archbishop Paul Cremona was invited at the Missions Office for the first time since his ordination. During his visit Mgr. Cremona launched the website for the Pontifical Mission Societies in Malta in the presence of the National Director and members of the staff.